[WARNING -- EXPLICIT VIOLENCE]
[WARNING -- EXPLICIT VIOLENCE]
Alfred looked at him, smirking faintly. "You hit a leg. Maybe, you're really getting weak."
Before he could laugh, a bullet struck his helmet.
Alfred collapsed. Egon managed to catch Alfred's hands before he was completely off the roof, and drag him into cover. The bullet hit above the right eye. His visor stopped it, but not without damage. Blood seeped through the cracks, as Egon kept steadying him. He pulled out an adrenaline shot and stuck it into alfred's shoulder.
Alfred regained some clarity. He tried to command the drones. Nothing responded. The bullet had damaged the signal receptors in his helmet.
Egon had figured the general direction of the shot. But to spot the sniper's exact position, he needed a clearer view—and a distraction.
Alfred was still dazed. Egon shook him. "Pick up the rifle." He said. "Just point north and shoot. That's all i need."
They moved to opposite corners of the roof. Egon signaled to move. Alfred revealed himself, firing randomly in the shooter's direction.
They knew what they're up against. A ghost, built to hunt hunters. Unlike the other men they fought today. Ghosts were dangerous. They used special camouflage—advanced fabric that bent light, cloaked heat, and scrambled signals. But, against the Siege Piercer, all it took for them to fall was a single twitch.
Egon searched for the target, looking near were alfred's bullets hit. And on one roof, he saw it. A flicker. A twitch in fire reflection. That was enough.
Egon lined his shot.
Before he pulled the trigger, the sniper took another shot. Alfred fell back again. Egon didn't flinch. He squeezed. The round hit the sniper right in the neck, exiting and taking the fabric with it, revealing his body.
Alfred had already fallen off the roof. Egon went to check on him. The second shot struck deeper, right between the eyes. The armor was strong enough to stop the penetration.
Egon dragged him to the vehicle, parked a few houses away. Inside, He tried to connect the drones to his suit's system. He was not an expert, but he managed to do it and ordered the AI to sweep for more threats.
Egon sealed the car and started treating Alfred. He removed the ruined helmet, and began working. He removed the bullets, applied medical stuff from, and sealed the wounds. The first was shallow. The second was nastier. The damage will last long after it heals. But Alfred would live. That was enough.
They rested for the night. In the morning, Egon ordered the drones to relocate themselves to the roof. When Alfred woke up, he couldn't move, but he didn't need to. They were already on their way to the water station.