R-1 felt as if it were touching reinforced metal when it shook hands with Ria. It wasn't the first time it had felt that way. The same sensation had occurred when it carried her unconscious body into the house.
But how could a slim, young girl weigh so much?
R-1 didn't dwell on it for long.
What concerned it more was the safety of its brother. Venturing outside meant facing hostile robots, and they needed a solid plan for their journey.
R-1 was neither intelligent nor strong. What made it unique was its emotions and sense of touch. Out of all the robots in the world, only ten could feel emotions—R-1 was one of them.
It glanced at Ria, its eyes filled with seriousness.
"Do you have a plan?"
Ria closed her eyes and paused for a moment. Then, calmly, she shared her strategy.
A satisfied smile flickered across R-1's face. Bhargav, too, looked excited.
Ria, on the other hand, remained expressionless. She was focused on executing the plan.
"Is there a vehicle like the one I described?" she asked in a serious tone.
R-1 nodded and grinned.
"Absolutely. Follow me—I'll show you."
It led her to the vehicle: a compact, rugged military machine designed for desert missions. It had massive, thick tires built for rough terrain, and a light-brown body with camouflage patterns. A missile launcher, tall camera, and radar sat on top. Two small guns were fixed at the front, and its windows were narrow for protection. The entire design screamed speed and resilience.
R-1 began explaining:
"This is my father's latest invention—WV-1. It's fully bulletproof, even the tires. The radar can detect enemies nearby. The camera helps monitor distant threats and rear views. The missile launcher can obliterate targets, and the guns are long-range."
"But… there's one issue."
Its expression turned grave.
"This vehicle hasn't been tested yet. So, I can't guarantee a safe ride. But we don't have anything better."
Ria nodded, calm as ever.
"If this is the only way, then let's use it."
She inspected the vehicle's interior: a firm, grippy steering wheel; accelerator, brake, and clutch; and a digital monitor beside the wheel. There were five cushioned seats—two in the front, three in the back.
'Better than I expected,' she thought.
Meanwhile, R-1 brought over two shields—sleek, black armored plates curved to fit the back, reinforced with industrial straps and metal rivets. They looked combat-ready and foldable.
Ria glanced at R-1, expressionless.
"Shall we go now?"
R-1 nodded and took the front seat. Bhargav sat in the back with a bag full of food supplies.
Ria strapped into the driver's seat and looked at the boy and the robot, awaiting their signal.
R-1 looked uncertain.
"Do you even know how to drive, young girl?"
Ria grinned.
"You'll find out on the way."
She started the vehicle and accelerated over the ramp. They sped out of the garage onto the street. To their surprise, there were no robots in sight. At first, they were suspicious—then they understood.
They were the only ones left.
The street was drenched in horror. Blood pooled everywhere. Human bodies were scattered like garbage. Most had been killed at close range. Some heads lay beside the road, separated from their bodies.
Why would robots kill like this?
Bhargav trembled in terror and hid behind the food bag, shivering as though trapped in a freezer.
Suddenly, a group of robots blocked the road ahead.
R-1's eyes widened. It held up its shield. Bhargav didn't dare look.
But Ria stayed calm—her face blank, unreadable.
The robots were tall and skeletal, made of steel and exposed wiring. With broad shoulders and mechanical limbs, they moved with terrifying precision. Blue lights flickered from their chests. Their heads, packed with sensors and cameras, gave them a ghostly awareness. They carried guns.
As soon as they detected the WV-1, they began firing.
Ria responded instantly, launching the vehicle's only missile.
BOOM.
The explosion wiped out most of the robots. But more came, emerging from alleys, side streets, and behind wreckage—this time with knives, rods, and more guns.
There was no time to wonder where they came from. Ria had to act. The missile was gone. She switched to the mounted guns and fired while driving at maximum speed.
She rammed the vehicle through the crowd, flinging robots into the air like weightless dolls.
Suddenly, bullets struck one of the front tires. The wheel burst, and the vehicle spun out of control. It skidded toward a building.
Ria twisted the steering wheel hard and yanked the handbrake. The vehicle stopped—just barely—surrounded by enemies.
R-1 covered itself with the shield. Bhargav almost began to cry.
But Ria remained calm.
She closed her eyes, inhaled deeply, and exhaled with control.
'It's not over yet. Only a few of them have guns. The rest are close-combat types. I may lose. I may win. But I'll fight.'
Just as she prepared to step out—
BOOM!
A small missile descended from the sky and exploded among the enemy ranks. Dozens of robots, especially those with guns, were instantly destroyed.
Everyone looked up.
A robot similar to R-1 hovered above them, dark metallic armor gleaming in the sunlight. Its body was sleek and aerodynamic, with steam vents on its back and a built-in missile launcher on its wrist. Glowing eyes scanned the ground below with precision.
Beside it, a man in his early thirties flew on a hoverboard.
"It's Chaitanya and R-2!" R-1 and Bhargav shouted in joy.
R-2 began firing at the gun-wielding robots from the sky.
But Ria didn't pause. She leapt from the vehicle and sprinted toward the remaining robots with knives.
They charged toward her.
Ria's face held the weight of a thousand battles—her eyes like sharpened steel, her mouth a firm, unyielding line.
As one robot lunged, she clenched her fist and slammed it into its waist with a bone-crushing punch. The machine flew backward like gravity didn't exist.
She tore through the others with the same ruthless precision.
Chaitanya watched, stunned.
'Who is she? Is she even human?'
Meanwhile, a lone robot crept toward the vehicle.
R-1 noticed and rushed to stop it—but failed.
The robot struck R-1's face. Its head screen shattered, and it collapsed.
The robot advanced toward the vehicle again.
Bhargav was helpless.
[System Activated]
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