[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/VAS7HTH.png[/img]
[color=6ecff6][h1]Level 1-[/h1][/color]
[color=fff79a]|||||||||| (13/10)[/color] 
[color=f7976a](holding at 10)[/color]
Word Count: [color=fff79a]1309[/color]
[color=fff79a]+3 EXP!!![/color]
Sandswept Sky[/center]

[hr]
[hr]

The sands of the expanding desert blew into Raiden's face as the Buggy drove speedily across the acre. If it had not been for Raiden's visor that currently was directing the cyborg, there was an entire dunes worth of sand blowing directly into his eye. It had been a decent couple minutes since Raiden had set course, but still it lingered in his mind when he would arrive. Miraculously, he somehow managed to keep his hat and poncho on in the billowing winds of dust. 

He'd slow the buggy down to a halt a few miles away from the initial destination, preparing to enter any fight that may approach. First he'd check his HF Blade and Murasama, ensuring there were no major faults with either weapon. He particularly disliked the use of the red Murasama, as he used it to assassinate the late president-elect Steven Armstrong, yet he kept it on a whim since then. He'd sheath the blade once more as he reluctantly pulled the large red bottled liquid he had obtained from the vending machine previously.

The liquid inside was viscous in nature and did not look entirely safe to consume, however, Raiden was previously given the information by the rabbit lady he had met previously that it would bear healing properties. Popping the cork off of the top Raiden examined the liquid closely through the glass, still unsure about drinking it. Sighing he tipped the edge of the bottle to his mouth. Grimacing at the taste he continued drinking until he knocked the entire bottle down his system, finishing it off with a sound of disgust. [color=6ecff6]"Agh! What the hell?!"[/color]

While the taste and texture of the liquid was abysmal, the results were almost instantaneous. Raiden felt his body return to a state he had not felt in a long while. The once slow and weakened body he had previous was now limber and swift, as though there were no ailments in his cybernetics anymore. He rolled his head along his shoulders and clenched and unclenched his fist, enjoying the now loose body he possessed. There had to be nanomachines in the liquid. Something. [color=6ecff6]"Well, guess I can't complain too much since it proved effective..."[/color] He spat as he began mounting the buggy again. [color=6ecff6]"But damn, was it nasty."[/color]

[hr]

After traversing for a while, Raiden had finally approached upon the [url=https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/941558469503377408/946091475358347294/shadow_fort.jpg?width=1181&height=665]the old fortress[/url] mentioned in the flyer, except something was extremely off about the area... On the commission, it had stated they needed someone to take down a large monster, but... There was no monster in eyesight yet. Now concerned, Raiden would hop off the buggy to investigate, keeping his hand on the red Murasama, if anything were to approach, visor snapping open to adjust his vision. There was nothing above the hills present behind the fortress or anything near the far off dunes. Nothing.

Stepping ever closer and closer to the fortress, Raiden's concern grew. There was no apparent sign of any huge creature looming the area. Had someone lied to make the weary cyborg drive to the middle of nowhere, simply to be annoying? No. If that were the case, there would still be tourists and travelers bustling about the area, living life. He slowly drew his blade, now suspecting a surprise attack at any moment from a large fantasy creature or gigantic robot. Anything that matched the description of "Giant Monster".

It was when Raiden got near the steps of the fortress that something had been triggered. The ground would begin to fiercely rumble and the reverberating sound of sand shifting and earthquaking filling Raiden's ears. The large monster was certainly nearby and whatever Raiden did had disturbed it.

[center][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwDyjDuGCO4[/youtube][/center]

Over the top of the fortress, a [url=https://cdn.supersoluce.com/file/docs/docid_558152fb8f152ff66f000002/elemid_4ee9fac00a2fe93e0e000014/thumb_1491223597-1.jpg]large link of robotic spheres[/url] would peer over the top of the ramparts of the abandoned fortress, looming around in a circular motion. Raiden looked at the robot in awe of it's size and potential power. One of the robot's mechanical eyes would snap in the cyborg's direction as it whirred loudly and began preparing some kind of attack. It would swerve in overhead and begin dropping balls of energy on to the ground directly at Raiden. Rolling out of the way, he'd balance his blade in his right hand, now ready to properly begin the battle.

The robot would begin floating in his direction, the red eye on the front lighting up as it continued to prepare the same energy ball attack again. With very little way to attack the machine, Raiden would unclip an EMP grenade from his waist as he hurdled it up towards the colossal creature. Noticing the cyborg had thrown something at it, the mechanical giant would direct it's attack at the grenade instead, shooting it with a ring of energy spheres. One of them would manage to strike the explosive, ultimately negating the electronic canceling effect of the EMP. Raiden would have to rethink his tactics. Before he was given another moment to think of what to do next, the giant would begin whirring a laser at it's eye. Within seconds, a beam of light would pierce the sand as Raiden quickly dodged to the side. He'd grunt as he landed on his side, rolling back on to his feet. [color=6ecff6]"Thing's smarter than most MGs."[/color] He'd run across the sand in an attempt to distract it.

As it's attacks ensued, Raiden would continue making it spin in a circle, it's caterpillar shape twisting and contorting to aim at him. On a whim, Raiden threw another grenade into the air as he caught the mechanical monstrosities attention. It would blast it again, but by the moment it looked back down at Raiden, he had prepared another attack. Quickly sheathing the HF Murasama in favor for his signature blade, Raiden would switch weapons and hurl the HF blade directly at the eye of the robot. As the eye turned to face Raiden once again, it would be met by the edge of the sword that had been thrown, lodging itself in the mechanical eye. As if reacting to some form of pain, the creature would split into nine segmented orbs, quickly dropping on to the surface of the sand. As they laid dormant on the sand, each one of them aimed their red eyes at Raiden, either blasting beams or balls of energy. 

Able to quickly dodge a majority of the attacks, one of the balls of energy came into direct contact with Raiden, causing a strong jolt of pain and small period of sluggishness. After subsiding the pain, Raiden located the orb he had initially thrown his blade at, and sprinted to retrieve it. Seeing as it was the only one of the monsters segments that was near completely incapacitated, he would prep his sword and try to stab through the metallic body of the one portion. At first it yielded zero results, but as he wound his swing back up and let electricity course through his arm and blade, the strike deemed effective and provided a nasty cut into the metallic creature. It roared, either in some form of pain or in acknowledgement one of it's segments had been rendered useless. 

The mechanical parts of the creature would begin to rumble as they began to ascend into the sky once more, but before Raiden would let them float away, he jabbed his blade directly into the side of the nearest segment, holding on so that he could deal damage while on top of the creature rather than waiting. As it reached a certain height, it began scouting for Raiden, who it could no longer see. He hurled himself on top of the beast as he began dashing to the front most segment. He'd grip his blade tightly as he exclaimed loudly: [color=6ecff6]"Look who's got the upper hand now!"[/color]