Carter spotted a bunch of Level 12 and 13 Hosts trapped behind a shipping crate, pinned down by an Ascendant Enforcer. Panic was written all over their faces. Their shields barely held up, sputtering under the barrage. These weren’t fighters—just kids who stumbled into the System and now got hunted for their points.
“Not while I’m here,” Carter muttered.
He fired up Titan’s Armor and jumped straight off the elevator platform, dropping thirty feet onto a freight truck’s roof. He landed hard, but his Level 15 stats just soaked up the impact. Instead of pain, he felt a surge of energy blast through his legs, launching him forward.
The Enforcer swiveled its heavy gatling-arm to face him. A red dot danced on Carter’s chest.
“Target identified,” the mech droned, voice flat and metallic. “Hos
