Meanwhile, on the flanks, Lilla and Carlos found themselves under heavy assault. The enemy forces, having detected the deaths of their Tier 4 warriors through their power armor''s vital sign monitors, had launched a full-scale attack.

    The humans and their robotic allies were outnumbered, but they held their ground with unwavering determination.

    The Tyrant units, though not as individually powerful as the Tier 3 Advanced Cyborgs of the enemy, proved to be a formidable force. Their sheer numbers and relentless coordination allowed them to support the Paladins and Lilla in repelling the assault.

    Carlos on his flank faced a similar onslaught but managed to hold the line with the help of the Aegis units and the Maulers.

    For now, phase three of the plan was proceeding smoothly. The defensive perimeter held, and the transport ships began their descent toward the coordinates, marking the start of phase four: the search for the advanced warp device.

    [Establish a defensive perimeter. Do not let those beasts come closer,]

    a Tyrant unit commanded, its voice mechanical but authoritative. The Aegis units moved into position, their weapons trained on the endless waves of Harvesters and Golems that surged toward them.

    Despite the relentless assault, the defensive line held firm, thanks to the combined might of the Tyrants and Maulers.

    The Harvesters and Golems, though numerous, stood no chance against the disciplined and coordinated defense.

    And their odds grew even slimmer when a golden comet streaked across the sky, descending toward the defensive line with incredible speed. It landed gracefully within the perimeter, revealing Rex, his white wings glowing faintly as he surveyed the battlefield.

    [Greetings, Kaelzar Supreme Commander], a Tyrant unit said while kneeling in respect.

    "Mmm, good work. At ease, soldier," Rex replied, his eyes scanning the massive ruins ahead. The ancient structure loomed like a forgotten titan, its shattered walls and crumbling towers a testament to its former glory. "Mini Cleo, do you have any idea what this place is?"

    Mini Cleo materialized on top of Rex''s head, her tiny form flickering as she accessed the data.

    {Mmm, according to the Original''s records, this appears to be a Kaelzar planetary fortress. But by the looks of it, it was destroyed hundreds of years ago.}

    Rex reached out, his hand brushing against the weathered stone of the fortress. "Mmm, I see. And just how strong was this thing when it was operational?" he asked, his voice tinged with awe.

    "I can answer that question," Cleo''s voice came from behind him. She landed gracefully beside Rex, her black hair catching the faint light filtering through the mist.

    Rex turned to her, a playful grin spreading across his face. "Hey there, my wife. What nice weather we''re having today, wouldn''t you say?" he said while striking an exaggerated pose.

    Cleo stared at him, her expression as unreadable as ever. She glanced up at the misty sky, then around at the desolate battlefield. "Do you consider this kind of weather pleasant? Is this what you call ''nice''?" she asked, her tone flat.

    Rex rubbed the back of his neck while chuckling awkwardly. "Well, not really... I was just trying to make small talk. Ehem... anyway, so how strong was this fortress back in its day?"

    Cleo glanced at him, her golden eyes reflecting the faint light of their surroundings. "Because the Kaelzars of that era were on a different scale entirely. If you think the Mauler is big, back in my time, it was just a scout unit. And the Aegis units? They didn''t even exist. I created them later... mostly to play with."

    Rex raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips. "You created the Aegis units... to play with? Remind me not to get on your bad side."

    Cleo didn''t respond; her attention focused on the path ahead. The air grew colder, the silence more oppressive, as they descended further into the fortress.

    The walls were lined with ancient machinery, some still humming faintly with residual energy, while others were shattered beyond recognition.

    "So, how much longer do we have to go down to find this warp device?" Rex asked while glancing up at the endless staircase that seemed to stretch into infinity. The ceiling above was dark and foreboding, the faint glow of their lights barely piercing the gloom.

    "I don''t know," Cleo admitted, her voice echoing softly in the vast chamber. "The size of the fortress depends on how many forces were stationed here. Given how deep we''ve gone, it''s likely this place housed at least five million units... or a few exceptionally large ones."

    Rex whistled, impressed. "Five million? That''s a lot of firepower. No wonder the Khryssaris had to bring their main warriors."

    Before Cleo could respond, a deafening roar shattered the silence. The sound was so powerful that it felt like a physical force, slamming into Rex and Cleo with enough intensity to make them stagger. They instinctively covered their ears, their bodies trembling as the roar reverberated through the fortress.

    "What the hell was that!?" Rex shouted, his voice barely audible over the ringing in his ears.

    Cleo''s expression darkened, her golden eyes narrowing as she stared into the depths of the fortress. "Something big. And it''s coming this way."

    The ground beneath them began to tremble, the vibrations growing stronger with each passing second. From the shadows below, a massive shape began to emerge. Its body was covered in dark, metallic scales, and its eyes glowed with an ominous red light.

    It moved with a terrifying grace, its massive form scraping against the walls of the fortress as it ascended.

    [Warning: Unknown powerful energy source detected. All turrets and cannons are now targeting the entity.]

    The voice of the Liberator''s AI echoed through their comms, its tone urgent. Above ground, the Dreadnought''s weapons systems whirred to life, its massive cannons and turrets swiveling to aim at the entrance of the ruined fortress.

    Rex and Cleo exchanged a glance, their unease palpable. "We need to get out of here," Rex said, his voice tight with tension.

    Cleo nodded, her expression grim. "Agreed. But we can''t let that thing reach the surface. If it gets past the Liberator..."

    She didn''t need to finish the sentence. Rex understood the stakes. The robotic dragon, because that''s what it was, was nearly the size of the Dreadnought itself. If it reached the surface, it could wreak havoc on their forces and jeopardize the entire mission.

    The dragon let out another earth-shaking roar as it burst through the fortress''s entrance, its massive form silhouetted against the misty sky. Its glowing red eyes locked onto the Liberator, and for a moment, the battlefield fell silent.

    Then, with a thunderous crash, the dragon lunged toward the Dreadnought, its metallic claws gleaming in the dim light.