The System Mecha is so unscientific

### Chapter 17: The Mission, Part 4

The echoes of battle and the cries of the combatants filled the cavern as Da watched the division unfold. His heart raced, knowing that they were up against formidable opponents driven by dark powers. As much as he wanted to believe in Kai's resolve, he couldn't shake the sinking feeling in his stomach.

"Fireboy, cover our retreat. Engage the Golems long enough to allow the soldiers to escape," he ordered, his voice steady despite the chaos.

"Affirmative," Fireboy replied, its energy blade humming to life. The mech moved into position, intercepting one of the Butcher Golems. It slashed at the creature's exposed side, the blade carving through the corrupted flesh but barely slowing the beast down.

As Da adjusted his energy pistol, he kept an eye on the remaining soldiers who had chosen to side with him. They were falling back towards the cavern's entrance, gaining distance from the looming threat. But the Golems were relentless, their primal instincts driving them to destroy any who opposed them.

The remaining loyalists to Kai were positioning themselves for a fight, taking stances that showed a mix of determination and desperation. In that moment, Da felt a twinge of fear for them. Kai's newfound fervor had clouded his judgment; Da knew that without clarity of purpose, they were all walking a tightrope between madness and valor.

As the Golems closed in, Da refocused. They couldn't show weakness—if they faltered, the creatures might turn their attention to the retreating soldiers.

"Kai!" Da called out, his voice cutting through the din. "We need to fall back! You can't fight them alone!"

Kai's response was a howl of fury as he crashed into one of the Golems, grappling its massive arm. "No! I will not back down! We need to secure the perimeter!" He swung his arm, a brutal strike that connected with the golem's head, causing it to stagger.

The other Golem, wounded by Fireboy, advanced on Kai, its eyes glowing with a sinister light. Da could see the corruption—an oily black substance oozing from the golem’s joints—and it was spreading, seemingly pulsing with a life of its own.

"You’re playing a dangerous game, Kai!" Da shouted again, trying to reach him through the fog of anger and purpose clouding his mind.

"I've made my choice, you have made yours the dice have be rolled only the end shall tell!" Kai yelled back, and with renewed vigor, he pushed forward, attempting to take down the Golem before them.

Suddenly, Da spotted something in the shadows of the cavern. A group of hooded figures emerged, their movements fluid and silent, blending into the backdrop of the chaotic battle. The Cultists of Uitzilcapac had arrived.

With a sickening realization, Da understood that they were not simply observing the fight—they were orchestrating it. The cultists stood at the fringes, their eyes scanning for the chaos and destruction that the Golems were inflicting. The corrupted creatures didn't seem to be attacking indiscriminately; they were being directed.

A chill gnawed at Da's spine. "System, can you identify the hooded figures?" he asked urgently.

"Identification of targets: A group of compising of blood mages, lesser vampires and normal humans, advised description "Cultists of Uitzilcapac". They exhibit signs of dark magic and summoning rituals," MMGS's voice responded, the tone devoid of emotion. "Primary objective must change. Immediate action required to counter the cultists’ influence."

Da cursed under his breath as he fought through the disorienting chaos around him. "We can't fight both the Golems and the Cultists. We need to divide their attention and bring down those who are controlling them!"

The soldiers he had rallied began to regroup. Da raised his energy pistol, aiming for the cultists. "We need to take them out! They’re directing the attack! Soldiers, we engage their force!"

With his order, the soldiers steadied themselves, weapons raised at the dark figures. Kai, still grappling with the Golem, looked over in confusion, realizing that Da was calling for a coordinated effort instead of retreat.

"You’re wasting time, Da! Focus on the Golems!" Kai shouted, but the urgency in Da’s gaze was undeniable.

“No, Kai! This is how we stop this madness! Focus on the cultists, or we’ll never be free of these creatures!”

The remaining Grimheart soldiers took aim under Da's direction, their eyes darting nervously between the golems and the cultists. Without hesitation, they unleashed a barrage of pulse fire towards the hooded figures, forcing the cultists to scatter.

As the gunfire erupted, Kai found an unexpected surge of clarity amid the chaos. The fight he had initially sought was not just about defeating the Golems; it was also about uncovering the truth behind the forces that manipulated their every move. Perhaps there was still time to re-evaluate his role in this conflict.

With a renewed focus, Kai redoubled his efforts against the golem before him, striking with calculated aggression while keeping an eye out for the cultists. In that moment, he saw that Da was right—they needed to sever the string pulling the puppets to end their reign of terror.

"Fine!" Kai spat, a growl of determination in his voice. “If you think the cultists are the key, then let’s finish them off quickly. But I’m not leaving this battle unfought!”

As the fight continued, chaos erupted all around them. Da led the way, urging the soldiers into a more unified offensive against the cultists. The Butcher Golems, still dangerously strong, were now distracted, swiping wildly at Kai and Fireboy as they fought in tandem to hold their ground.

The cultists, now realizing their position was being compromised, began to chant, their voices rising in pitch, summoning dark energies that pulsed through the air like a storm brewing.

"We need to take them out before they unleash whatever they’re summoning!" Da shouted, his voice filled with urgency. "Now, give it everything you’ve got!"

With the team united under a shared sense of purpose, Di prepared to launch an attack amid the roiling chaos—either against the Cult of Uitzilcapac, feeding off the pain and suffering, or against the Butcher Golems—the question remained.

Would they manage to stop the cultists in time? Or would they pay for their resolve with devastating losses?@@novelbin@@