Chapter 90-Thunderous impact

Chapter 90: 90-Thunderous impact

In the next moment, the crab recovered. It screeched, a horrible grinding sound that set his teeth on edge, and swung its massive claw toward 009.

The robot ducked and the pincer swept over its head and smashed into the ship’s railing.

KRAAANG!

Metal twisted like paper. The sound made Noel’s stomach clench. That railing had been intact only minutes earlier and if the creature kept striking the ship with that kind of force, the damage would accumulate quickly and if it breached the hull? He forced the thought away.

"One problem at a time," he whispered to himself.

009 seized one of the crab’s legs and attempted to wrench it sideways.

The creature barely moved. However, it planted its remaining legs against the deck and used its enormous weight to resist the robot’s pull and raised another leg to attack.

Noel’s eyes widened. "009, move!"

The pointed limb stabbed downward. 009 twisted aside at the last possible moment. The leg punched through the deck with a violent metallic shriek.

The ship shuddered.

Ambrose stared at the hole in pure horror. It was definitely the end times for such a creature to exist. "That thing just pierced reinforced metal!" He gasped.

"Would you prefer to stand still and let it pierce you next?" Noel shouted.

"No!"

"Then keep moving!"

Ambrose swallowed hard and forced himself to focus. Fear was creeping through him now, cold and unwelcome. He had fought desperate men before. He had faced dangerous situations where one mistake could end his life but this was different.

A human opponent could be distracted, injured, intimidated, or outmaneuvered. This creature seemed to know nothing except the instinct to attack. It did not hesitate, retreat and every part of its body appeared designed to kill.

A sharp metallic crash pulled Ambrose out of his thoughts. 009 had been seized by one of the crab’s claws. The pincer closed around its arm with a deafening snap.

"009!"

Noel’s shout tore from his throat before he could stop it and for the first time since meeting the robot, he felt a jolt of helplessness at seeing it trapped.

009 had repaired their ship when he had nearly given up on it. It had restored their power, their navigation, and their chance of surviving the next few days.

The robot was not merely a weapon, it was their lifeline and a gift from his friend. If it fell, they would be facing this monster alone.

"Release it!" Noel shouted as though the creature could understand him.

The crab tightened its grip and the metal groaned. 009’s trapped arm began to deform and then the robot’s eyes flashed brighter.

[I’m operational, master. Do not fear.]

"That’s not the point!" Ambrose yelled.

009 twisted its body, driving its free fist repeatedly into the crab’s head.

Once, twice and three times... Each strike landed with a thunderous impact. The crab shrieked and loosened its grip just enough for the robot to wrench its arm free.

009 stumbled backward. Its damaged forearm flickered, and sparks spat from a gap in the armor.

[Damage sustained.]

[Combat efficiency reduced by twelve percent.]

Ambrose stared at the robot’s arm. "Twelve percent? That’s all?" He asked, he thought of Nathaniel and the next question on his lips was, "What sorts of crazies do you have for brains to create such a robot, friend?"

[Current combat efficiency is within acceptable parameters.]

"You’re unbelievable! Just, don’t get wrecked on my watch. I wouldn’t know what to say to Nathaniel when next I see him."

[Your observation and request have been recorded.]

"Stop recording things and kill the damn crab!" Ambrose shouted in desperation. The last thing he wanted was to be cut in half by the crab.

Despite the terror clawing at his chest, Noel almost laughed at his brother’s emotional state. Almost.

Then the crab lunged again, and the fragile moment of relief shattered.

"Ambrose, its joints!" Noel shouted. "We need to expose the gaps in its armor!"

Ambrose immediately shifted his aim. "Understood!"

He waited until the crab raised one of its legs, exposing the narrow space between two overlapping plates and then he fired like a possessed man.

BANG! BANG!

The first two bullets ricocheted away. The third struck the exposed joint. A dark, viscous fluid spurted from the wound and the crab shrieked.

Its entire body jerked, and the injured leg buckled slightly beneath its weight.

Ambrose’s eyes widened. "Got you!"

The excitement in his voice was almost manic. He had found something that could hurt it and that meant the creature was not invincible and if it could be injured, it could be killed.

"Noel! The joints are vulnerable!"

"I can see that!"

"Then stop standing there looking handsome and shoot something, brother!"

Noel gave him a murderous glare before turning his weapon toward the creature. He aimed carefully.

The crab’s legs were moving too quickly, and the pitching deck made every shot uncertain. He waited for an opening, ignoring the throbbing pain in his shoulder.

"There!" He yelled when he spotted one.

The creature shifted its weight to raise a claw. Noel fired into the exposed joint beneath its body.

BANG!

The bullet struck and the crab recoiled. A fierce, grim satisfaction surged through him. It could bleed, feel pain and that meant they had a chance.

"009!" he called. "Target the gaps in its armor!"

[Target acquired.]

Weapons deployed along both of the robot’s arms.

RATATATATATAT!

A storm of bullets tore across the deck, striking the creature’s exposed joints. Dark fluid splattered over its metallic shell, and the crab screeched so loudly that Ambrose felt the vibration in his chest.

The creature twisted toward 009 and then it charged towards the robot. Its speed was terrifying for something so large.

One moment it stood several meters away and the next, it was bearing down on the robot with both claws raised.

009 dodged the first strike and the second caught its shoulder.

BOOOOOOM!

The impact sent the robot flying backward. It crashed through the already-damaged railing, its metallic body slamming against the deck with a sound that made both brothers flinch.

"009!"

Noel’s heart lurched and for one horrifying instant, the robot did not move.

The crab turned toward him. Its massive claw opened. Noel raised his weapon, but his fingers suddenly felt clumsy. His shoulder screamed in protest, and the creature was already closing the distance.

He fired but the bullet bounced off its shell. However, he didn’t stop and pressed on with the sea of bullets but they did him no good.

The crab raised its claw. Noel knew he could not dodge in time so his stomach dropped. Was this it?