"We're ready,"
Arthur stated, his voice calm but firm.
A grim smile touched Godo's lips.
"Excellent. We've identified a key Shinra supply route that passes through a narrow canyon to the west. It's heavily fortified, but also a choke point. Perfect for an ambush."
He pointed to a section of the map.
"Their next convoy is due in two days. It's carrying a significant amount of Mako and a new experimental weapon, according to our intel."
"An experimental weapon?"
Tifa questioned, her fists clenching.
"Shinra's always up to no good."
"Indeed,"
Godo confirmed.
"Our spies believe it's a new type of Mako cannon, designed for rapid deployment. If we can get our hands on it, or at least destroy it, it would be a major setback for them."
Barret slammed a fist on the table.
"Then that's our target. No more waiting around. Let's show those Shinra suits what happens when you mess with us."
Cloudia, ever analytical, added,
"Disrupting their supply lines will also force them to spread their forces thin, making other targets more vulnerable."
"Precisely,"
Godo said, nodding.
"Here's the plan. Arthur will lead the main assault. His power will be crucial in breaking through their initial defenses. Barret and Yuffie. Once Arthur creates a diversion, you'll infiltrate the nearby Shinra outpost controlling the convoy's security systems. Shut down their communications and defenses."
He then looked at Aerith and Tifa.
"Aerith, your healing magic will be vital in keeping Arthur and the others in the fight. Tifa, your combat prowess will be needed to support Arthur, protecting his flanks and taking down any stragglers."
Two days later, the Wutai group positioned themselves along the canyon walls, hidden by the rugged terrain.
The air was crisp, and a tense silence hung over them as they waited. Arthur felt the familiar hum of his [Dragon's Aura] spreading around him, a comforting warmth that promised immense power.
He focused his mind, his senses sharpening with [Super Focus], ready to react to the slightest shift in the environment.
Soon, the distant rumble of engines grew louder, and the first of Shinra's armored vehicles emerged into view, a long convoy snaking through the canyon.
Gleaming in the morning sun, they were a stark reminder of Shinra's oppressive presence.
"Now!"
Godo's command echoed through the canyon.
Arthur moved. He launched himself from the cliff, a blur of motion. As he descended, a torrent of crimson energy erupted from his hands – [Dragonic Cannon].
The blast ripped through the air, striking the lead Shinra armored personnel carrier with devastating force.
The vehicle exploded in a fiery roar, sending debris scattering and throwing the entire convoy into chaos.
Shinra troops, initially stunned, quickly recovered and began to deploy. Their Mako rifles opened fire, a hail of concentrated energy bolts streaking towards Arthur. But he was too fast, too powerful.
He blurred through the incoming fire, his AGI making him an almost impossible target.
He used [Reality Blending (Partial Released)], subtly shifting his form and the air around him, causing bullets and energy blasts to veer off course, impacting harmlessly against the canyon walls.
He landed amidst the panicked Shinra soldiers, and the true extent of his power became terrifyingly clear. With [Dragonic Hand], his fists glowed with crimson red energy, each strike sending shockwaves that shattered armor and sent soldiers flying. No one could stand against him.
His Pow at Lv.7 S-963 was simply overwhelming.
One soldier, braver or more foolish than the rest, charged him with a large sword. Arthur merely extended a hand, and with a thought, used [Soul Magic], a force that bound the soldier's limbs, rendering him helpless. Arthur then casually tossed him aside, his focus unwavering on the bigger threat.
Shinra deployed their elite shock troopers, clad in heavier armor and wielding advanced weaponry. They tried to coordinate their attacks, forming a defensive perimeter. Arthur, however, was a force of nature.
He unleashed a barrage of [Dragonic Shots], smaller, more focused blasts of energy that punched through the thickest armor, felling soldiers with single hits.
His movements were fluid, graceful, yet utterly destructive. His Dex and AGI allowed him to move with impossible speed, appearing and disappearing within their ranks, striking before they could even register his presence.
He was too powerful, and in this canyon, he was unstoppable.
While Arthur created a maelstrom of destruction, Barret and Yuffie moved with silent efficiency. They scaled the steep rock face leading to the Shinra outpost that controlled the convoy's communications and security.
"Alright, little ninja,"
Barret whispered, his large arm pointing to a ventilation shaft.
"You take the lead. Your tiny self can squeeze through there."
Yuffie grinned, her eyes gleaming.
"You got it, Pop-Pop! Just try to keep up."
With a flurry of motion, she was through the vent, disappearing into the darkness.
Barret, with a surprising amount of agility for his size, used handholds to pull himself up to a less conspicuous entrance, his gun-arm ready.
Inside, the Shinra outpost was a hive of activity, but the alarms from the convoy below had diverted most of the guards.
Yuffie, moving like a phantom, disarmed a lone technician with a swift kick and began expertly tapping into the control panel.
Her fingers flew across the keyboard, bypassing security protocols with ease. She was the best materia hunter for a reason, and hacking Shinra systems was just another skill in her extensive repertoire.
"Alright, Barret, I'm in!"
She chirped over their comms.
"Just need a few more seconds to shut down their comms and defense grid. Keep those grunts off my back!"
Barret, meanwhile, had entered the main control room, his gun-arm already spitting lead. He blasted through the few remaining guards, sending sparks flying as his bullets ricocheted off the metallic walls.
"Consider it done, kid! Just hurry it up!"
Below, Aerith and Tifa were a vital lifeline for Arthur. Aerith, positioned on a ridge overlooking the battle, chanted prayers, her staff glowing with a soft, green light.
She cast [Heal] spells, the restorative energy flowing into Arthur, mending any minor wounds and replenishing his stamina.
Her focus was absolute, her connection to the Lifestream allowing her to channel its energy with incredible precision.
Even amidst the chaos, her serene presence was a beacon of hope.
Tifa, meanwhile, was a whirlwind of fists and feet, moving in perfect sync with Arthur's destructive path. She was his shield, his enforcer.
As Shinra soldiers tried to flank Arthur, Tifa was there, her powerful kicks and punches sending them sprawling. She used her lightning-fast combos to create openings, allowing Arthur to unleash his more devastating attacks without interruption. Her endurance and agility were on full display as she weaved through the battlefield, a blur of motion and power.
She saw a group of heavily armed Shinra special forces attempting to set up a Mako turret. Without hesitation, Tifa launched herself towards them, a furious cry escaping her lips.
Her fists struck with the force of a hammer, dismantling the turret and its operators in a brutal display of martial arts.
"Need a hand, Arthur?"
She called out, a smirk on her face as she punched a Shinra captain clear across the canyon.
Arthur, in the midst of unleashing a devastating [Dragonic Canon] that incinerated an entire armored vehicle, simply gave a thumbs-up, his eyes blazing with power.
Suddenly, the Shinra forces' organized resistance faltered. Their radios went silent. The automated turrets on the canyon walls, which had been tracking Arthur, whirred to a halt.
"Systems down!"
Yuffie's triumphant voice crackled over the comms.
"Their eyes and ears are gone!"
A cheer went up from the Wutai forces hidden in the canyon. Godo, watching from his vantage point, allowed himself a rare, wide smile.
With their communications cut and their defenses offline, the remaining Shinra troops fell into disarray. Panic set in. Arthur, sensing the shift, intensified his assault.
He used his [Dragon's Heart] to draw upon an even deeper reserve of energy, his attacks becoming even more ferocious. He was a force of pure, untamed power, a living embodiment of the raw energy he commanded.
He found the main transport truck, heavily armored and distinct from the others. This was likely where the experimental weapon was stored. With a powerful leap, Arthur landed on its roof, his weight crushing the metal. He channeled his power, a massive surge of [Dragonic Hand] energy, and plunged his fist through the vehicle's reinforced plating.
Inside, he found the Mako cannon, a monstrous, sleek weapon glowing with dark Mako energy.
Without a moment's hesitation, Arthur activated [Reality Blending (Partial Released)] again, not to evade, but to amplify. He focused his energy, twisting the very fabric of the cannon's internal components, corrupting its Mako flow.
With a final, explosive burst of [Dragonic Shot], he detonated the weapon from within. The resulting explosion ripped through the truck, sending a fiery mushroom cloud billowing into the sky, a clear signal of their victory.
The remaining Shinra forces, demoralized and leaderless, began to retreat in a desperate scramble. The canyon, once a scene of a powerful military convoy, was now littered with burning wreckage and scattered, fleeing soldiers.
As the last echoes of battle faded, a sense of weary triumph settled over the canyon. Arthur stood amidst the destruction, his body radiating a faint, green glow as [Dragonic Cure] automatically worked to alleviate any lingering fatigue.
He had pushed himself, but the power flowing through him was exhilarating.
Godo descended from his position, his face etched with awe. He approached Arthur, his eyes reflecting a mixture of respect and astonishment.
"I have seen many battles, Arthur, but never anything like that. You are truly… extraordinary."
Barret and Yuffie emerged from the Shinra outpost, Yuffie practically bouncing with excitement.
"That was awesome, Arthur! You really showed them!"
"Yeah,"
Barret grumbled, but a wide grin split his face.
"Never thought I'd see Shinra run with their tails between their legs. You're a one-man army, kid."
Aerith and Tifa joined them, relief washing over their faces as they saw Arthur unharmed.
"Are you alright, Arthur?"
Aerith asked, her gentle voice a stark contrast to the destruction around them.
"Never better,"
Arthur replied, a genuine smile spreading across his face.
"We did it. We hit them hard."
Godo surveyed the scene, then turned to the group, his gaze lingering on Arthur.
"This is just the beginning. Shinra will retaliate, swiftly and brutally. But now, they know what they are up against. They know that Wutai is not alone, and that there is a new, formidable power rising against them."
He looked at Arthur, his voice dropping to a low, serious tone.
"Your strength, Arthur, is a beacon of hope for us all. It changes everything. The fight is far from over, but with you leading the charge, perhaps, for the first time in a long time, we truly have a chance."
The sun began to set, casting long shadows across the canyon. The air was still thick with the smell of smoke, but amidst the wreckage, a new resolve had solidified. The strike on Shinra's convoy was more than just a disruption; it was a declaration.
A declaration that the balance of power was shifting, and that Arthur was at the forefront of that change.