With Fenric's current strength, any type of Terminator was little more than a toy before him.
But that didn't mean the machines were helpless.
If Skynet had rigged this food reserve base with a nuclear warhead, then even he would face certain death.
That was why Fenric sent Nami in first to scout.
"Nami, you'll go inside. The Terminators shouldn't attack you," Fenric instructed.
His reasoning was based on memory. In Terminator 4, the protagonist's body was partly robotic, so the machines didn't immediately attack. The same applied here—earlier, the Terminators had ignored Nami and targeted him instead.
"Once you're inside, act as if you're still the T-1000. Blend in, gather information, and report back. I want to know exactly what's hidden inside."
"Yes, Master."
Nami nodded and strode toward the cave entrance.
Just as Fenric expected, the two T-600s guarding the gate paused when their sensors scanned her, but they didn't attack. Their optical systems clearly distinguished humans from machines.
Nami slipped inside without obstruction.
The food reserve base—No. 647—was originally built as a national granary by the American Government to prepare for emergencies. Now, under Skynet's control, it was a fortress.
An hour later, Nami returned to the hiding spot where Fenric and Tom waited.
"How is it?" Fenric asked. "What defenses are in place?"
"Master," Nami reported calmly, "inside are eighteen T-600s, twenty-two T-800s, and four A-550 aircraft. The entrance is guarded by thermal-imaging machine guns, while the corridors hide electronic traps. The deadliest defense is underground—a 15-ton TNT-equivalent explosive."
"!!!"
Tom's face drained of blood.
To him, this wasn't a base—it was hell itself. For humans, attacking it was suicide. Even if they broke through, the detonation alone would wipe them out. In novel words, it was a Dragon's Pool and Tiger's Den.
Fenric's brows furrowed.
He knew TNT well. One ton produced about 4,183 megajoules of energy—fifteen tons was devastating.
Still, he was confident. His Armament Haki could withstand the blast force. The heat was negligible; a few hundred degrees at most—harmless against his body.
The real danger was the aftermath: the explosion could bury the entire mountain, leaving him trapped beneath tons of rock. Whether he could dig out in time was uncertain.
"Can you disable the explosive?" Fenric asked.
Nami nodded. "The control terminal is hidden inside the head of a T-600. If it's destroyed, the charge will detonate. But if I take control, I can prevent activation."
Fenric's eyes narrowed in surprise.
So that was Skynet's ploy. Hide the trigger in an old T-600, ensuring any human attack would unwittingly doom themselves once they killed it.
A trap designed to bury the Resistance in one stroke.
"Excellent, Nami," Fenric said. "Come in with me."
He had no intention of walking away. Not only was he hungry, but the forty machines inside were also precious task progress.
Tom panicked. "Sir, please wait! It's too dangerous! You should—at least—make a proper plan!"
Fenric gave a thin smile. "I already have a plan."
"What is it?"
"My fists."
The moment the words fell, he surged forward with Nami at his side, charging straight toward the reserve base.
Caution had its place, but hesitation at the wrong time was weakness. Now that he knew the layout, there was no reason to delay.
From the shadows, Tom gaped. "Oh God… he's just charging in? Is he insane?"
But then, his disbelief turned to awe.
Fenric's body erupted with power, his fists blazing as he smashed through the first Terminator guard with a single blow. The machine crumpled like scrap. In the next breath, Fenric slammed his fist into the massive steel gate—shattering it apart.
Tom was dumbstruck. "God… is he an angel sent to save humanity?"
For the first time, he felt the stirrings of faith. That young man—was he truly human?
—--
Tom waited anxiously outside for over an hour. Even from afar, the sounds of battle thundered from within—gunfire, explosions, mechanical roars.
Then suddenly… silence.
A few minutes later, Fenric strode out of the gate, smiling as if he had merely taken a walk.
"Come on," he called, waving Tom forward.
Tom's eyes widened in shock. Was it really over? Just like that?
He hurried to Fenric's side and followed him inside.
The granary was a wreck of shattered steel and broken machines. Food supplies were scattered everywhere. Much had spoiled, but what remained was more than enough to last a lifetime.
"Take as much as you like," Fenric said generously. "I can't carry it all anyway."
Tom's heart surged with gratitude. "Sir… thank you! You're truly… incredible."
Fenric only waved it off, his gaze already thoughtful. "Tell me something, Tom. Have you ever heard of a car… that can transform?"
Tom froze. "Transform… a car? Sir, do you mean the Resistance's trump card—Number Zero?"
"Huh?"
Fenric's eyes widened.