[The Sanctuary - Underground City Plaza]
The Behemoth sat in the center of the underground metropolis like a mountain of steel. Its plasma drill was still glowing red hot. Surrounding it were thousands of white-armored soldiers. They weren't holding guns; they were holding staffs that glowed with blue energy.
Standing on a floating platform above the army was The Bishop (Seat 3). He wore white robes woven with fiber-optic cables. He looked like a Cybernetic Pope.
"Heretic!" The Bishop's voice boomed over the city speakers. "You dare enter the Holy Land? You dare defile the Sanctuary?"
Inside the Behemoth, Alex checked his nails. "Dawn," Alex asked. "Is he serious?"
"Target Analysis: The Bishop," Dawn reported. "Controls the 'Paladin Corps.' Uses hard-light technology to simulate divine magic. Threat Level: High."
"Behold the power of God!" The Bishop raised his staff. HUMMMM. Giant winged mechs—"Seraphims"—descended from the ceiling. They fired beams of concentrated light at the Behemoth.
BOOM. BOOM. The Behemoth's armor held, but the heat alarms screamed.
"He thinks he's a god because he has flashlights," Alex sighed. "Open the System Store. Category: Anti-Air Supremacy."
Item: The Sky-Eater (Missile Swarm). Cost: $10 Billion.
Item: The God-Slayer (Railgun Turret). Cost: $15 Billion.
"Buy the Sky-Eaters," Alex ordered. "Let's clip his wings."
[The Battle]
The roof of the Behemoth opened. A missile rack the size of a swimming pool emerged. WHOOSH-WHOOSH-WHOOSH. Five hundred heat-seeking missiles launched in a single volley. They trailed black smoke, screaming toward the Seraphims.
The Bishop's eyes widened. "Miracle Shield!" The Seraphims raised their energy barriers. But money hits harder than faith. The missiles impacted. The explosions turned the underground sky into a firestorm. The "Angels" fell from the air, burning heaps of scrap metal crashing into the city streets.
[The Confrontation]
Alex walked out of the Behemoth's ramp. He stepped onto the plaza. The Bishop lowered his platform, surrounded by his elite guards.
"You... you possess the Devil's luck," The Bishop spat.
"It's not luck," Alex said, walking forward. The Praetorians marched behind him, executing any soldier who tried to get close. "It's budget."
The Bishop aimed his staff at Alex. "Die!" A beam of pure energy shot out.
Alex didn't dodge. "Titan Body: Hardened." He raised his hand. The beam hit his palm. It scorched his skin, but it didn't pierce. Alex closed his fist, crushing the energy beam until it dissipated.
He dashed forward—Speed 200. He appeared in front of The Bishop instantly. He grabbed The Bishop by the throat and lifted him off the platform.
"Your god is dead," Alex whispered, looking into the Bishop's terrified eyes. "And I bought his house."
SNAP.
Alex tossed the body aside. The Paladin Corps, seeing their leader dead, dropped their weapons. They surrendered.
"One down," Alex wiped his hand on his suit. "Two to go."