2B: Journey through the Echoes by Jade Gretz

https://www.deviantart.com/jadegretzai/art/2B-Journey-through-the-Echoes-1073000506

The barren wasteland stretched endlessly before her, a scarred and desolate reminder of the world that once was. 2B stood on the edge of a crumbling plateau, the remnants of a once-great city lying in ruin beneath her. The wind whipped through her white hair, strands catching the dim light of a blood-red sun as it dipped below the horizon. Her black blindfold shielded her eyes from the haunting landscape, but it did nothing to dull the oppressive weight that clung to her like a shroud.

She gripped the hilt of her sword tightly, the leather-bound handle familiar and worn beneath her gloved fingers. It had been her constant companion in this war, a war that felt as though it had no beginning and no end. Her mission was clear: destroy the machine lifeforms that had overrun Earth and reclaim it for humanity. But the longer the conflict dragged on, the more hollow her purpose became.

"2B, are you receiving me?" The voice of 9S crackled in her earpiece, breaking the silence that hung heavy in the air.

"Yes," she responded, her tone even, though a hint of weariness seeped through. "I'm here."

"There's an unusual cluster of machine lifeforms up ahead," 9S continued, his voice laced with curiosity. "I can't pinpoint their exact formation, but something feels off about this. Be careful."

"Understood."

2B leaped from the plateau, her lithe form descending gracefully into the chaos below. The city, once a bustling metropolis, was now nothing more than jagged skeletons of buildings and rusted debris. Cracks spiderwebbed through the streets, the ground itself seemingly groaning under the weight of history and destruction. Shadows moved within the ruins, the eerie glow of red machine eyes flickering like distant stars.

As she advanced, her footsteps silent on the cracked asphalt, she could feel it—the subtle shift in the atmosphere. It was like a breath held too long, the anticipation before something terrible emerged from the dark. Her sensors picked up movement in the distance, but there was more than just the usual mechanical drones patrolling the perimeter. There was something else here, something that sent a shiver down her spine.

The first wave of machines attacked without warning, their spindly limbs moving with unnatural precision. Their shrieks echoed through the city as they charged toward her, metal gleaming under the dying light. 2B reacted on instinct, her sword slicing through the air with deadly accuracy. Sparks flew as her blade met steel, cutting through the machine lifeforms as though they were nothing more than paper. Limbs fell, and torsos collapsed, but even as the machines crumbled around her, a hollow emptiness gnawed at the edges of her mind.

This was all she knew: combat, destruction, death. It was her purpose, her reason for existing. But lately, that purpose had begun to feel more like a curse.

The machines kept coming, their numbers swelling as more emerged from the shadows. 2B moved with fluid grace, her every movement calculated and efficient. But as her blade cut through yet another foe, she felt a strange sensation—a ripple in the air, a presence that shouldn’t be there.

She turned sharply, her eyes narrowing behind her blindfold. In the distance, just beyond the ruined towers, something was watching her. It wasn’t a machine; it was something… different. Something ancient.

"9S," she said, her voice low, "I'm detecting something unusual. It's not a machine, but it's close."

"I'm picking up the same thing," 9S replied, a note of concern creeping into his voice. "It's like… it's feeding off the machines. Be careful, 2B."

2B advanced cautiously, her sword ready. The ruins around her seemed to darken, the light fading as an unnatural shadow crept across the landscape. The red eyes of the machine lifeforms flickered and dimmed as if whatever was lurking had drained their energy. For the first time in a long while, 2B felt a prickle of fear.

Then she saw it.

Emerging from the blackened remains of a collapsed building was a figure shrouded in darkness. Its form was vaguely humanoid, but its body was twisted, as if it had been corrupted by something far worse than any machine. Its skin, pale and translucent, pulsed with a sickly glow, veins of dark matter snaking through its limbs. It moved slowly, deliberately, its head tilted as though it were studying her.

"Who… are you?" 2B asked, her voice steady despite the growing unease.

The figure didn’t answer. Ins
...(more at https://www.deviantart.com/jadegretzai).
For more supergirl, chun li, batgirl, tifa, lara croft, wonder woman, rogue and much more, please visit my page at www.deviantart.com/jadegretzai - Thanks for your support :)