Zealot: The Ancient War Machine

https://www.deviantart.com/jadegretzai/art/Zealot-Blade-of-Honor-1098298873

Zealot: The Ancient War Machine

The battlefield was silent. Too silent. The once-lush forest now lay in ruins, its trees charred and uprooted, the ground stained with the remnants of a conflict that had raged long before any human civilization ever existed. Zealot, the immortal warrior of the Kherubim race, stood on the edge of this desolate expanse, her white hair flowing behind her like a banner of impending war. The air was thick with tension, and every instinct honed through millennia of combat screamed at her that something dark was stirring beneath the surface.

The mission had been simple: investigate a series of mysterious energy readings emanating from this remote area, far from human settlements. But as Zealot ventured deeper into the heart of the forest, the silence gnawed at her. The birds, the insects, even the wind seemed to have fled. Only death lingered here, and it was an ancient death.

"There's something wrong about this place," she muttered under her breath, her grip tightening around the hilt of her sword.

The Kherubim had left their mark on Earth long ago, fighting their eternal enemies, the Daemonites, across the stars. But not all of the remnants of that war had faded into the dust of time. Some had been forgotten—buried under the weight of history, abandoned for good reason.

As Zealot approached the heart of the energy disturbance, she saw it: a towering, monstrous machine half-buried in the earth. Its metallic surface was rusted, though patches gleamed as though it had only recently stirred from a long slumber. Massive arms with claws like scythes lay limp at its sides, and a head—featureless, save for two hollow, dead eyes—jutted upward toward the sky. Even in its dormant state, the war machine exuded a terrifying sense of dread.

Zealot's breath caught in her throat. She knew this machine. This was no mere relic. This was a relic of destruction—a Kherubim war machine, long thought to be lost in the annals of ancient conflicts. Its very existence was forbidden, deemed too dangerous even for their kind. It was built for one purpose alone: annihilation.

The ground trembled beneath her feet. A low, mechanical hum began to fill the air, growing louder with each passing second. Zealot cursed under her breath. The machine was waking.

Suddenly, the war machine's hollow eyes flared to life with a burning red glow, and a deep, guttural sound—like the grinding of ancient gears—reverberated through the earth. Its massive limbs twitched, then slowly, agonizingly, began to rise.

Without hesitation, Zealot leaped into action, her sword gleaming as she dashed toward the machine. She could not let it fully awaken. If it did, the consequences would be catastrophic—not just for the planet, but for the entire galaxy.

Her blade sliced through the air, aiming for the exposed joints in the machine’s arm. Sparks flew as her sword connected, but the machine's armored plating was tougher than anything she had encountered before. It barely left a scratch.

With a deafening roar, the war machine’s arm swung toward her, its claws whistling through the air with lethal precision. Zealot somersaulted backward, barely dodging the blow. The machine moved with a surprising speed that belied its massive size. This was not an ancient relic that had been left to rust—it was still as deadly as the day it had been created.

"You were built for war," Zealot growled, circling the machine as it slowly turned to face her, "but so was I."

The machine responded by raising its other arm, unleashing a barrage of plasma fire from a concealed cannon in its chest. The forest erupted in flames as the plasma bolts streaked through the trees, incinerating everything in their path. Zealot darted between the burning wreckage, using her speed and agility to avoid the deadly onslaught. The war machine’s red eyes followed her every move, calculating, adapting.

For a moment, Zealot considered retreat. She had no backup, no other WildC.A.T.s to help her. But she quickly dismissed the thought. There was no running from this. If she didn’t stop the machine here and now, it would awaken fully—and then there would be no stopping it.

Zealot darted forward again, her mind racing. The machine’s exterior was too tough for her sword, but there had to be a weak spot. All machines had weaknesses. She just needed to find it.

As she dodged another swipe from its claws, Zealot noticed something—a faint, pulsating glow emanating from
...(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 :)