Outside the Time City, moonlight cast silver shadows across the assembled host of destruction. Golden Iron Beast stood at the head of one hundred thousand Black Iron Beasts, their mechanical forms arranged in perfect military formations that stretched beyond the horizon. The siege had begun, yet Thunder Blaze remained absent from the city's desperate defense.
"The Time City trembles with fear tonight," Golden Iron Beast's voice boomed across the battlefield, his words carrying the weight of inevitable conquest. "Let me put an end to their suffering! Attack!"
At his command, the vast army parted like a metallic sea, revealing their ultimate weapon—a massive siege engine equipped with an extendable bridge. Once that span crossed the city's protective moat, the ancient walls would become meaningless barriers.
The colossal machine rolled forward with inexorable purpose, flanked by countless Black Iron Beast warriors advancing in disciplined ranks. Their synchronized march created a thunderous rhythm that seemed to shake the very foundations of the besieged city.
"Ready... fire!" came the desperate cry from atop the Time City's ramparts.
Hundreds of laser cannons erupted in brilliant cascades of energy, their beams lancing out to meet the approaching horde. The Black Iron Beasts responded with devastating precision, their own weapons creating a deadly crossfire that lit the night sky with violent flashes.
"Target their siege engine!" the city's current commander shouted above the chaos. "That machine is our death sentence if it reaches the moat!"
Every available weapon swiveled toward the massive siege engine, concentrated firepower hammering against its armored hull. But the vehicle's construction proved formidable—wave after wave of attacks struck home without significantly slowing its advance.
With no choice but to adapt their strategy, the vehicle warriors shifted targets to the Black Iron Beasts escorting the siege engine. Enemy soldiers fell in steady streams, only to be immediately replaced by fresh reinforcements who stepped over their fallen comrades without hesitation.
Such fearless devotion spoke volumes about Golden Iron Beast's military discipline. His troops faced certain death with unflinching obedience, following orders even when survival seemed impossible. Under different circumstances, such rigid command structure might have enabled Wild Ape—one of the Beast Tribe's Three Great War Kings—to eventually unify the entire Robo-Troopers World.
Unfortunately for them, circumstances were about to change dramatically.
As casualties mounted among his fearless but expendable forces, Golden Iron Beast took direct action. His massive form leaped onto the siege engine's platform, personally grasping the bridge mechanism with both hands.
Concentrated fire from the Time City repeatedly knocked the bridge backward, but the War King's strength exceeded all reasonable expectations.
"AAAAHHHHH!" His roar of exertion echoed like thunder as Golden Iron Beast single-handedly extended the bridge across the protective moat, his raw power overcoming the defenders' desperate resistance.
"Army, follow me to victory!"
Golden Iron Beast led the charge personally, with endless streams of Black Iron Beasts pouring across the bridge behind him. The brutal siege escalated into direct assault as enemy forces swarmed against the city walls.
Vehicle Tribe tumbled from the ramparts while Black Iron Beasts plunged into the moat below. The battle raged with increasing desperation as both sides paid terrible prices for every foot of contested ground.
"We can't hold much longer!" came the panicked cry from the defenders. The Black Iron Beast assault was simply overwhelming—their numerical superiority and tactical coordination had pushed the Time City to its breaking point.
"Wait—what's that?" A sharp-eyed warrior pointed toward a brilliant light approaching from the distant battlefield.
"It's Thunder Blaze! Thunder Blaze has returned—and he's brought reinforcements!"
That single announcement restored hope to the crumbling defense. Vehicle Tribe who'd been ready to abandon their posts suddenly found renewed determination, throwing themselves back into desperate combat against the seemingly endless enemy horde.
A sports car blazing like liquid fire smashed directly into the Black Iron Beast formations, scattering enemies in all directions as it carved a path of destruction through their ranks. Under Ye Xiu's expert control, Thunder Blaze treated the massive army as mere obstacles, driving straight toward the enemy command center.
"Thunder Crescent Slash!"
Thunder Blaze launched skyward, the moon's radiance amplifying his signature technique as a devastating crescent of energy carved through the night. The attack struck with surgical precision, severing Golden Iron Beast's command banner in a single, decisive blow.
With their leader's standard destroyed, the disciplined Black Iron Beast formations dissolved into chaos. Panic rippled through their ranks as century-old military protocols crumbled in the face of unexpected assault.
"Hold the line! Maintain formation!" Golden Iron Beast abandoned his assault on the city walls, rushing back to restore order among his demoralized troops.
Thunder Blaze used the distraction to leap onto the Time City's gate, his imposing form blocking the main entrance like an ancient guardian.
"You again!" Golden Iron Beast's voice carried frustrated recognition.
"That's right, Golden Iron Beast—me again!" Thunder Blaze drove his great sword deep into the earth with dramatic finality. "As long as I draw breath, you'll never set foot inside the Time City!"
His defiant stance evoked legendary warriors of ancient history—one hero holding a strategic pass against impossible odds, his very presence intimidating an entire army through sheer force of will.
"You think one warrior can stop my hundred thousand troops?"
"Not just him—me too!"
Luo Luo, merged with Power Titan, came charging through the battlefield like a mechanical avalanche. Their combined assault shattered the Black Iron Beast formations that had just begun reorganizing, forcing Golden Iron Beast to deploy Purple Iron Beast and Blue Iron Beast to prevent total tactical collapse.
"And who might you be?"
"I am Power Titan, warrior of the Vehicle Tribe!" Power Titan's voice rang out like a war bell, his battle cry actually forcing several front-line Black Iron Beasts to stumble backward in shock.
High above the battlefield, Gustave observed the heroic charge with undisguised admiration. Thunder Blaze and Power Titan had transformed from desperate defenders into magnificent warriors whose courage blazed brighter than the moon itself.
"Incredible courage," he murmured, watching the two merged pairs tear through enemy ranks with unstoppable momentum. "Such magnificent spirit!"
What man hadn't dreamed of leading cavalry charges against overwhelming odds? Of standing alone against impossible numbers through sheer determination and skill? Even Gustave felt his blood stirring with sympathetic excitement, part of him wanting to join the glorious battle below.
Fortunately, rational thought prevailed. The entire Black Iron Beast army wouldn't provide sufficient challenge for someone of his capabilities—intervention would transform an epic struggle into casual extermination.
"Come then, Golden Iron Beast!" Thunder Blaze called out with fierce pride. "Let's see if you can conquer the Time City today!"
Golden Iron Beast launched himself forward with tremendous force, meeting the challenge head-on as three titans collided in the space between armies.
"Thunder Crescent Slash!"
"Mountain Meteor Crash!"
Under their respective controllers' guidance, Thunder Blaze and Power Titan unleashed their signature techniques simultaneously. The resulting impact created shockwaves that rattled every building in the Time City, a collision of powers that briefly illuminated the entire battlefield.
"Excellent! Again!"
After the three combatants separated, Golden Iron Beast immediately pressed another attack. The ensuing battle proved evenly matched, with neither side able to gain decisive advantage through raw force alone.
"This stalemate won't work," Ye Xiu analyzed quickly. "Luo Luo, have Power Titan hold Golden Iron Beast in place while Thunder Blaze and I prepare a finishing move."
"Got it!"
Luo Luo pushed Power Titan forward into direct confrontation. Though the excavator-warrior's strength fell short of Golden Iron Beast's legendary power, Luo Luo's tactical support allowed them to maintain defensive pressure long enough for the critical preparation phase.
Ye Xiu positioned Thunder Blaze with arms spread wide, mechanically drawing lunar energy into his systems with methodical precision. Wave after wave of power flowed into the warrior's frame as moonlight itself seemed to bend toward his position.
Finally, the charging process reached completion.
"Thunder Crescent Slash!"
Thunder Blaze's leap carried him higher than the city walls themselves. Enhanced by gravitational acceleration and maximum lunar amplification, the fully powered Thunder Crescent Slash descended like divine judgment.
Power Titan rolled aside just in time as the devastating attack struck home, its impact driving Golden Iron Beast backward through dozens of his own soldiers. Only the desperate intervention of Purple Iron Beast and Blue Iron Beast prevented their commander from being completely overwhelmed by the technique's tremendous force.
"General!" both subordinates cried in alarm.
"Are you injured, General?"
After several tense moments, Golden Iron Beast slowly rose to his feet, clearly wounded but still functional.
Luo Luo and Ye Xiu quickly analyzed their opponent's condition, confirming that Thunder Blaze's attack had inflicted serious damage despite failing to achieve total victory.
"Golden Iron Beast, do you still wish to continue this battle?"
Thunder Blaze's challenge echoed across the suddenly quiet battlefield.
"General, the Time City's morale has completely recovered," Purple Iron Beast advised with military pragmatism. "Any further assault would cost us enormous casualties for uncertain gain."
"Yes, General," Blue Iron Beast added urgently. "Marshal Wild Ape has also sent urgent messages requesting our immediate return to base."
Golden Iron Beast stared at the defiant Time City for long moments, his strategic mind weighing options against brutal mathematics. Finally, wounded pride yielded to tactical necessity.
"Retreat!" he commanded with bitter reluctance.
The vast Black Iron Beast army began its withdrawal, leaving the Time City victorious once again. Another crisis had passed, but everyone knew this was merely the latest battle in a war that would continue until one side achieved total victory.