GREEN RAGE AND RED RAGE

The remnants of Ferrovale stretched endlessly ahead, a labyrinth of abandoned warehouses, shattered streetlights, and cracked asphalt. Jester and Luther walked in relative silence, the former humming a jaunty tune while the latter's heavy footfalls echoed ominously in the night.

"Y'know," Jester said, twirling one of his blades absentmindedly, "for a guy who can flip armored vehicles and crush drones with his bare hands, you sure are the brooding type. Ever think about lightening up? Maybe a comedy club? You'd kill on stage—literally."

Luther didn't answer, his glowing green eyes scanning their surroundings. His instincts were sharp, honed by countless battles and relentless hunts. Something about this silence felt wrong—too perfect, too still.

"Quiet," he rumbled, his voice low. "We're being... watched."

Jester stopped mid-step, tilting his head like a curious bird. "Watched? Well, that's just rude. Didn't even send us a courtesy gift basket."

Before Luther could reply, the air around them seemed to shift. A faint mechanical hum vibrated through the ground, and a cold breeze carried the unmistakable scent of ozone.

Jester's grip tightened on his blades. "I don't suppose this is one of those friendly neighborhood watch programs?"

Suddenly, the darkness came alive. From the shadows of a nearby building emerged a sleek, four-legged machine, its metallic frame glinting under the faint moonlight. It moved with the grace of a predator, its glowing red eyes locked on the pair.

"Well, that's new," Jester said, backing up slightly. "A robo-cat? Robo-wolf? What are we calling this thing?"

Luther growled, stepping protectively in front of Jester. "Hunter drone. Elite model. Designed to... kill."

"Great," Jester muttered. "Why do I feel like I'm about to have a very bad day?"

The hunter drone didn't wait for them to act. With a burst of speed, it lunged at Luther, its razor-sharp claws gleaming. Luther met it head-on, catching the machine mid-air. Sparks flew as metal collided with scaled flesh, the impact sending shockwaves through the ground.

"Go!" Luther barked, his voice strained as he wrestled with the drone.

Jester, however, didn't budge. "Oh no, you don't get to hog all the fun!" he shouted, darting forward. His twin blades flashed as he slashed at the drone's exposed joints, his movements quick and precise.

The drone responded with an almost animalistic ferocity, twisting and thrashing as it tried to break free of Luther's grasp. Its claws found purchase on Luther's arm, tearing through his tough skin. Green blood oozed from the wound, but Luther didn't flinch.

"Bad kitty!" Jester yelled, leaping onto the drone's back. He drove one of his blades into its core, only to have it bounce off the reinforced plating. "Oh, come on! Who makes these things, and where can I send a very strongly worded letter?"

The drone bucked, throwing Jester off. He landed with a roll, coming up in a crouch as the machine turned its glowing red eyes on him.

"Uh-oh," Jester muttered.

Before the drone could pounce, Luther grabbed it by the hind legs and swung it like a sledgehammer. With a mighty roar, he slammed it into the side of a building. The impact left a crater in the wall, and the drone crumpled to the ground, twitching but not yet defeated.

Jester scrambled to his feet, dusting himself off. "Nice move, big guy. But I think it's time to wrap this up, don't you?"

Luther nodded, his glowing eyes narrowing. Together, they advanced on the downed drone, Jester's blades at the ready and Luther's claws flexing.

The drone let out a piercing shriek, its body convulsing as it attempted to self-destruct. A faint red glow began to emanate from its core, growing brighter by the second.

"Aw, it's gonna blow!" Jester said, his tone almost admiring. "They grow up so fast."

"Move!" Luther roared, grabbing Jester and tossing him aside just as the drone detonated.

The explosion lit up the night, a fiery blast that sent shrapnel flying in all directions. Luther shielded himself with his massive arms, his body absorbing the brunt of the impact. When the dust settled, he stood battered but unbroken, the green glow of his eyes cutting through the smoke.

Jester sat up a few feet away, coughing. "Well, that was unpleasant. Next time, let's not fight things that can explode, yeah?"

Luther didn't answer, his focus shifting to a faint beeping sound coming from the wreckage. He moved closer, sifting through the debris until he found a small black device—a tracking beacon.

"They're... leading us," he said grimly, crushing the beacon in his claws.

"Leading us?" Jester echoed, brushing dirt off his mask. "To where?"

Before Luther could respond, the faint hum of more drones filled the air, growing louder by the second.

Jester sighed, drawing his blades again. "You'd think they'd send a thank-you card first. No manners, these people."

Luther growled, his muscles tensing. "We... need to move."

As the hum grew louder, the pair turned and disappeared into the shadows, the hunt continuing under the cold, unyielding gaze of the moon.

---

To be continue...