Logan scanned the armored warriors surrounding him — the Iron Legion. Towering figures of steel, each humming with energy. One, clearly their leader, stepped forward. Her armor shimmered a deeper red, with a pulsing core at the center of her chest.

"Nice to meet you. I'm the Iron Chief," she said, her voice firm and commanding.

Logan nodded. "Name’s Logan. I’m guessing you know the Iron Titan, considering you all look like him.”

The Chief's eyes widened slightly. “You know him?! Where is he?”

Logan looked away, guilt flashing across his face. “I wish I could tell you. He’s been missing ever since those new Hosts arrived.”

Suddenly, the sky darkened. A Hybrid Host blitzed through the streets like a black blur, knocking Iron soldiers aside like toys.

The Chief’s eyes glowed crimson. “Target locked.”

Behind her, a massive turret rose from the ground, locking onto the enemy. With a thunderous whirr, it fired — a searing beam of blue energy streaked across the sky, smashing into the Hybrid and sending it crashing through a building.

Logan turned to her, eyebrows raised. “Aimbot?”

Before she could answer, a deafening BOOM erupted behind them. A Hybrid Destroyer touched down, laughing maniacally. He raised his cannon arm and blasted the ground, launching everyone backward in a shockwave of chaos.

The Chief rolled across the concrete, extinguishing the small fire on her shoulder. She stood, unsheathing twin plasma swords with a hiss.

The Destroyer stepped forward, unphased — until a blur tackled the Chief out of mid-air.

“Jaden?!” Logan shouted.

Jaden helped the Chief up. “You're not ready for that fight!”

“Inadequate goofball! You need to leave!” a voice snapped.

Virtua Cat stepped forward, metal claws snapping out from his shoulders. He caught an incoming energy blast mid-air, absorbing the shock.

"My turn," he growled.

Virtua Cat hurled the energy back at the Destroyer, the blast slamming into him and sending him skidding across the asphalt.

The Destroyer hissed and took flight — only to be slammed out of the sky by a crimson blast.

“Someone’s dying,” a booming voice echoed across the street, “and it’s not me!”

Titan Saffron stomped into view, eyes burning with red-hot fury.

The Destroyer lunged, biting into one of Saffron’s horns, snapping it off. But Saffron roared and countered, plunging his right drill into the Destroyer’s torso.

“LOOK AT ME!” Saffron bellowed.

Radiation burst from his faceplate, forcing the Destroyer to deploy his visor. But Saffron’s left drill detached — and in a swift, brutal move, he ripped the Destroyer’s helmet off and decapitated him.

A blast caught Saffron’s shoulder, shattering armor and exposing circuitry. A Hybrid Strider dropped onto his head, smashing sensors.

Without flinching, Saffron grabbed the Strider, slammed it into the ground, and incinerated it with flames spewing from his core.

“Your Titan wouldn’t want you to die meaninglessly,” he growled to the Iron Legion. “Leave. While you still can.”

Another Hybrid swooped in, firing lasers. Saffron activated his energy shield, absorbing the blasts — then countered, drilling the Hybrid into the pavement.

But it wasn’t enough. The Hybrid rebounded, ramming into Saffron’s chest and legs, sending the Titan crashing down.

“Too slow,” the Hybrid mocked, unleashing another barrage.

Saffron grunted, raising his drill to block the attack. His systems sputtered under the strain.

Then — a chirping sound. A Camera Bot buzzed overhead, distracting the Hybrid just long enough.

The Hybrid turned, lasering the Bot.

Bad move.

Saffron surged to his feet and grabbed the Hybrid, smashing it down and crushing its head in his bare hands.

Sparks rained down. Smoke filled the sky.

Logan turned, breathing hard.

“We’ve pulled everyone back to base,” FoxBon shouted. “Let’s get out of this hellhole!”

But the sky darkened even more. Three more Hybrids descended like vultures.

“Pathetic trash!” Titan Saffron shouted, stomping forward, drills spinning. “Give me someone worthy to fight!”

Then he stopped.

To his right — the ground trembled.

A hulking silhouette emerged from the smoke.

The Hybrid Titan stepped forward.