The two robots, however, seemed to be more difficult to deal with. It was as if they had gone berserk after the other two were destroyed.
They started shooting lasers beams through their eyes, attacking the four men without a break. Even Ryker wasn't spared. It was becoming difficult for them to control the robots, let alone destroy them.
"Let's keep moving. We can't stay here," Vance shouted, taking a quick look at Ryker. The robots were making it impossible for him to come down. So, he could only hover in the sky, avoiding the laser beams as much as possible.
Understanding Vance's plan, Lucas and Dave started moving back, increasing the distance between them and the robots.
At some point, they had moved back a considerable distance. Although the robots had moved forward towards them, they had managed to reach an intersection. Now, they had an escape route and they could at least breathe for a few seconds, even if they couldn't ward off the robots completely.
Lucas glanced at Vance for instructions and Vance studied the place. The only two paths they had for escape were on their left and right. The right lane was congested and narrow, making it difficult for Ryker to reach them.
The left lane was wide and open. However, there wasn't any place to hide. The robots would reach them within seconds.
"Right," he shouted, and they ran towards their right instantly.
Lucas and Dave had expected his answer. So, they were already prepared. Now, they were out of a danger for a few seconds at least and they breathed heavily looking at the sky.
Ryker didn't delay anymore. He had caught onto their plan when he saw them moving back discreetly. So, he had followed them, evading the laser beams directed at him occasionally.
The right lane was congested, and it was impossible for him to lower the chopper, so he could only release the rope ladder.
"Vance..." Dave prompted the man to go up first. Since Lucas and he had a weapon, they could sustain a few minutes more.
Vance didn't object and climbed the ladder first. Once he had climbed a few rungs, Lucas started climbing.
To their misfortune, the robots reached the lane before Dave could climb the ladder and he could only give up and look for a place to hide.
"Fuck!" Ryker gritted his teeth when he saw that both the robots were now prepared to attack him. "Hold on!" he shouted, looking down and maneuvered the chopper before the robots attacked them.
Vance and Lucas swayed in the air, their bodies close to losing balance because of the sudden movement. Lucas's legs slipped, and he dangled mid air, his hands clutching one of the rungs tightly. For a moment, death flashed before him and his heart leapt out of his chest.
Lucas was in an unfavorable position, and the chopper kept drifting, making it difficult for him to climb the rungs. He cussed under his breath, feeling his mind spin at the haphazard movements. His guts churned and his hands turned clammy.
Lucas was a fairly adventurous person. He loved adventure rides, even though some of them rendered him light-headed later. But now, he was a scared wreck, and he kept praying, closing his eyes to stop thinking about anything negative.
Meanwhile, Dave remained hidden, making Lucas, Ryker, and Vance targets of the robots. The robots continued to shoot laser beams at the chopper, increasing the difficulty for Ryker.
Dave noticed how detrimental the situation was. If this continued, Ryker and the others would soon reach their limit and the robots would get them for sure. If they died, he wouldn't be spared as well. How long could he remain in hiding?
Even if the robots didn't find him, could he manage by himself in a dead city?
It was either they all died or only he died. Making a choice, Dave stepped out of his hiding and aimed his rifle at one of the robots, which were yet to notice him.
To his delight and relief, he was able to take down one of the robots and it crumbled to the ground instantly. Now, only one remained.
But that robot was the hardest to handle. It kept attacking him, leaving him no chance to take a breather.
These few seconds of break was enough for Ryker to gain control and Vance entered the chopper first. Lucas, too, somehow managed to gain a footing on the rung below and started climbing.
Only Dave was at a disadvantage. The robot had become quicker. It started attacking him before he could dodge well. He had no chance and had to go into hiding again.
Again, Ryker and the others became the robot's target and Lucas tried his best to shoot it. But he couldn't. It became increasingly difficult, considering that Ryker kept steering the chopper to avoid getting hit. So, his aim was off most of the times.
Meanwhile, Vance didn't sit still. Instead, he studied the rifle in his arms. It wasn't like what Lucas and Dave were operating. Although it was designed in the same way, there were quite a few buttons and he couldn't quite comprehend what he was supposed to do.
Frustrated, he pressed one of the buttons randomly. To his surprise, the rifle lit up with a green light and a small portion came to life, showing the battery percentage.
Vance's brows shot up in astonishment. 'What the hell is this!' he wondered, feeling mighty all of a sudden. Not wasting time, he aimed at the robot which was fighting Ryker and Lucas.
Although he wasn't used to the rifle, Vance was an experience shooter. So, he grasped the control within seconds, his target within his line of aim.
Taking a deep breath, he pressed the trigger and felt a strong jerk that took him off guard. The next instant, a bluish white light which almost blinded his eyes emerged from the rifle and hit the robot.
The robot which had been attacking them vigorously melted into liquid within seconds.