Fortress Maximus's Final Gift

"Fortress Maximus, I don't care what you think of me. Just remember this star map I'm about to show you. The red dot marks the biggest gap in the Decepticons' defenses. Whether you Autobots can ultimately escape with your lives will depend on your luck!"

The escape route Starscream provided was actually within Great Dinosaur Saurus's defensive perimeter. Since that guy had been the first to openly defy Megatron, no Decepticons were stationed in that area. If Optimus Prime and his companions could reach the designated location without error, some elite warriors might truly be able to escape into the various universes from there.

Next came the matter of trust. In any case, through Fortress Maximus's internal Autobot communications channel, Optimus Prime, Ironhide, and the other Autobot leaders on the other side had received the map. The decision was now theirs to make.

"Starscream, I really don't know whether I should trust you, but I keep feeling like you're hiding something from us!"

Although Starscream's reasoning was quite convincing, Fortress Maximus still seemed deeply suspicious. But that was hardly his fault—over the past tens of thousands of years, Starscream had never exactly been this friendly toward the Autobots.

"Think whatever you want. I just hope our conversation wasn't overheard by that guy inside your body. You didn't rip out Shockwave's central brain chip, did you? Why isn't he moving at all?"

"Starscream, you needn't doubt that. My rank is far higher than Shockwave's. Even though I'm close to shutting down, I can still suppress him successfully! Next, I'm going to give you a gift—a gift that will let you speak with authority before Megatron. I hope the star map you brought us is worth the price!"

Well, Fortress Maximus really was a robot of passion. To give Starscream something to account for when he returned to Megatron, he actually intended to offer his own downfall as a gift: the basic plan was for everyone to see Starscream happen to strike the core command cabin of Fortress Maximus's mechanical body, while also taking Shockwave away.

Of course, that was merely a deception. Knowing that his time was short, Fortress Maximus had long ago installed a teleportation device at the location of his core spark—a single-use kind that would self-destruct after activation.

Once Fortress Maximus's energy level dropped to zero, his spark would automatically teleport into Optimus Prime's hands, and then wander the universe alongside the legendary Autobot hero.

As for Fortress Maximus's enormous, useless body, it should have been more than worthy of serving as Starscream's so-called trophy.

As long as the Decepticon soldiers saw Starscream take down the Autobots' super warrior, who would still suspect the true reason he had charged into that cloud of smoke earlier?

This entire exchange had actually taken only a few seconds. At least before the thick smoke completely dispersed, Starscream was safe.

But once all these deceptions were over, if this so-called Decepticon air force commander still failed to show any results, plenty of people would surely grow suspicious.

"Fortress Maximus, you really are..."

"Damn Decepticon, I will never forgive you! I, Fortress Maximus, am the Autobots' last line of defense. I will never allow you to take another step forward!"

Well, Fortress Maximus appeared to be trying to stop Starscream, but his eyes were clearly signaling, Hurry up and fire at me!

At this critical moment, with the entire Autobot race facing life or death, Fortress Maximus intended to sacrifice himself.

Seeing the look on his face, Starscream immediately caught on.

"Hahaha, so that's what was going on! You were forcing yourself to hold on! If that idiot Shockwave hadn't been captured by you earlier, your energy never could have lasted until now! Let me show you the power of my laser cannons!"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

As the smoke gradually thinned, thunderous cannon fire and missile explosions rang out from within. At the same time, everyone heard Starscream's wild laughter and Fortress Maximus's final roar!

"Damn you, Starscream! Even if I have only a little strength left, I'll still turn you into scrap metal! And that damned Megatron—you are all criminals of Cybertron!"

"Shut up, you pile of garbage! How dare you slander Lord Megatron to my face? You must be tired of living!"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Boom!

Another series of explosions erupted, and several air-to-ground missiles seemed to streak through the sky.

"Ah, how could this be?!"

Boom!

It was an earthshaking explosion, fiercer than all the previous blasts combined. The smoke that had begun to disperse was once again swallowed by an even more violent eruption. But before the smoke from this explosion spread, the vast majority of Decepticon soldiers present witnessed an astonishing sight.

The seemingly invincible Autobot super warrior, Fortress Maximus, had massive sparks erupting from his chest, accompanied by blue lightning shooting in every direction. It seemed Starscream had happened to strike this super Autobot's core command system.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

"No... I... I can't fall. I am Fortress Maximus, I am..."

Explosions of every size kept bursting across Fortress Maximus's body, while chaotic arcs of electricity crackled and leaped everywhere. Before the eyes of all Autobots and Decepticons, the incomparably brave Autobot super warrior finally crashed heavily down between the two sides. Who would have thought that this legendary super warrior would be brought down today by a petty villain like Starscream?

"Well done! Starscream has rendered us a great service! All Decepticons, listen to me! Launch a full assault! Nothing can stop the Decepticons' advance now!"

Although he still found it somewhat hard to believe that Fortress Maximus had been taken down by Starscream, Megatron, ever one to seize an opportunity, immediately ordered a full-scale attack. With the super enemy Fortress Maximus gone, the pressure on Megatron had greatly eased. If they still could not wipe out every Autobot led by Optimus Prime under such circumstances, then he truly would be an incompetent Decepticon leader!