Shadow Slave

The preparations did not take long. As the caravan was getting ready for one last push, the three Masters briefly discussed the plan of the battle.

There was not a lot they had to do. If things went well, most of the Nightmare Creatures would be pulled away by the city defenders, and the mountain road would be cleared by the Irregulars. However, it was always a good idea to prepare a few contingencies, just in case.

At some point, Roan gave Sunny a studying look and said:

"...You've look different, Sunless."

Sunny tilted his head a little, confused.

"Why wouldn't I? The last time we saw each other, I was still an Awakened. Oh... or do you mean my skin?"

Roan shook his head with a smile.

"No, I don't mean your appearance. You just seem... older."

Sunny blinked a couple of times.

"I am older, though? By about two years?"

The handsome Master chuckled.

"That you are. Anyway, I think we are as ready as we can be. Should I send the signal?"

Sunny nodded, prompting Roan to summon a Memory that resembled a waxed clay tablet. He simply drew a jagged line on it, then waved at them and walked over to his griffin.

Not long after that, the sortie that was supposed to lead most of Nightmare Creatures away from the valley commenced. It started with a heavy missile barrage, which was then followed by a full company of MWPs appearing on the far side, accompanied by many cohorts of Awakened.

Sunny and Naeve silently watched as the sea of abominations rushed forward, then glanced at each other and dashed toward their vehicles. Abomination and Blackie rose from the ground and shook their gaunt bodies, preparing for a battle.

They did not have to wait long.

As soon as the horde of Nightmare Creatures shifted to the far side of the valley and spilled out of it, pursuing the retreating diversion force, the Rhino growled and lunged forward. The battered APC was functioning perfectly, as if it had gathered all its remaining strength for one last glorious charge.

The long column of vehicles followed the mighty machine.

Before any of the remaining Nightmare Creatures could react, an onslaught of bullets, arrows, and magical projectiles fell upon them, tearing the monsters

and saw the descending column of vehicles. Their howls and shrieks informed the rest of the creatures, and a mass of them staggered, struggling to change

the sky, piercing the ground in front of them in a loose line. Then, blinding arcs of electricity suddenly shot

Roan was holding them back, for now, but

powerful abominations could weather the damage and slip through the lightning wall. Others could simply leap over it... one

fell from the sky, piercing the

the distant entrance to the

caravan's Echoes were moving ahead of the vehicles, tearing apart those abominations that had somehow survived the ranged attacks. Even Crow was helping, diving down to rip into

especially vulnerable spot on the bodies of the Nightmare Creatures, killing them instantly. His accuracy was scarily perfect... months of fighting

have been

aim a little, Sunny sighed. What was his friend doing right now? Probably staring at the anchored battleships and waiting for his turn

concentrated on the task at

steep slope, well on its way to leave the valley. Naeve had arranged for an improvised minefield to be set up in the way of any

indeed, to everyone's surprise, nothing

Sunny was standing on the roof of the Rhino and staring at the familiar Gate up ahead. That was

mountain road was suspiciously empty of enemies, and very soon, he realized why. A man in heavy plate armor suddenly appeared from

behind the visor of a closed helmet, but Sunny recognized Ascended Dale - Winter's former partner and one of the

Knight glanced at him and nodded

Sunny grinned.

a sight for sore eyes. Say, have

for a moment, then shook his head. A calm voice resounded from

not too bad

that, he dismissed his shield and

would you please concentrate? We did the best we could, but

...And it was, indeed.

still made it safely to the gates of

siege capital and approached a colossal, seemingly impregnable alloy wall, Sunny couldn't help but stare at it in

had left, the city possessed robust defenses... but not

alloy wall was at least seventy meters tall, surrounding the whole siege capital. Its many bastions housed devastating railguns, which seemed like they had been scavenged from decommissioned battleships. Thousands of turrets were placed along the

killing field around the city was littered with countless corpses, most of the abominations utterly torn apart. Teams of engineers

such a scale that Sunny struggled to imagine the amount of effort, resources, and ingenuity that had gone into building these

Scott looked... like it was

the massive gates of the siege capital, though, which the caravan was currently

him, he let out a quiet sigh and suddenly staggered, as if robbed of all