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.

react, an onslaught of bullets, arrows, and magical

wrong. Scores of abominations turned around and saw the descending column of vehicles. Their howls and shrieks informed the rest of

ground in front of them in a loose line. Then, blinding arcs of electricity suddenly shot between the rods, creating a wall of

turned to ash. Roan was holding them back,

and slip through the lightning wall.

could land, though, a javelin fell from

heading for the

those abominations that had somehow survived the ranged attacks. Even Crow was helping, diving down to rip into the weaker

was sending one arrow flying after another. Each pierced an especially vulnerable spot on the bodies of the Nightmare Creatures,

would have been

friend doing right now? Probably

concentrated on the task

was already climbing the 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 potential pursuers, so their retreat

to everyone's surprise,

in the mountains, Sunny was standing on the roof of the Rhino and staring at the familiar Gate up ahead. That was the place where he had slain the Gate Guardian, Defiled Witness, a few months

in heavy plate armor suddenly appeared from behind a large boulder

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

glanced at him and

Sunny grinned.

really are a sight for sore eyes. Say,

warrior stared at him for a moment, then shook his head. A

too

shield and summoned

concentrate? We did the best we could, but it will still be a

...And it was, indeed.

in the end, the caravan still made it safely to the gates

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

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

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 wall's length, some aiming at the ground, some staring into the dark sky. Sunny could

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

First Army was gathered here, and the city itself had been converted into a fortress on such a scale that Sunny

it was too large to

of the siege

wall fell on him, he let out a