With a towering red sky over them, and the three portals over the city. A player soldier with a balaclava and goggles covering his entire face looked down on the asphalt road below him as he hid behind a pile of sandbags. He could audibly hear the rockets flying, bullets being flung just right above him into an enemy behind a wall of sand that protected him from the unyielding advance of an invader from another realm. “Copy Two One! Hammer them more! I need to ask for a request to High Command to allow us to start striking buildings! What? I don’t care! They're like a hurricane with a brain! They're using cover and debris! Weapons are effective but not to its max effect!” The Sergeant on the radio kept screaming with the top of his voice to the point that his tone was slowly giving out while choppers whizz meters above them.
The imposing stature of the once lively city was now overwhelmed by something larger and cosmic, with three dark portals hovering over it and the clouds completely painted with blood. The hints of color that were once so many people are used to gone and completely taken over by one singular tint. Inside the Outposts he was in, the player could see the other soldiers with trembling hands and feet, others gripping the muzzle of their rifles intensely as they tapped their feet. Though their faces were hidden by their goggles and balaclava, he could feel the stress and fear oozing from the resting players.
Though the air was already cold, it felt even colder and carried with it a smell of death and destruction unbeknownst to man as a foreign smell from a realm no person should ever go into has been mixed with the air of what was normal and should be. Though one would feel normal, one cannot help but get an uneasy feeling that something strange and weird has entered the atmosphere, as if the habitation of the world on the other side was also being teleported into the planet as the smell of ash and fire ran with the wind, the corpses of the zombies piling on top of the skeletons without any flesh left on their bodies.
Benign was no longer a word that could be used on the atoms inside the city, but so was foreign. With all that is acceptable to the human eyes now painted over with a color that has come out of nowhere.
Invaded, not only physically, but also mentally. Sight, hearing, and smell, all was mixed with what was routine to something distant, external, and even fully alien to what the players are used to. The player sat behind the sandbags, gripping his assault rifle close to his chest as his senses were overwhelmed. Though it has only begun, he already felt like a crushing feeling was being thrown onto his back. A feeling as if his very soul and being was being invaded, now what was once a blue sky that could give relief to a battered battlefield, there was none so inviting. But instead a gaping maw in the space itself, spitting out the horrors of Gods not yet known to man and beast.
The ground then rumbled as Infantry Fighting Vehicles and Main Battle Tanks rolled behind the man's cover and into the street. There cannons firing in full force while his squadmates were firing in one direction in full auto, wastefully consuming ammo as they violently switched mags, giving it all they got with a fierce determination. Coming from the street, another soldier hops over the sandbags and drops his butt right next to him. He gave the visitor a peace sign as he silently cowered on his position.
“Oh Corporal, sir. Nice to meet you.”
“Ah Private. What’re you doing here?”
“Out of ammo. Just waiting for the truck to arrive.”
“Is that so? It's already here. We’re just clearing the area a bit before unloading.”
“I wonder… Do they have a General?”
“Well, does Hell even have a proper army?”
“Seems to be like it sir, they're pretty organized so far.”
“Well, I don’t count sending thousands of skeletons at us as a proper army. They're more like grinding us down with sheer numbers. I don’t think the artillery limit will stay that long.”
“But I wonder if they have a command structure. Would the General be like Isaac from Castlevania? Some mighty Necromancer just spawning thousands and thousands of undead soldiers by the minute?”
“... What?”
“You know, caucasian dude with red hair?”
“Nuh uh. Not ringing any bells, Private.”
“Gone mad by Dracula’s powers and got killed by Hector? Has a hot sister named Julia? No? Am I the only one in the entire company that played games before they were on PC?”
“Private, I don’t know Boomer stuff like you do.”
“B-Boomer?! Wait, what year were you born, sir?!”
“Twenty Twenty.”
“Oh my… am I this old?!”
“Private, if I were you, I’d get up and get to the five tonner and get a crate down and resupply. Are you red on ammo only?”
“Red on ammo, yellow on morale, and green on wanting to go home.”
“Morale seems to be pretty good so far. There was a lot of fright at first, but everyone got their heads in the fight. Almost all of the Sectors are fighting valiantly and the lines aren’t shaking, it's pretty rigid but I think that’s what General Jackson was aiming for.”
“I don’t think a rigid defense is going to stay long, we might need to become more fluid as their numbers are really getting insane.”
“It can’t be that bad. As I said, morale has been pretty good so far.”
He taps the Corporal's shoulder and points at the table inside the outpost, the players there seemingly in a pit of dread and absolute hopelessness.
“Ohhhh… forget I said that then…”
“I think we’re all just equally scared sir that we fight so viciously. Having all colors get drowned out by this thick red tint doesn’t really give me much hope. Those fighting are having a panic attack deep inside, I’m sure.”
“Don’t worry Private, we’ll get through this. Every street, every path. We’ll fight on. We’re the Guild of Ervtes, Breznick once tried to take over our city and look at where we are now, something like this won’t stop us. Chin up and get your friends into the combat zone. No time for dilly dallying.”
“Sir yes sir.”
The Corporal wore a visor cap with the logo of Ervtes on its front, with a multicam camouflage. The man swipes its visor to face the back as he reaches his hand out to the Private. After a long sigh, he took it and the two stood up.
“We better make sure Sir Ervtes gets a warm welcome.”
“What’s boss doing waging war in Schon anyways?”
“Hey now, don’t critique the big honcho. If it weren’t for him, we wouldn’t have a city to call home. He might make more enemies than friends, but he won against all of them. I don’t think he’ll be happy if his treasured city is the first to fall, this isn’t even the Reset but a localized one.”
“I know sir, but I don’t like how he left Ripper in charge. Seeing what he had done. He is too busy doing wars than stepping foot inside his own Guild and fixing some obvious problems like corruption and insider trading amongst the officials.”
“Ripper has always been a commendable general. He just bit off more than he could chew. C’mon. He led us against Breznick and the Mercenary Army years ago. He has always been a bit aloof but he never lied to us, and not once did his strategy fail us. This guy from Eldwood, let’s see if he can also do the same.”
“Haaaaa… let’s get to the action then.”
As the two ducked low and ran to the back of the column of Western and Eastern military vehicles, the roofs of the buildings around them shook violently as hundreds of helicopters armed to the teeth flew into the cityscape. Head on towards the armies of Hell itself. Jets then zoom past, dropping bombs with enchanted warheads. Purifying the streets while at the same time, destroying key areas. Collapsing sections of buildings to block streets as their weapons systems miss by a few meters.
Chaos was everywhere and as far the eye could see, though the horde was being contained in small pockets of the city that’s located directly under the portals, the damage to the blocks became immense in a short span of time. The roads were now filled with potholes and large craters from the bombs that were dropped while entire sides of buildings were riddled with bullet holes and the fire hydrants on the sidewalk being shot open and letting go of a geyser of water into the skies whilst an undead army marched underneath it. Broken glass was also present everywhere, with some of the soldiers having sharps of it embedded on the top of their helmets.
With a seemingly calculated planning, the horde was slow and methodical. Using the alleyways to catch off guard players and skeleton soldiers whilst dragging armored units into certain areas to spread them thin. But air power was unrivaled as the Guilds Air Forces pummeled any of their attempts of breaking through. Though at the great cost of the civilian infrastructure as once well cared for, streets with trimmed trees and park benches became hellscapes, leaving behind a ruined section of the city as it blasted back to the stone age with precision weaponry.
Located underneath the Central Portal, an Outposts that’s been holding out since the beginning an hour ago was fiercely fighting with all its got, surrounded by a sea of undead grunts and skeletons, one of their soldiers runs to the radio room underneath a fortification and taps into the Command net.
“SIR! OUTPOST TEN NEAR CENTER DOWNTOWN IS CURRENTLY NEARLY OVERRUN AND ARE CALLING FOR A BROKEN ARROW! WE NEED MORE AIRCRAFT!”
“Eh? What? Bring that up right now.”
Inside the Downtown PD, the soldier raises the sound of the radio.
“We’re surrounded from all sides! Air support is getting more and more divided with its tasks and cannot support us! There coming from all sides I repeat! We might have to leave the Outposts or get surrounded here with our equipment!”
“Outpost Ten, Yamaoka?”
Thomas then walks over to the map and he points it to be right underneath the Central Portal.
“Jesus… Are there that many?!”
“Hm. Though as Japanese, I cannot tolerate retreat, we might have to do it, Jackson.”
“What?! Already?! Yamaoka! With me now! Colonels, keep the situation stabilized. We’ll be in the central Outpost if anyone needs us. We can't have a retreat in the first hour, that’s going to be something we’ll have to stop from happening for at least the next two days. In any battle, or even campaign. The first few hours or days will determine if you will win or lose. If we retreat now, that's a sign that we’ll lose soon after”
“Rigid defenses might not be so great against enemies that know how to sneak past defenses, Jackson. I am sure that logic also works on our enemies, if their offensive doesn’t yield results within the first days, like maybe conquering the entirety of the Central Sector, then they’ll have to rethink their plans.”
“I know and they're far more formidable than expected. For now, let’s get to the ground and see things for ourselves. There should just be a few modifications here and there if we’re going to change from a rigid defense to a more fluid one. Everyone, keep doing your tasks, me and Yamaoka will be leaving for a while.”
The Sergeant on the Downtown Police Department’s R&R room nodded as players respawned by the Altar on it made a thumbs up. Whilst others were sitting down on the bench with their gear removed and had water bottles on their hands only stayed silent with a dejected face alongside them. “Men! Does anyone have any problems or violent reactions with us leaving you be? No?” Everyone, even the ones who ignored him, nodded in silence as others saluted the Generals and went back out with their gear on hand and their rifle slinged on their back.
“Sergeant, I’ll leave things to you here.”
“Sir yes sir!”
“Yamaoka, we might have to start allowing artillery to rain down on city limits.”
“Let’s see it first with our own eyes as you said. We’re already doing so much damage to the city we’re supposed to protect.”
“Copy. A Mage would be great to have at hand right now. Their ability to control animals would’ve been perfect but we placed them all at the Central District.”
“The faster we need to get there Jackson. Let’s go.”
Downtown Zavalda, a bunch of soldiers were in the middle of an intersection with mounted machine guns pointing in all directions as the two Generals left in an armored convoy, leaving the Sergeant with his boonie hat on to look around the inhospitable colors outside. Even though it's been only a matter of minutes, there were already piling bodies of zombies while the skeletons were smartly probing and flanking them.
It made the players borrow the heavy equipment that was being used to harden defenses not a few hours ago to cover up alleyways. “SARGE! UP THE ROOF!” Pointing his M16A4 at the roof of a hotel, winged beasts with the torso of man but the claws of wolves and the head of a monster with a devilish snout can be seen watching them. Seeing the new creatures with some wearing even plate armor, the man ran into cover and started firing alongside the others on the Downtown PD. Caught completely off guard by the sudden appearance of the enemy’s Air Force.
A passing Apache soon arrives and dispatches them with its autocannons but ten more were tailing it. With their immense speed, the Gargoyles were able to clearly clip its tail with its huge cleaver as more and more appeared from the portals high above them. “THAT’S GRIFFIN! Holy shit! That’s a lot of Gargoyles!” An Mi-28N soon swoops in and its 30mm autocannon shreds the winged beasts, clearing the skies for the two choppers to turn around and rain lead and enchanted rockets on their perimeter. Purifying the zombies and skeletons and giving them a brief relief. “GOOD SHIT GRIFFIN! THANK YOU!” the Sergeant points his thumbs up at the low pass of the choppers as they continue on to another area of the city.
Then the ground rumbles and cannon fire could be heard as a loud scream echoes from the streets. “Wha- what the fuck was that?” The Sergeant could only tremble at the sounds that were coming from the four lane road heading towards the Commercial District of the city. Loud thuds of someone with gigantic feet could be heard alongside the rattle of segmented armor.
Hearing this, the players took the chance to reload their M2HBs and NVSTs. Others diving down into whatever cover they could find including the now empty transport trucks that littered the front of the Police Department.
Out of nowhere, coming from the main street was an M1A2 Abrams in full reverse. Firing its main gun and coaxial at something, it was so busy throwing as much lead down the range that it drove into a theater. Ramming through the kiosk and collapsing the central pillar completely. The immense shock from hitting such a thick slab of concrete made it stop, but the balcony roof that was being held up by it fell on top of the tank. Completely destroying it.
The ground then started shaking even more violently as hundreds of skeleton soldiers in full plate appeared and behind them is an armored Giant wielding a huge Longsword that’s as tall as the six storey buildings that litter the mouth of the Downtown area.
“What?! That’s south of the Park! How did they get there?!”
One of the soldiers put his M4A1 up to his shoulder, in a ready stance and looked into the scope.
“Looks like they overwhelmed the checkpoint placed there, Sarge. But it looks like its just a few hundred of them. What’s the order sir?”
“F-F-FIRE!”
With nothing but their sandbags and machine guns and what armored vehicles were present in the sector, their divided firepower made it hard to focus their damage on the Giant wearing armor as the skeletons took into four different formations, quickly running into the restaurants and shops to use there back alley access to swarm the players defending the building. Seeing the sudden incursion, the Sergeant fixed his boonie hat as he ran towards a long range radio. He peers over to the concrete barriers that lead to the checkpoint right below the Downtown Portal and so far, the players and their skeleton soldiers there were doing a great job at keeping the horde at bay.
“This is Downtown, requesting any available air asset to come by down here, we have a Giant about to intrude into the inner perimeter! It's dangerously close to the PD!”
“This is Starfire, we got you copied Downtown. We were just looping around, I can see that thing from here.”
“Good copy Starfire! Bring it down!”
A sonic boom was heard and followed after it was multiple retarded bombs dropped at the feet of the Giant Knight with huge silvery horns adorning its helmet. It screams in great pain as the skeleton grunts with it being thrown in all directions, some being sent flying whilst being fully intact while others were only limbs and heads.
“This is Starfire, what’s the BDA on that drop, over?”
“Good hits! Good ack-”
Inside one of the outposts around the Police Department, a bunch of Undead Skeleton Knights managed to land coming from the rooftops around them. Though with their skeletal bodies being absolutely mangled, and others having to crawl with one that. They kept coming, the players were fast in their reaction. Chucking grenades and shooting them into dust. Looking out of cover, the Giant was still alive, albeit only in half. It kept crawling with its longsword in hard as its guts spilled onto the streets as its dark red blood flooded that portion of the four lane road.
“We need another run here! Focus on Outpost Zulu!”
“Copy Downtown, coming in for another run.”
Explosions once again came before them as Starfire performed another round, one of the skeletons flying straight into the street where he was. Before he could react, he was already stabbed and the Sergeant with a sword piercing through his kevlar vest fell on the road. But then, another person lands and before they know it. Their heads were already gone. The soldiers put their guns at the figure and it was a late teenage Vampire wearing a red gown.
“Is that all of them?”
“Y-Yes?”
“Good. Can you walk?”
The Sergeant stood up, holding his hand over the wound.
“Yeah, I know a bit of healing magic. Don’t worry about it ma’am. Thanks for the save.”
“Do not fret over it.”
She then walks to the Longwave radio on a table and takes the mic. “This is Alana, M’Lord. Downtown area is clear. They got close but we managed to patch up the area they came through." She then spreads her vampiric bat wings open and takes off. Flying to the National Park where the camp set up there is in full combat action. Helicopters of all types were buzzing around it as tanks on the main street covered the Militiamen fighting with Elizabeth in tormenting the Undead Legions with her devastating Blood Magic and Necromancy. She even started to use the dead Zombies as her own troops and even used the darkest of magic and put their rotting and riving flesh together to create a stronger unit to throw at the endless waves before them.
The blob of mangled flesh and limbs arose from the battered lands of war and it stood up towering over even the tanks as it started to fight into the horde. Using its many limbs to grab and rip apart the zombies and skeletons of the Outer Realm.
Watching on the sidelines, the Private and Corporal looked in awe of the horrific creature fighting on their side.
“You know sir, I’ve always wondered if I was the only one.”
“Can you stop talking Private?! There’s like a million of them right in front of us!”
“I swear I saw the Red Dragon throw the Spear of Longinus into the main portal before it disappeared.”
“What? Why would a Dragon have that? That’s literally a weapon used to kill Gods with one shot and only one exists in the entire game.”
“It's designed like it was made out of red chrome with veins, right? My eyes weren't lying to me.”
“Either way, get your head out of the gutter and get me another box!”
“Sir yes sir!”
The Private ducked low and ran behind a Bradley IFV as he looked up to the red skies, the tint was overwhelming and the glass with the concrete of the city seemed as if it was repainted and was seemingly more domineering.
High above, the two Dragon Gods can be seen breathing fire and shooting lasers into the Hellgates mouth, burning the Gargoyles trying to exit out before they could do more damage. Those who were lucky enough to pass through were unable to scratch or dent the armor of the ancient creatures. Down below, the city was engulfed in fire and lead as incessant bursts of tracers and fighting could be heard everywhere as Mars and Bahamut sensed their Men down on the ground.
Bahamut was the first to look as she condensed the air around her, starting a massive explosion. On the four lane street, Jackson and Yamaoka were actively going through the checkpoints and outposts, getting soldiers to move around while having to balance out their time on the radio to call out more orders and have the lines stabilized with the constant movement of equipment and precision airstrikes being called in.
“Bahamut! We must find a way to shut down the portals!”
“If only we could Mars. You sense it too, don’t you? The hands of other Gods are touching upon the power of those spatial cracks. We, with our power alone cannot do anything.”
“There must be a way! Could I perhaps use my Spear to split the atoms on the other side and destroy their world?”
“Foolish Mars. Do not resort to such methods. You hold the title of God for you know the limits of nature and have tested it and pushed it. We must not abuse the capabilities that we’ve been entrusted to or we’re no better than the Gods we are fighting against.”
“Tsk! Then what hope could we have? They started with corpses and bones but now, Gargoyles have appeared. The Known Gods of this world are stagnant, I do not feel their hands anywhere.”
“We must hold out. For now, we have to do our best in preventing their winged troops and to kill those that cannot be with conventional means.”
“Hah, okay. I’ll fly to the Downtown Portal. Keep here Bahamut.”
“I will.”
Bahamut then looked below her as her huge wings flapped wildly, throwing Gargoyles off their flight paths and disrupting their ability to hover. She could see Alana running to the museum after talking to Jackson, where the forces there were putting up a good fight but we're having problems with the enemy's winged beasts. Violently crashing and landing on it as some were naked with only shortswords and claws while there were others that were moving in squad formations as they grouped from being thrown out of the skies by the down force of the Black Dragons wings.
In plate armor and helmet with sharp brims, they stopped trying to fly and were planted on the alleyways and within the shadows, waiting for a chance. When one player would come out to check, they’d kidnap him and take the unsuspecting player high in the skies to slash their throats and drop their corpses in front of their comrades before their bodies disappear into a plume of divine sparkle.
Alana sees the new situation develop right before she spreads her bat wings open and takes to the skies to gain some altitude first and waits a few seconds in hover. Down below, visibly tracks the Gargoyles kidnapping the players. There were ten grabbed by the straps of their vest as the players continued to defend the museum. The winged beasts then started to gain altitude as they prepared to slash the throat of the players they took.
She suddenly dives head first into the flight of stairs to the entrance. With her hands out, she quickly kills the Gargoyles in one fast swoop and lands near the entrance where she then starts to catch each and everyone one of the players. All ten of them recovered while bullets whizz past her as the horde started to spill through the alleys more and more. Everyone was far too busy to mind the beautiful Vampire before them. The concrete floor of the entrance to the building was already littered with spent casings as gunfire from all calibers big to small were in full blast.
“Who is in charge here? M’Lord has tasked me to provide you support.”
“That’d be Second L-T! He is currently by the Altar inside ma’am!”
The player immediately returned to his post and mag dumped into the street as she opened the two doors as dozens of respawned players charged out to reclaim their emptied positions. Inside the main lobby to where the flatscreen TV was. The benches were now used as an R&R area for the players that had died. In the middle of it was an Altar to the True God. The box about the size of a coffin was adorned by gold and etched with lifelike veins on a person's hand and art depicting men and women looking up to the skies with there hands together in prayer.
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By the moment, soldiers in the tens of numbers would materialize around it, many of them breathing out or sitting on the floor to catch themselves. Those already used to it took the chance to take a nap on the benches while others ran to the front door immediately as they took ammo from the boxes near the exit.
Standing by the Altar was a player who sat down on his own corner surrounded by radios and held two handsets to both his ears with a notepad open as he wrote what he was hearing. He kept to himself, the other soldiers ignoring the man as he listed things down, crossing and putting a check mark on them. The Vampire curiously looks over to what he was writing as she silently and methodically sneaked up on the man.
“Copy. Squad Nine. Are you guys fully respawned?”
“Yes sir!”
“Move out now. Sergeant Willis is requesting reinforcements near the Theater at Downtown to help recover an Abrams that drove into it.”
“What vehicle do we have sir?”
“Just go to the National Park and get a Humvee or something. I’m listing you guys as respawned and back in action.”
“This is Farmhouse, we’re sending reinforcements to you, Club. What’s the status of the respawns?”
“Who is this? Farmhouse… the Sustainment brigade? What’re you doing at this frequency? Contact Command and get orders from them at one one four point six. My area is only in the Museum and the Waterfront. One one five point four is for reinforcements.”
Alana sees that he had a listing of the squads and were labeled with their combat roles. Ranging from Engineering to Demolitions. On the left of it were checks while others were crossed out. On the top of the notepad were the frequency ranges that were being used, artillery, air support, armor, squads, COs, and NCOs.
“Excuse me.”
He then puts his index finger up as he continues to speak on the radios. “Repeat that again? Eight line, Three-One-Six-Three-For-Nine-Nine-Four. Fire for effect? Roger. What rounds? Copy.” he then takes the radio on his right and puts the volume up. “Trebuchet, Farmhouse requests for a barrage. Fire for ‘fect. Eight line will follow, Do you copy?”
“Trebuchet copies, Farmhouse. Six guns ready.”
“Three-One-Six-Three-For-Nine-Nine-Four, I repeat. Three-One-Six-Three-For-Nine-Nine-Four. Fire for effect, Purifying Shells.”
“Three-One-Six-Three-For-Nine-Nine-Four, Purifying Shells. Good copy. Rounds out.”
“Okay, what is it, ma’am? It's been crazy since the Hellgates started crapping out flying creatures.”
“You have a little Gargoyle problem outside.”
“Ah damn! Even here? Our Vulcan had to leave for the Eastern side! Alright, alright. I’ll do something about it but for now, I need to be here as my radio man has not returned.”
“He did not respawn?”
“No he did not. Either that or he got respawned to another sector.”
“Rounds complete!”
“Copy Trebuchet.”
“I need another radio operator! Does anyone here have no assignments?! You! Get over here and take the AN backpack and head down to the Main Street!”
“It seems that things are being far too heavy.”
“You guessed it ma’am. The net is full of calls for air support and limited artillery was allowed recently, so I have to take up the requests not being sent through on the main channel as it's flooded with calls from left to right, up and down.”
“Then, I shall leave it to you then.”
“Of course ma’am.”
With a spin, she twirls around and faces the exit. Slowly walking through the aisles of the benches as the tired players look in awe of the beautiful woman. Even though they were in a war, her red gown wasn’t tainted with the ash, dust, and dirt. Even though her shoulders and long neck were exposed, it was still as doll-like as ever, untainted and pure of its white color.
“Damn…” Muttered the player on the radio as one of the PFCs walked up to him, saluting. “Sir!” He then faces the soldier and points at the backpack-sized radio. “Take it and go down to Main Street. Don’t waste your time, General Jackson and Yamaoka are in the sector doing some micromanaging.'' He then turns around and jogs past the Vampire. Her sweet scent overtaking his nose as he smiles on the face of death.
Alana then leaves as the players return to their busy jobs. The sky and the atmosphere were overwhelming, the shade of color that took over everything else painted the city in a whole other light and all she could see from as far the eye can see was a mixed bag amongst the firepower. A 1:1 ratio of sheer firepower against sheer numbers while the skies were full of jets and helicopters zig zagging left and right as more and more creatures far more dangerous than Gargoyles had started to appear. Including one that’s the shape of a flying reptile with sword-like beaks. Capable of keeping pace with the choppers waltzing and even orbiting about.
She then does some stretching and hops over the sandbags and faces the oncoming skeletons and undead as Bahamut in her large Dragon form flies on top of them. The Gargoyles unable to scratch her and the Flying Reptiles having to dodge the large armored Dragon that was plowing through anything that dared stand before its path. The Black Dragons horn was full of impaled bodies of Gargoyles and the Winged Swords.
All of the sudden, Bahamut starts to hover and she opens her mouth and a blazing fire follows afterward. Taking the attention of everyone except the Undead Legion. Her breath was so strong and wide that it engulfed an entire block and traced into the empty Northern riverline. She then flies once again as Mars performs her own attack. Flying straight over the Hellgates as all of the Demons that get swept up by her shadow get burned to crisp. As if the blackness of it would inflame any flesh that would dare be underneath it.
At the Museum, the battle was bloody and fast. Piles of bodies from the Legions of Hell stood there in mounds and hills. Zombies and Skeletons alike and soon, the battle calms down and the shooting becomes localized in certain parts of the city. The players deflate while the friendly skeleton soldiers on their side keep a watchful eye on the city as an eerie deftness befell on them. But all wasn’t well as shooting once again started and this time, the enemy was firing back with lead.
“GUNNER SKELETONS! AT OUR THREE O'CLOCK!”
With machine guns melted into their fingers, the special skeletons from Hell rained lead back to the players but the sheer overwhelming firepower from their side quickly dispatched them. To their dismay, they kept on appearing from the darkness around the city and more and more came to light and the shooting once again became apparent and the noise of battle returned. Alana kept her pose steady, constantly protecting their flanks as the Cruise missiles from the Destroyers far from the shores of Zavalda lay waste on certain blocks of the city while helicopters and jets constantly did their best to level the playing field with the enemy’s numbers. Sorting in and out nonstop.
The battered Airbase that was only partially repaired was already in full blast. The skeletons and the players manning the military installation going left and right, up and down servicing aircrafts as fast as they can.
Inside the National Park, the knightly skeletons of the outer ream have started using cover and their shields. Taking their time to wait for the soldiers stationed on the camp inside it to have their attention taken by the Armored Giants. One by one, they kept an eye on each other's backs and methodically took their pace slowly and waited for the time everyone’s eyes were busy making sure their lines wouldn't falter.
“Yoo-hoo. Over here boys.”
The Knights quickly turn their heads at a complete 180, they see Elizabeth with her sword out and their bodies immediately turn to face her. Instantly, the undead warriors went into the offensive, jumping out of cover just to get cut down by a skeleton soldier manning an KORD machine gun mounted on the window of the pondside cafe while the ones that tried to attack her were swiftly returned to dust. With her hands alone sufficing in tearing apart their rusty plate armor. With the symbols and the colors of the Kingdoms they onced serve now covered by the age of the metal.
The Queen then walks to the museum. Taking the opportunity to check out a downed Armored Giant that was being ignored by the players and their armed minions. The huge humanoid creature breathing heavily underneath his helmet as her sword traces the rim of its visor and she plunges the tip of the Demon Greatsword into its skull. “My Lord, you have great taste.” She then spins the long demonic greatsword once used by the Knights of Eldwood and throws it into the front door of the museum where she lands on the top of the pommel. With the heel of her shoes balancing on it.
“Countess, Our Lord calls for you.” as Anti air rockets flew above her, creating white trails on the skies. Striking down the sword beaked monstrosities and the Gargoyles that were littering the skies. Clearing the air for a brief moment and letting the helicopters run loose around the city once again with fighter jets.
“Where, Your Majesty?”
“At the Downtown Police Station. Come, Bahamut is also called alongside Mars.”
“Wasn’t our Lord here?”
“Nay, the fighting has died down and he quickly traveled back to the Police Station. He demands for all Officers and special units to come to him immediately.”
“As ordered by our Lord.”
Disappearing and taking flight, the two Vampires quickly arrive at the Downtown Police station within minutes. The place was still under reconstruction from the terrorist attack and most of the walls were still plastered with tarps and hardened construction lamps were on the ground as players take wounded ones to the back where healers were working around the clock to get them back up and the Altar room full of extremely tired soldiers. Many loudly snored while others had a blank look to their faces and those who still had themselves were taking the moment to check their weapons and equipment.
Elizabeth then takes Alana up to the 2nd floor of the station where the walls were gone and only the desk remained. There, NCOs and COs were running amok from one radio to another while flinging markers at maps and writing new information on pieces of paper. Only two magical mirrors were there and it was being used as a fast communication between them and the artillery and air force far from the heart of the battle. Amidst the mess of the room were two players with epaulets on their ACUs with golden stars and an advanced combat helmet with mandibles and a dark visor. “Sir! The two vampires have arrived.” calls the soldier who was passing the two. “Thank you Sergeant.” turning around, the General removes his helmet and he gives the two a warm smile.
“Alana, Elizabeth.”
“M’Lord.”
“My Lord.”
The two quickly followed the greeting with elegant bows. Warm smiles filled the dusty air of the PD. With tarps on the ground and dirty uniforms, they seem like pure creatures lingering amongst the vile.
“Sorry for the place and uhh…” he then wipes his cheeks which were blackened by dust and ash. “My face. Downtown has been far more problematic than I expected. Alana, good job on patching up the holes, they came way too close.”
“It was only my duly duty, M’Lord. Now, what is it?”
“Let’s wait for Bahamut first. The two of you can take some R&R.”
“My Lord. I’d like to request some of your blood.”
“Already? Ah damn. The Chalice is back at the Grand Hotel. Has Bach made it out?”
“Yes, My Lord. I personally saw him out. He did say he will return to Zavalda soon.”
“Good. Uhm, can we take this to the bathroom then?”
“I shall be quick, My Lord.”
The two then head downstairs to the bathrooms that were next to the lockers. Alana, left alone, goes around checking the maps. She sees that three big red circles were marked and that was exactly where the portals are. Next to the map was a printed excel table of their weapons systems, what they have on hand and what they expected to expend within the next few days. Bahamut and Mars then arrive. With the other player who was just sitting down on the couch silently removing his helmet and hugged the red crimson haired Dragon God.
“Mars…!”
“Thom-Tom!”
As the two hugged it out, Mars then pushes Thomas away and takes a gander at him. His uniform was battered and his face full of dust and debris. The color of his lips gone and his eyelashes seemingly heavy while his usually shiny pomade hair was in a messy, giving him a goth look.
“How have you been? You look terrible! Do you need medicine? Any help at all? I’ve never seen you this stressed before.”
“I’m fine. I’ve just been going around with the General doing some microlending. How about you? Can you shut down the Hellgate with Bahamut?”
“We can’t. We can only breathe fire into the portals hoping to delay their hordes. I’ve thought of activating the Spear of the End but Bahamut protested against it. There’s more Gods involved than what we expected. Some of them are Natural Gods.”
“True Gods are involved… This is getting a bit too serious. But can you keep going? Do you need to eat?”
“No need. I’ve eaten plenty.”
General Paul then returns and he sees Bahamut in her black sailor uniform. “BAHAMMUTT!” The man happily ran to her and the Black Dragon God was also just as ecstatic. Hugging her Master tightly as both passionately shared a moment amidst the trembling ceiling as choppers flew above them. “Master… Master… oh my, you smell so bad! What has happened?!”
“I know, I know. Ahahahaha, I never knew I’d show this side of mine to you ladies. But we’re here now. If you think this is bad, just imagine fighting inside a city for months. I’ve smelled worst. Ahahahahaha!”
“Master, we cannot close the Gates. We need more people, like ones with Divinity attached to them.”
“How about other Dragons? Maybe Thorbolt?”
“If we can. Yes, Master. Oh, if only Albion was still alive. He’d fly into the other Realm itself and claim it as the land of Dragons and beat it into submission.”
“Albion… his corpse is now the Cathedral of the Mighty right?”
“Hm.”
“Well, I hope we can stay alive long enough till reinforcements arrive.” He then quickly walks to the table and points his fingers on the outskirts of the city. “We have three Reserve Army Corps heading to our location, remember? The ones that got delayed? Well our plan right now is go and make the lines more malleable. The rigidity that I originally planned isn’t working. The armies of the Outer Gods are far smarter than I expected.” He then flips it and it reveals a map of the city. “Right now, there’s three portals that have opened. Some players has called them Hellgates so I guess we’ll call them that from now on. Most of them are spawning trash right now. But we’re getting the occasional Giant and those Sword Beaked monsters.”
“General Jackson, if I may add.”
“Of course, Yamaoka.”
He then takes a red marker and circles some manholes in a kilometer area.
“These areas of the sewers have been totally engulfed by flesh. A Sergeant with the Priest came up to me from below and reported that these areas have completely changed into something like the throat of a monster.”
“Yeah, there’s that too. Geez, just how bad is the situation down there? That Hendrix guy is insane.”
“Very bad. If this keeps going, it might spill out into the city proper within the next hour and the zombies and skeletons of Hell will be able to reach every inside of our defenses..”
“Aghhh… can we use concrete to maybe cover it?”
“Master, I recommend you burn it instead. If possible, use Phosphorus or Napalm. It should slow it down. If you were to cover it with concrete, it would just spread in another direction till it finds a path to the ocean or worse, find the smallest cracks and rip it open till it reaches the surface from areas you do not know of.”
“But this will change the vegetation too, right? And the entire feel of the air? I saw what these weapons can do to a person. I would not like to use any of them and keep them in storage… and for God's sake this is a city.”
“Yes Master. But it should be the better option than letting it grow and infest the city’s innards till it bursts open from the soil and ground, ruining the entire foundation this city stands on and forever rendering it useless.”
“How about this, you use your fire instead. Your flames have a purifying effect on them, I know you are already busy, Bahamut, if you can find the time. Burn it yourself while I’ll be trying to find another method that doesn’t involve using such weapons.”
“Yes Master.”
“Yamaoka. Your turn.”
With four stars on his shoulders and his helmet under his armpit. The man then points at the table. Precisely on the river that leads to the ocean where with yellow marker is labeled as “RETREAT AREA”. He then takes a red marker and changes its conditions.
“Me and the General have come up with the plan. We will delay the initial timestamp of retreat. So rather than a fast retreat to the Industrial Section if it ever comes, we will instead be doing a fighting retreat as the Defense In-Depth is working but only in certain areas. If things pan out correctly, a fighting retreat should give them far more headaches. But let’s hope it never comes to that.”
“And to add to Yamaoka. Till the enemy’s quantity has risen to a degree that we cannot control any longer. Only by that moment will we stand on the other side of the river. Under no circumstances will we retreat, but it's good to remember we have that option in hand. So far, our air power has done a massive tremendous carrying and we just have to hope it keeps that way. We should be able to breeze through the days and when the three armies arrive, the place is still somewhat under our control.”
Jackson then shows the axis of advance of the three reinforcing armies, coming from the South, Central, and Northern bridge. Gunning it straight for the areas under the portals while he spread little dots around the checkpoints and outposts that littered intersections and small roads while taking the red marker and putting an ex on some of them. With his finger, he then points at the Downtown PD where the red line was still far away, down on the main road.
“Now, me and General Jackson will mostly be stationed here in the Downtown Police Station from the rest onwards, we will only send Colonels and Captains to carry out our smaller tasks as we cannot manage everything. The main three bridges to the Airbase are the key logistics points. Your Vampires, with the two Dragons, are to work together. Some other players are also using their own Wyverns but they're mostly on the North of the city. Part of the local Militia. Be wary of them as we have third party friendlies on site.”
“And most of all, if you spot anything. Be it something horrible, and horrendous. Do tell us, return here quickly. We need to be updated on what the enemies are sending. They first started Elizabeth, if you can. Make the most use of your Necromancy. Don’t hold back.”
“Ohhhhh, but My Lord. If I do such a thing. I might be creating things that would be very grotesque to even my kin.”
“We’re at war now. Stuff like that won’t matter. Even if it's a mound of flesh, if it's capable of stopping the tide of the horde without damaging city property that much, then that’s more than enough of a reason. Alana, keep up what you were doing. Going around the places and protecting the Outposts. It's thanks to you we haven’t lost a single defensive position here in Downtown and Central. Though we lost some Outposts, they were supposed to be crumple zones anyways.”
Alana on the other hand trails the appearance of the enemy, the path shown on the map consisted of them using the alleyways and sewer tunnels to appear into areas they shouldn’t be capable of whilst the Portals had multiple axis around them, with large ones pointing towards the National Park that’s sandwiched between Central and Downtown.
“M’Lord. But I fear that our enemies will soon get stronger. More equipment might need to be moved to the Downtown area from the Park.”
“I’m actually in the business of getting that done. I’m bringing up some Reserves and filling some gaps here and there.” Pointing at the table, Jackson shows he plans to take them on the northern road of the Park where only a sparse amount of Checkpoints were set while Alana’s hand then intervenes. “But M’Lord, be sure to keep an eye out in this area.” She points at the main road that leads to the National Park from the South that was near the PD. “The Demons from both the Downtown and Central Hellgates are joining around this area, making the outposts there take in an extra load of enemies to slaughter whilst being inside our lines.” The General with his chin up nods. “Hm. I’ll see to it this place gets max air coverage then. Seems to me there is using a method to sneak around the main road to get there. These people are far smarter.”
Quakes then arrive, and the General stumbles on his feet but steeled himself as he ran to the windows and peeks out. He could see something gigantic that was slithering from the portal, it was so huge that its outline filled the large streets, like a fleshy pipe that was the height of a three storey building sliding into the direction of the waterfront. “What the fuck was that…?” a radio then comes blaring. “THIS IS SIEGMAN! WE’RE DETECTING SOMETHING HUGE IS IN THE WATERS HEADED STRAIGHT TOWARDS US!” Without wasting a moment, Mars and Bahamut jump out of the window and quickly turn into their Dragon forms.
Black and Red, the two flew to the Central Portal and they could see a large trail of destroyed road heading to the ocean. The players just confused at what it was as they looked onto the sea. The two Dragons then dived towards the water. Their sizes made the liquid overflow into the city as their entire bodies were dunked underwater. “Alright! That’s one big problem being dealt with. Everyone! Back to your posts and let’s get this ball rolling! Protect the main areas of concern and what’s in the middle, bomb it back to the stone age and no retreat till ordered!”
Though the combat has died down. It soon returns to new heights as the Hellgates sparkle and brightly lit itself and more and more skeletons and zombies have started to arrive and the frequency of Giants becoming more and more common. Having a total coverage of their area of appearance, most was quickly dispatched but the ones appearing from the alleyways and manholes has become a problem with the Demons appearing from places they aren’t expected to come from. Near the Church of Bahamut, Father Hendrix was with the Militiamen and the UN players and skeletons stationed there. His pants and the area below his overcoat has completely been covered with brown dirt while his boots was completely blooded and its ridges full of flesh.
On one of the Pews, the man is silently taking shotgun shells and magazines for his M4. Pumping the shotgun and putting his assault rifle into Full Auto. The Priest runs back to the sewers below where the entire place has been turned into a maze of gore. With many of the once straightforward paths now turned into convoluted areas as the flesh blocked access to places, players had to start putting up makeshift signs to point towards important areas and ones that had been overtaken with flesh crossed with X.
Running into the frontlines, the man quickly unloads his shells into the hordes.
“Father! We need you on the Eastern flanks right now!”
“Don’t call me that. I am unordained.”
Leaving with a calm demeanor, he then fast walks to the Eastern flank where the players were few and those alive were busy rebuilding the sandbags as they hid underneath it. “What’s happening here?” one of the players holding his combat knife close to his chest points behind the sandbags. He looked over it and could see a grayish muscled human torso and arms with horse feet, and a scary eight eyed wolf-like face and a jaw full of huge predatory teeth. The creature quickly sees him and the screech of the pale Demon makes the players make a run for their lives. But the Priest stayed and his eyes were not weaving from making eye contact with the monster.
He quickly fires his shotgun at it, but the monster was fast. Dodging his pallets. As it got closer by using the other paths around him, he noticed it could easily be seven feet tall as it almost overtook the entire size of the concrete sewer tunnel. He then takes out his knife and just as he was about to get into a one on one against the creature a scream comes. “GET BEHIND COVER!” He quickly does this and a 40mm grenade was fired straight at the beast. He slowly peeks over to it and sees that it was alive albeit barely. Taking out his shotgun once again, he presses the muzzle on the large gaping wound on its chest and fires.
The soldiers returning to their post just stopped in their tracks and looked at the bulky man with a Priests white collar on his neck. “Keep here, I’ll be going in.'' He reloads a pair of buckshots into his shotgun and walks into enemy territory and a flurry of gunshots and slashes soon follow. All the players could see in the darkness was the shades of light coming from the man’s cigarette as his silhouette lit by the muzzle flashes of his gun showed him fighting the Undead grunts hand to hand while in other times, switching to his revolver and used it as hand cannon against the more armored opponents.
“Jesus, just what is that guy made out of?!”
“Don’t speak, let’s get out here and setup a second line of defense! The flesh is about to overtake the entirety of the first line!”
“Dammit! Why was I stationed in the sewers?! This place keeps getting worst!”
Returning to the well lit areas where the construction lamps were, the two soldiers rest behind a sandbag. Constantly hearing the sound of gunshots and explosions behind them. One of them with a rank of Private First Class peeks over to the darkened part of the sewers, where there was no light but the flesh as its covered the ceiling lamps of the tunnels completely, and all hint of lighting came from whatever they bought that could be mounted and moved.
“Just how much ammo does that guy have? Specialist, do you know anything about that guy?”
“I think so. When I was adventuring a few months ago, there was lots of talk of a mysterious guy going to the Heroes and helping them. Giving them nudges and pushes. Could he be that guy?”
“What? Wasn’t the rumors here that the Heroes get visions from the Gods and instructs them on where to go and what to do next?”
“That’s for the God of Humanus, as he has direct power over man. Goddess Forrus for the Elves, while the other Gods needs to give there vision through another person… and I think he might be that person. Buff, scary looking and mysterious, the guys MO fits it.”
“Where were you adventuring anyways? How come you know this much?”
“Unlike you PFC, I take my time to enjoy the fine arts and cultures of places.”
“Uh huh, I guess that’s why your the Specialist, Specialist.”
“Shut up. I just have a stupid four year degree. I didn’t even know it was going to be of any use.”
“Well, since you got to enjoy the finer things of this place, what have you gotten?”
“The Holy See is powerful… and rich. Oh! Did you know Gareth hates Vampires as their main religion is the Holy See but they buy Wine from them?”
“Not that, I mean about the Heroes.”
“What High Command said was basically it. A bunch of Chosen Ones with immense power and luck. They keep getting into the right places at the right time.”
“And the finer details? They didn’t mention anything about a Messenger of the Gods going to them.”
“I guess it doesn’t really matter. But from what I know, the Hero most active here in Schon is Elizadeath. In Dragovh, its James, in Schon is some Elven dude. It is said that one day, they’ll all end up in one place where they’ll Party up in preparation against the Demon King.”
“That’s some DND crap if I ever heard of it. And what? They’ll butcher their way to Vitas? I find it hard to believe they’ll do that alone. Players coming back from there keep saying the same thing over and over again. It's a hostile place that will kill any human.”
“You might not know if it Gomez, but the Heroes are helping everyone. Anyone who needs it, entire towns and villages that I’ve visited had insane improvements in there quality of life because of there help and its all thanks to the party of the Heroes.”
“Oh yeah, they have helpers. Then the Heroes Party might easily go as high as twenty or thirty?”
“Yup. Twenty or thirty of the most trained and powerful people of this era. I never came across them myself but the places they lay behind are better off. Even though Elizadeath is considered as an Enemy, I can’t help but feel afraid labeling her as such.”
“Uh huh, and him?”
The Private’s eyes turn to the returning Priest. M4 on one hand and his Mossberg on the other. Emerging from the darkness like an unspeakable assassin that preys on all that is weak and incapable. A monster of nature that wore a holy ensemble.
“A Messenger of sorts, I guess.”
Hendrix then places his M4 and Mossberg on the sandbag. He took some shells off of his coat and pointed at the ammo box underneath the two soldiers. His posture towering over them as they were both in a prone position, their elbows and spine touching the flesh.
The Specialist quickly opens it and hands him wrapped M4 STANAG magazines that’s fully loaded with bullets.
“Any news?”
“There was something that crawled out of the Central Portal. Something big. The radio was going haywire when we were about to go inside.”
“Hmph.”
“Yeah, they said it was worm-like with antennas and aerials all over its body, it was so fast and long that no one ever saw its face. It just went straight into the waterfront, to the ocean. The two Dragons are there right now.”
“Hmmph.”
“Yeah… I don’t know what the other side can bring out. It’s only been a few hours and they're already sending cosmic horrors against us.”
“Don’t say that Private.”
“What? Isn’t that what it was? They said it was fully blank, inky black. People had a bad feeling just by looking at it.”
“Then our Dragon friends better get rid of that then. Cosmic horrors can’t stop us from doing our job.”
He silently took the mags and placed some onto his coat and jacket as the two talked. Once again being filled to the brim with ammo for his assault rifle.
“I love Ervtes and this Guild, but if you expect me to stand against a gigantic cosmic horror and not run away at first sight, then you are very wrong Specialist.”
“Don’t be like that. Right now, things could be worse but it's not.”
“Are you sure? I’m pretty content to call this the worst it can get. I’m literally standing on some flesh that flinches and moves.”
“Could be worse. You could be on one of the outposts literally underneath or near the location right below the portal. They said the place was entirely changed, with veins coming out of the road, overtaking even the restaurants and buildings, changing the terrain as if it's invading not only us, but also the concrete and asphalt.”
“Jesus Christ, don't give me any more info.”
“All the while, their vision is completely painted red. It’s so insane how that works, it's like the clouds are flashlights with red tints on them.”
The Private, wanting to ignore the scary conversation, turned to Hendrix, finished checking his revolvers and holstered them like a train cowboy.
“Have you met the Heroes?”
The Specialist slowly turns to the Private and covers his mouth even though the two of them were wearing balaclavas and goggles that completely hit their faces. “I’m sorry, this guy doesn’t have any tact with his questioning.”
“I have.”
“R-Really?”
“Hm. Interesting people, I didn’t expect for a Streamer girl to be chosen as a Hero even here. But here we are.”
“I think she changed.”
“What Private?”
“I mean, I used to watch her and kinda… donated a little over ten bucks back then when I had extra cash…”
“Oh my, don’t you know how bad the economy is? How can you afford that?”
“Don’t judge me. But back then she was way more showy and imposing. But now, I don’t hear much from her aside from the fact that she attacked Generals and stood against some of our operations.”
“Maybe because we aren’t in a game anymore?! C’mon Private. I know College Degrees aren’t the norm anymore but a bit of logic will carry you through a lot of things.”
“Hey now, I’m just saying.”
Hendrix then looms over them. “You are onto something Private. I don’t want to say much as I am here for a job. Contracted by the Dragon, but the Heroes blessings change not only your Mana Pool, but also your entire personality. She’s not the first nor the last, some of the Saints in this world were once hated Tax Collectors while some were even Prostitutes by choice.” he finishes loading his M4 with a fresh mag and his suit fully restocked with ammo for it. He then takes his Mossberg and starts reloading it.
He then sees the patches on their shoulders, part of the National Guard. Although extremely well equipped wearing full body armor, knee and elbow pads with Peltor Comtacs and Level Three Combat Helmets with mounts for Night Vision goggles, he looks them in the eyes and lightly shrugs at the sight of the soldiers.
“That is all I can say. This place, Zavalda, it's unfortunate what has happened to your city.”
“We’ll bounce back. It's not like this is the first time Zavalda was sacked. Right Private?”
“Yeah! Breznick once tried to take over the entire city, we kicked their asses back to the Mid Continent like their King and Roleplaying! Totally Mid! Bahahahahah!”
“Hm! Sir Ervtes himself isn’t one to make friends but instead enemies. His crazy Ex once sent an entire mercenary army against us. Crazy bitch.”
“Seems like you kids have had some fun with this Guild. Ever thought of going Half Solo like General Jackson? He’s part of a Guild but isn’t with Eldwood twenty four seven and only goes there when he is needed.”
The two looked at each other and then to him and swifty answered unanimously with a “No and Nope”.
“Hm, I see. You are resilient players, your Guild will last long unlike so many others.”
“Hah, we’ll keep on fighting till not a single brick remains in this city!”
Sounds of flesh being squished echoed behind them. The two soldiers then popped out of cover, wielding an AK-74M and one with a M16A4. They pointed into the darkness while Hendrix continued to reload his Mossberg and moved shells up to his chest from inside his coat. He lightly scoffs at the sound hearing him, as his back was facing whatever it was.
Appearing from the darkness was a tall lanky creature, with bones on its arm as long as its legs and its hands, the shape of a blade. With the pale gray skin gone and the exposed sharp ax shaped bone, the edge shiny like a polished weapon.
The Private with his AK jumps over the cover and fires a few shots at it. The creature with two small blacked out eyes covers his torso with his blades before the bullets even reached him and it all pings out.
“Specialist!”
“Got it! Oh Holy Matrimony of the Saints, Grant me power to shape the air and turn this creature into ice!”
He then opens his palm and a blizzard comes out of it, freezing the pale humanoid completely. The Private then gets closer, right up to its face and before he could pull the trigger. Hendrix grabs him by the collar of his Kevlar vest, an audible shing echoed as the left arm blade of the creature broke through its icy cage and was fully animated. “Holy shit! That was close!” the Priest then puts a shotgun up its face and fires. Blasting it back into the darkness.
More and more steps could then be heard coming from it.
“Looks like this was the sacrificial lamb. Two of you, get behind cover. I’ll fight them here.”
Taking the man's orders, the two hid behind the sandbags as another player came to them with ammo boxes slinged to his chest and backpack.
“Ya’ll need anything?”
“Buckshots.”
“What gauge?”
“Twelve. Lots of it.”
The ammo bearer then goes to his Bergen pack and takes out cartons of 12g.
“Alright, I’m heading to the West flank, take care, three of you.”
“Thanks swirly nipple forty six!”
“I told you to stop calling me that!”
As the player disappears into the maze of tunnels, the Father puts his gun up as the stepping gets closer and closer. “Come at me now.”