The convoy tore across the desolate terrain at extraordinary speed, kicking up clouds of dust in its wake. Sleek, armored vehicles hummed with the power of advanced magi-tech engines, their glowing sigils cutting through the dim light of the twilight sky. Inside, soldiers of the Magna Corps and Magma Corps sat in tense silence, their armor gleaming with enchantments that shimmered faintly with each movement.
Each soldier busied themselves with weapon checks, inspecting the intricate runes etched into their gear. Some calibrated their targeting systems; others recharged their mana-infused ammunition. The air was heavy with discipline, the kind honed through years of brutal training and countless missions.
Suddenly, the convoy slowed, the lead vehicle screeching to a halt. The soldiers’ heads turned toward the disturbance. A lone Ork darted across their path, its hulking frame illuminated by the glow of a coin monster in the distance—a chaotic remnant from a previous conflict. The creature’s crude weapon glinted in the fading light, and its guttural snarls echoed faintly over the barren land.
“Another stray,” muttered one of the Magna Corps soldiers, his voice distorted by the filter of his helmet. Without hesitation, he activated the scanner built into his visor. A grid of glowing glyphs appeared in his field of vision, and a series of readings began to scroll across the display:
Scanning Target...
Species Identified: Ork
Threat Level: Extremely Very Low
Destructive Power: Below City Level
Resistance Level: Below Building Level
Speed Level: Below Normal Planetary
Success Probability: 100%
The soldier let out a small, almost bored sigh. “Easy pickings.”
He reached for his weapon, a sleek, rune-inscribed rifle with glowing magi-tech cores. With a flick of his wrist, he set the potency to Multi-Planetary, the runes along the barrel flaring bright blue as the weapon’s power surged. The hum of the rifle filled the air, a deep and resonant sound that made the nearby soldiers glance over briefly before returning to their tasks.
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“Firing,” the soldier said flatly.
A streak of searing energy burst from the weapon, crossing the distance in a blink. The Ork barely had time to register the attack before it was obliterated, leaving no trace behind—not even ash. The only sign of its demise was a faint ripple in the air where the beam had passed.
The coin monster, still lurking near the broken trees, froze in terror. Its amorphous form quivered as its many eyes darted toward the soldiers. Then, with a shriek, it turned and fled, disappearing into the shadows of the ruined landscape.
The Magna Corps soldier lowered his weapon. “Target neutralized,” he reported, his tone as calm as if he had just swatted a fly.
Another soldier from the Magma Corps snorted. “Didn’t even put up a fight. Waste of a good shot.”
The group chuckled lightly, but the levity was brief. As the vehicles powered up again, the soldiers returned to their seats, their focus sharpening. The mission wasn’t over yet.
The convoy resumed its journey, the hum of engines growing louder as the vehicles accelerated. In the back of one transport, a soldier checked on the cargo—a collection of Micro Astros, glowing crystalline spheres encased in containment fields. These small but volatile artifacts radiated an intense magical energy, each one capable of powering entire cities—or leveling them, if mishandled.
“These things give me the creeps,” muttered one of the younger soldiers, his eyes fixed on the shimmering orbs.
“Keep your head in the game,” barked his superior. “We’re taking them to Arcana facilities. Once they’re there, it’s out of our hands.”
The soldier nodded, but his unease didn’t fade. Even as the convoy pressed onward, the faint, ominous hum of the Micro Astros seemed to grow louder, like a whispering reminder of their immense power.
The vehicles disappeared into the horizon, their mission clear: deliver the artifacts to the Arcana facilities at any cost. Whatever dangers lay ahead, the Magna Corps and Magma Corps were ready.
For now, the landscape returned to its eerie stillness, the only trace of the soldiers’ presence a faint scorch mark where the Ork had stood moments before.