April 11, 2056

The heat was unbearable when I regained consciousness.

Flames have sprouted all around me, smoke fills the air and makes its way into my lungs. I can hear an alarm outside but everything else is canceled out from the cracking of the building's material. A piece of the ceiling suddenly breaks apart and comes down onto me. I roll away at the last second as it slams into the floor.

I doubt my own Barrier would've protected me on its own. If it wasn't for Frost's Cast I would've been scorched to the bone. I need to get out of here, but I'm in a daze and the smoke is making my eyes water.

I start by crawling under fallen beams and avoiding falling embers before coming across an unconscious Tyranian soldier. I recognize her as one of the soldiers' making comments about me. She's buried under some debris and a nearby fire is close to engulfing her.

Damn it. I know I'm going to regret doing this...

I make my way to her and pull off the blocks of cinder and wood. I grab her arms and drag her across the floor before spotting a door leading outside. We get there but it's jammed. I set her body down and push hard on the exit with no budge. I try pounding on it but still nothing. Another piece of the ceiling breaks as the fire increases in intensity.

I try again and kick the door with all my strength. When it still doesn't work, I try again and again. Suddenly, I hear a snap as one of the bolts fall off the hinges. I pick up the girl again and hold her up on my shoulders. I take a few steps back before charging forward and slamming into the door and falling into the soaked grass outside.

The rain stings my skin but at least I can breathe. Other than that, problems still surround me.

Flames scatter the base with soldiers heading in every which direction. The confusion must be off the charts right now, so much so that when I see a figure passing, I call out to them. But as a flash of lightning illuminates them, I notice that they're not wearing the Tyran colors... but The Federation's.

They raise their weapon and I instinctively reach for my holster. My heart sinks when I don't feel my pistol as I look back to see the soldier getting ready to pull the trigger.

A shot rings out but it's not from him. The bullet hits him in the head and his limp body falls to the ground. Behind me, the girl must've come back to and fired her gun at the Fed. She makes eye contact with me and mouths the words Now we're even.

The shot attracts nearby soldiers as they rush past me and help the girl. Frost follows shortly behind them and stops next to me before pulling me to my feet.

"Are you alright? I lost you in the building and couldn't get to you." He says, patting me around for any burns or injuries.

"I'm fine. But I think we got bigger problems." I reply while nodding towards the dead Fed soldier.

"I know. What the hell are they thinking?" He hands me a pistol and motions me to follow.

We begin running to regroup with the others and bypass more buildings and trucks set ablaze.

It's hard to believe the Feds would do something this bold. A direct attack like this on Tyran territory could very likely provoke them into retaliating. It would certainly see an alliance between Atlis, Tyran, And Rambell to take down the Federation. But... then why would they pull something like this off knowing it would hamper their efforts?

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Up ahead, Macy and the others are in full gear and are perched right outside a building where the HVT is kept. Could all of this really be just to rescue our captive? He's not even of high rank, they wouldn't, would they?

"You two alright?" She asks as we reach her.

"Just a little dazed but okay. Anyone have a spare AR?" Frost asks while looking at the other Shards.

"Unfortunately, no, but we got your blades that should always be with you at all times." A Shard leans over and hands us each our swords.

"Bro... what am I supposed to do with this? Swing it in the dark?"

"Just take the damn thing! No one carries an extra AR!" Right after this, a loud bang across from our position makes us turn to its direction.

We take cover and take aim at the building where it came from. It's set ablaze but more bangs are produced from within.

"What the hell is that? Ammunition cooking off?" Someone asks.

"No. That's metal being pounded on. Something's hitting on the doors." Macy says.

I squint and notice that with each bang the door bulges outward. What could be hitting it with such force? Could it be?

"Flag Bearer... It could be him!" I yell out loud.

"Shit. Shards, ready Enhancements! He's not getting away this time!" Frost orders and we take aim.

I grip harder on my gun as the bangs get louder. Just like before I can sense the aura of Divinity in the air... but somethings off this time. It reeks... almost enough to make me vomit. What is this?

Finally, after a long pause, the doors fly forward and slide on cement road. Smoke lingers outside as the Flag Bearer's figure is illuminated by the fires.

We waste no time and immediately unload bullets and Enhancements into the building. All the while, nearby Guardians and Tyranians rush in close and chuck grenades inside. We keep firing until we completely waste our magazines. I say waste because a second later a ring of flames shoots out and completely engulfs the group of Tyranian soldiers.

Their screams wither away as their bodies turn to crispy corpses in a matter of seconds.

"That's... no Flag Bearer." Macy says, her expression turning grim, along with Frost.

Through the smoke, the figure steps forward, their Barrier flickering for a split second. It's unfazed by the rounds and Enhancements that just struck it. Getting a better look at it, I notice the gas mask and weapon, with a tube connecting it with the canister backpack. The Kevlar's surface is riddled with brass with none of them actually piercing through. Embers endlessly fall off their body as they begin to raise their weapon.

She's right. It's something worse. Way worse.

It's a Pyromancer.

A stream of fire shoots out of his gun and a Guardian is struck and screams in agony as he slowly burns to death. The Pyromancer continues to march forward, shooting in every which direction as shards and Tyranians alike scatter.

Sliding behind a few crates, I fire more shots and hit my mark directly on his helmet to no effect. I do however get his attention as he turns to me where I swear, I see a sparkle of silver come out of mask. The moment is brief as he flips a switch on his weapon begins to fire incendiary rounds at me. They strike my cover and ignite it as I now make my way to a cement pillar.

He's got me pinned down as two more soldiers get hit and die on impact. Through a crack in the cement, I spot Fed soldiers sprinting past him and enter inside the HVT's building.

"It's the HVT! He's only here to delay us" I shout over the noise.

We're completely powerless however as any attempt by anyone is met by a barrage of fire.

I clench my amulet as the situation dawns on me. I restrained myself with the Flag Bearer and paid the price. Now a Pyromancer is here and there's nothing anyone can do... except for me. My heart is racing as my lips begin to curl upwards. I can't stop myself.

Kill him.

Kill him.

I have to kill him to end this!

Just as the voices are becoming too overwhelming for me, from the corner of my eye, a blur passes me before crashing into the Pyromancer.

"Divine Arts: Oupphörliga blad!" I'm pulled from my thoughts as the area surrounding the Pyro becomes distorted. I can hear the clash of steel but whoever's fighting is too fast for me to see. A few more seconds pass as a shockwave pushes me back as the two separate and look on at each other. And as I get my bearings back, I look up to see Commander Nora facing down the Pyro.

"Din jävla fubbick. An animal like you deserves to be butchered!" I hear her shout as the Pyro snorts through his mask. I also can't help but notice he came out unscathed from Nora's attack.

"Викторианская гвардия, да? Impressive," he says with a muffled voice before grasping at a pin on his vest and pulling it. A second later a screen of smoke covers the area as Nora flashes forward. It's to no avail however, as when the smoke clears, he's gone. The explosions and gunshots that I have been hearing have also dissipated leaving only the sounds crackling of fire and the downpour of rain to be heard.

Getting back onto my feet, I look around at the carnage around me.

Things can't possibly get any worse than this...