* Date: September 30, 2173

* Time: 10:05 AM

* Location: Adel Village

''Apologise if I am late, hero.''

Tale stared at the Saintess and smiled behind his helmet. They were finally here, and the sacrifices of Adelard and the others weren't in vain after all. Approaching the Saintess, the Ghost stood beside her and faced the Kaynians.

''No worries, Saintess.''

Isabella gave a warm smile at the hero and nodded in return. Looking in front of her, she saw the Kaynians advancing. With a tap of staff, she summoned priestesses beside her and the Ghost. Beams of light brought forth the fearless maidens of Gian. Each priestess dawned their armor and held their weapons. In the air, riders unleashed their wyvern's flame at the Kaynians, forcing them to halt. It didn't take long for the rest of the reinforcements to join in. Elvenian knights, frames, and rangers marched in and flanked the Kaynians.

''Let no invader escape our wrath!''

The combined military of Elvenia answered out loud. Frame units would form a shield wall to allow the rangers to the line and fire a volley at the Kaynians. A hail of arrows raced toward their targets. The Kaynians braced the incoming projectiles, but luckily, their energy shields kept them from being harmed. In return, the Guardians would return the gesture and fire. A hail of energy beams impacted the frame unit's magic shield, much like their Kaynian adversaries. None managed to punch through their shielding. The two Paladins would open fire at the wall of frames. Their lances would score multiple hits on the frame units and kill some of the rangers hiding behind them.

In response, the knights maneuvered into the exposed flanks of the Kaynians and trampled the two Paladins. The Orge pattern Paladins tried their best to fight off the hordes of knights but were killed. After trampling the two Paladins, the knights proceeded to charge at the Guardians and Kaynian Knights remaining. But would be immediately brought down by a hail of energy beams. After all, ranged weaponry beats horse cavalry. Scores of knights perished, dropping down like flies. Seeing what was happening in front of them. Sarroth immediately rushed to the front line and released a powerful scream that destroyed the energy shields of the Kaynians.

''For Eldrant!''

In cue, the riders returned for another run and released another flame attack on the Kaynians. Several Kaynian Knights would dare to charge at the recovering elven knights. But before they could reach their opponents, the priestesses of the Pantheon Church intercepted them and proceeded to do battle. Two of the most fearless warriors from different worlds faced each other. Although more capable, the Kaynian Knights would be outmatched by the priestesses. It didn't take long for the remaining knights to retreat. While this was happening, the Sentinel would make its move. Unbeknownst to the defenders of Eldrant. The Kaynian Lord has called in the Sentinel of artillery support. The arm cannons of the siege engine would be brought to life and fired at the charging priestesses. In an instant, the maidens of Gian were eradicated.

''No. No. No!''

Isabella stared in disbelief. The priestesses that she had known for a long time just perished in front of her. Fueled with anger, the Saintess levitated in the air and brought forth a powerful magic beam. The beam itself pummeled the Sentinel's energy shield and successfully destroyed it. A massive crack could be heard as the energy shield of the Sentinel shattered. The Indomitable pointed its massive eight-hundred-millimeter magic cannons at the Sentinel before firing. The sixteen barrels of the ship of the line light up. The beams of magic raced toward the Sentinel. Turning around to her troops, Isabella spoke. Her glowing eyes encouraged the brave soldiers fighting Eldrant. Raising her staff, it illuminated a glow unseen before.

''We stand as one!''

Frame units, wyvern riders, priestesses, knights, and rangers then charged forward together. The Ghost would eventually take the lead as he was equipped with his power armor. And with Sarroth in his hand, Tale raced to fight the retreating Kaynian troops. Meanwhile, the Indomitable pummeled the Sentinel with its magic beam. But the Sentinels armor plating was taking the brunt of it head-on. After the attack died down, the Sentinel charged up its shoulder and arm cannons together before firing at the Indomitable. The ship-of-the-line magic shield cracks instantly from the Sentinel's energy cannons. Melting its armor plating like butter. Inside the Indomitable, several hull breaches were being reported. The crews began to put out multiple fires throughout the airship. The airship began to tilt sideward as several magic gravity generators were destroyed. This would place the ship of the line inactive for the duration of the battle.

While that's the case between the two giants, at the ground, the Kaynians were losing ground. The retreating Kaynians have finally created a secured perimeter between them and the gate. But the Elvenian reinforcements were slowly carving through it. Numbers were their weakness; they only had two hundred or fewer Kaynians. At the same time, their enemies brought a force of almost a thousand. What was worst for the Kaynians was that a demon was leading the primitive's ranks, along with their primitive form of psionics. Switching to his battle machine rifle. The Ghost proceeded in close-quarters combat with a gun. Unfortunately, his drum magazine exhausted its last ammunition. This forced him to reload while in the heat of battle. Upon laying its eyes on the Ghost, a naive Guardian would charge forward with his bayonet.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

[Tale, watch out!]

Tale reacted instinctively and dodged the incoming bayonet. Grabbing the Kaynian's rifle, the Ghost headbutted the Guardian. Its damaged energy shield shattered in the process, which knocked the Kaynian out. The Guardian thuds to the ground. Tale successfully replaced his weapon magazine with another. Pushing forward, the Ghost moved in and engaged the Kaynian forces. Teleporting beside Tale, both the Saintess and the Ghost shared a look. Suddenly, a squad of Kaynian Knights incircled the two of them. Not wasting any more time, they placed their back between each other and fought the knights. Tale would dispatch two Kaynian Knights on his own. At the same time, the Saintess utilized her magic to fire a magic beam at the remaining four. The Kaynians never got close before they were put down by the duo. Afterward, the two of them would proceed forward. Carving deeper into the Kaynian perimeter. After putting the ship of the line out of commission and focusing on the Elvenian troops, the Sentinel charged its arm cannons and pointed them at the Elvenian troops. Energy surged through its weapons before firing at the Ghost and his allies.

But this wouldn't be the case. Isabella would conjure a massive magic barrier just in time to block the incoming attack. The energy beams tried to punch through the Saintes' mighty barrier. But was unable to as Isabella pumped more magic into the shield. It wouldn't take long as seconds passed, and the Sentinel ran out of energy on its cannons. Also, its energy shield shimmered to life once again. It was hard not to see the glowing of the Sentinel. As the Elvenian forces carved through, it wouldn't take long for them to be set back. Arriving at the scene were Kaynian Warlocks. There were so few of them left. But it was outset by their sheer psionic power and potential that surpasses a priestess. Together, they brought a bolt of powerful psionic lightning that slayed the incoming Elvenians. The tendril of the deadly lightning spread throughout the ranks of the Elvenians and halted their advance to the gate. The numbers of the Elvenian troops were quickly being cut down and decreased in number. Knights, priestesses, rangers, and frames suffered.

[Saintess, those are great psionic users, the Warlock! We must take them out before they can dish out their psionics at our army!]

''Acknowledged...''

''...Wyvern riders bring your ire to the Kaynian magic users! Show them why you are the protectors of the skies!''

The Saintess ordered the wyvern riders to bombard the Kaynian Warlord to oblivion.

''It shall be done, Saintess!''

The commander responded to Isabella. They would begin to dive-bomb the Warlocks, unleashing their potent wyvern flames. This forced the Warlocks to conjure a psionic shield to protect themselves. That shifted their effort to defense as opposed to offense. This granted the opportunity to push forward into the Kaynian perimeter even further. Seeing an opening, the Ghost strode forward. But was eventually met with a hail of energy beams. Luckily, Sarroth's magic shield protected the Ghost. Absorbing all the Kaynian's psionic on himself. This prompted the others to follow. Going behind enemy lines, Tale brought out Sarroth and engaged with the Kaynians. Slashing four Guardians in five seconds. Now that their attention was now on the Ghost. The Kaynians neglected to notice the hordes of elves charging towards them. Although some did try to stop them, it was already too late. The Elvenian troops engaged in melee combat. This forced the Kaynian Guardians to engage with their bayonets. Kaynian Knights advanced toward the front line, causing a delay in the elves' progress.

In the heat of battle, the Ghost and the elves neglected the fact that their adversaries brought with them. The Paladins. And specifically Orge and Wing pattern, Paladins. The airborne Paladins would engage in a dog fight with the wyvern riders. Meanwhile, the armored Paladins would engage in combat with the frame units. Although not as numerous, the Paladins were a force to be reckoned with. In the air, riders and Paladins fired their attacks at each other. The scene currently taking place could only be described as quantity versus quality. The Paladins may be well armored and armed, but their elven counterparts had numbers and flame by their side. It didn't take long for the riders to windle down the Paladins. Although costly, the proud riders would do everything to protect Eldrant from the invaders. Meanwhile, on the ground, several frame units with their magic staffs. Engaged with their Kaynian counterparts. If there was one thing an Orge pattern was good at, it was armor. While the frame units had versatility, their magic staffs have several forms that would allow them to perfectly match any scenario. Hammers, halberds, scythes, and sword staffs were their options.

[Tale, look over there! The Kaynian Lord is accessing the gate module. Whatever he is doing, it could throw this situation upside down!]

Hedding his partner's word, the Ghost switched his rifle for Sarroth and approached the Kaynian Lord. Slashing and slaying every Kaynian he met along the way. But he was too late; the gate had begun to levitate up. It looks like the Kaynian Lord plans to sacrifice his men to keep the gate safe. Time was running out for the Kaynians, and now it looked like the Kaynian Lord wanted to activate the gate.

''Master, the Kaynian Lord is getting away!''

''Vee, how long until the gate reaches space?''

Tale asked, and the made A.I. calculated how long the gate would become functional. Based on her calculation, it should take at least several more hours before the gate could reliably take Kaynian vessels. But since the Kaynian Lord was desperate, he could do an override and let a small squadron through.

[Technically speaking, it should take the gate three hours to transport a flotilla the size of the one that attacked our solar system. But the Kaynian Lord could override that and allow a squadron through if he was desperate for firepower.]

''I see, but our problem is how do we reach the gate?''

[Levitating is a no-go. It would take too long for us to reach the gate. And teleportation magic won't allow us to appear on a moving platform...]

[...Sarroth, any suggestion?]

While Tale and Vee conversed with one another about how they could follow the gate, the legendary blade spirit had been thinking about how she could transport her master. Levitation and teleportation magic are not viable because of the reasons Vee mentioned. There has to be a better way of catching up to the gate before it's too late. Luckily, the answer to that problem would appear in front of them. Landing in front of the Ghost was Adelard's wyvern. It must have survived the destruction of the Javelin. Because Tale distinctively remembers the wyvern following Pauline back to the light frigate before getting destroyed.

[Wait! That's the commander's wyvern. How did it survive?]

''My daughter's champion must've given the wyvern a final order of aiding us if he were to perish.''

[Oh, but how can a wyvern carry Tale? I mean, he is wearing half a ton of power armor.]

''I believe feather magic should do the trick, Lady Vee.''

To Be Continued.