* Date: September 30, 1173

* Time: 10:20 AM

* Location: Adel Village

Across the battlefields of Adel Village, elves and invaders battled for Eldrant's fate. Elven numbers were slowly getting reduced by the invader's firepower. The Indomitable has sustained multiple injuries across her hull. The ship of the line's magic cannons lay in silence as her crews did their best to repair the injured vessel. On the ground, the Saintess did her best to rally the remaining Elvenian forces against the invaders.

''Saintess! We have the invaders surrounded!''

''Indeed, press for a push!''

''By your will, Saintess!''

It didn't take long before the last of the Paladins fell from their elven counterparts, the frames. But their numbers had reduced to a mere handful. This didn't deter them from leading the charge toward the invader line. Energy beams struck at the charging frame units. But they weren't alone; beside them were knights riding toward the invaders. Rangers would lose their arrows and head toward the invaders. But the incoming volley would be thwarted by the energy shield of the Sentinel. Blocking the projectiles and saving the remaining invaders.

''Saintess! The Sentinel's magic shield has returned!''

''Quickly, we must flank the invaders before that accursed machine blasts us!''

''Understood!''

On cue, several knights and rangers made their way toward the flanks of the invader perimeter, fearing that the Sentinel may fire its powerful weapons again. But thankfully, that hasn't happened yet, but soon it will. In the front line, the frame units and the knights clashed in melee combat with the invaders. Bayonets, swords, and magic staffs were used to beat each other brutally. But the invaders wouldn't hold long until they started to retreat. Seeing this, the Sentinel would point its weaponry at the frames and knights. Charging its weapons before blasting them to oblivion. Energy beams erased the remaining frames under the Saintess's command out of commission. And with the destruction of the front line, Isabella's front was exposed. But that's not all; the Sentinel still had its shoulder cannons. The Sentinel hastily pointed its shoulder cannons at the flanking elves. The Saintess saw this and prepared a magic barrier to shield the Sentinel's targets.

''That Sentinel is going to blast away our flankers...''

''...Hold this line!''

''Invader volley incoming!''

The invaders took advantage and peppered the exposed guard of the Saintess. In return, the priestesses created several magic barriers to shield themselves. Meanwhile, the Saintess prepared magic to protect the flanking elves from the Sentinel. Soon enough, the Sentinel fired its cannons, but not before the Saintess summoned her magic barrier and shielded the flankers. Firing lightning, the Warlocks had reconvened themselves and fired at the Saintess. The magic barriers placed by the priestesses were shattered. Several priestesses would meet their end as the lightning struck. Exhausted, Isabella saw the Warlocks prepare another magic attack at them. Around the Saintess, her subordinates perish one after another. For once in her life, she felt hopeless.

All she could do was watch as the invaders killed elves left and right. All she could do was watch as the invaders slew elves indiscriminately. Most unsettling was the realization that this was just a glimpse of Kaynian power, and Isabella hesitated to contemplate the consequences if the Kaynians were to unleash their full force. But that fear would draw away from the Saintess's consciousness. Appearing behind them were two airships. These were two heavy frigates that originated from Xarnoth and Zangratu kingdoms. Both vessels would bombard the Sentinel from afar with magic cannons. The Saintess immediately turned her attention and saw the heavy frigates. Isabella smiled as she noticed Xarnoth, Drake riders, Zangruto water golems, and their rangers and knights rushing toward them.

''Reinforcements...''

''...Elvenians! Today, our world stands as one! Let this be the hour when we elves stood united against the invaders and their tyranny!''

Isabella proclaimed as everyone saw the arrival of their allies to aid in their battle. The invaders, meanwhile, were horrified upon the sight of two more airships and their ground forces. Drake riders, water golems, knights, and rangers stormed in to reinforce the Elvenians. The combined military of Eldrant answered out loud. The remaining Elvenians would charge beside their fellow elves. Invader energy fire did its best to halt the incoming wave of elves, to no avail. The knights and rangers that flanked the invader perimeter were reinforced with Xarnoth Drake riders. Meanwhile, in the air, the wyvern riders finally finished off the Paladins and supported their comrades on the ground. The wyverns nose dive and released their flames to the invaders.

Wyvern fire drenched the invaders as water golems, knights, rangers, and priestesses engaged with them. The invader's numbers were slowly getting cut off. Magic, swords, and arrows were used in unison to slay any invader. In the air, the two heavy frigates fired their magic cannons at the Sentinel. The invader war machine would respond by charging its cannons. But luckily, the Indomitable has stabilized. The heavy frigates couldn't be able to punch through the Sentinel's shield, but the Indomitable could. Its four turrets spun into action and fired at the Sentinel. The Sentinel's energy shield shattered. After firing its magic cannons, the heavy frigates beside the Indomitable fired their cannons.

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In return, the damaged Sentinel fired its four armaments at the three airships. The Sentinel's firepower again injured the Indomitable, but the invader war machine did not come off unscathed. The two heavy frigates had their magic shield protecting them while they fired on the Sentinel. It didn't take long for the Sentinel to fall to its wounds. The firepower of the combined airships brought it to its heels, but this didn't mean the battle was won. The Indomitable was injured once more, and the magic shield of the heavy frigates was shattered in the process. But one thing was for sure, without the Sentinel. The invaders had no support backing them up, thus leaving the ill-numbered Kaynian troops to their demise.

''For Eldrant!''

* Date: September 30, 2173

* Time: 10:45 AM

* Location: Elvenia Airspace

High above Eldrant's atmosphere was a ginormous structure called the gate. Its purpose is to bring Kaynian reinforcements to Eldrant to crush the elves. But below the gate was a single wyvern adorned in enchanted armor racing to intercept the gate. On board the wyvern was the Ghost Operative Tale. Using feather magic. The Ghost's power armor reduced its weight, making it easier for the wyvern to carry.

[Current altitude sixty thousand feet!]

''Sarroth, can the wyvern catch up to the gate using magic?''

Appearing on the Ghost's heads-up display. The blade spirit did her best to calculate and search for a type of magic. It didn't take long for her to find a solution.

''A precise teleport magic should bring us closer, but I'd have to do it multiple times.''

''Well, we got several hundred thousand feet to find out. Do it!''

''Understood, my master.''

Sarroth then prepared her teleport magic. While adjusting to the circumstances and counting that, she had to teleport not just her master but the wyvern as well. This task was daunting, but she will not falter for Eldrant's sake. After mere seconds, Sarroth accomplished teleporting them. A loud zap could be heard, but no one could perceive it.

''Vee altitude?''

[We're one hundred thousand feet from the gate! We need to do it again!]

''Sarroth, get to it!''

The blade spirit nodded as she performed the same magic as before. Another loud zap boomed the atmosphere. But no one would be able to hear it.

[Seventy-five thousand feet!]

Vee informed before Sarroth could perform the same magic as before. And much like before, another zap occurred. But this time, it would be accompanied by lightning.

[Fifty thousand feet! We're halfway there!]

Bracing for another teleport, the Ghost endures for dear life. Sarroth then performed the same magic as before and zapped the wyvern and its passenger out of existence. Appearing several thousand feet in the air, closing the gap between them and the gate.

[Twenty-five thousand feet! Almost there!]

The legendary blade spirit performed the same magic and closed the distance between them and the gate. But the effects of magic exhaustion would kick in. Sarroth focused and endured the cause of her pain.

[Contact! Bank left now!]

Holding the leash tightly, the Ghost ordered the wyvern to back left. But unbeknownst to Tale, the wyvern was too tired to move. Noticing this, Sarroth utilized telepathy magic to inform him.

'Master, the wyvern is too tired to move. You must leap onto the gate platform!'

'Acknowledged!'

Although tired, the wyvern did its best to maintain its altitude. Standing up, the Ghost braced himself before leaping off the wyvern and onto the gate platform. Seeing that Tale was safe on the gate platform, the wyvern stopped flapping its wings and began to fall.

''Well done, master!''

[Uhuh, but we might have to end the celebration short because the Kaynian Lord is staring at us.]

Vee pointed out, and on the control console of the gate was the Kaynian Lord. The Kaynian's body was a mess; shrapnel was embedded in his body. And several pieces of his armor were torn or hanging.

''What's he been doing?''

[Absolutely nothing.]

''And the gate, what's its status?''

[I've got no response coming from the gate...]

[...We have to take care of him first before anything else.]

''Then we kill him.''

[Yep, that's the only way to do so.]

Vee commented this was going to be a duel confrontation. And this time, it would dictate the fate of Eldrant. But it all lies on the shoulder of Ghost and his capability of facing the Kaynian Lord. And as of right now, the gate platforms are still rising to reach space. This means that within mere hours, the gate could operate as intended.

''My master, are you aware that the Kaynian Lord will do whatever it takes to safeguard the gate?''

''Yes, and we will do the same to protect Eldrant.''

''Very well, my master...''

''...Please kill him properly this time.''

The Ghost nodded and began to approach the injured Kaynian. And as Tale came close, the Kaynian Lord did nothing but sit. The injuries the Kayian has sustained have finally taken its toll on his body.

''You try to fight for the fate of this planet, demon? Do you think you can stop me and the Arc Imperium? I am Atlant, Kaynian Lord, and here I am to bring forth your and the elve's destruction. But you have shown me that you are unwilling to give up on this planet's inhabitants. A remarkable foe for me to face. A foe that does not know when to stop...''

''...As long as you are alive, you bring hope to these primitives no matter how dire the situation. A hero, they call you the Hero of Eldrant, the warrior from the stars, the savior of their species and planet. Tell me, demon, how long will it take for you to realize that you have lost? How many lives do I have to burn, maim, and destroy for you to stop?''

''For every life you take. I will make sure that I avenge them.''

''I'm thankful. Because out of all the lifeforms that exist throughout our galaxy, your kind has shown me that even a glimpse of hope can change the outcome of a war. And because of that, I know what I must do. I will shred your species to extinction, boil your planet into molten rocks, and make any other race suffer like you! And only then could the galaxy sigh in relief. A galaxy without your species' touch, meddling, and corruption. A peaceful galaxy for all to see.''

Atlant, the Kaynian Lord, proclaimed out loud to the Ghost. It was clear that the Kaynian was not going to stop at eradicating Earth or Eldrant. The Kaynian promised he'd destroy worlds home to species that opposed his Arc Imperium.

''A peace born out of blood, war, and extinctions.''

''Yes, but no one will ever know. And this planet and its primitive race will be the first. But why should you care about peace, demon? When I am done with this planet, I will ensure that your Earth will suffer the same fate. But who are you to believe you'll be alive to see it.''

Standing up, the Kaynian Lord brandished his sword and pointed it at the Ghost. Tale did the same to his battle machine rifle and aimed it at the Kaynian Lord. Both combatants locked eyes with each other, and only one will survive. Weapons at hand, both warriors hailing from distant worlds, will dictate the course of Eldrant's history. Gripping his rifle tightly, the Ghost lines up his shot: inhaling and exhaling, Tale opens fire.

To Be Continued.