Prologue

"Echoes of the First War"

(The voice of a seasoned reporter, steady and somber, reads from a page. The words echo the burden of history, filled with the haunting memories of a war that never truly ended.)

<< Reporter (Narrating) >>

<< "Eighteen years ago, the skies above Astoria were torn apart by a conflict that would change the course of history. It was a time when nations lived in the shadow of a nuclear age, and the rules of war had shifted in ways that few could have predicted. Velkaria, a nation once a distant power in the East, rose with a terrifying new resolve. With its technological advancements, new leadership, and a burning desire to reclaim what it had lost, it set its sights on Astoria—the heart of a continent teetering between peace and instability." >>

(The reporter pauses as if weighed down by the weight of the truth. The next words come slowly, deliberate.)

 << Reporter (Narrating) >>

 << "A world that had believed nuclear weapons were a relic of the past, a weapon too dangerous for any sane government to use, was quickly proven wrong. Velkaria did not hesitate. In the opening days of the war, their forces unleashed devastating nuclear strikes against key strategic targets in Astoria. Cities vanished in flashes of light, and entire regions were rendered uninhabitable by radiation. Astoria’s military, caught off-guard and underprepared, was forced into a desperate fight for survival, knowing that every passing hour brought them closer to the point of no return." >>

(A brief, tense silence fills the air as the reporter’s voice grows colder.)

<< Reporter (Narrating) >>

<< "As the war unfolded, the world watched in horror. Astoria’s military command quickly learned that there were no boundaries left in this new war. Velkaria’s nuclear capabilities—once a fearsome threat—were soon matched by Astoria’s retaliatory strikes, sending shockwaves across the globe. The skies above the battlefield became a deadly playground, with fighters darting between nuclear explosions and missile trails. It was no longer about winning. It was about who could survive the longest in the face of mutually assured destruction." >>

(A moment of reflection passes, and the voice softens with the gravity of the statement.)

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

 << Reporter (Narrating) >>

<< "But even as the war dragged on and nations bled, the survivors kept fighting. the unknown mercenaries' aces —a symbol of unwavering resolve—struck back with relentless precision, gaining ground and driving Velkaria’s forces back. Yet for every victory, there was a loss. The war turned the skies into a graveyard, a reminder of the devastation unleashed by those weapons. When the final ceasefire was declared, the aftermath was a bitter one. Hundreds of thousands had died, cities lay in ruin, and a fragile peace was forged in the rubble." >>

(A low, grave tone echoes through the words.)

 << Reporter (Narrating) >>

<< "The world had hoped that peace would last. But the scars of the first war never truly healed. Velkaria, though defeated, was never fully dismantled. Its wounds festered beneath the surface, and whispers of resurgence spread through the shadowed halls of power. The arms race continued. Nations rebuilt their arsenals, not out of hope for peace, but out of fear that the war was only paused, not ended." >>

(The reporter’s voice shifts, now filled with an ominous tone.)

<< Reporter (Narrating) >>

 << "Now, as the days slip into the present, those fears have become reality. Velkaria’s forces are not just a shadow in the dark—they are real, and they are here again. Armed with even greater nuclear capabilities than before, they’ve launched a new assault against Astoria and its allies. A new generation of weapons is already on the horizon—missile systems that can reach targets in seconds, bombers with enough payload to wipe entire cities off the map. And once again, nuclear warheads threaten to erase what little peace was left." >>

(The voice becomes almost a whisper, the weight of history pressing down on every word.)

<< Reporter (Narrating) >>

<< "Astoria, having learned the bitter lessons of the past, is bracing for the inevitable. Once again, its military must rise to the challenge, but this time, the stakes are higher. The air is thick with tension, and the skies are once again filled with the fear of nuclear war. The weapons we thought we had put to rest have returned, and they are deadlier than ever. One wrong move and the whole world could be plunged back into the ashes of nuclear winter." >>

(The words hang in the air, silent for a moment, before the reporter speaks one final line, with an urgent, almost pleading tone.)

 << Reporter (Narrating) >>

<< "The war that we thought was over is not gone. It is only waiting to consume us once again. And this time, there may be no peace left to fight for." >>