“What is he waiting for?” a Pelican Dragon asked impatiently. “Hmph. What else did you expect? He is merely a sergeant, after all.” Another Dragon chimed in snidely. “I would not be so arrogant, if I were you. Sergeant Drakk’N led the breach successfully and now he leads the charge. Lag, overshoot your mark, break formation or fall to the enemy and your words will be remembered forever.” A Horse Dragon rumbled and her disapproval was felt.
“Sir.” Dumas said quietly. “I see them. How are your people?” Duke asked and the bald warrior laughed. “Terrified and eager to prove themselves.” He replied proudly. “I will not lie, I am surprised. Do you all agree to this?” the Four-Armed Dragon asked curiously. “Aye.” Aata and Madeleine answered in unison.
The two warriors stood behind Dumas with their hands behind their back. Duke turned around and stared at the three of them. He blinked and three dirty kneed farm children stood before him. The Four-Armed Dragon sighed and looked up at the sky.
“Then I will not take your resolve for granted. Colonel Dumas step forward.” Duke instructed and the bald man approached steadily. “Take this great hammer and with it the rank of General. Wield them with caution and pride.” Sergeant Drakk’N rumbled and Dumas felt the weight of his words. His comrades’ profile pictures appeared in the top left corner of his field of view and the hammer blistered his palms.
“I will.” The Iron Army’s General replied and he gripped the great hammer tightly. “Good. Then prepare boarding parties for battle. I want…no, we need them to destroy any enemy vessels. I know my family well. They treat war and politics as a game, allies and enemies as pawns and information as currency. Who we trust and when we trust them will decide everything. So, until then we trust only in ourselves and our own strength.” Duke said as he stared at the thousands of colossal wooden ships on the horizon.
The Four-Armed Dragon waited until the enemy had fired first. He raised his arms and his Mother Ship opened her mouth. A colossal ring of glittery energy expanded and the thin translucent membrane, in the centre, wobbled. A dark starry circle devoured the sky and an asteroid drew nearer to the interdimensional window.
Duke summoned a meteor with a thought. The Mana infused continent crossed the veil and the Mother Ship groaned. The glittery ring shone, the thin membrane inflated and the meteor grew exponentially.
“Time to prove you are more than just hot air.” Captain Meyer said with an eager grin. “Lutho!” General IronHide barked. “Move out!” the Horse Dragon ordered and the tiny Astral bodies near her feet disappeared. The fleet of Mother Ships blew their horns, formed three spears and sped up.
The Bull Dragon stared at the horizon. She caught up to Sergeant Drakk’N and maintained the distance between them. Above her was the second spear and below her the third. The Eastern Armada hid behind the glittery meteor. They held their breath and waited patiently for the signal. The meteor drew nearer to the army of Demi-Gods, their chariots, wooden battleships and magical cavalries. They locked onto the meteor and opened fire.
“Blast it out of the skies!” a voice roared and a storm of glittery projectiles pummelled the sparkly stone. The silvery spears, arrows and bullets chipped away fragments of space rock. However, the warheads crashed into the meteor and the destructive energies were absorbed. The heat and light repaired the glittery stone and it grew again.
“Now!” Duke signaled and cracks formed. The meteor shattered and the debris was blasted at the Demi-Gods. They scanned the skies and the Four-Armed Dragon’s ship was the only one they detected. “The debris! Target the de-”“-Slaughter them!” General IronHide roared and the Eastern Armada emerged from their hiding places. The ghostly Mother Ships passed through the Demi-God’s ships, before they appeared inside and burst out.
Chariots and cavalries were swallowed hole and the Demi-Gods found themselves trapped in the middle of deserts devoid of all moisture, barren planets that lacked atmospheres and endless skies plagued by dusty storms. Their Draconic opponents appeared suddenly, unleashed barrages of attacks and vanished shortly afterwards.
“What is going on?” a Demi-God wondered as a quarter of his armour was obliterated in nano-seconds. He stared at Duke’s ship and a thought occurred. “Prepare for a second wave! Target the ship in the rear! We need to stop them now, before they build any more momentum!” Ogun shouted and a gaping maw opened to his right.
The towering War God opened his hand and a spear materialised instantly. He turned to his right and launched the iron rod. Ogun opened his right hand and the spear split into twelve identical copies. The iron rods grew spontaneously and the Mother Ship vanished.
“Retreat! We will live to fight another day…and we must find a way to deal with our enemy’s speed. Sound the horns!” Ogun ordered and the animal horns were blown. A deep vibration washed over the battlefield and the Dragons were stunned for a moment. They blinked erratically, recovered quickly and scanned the battlefield. The Demi-Gods had disappeared mysteriously.
“Gather yourselves. They have retreated to the east.” Sergeant Drakk’N rumbled calmly and everyone saw what he had witnessed. The explosions of sound sent ripples through the air. The invisible waves washed over the battlefield and the Mana rooted everything and everyone in place. Duke struck his bell immediately and another ripple washed over the battlefield. It shattered the stasis fields and freed everyone.
“Excellent work, Sergeant. Our enemy could have used that opportunity to attack. Instead, they fled. They are more cautious than I expected. A foe that learns from their failures, is an enemy we must not allow to become a thorn in our side.” The Bull Dragon rumbled warily. “How many more do you have?” A Woodpecker Dragon asked quickly.
“One.” Duke replied. “One more big push. We should save it for the final assault on the continent-”“-for now.” The Four-Armed Dragon added. “You can generate more? Will it be the same size? How long will it take?” Colonel Sakamoto asked and he closed his wings.
“Calm down, Colonel. That will not be necessary, Sergeant. You have done enough. The enemy suffered an unexpected defeat today. They will not throw their forces at us haphazardly. Expect small skirmishes until we reach the continent. I want a perimeter set, a rotation of guards, scans of our environment every thirty seconds and drone scouts scattered ahead of us.” General IronHide ordered.
“Yes, Ma’am.” The Dragons replied in unison and they formed another spear. This time, a detachment of Mother Ships circled the pillar of vessels. Thousands of machines left their respective Mother Ships and vanished. They cast a wide net above, blow, besides, in front and behind the Draconic Armada.
The Dragons whispered and murmured to one another from their observation towers. Hundreds of monitors appeared before them and their Astral bodies fiddled with them. Duke’s Astral bodies poured through the meteor’s scan results. Sergeant Drakk’N studied the most interesting and dangerous technologies, skills, spells and techniques personally. His Astral bodies stored the memories in a secret vault and the steel doors closed silently. An invisible fabric swaddled the vault and the doors disappeared.
“Our preparations are complete. We will be ready for the next battle.” Dumas’ Astral body reported. “Excellent. Your help will be needed going forward. I fear the General’s reasoning is both correct and incorrect. We should have chased after the enemy and pressed our advantage.” Duke’s criticism surprised the bald warrior.
“You had their ears. Would it not have been wise to suggest that, or is this the game you mentioned?” Dumas asked curiously. “That it is. I would have voiced my opinion, if we were only warriors. However, it was not the most diplomatic way to achieve our goal. Too much attention has been drawn to our actions already. We must be more discreet going forward. Though I doubt discretion is in Their plans.” Sergeant Drakk’N replied with a quiet sigh.
*
“Damn him! He dares to make fools out of us.” The Pelican Dragon rumbled. “Ha! Speak for yourself.” A Lilac Breasted Roller Dragon replied and she laughed uncontrollably at her colleague’s rage. “I beg your pardon, Corporal.” Sergeant Lewis said through clenched teeth.
“Oh please. Your rank means nothing to me. Especially since I know how you stole your promotion.” Corporal Maira rumbled slyly. Abraham cleared his throat and breathed heavily. He inhaled sharply and scanned his observation tower. “Relax, cousin. We are alone. Your secret is safe with me. Even when your complaints irritate me.” The Roller Dragon rumbled with a mixture of frustration and kindness.
“What makes him so special, that a General would step aside? What makes him so important?” The Pelican Dragon asked angrily. “Hmph. Do not ask stupid questions. I will say. Have you never found it strange?” Riri asked coyly. “But my question was stupid.” Abraham muttered. “Please enlighten me. What is strange?” he asked and his cousin laughed.
“That he bears his clan’s name. How many heads do the Drakk’N have? Are they looking in the same direction? Do they all see the same thing?” Corporal Maira wondered out loud. “Why would he hide his foresight?” Sergeant Lewis asked skeptically.
“That is, if he possesses the ability. I have never seen his eyes…have you?” the Roller Dragon asked and the Pelican Dragon frowned. “Keep an eye on this Drakk’N, but steer clear. If he is not deciding his own path, then someone must be guiding him. Either way, we do not want to earn their ire.” She rumbled carefully and Abraham stared at his cousin. “She rarely takes interest in anything. Is he truly special? No, it is as Riri says. He may not be, but he is to someone else and they are the true danger.” He thought and Corporal Maira smiled from ear to ear.
*
“Blast them out of the skies!” Dumas roared and his fleet of war ships fired their cannons. The bright white crystal shells left behind sparkly trails of light, like comets, before they punched through the smaller wooden vessels.
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
The warriors in iron plated armour roared as they cut down their enemies. Splinters, blood and fragments of metal were splattered in every direction. The Iron Army rushed through the ships they had boarded, cleared every room and planted the explosive charges. Major Wolfe and her squad stood in the middle of a room full of corpses, while terrified soldiers waited on the other side of the door.
“Major Wolfe, requesting transport.” Madeleine said calmly. “Transporting in three…two…one.” A voice replied and she nodded. A marksman stretched out his left index finger and ran his finger down the list of explosive devices. He armed the bombs and clicked on a holographic red button. The devices displayed on the monitor counted down from one second, before they detonated and the six warriors in iron armour were shrouded in light. They disappeared and reappeared on Major Wolfe’s ship.
“That’s thirteen ships in three days. Twenty-six trips. And this shite still makes my stomach churn.” A warrior complained. “According to the pirates it does not get any easier.” Madeleine said and a group of engineers arrived to check their armour and weapons. They pulled out strange scanners and monitors popped up in front of them. “Ready for combat.” The men and women in overalls reported as soon as they were done.
“Thank you. Really?” Captain van Helsing asked with a groan. He stuck his rifle to the magnetic disc on his upper back, while the group walked through the ship’s hangar. “Of course not. I would not trust a word they say. I am certain there is a medicine, spell, skill or technique that deals with the nausea.” Major Wolfe replied playfully. “Bridge to Major Wolfe.” A voice said and a monitor popped up with an old woman on it.
“Report.” Madeleine replied and she made her way to the personnel lift. “Twelve out of the sixteen squads returned without any casualties. Two have survivors that are still fit for duty, the other two have injured that are still in critical condition. The rest didn’t make it.” The bridge officer reported. “Damn it. What happened?” Major Wolfe asked softly.
“Their…they were overrun.” the old woman replied. “Langley.” Madeleine said sternly and the bridge officer sighed. “Knowing won’t do you any good. You need to stop. It’s not-” the old woman stopped speaking, when she noticed the glare in Major Wolfe’s eyes. “I will send you the audio and visual files, ma’am.” She replied quietly and Madeleine rushed to the lift. “Out!” she barked and everyone stepped out quickly.
The crew stared at the lift as it ascended. It stopped on the fifteenth floor and they all waited with somber expressions. They heard a loud thud, followed by several more. The lift shook and an alert blared. Everyone hung their heads and the bridge crew turned to Langley. She brought up a monitor, pressed a button and silenced the alarm.
“For glor-” a voice roared before the explosive devices detonated and the recording ended. “Glory seeking fools! Your lives were worth more than a hundred ships! Why didn’t you abandon the mission and return? Why?” Madeleine whispered and she stopped punching the wall. An invisible force pulled the loose metal panels back into place and ironed out the dents.
*
Colonel Manfred thrust his spear and it shattered. He roared and a glittery translucent film coated his body. The two-metre-tall man moved like a blur. He punched heads off their shoulders, tore limbs out of their sockets and shrugged off everything thrown at him. The translucent film inflated and the giant rampaged through the ship.
“Charges have been planted.” A voice reported and Colonel Manfred leapt through a group of enemies. “Pin him down! He’s just one man!” an enemy officer ordered. “Transportation!” the giant shouted. “Detonate!” he added shortly afterwards.
“Almost, but not quite. I cannot allow mere pirates to out do me, or my people. The transformation is within me, now I must grow accustomed to it. Soon, giants will roam this world. Then, we will take back our homeland, my friend.” Colonel Manfred thought as he was shrouded in light and transported back to his ship. “Status report.” The giant ordered.
“Sir. All squads have returned. Zero casualties. Seven minor injuries. Five are in critical condition, but they will make it. Captain Titan requested a meeting. She’s waiting for you in the map room.” The bridge officer reported concisely. “Did she say what it was about?” Colonel Manfred asked quickly. “No, sir. Only that it was urgent.” he relied and the giant reabsorbed his Mana. The energy retreated within his cells and a thought occurred.
The lift doors opened and Colonel Manfred exited it slowly. A wave of hot air blew past him and his heavy footsteps echoed through the passage. The doors to the map room opened with a whoosh and Farah turned around. She scanned the giant and frowned slightly.
“Permission to speak freely?” Captain Titan said with a tired expression. “I am well, Captain. My mission was a success, even though I had to fight through hordes of warriors and some were quite capable.” Aata joked, before he noticed the stern expression on her face. “Is this about your transfer papers?” Colonel Manfred asked nervously.
“What we’re doing is wrong. There is no need to risk our jobs and our futures for…” Farah stopped speaking. “For our future. I am close, Farah. You are close. Together, we will solve this mystery and create something new.” Aata said excitedly. The tall woman stared at him silently. His smile faded away and a thought occurred. “You’ve already applied for a transfer, haven’t you?” he asked quietly and Farah’s expression softened.
“Dumas approved the creation of a special strike force. I’m leaving for his ship tonight. I didn’t want it to reflect poorly on you. A captain going behind your back? It’s better if they think I was chosen for some special team by the General.” Captain Titan explained.
“I understand…I just…I was hoping we could do this together. Learn, grow and fight together.” Colonel Manfred replied quietly and he forced a smile onto his face. Farah stepped forward and placed her hands on his cheeks gently.
“We will. After this war. We cannot finish what we started as we are.” Captain Titan said softly and she brought her face closer to her husband’s. “I know. My head understands, but-”“-the thought of being apart hurts.” They both said with their foreheads pressed together. “I must pack. I just wanted…I needed a moment alone with you.” Farah whispered lovingly.
*
Dumas stared at the tall ghostly figures, of varying opacity, around him. He looked forward and marvelled at the most well decorated Astral body. She had badges that shimmered on her left breast plate, a ring of light behind her back and wispy ribbons that fluttered and flowed mysteriously. The Iron Army’s General tilted his head back. He smiled at the cloudy skies in the distance and Sergeant Drakk’N glanced at his feet.
“Did you hear everything that was said?” Duke asked and Dumas nodded. “Aye. One last push to the desert continent and a well-fortified coast, then southeast to a stronghold that was scouted. Are all meetings this strenuous?” He asked as a bead of sweat dripped off the tip of his nose. Sergeant Drakk’N chuckled. “No. This is a special occasion. The Dragons here are soldiers, not sailors, farmers, scholars nor explorers. Once we reach solid ground, the real war will begin.” He replied excitedly.
“They cannot contain themselves?” The General of the Iron Army asked and Duke chuckled at his amusement. “No, and to be frank, neither can I. Your army will be tested, old friend. You will be tested.” He said and the temperature increased steadily.
“We aren’t the same warband you stumbled upon in the northern countryside. Men and women fighting for their own goals. And yet we always fought as one. I have always wondered if there is more that binds us together than combat and compensation. Then I realized we all shared a common goal. To grow stronger. You showed us a path and now I will pave the way for others.” Dumas said confidently and Sergeant Drakk’N left the Bull Dragon’s observation tower. The Iron Army’s General let out a sigh of relief. He inhaled sharply and exhaled slowly.
“Good. Save your strength for the beach landing and leave the rest to me.” Duke said confidently. “Aye. Please excuse me. There are preparations I need to make. I do not want the enemy to grow accustomed to our tactics.” Dumas said and the Four-Armed Dragon nodded, without taking his eyes off the horizon.
*
“Charge!” General IronHide roared and Duke pushed the meteor through the portal. “Ignore the rock! Target the ships in the rear!” Ogun ordered and the Demi-Gods spread out. Their ships blanketed the skies and the Dragons let out excited roars. “Something is not right. General-”“-I see him. Change of plans. Sakamoto, Drakk’N get ready to peel away. Everyone not assigned to them is with me. We will divide the foe in three and pierce their hearts.” The Bull Dragon instructed and the meteor sped up.
The Mother Ships vanished, before the Demi-Gods’ barrage of attacks reached them. They funnelled into the meteor and cracks formed on its surface. The glittery giant rock shattered and a meteor shower barrelled towards the colossal wooden ships.
“Ha! Well done, but I had a feeling you had another trick up your sleeve. Fall back! To the coast! Hurry!” Ogun ordered and the War Gods were pulled back by an invisible force. The hidden folds in the world were unfurled and the wooden ships disappeared over the horizon. “Now!” a voice shouted and ripples distorted the air. The fabric of reality stretch and pushed the glittery debris back, before it contracted and halted the Dragons’ charge.
“Open fire!” Ogun ordered and glittery beams of light struck the chunks of sparkly rocks in the sky. “Hold!” the Bull Dragon roared. The beams battered the meteorites, but they didn’t budge. The glittery rocks contracted and grew denser and heavier. They vibrated and trembled with each passing second.
“Now!” General IronHide ordered and Sergeant Drakk’N opened his eyes. They burned a bright shade of orange and hundreds of light speed spells were written with a flash. Duke pushed and beams of light were fired from the centre of the glittery crystal rings. The light shower bombarded the sandy beaches and four hundred Whale Ships burst out of the sand. Two hundred more erupted from the south eastern coast and another two hundred directly north of the Bull Dragon’s central position.
The Demi-Gods targeted the beaches. However, it was too late. The Whale Ships released an ocean of Mana and a blanket of inter-dimensional energy was dragged over the coast. With the curtain raised, a wave of darkness washed over the beaches. The thick slab of Mana absorbed every projectile and the shrunk mysteriously, while the shadow crept forward unhindered. Duke’s vessel stopped abruptly.
“This is as far as you go!” Ogun shouted and he swung his hammer. The War God struck the air and an invisible anvil appeared momentarily. “Impressive. Have you seen this tactic before?” Duke asked and his Mother Ship opened her mouth. He flew out to meet the enemy and Dumas looked up from the ground. The Iron Army’s General caught the moment when the two titans clashed. He smirked, lowered his gaze and fixed it on the buildings that poked over the dunes.
“Aata, Madeleine; destroy those defensive structures! Everyone else, with me!” Dumas ordered and the Iron Army split in two. “Hmph. How archaic. Let us show them what a real army looks like. Deploy the drop ships.” A well decorated officer said snidely from his flying chariot. “Sir.” A soldier said, before they point at Sergeant Drakk’N’s Mother Ship. A few looked up and squinted. They magnified their vision and spotted the war ships tucked beneath the colossal Whale Ship’s left flipper.
“Fire!” Colonel Manfred and Major Wolfe bellowed. Their ships opened fire and the shells hit the ground a few kilometres before them. “Ha! They’re clearing a path through the dunes. Close the gap and then match their pace. We’ll wait until the hammers do their jobs and tire themselves out. Then we clean up after them and launch our assau-”the officer was interrupted by a loud crash.
Dumas raised his hand and his hammer rematerialised in his hand. The General of the Iron Army tossed the great hammer ahead gingerly and it sped up quickly. He opened his clenched fist and the heavy mass of metal grew until it was ten times its original size. A torrent of flames erupted from the hilt and the great hammer crashed through the dunes before them.
Dumas flicked his wrist and the great hammer spun at blindingly quick speeds. The blurry mass of metal kicked up a sandy tornado and a billowy dusty cloud formed above their heads. Ogun glanced at the ground quickly.
“Hmm. Are they your worshippers?” the War God asked and Duke stared at him. “No. They are a collection of friends, allies and contracted mercenaries. They are my people.” He rumbled stoically. Ogun tilted his head to the side. He inhaled slowly and exhaled. “Are you the leader of this army or are you just the strategist?” the War God asked and Sergeant Drakk’N stared at him.
“Neither. Surrender, if you do not wish to fight. I do not possess the power to broker peace, but I know the ones who do.” Duke suggested cautiously. “Hmph. I have seen what becomes of those that have struck a bargain with a Dragon. No, I wish to challenge your leader to a duel. To prevent as much bloodshed as possible, but make no mistake. Blood must be spilled to end this conflict.” Ogun replied as he raised his hammer and pointed it at his opponent.
“This all reeks of his influence. His childish sense of humour. That is how I have always known that the Dragon King is watching over me. I too have seen what becomes of those who make deals with Gods. This loss may mean something to you one day. Or perhaps it will be lost on you, but know that I am not your enemy. Only another obstacle for you to overcome. That is the lesson I learned. Every enemy is an ally I failed to understand.” Sergeant Drakk’N rumbled reverently and his voice washed over the War God’s body.
The Mana infused sound waves passed through his shields and the energy fields that reinforced them. Ogun was struck with a dizzy spell. The world spun, his stomach lurch and he stepped back involuntarily. The giant War God’s body vibrated violently. He clenched his teeth and his bones cracked.
Ogun focused solely on holding his body together. His Astral bodies appeared inside the marble buildings that contained his electromagnetic field generators. The War God diverted energy from his reactors to the white sky scrapers. He lost control of the energy fields that held his footholds in place and fell.
Ogun ignored the agony and maintained his form through sheer will power. He slammed his head against his hammer and broke the debilitating dizzy spell. The War God fell onto his back with a thunderous crash. He regained his strength and healed his bones quickly. Ogun stood up and roared. The shockwave flattened the surrounding dunes and he scanned his surrounds quickly. The War God was nowhere near the battlefield. Something sparkled and he spotted the shimmering silver city to the west.
“He sent me back home. What was that? What just happened?” the War God rumbled involuntarily. He clutched his throat and placed his other hand over his mouth. Ogun squinted at the west. He spotted a dark cloud hundreds of thousands of kilometres away and turned to the shimmering city. “Are you telling me to evacuate my people? My people. He spoke those words. Why would you warn your enemy? Enemy. He said that word too. Why can’t I remember? I must not jump to conclusions. Friend or foe, I must know.” The War God deduced and his body shrunk. He leapt a kilometre in a single leap and made his way back to his palace.