In the Pamir Mountains, a land of rugged peaks and glacial scars, General Picot of the Yellow Nation knelt before Zion, his fur cloak stark against the snow. “Liar!” he snarled. “You promised me ten cities! You destroyed them!”
Zion met his gaze, unfazed. “I delivered the cities. Their contents… relocated.” He picked up his old fire axe, the steel gleaming in the thin mountain air. “Greedy fool. But thanks for clearing the path for my forces.” With a swift, brutal swing, he beheaded Picot.
The room fell silent as men removed the body. Zion slumped into his chair, exhaustion etched on his face.
Wraith materialized from the shadows. “Chaos is the canvas. I provide the brush. What masterpiece will you paint?”
Zion’s voice was barely a whisper. “What if the masterpiece is destruction?”
“Destruction is creation’s shadow,” Wraith replied. “Every end is a beginning.”
Wraith’s gaze bored into Zion. “You think immortality is a gift? It’s a curse. I’ve seen empires crumble. Wisdom always arrives too late. What will you be, Zion? A god… or a monster?”
A few days later, the Wraith division marched methodically along the seashore, their turrets trained on the mountains as they closed in on Karachi. They razed a couple of settlements, leaving destruction in their wake, while partisans along the coastline hesitated to raid their route. The only significant natural barrier between the Wraiths and Karachi was the Hop River.
The sight of the advancing Wraith division sent a knot of anxiety twisting in Light’s gut. He watched through his binoculars as the armored vehicles moved relentlessly “They didn’t fall for the bait,” he muttered, watching the enemy advance. “This isn’t good. Their size and power are overwhelming. I need a new plan—fast.”
Suddenly, an idea sparked as he studied the map. “They’re moving forward, but they’ll likely slow down to avoid ambushes. We can use that to our advantage.”
The monk chimed in, “We need to focus on building the Karachi defensive line. The Shangri-La Confederacy isn’t united; they still listen to their religious leaders. If we can show the capital we can defend this region, they might send help and unite the confederacy.”
Light nodded, a glimmer of hope igniting. “A small victory could rally them. But why haven’t they sent reinforcements yet? Don’t they realize we can’t hold this place much longer?”
The monk sighed. “They’ve always had different agendas, alienating their own people due to ancestral heritage.”
“So, the Shangri-La Confederacy is split between military and civilian interests?” Light frowned. “That’s not good. It could lead to internal conflict. We need their support, or this could end in disaster.”
They set up base north of Karachi, near the Hop River dam, keeping a close watch on the Wraiths along the coastline.
“Clever move,” Light remarked, recognizing the strategic advantage. “We can secure the vital river for water supply and slow the Wraiths’ mobility. If they try to cross, they’ll have to split their forces.”
But as hours passed, the Wraiths constructed multiple pontoon bridges, preparing to flood their army into Karachi.
Light raised an eyebrow as he see wraith bellow them unfazed . “They’re readying for an assault. This is bad. Our plan has only delayed them, and now it feels like we’re heading for a war of attrition.”
“What’s our next move?” the monk asked.
“I can’t sit idle. We need something to throw them off, something to make them hesitate,” Light replied, desperation creeping into his voice.
Later, the monk reported, “Our general has split orders—some are forcing Karachi civilians to join the defense, while others are letting them flee. What’s your command?”
Light frowned, his nerves fraying. “There’s no point in forcing civilians into defense. They have no combat experience. We should evacuate them for their safety.”
As they monitored the situation, thousands of refugees fled Karachi, transforming the once-bustling city into a ghost town.
Light’s heart sank as he watched the monitors. “My God… even the civilians are leaving. This is going to end badly.”
Meanwhile, the Wraiths completed their pontoon bridges, setting sentries on both sides of the river.
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Light’s anxiety spiked. “They’re serious about taking this place. If they launch a full attack, it could spell doom for the Shangri-La Confederation and Karachi.”
As the Wraith division began crossing the bridge, the Shangri-La army bombarded it with artillery and missiles, but the Wraiths’ advanced anti-air guns shot down projectiles mid-air.
Light watched in despair. “Their anti-air capabilities are formidable. Our artillery is useless against them. If this continues, they’ll reach Karachi in no time.”
Then he spotted some monks fishing by the dam, smiling as they passed his tent, seemingly unfazed by the chaos.
Light felt a momentary calm wash over him. “How can they be so relaxed?” he wondered.
“Do you want to flood them?” the monk asked, breaking his reverie.
Light snapped back to reality. “The dam! We can use it to slow them down!” He glanced at the massive hydro-electric arc dam that held back the Hop River, its curved concrete face gleaming in the sun. It was a marvel of pre-Collapse engineering, still functioning despite the ravages of time, worry creeping in. “But what about the civilians? If I flood this place, it could endanger them too. This is a tough decision.”
The monk nodded. “We’ll charge at them to force them to dig in. While they’re distracted, we’ll implement the flood attack.”
“Alright, that’s the plan. We’ll charge and force them to dig in, then unleash the flood,” Light confirmed, determination hardening in his voice. “But we need to ensure everyone is prepared. Time is running out before the Wraiths reach the city.”
“Our monk warriors are ready to die. We have one chance after they finish crossing,” the monk said, steeling himself.
Light smiled at the monk’s resolve. “We can’t lose this chance. The Wraiths are almost at Karachi. It’s time to execute our plan!”
The monk division set their sights on the bridge, ready to launch their attack.
“Do you want to give them a last speech?” the monk asked, a glint of anticipation in his eyes.
Light paused, considering. “Hmm... yes, if you don’t mind, I’d like to do it over the radio. I want to make it dramatic and inspire them. Is that okay?”
“All ears are yours,” the monk replied, nodding.
Light pressed the button, activating the radio. “I know the situation seems dire right now, but don’t lose hope!” His voice boomed with conviction. “We will win this battle! We will defend this city no matter what! We will never surrender and fight until our last breath! We will not let the enemy take our home!”
“Soldiers! We will give them a fight! We will strike back with everything we’ve got! If they think their overwhelming force is enough to take this city, let us show them they are dead wrong!”
Cheers erupted from the soldiers, weapons raised high—spears, machine guns, all gleaming in the fading light.
Light felt a wave of relief wash over him as he saw their spirits lift. “This is good... now we just have to wait for the signal to attack.” He glanced at the monitor, where the Wraith division was nearing the bridge, almost ready to cross.
Some soldiers were praying, others relaxed, and a few played with their weapons, their eyes fixed on the approaching Red Army below.
Light noticed their calm demeanor. “They seem relaxed... they must have some mental strength. If they believe they will win, their fighting spirit will be stronger.” He grinned, realizing why these soldiers had never submitted to the Wraiths.
But the monk interjected, “No, sir. They’re relaxed because they know this will be a 100% suicidal charge.”
Light was momentarily taken aback by the monk’s bluntness. “Wait, what? They’re aware of that?” Then it hit him—this was their belief, their faith. They believed they would be rewarded for their sacrifice.
A smirk crept onto Light’s face. “Those soldiers... they see death as part of their duty. It’s understandable.”
“Are you ready to see it?” the monk asked, his tone serious.
Light nodded, a mix of anticipation and dread swirling within him. “I am... but I have a feeling it won’t be pretty.”
He pressed the radio button again. “Soldiers! Prepare for the signal! Stay focused and be ready!”
The mountainside fell silent, the only sounds being the wind and the occasional chirp of birds.
Light felt a knot of anxiety tighten in his stomach. The stillness was unnerving, heightening his nerves. “What am I waiting for?” he muttered to himself.
“Sir, what are you waiting for?” the monk prompted, breaking his reverie.
Light blinked, startled. “Wait! What? That quickly? I thought we still had time!”
His heart raced as he glanced at the monitor. The Wraith division was now only 50 meters from the city—closer than he had anticipated.
“Okay, this is it! We need to act now!”
“You are the general. Command them to face their death,” the monk urged.
Light pressed the radio button again, his voice steady. “Soldiers! Now! Execute the plan! The dam bursts!”
“CHARGE!” he yelled, rallying his troops. “Charge!!”
The soldiers descended the mountains, some taunting the enemy, others firing their weapons as they ran. Some took cover behind boulders, methodically shooting, while a few charged straight into the fray, ignoring the incoming fire.
Light felt a surge of tension as he watched his soldiers rush toward the Wraith position, a literal “Death Charge.” He was filled with worry, knowing he could only watch the outcome unfold.
Then, the Wraith army halted their bridge crossing, mounting sentries and digging in. A small group of soldiers managed to reach the Red Army side, engaging in close-quarters combat after their grueling run from the mountains.
Light’s heart raced. “They’re actually making progress! They have a chance!” He marveled at their bravery, realizing they deserved medals for their efforts.
The monk handed Light the detonator for the explosives planted on the dam. “Now’s the time for the final strike.”
Light’s eyes widened as he looked at the dam. “Is it time? Let’s do this!”
He pressed the detonator, and the dam exploded, unleashing a massive flood toward the enemy.
Wraith soldiers’ eyes widened in shock as they saw the torrent of water descending from the mountains. They hadn’t expected the dam to be blown. The Red Army scattered in all directions, engulfed by the flood, their soldiers and equipment swept away toward the sea.
With the flood wave crashing down, the Red Army was pushed back, their momentum shattered. Light couldn’t believe the miracle unfolding before him.
But as he watched, he saw the remaining Wraith leadership continue their push toward Karachi, not to capture it, but to destroy it. They began firing at buildings, setting the city ablaze.
Light’s heart sank as he saw the flames engulfing Karachi. “This is bad... really bad!”
The monk noted, “We wiped out their main army—over 100,000 troops and their equipment drowned. But we have no soldiers left to defend Karachi after our last charge.”
Light felt a mix of relief and dread. “We’ve defeated their main force, but the city is doomed. We must prepare to evacuate the citizens...”
He paused, realizing the gravity of their situation. “Wait... over 100,000? That’s almost their entire force. They won’t have another major force, right?”
“Probably not,” the monk replied with a chuckle. “Who can count that massive number?”
Light smiled at the monk’s humor, but then a realization hit him. “Wait... I actually defeated them, didn’t I?”
“Half win,” the monk replied. “But Karachi is now defenseless.”
“Half win, huh? You’re right... but at least we destroyed their major force. That’s a good thing. But if they destroy the civilians and their buildings... I have to call for an evacuation. We need to move the civilians to safety.”