Despite heavy losses, with tanks stuck on the beach and high-grade military equipment discarded into the sea, thousands of lifeless bodies floated in the water as Wraith began the Siege of Karachi.
For a day, the Red Army had transformed a portion of Karachi into a burning hellscape, torching buildings and terrorizing trapped civilians. They deployed drones that mimicked the cries of babies, luring civilians out of their hiding places. As they ventured forth, the Wraith drones unleashed artillery strikes on their positions, creating complete chaos.
“Good... I will make the defending the righteous force proud. Continue the blood flowing!” Wraith grinned, reveling in the destruction.
The news reports were grim; violations and atrocities against innocent people filled the airwaves, and Light felt a simmering frustration boil within him.
“Damn it,” Light muttered, clenching his fists. “The Wraiths aren’t stopping. They’re just making this worse for everyone.”
Despite studying six religions, Wraith had learned nothing about being a good person. The Red Army advanced further, razing the northern part of the city, where floodwaters lapped at their ankles. The chaos was palpable, and the sight of soldiers trudging through the murky water only deepened Light's anger. Just as he was about to take action, a battleship appeared on the horizon, cutting through the waves toward Karachi.
“Pirates? Friend or foe?” Light wondered aloud, his heart racing. “Please don’t let it be backup for the Wraiths…”
As the pirates began firing at the Red Army’s coastal defenses, Monk observed, “They seem to be targeting both sides. Looks like they’re just here to profit off the chaos.”
"Profit," Monk replied, a hint of amusement in his voice. "This chaos is a goldmine for them."
“Interesting… very interesting,” Light remarked, a wry smile creeping onto his face. “They don’t care who wins as long as they can make a buck.”
“True, but this situation is getting out of control,” Monk said, concern creeping into his voice. “Luckily, our mountain stronghold is too fortified for their naval cannons. Still, it’s irritating to see some factions profiting from others’ suffering.”
Light nodded in agreement, his gaze fixed on the scene unfolding in Karachi. The Wraiths were gaining the upper hand, blockading the harbor and cutting off reinforcements. “It’s only a matter of time before they overrun the city,” he muttered, frustration boiling beneath the surface.
Suddenly, Monk’s voice broke through his thoughts. “Sir, you need to see this.”
Light turned, startled, as Monk pointed to the radar. “An aircraft carrier is approaching from nowhere, likely headed for the Gulf of Oman. It must be their flagship!”
“An aircraft carrier?” Light said, alarm rising. “That changes everything.” Monk shook his head. “Definitely not the pirates.” “Then it’s serious,” Light said, dread creeping in. “If it reaches the Gulf…” He grabbed the radio. “Get me the air force. We need to intercept that carrier.”
Half an hour later, a squadron of torpedo bombers soared through the skies, bypassing the battleship near Karachi. Monk observed, “It looks like the capital is prioritizing that carrier over the destruction of Karachi.”
Light frowned. “I guess that makes sense. The carrier could carry the main force of a country. But it also means they’re leaving our city and its citizens to suffer. I really hope that carrier doesn’t make it to the Gulf intact.”
As night fell, reinforcements arrived. Monk reported, “Sir, the capital has sent 10,000 regulars to your command.”
“Ten thousand? That’s actually… pretty damn good,” Light said, a glimmer of hope sparking in his heart. “Finally, we have a real chance!”
Monk nodded, but his expression darkened. “The challenge is the path itself. The flood has slowed both armies down, and this will be a city battle.”
“Damn… it’s the worst situation for a counteroffensive, especially in a flooded city,” Light replied, steeling himself. “But we have to take back that city. If we fail, the civilians will suffer greatly under Wraith tyranny.”
“Agreed. We could attack tonight or wait until tomorrow morning,” Monk suggested.
“Tonight it is. This war must end soon, no matter what,” Light declared, determination hardening in his voice.
Light pressed the button for the radio signal, his expression serious. “Soldiers! This is it! This is your time! We must reclaim this city before the Wraith army arrives and takes it instead! This is the most important move for all of us…”
As he spoke, he could see the resolve in their eyes. They were ready to fight, despite the horrors that surrounded them.
Monk nodded in silent agreement, and on the monitor, the regulars began their march toward Karachi. The city lay in darkness, the electricity shut down to prevent enemy coordination. Flames flickered in the wreckage, throwing creepy shadows everywhere.
the wraith forces are still busy on their warcrime activities. monks Estimates suggest around 150,000 wraith forces were still around the dense city of karachi. while light force under its command its was around 15000, a straight-up 1:10 slugfest. Not ideal.
But Light had a trick up his sleeve. He’d ordered 7,000 of his guys to dress up as Red Army, complete with IR markers so they wouldn't get friendly-fired. These undercover soldiers were now hitting the Wraith’s distracted forces hard, right in the city’s guts.
Monk’s crew racked up a serious body count that night, really shaking things up for the Wraith. His soldiers started getting jumpy, paranoid, even suspicious of each other. In a desperate move, Wraith ordered everyone to fall back to the coastal mall for a regroup.
Light could see the soldiers advancing on the monitor, the flood aiding their movement as the Red Army remained preoccupied with the fortress. “We’re almost there,” he thought, pushing through the mire of destruction. “We can’t give up now!”
As they reached the mall complex, the scene was nightmarish—water mixed with debris and lifeless bodies. The soldiers pressed on, determined to face the Red Army’s defenses head-on.
“Monk,” Light said, his voice steady. “Let’s lead by example.”
Monk drew his machete with a fierce grin. “Let’s do this!”
Light accepted the pistol and machete, his resolve firm. “We will not back down! The time to break the Wraith defenses is now!”
The soldiers, emboldened by Light’s presence, surged forward, ready to reclaim their city from the clutches of chaos. The battle for Karachi was about to begin, and they would fight with everything they had.
Light surveyed the massive pile of treasures before him, a sinking feeling settling in his gut. This is not good... he thought. If even a single enemy soldier survived, they would have enough wealth to fund reinforcements and mount a comeback. He had to ensure that the enemy had no chance to recover.
With a firm nod, he signaled to his troops. “Soldiers! Don’t waste your time looting! Focus on your task—eliminate the enemy! The wealth here doesn’t matter as much as finishing this battle!”
The monk relayed the message over the radio, urging the soldiers to remember that the treasures belonged to the people of Karachi. Some soldiers heeded the call, pushing forward against the Red Army, section by section, through the mall area.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
Light observed the soldiers who followed orders well, but he couldn’t ignore the ones who didn’t. It’s hard enough to break through the enemy lines without dealing with looters, he thought. We can’t afford to let our guard down.
Hours passed, and the mall complex shook as the Mumbai pirates resumed their bombardment, targeting both the Red Army and the Shangri-La forces.
“The pirates are back,” Light grimaced. “They must not have expected our counter-offensive to succeed, or they’re just here for profit. Either way, we’re caught in a crossfire between two enemy forces.”
“Sir! They’re dispatching small boats from their battleship toward us!” the monk shouted.
Light’s heart sank. “That’s bad news. They’re either trying to reinforce the coastal area or set us up for failure.” He glanced at the monitor, watching the boats approach from the sea.
“Red Army is cornered,” the monk reported. “We can push forward, but those pirates could hit our flanks.”
“Exactly,” Light replied, frustration mounting. “We can’t ignore them and push forward; that would be too risky.” He looked back at the monitor, weighing the threats. “Tell the soldiers to attack the pirate boats first while the main force keeps pushing forward.”
The troops quickly positioned their machine guns toward the incoming small boats, ready to fire. As the machine gunners opened fire, they shot and moved away just in time to avoid the battleship’s cannon fire. A few boats sank, but many managed to launch their amphibious assault on the southern part of the mall.
“Oh man, this is bad,” Light muttered. “They didn’t expect some of their boats to survive. It’s a minor loss, but it’s also a mistake on our part. We need to eliminate them before they bring in more troops. I really don’t want this attack to fail and let the enemy regain their strength.”
Minutes later, the Red Army began loading their treasures onto the small boats, and suddenly, the pirates and Red Army stopped firing at each other.
“It looks like the Wraith and the pirates have struck a deal,” the monk observed.
Light raised an eyebrow, disbelief washing over him. “They made a deal? The Red Army is trying to flee with their treasures, aided by the pirates?” He shook his head, trying to process the absurdity of it all.
“Let’s just keep killing them all,” the monk suggested, “but their naval bombardment is still our main problem.”
“Agreed,” Light replied, anxiety creeping in. “If they keep launching missiles, we might get crushed in the crossfire. This is a tough situation.” He glanced at the monitor again, noting the intensity of the fight. The Red Army was slowly retreating, but they were still holding firm, especially with the battleship firing missiles at the mall area.
“We must act before they flee,” the monk urged. “What can we do?”
“No matter what, that treasure can’t leave this land,” Light declared. “If it does, they’ll use that wealth to reinforce their military strength and possibly take back the city.” He sighed, realizing the gravity of the situation. “There’s no choice. I’m going to let our artillery fire at those small boats. It’s the only way to ensure the treasure doesn’t leave.”
“Yes,” the monk agreed. “Our artillery may be less accurate, but with the laser target marking device, we can enhance our precision.”
“Exactly,” Light nodded. “We can’t let them escape with those treasures. It’s the only way to break their momentum and ensure they can’t recover quickly.”
The soldiers scattered across rooftops and behind buildings, preparing to target the small boats for artillery strikes. After a salvo of shells, many boats sank, while only a few managed to escape back to the battleship, their gold, gems, and artifacts sinking into the sea.
“That’s more than I expected,” Light said, a flicker of hope igniting. “They didn’t see that coming. But we can’t celebrate yet. The battleship still poses a threat, and the Red Army is still holding strong. Our artillery must continue firing on that battleship. We can’t give the enemy a chance to escape.”
As the battleship became aware of the danger, it turned away, leaving some pirates stranded in small boats. They raised white flags in surrender.
“They surrender just like that?” Light asked, suspicion creeping in. “That seems... suspicious. I’m not sure I can trust them yet. They came here to help the Red Army, but now they don’t want to fight? What are they really after?”
“Kill them all, sir?” the monk suggested.
“Yes,” Light replied, his voice firm. “Kill them all. They are the enemy after all.” He sighed, raising an eyebrow at the monk. “No matter what, we can’t let anyone escape with the treasure. Let the artillery and regular soldiers finish the job.”
The soldiers resumed firing at the small boats, turning the sea south of the mall into a graveyard of wrecks and floating bodies.
The sea was now littered with the remnants of battle. The attack on the boats had succeeded; the artillery and soldiers had eliminated most of them. Only a few small boats managed to escape to the battleship. The Red Army couldn’t leave with their treasures, but Light was left wondering if they would truly surrender or if it was all a ruse. Can I trust them to come in peace? Are they really surrendering?
As the remnants of the Red Army scattered throughout the city, the monk remarked, “We didn’t find any sign of the Wraith. He probably managed to flee to the city or escape with those small boats.”
“So he escaped with his small boat,” Light mused. “What do we do now? Should we leave the remaining small boats and finish off the remaining Red Army positions, or should we pursue the smaller vessels first? Or should we just wait and see if he really fled?”
“We’ve won for now,” the monk replied, gazing out at the sea from the damaged mall windows. “Kinda.”
Light stood amidst the aftermath of battle, a mix of relief and concern washing over him. “We’ve won... for now,” he declared, surveying the remnants of the Red Army. Their main force lay defeated, with only a handful managing to escape. The battleship had retreated, but the specter of the Wraith loomed large. “This isn’t over yet. We can’t just abandon this city and return to Shangri-La. Our mission is to stop the Wraith from conquering this land.”
The monk nodded, determination etched on his face. “We will get them next time.”
Light sighed, a hint of frustration creeping in. “So be it. At least we’ve managed to weaken them a bit. That should count for something... unless we let those small boats slip away.” He paused, the weight of their victory settling in. “But we mustn’t let arrogance cloud our judgment.”
As they lined up the captured Red Army soldiers, Light’s heart sank. Among them were children, some as young as twelve, alongside mercenaries and seasoned fighters. “What are they doing on the front lines?” he wondered aloud. “How did they end up here? Are the Wraith truly forcing these kids and mercs to fight?”
The monk placed a hand on Light's shoulder. "War makes monsters of us all,." He gestured to a recovered data pad. "We found this on one of the officers. It details an agreement between Wraith and the pirate captains. Loot sharing in exchange for naval support."
Light took the data pad, his brow furrowed. This changed everything.
The monk replied, “They call themselves the Free World Revolutionary People’s Army. We also uncovered clues about the pirates’ motives. It seems the Wraith managed to contact the pirate captains, striking a deal to share the loot in exchange for their naval support.”
Light’s brow furrowed. “So the Wraith is asking for a cut of the wealth in return for backing the Red Army? That’s a small price to pay for them.” He began to pace, contemplating the implications. “I can see why they’d make that deal. It might not be too late for us to negotiate under the same terms, but we need to break the alliance between the Wraith and the pirates.”
“Money can melt pride,” the monk suggested.
Light grimaced. “I don’t like the idea of appearing as someone who only cares about money, but it might be our only option.” He glanced at his weary soldiers, some still catching their breath after the fight. “They need rest. I’ll try to use my diplomatic skills to negotiate with the pirates.” He sighed deeply. “If that doesn’t work, I may have to resort to more... unconventional methods to sever their alliance.”
The monk’s eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief. “A nice idea. Just offer the pirates more money to bring back the Wraith’s head.”
Light’s expression brightened at the thought. “If they bring back the Wraith’s head, that would certainly shatter their alliance.” He looked out toward the pirate boats anchored nearby, their presence a reminder of the precarious situation. “They’re not far away... actually, they’re quite close.”
With renewed determination, Light nodded. “Let me try that!”
In the makeshift command center on mall, Light squinted at the monitor, an impending sense of absurdity hanging in the air. After several attempts to make contact, a flamboyantly dressed pirate popped onto the screen, his yellow attire clashing violently with the grim seriousness of the situation. “What do you want, monks?” he slurred, a mischievous grin stretching across his face.
“Hello,” Light replied, his voice steady despite the surreal encounter. “I’m here to negotiate. You’ve fought alongside the Red Army, but is wealth really your only interest? I can offer you something better.”
The pirate chuckled, leaning back in his chair with a dramatic flair. “We want all the gold, but our main objective? Just being a jozen good pet.”
Light scratched his head, perplexed. “So you’re just being used? Can I really offer you more than they do? I can pay you even more than the warlord.”
“Nah,” the pirate said with a wave of his hand. “We’re not loyal to the Red Army. The Nation of Sea—that's our true overlord. You call it the Blue Nation.”
“Oh, interesting,” Light said, a spark igniting in his mind. “So the rivalry runs deep. How’s your relationship with the Blue Nation? Can you defy the Red Army and still be on good terms with them? If you can, could you pass along my offer?”
“I’m not in the mood to discuss my bedwetting stories,” the pirate shot back. “So let me be clear: you want Wraith’s head, don’t you?”
Light’s eyebrows shot up. “Wraith’s head? You mean the Wraith himself? You could bring it here?”
The pirate grinned devilishly. “Sure. Just a moment.” A few seconds later, he held up a glass jar containing a head—Wraith’s head, to be precise. It bobbed grotesquely, its pale skin and empty eye sockets a disturbing sight.
Light’s heart raced. “One million credits for that head?” He paused, weighing the absurdity of the situation. “That’s a lot of money, but… it’s Wraith. I don’t mind paying, but this deal feels a bit too good to be true.”
“I took his treasure, and now he’s dead to hell,” the pirate proclaimed proudly. “He can’t do anything to me. So, you like it, right?”
“Tempting,” Light admitted, his mind swirling with doubts. “But I think I’ll pay for it. One million credits for that head.”
“Good! I’ll send my men to drop it in a remote area. Just make sure your men bring the cash. Don’t be clever about it.”
“I’ll send my men with the money,” Light agreed, his mind racing with the implications. “But make sure that head isn’t a fake, and that the money is real. I don’t want any complications.”
“Understood. I’ll send coordinates soon. Sumbhajee out.”
As the monitor flickered off, Light was left in silence, grappling with the gravity of his decision. Had he really just paid a ridiculous sum for a warlord’s head?
“Why did they kill Wraith, I wonder?” one of the monks mused. “I feel bad for him, even if he was the antagonist.”
“I don’t know,” Light replied, frowning. “But selling his head like a trophy? Is that really the right thing to do? Do they think death is the only answer for a warlord?”
The pirate chose a meeting spot on a small island off Oman—Masirah Island. After a tense exchange, Light found himself holding the jar. He stared at the head inside, a grotesque trophy now sealed in glass.
“Finally, the transaction is done,” he muttered, peering into the jar. The sight was disturbingly creepy, yet undeniably significant. “I must return to my soldiers and share this news.”
“What will you do with that head?” the monk asked, curiosity piqued.
“I’ll bring it to Shangri-La,” Light said, his mind racing ahead. “My soldiers have captured some Red Army troops; we can use this as leverage to negotiate and put an end to this war.” He glanced at the jar again, the head lying lifelessly within. “It’s just… too creepy.”
The monk nodded knowingly. “Ah, to show real evidence of your actions, right? To earn more medals.”
“Yes,” Light replied, a hint of reluctance in his voice. “For the media coverage too.” He tightened the lid on the jar, trying to shake off the unsettling feeling creeping over him.
“Material acquisition is all people want,” the monk observed, a wry smile forming.
“That’s the truth,” Light admitted, gripping the glass tightly. The head’s empty sockets seemed to bore into him, a ghostly reminder of the life it once held. “But it’s just so disturbing…”
“Here.” The monk offered Light a bag.
“What’s this for?” Light asked, taking the bag.
“To make it less creepy,” the monk replied,
Light placed the jar inside the bag, feeling a wave of relief wash over him. “It’s just… a head. A dead person’s head. Nothing to be afraid of, right?”
in distant shore. the pirate then escort wraith. Sumbhajee, the flamboyant pirate, clapped Wraith on the shoulder, a wide grin plastered on his face. "Pleasure doing business with you, Wraith old boy! Tell Zion I said 'hi'!" He then turned and swaggered back to his ship, leaving Wraith standing alone on the beach.
Wraith dusts off his coat. "Right. Well, that was… anticlimactic."
then streach his arms, he murmured, more to himself than anyone “well. i think ofensive warfare is not my skill. lets go back to monopoly and sim city games” With a casual air, he turned and walked towards the waiting transport pod, his Amazonian Praetorian guards falling into formation around him.