General Heque stood in the command room of the Consortium Ark. He stood near a display, studying a map of the Esponia mountains. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"Those piles of rock are no longer a nuisance." He murmured.

An aide walked up to the General, kneeling.

"General, the men have been talking amongst each other. They are curious as to why do we not go and target Dresken? Would that not be more beneficial for us?"

Heque shook his head. "No. The plan here is to target a civilian city. Soldiers die in war. Death in war is to be expected. What is not expected is mass casualties of civilians. From what the Hero has told us, in their world a similar situation happened. An unbreakable country of warriors were prepared to fight to the last man. Two cities were destroyed and it broke their will. That is what we hope to accomplish."

The aide raised his head. "I see. Thank you for enlightening me."

Heque stood up, walking over to the window. He looked down at the mountains filling their field of view. What were once snow-capped mountainsides were hills that looked like their tops had been shaved down.

"What has become of those annoying metal birds that were following out path?" Heque said as he looked around. "I do not see them."

"General, it appears that as we approach Esponia they are staying further back. Scouts on the lookout towers report they are now flying a few miles away."

Heque glared coldly into the distance. "If they appear again, shoot them down. Show them the Ark is not to be trifled with. What is the damage report from the rampart?"

"We were able to repair the damage, General. The mana shield is once more fully operational. No men were lost."

Heque watched closely as they crossed over the mountainside. Down below, the sprawl of a modern city was laid out. It was getting dark, so streetlights were coming alive. Heque crossed his arms. "Ready the main cannon. Fire only when we arrive at the predesignated destination."

The aide nodded before rising to his feet. "As you wish, my lord."

Eric rested on the hood of his truck. Now that the Ark was past Esponia, he could sense the mana fluctuations as if a microburst was hitting him in the chest. Every few minutes, he would feel a sharp pain in his head. It was as if tiny needles were stabbing the inside of his scalp.

Michael walked over, noticing Eric massaging his scalp.

"You good?"

Eric sighed as he looked towards the direction of Esponia. "I can’t wait for this to be over. The mana fluctuations alone are powerful. Even from this distance I can feel it."

Michael gazed in the direction Eric was looking, and narrowed his eyes. "You can see it now." He muttered.

An uncomfortable silence settled over the two men as the ghastly ship sailed through the air. It was little more than a speck in the distance, but that speck carried a weight. The crushing pressure of doom settled over them. A city they knew and had frequently visited was about to be wiped off the map.

Eric closed his eyes and concentrated. He sensed the flow of mana stemming from the ship, and gasped. "It’s starting." He murmured.

It began with a dark flash of amber light that made Michael shield his eyes. The flash of light exploded outwards in all directions, bringing with it a powerful burst of air that threatened to knock the men over. Tree branches snapped, with the largest trees swaying overhead.

Then came the sound. It was like nothing Eric had ever heard. Instead of a massive explosive sound, it was as if a chalkboard the size of Fort Hood was being marked by chalk. The screeching continued, reverbrating off the valley down below, into the forest.

Eric covered his ears, but it did nothing to ease the sound. Michael tried to get in their truck, but the screeching continued. "God dammit!" Michael growled as he looked into the distance. "Does every weapon they have have to be so fucking ridiculous!"

Eric couldn’t laugh. He couldn’t speak either as he held his head. It took all his effort to not curl over in pain. "All the mana in the atmosphere is being sucked dry!" He yelled as he looked at the speck in the distance.

It was growing bigger.

"Shelter in place!" He yelled into the radio.

The amber light receeded, and the screeching sound stopped. Both Eric and Michael looked off in the distance, their faces grim as they couldn’t look away. They wanted to run or hide in the vehicle, but couldn’t.

Soldiers around them stared with open mouths and blank stares as the speck stopped over where Killeen was.

Another flash of light burst out. The air went silent. The wind stilled.

The forest quieted.

And then the roar of a massive fireball exploded upwards and outward.

Wind and heat rushed towards them as the shockwave came into contact with the forest around the unit. Eric ignored the heat, letting his skin be singed as he watched in silence.

Memories of playing in the pool hall, his fight with Jonny, his nights out as a private intermingled with dread. Once the heat subsided, and the wind died down, a tear fell down his face. He turned away with a deep sigh. Ten years of memories destroyed by one super weapon.

"Get ready. It will be here next."

No one spoke as preparations began. Soldiers readied their gear and last minute weapons checks were conducted. Equipment affected by the blast was being calibrated, and silent prayers for the city were being offered to the Goddess.

Every soldier there had been to Killeen many times.

Now, the war was personal.

General Heque looked at the screen with glee. He scanned the city that showed up on the display with a smirk as cheers erupted from the soldiers standing watch over the elves manning the controls.

The aide from earlier walked up to Heque. "General, the scouts confirmed. No structures are left standing in the city. The Mana singularity cannon worked to perfection."

Heque patted the man on the back. "I know, lad. Come! Let us celebrate! The glory of our God shall ride supreme."

Heque stepped outside and looked down from the bridge. What had been a sprawling grid of lights and sounds was now a molten crater. Streets lay in ruin, with the area directly below the cannon now a few hundred feet deep crater.

Heque sipped a glass of wine, smiling at the success of his mission. "When I get back, I think I will have Opal try on those new clothes I bought." He said with a grin.

He went back inside as a fresh crew replaced the celebrating crew. Heque gave the finished glass of wine to a servant before taking his place back in the commanders seat.

"Alright, we have had revelry long enough. We have other targets in the area before we head back to Brishian city."

A new aide walked up. "Commander, the Elven mages are working on recharging the mana sphere."

Heque nodded. "Good. What is the status of our other weapons?"

The aide kneeled. "Sir, all weapons are ready to use. We have fifty mana missiles readily available, with twelve mana cannons that are currently being manned. So far, there have been no signs of the dragons or the black dot, so the Sraiaz systems are unmanned."

Heque rubbed his chin.

"Very well. See to it that the men whom will man the Sraiaz launchers are standing by. As we get further into enemy territory, I do not want to be caught off guard."

Heque looked into the distance before seeming to realize something. "Better yet, man all battle stations. I have read the reports that our enemies can attack from over the horizon. Have all the scouts begin summoning their birds so that we have eyes outside of what we can see ourselves. Leave nothing to chance."

The aide bowed. "As you wish, General."

Heque stood up and stretched. "I will be resting in my chambers. Come wake me when we are at our next destination."

His eyes darkened as he looked off into the distance. "Their next city shall burn if they do not surrender." He growled.

The aide stepped back, wary of the change in his commanders eyes. "Yes General, we will do so. Please rest well."

Heque noded. "Come to me if anything of note happens. I do not care if it is as small as birds running into the mana shield. These otherworlders have unusual machines and doctrine. What may seem small may not be."

The aide stepped aside as Heque walked away. "As you wish, General." He said, saluting while Heque closed the door.

Heque went into his quarters, taking his hat off and laying down in the bed.

"I can’t wait to see the Hero’s look on his face when he realizes I have more favor with our God then he does." He said with a smirk.