She channeled her mana into the the crest, watching as the Aquitaine team slowly surrounded the trap. As more plans landed and they were forced to retreat, the watcher brough her mirror up. She channeled her mana into it, creating the two way reflection with her team."Commander.""Withdraw the soldiers into the building. At once.""The enemy is here?""Yes. The trap, once sprung, will kill anything in its path. Withdraw.""Yes, at once."The watcher closed the mirror and began to chant. She started slowly, but once the soldiers she disappeared inside, she spoke quicker."These are our lands, imperial dogs."The trap was sprung.
When I said final preview, I meant stand alone preview. This is the final preview packaged with another chapter.And so we're on the last assault of New Siberia!Calixte Arc"Wait, what are they doing?" I asked, looking through the binoculars."What is who doing?""The Roslachnian soldiers. Look."I handed them over."They're... Returning to the building?""Yeah, it looks like it."Alphonse shook his head, handing me the back of the binoculars. "Why would they do that? Do you think they're fortifying their position?""I'd bet a year's salary." Even though I didn't need it. "They couldn't have missed us. They know we're coming."This was going to make our mission a lot harder. Maybe there was a reason they left this place undefended."Where do you think Bian is-" I started to ask before the deafening sound of bells exploded.RING! RING! RING! RING! RING! RING! RING! RING! RING! RING! RING! RING! RING! RING! RING! RING! RING! RING! RING! RING! RING! RING! RING! RING! RING! RING! RING! R
Calixte ArcThe shield gem stopped the redirected bullets, it didn't stop the creature itself. The inky liquid tendril arm moved slowly enough that the shield gem couldn't stop it, but fast enough to put a small hole in my leg. FUCK!It would have a much larger wound, but Alphonse jumped the monster. He must have seen my failed attempt at shooting it and slashed the creature with a knife. The blade cut through its inky skin. The creature roared and turned around.I ripped the knife from my belt and charged mana through it. The blade started glowing and rocked violently. The metal wasn't enchanted to absorb mana properly, so I didn't know how long the knife would hold, so I had to move fast.Alphonse moved back and saw me. He pulled out his sidearm and fired. The bullets were absorbed back into the darkness.I jumped right as Alphonse fired. Despite Amos unloading a wall of bullets into it, the monster pulled itself up. There were holes up and down his body, but the big monster didn't
Calixte ArcThe dark figure formed a black ink sword out of its arm. It was large and bulky, and it pointed it at us. Before I could react, the creature leaped forward. Despite how bulky his sword was, it moved like a fucking ghost. Before I could defend myself, it was right in front of me. Its sword-arm gleamed in the light and he struck me in the chest full on.I found out the creature was made of mana because my shield gem flickered to life and saved my life... The gem didn't stop the force and I was flung back. The creature and my team disappeared as I passed through the tree line. I slammed into a tree with enough force to take me out.I was glad there was a Pain Damper function installed in the shield gem because otherwise, I wouldn't be standing back up. It couldn't remove all theThankfully I had taken a few potions before I landed. Silently apologizing to Alphonse, I left him. There was a rifle back at my warplane and I just hoped Alphonse didn't die until I got back.The rif
THE OFFICERNew Siberian CapitalOne Week Before InvasionSergey devoured the donut, eating its glazed, filled glory in two bites. He washed it down with coffee."That was disgusting."He finished crewing with an exaggerated swallow. "That's a talent.""You're the reason people call cops pigs. You act like a fucking pig."He grabbed another donut. "Listen, tits, one day-""Did you just call me tits?" I slapped his arm. "You are a pig."He waved his hand, shoving the second donut in his mouth. "Tits, one day you're going to wake up and find out that you've been on the force for forty years. Then you're going to drive to the donut join, buy yourself a dozen of the fullest, most pristine glazed donuts they have and you're going to eat yourself until your as big as I am."He said everything with a mouth full of donuts. "Jeez, Sergey. Don't talk with your mouth full."He shrugged and went for another donut. I don't know how a man in his sixties could put them away like that, but it was kin
Calixte ArcIt's monstrous defense... We should have been prepared. We had destroyed the inky creature that attacked us, but the rest of the team was still dealing with the other monster.It was an impressive mystical defense. I was surprised the Roslachnians had such a talented sorcerer here with them to set that up, but I guess that goes to show why we shouldn't judge the enemy so simply.I looked through my scope. Bian and Sasha were still fighting off their monster. They were making progress though, I could already see cracks developing within the dark shadow.I channeled my mana into the rifle and aimed at the creature. Bian and Sasha dived to the side as it attacked and I took advantage of its back was turned. The enchanted bullet struck it through its back and the cracks that were already there splintered. Like our own shadow, it died in an explosion of light."Did you get it?"I tossed the binoculars at him. "Check for yourself."I reloaded the rifle as Alphonse looked. "You s
"Did it work?" the master asked.Emer nodded. "Yes. The message has been sent. If nothing else, I'm sure my prince will want to come see me."The shadow snorted. "Prince, huh? Don't you want to lill him?"Emer shook her head. "No. I want to capture him and sell him to the highest bidder. That might be a connected Aquitese lord, or a new bider."The Shadow Master ordained to look at her. "I thought you had an outstanding contract?""I did, but she is agreed to double the pay fot Prince Calixte. I'll sell him to the highest bider, so I hope you've prepared. I can't let him get away this time."
Calixte ArcThere were two vectors of attack, the front door, and the side door. Both of them would no doubt be guarded, but Bian split us into two teams: Sasha, Rolo, and her would go in the front, while Alphonse and myself would try the side door."I'll take point. I have more mana."Alphonse nodded. "I'm not going to argue, my prince."Approaching the side door, I was surprised about the lack of snipers. As I grabbed the doorknob, there was... Nothing. No bullets, no shadow monster, no nothing.I looked back and Alphonse was still hidden behind the brush. He wasn't gone, he wasn't being attacked.I looked back at the door. I grabbed the doorknob and threw it open. A familiar wave of nausea washed over me and the world vanished in a spin.Emers Gallagher was nowhere to be seen and as far as I was concerned, that was good. Fighting for my life in the skies above New Siberia was bad enough, I didn't need my personal hunter there as well.We had pushed the Roslachnian Communist forces