• Date: September 30, M2100


  
• Time: 10:05 AM


  
• Location: Kaynian Gate


  

  ''Lord Atlant!''

  Hearing his name called out, the Kaynian Lord turned to meet the face of one of his remaining high-ranking officials. Some time had passed since he rejoined his fellow Kaynians, and the warlocks promptly treated his wounds. Though unbeknownst to him, recent events had turned the tide to the Hero of Eldrant's favor.

  ''What is it?''

  ''My lord, thirty unidentified ships have arrived!''

  ''WHAT!''

  Standing up, he immediately brushed aside the official as he exited the temporary shelter. Staring at the skies, he saw thirty ships of elven design. It seems that reinforcements had arrived for the operative and his allies. Clenching his fist, he understood that his hated rival knew he couldn't defeat him and his fellow Kaynians. Thus, he deceived him by stalling for time for the natives of this planet to come to his aid.

  ''Battle stations!''

  He shouted, and immediately, the remnants of the fighting force responsible for exterminating the chosen of the deities heeded his command.

  ''Defend the gate with your life! Those primitives must not hinder our progress!''

  ''Understood, my lord!''

  Luckily, they had with them a sentinel. Though they only had one, it was still an asset as it was one of the few things besides psionics that could destroy an airship without issue. However, that didn't mean their enemies wouldn't have something equivalent. Coming into view, the massive one-point-four-kilometer ship of the line loomed over the Kaynian structure and its defenders.

  'By the Arc!'

  Atlant whispered as he saw the flagship. Although their technology was superior, their enemies were many, making it a battle of quantity versus quality. In response, the guardians and paladins established a firing line. At the same time, the warlocks began to collectively manifest a psionic dome around the structure that covered them.

  ''Honored sentinel!''

  He shouted, and the massive siege engine heard his call as an immediate connection via their communication system was established. In response, the sixty-meter-tall Class III Sentinel quickly turned its attention to his lord.

  ''WHAT COMMAND SHALL YOU GIVE MY LORD?''

  ''I ask of you, honored one, to unleash your fury against our foes!''

  ''THEN I SHALL BURN THEM ALL TO SUNDER! AND LEAVE NOTHING BUT THEIR ROTTING CORPSES!''

  The sentinel responded with righteous fury as it prepared to fire its potent energy cannons. All four of its armaments—one on each arm and one on each shoulder—began to hum as power fluctuated. However, the same could be said for the fleet before them as he felt psionics radiate from the mass drivers on board the elven airships. Thus, they needed to hurry—or relatively, the gate needed to open faster, or else they risk being bombarded by the fleet before them.

  ''My lord! A firing line has been established, and the warlocks have constructed the psionic dome to protect us!''

  ''Good...''

  ''...Await my command until then. I shall prepare myself for the upcoming battle.''

  Returning to his temporary shelter, the Kaynian Lord went to dawn his battle plate. In his short stay in this world, his armor had taken a beating from his hated rival and his allies. Luckily, the warlocks repaired the damage, granting him superior protection. A much-needed amenity against the Ghost Operative, who he will eventually face in this world.

  

  
• Date: September 30, 1173


  
• Time: 10:10 AM


  
• Location: ENS Illustre Bridge


  

  Thirty airships forming the First Fleet of the Elvania Naval Guard faced the alien structure with their main armaments. Commanding the fleet was Marshal Eugene onboard her flagship, the Illustre, the lead airship of the Illustre Class Ship of the Line.

  ''Invader structure bearing zero, zero, zero, marshal.''

  An officer responsible for the radar stated as they bear on their objective. Looking at their adversaries on the ground, the marshal and her crew felt dread on their skins as they saw the ginormous sentinel standing tall with its weapons. However, the same could be said for the fleet and its vast airships.

  ''Weapons Officer. Have turrets one, two, and three ready for firing.''

  ''Yes, marshal!''

  Immediately, the bow turrets of the ship of the line radiated with magic as its massive mass drivers powered up. All nine of its potent mass drivers, with the rest of the fleet's armaments, aimed at the invaders. The distance between them was roughly thirty kilometers—equivalent to three hundred football fields or a five-hour nonstop walk.

  *1× ENS Illustre Ship of the Line*

  *2× Léandre Class Heavy Frigate*

  *9× Javelot Class Light Frigate*

  *18× Chateau Class Corvette*

  It wouldn't take long for the main armaments of the fleet to be ready as magic energies surged to maximum. Placement-wise, the fleet was in a triangle formation. Flotilla Léandre occupied the leftmost position, while her sister ship, ENS Orion, and its flotilla were positioned on the right, with Flotilla Illustre at the center. All thirty airships loomed over the hostile alien force of two hundred twenty combatants.

  ''Marshal Eugene, turrets one, two, and three are hot and ready to fire.''

  ''What of the fleet?''

  ''Flotilla Léandre and Flotilla Orion have their weapons ready.''

  ''Good...''

  ''...Steady the mass drivers, for now, Weapons Officer.''

  ''Understood.''

  Meanwhile, the alien structure pulsated before firing a shockwave. At light speed, the surge of energy collided with the magic shields of the ship of the line and the entire fleet. Their shields flared as if the shockwave had damaged them, but it merely scratched them in comparison. However, panic began to brew on the bridge as every officer tried to figure out what had just happened.

  ''Report!''

  Eugene stated as her red eyes darted around her bridge, waiting for a subordinate to answer. Of course, her diligent bridge crew quickly figured out what had happened.

  ''Our shields reacted with the shockwave coming from the invader's device, marshal!''

  ''What damages did we sustain?''

  ''Uh...''

  ''...Our shields are still at one hundred percent.''

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  Answered the Shield Officer as the Illustre's magic shields returned to normal from the shockwave. However, unbeknownst to them. The shockwave was a sign that the Kaynian Device was about to activate once again due to the wishes of the alien lord to garner aid or a means of escape. Sensing malice about their adversary's recent action, Marshal Eugene would give the permission to fire.

  ''First Fleet! Fire!''

  Upon receiving the word, mass drivers began unleashing their potent kinetic weapons at the alien structure. However, the projectiles fired would impact the psionic dome held by the Kaynian Warlocks. Even the Illustre's massive mass drivers barely made cracks, but it wouldn't be long until it shatters. Of course, the pounding of the primary armaments of the ship of the line would dry out as a secondary turret, which charged much faster, began to fire in sync with the smaller frigates and corvettes.

  ''Report!''

  ''Invader magic dome damaged, marshal!''

  ''Not penetrated?''

  ''Negative!''

  ''Damn...''

  ''...Have our secondary armaments fire upon that magic dome while our primaries recharge.''

  ''Aye!''

  Said the Weapons Officer as he went ahead and communicated with his turret operators about their status of charging and reloading the mass drivers of turrets one, two, and three. Meanwhile, a response was due as the Kaynian firing line began to retaliate as they obliged with their lord's command. Instant-hitting laser beams began to pepper the magic shields of each airship; for the larger ship of the line and frigates, it wouldn't do much, but for the corvettes, their shields were slowly deteriorating.

  ''Shield Officer!''

  ''Invader energy beams are shredding the shields of our corvettes!''

  Looking at the scene before her, Marshal Eugene couldn't help but see the degrading status of her corvettes. If this were to continue, they would most likely see losses. However, with the psionic dome still intact, they couldn't deter the firing line from hurting airships responsible for providing a protective screen. Leaving them open for the sentinel to fire upon, which the marshal did not want to happen.

  ''Communications Officer, I want you to rely on a message.''

  ''I'm all ears, marshal.''

  ''Flotilla Léandre is to break away and pursue a flanking maneuver...''

  ''...Flotilla Orion will stay close to us. Doing so should allow their corvettes to share the incoming energy beams with ours.''

  ''Understood, message away.''

  Immediately, the marshal's orders were given to the respective flotillas before enacting them. Flotilla Léandre accelerated their engines to maximum and took the left flank. Simultaneously, Flotilla Orion merged with the Flotilla Illustre to share the incoming fire with their flagship's protective screening. Meanwhile, following up the assault, the Kaynian Sentinel would unleash its hatred and fury on the elven fleet. All four of its energy cannons pointed at its targets. Upon firing, four explosions erupted as its armaments shattered the magic shield and penetrated through the armor of four corvettes.

  ''Report!''

  ''Four of our corvettes were destroyed!''

  ''Whose responsible?''

  ''The sentinel, marshal.''

  Looking at the silhouette of the siege engine, Marshal Eugene understood that although they were facing a small contingent of invaders. However, she did not anticipate that their enemies would bring forth a siege engine capable of destroying their airships with its armaments.

  ''Weapons Officer, mass drivers?''

  ''Turrets one, two, and three are ready.''

  ''Then fire!''

  Once more, the Illustre fired at the firing line, striking the psionic dome erected by the warlocks. Upon impact, the salvo from the ship of the line and her flotilla, along with Flotilla Orion, had the same effect as before—the dome held firm. However, when it seemed like nothing had happened, something eventually did as the cracks began to appear out of nowhere.

  ''Report!''

  ''Cracks had manifested on the magic dome!''

  ''Very good! Have our mass drivers immediately recharged! I want another salvo to shatter that blasted dome!''

  Diligently, the Weapons Officer complied, doubling his efforts to recharge Illustre's mass drivers. Meanwhile, the battle raged as the sentinel targeted Flotilla Léandre, redirecting its energy cannons toward the flotilla's path. In response to the elves cracking the psionic dome, the alien lord commanded that they suffer for it. All four of the siege engine's weapons fired, destroying four more airships: two corvettes, a light frigate, and the heavy frigate Léandre.

  ''By the Pantheons...''

  ''...Marshal Eugene! Léandre is destroyed!''

  Answered the Communications Officer as she stared, horrified at the heavy frigate's destruction. Of course, it wasn't just her, as the entire bridge crew saw what had happened, but they wouldn't be given time to mourn the loss of one sub-capital airship as the battle raged.

  'If we don't shatter that magic dome, that blasted sentinel will dwindle our numbers. And I refuse to let that happen!'

  The marshal recognized the consequences if this continued. Thus, she needed to find a way to break the enemy's defenses without losing more airships. Luckily, she realized her flagship had four turrets fitted with three mass drivers each. However, only three could act, as the fourth was at the stern. But if Illustre were to shift her forty-five degrees to the port, it would allow for the fourth turret to be used for the next salvo.

  ''Helmsman!''

  ''Yes, marshal!''

  ''Have Illustre shift forty-five degrees to port. That should allow her fourth turret situated on the stern to take part on the next salvo.''

  ''Understood, shifting to forty-five degrees to port.''

  Immediately, the ship of the line began to shift to forty-five degrees to port as to expose her rear turret. Doing so had unanticipated consequences, as airships around the Illustre drifted away to avoid colliding with her turning hull. Within seconds, her fourth turret turned its three mass drivers on the Kaynians.

  ''Status on our mass drivers?''

  ''Turrets one, two, three, and four are hot and ready to fire!''

  ''Then let's return the favor...''

  ''...Fire!''

  Heeding the marshal's command, the Weapons Officer quickly initiated the firing of all twelve mass drivers on board as they flew to their target. Afterward, what came next was a massive shockwave as the psionic dome shattered under the firepower of the elven flagship. Thus exposing the Kaynian firing line. This left them with no protection except for the sentinel's shields, which were positioned behind them.

  ''Report!''

  ''Invader magic dome is destroyed!

  The Weapons Officer stated as the psionic dome crumbled, the warlocks keeping their fellows shielded were exhausted. Celebrations erupted on the bridge as the dome's destruction secured their victory over their alien adversary. Though assured, that didn't mean they had clear dominion over the battlefield. They needed to press the advantage immediately, so they did.

  ''Communications Officer, send word to the rest of the fleet that wyvern riders are to be launched!''

  ''Right away.''

  Immediately relying on the orders of her marshal, the Communications Officer diligently did her duty. Seconds pass, and every airship fitted with a hangar bay—limited to Illustre and the frigates—sprang into action. Suffice it to say, once the order was given to launch the wyvern riders, it wasn't long before a large group approached the alien structure. However, resistance was inevitable, as the Kaynian firing line prioritized the elven fleet and the approaching reptiles.

  ''Incoming- Ack!''

  ''All wyvern riders evasive maneuvers!''

  ''We're being picked off like flies!

  Orders, shouts, and panic erupted within the communication orb of every wyvern rider as they did their best to stay alive from the volley of energy beams. They hadn't even closed the gap between them and the firing line, but they were already losing numbers.

  ''By the Pantheons! The wyvern riders are dying in mass!''

  The Communications Officer stated as she heard the cries and screams of her fellow elves through her instrument. For the rest of her life, she would be haunted by the deaths of wyvern riders going out in troves. It was surreal about how efficient their enemies were at killing. However, Marshal Eugene had a different view on the dwindling number of wyvern riders in the air.

  ''We need to get their attention...''

  ''...Weapons Officer!''

  ''Yes, marshal!''

  ''Have our secondary armaments initiate bombardment on the invader firing line. We need to get their attention away from our wyvern riders.''

  ''Understood!''

  Turning to her Communications Officer, Marshal Eugene saw the horrified face of the elve before her. However, upon facing the marshal, the young officer straightened herself immediately before addressing her superior.

  ''Communications Officer, inform the rest of the fleet to direct their fire in unison with us at the firing line.''

  ''Right away, marshal.''

  Nodding in response, the young officer quickly dispatched the marshal's orders to the rest of the fleet. Afterward, the remaining corvettes and frigates began to turn to the alien firing line before firing. Projectiles rained from the sky before striking at the unprotected guardians and paladins standing in the open. Of course, noticing its brethren being killed off by the elven airships. The Kaynian Sentinel turned its attention to the ship of the line and her flotilla, powering up its energy cannons and selecting targets.

  ''Marshal Eugene! The sentinel is turning its attention to us!''

  The Radar Officer shouted aloud as he witnessed the shifting silhouette of the alien siege engine. In response, the marshal began to sweat as she saw the glowing weapons of the sentinel in front of her.

  ''Shield Officer! Place our shields on maximum now!''

  ''Aye!''

  Heeding the marshal's command, the Shield Officer quickly shifted magic from their mass drivers to the magic shield. Doing so would spare them from an incoming energy beam from the Kaynian Sentinel. The Illustre would suffer heavy damage to her shields as she protected her marshal and crew from the alien siege engine. However, her fellow airships weren't so lucky, as two frigates and a corvette were destroyed in the process.

  ''Status!''

  ''Shields are holding, but barely!''

  ''What of the fleet?''

  ''We lost another corvette and two light frigates.''

  Though it claimed three more airships, the Kaynian Sentinel and its brethren failed to eliminate the incoming wyvern riders. A mistake on their part as the reptiles and their partners began to descend rapidly, performing a nose dive on the disorganized firing line, which was recovering from the recent bombardment of the elven fleet.

  ''Wyvern riders! Dive! Dive! Dive!''

  ''Bring vengeance to those that had perished!''

  ''For Elvania! For Eldrant!''

  The fearless wyvern riders of Elvania roared as they dove into the alien firing line, unleashing streams of fire. The disorganized guardians and paladins relied on their passive energy shields for protection. Though the wyvern fire caused panic, it did minor damage. However, it did force the Kaynians to retreat near the sentinel for cover now that the psionic dome was destroyed.

  ''The wyvern riders had forced the invader firing line to dissolve and is now retreating to the sentinel's side!''

  Upon hearing the Communications Officer, the bridge crew cheered as their enemies were finally being rerouted. However, things were not over just yet, as the alien siege engine was still present and capable of engaging with them.

  ''It's time we end this...''

  ''...Weapons Officer! Focus every mass driver we have on that sentinel! Direct magic from non-essential functions if need be. If we don't need it to stay afloat, breathe, or stabilize our shields. Then siphon magic from it!''

  ''Understood, marshal!''

  Immediately, the ship of the line began to train her four turrets at the sixty-meter-tall Class III Sentinel. Her mass drivers hummed with magic, mirroring the alien siege engine with its energy cannons. Thus, the battle raged as the two titans prepared to unleash their fury while death and destruction erupted around them.

  ''Radar Officer, what of the sentinel's intentions?''

  ''The sentinel has aimed all four of its energy cannons at us...''

  ''...With all due respect, marshal. Illustre's magic shield barely held off a single energy cannon. What chance do we have with all four?''

  ''Then, it's a matter of who fires first.''

  Indeed, the ship of the line was the first to strike, quickly imbuing its mass drivers with magic drawn from non-essential functions. The elve responsible, the Weapons Officer, performed his duty and more as he did everything to recharge Illustre's mass drivers.

  ''Marshal Eugene, turrets one through four are ready to fire!''

  ''For Elvania...''

  ''...Fire!''

  Firing first, the Illustre unleashed her potent kinetic weapons at the siege engine. Upon impact, a shockwave erupted, shattering the sentinel's passive energy shield. However, that wasn't all. Only nine shots were needed to take down its shields, but with twelve mass drivers on the ship of the line, three more were still coming. When they made contact, they tore through the torso of the Kaynian Sentinel.

  ''Report!''

  ''The sentinel's shields are destroyed!''

  ''Any confirmed hits on its chassis?''

  Eugene asked, fearing that if the recent salvo had only destroyed the shields, she and her crew might be in trouble. However, as the siege engine was about to retaliate, it tilted forward, its knees giving up before it stumbled to the ground. While three hypersonic projectiles alone wouldn't destroy a sentinel due to its thick armor, the mass drivers of the fourth turret struck the faceplate, penetrating it and killing the alien operating the siege engine.

  ''The accursed sentinel is down!''

  When the Weapons Officer declared the ''destruction'' of the sentinel, the bridge crew cheered in their victory against the alien siege engine. However, there were invaders still near the structure, which had radiated magic nonstop. Though they had cleared the obstacles before them, that didn't mean Eldrant was safe from the invaders, especially not from the Kaynian Lord.

  ''Communications Officer!''

  ''Yes, marshal!''

  ''Rely a message to the Saintess...''

  ''...Tell her that we have cleared the path for the hero!''

  To Be Continued.