The Attack on Nexxian City

[TheHomunculi]

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How long had it been?

The King knew not. Months upon months spent in seclusion to build what had been designed for them. It had been designed by one whose intellect was beyond even the King's. But it took more than just intellect to make an army. It had taken discipline to truly craft this into a fighting force. That had been his purpose. The reason he had been given a chance to live. The promise of an army honed with discipline unlike any other. The words "inhumane" may have been used to describe his treatment of the troops under his command. But it would be worth it in the end.

The King turned his gaze to the rear view mirror of his vehicle. The lines of cars behind them were a magnificent sight. Varying shades of dark green were used to conceal them. The multiple headlights though would give their position away in no time until the signal came to cease. Convoys filled to the brim with infantrymen. Iron suits covered over with tarps and cloaks. One for every soldier who was forced to be exposed to the desert night air.

The King then gazed to his right to where the line truly began. His own convoy was center of this massive force. To his left and right were other convoys that began the vanguard of this moving force. Hundreds of vehicles moved in. Cages attached to the back of several trucks that contained all to sinister creatures to be used. Necessary creatures that would hunt down any troops that moved their way.

He sat back and took a breath. Preparations would soon be under way. The amount of vehicles that were part of this "fleet" seemed endless to the naked eye. The amount of troops, both armored and unarmored, seemed even more endless compared to those numbers.

They had been preparing for this for months. Plots within plots. Maneuvers made one after another. A year ago he had killed Angelo Zerephan. That had been a kill that had resulted in much chaos for the small force that had been in the desert. None the less it had a desired effect. The Agents had stumbled upon their base of operations. They had decided to move further into the mountains as a result.

The army had been a process of trial and error. A constant trial for the soldiers who lacked the discipline and a constant error for every soul they lost. But it had been worth it when the proper formula had been crafted. When the proper procedures were applied. When everything was finally set and they could build on a foundation.

This was the result of that foundation.

"Stop the vehicle." The three words spoken to the driver who started to brake his armored vehicle. Others trailing behind followed as a result. The drivers to the left and right of the driving force would slow to a stop as well when realizing their center was missing from the force. The Homunculus stepped out of his vehicle and got a good feel of the night air.

His emerald colored eye closed and he took a deep breath.

Fighting was one thing. When one only had to look out for themselves in combat and murder whoever stood in their path.

But commanding would require necessities for what he was about to do.

The gentleman walked calmly ahead past the vehicles that had stopped. "Kill the lights." Another order given as each vehicle started to shut off their own vehicle's many headlights. The bright display disappearing into the night. They were on the other side of a hill and, as Bradley calmly walked over it, the forces who followed would see the prize before them.

A walled city. A city that had acted impenetrable to their last attempt.

Bradley had been disgusted when Envy had reported the details of his attempt to infest the city with the "zombies" that had been crafted by their master prior to their campaign in Nexxian. The only profit that had come from that failure was intelligence about the enemy. Intelligence not previously known to their militia.

In fact much of their experiments had begun in the Kingdom of Silvermoon. Now they were focusing their efforts in the warmer climate of the Nexxian Kingdom.

The Homunculus inhaled once through his nostrils.

"Ready the cannons."

Another three worded command. Spoken so softly that it was as light as a whisper in the wind. But the soldiers who had followed nodded their helmets forward and shouted to one another. They moved on one another to craft what they needed to. A line of armored soldiers ran down to the base of the hills to establish what they needed to. It was approximately twenty armored soldiers with the proper utensils necessary for this portion of the campaign. They spread out along the base of the hill and did a surprising motion.

They slammed their hands to the ground.

The resulting motion should have meant nothing. But as their gauntlets had clapped together at the palms, it only meant one thing. Alchemy. This was further proven by the ruby rings that glowed on the digits of every one of those infantrymen. The array of red light would likely be a flicker from the distance of the city walls but the mighty structures that were crafted would be something else. They would rise up in the distance.

They rose to two stories in height. The barrels spanning to 50 feet in length. Giving them a range unlike any other. The design of each cannon had been engrained into the minds of each troop who would create and operate them. It was engrained into their minds as much as the alchemical process of transmutation had been. It had been like a war mantra one needed to study over and over again to get right. And Bradley had made damn sure to get his troops to get it right each time.

There were approximately twenty of them that spanned along the base of the hill.  The standing towers were created to face the threat they would end.

"Fire."

If somehow the enemy had seen the display, they would more than likely not even have a chance to attack. The twenty cannons that spread out along the distance fired simultaneously. The cannonballs transmuted within each cannon firing outward toward one singular enemy. The South East Wall of Nexxian City.

The explosion would be something else entirely. The top of that wall would be hit all too fast. The echo of the cannons firing simultaneously would go into the distance. Any troops atop of that wall would likely be flung or, more than likely, killed by the explosive cannonballs. The explosion would spread along the top of the wall and spread downward. The wall itself likely cracking from where the cannon had opened fire.

The smoke that was exuded from the cannons spread to ground level as the Homunculus grimaced for a moment. His coat flapping with the wind as his single green iris regarded the city with a blank expression. His troops were starting to move from the top of the hill downward. Spreading from right and left as they observed the city.

IF all was said and done, the troops atop of that South-East wall would be either dead or wounded by the sneak attack. Their vantage point mattering little as an "advantage" in this battle as the enemy forces were outside of their city.

"Fire again."

The cannons were reactivated and, once more, would open fire on that wall with a staggering force. Each cannon raised to the approximate height as they would open fire at the top of that wall. The objective, it seemed, was to bring down the wall for these troops to move in.

What was not seen however was the position that Bradley had. His forces covered the road that went out east to where the ocean was located. To where the farmlands that produced food for the city. He had only the mountains to his back. Any vehicles that might come from the farmlands to give food would not make it past his force. The city would starve for however long this siege might proceed. Not only that, but he had the cover of night to conceal his numbers. They would likely be able to count his cannons after a certain time. But for now the objective was firing upon this particular wall. The distance from the base of the hill to the city was approximately twelve miles. The cannons crafted to be able to go such distances. The enemy forces on the walls would more than likely be unable to fire those kinds of distances.

King Bradley had the advantage with his position. And he meant to hold it.

The King stood there as the commander as he was for his soldiers. No discomfort visible now on his face as he stared out to the top of that wall. His coat flapping with the wind still. One sword held to his side as he gazed outward towards the city. He saw a conquest unlike any other. A battle that would end with a slaughter unlike any before. He saw enemy troops who would die against his own superior forces. He saw victory assured for himself and his men.

War had finally arrived to the Nexxian Kingdom.

[War Torn]

Angelo:

{They screamed, and I heard them all.}

“Oh, just that? Here I was afraid they'd make me bald you Russian bastard. And next time tell your commander to ya know, tell me when theres a Railgun toating cocksucker, eh?”

Some sarcasm in the war never hurt, right? He heard Teras words but ignored them, though his brow perked at the mentioning of giving up Nexxian Civilians. He was close to protesting, but Sergei spoke further and he couldnt help but smile.

“Lovely.”

He said genuinely, that was nice to know, though Sune'eres comment made him role his eyes.

“If theres any rubble left to come home to! But I see your...your...Holy fucking shit!”

In this case, two things would happen with Sniper Wolfs intent, so for all purposes, we'll mention both. The first of course, was the shield provided by the Dorian Empire blocking the blast clearly intended for the tower Angelo was jumping for. If this worked, the range was good, and nothing could be had, Angelo would see the blast but only from the shields view, jumping away down onto a lower roof building on instinct looking at the blocked thing with a baffled sort of look. If it could go through, though?

“Wagh!”

The beam would hit the tower, and it would crumble. In normal cases, this would spell certain doom for the Confederate, but now? This was not a normal case. Long before the shots were fired, he had made himself different through patience and time and gathering, the Empowerment Format of the Perceived will granting him physical gifts to use, enhanced speed, a changed set of eyes to pick up magical signatures, and these he put to use as the tower crumbled. Were Bradley to see him, he'd might smile at it, one step on broken construction, then another, then another fast step and finally, with a roll, he'd be on the roof of a building, looking at the former spot the Tower was. That was close for him, to damn close. Either way, he'd be on the building top, a hand coming to swipe his face. He felt warm, and not in a good way. He turned to look westward, clicking the communicator on, to check things while he paced, he felt like he had to.

“I...”

And thats when, in one way or another, one form another, it happened. In the distance it was a blink, a sort of source Angelo could see one way or another in this state, it was common, when your eyes could see things they normally couldnt and given the chaos of the situation, odd things popped up, but this? This was beyond odd. This was a massacre. The beam came, and with it destruction on mass scales, through walls, through buildings that took years to construct from hard labor and work, items, materials, all of it gone in an instant, as well as lives, so so so many lives. But what was worse for Angelo was the way there were gone. To see a body destroyed or killed, releasing its essence, the thing that made its very conscious and mind, and this left with all of those dead bodies and Angelo could see it, all of it. He blinked, standing were he stood. Maybe Wolf would get him there, a timed sniper bullet to the brain would do that but if not? One moment, he stood there for one moment he remembered the past.

Death, fire, destruction, loss, and finally blindness. Thats all he remembered, all the familiarity of it from all those years ago. He looked to be in a trance at that moment, right sword bearing arm coming up and taking the ear piece out from his ear. Anyone who was still on it would hear the loud screech of the thing being crushed in Angelos palm before he let it fall to the ground. He saw the mammoth Titans enter from the holes of the wall, and oh the carnage they'd cause, the blood they'd let at their feast, and still Angelo stood completely still, looking out towards it all. And then, he'd jump. A window would break as he jumped through. Then another, another, and another, so many, so much glass, up, higher and higher, until he was there through means both enhanced and forces double sprint of his own whim.

The first titan wouldnt see it coming. He was a figure of multiple colors and strength running along its back, the sheer strength and speed of his body apparent as he ran along its shoulders to the other end, his blade, Conqueror, sunk into the flesh of the monster and running right along the spot and most likely felling it then and there. Another he would jump, another would fall, another, and another, and in total, the destination from the first titans back to the tenth would account for ten of them, eight by blade, two by guns wounds drilled into the same spot. What he had at his disposal was enough to do that much. The strength applied to his body branched out to both his sword and gun and in turn the ammunition to its gun, making the effects, in this case, a literal drill like bullet drilling through the flesh and exploding, twice, and the blade in his right hand was fashioned to be more durable and as fast as the speed lent to his body. In the end, he'd be standing amongst the giant corpses he had made, drenched in blood from head to toe, eyes white with rage...and in the former path of destruction brought on by that beam.

There he just breathed, blood drops mixing with those heated breaths, becoming misty, body hunched over, body completely tensed before he sight, standing upright, sights down. He knew why he rushed back here. Oh, how he could of prevented this all, if only, if only. He looked up, white faced coated in red, a evil demonic visage upon his face as he stepped forward, once, twice, then a third, a fourth...and he kept going. He was numb to the carnage about him, by Titans, by bullet shells, by destroyed buildings, and he was numb for a reason; he was following the path. Make no mistake, a blinking light it was to his dull eyes, he would find the one who did this, follow the destruction he made, and in those instances, if he needed to, cut down anything in his way to get there, bathed in blood, the Grey Hawk, the Gray Knight would get there and he would reek vengeance.

{Perceived Will, Empowerment Format: 2}

[Illyah]

The collective rose with her as she felt the death rising amongst their own and that of the attacking enemy. Their numbers were many, their power immense. Blood even from this distance could be smelled on the air a temptingly sweet song that called out to Jophiel's second. She and the others nearly fifty in all would stand ready as Illyah looked them each over with a nod. The twins towered over most of the rest, powerful and capable of true horrors. ”We will be splitting our forces attacking these Titans in two groups and I'll be on my own. They all reached for the power that ran under the city that primal eldritch flow that surged beneath their feet. I want two teams taking on the first two groups of titans, show these dull witted brutes that there are real monsters in the city, and we don't like sharing prey. Illyah would be the first to vanish, merging with that power as she raced along the leylines through the city her beast called from the depths it's hunger a roar in her ears that she knew would soon be more than abated. The other groups would leave soon after each vanishing and moving with near instantaneous speed towards the first two groups of rampaging titans. Nothing human rose from those ancient lines of power only snarling death that moved with strange bestial grace into attack positions amongst the few still standing ruins of  buildings. Commands were soundless the need to speak no longer needed as they currently were. It was simple anyway they were to do as created, and it had been oh so long since they had a feast such as these lumbering vacant eyed sheep to feed upon.

Group A

The air would be filled with unearthly howls and roars as the pack began the hunt, and Angelo would feel a certain sense of dread at the Hell that had now been wrought upon those beings that were unfortunately set upon the broken land of the city of Nexxian. Fleeting shades would for less than a second be noticed the sounds of claws catching stone clicking against rubble heard briefly before the world would fall to a deathly silence. The first team raced along the skyline bounding towards what was to them naught more than food led by a massive horror of taut muscle and thick furred hide. What they looked like was beyond mortal description some mind shattering visage of terror and madness that sped along with murderous intent. The first titan would find it's self slammed into by the sheer volume of these beasts their weight shocking as it was dragged down. Terrible mouths opened and bit down tearing through flesh as the titan sought to take hold and chuck what it could reach away only for these hellish beasts to return within seconds. Steaming blood washed over the street, and it would only take a few moments for the first titan to be naught more than hunks of ravaged quivering meat. The street was a river of scalding blood and still the pack let heavy heads lift as they moved stalking yet another and another of the titans. Dull savagery was no match for the clever hunters easily isolating and devouring each and every titan found. It was a systematic destruction, the far quicker smaller though immensely durable pack like monsters easily able to hunt and destroy all they came across.

Group B

Much like the first the beta group moved with the same cold efficiency, true hunters in every sense of the word, and they gave no quarter to the seemingly brainless titans. Once more teeth and claws found supple flesh, and once more a titan seemed to fall under the precise skilled tactics of these strange beasts. Cruel cunning served them well, as each worked in unison. The pack understood how best to use their numbers, each born to bring death, and to feed on the weak. More blood would flow along the alleys and roads, a stream of crimson washing away the dead, and broken. Beasts with hungers that seemed to have no end just a ravenous maw of seemingly unstoppable destruction and death. Like the others they hunted and would take each titan down one at a time, culling the herd as all good predators were capable of.  Unchecked the two groups it seemed were more than able to halt the entire Titan force, a shame though that the naked giants could not feel such emotions as fear it would have made this slaughter the far more delicious.

Illyah

There was the largest group the last and final and to face it was simply Illyah standing alone atop the ruins of what had once been a hospital she believed. She counted forty of them... and almost laughed as she'd tug at her tie and let it drift away in the breeze. Unlike the rest she was holding her change back though her eyes burned with a green illumination, teeth sharp her ears tapered as fur traced along the lengths of her arms. The hunt called to her in low whispers that tug at things deep within her genetic make up. The cool mask she wore was cracking that controlled and centered woman hiding something truly frightening underneath. She was the oldest of Jophiel's pack, the strongest, fastest. Around her she could feel not only the power of her mistress but of the leylines a surging warmth that filled her with a power beyond her true comprehension.


The first titan took notice, and she closed her eyes feeling it come closer the wind change the scent of death on it and she smiled. The massive hand swept at her, immense fingers looking to scoop her oh so easily up. Her body moved on pure instinct muscles combat honed over countless centuries perhaps even longer of battles and fights. That hand would be stopped by her own, though for a few feet she would be pushed to the side before she'd set her weight, and power fully. Claws dug into the titan's skin pierced through even that thick hand's meat, and she turned to meet the giant's gaze before drawing her arm forward. Claws tore through flesh and cut through bone with unnatural ease, leaving the hand and wrist a mangled mess from four ragged looking gouges that shown all the way through.

The creature's blood singed her skin steam covering her hand and arm as she'd felt the change finally hit her fully and gave into it completely. Muscle popped sinew and bone snapping as she shifted from human to her true face. Still though she pulled from the leylines, and from her queen the power from both a flood that washed through her body like a crashing tidal wave. In her true form she was a magnificent beast, powerful huge even compared to the twins, but now she was larger than even that. Nearly forty feet in height a brindle and black hellhound set to unleash her damned fury upon anything that sought to stand in her way. Her head would fall back as she bellowed a howl that would be heard for miles around a roared call to arms that would send the rest of the pack into a chorus to join her cry for battle.

Once more the titan swung it's arm healed fully and she ducked under the clumsy blow, her right hand primed deadly clawed digits flexed before she lashed out. The world around herself and the titan would explode in a massive shock-wave that shattered windows and shook the ground with it's speed and raw power. With ridiculous ease she'd grip the titan's throat feeling it wail against her body the blows causing her to snarl before tightening her hold. Her left hand reached out taking a handful of the titans filthy mess of hair and she twisted then yanked. The neck would snap with ease, and flesh would tear then rip as the titan's blood spilled over her hand and down it's body. With another yank flesh tore further as she's tear it's head from it's shoulders. Her hunger struck and she ate quickly devouring that steaming flesh with a feral vigor.  Blood stained her chest, and flowed about her paws as she'd hunker down taking to all fours to leap and lunge through the battered Nexxian streets.

The next she found knew nothing of what was to come only the sudden press of this new weight upon it's body and the pressure of teeth upon it's throat. There was a moment of fighting back it sought to wrestle the beast from it's body but Illyah hung on and bit harder until she felt the snap of bone. She shook her head, the titan jangled about like a limp broken doll before it simply ceased to move.  Once more she ate the scalding titan blood sweet after that initial burn, their flesh chewy, with a gamey taste like eating venison. Crouched low she'd finish her kill and hunt once more slowly stalking new prey her belly rumbling with the want for more of this delightful titan flesh.

[Sune]

Sune'ere was keenly aware of everything around him. The position of all of his opponents. Exactly which rounds were in his gun. The position of all his equipment as it had been thrown from his initial explosive entrance. Their reluctance and their desire for vengeance against him as he was striking. One had taken a sharper like a champ. Now he knew what they were. These weren't even alive particularly. They were husks, bound to purpose, metal and puppets of Bradley's. They should be dead, he would be their grim reaper. His mental processes had sped up as he called upon his power, turning himself into a Magi beacon for those who could sense it. This wasn't the simple practice that Sune'ere had done in weeks and months past. This was all out.

Others had moved away from him and that was definitly the smart thing to do. He chased them after the first mook went down to his force projected punch. The temperature around them all continued to lower, if any of them were living the over exposure may threaten them. Any time one of his punches landed, that particular bit of armor would find that the joints were sticking more often then not and were requiring a larger application of force then before. It wouldn't stop animated armor like it would a person, but it would add an increasing amount of sluggishness to their actions that may not of once been there.
He would need to get a shot off from his gun before he could enact his plan. The rounds hadn't lined up right just yet. One thought to surprise him. Young though he may be and devoted this was a war. There was no time for moral conundrums and feeling guilty. Either they died, or he did. This wasn't even about protecting the city anymore. It was about survival. Sune didn't even need to face the approaching enemy, he simply made a small leap that would send that tackle underneath him. Being behind the man when he landed he produced his axe, drove it into where the lower spine should be with brutal efficiency and strength enough to raise the armor up in front of him. His free hand gripped his now charged spellstorm revolver. Within a single moment he would pull the trigger on his gun, now with the weapons capacitor fully charged the effect would now have almost triple the potency that the rifle had when it shot the kinetically charged force bullet. If these things could feel pain it would be like being hit by a bullet train. Not pleasant in the least. And now with all of that being transferred to the back of this armored being he would be pushed forward, and possibly into multiple fast moving pieces. After all who knew what kept these suits together.

With them most likely scrambling to deal with their fallen comrade turned lethal projectile Sune would have enough time to line up both the shots that he needed. Finding the two farthest artillery cannons from one another, he would fire off a bullet in each direction. Considering that artillery is pretty stationary (for now) it was almost a certainty that he would hit. What he had done was a little more advanced then simply enchanting a bullet with a preprogrammed effect. That was child's play comparatively. These had been a pair of bullets, as identical as he could make them in every way. So they pulled towards each other like a matched pair would. So there was essentially a massive magnetic force that would get exponentially more intense as time went on. On top of that when they collided with the artillery they would sear where they hit, molding multiple plates together to make sure that it would get the majority of the cannon, if not the whole damn thing. Meaning very shortly two cannon's on the far ends of each other either as a whole, or massive pieces of them would come flying through the rest of the cannons to collide. However it went, most if not ALL of the cannons would be done for.

Sune wouldn't give them a chance to see it at all. Another rush, this time with his guns before him. Firing into the groups of them. His left hand firing a projectile which would instantly freeze something within a 3 foot diameter of where it landed under normal circumstances. However with the extra power of the capacitor added to it, they were looking more at a 7-9 foot section of just frozen dudes should it find a mark. The other side was given a variation on his force bullet. Reaching out with his force projected mind he would create a small but almost intangible barrier for the bullet to hit prior to its target. This would be just enough resistance to set off the bullets runes and cause the actual bullet to disappear in a flash of magical light, as a wave of raw kinetic force now slammed into one of the other flanks.

However all charges can't be as lucky as before. The element of surprise wasn't on his side anymore. And while his perception may of been enhanced, the act of dodging that many bullets was a near impossibility. At least two struck him, one in the gut, ripping into his body like a bullet is want to do and depositing its electric payload. Another in his right shoulder, which would be deflected by the shoulder armor he wore, but the electric strike was still the same. This caused teeth to grit and his mind to flare in pain but struggle to concentrate. He would lose some of his speed and force his own body cascade to change it to accelerating his healing and maybe even giving him some endorphin and adrenaline to block out the pain. Oh the joys of living with someone who regularly abused drugs, you kind of figure out what can give you the best high in what situations.

He would now be near them, having held them off long enough to get within the biggest collection of them, and hopefully stopping their flanks dead in their tracks. Emphasis on the dead. The metal gauntlets he used to wear were now within his own field. They were constructs of his, and oddly enough would of been thrown behind the people who were dying by his hands. He seriously doubted anyone paid attention to gauntlets when there were bombs going off. Sune just grinned as they rose up from the ground, filled with his own semblance of mental fists. The runed gauntlets may not be as powerful as his guns. But Just because he couldn't install a capacitor in them didn't mean they couldn't hit like a truck. Multiple strikes would come from behind them, force runes on either gauntlet activated, which would if struck essentially send the soldiers airborne.

Sune couldn't simply stand by and wait though. He added to the mayhem shooting at those who had dodged, most of his guns were the force bullets, though there was at least one more ground shaker that would be spent. As well as a single explosive round which would of had the same effect as one of those cusser's of his. Hopefully this should spell defeat for the southern forces as soon enough the creaking of the artillery cannons should begin as the magnetic force would NOT be denied.

[-Dorian Empire-]

The 86th Judgement Company:

-Scouts-
The scouts for the most part were split up in the many different districts assisting in the evacuation of civilians to predetermined safe zones. A good sixth of their forces unfortunately assisting within the west section. Though others who had cleared out the south section were awaiting new orders, and those on the other sides were still moving people along. Scanning every one of them as ordered, and considering the sneakiness of Hohenheim's plan with his acolytes and their Nexxian Citizenship the majority of them would sneak by.

If records were made public (such as grades from the meta-academy) some of the better scouts may stop said acolytes, after all their skills would be needed on the walls to help defend. Maybe three or four of the whole group might be stopped if that was the case, but the majority would in fact slip through the scouts making it inward to the shield. Once inside they wouldn't have to worry about anything outside of the troops that were positioned there. And that was only if they decided to reveal themselves.

Outside the city walls there were another contingent of scouts, numbering only 30 total. Half of which had moved to investigate the rail gun fire. They would find whatever it was they would find. The other half would continue a slow methodical move towards the actual fighting, continuing to use their prismatic cloaking to stay hidden. The Ali's which had dropped in seemed like they could use some help from those flying menaces. Though they were few, the scouts could certainly pack a punch with those spore tech rifles. Predictive macro's were used to enhance accuracy as the flying troops swooped in closer and closer. Once they had a confirmed lock the near simultaneous report of large caliber rifles could be heard. Ten of which fired explosive rounds, which upon contact would explode in a nasty fiery blast. The fire was concentrated to a fine point to burn through metal in mere seconds. The other five were the more advanced troops of the group. They fired as the flying squad was at its lowest point, and though it would cause their cloaks to be lifted, the bullet itself had a trail behind it which resembled a tracer round in the moment, but if it hit, the pyrotechnics normally associated with a tracer round would take on a solid manifestation, establishing a sort of telekinetic link. If this was established the one who fired the gun would whip their rifle upwards and then downwards, causing massive whiplash followed by a crash into the earth as the force acted like a taut rope. The good news is that might be a total of fifteen downed flyers if they were lucky. The bad news, they'd just announced their position.

When the west wall fell, the troops evacuating civilians had little time to know what had hit them. The only thing their gear could do was report the loss, and cause of death to the database somewhere. Those few that hadn't been atomized would be missing limbs or lying broken and bloodied in their own gear. Perfect bait for the titans. And though they would put up as best a fight as they could, when more then one type of monster descended it was an unknown if the swarm would be picky or choosey as to what got slaughtered, well the few remaining injured scouts could hope.

-Infantry-
The infantry had divided itself in half three hundred to protect their base of operations and the civilians, three hundred to assist with the war effort. Those which moved would take the most direct route, meaning central sector and east sector would be the quickest. They were quick and had been prepping for some time, this would allow for the majority if not all the troops to supplement the already present forces. The advanced troops of Bradley's may be making some headway, especially those flyers. However even in the dark of night the tracer rounds fired off by the scout squad would illuminate the position. The officers present were about to give the order to open automatic fire when the beam cut through the western section.

The sudden silence among all present would in fact allow Bradley's own troops to make more headway than they should of normally been able too. The readings on all of their sensors were going absolutely haywire at the amount of power that had just exploded out from inside of their own city. Immediate orders were conveyed, two hundred were taken from the northern sector to investigate and help, while the others would turn back to their previous targets. Precious seconds lost, they may be within firing range of those gatling guns if the Ali's and Scouts didn't do their job well enough, not to say the least of the ground forces that were now on their way. Automatic fire was now opening up upon both airborne and vehicular troops. Measured and calm three round bursts of normal automatic fire as well as singular armor piercing rounds. They had made it far enough into the kill zone. Hopefully they could be stopped, or at least staggered.

The infantry that headed for the western section would have to take its time. Not knowing what they were in store for. All of their true commanding officers having already taken the field. They were not stupid however, as they saw the pack which came forth to attack the Titans. They kept their distance and would offer armed support where they could. If a shot ever was clear the single report of a rifle going off to open up wounds on the titans could be heard. Those few who did not posses firearms were readying shields and blade of many differing types, ready to protect their comrades at a moments notice. They had no idea what these things were, briefing had never gone over gigantic humanoids. One thing was for sure though, their physiology resembled human enough that those precise shots that were let out, would be aimed to take out necessary muscles and tendons, hopefully bringing the beasts to the ground faster. Shame that it was that Angelo had discarded his communicator. Technically he was the closest thing to a high ranking officer these men and women had. They would be in the dark.

-Starport: Artillery and Aerial-
The tanks, mobile gun platforms and cannons had been assembled. The civilians had been put away in shelters as the Orchestra Pits now moved to assemble and move the rest of the jets into place. Anna Deker came zooming in having passed over the fight that the prince was in, it seemed a single lone force was doing the damned good job of sweeping up Artillery which had stopped booming. She would relay the information that there were allies there, meaning that the southern area would not be made a target for the long range artillery. However Keldon had relayed exact positions and would give information to his men and woman who could man long range artillery. Taking into account movements as well as movements they had a good idea of where the forces were gathered the most heavily.

Mobile gun platforms which resembled hovering armored turrets were manned, as well as the tanks which held high yield explosives would begin to roll out as more of the artillery crew was castled in to where their gear had been set up. After all the Orchestra Pit was now on the star port, meaning that those who did not yet have clearance could barely get a glance of those dead shapes which shambled and assembled more gear. The mobile artillery would move to assist the southern fight and then flank the south east from below.

The stationary artillery began to load up their first payload, high yield explosives meant to decimate buildings and vehicles alike. It was a test to see if they could muster a shield like their own before they would spend the more expensive munitions. As these masters of long range aiming were given coordinates and accounted for wind speed and trajectory, fifteen artillery cannons would fire in near unison in a thunderous display of power. Their target was the rear portion of the army where Keldon may of spotted the commander. Though some shells may be off, with that heavy of a bombardment pattern, it was also entirely likely that they would decimate the reserves which Bradley had.

The unfortunate fact of the matter was that because none of the Dorian troops had made it that far back, none knew of the existence of Celesin infiltration squads. Now not only would they have to deal with Bradley's own elite troops and Chimera's but also the aerial bombardment from miles to the south. This was an unfortunate fact of war. When allies decided not to share information, sometimes friendly fire became an inevitability.

The aerial reinforcements which were brought in were the remainder of the power suit squads. Suiting up in record time, they would begin the process of moving with ease the rest of the sub-orbital aerial support. While it sucked having to wait her turn last, Anna Deker could wait a few more minutes while her team was prepped and ready. It may be enough time for the communications ship to get in range and give them a true view of the battle field.

-Cavalry-
The initial hard point shield charge had been successful, turning over a major amount of trucks and running over even more goons. The mind link with Daish proved useful as the whole charge acted as one. Sweeping through a second time, before the alchemy happened to stop them. While Daish may of been the front of the charge taking point, he was also the quickest to react. Coming from a clan of Dorian's renowned for their speed and brutality in combat, he would break the hard point shield and force the hard point to dissipate to the others instead of him. While he could not slow down, he could do what he did best on his war bike. Us it to its fullest potential.

Pulling back on the handles, and forcing the nose to go upwards it would look for a moment like he was trying to jump the sheer vertical outcropping. This was a complete and utter lie. He needed the front airborne to initiate the quickened transformation process. As pieces detached, only held on by gravity tethers the whole of the war bike would contort to fit his frame in the blink of an eye. Pieces detaching and seeming to not even be attached anymore as they moved of their own will to make a ground based power suit. The massive swords that were attached to the back of his bike would come forward and by sheer force of will would slash out destroying the rock in front of him in an explosive display of power. While the transformation would slow this singular war bike, the speed would still be enough to match with the lower tech trucks. Slashing horizontally through the cab of the first one that got in his way.

While the explosion of rock was enough for his immediate wing men to avoid, four on either side would hit mid-transformation protocol into the rock. Not even the lowered hard point shields could save them from the jutting earth. The problem was both that the whiplash would in fact kill them, severing necks but also the damage to an active spore core couldn't be dismissed. Spindle Spores when active were a massive biological hazard. The kind of which within days could wipe out cities. So there was a catch to anyone who used an active spore core. If it was damaged a subroutine was initiated which caused a localized gravitational anomaly similar to a black hole. It was something that Arcerion was quite proud of after all. The destination was the sub-dimension which fed his brother. That void. While the grid may of been great enough to snatch some souls from this localized phenomena, not all pieces of it could be taken. Some had to be used to feed the TRUE Emperor.

The rest of the war bikes would transform, their weapons sizes which fit their now larger frames. Gatling guns, rifles, great axes and swords. Each which drew upon active spore cores to inflict massive damage to their opponents. There were now 92 of these power suit infantries inside of the battle royal. Slicing and decimating everything that came their way and working their way in all directions both towards the reserve and outwards. Explosive forces and moving serrated edges. Force projecting weapons, and they were all controlled by a single man in which even he was a blur compared to his compatriots. The problem though was not obvious to those around them as they could not see within the commanders power suit. The mental link caused an intense stress every time one of them took damage to their physical forms. If more died, Daish may quickly become brain dead. If that link was broken, chaos would ensue.

-Sergei and the Delta's-
The command had been given, all of those bodyguards those Delta's waited the exact time and then when all was said and done they called upon the ingrained spore macro's within them. They called upon the house of Shadow. Obscuring their features further within their cloaks. They placed their singular cigarettes into their mouths and lit up. The first inhale was ecstasy. The latent spores coursed through their bodies, increasing their bulk to prodigious degree's which matched their commanders own. Then the back of the cloaks ripped open to expose skeletal wings. Sharp as talons and completely under their command. Sergei grinned watching them and would smile. "The capital ship will be in range in mere moments. Be ready for high caliber weaponry to be transported." Once he was done speaking it was within seconds of the transport. He already knew from his link with his commanders that they were in trouble. Once the time for charging has passed he would initiate the transport rote. Moving him and the ten delta's into position.

Suddenly in the thick of things did not phase Sergei or the Delta's. Their weapons were scaled to their size. Massive and obscene. Full of the kind of stuff which would rend flesh in an instant. While this meant the Delta's may have little luck against the transport, those of flesh and blood would fall before them with ease as their enhanced reflexes rivaled those of the commanders. This was the true price they paid. Insane amounts of power, however they burned out their brains. Outside of combat they were barely capable of functioning and required handlers. The spore infused troops were a boon and a curse at the same time.

Sergei was in his natural element swinging his blade before him and cleaving through massive things much like the cavalry was. This was a battle field where courage reigned supreme and he was nothing if not the very embodiment of that emotion. His Exercion Aura surged around him, expanding as he sucked in that delicious nectar which filled the hole in his soul. Here he was alive, here he could be true to himself. This bird armored man was powerful beyond mortal comprehension as vehicle, flesh and armor were ripped before him like wet paper. He would proceed farther and deeper into the mess. While Daish's rear gaurd went after those who made it away from him, Sergei was on his way to Bradley. He spoke once, in a chirping language across an all bands communication, something which resembled a beautiful nightingales song. His birth language of Rykrean. Then next he spoke in common for all his enemies to hear. "We are the wings of ruin. I am The Singularitie's Judgement. As Thargor as my witness, I shall drive you back from the child of GOD!"

-Arcerion-
The capital ship was now in position, hovering over the Nexxus and Nexxian City, they would now begin to link up with the active spore networks which had been established. Firing upon allies would be an act of aggression, and there was little they could do but offer support. However that support would come in the way of a real time battle map, fully realized.

The massive spike of energy near the west wall registered as the loss of life was noted. It was unfortunate, but now they knew that their enemy was also within as well as without.

And then something that none of them had known about was brought to his attention. Wide eyed the emperor was stunned into shock and would broadcast to his troops over closed spore channels.

"Cease the attack on the reserves, there are Celesin troops in that fray!"

Thargor be damned, he didn't need a war at this point in time. Peace talks were going so good. The gloved digits would be placed onto his forehead and he would shake his head. He initiated the command upon his console to begin the transportation of Delta specific weaponry. It would be messy, but necessary.

[Tera]

The diversion worked wonders, significantly reducing the punishment their shields were taking from the explosive rounds.  But even 30 bikers wad a paltry number compared to the thousands they were facing. But it wasn't feat that raced through the Lieutenant, it was excitement. She positively loved these odds, loved proving quantity didn't measure up to the brutal quality of her men.

Their shields were taking a beating even their movement could not recharge them fast enough due to the sheer volume of shots fired from those soldiers. And then the lightnings came, and Tera laughed. A sound echoed by the laughter of her squad as she issued her next order. "Bring the decoys in, let them hit us." Their numbers shrunk, one by one until they were once again six. Each of their decoys giving a mock explosion as they were recalled to their host bike and the six true bikes took a brunt of those electric shots.

They were the wings of lightning, Bradley's men had inadvertently gave the Red Havocs a power boost. The electric charged shots not only replenishing their ion shields but over charging their cores as well. It was even better for Tera who's Specter was powered by a Magi Crystal.

It wasn't too long before they came upon the Legatus and Ultonis getting over run. "Full barrier, form a permiter just outside our men! Maintain defenses... he's coming." That slight hesitiation, the reverence lacing her words. They all felt it, bonded as they were. But Tera more than most confirmed the suspicion. Her heart hammered but she still had a job to do.

Her squad knew what to do, the five of them fanned out creating five points around Khooey and the Ultonis. Visible arcs of lightning created a star connecting each of the five as a domed barrier was erected in a circle around those points. Arcs of electricity danced across the surface which was a transparent light blue almost white. Those inside the barrier would be safe, but those outside... well those too close would be shocked by the strikes as it lashed out like a tesla coil. Most importantly however was the inability for further troops to pass through. Neither those inside or outside the barrier would pass through as if it was solid steel. Trying to touch it from the outside was a death sentence to most things as the electrical shock would fry them.

It seemed the Havocs were exceptionally lucky today as only moments after the Ion Barrier dome was erected the artillery strike from afar rained down on them. Crashing against the dome in a cacophony of explosions and light as if they had set off a fireworks show some twenty feet above them. The Havoc's snarled but there was an obvious tone of relief there. That might have done some serious damage to their forces, but it was too bad for those outside the dome they were hardly afforded protection. Especially those airborne units of Bradley's. Not that any of them would be left living shortly.

Tera couldn't help but grin, if the Ultonis and Khooey couldn't clean up those trapped inside then they hardly deserved their positions. Still Tera has her fun to unleash yet. Her gravity harness suddenly hummed to life and she shot forwards towards the edge of the dome. The Lion Crest emblem on her right shoulder glowing the closest to the edge she came until the nose of her Specter pushed through the  barrier just far enough that the Magi cannon beneath her chassis was beyond its protection. Her thrusters still pushing but her grav harness created an anchor, keeping her tethered there like a dog on a leash.

Wits a wicked grin the Lieutenant kicked her bike to a minor angle which caused her to start circling around the edge of the dome like a tether ball on a pole. Lowering until she was just above the ground, and that's when she finally unleashed her canon. The beam released with little fanfare or sound and hardly seemed a beam at all. More like a line of distorted air than anything. The bound magi beam shot out roughly a quarter mile from its point of origin and Tera's movement swung her in a circle that swept the beam in a perfect 360 degree sweep until it finally came to an abrupt end at the origin point of firing.

An abrupt end was the most apt description for the results of a bound Magi Beam. It's level of destruction was nearly unparalleled, but deahtly silent... to most anyway. It did not create violent explosions or trails of fire and burning rubble. It... disintegrated everything it touched, though that was not quite an accurate assessment. Bound Magi without true shape was an anomaly; it was the equivalent to extistential antimatter. Anything that came into contact with such bound Magi had their corporeal bounds destabilized from the anomalous Magi. The destabilization caused the Magi within to scatter and break apart. Essentially causing anything it touched to scatter infinitely into nothingness and potential; raw Static Magi. Only those capable of realizing Magi would feel the effects of the hyper saturated ambient. But there was no latent or residual energy lingering to be utilized. In a quarter mile radius around the barrier dome would be nothing. As if a perfect circle suddenly just... emptied itself of everything except the landscape beneath the beam and the open air above.

Total and absolute finality coming in utter silence. The perfect line at the end of the beams reach as if a second barrier protected those beyond its range was startling. And those beyond its grasp might feel terror or perhaps even mass confusion as the allies they had only moments
before seemed to have simply... disappeared. No warning no screams, nothing but silence and emptiness.

Tera half frowned half grinned. Such wanton destruction and nothing to show for it. She both loved and hated this new weapon. Regardless she spun her Specter back within the domes protection. Her voice coming to life over the comms and laced with pure satisfaction. "Legatus, our liege lord is moments away, we shall secure passage for you once he arrives."

As for the enemies locked within the barrier... well assuming any were left alive by now she would deal with any that tried to attack her. For the moment however she remained still for once, waiting. As did they all, the Red Havoc's held a gleam in their eyes now. A fervor barely kept in check.

[Caden]

There was a stillness about him that was in stark contrast to the way the air quivered. The normally smiling face empty, turquoise eyes that usually twinkled with mirth burned. Green fire coating the sclera while the air about him crackled. It seemed odd that he stood so still, usually always in motion with an unmatched grace. The Alis Ultonis pressed back against the wall, watching him warily.  Not that they had anywhere to go really, their grav harnesses keeping them docked as they waited to arrive. CAden had boarded and commandeered the last Ultonis drop ship about to gate to the battlefield.

These were Fenris' men, so while Caden held authority over them given his position as Primoris he was not their Primoris. They might have mistook Caden's barely contained rage as directed at them, since it was their comrades who had been tasked to see the Fulminis Legatus safe. To see the love interest of the once playboy prince safe. And now she had been shot, surrounded and pinned down. Oh yes the air crackled as the air was positively charged to explode. His entire body seeming nothing more than a living lightning rod. But the Fulminis' anger was not at the men. It was at those who dared to harm her, at himself for delaying his arrival despite the fact that even now his presence wasn't truly needed. But he couldn't help himself, she had been hurt, and he would never allow... that to happen again.

They arrived silently and invisibly in the air above Lieutenant Tyne and the Legatus, above even the airborne units of Bradley's army. The cover of night was once again their ally as the air high above thickend and opened, parting in a Gateway large enough for the Ultonis drop ship to slip through like a ghost. The ships thermo-optic camouflage already engaged as it entered the war zones air space. Caden hardly waited a single moment for the ship to clear the Gateway before activating the drop doors. His burning gaze looking over the Alis Ultonis as they activated their camouflage and grav harnesses for descent. "No survivors." his words sounded like they came from the depths of a void, empty and frigid. The Ultonis each affirming his command with a salute and yes sir. An odd order coming from him though they didn't voice it, Caden was always been the Primoris to seek routes of diplomacy and negotiation over violence. But now he looked ready to reduce the enemy to ashes.

The doors beneath them opened and the Fulminis leapt through, his pure white cloan rippling and flaring out behind him as the air took him and he fell. Both arms extending as he drew forth from within the twin Gladius. One dark as coal held in the left, and the right as pristine as fresh fallen snow. His arms spread the blades in to his side as they crackled with electricity and an arc of pure energy came to life between the tips. And then the lightnings came. Core Magi flooded his body and he reached out, utilizing an abundance of the Static Magi that Tera's actions had left lingering.

A lightning super storm paled in comparison to what the Fulminis unleashed as webs of jagged lightning bolts lit the sky in blinding whiteness. Bolts thicker than redwood trees and jagged hammered the air and ground in untold violence. Smoldering craters of fulminite were left in the sands of the desert as the cacophony of thunder deafen the air. More than likely shattering any sense of balance Bradley's aerial units had and probably sending them crashing to the ground if they had not already been ruptured and burned violently by the storm of lightnings.

The Lieutenants attack gave true meaning to the phrase the calm before the storm. But unlike the silent death Tyne had ushered forth Caden's storm spread far beyond that quarter mile swath of empty land directly beneath him. As far as he could see he could reach, until halfway through his free fall silence suddenly filled the air once more. The torrent simply stopped, the Herald of his arrival a specter of death. His actions only worked to strength the Fulminis lightning barrier though it's presence hardly seemed necessary now.

The Lion Crest at his breast illuminated as he funny fell through the barrier un touched by its effects or wall. Those crests on each of the soldiers were keys, safeguards against the effects of their allied abilities. Caden landed dead center in the middle of the domed barrier with a sudden and shocking grace. His cloak fluttered and the sand beneath him hardly stirred. The same certainly couldn't be said for the Ultonis though they at least attempted to maintain an air of grace and agility.

The eyes of the Primoris burned his Magi reaching out as he utilized Force Projection to become intimately familiar with his surroundings. Core Magi gently spreading from bis form and meshing with the world around him, extending his influence. Was there any enemies left standing around him he paid them all but no mind, they would fall if they engaged him. Though if between Khooey and the Ultonis there they could not clear that small circle under the barrier then he would handle it himself.

She was safe, her wound minor, though the location made his brows furrow. That precious asset had been damaged and now, now Bradley would have to pay. Khooey seemed in quite a mood and brimming with power. She could do it, she will do it. He could sense her commitment, her determination. And he would not deny her desires, even if he only wished to protect her; right now she was Legatus, right now she had to be seen as the position of power she held. Though his face softened when he looked to her, his heartbeat increasing. His words were still sounded distant. Khooey... even in the depth of the void he still managed to caress her name. "Your target is there, end him." It might have seemed an off thing to say, but as he spoke his left hand extended pointing with the coal colored Gladius directly towards Bradley, his Magi flooding the air as it thickened and distorted before like a parting waterfall opened before the Legatus. His private Gateway giving her a direct path, a single step carrying her to some twenty feet from Bradley himself.

Locking his gaze with Khooey for a moment a look that said everything, he nodded before sweeping his eyes across all Celesin assembled there, both Ultonis and his own Fulmimis. The Gateways size increasing as he considered. "Go with the Legatus, all of you, see that she is undisturbed by the riffraff that would seek to interrupt her and save the head of the snake from his impending end." There was a small smile that cracked his empty face them, an almost eager gleam taking him as he looked around. "I will handle dregs here." With a final look at Khooey he sudden disappeared, the sonic boom of his movement as he shattered the sound barrier all the remained as he charged alone into the remaining bulk of Bradley's army.

[Khooey]

Now she had to think fast— a direct attack had come. The Red Havoc’s had erected a barrier, but, the’d caught the chimera’s coming for her inside. And Tera was right— did a Legatus truly deserve her position if she couldnt handle a few bogeys?

And handle them, she would. Upon rising she’d already drawn her sword from it’s over the shoulder scabbard; the blade bathing in the same black flames she had spread around and only causing it to glow slightly in the same shade of hazy violet as her eyes. All of the soldiers within the dome had been incinerated by the flames; and yet that hadn’t immediately taken out the Chimera which would be well on their way to full immolation. Only their sturdier countenance against the human meatbags gave them a few more moments.

One would probably see the panic in her eyes before she lifted the longsword and impaled it as it’s weight knocked her over; the flames now introduced internally and causing the beasts’ frame to erupt in ash, hot gobbets of flesh in molten amber and charbroil. Even the bones that hit the ground would have dissolved into ash before contact and Khooey withdrawing the ashen blade.

the other took its opening and attempted to sink its teeth into her thigh; meeting its end with a scream from the Ifrit while she looped the blade in an underhanded arc from a rather dangerous angle and nearly beheaded it. Violet heat spread quickly from the wound but its effect would not be witnessed as the Ifrit soon after took the hilt of her sword in both hands and impaled it— the angle of contact at a pure, linear angle from forehead to gut. She’d spit it.

Khooey scrambled to her feet and immediately checked the wound whilst knowing she had a grace period of time much in thanks to Tera’s barrier. The animal had barely broken her skin thanks to the leather and canvas combat gear she wore and her black skin shown through where the material had been briefly savaged. Very little blood leaked from the wound— and it was brightm luminescent violet. A glance upward afterward showed an impressive display of light and chaos.

The Fulminis lieutenant was cleaning house.

Only the lieutenant’s voice in question snapped her out of her awe as he was informed that the “Liege Lord” was on his way. Tera must have meant Caden. “Thank god. Th-...th-thank you Lieutenant. What I wouldn’t do wit’out you.” Unlike a great many, Khooey’s pride was never so large by any means that she couldnt thank someone for helping her in a vulnerable position. Tera had always been nice to her anyhow, hadn’t she?

Now, it was time to move. Khooey only hobbled for a few steps on account of the surface pain for her thigh, but, it hadn’t savaged or separated the musculature or rent bone, so, she’d have her balance again in no time and could nearly hear Sophonax quipping that she ought to Suck It On Up since whining and limping didn’t pay any bills. So, “Suck It On Up!” she would; making progress toward where she’d seen that brilliant white cape rain down from the sky. There were no other soldiers to dispatch thanks to her power and the efforts of the fulminis.

Sweating, breathing heavily through parted lips and looking for once far more energized than rattled— she’d be face to face to Caden within moments; heaving and briefly straining to absorb the black fire she had been bathing in by the time he was within range and putting her fingers to his jawline as if to make sure he was real. Her touch was uncomfortably hot, but, not nearly enough to burn his skin.  When he said her name she looked taken under for a moment; melting a bit at his voice. Now was not the time!

“I got...got shot in th’ butt.” were the first words out of her mouth and she showed him some of the strangely hued blood after patting the deep graze wound and wincing. When he spoke about her target she seemed instantly alert again; glowing eyes briefly flashing crimson with the promise of violence to come. It was uncharacteristic seeing such bloodlust and determination pass over such an infamously sweet girl’s features, but, a blood debt to an Ifrit was a thing of awe and never ending focus until it was paid for one way or another.

“Yes...yes sir, F-Fulminis.”  Making sure not to gush over the man she was very much falling deeply in love with in the middle of a war, on the battlefield and in front of he and Fenris’ soldiers. Seemed like bad form. And then, she craned her skull toward the gate he’d opened. It felt as if something in her chest had combusted; rolling and grinding into action as soon as she thought she’d laid eyes on King Bradley. Caden mentioned taking care of the “Dregs”, but, he was gone in a flash of white and navy as soon as she’d turned around to look at him again.

A sigh of anger and finality erupted from the girl and, though she was still bathed in a halo obsidian and violet flames a never before seen effect came from her mouth itself— lavender light, ash and heat exited with her exhale.

Khooey passed through the Magi gate with more confidence than she’d ever exhibited; sore ass and all and followed by the Alis Caden had sent behind her. They’d immediately set to making sure her path to Bradley was secure. She could see him. He was right there.

And soon he’d have her running toward him with that familiar blade  drawn and held at mid stance’ blade tip arranged at an acute angle against the ground.

Did he see her?

EDIT FOR TRANSPARENCY: Didn't change any actions, just belated formatting

[TheHomunculi]

Battle to The South

Prince Sune'ere was a capable warrior. The Iron Infantrymen were still at a loss of what to do against this beast of a warrior. While Sune'ere rushed the men, and the temperature continued to drop, the Prince was likely to note that none of them were dropping any time soon. In fact they moved far too fast to be humans in giant armors. The dents were coming in hard and the soldiers, if they were having human bodies, would likely be bleeding through the dented armor from where the puncture could have been. Instead they were just dented but continued their assault.

The one infantryman who had moved in to tackle unfortunately missed the Prince. His speed and size causing him to fall helmet first into the sand. That helmet unable to turn as the soldier was stabbed through his back with that axe the Prince wielded. The armor was raised up and yet there would be no blood for the Prince to note and be woozy over. How disappointing.

Instead the armor was torn apart and would fall to the ground afterwards. No visible reasoning for why the soldiers would be active at all. Instead, what was left of the top of that one soldier would begin a crawl back towards his comrades.

The magnetic rounds that were fired did come in contact with the artillery towers unfortunately. The towers themselves were raised high and were wide. Too fire artillery rounds of that calibre would certainly require the approximate size for that force. When the two rounds started to pull, the ground would strain from the force. These artillery cannons were connected directly from the ground up. They were not just standing there but instead had a foundation that would require much force.
The magnetic pull, if it continued to increase, would eventually tear the artillery rounds from the ground up. Bringing those metallic towers together by smashing through what was left of most of the artillery towers. since the towers themselves were not aligned perfectly to one another, some would still make it through the chaos that followed.

The combination of ice and kinetic force rounds were doing a number on their already depleting ranks. Sune'ere was too super human for their liking was the problem here. Along with the problems of those gauntlets that had been thrown overhead. The kinetic force hitting them from behind sent many a soldiers flying into the air. However the soldiers, despite being knocked into the ground, would get back right up afterwards. Some losing their weapons. Some not. It mattered little. The ones who were knocked down, approximately five of them, would be quick to drag their metallic digits through the sand to draw what was needed. A transmutation circle.

Several of them, more than five to be sure, on the ground as they activated the circles. The transmutations spreading out along that desert sand. The ground broke and the large shards of shrapnel would fling towards the Prince from all corners. Cuts and bruises already going with those wounds. But the velocity at which the shrapnel came would be far too quick for the Prince's liking to be sure.

The Prince was hurt and doing all he could against the forces before him. While Sune'ere was firing his own ice, kinetic, and even an explosive round towards the army, they were firing their own electricfied rounds back at the man. Some rounds even sparking a dark orange that, when making contact either with the Prince or near him, would set off an explosion unlike any other. There were maybe ten soldiers left who had these weapons after those metallic fists started swinging.  They spread out as fast as they could to avoid whatever fists might come next as they continued to open fire on the Prince of Celesin.

Battle to the South East

The flying unit was descending as fast as they could upon those Celesin troops that had thought to land between the main army and the city. They had put themselves between a rock and a hard place in a manner of speaking. The flying squad above were descending down upon the unsuspecting soldiers and opening fire. Their rifles and gun-arms raised as they descended downward upon the Celesin troops. Unfortunately, the Dorian forces had moved in with their own Infantry to fire on both air and ground forces. The air forces were spreading out along that air as they opened fire. The cover of night did wonders for the bat winged individuals as they used the air to glide higher and avoid the Dorian infantry. Approximately twelve of their bats were going down from one of the scouts's lucky explosive rounds.  The rest continued onward. Those guns firing from above as they sought to head for the wall regardless of the assault from ground level. In response, their transmutation circles were activated and the burst of air from below, with their gliding gear, brought them up to higher levels of altitude. Meaning that the ground troops would have a harder time for certain shooting them down as the air forces were higher than what remained of the wall.

The incoming truck's armor plating did wonders against most ammunition but the Dorian bullets were of a special caliber. And while the Dorian troops may have had ammunition that was specially designed to take on armored vehicles, the vehicles in question were also the many compared to the few. Even if they were getting attacked at every turn. Still their forces unfortunately had more to deal with than just the infantrymen. Their convoys were getting smashed to the ground and there wasn't a single thing they could do about it. And unfortunately, with the cavalry charge now ceasing, many of those soldiers found themselves in vain trying to regroup together. Their large packs spread out all along the desert. All ripe for the picking as they found themselves under attack.

The alchemy had worked against the cavalry and now that hard point shield had dissipated but there was still much to do. And when the leader of the cavalry had been able to take pieces of his own bike and form some kind of armor, it was noted by the men and women who were on the ground. While some of the warbikes were destroyed, along with their riders, it still wasn't enough against the rest of the forces that this army was now facing.

Ninety two of these armored men took the center stage in the largest battle outside of Nexxian ever. The downed trucks were close to being disposed of. The debris that had been brought up, pillars being made as well to account for the incoming assault, were also in effect. The Iron Infantry had their perimeters formed around their comrades as those armored cavalry swung from left to right. So many of their brethren being sliced and diced like nothing. Then it happened. The skies opened up and out descended warriors from what had to be Hell itself. Sergei Deker and his mad crew came upon what was shortly being what was left of the army. Through the battlefield, Sergei would see one particular armored Infantryman who stood out. The armor was sharpened at most joints and the monstrosity stood at eight foot tall even. "DOG!" The warrior cried out as he raised the rifle to open fire on Sergei. Other Iron Infantry that were splintered across the battlefield tried in vain to open fire. Their own rifles and explosive rounds taking effect as they opened fire. Transmutation circles glowing to account for the explosions that were bound to happen. The monster of a warrior had his own large blade already transmuted and, lifting it with one hand, would rush for Sergei. It appeared that the battle of the giants was about to take place as that Iron Infantryman swung with all his armored might at Deker.

Battle Further South East

Tera and her air support had moved on from what was the large scale calvary attack from the Dorian forces. And what was happening there was pure chaos. While Khooey and her Celesin troops had tried to sneak in, when Barton's men had revealed themselves thing had quickly gone to Hell for them all.

Now they were making their standoff to the rear of the South East army. Only.....a shield had been raised and while their suppressing fire had been heading straight for the shield, it did nothing against them. And that's when the artillery came down upon them. Trucks that had been positioned with troops fell apart as the remnants of the army spread out along that ground. Fifteen cannons bombarded their rear defensive line and the soldiers were torn apart. Numbers were lost very quickly as they sought to try and regroup from the surprise attack. Unsuspecting artillery fire had been their strategy on the city. Now it was being used on them.

They had tried with the turrets. They had tried with the suppressive fire. All of it firing against that shield as the artillery fire descended onto them and caused a hailstorm of metal and blood with death. Many soldiers thrown around in disarray. Some lacking the ability to see, hear, or even speak at this point. Iron Infantrymen were spread out once more in complete disarray.

Then the light came for them all.

Men, women, and even what would be seen as child soldiers were now in full display of the attack. Bradley's army had no qualms about who would be a recruit. Most who were to the back, closer to the source of their positioning, were saved but the brunt of that energy blast came for them all. A quarter mile dedicated to the decimation of men, women, children, chimera, and so much more. Whatever might be left was struggling to regroup back to where their commander and chief was posted. The distance putting them right at the edge of Tera's beam. For now it appeared that whatever burst of speed Prince Caden might produce, meant that the soldiers were more than likely done for in the rear near this battle. Whatever was left were either wounded or trying their best to get up and mount an offensive against Barton's troops.

King Bradley

The man who was once a King stood tall in his area of command.

He had known that this battle would be a risky one. He had been cautious ever since Envy's minor assault had ended in disaster for their side even if the experiment had proved fruitful. None the less he had attempted to hold his ground but the situation was looking grim.

When he had been a younger man he had been a capable soldier in his world. He had been one who commanded humans troops well, even alchemists who had thought themselves Gods.

He had learned much from his time in the Nexxus, particularly the Kingdom of Silvermoon and the place known as the Arena to many fighters, and now he was learning another bitter truth. The enemy had overwhelming presence on air and land. Their advantage mainly consisted of more advanced technology that seemed to trump whatever alchemy was thrown at them. The Celesin troops likely had lost little in their numbers compared to the Dorian cavalry but still no loss was likely acceptable in their eyes.

The King was surprised by the lightning that descended downward across the distance. He moved all too fast just as some soldiers sought shelter within their vehicles or under some cover. Trees in particular were lit ablaze at the top of the hill and would sooner or later light their position. The King himself stood steadfast as the soldiers around him were either hit or scattered. Some of the cannons even hit but undamaged by the bolts of lightning. But the King held his stance and stood before the very first cannons that he had wanted made at the beginning of this battle. His single green eye observing the city and what was bound to come.

The explosion of force echoed in the distance. The ground shook from the sheer force. The burst of energy brighter than any sun or light that the enemy forces could produce.

And the roar heard in the distance confirmed it all. Their plan had worked.

While he had been quick to bring his army up towards the city, he had intended to hold them off to allow a smaller secondary force to enter. Titans, the girl Annie had referred to as, had entered the city after a month of gathering them from the mountain areas. It had taken time to lure them out but with the girl's help they had achieved just that.

He had played the Celesin and Dorian troops for fools. And they were willing to go along with it and not go back to assist the city they fought so desperately for.

"One. More. Time."

The words spoken quietly before he raised his voice up towards the soldiers who had been left undisturbed at the top of those cannons. "FIRE! NOW!" The roar echoed across that battlefield and those undisturbed soldiers had, with yet another set of transmutations taking place, been quick to fire those unified cannons towards the city. The Southern and Eastern cannons had been destroyed by these Celesin and Dorian troops. But the main set were still active.

The cannons opened fire, all twenty of them, all of them two stories in height, as the explosive materials spilled out from the long barrels that had been erected. The cannonballs sailing over the entirety that was the battlefield. Even the large burst of.....something that had sped past him towards the battlefield mattered little.

He was going to burn the city from the inside out.

The explosions sailed into the city and might even find itself near the center of the city. The twenty cannons were of a powerful caliber after all. The artillery descending down into the streets and buildings of the city. The fires were large and encompassed much of the city by now. Destruction and chaos were bound to set in. Death had to be everywhere.

It was beautiful what war could truly do.

His troops were scattered and even the soldier who had been his assistant throughout this event was frightened for a moment. Until the area shook with an unknown presence. A....portal of some kind opening up just to their rear. It was a foreign thing for the troops to see but whatever remained would have to stand up right and ready themselves for what came through. The King gave a nod and, near unison, they would start to open fire on those who came through the portals. Rifles raised as their transmutation circles activated along those barrels. Electrified and explosive rounds heading for the Legatus and Alis that decided to come through. The problem with this strategy of teleporting in so close to Bradley was that he was at the center of the base of the hill. The cannons were some short walking distance from him. But his troops surrounded the entirety of the area with even a few vehicles around.

Khooey once more found herself in the center of a battlefield.

Perhaps the Legatus would be able to dodge the bullet fire. Or perhaps not. The girl was starting her trek towards the man now who had been befuddled by a declaration from one commander in particular.

"God.....God, you say?"

The question was one for Sergei Deker who spoke along those lines of open communication. Perhaps Celesin, Angelo, and whoever else might be on the open channel would hear the question from the King himself.

Khooey would likely make it five feet in distance. Fifteen feet left between her and her target. If she wasn't gunned down like a Djinn dog for rushing in.

"You dare to mention some false deity as we do battle? As though THAT will give you and your army strength?!!"

The Homunculus shook. His right hand gripping the hilt of his blade. An almost unnatural fury taking hold of him. His soldiers circled around the Alis and Legatus, as several Iron Infantrymen moved in from the rear and sides to close in on the Alis at once. Rifles raised and fired before being brought down on some Alis who were not so easy to find cover. If the Legatus was fast at all she might be able to avoid the inevitable gunfire. If not then she was more than likely going to get another gunshot wound for rushing in.

Slowly the man's head turned to his right. The blue military uniform was one that matched several other human soldiers that Khooey was bound to have seen earlier. A communication device that looked oddly familiar to ones used by Angelo's Detective Agency in his ear. But it was the look on his face that might give Khooey some pause in her short stride towards the King. It was a look of fury. A look of utter revulsion. A look that said that now more than ever the King was angered by something. It all happened in slow motion as his gaze went from the battlefield to her.

He saw her.

The man spun his body all too quickly going counter clockwise. The sound of a sword being unsheathed heard quickly as the sheath that his blade had been using was thrown quickly towards the incoming Djinn from his left hand, the blade held in his right hand. It was not tossed so lazily through the air. The strength behind the throw gave the sheath exact accuracy in the way it was heading towards Khooey. The speed it went through the air meant it would impact in mere seconds towards the Djinn's chest. In her desire to come after the King, she may not have realized she was entering the lion's den.

Khooey would have only one option. Deflect with her blade to avoid being impaled. The chances of dodging were slim with her own pacing towards Bradley. That meant bringing the blade up from her left to slice through the sheath and break through it before it impaled her. Her blade having to end up on her right side as it would need to go through the sheath to stop.

The fury on Bradley's face never left, nor did he stop. The eyepatch concealed the man's left eye but that right eye was wide as his knees had bent just a second after that sheath was thrown. The ball of his foot was pushed off of and he moved in a burst of speed towards his target.

"I WILL SHOW YOU WHAT YOUR GOD IS WORTH!!! NOTHING!!!" To Khooey it might seem like a mad raving but if the girl had been listening in to the lines of communication she would understand Bradley's fury. The concept of religion and a higher power except for what truly existed, his creator, always had annoyed the Homunculus who saw himself above the scum of humanity.

If Khooey did slice through the sheath, Bradley would be making a move on to her left. His burst of speed closing whatever distance might be between them. She had already tried to move for him. And twenty feet was hardly a long distance. His right arm had raised outward and he would be stepping close towards the woman. Not close enough to kiss perhaps but close enough that as he turned his upper body to face her left, that sword would be coming to meet her neck. That right arm, and blade, closing in on the woman from her left side, who would have no choice but to slice through the sheath to avoid being impaled in the chest. The woman would have to be fast to somehow meet Bradley in the battlefield in single combat. Otherwise she would have the fate of Angelo Zerephan. Dead by his blade with a slice through the throat.

"I see you." The words hissed with much venom whether Khooey was bleeding from a wound or not.

When you came after the King, you had best not miss.

[Hohenheim]

-Acolytes-

They moved through the crowd as best as they could. The safe haven was something that needed to be taken care of for them to further destroy this city. They were not of ill intent knowingly. They only knew that they had orders to follow. Their minds were not of a complicated nature. They did only as bid from their commander and teacher.

Unfortunately the Dorian scouts seemed keen on stopping some of the students. But, as luck would have it, only some of the students could be identified. And even then their numbers were small compared to the force that was inside. The ones who were identified would grumble and try to get inside, some even going as far as to explain that they were not soldiers. They had no combat experience. Some even feigning fright at the prospect of entering into a war zone. Surely their alchemic skills couldn't be that useful?

They moved through the crowds as best as they could. Some had necklaces. Others had other trinkets like wrist bands and others even had rings. None had any runes or indicators to magic per se. But these items themselves were crafted by Van Hohenheim himself. The alchemic amplifiers that they were designed to be would last for a good many transmutations before they backlashed on the user. The acolytes sought to position themselves along the edges of the safe zone. Surveying the entirety of the area as they thought of where to strike. For now, the acolytes would wait for the right opportunity to strike.

-Van-

The signal had been sent from him. The blast from Hell had likely raised all the signals that the shifter Annie would need to bring her troops into the city. Though "troops" and "cavalry" were too strong of terms to describe what monsters that the shifter Annie Leonhardt had been able to control with just a roar. It was something else. Van hadn't had enough time to study it all. His scientific mind had been at work to discern what they could be made of. They almost, frighteningly, seemed like large scale Homunculi with their abilities to heal from most wounds unless they were put down for good. His troops had taken on some of these large scaled monsters, referred to as "Titans" by the girl Annie, before he burned their area in the mountains to the ground. Annie had taken care of the rest with herding them.

Van knew that there was a chance that this city would be well defended. Unfortunately he hadn't accounted for foreign aid to be the salvation of this city. But none the less, the plan had been a masterful one. Bradley had laid the foundations down to attack the city. He had hooked the bait. A massive army that, even with superior technology from their adversaries, was taking time to eradicate on this grand scale.

That had left him open to attack from within. And he had done so.

The man moved along the path of destruction that he had wrought for this place. He had come here under a monicker of Mr. Light. A false identity to conceal who he truly was. And what he was truly doing in the mountains and other regions. He had needed to come to the city to get a better look. So he had traveled and positioned himself well within their ranks. Hiding in the shadows and biding his time for the right opportunity.

The shrieks and howls echoed in the night and even Van had to pause for a moment to regard them. The monstrous roars that came from outside of the city, monsters that were now filtering into this grand exposed place, were spreading out far and wide. This incident was something that would cost the city a great deal. The Titans were coming to play now.

Van paid them all no mind. Instead the man walked along the path of destruction he had caused. The black scorch marks of death evident along the path as the unfortunate lives that were lost in the blast radius still had residue left on the destroyed pavement. Men, women, children. None of it mattered to the Homunculus. None of it would matter in the long run. Humanity was nothing more than a necessary crutch for higher beings.

Chaos and death seemed to be happening now as the monsters sped along the path of destruction. The Titans moving as....other monsters came to fight in the defense of the city. The cloaked figure moved along the path he had created for the monsters to invade the city. But it appeared that Nexxian's own defenses included other monsters. They spread apart in the distance but the sounds of something else other than Titans could be heard. Van knew that, tactically, there would be some defense but he had not expected them to be like this. He would have to adapt and soon. Burn another part of the city down before it was too late. That would be necessary. He should go now and handle that. Take down another section and perhaps unveil more traps for these fools to fall into to defend themselves from. But.....curiosity was getting the better of him. Were these monsters that were fighting the Titans something that he could perhaps capture and experiment on himself? Could he adapt them into chimeras by merging them with soldiers? The possibilities were there. He would just need to examine them and see what made them tick.

The man reached up with his right hand towards his chest, as though he were going to grip a tie, only to realize his foolishness. His fingers curled and he set the hand back down to his side. No. He shouldn't. He had other business to attend to but....He had to know.

The figure walked along his path of destruction and death. The cloak clung well to his large frame. The hood brought over his head to conceal any hair. The mask over his face enveloping all of his facial features to even past his jawline. The robes underneath that dark cloak were of a lighter shade but none the less concealed him well. There were no hands or feet that could be seen. Instead he was enveloped entirely by the cloth. As though he were some ghost who took the shape of mish mashed clothing.

It wouldn't take him long to pass from the center of the city to get to the second layer. Perhaps the one known as Illyah, or perhaps any Nexxian or Dorian troops, would be able to see this masked man walking along without a care in the world. Would it be suspicious? Most likely. He was the perpetrator of this after all. The grand planner of it all. His eyes concealed his own amusement at what chaos he had caused. The screams of those who were still lying in the rubble, waiting for death, were mostly amusing. Should he...? No. This was more important. But time consuming. He moved along that path, but his figure slowly seemed to fade. Almost blurring out from existence. It wouldn't take him long to reach the near end of the second layer of the city. The Titans were putting up as best of a fight as they could. But this city had many defenders. One of which that Van could see in the distance at this point.

He kept his pace even as his eyes would, if the Titans were unable to smash the man, see him in the distance. Another man who should have been dead. Intelligence reports from Envy along with his own research had determined that the owner of Angelo's Detective Agency had been one Angelo Zerephan. A Nexxian war hero who had started up the Detective's Agency as a means to obtain income for mercenary and detective work. In fact, Zerephan had encountered another of his children before as well. The one known as Sloth. In the Kingdom of Silvermoon. That alone targeted Angelo for death.

Friend to a dead boy. Father to deceased children. In an ironic way, he and the one known as Angelo Zerephan were both very much alike. Both had been fathers of murdered sons. Both had died themselves and, one way or another, had come back to the land of the living for a purpose. They were both trying to find their own places in the universe that was the Nexxus or Sanctum. They were trying to find that purpose even now but it continued to elude them. Van's existence had been to consume and consume and consume but he had obtained all the knowledge of his universe that he would ever want to know. Unfortunately for Zerephan, their objectives came to cross purposes. Which meant that one of them would need to die. It was unfortunate. But it wasn't personal.
Zerephan would likely see the cloaked figure down the path of destruction. The cloak and mask worn still even now. No emotion whatsoever coming from the man. An almost calm tranquility oozing from his presence. He was not at all disturbed by the death and destruction. The multiple buildings that were alit with flames in the distance. The smoke rising high up into the air. It didn't sound like any of the forces outside were doing their best to come aid the defenseless Nexxian City.

Van knew that, while he was powerful, there were some in the Nexxus that could rival the abilities he had. He was uncertain of what capabilities that Angelo Zerephan had. So, when in doubt, he decided to act.

His arms spread wide, the cloak stretching to still accommodate his figure, as his head tilted back. The monstrous scream echoed from his figure as the red alchemic sparks came to life from his entirety. The pure energy that fired out was unlike the white energy blast from some minutes ago. No. This blast was more condensed. And far quicker. The energy was more clear as well. Transparent almost with a dark lens to it. The blast was not purely kinetic. The moment that it came in contact with Zerephan it was bound to send him back but also burn. Whether Angelo was capable of deflecting or dodging, would remain to be seen. if Angelo were able to somehow block and hold against that beam, he would feel as though a mountain itself were pushing against him. The force behind the attack almost overwhelming. And it had taken all of a few moments to send the quick attack in Angelo's way. It wasn't his best move but for now Van Hohenheim would start off small. He needed to see this man's capabilities. As well as once more flex his own capabilities.

Perhaps Angelo would realize just who this was or assume he was another of the sins. It mattered little.

"Let's see what you're capable of, Mr. Zerephan." The monster spoke to himself as he engaged the Grey Knight in combat. One way or another, this battle would end with much death. He was counting on it.

[Annie Leonhardt]

Titan Group A (with Angelo):
The first Titan was struck down easily. It had been moving towards a random building that looked like it had people inside for it to eat. But his snack searching had been cut short when Angelo stuck his blades into the back of the Titan's neck, cutting it deep enough to sever the spot that kept them alive. Down the Titan dropped, causing a loud commotion on the ground. A total of ten Titans were brought down by Angelo's hand and it was enough to grab the attentions of several Titans nearby.

A ten meter tall Titan went after Angelo first, a somewhat sneer-like expression on its face. It was coming up on Angelo's side, stretching out it's left hand and bending down to try and snatch the man up. The Titan held a shit-eating grin on its face as its fingers began to circle around the man who seemed focus on something else.

Titan Group B (with Illyah's Group):
While some Titans were indeed a bit more mindless-like, there were still ones that proved they shouldn't be taken too lightly. And they were just as carnivorous as the beasts that were now before them. One Titan was sent stumbling back after being slammed into and ended up falling onto its backside, becoming a meal for the beasts that had surrounded it. But while the beasts ripped into this fallen Titan, several other Titans nearby would come after them and make these beasts their targets. They were most likely not as sharp as these beasts, but teeth from a Titan were still strong and could bite through many things. Titan teeth bite down on these beasts that they targeted that crowded the fallen titan, hopefully ripping into them. It was a battle of carnivorous beings.

The second group of beasts that were going for another pack of Titans would find that the Titans weren't going to just lay down without fighting. Two Titans would go down before the rest of them took full notice of the beasts, fists swinging and teeth chomping down on any beasts they'd get their hands on.

Titan Group C (with Illyah):
The two Titans Illyah had taken on, one at a time, were soon to be goners. The first one had been a mere 6 meter Titan, had hardly any chance of survival against Illyah whom had grown up to the size of 12 meters (40 feet). The second Titan Illyah had gone for could've stood more of a fighting chance against her, had she attacked from the front. The Titan stood at 10 meters high, but was knocked down from behind.

The roar that Illyah had let out moments ago had grabbed the attention of nearby Titans. Four Titans closed in on Illyah as she was devouring her second target. Two of the Titans stood at 9 meters tall, the other two stood at 12 meters. And from behind where Illyah stood with four Titans around her, a fifth one decided to join the party. An abnormal running on all fours at 40 mph towards the group. Its mouth hung open as it charged its target down. The other four Titans stood around Illyah, letting out their own roars at her, while the fifth leapt towards Illyah and crash into her from behind. The Titan's mouth would open wider, its jaw practically unhindged before leaning down in to chomp into its target.

Titan Group D (with Arc's Scouts):
Damaged scouts. Indeed the Titan's perfect bait, especially when they were still alive and making any sort of movement to get away. Titans would stop and reach down to grab at the wounded scouts who were still squirming on the ground and bring them up to their mouths to chomp down onto before moving onward. They had one task, to kill every living being that crossed their paths.

By now the last of the Titans were making their way through the freshly made hole within the wall. Any wounded and battered scount members were already claimed by the Titans who came in before the last wave or there was barely any left to interest them. Any scouts left standing and trying to shoot at the Titans would find out quickly that these creatures don't go down so easily. Bullet holes were made in any Titan shot at, but not a handful of seconds later would small clouds of smoke appear from the small wounds and they'd begin to heal.

Female Titan:
The sound of large footsteps would grow closer and closer as she made her way towards the Agency's building. So far, she hadn't been stopped, the majority of everyone fighting were tied up elsewhere. The violent sounds of the city being torn apart were a bit distant to the Female Titan now, but she hadn't gone deaf. Her senses were still working and her guard was still up as she ran. Any civilians that chose to stick around instead of flee, would run and hide in any nearby buildings or alley ways to avoid being flattened. Though the ones who didn't move fast enough would find that the Female Titan wasn't after them. In fact, she was taking bigger steps to avoid stepping on any of the innocent bystanders.

The Female Titan's speed picked up as she rounded a corner, the Agency Building right in her sight. Several more quick steps were made before her right foot dug into the ground as she came to a skid, slower her down till she stopped in front of the building. In the same motion as she had with the Police Station, the Female Titan raised her right fist up above her head, first creating that crystal-like material to form around her fist and down her wrist. With one single swing, the Female Titan's encased fist came down upon the building's roof and through it. And up her fist would come before she'd bring it back down, destroying the building even more. She'd repeat this motion a few more times, for good measure, destroying everything that the building was as well as what was left inside of it.

[War Torn]

Angelo:

{There was a Hawk, and then there was a Knight.}

He wasnt alone. Oh no. There were more Titans then let on, and one of them was coming right at him. He stopped in treck of rage and turned his head towards the monstrosity. Oh was it lucky it could not feel the very essence of how Angelo was feeling. If it were, it might feel the a twinge of fear at the very glare he gave the beast, but no, it didnt, it just grinned and came his way. Angelo stopped, turned his head at the thing. It was a momentary motion, left hand to right hip, draw fourth the might magnum that was Grantslayer, pull back the hammer and aim.

“Die.”

He muttered he word. The hammer was pulled and what was unleashed from the gun was something that normally would not be able to take down the monster before Angelo not in a normal state. But Angelo was beyond Normal at the moment. Heightened sense of physicality through mental buffering not only affected his body, but his weapons and bullets as well. In this case the bullet in question was what Angelo called a Tornado round. Basically, said round was filled with intricate highly concentrated devices that one fired, turned use both the speed and force used to fire the bullet and the rotation it made to make a quick 'flash tornado' that upon impact of a target, literally spun its innards inside and out then violently, in the bloodiest of ways, explode.

Now take that effect, add in the big boost from the heightened psionic sense and you have yourself one titan that, before it could get to Angelo, being impacted with said bullet right near the upper chest, twisted right into the center of the thing, not exactly on the weak spot but clost to 'inside' it, then explode. If it wasnt dead, it was very injured and blind and most likely crashing into a building if it wasnt dead and Angelo, blood soaked and glaring kept on moving on. His gun was still in hand. With his right, now free of the sword, he loaded in more bullets in case anymore giants came in the way, half those twister rounds, half Drill rounds (which were basically bullets literally fitted with a drill like top, meant to drill into armor and flesh then explode) and should they come they'd find Angelo keep on moving, a slow even pace, but with just a look, moving his gun, firing, killing or maiming, moving on then firing when needed. It was a simple method and he kept on the path of sudden destruction as he went, intent very clear.

Yet through it all, Angelo was numb.

He was numb to the screams, he was numb to the feeling of fire and burning, he was numb to the people fighting inside and out, he was numb to the resounding destruction his bullets caused to the titans, he was numb to the death or severe maiming of the titans, he was numb to it all. Well, almost all, there was one consistant sense about him that never left: A sense of burning Rage. Rage at the senseless destruction, rage at the pointless death strewn about him, and rage at himself. In a way he had brought all of this to his people. All the empires, all the chaos,a ll of it, and again it cost so many damn lives, lives he cared for and seemingly no one else did, lives with ties before he even knew Anyone and inside it made his conscious writhe and scream out in utter agony. But he had to focus. Acts of atrocity were left unchecked before, but not this time, no, this time he knew he was close, he knew where it had come from and most of all he knew he had to destroy it.

So he walked. Illyahs forces might as well be trying to install indirect fear upon a being who could not feel such a thing right now. Indeed, the blood soaked frame of the Confederate, along with the blood boiling rage induced look upon his face might cause the forces Illyah had at command to back off, as the Signals were clear: 'Do not get in my way'. Titans and scouts and monstrosities fought and Angelo walked past them, deeper and deeper into the cut of destruction from within the City, cries of agony, cries of sadness and hopelessness being left to their own devices, all Angelo knew was that he had to find what was responsible for this, had to take it in his hands and kill it, nothing more, nothing less.

And the cause, the very cause of it all came sooner then expected.

Angelo stopped in his tracks. The figure in question was seen. Those eyes which had been buffered to see the very makings of the existing, mundane and magical or otherwise, properties about him just looking at the figure. They saw it, not completely no, it wasnt as radiating as when it first came off, but the very unnatural whiffs and elements of the power that split Nexxian in half steamed off the masked and cloaked figure, but that wasnt all the evidence Angelo needed to know a few things about the figure. Oh no, not at all. One glance made the figure 'suspiciously' look very much like one of the Homunculus' from Silvermoon, not externally, but internally. A being which was made of the souls of others was like that, and such a source and 'genetic' makeup was glaring to the Confederate and his current state in several sort of ways, but there was something more to this one then there was with Sloth, or Envy, or hell, even Bradley.

Yes, this one radiated power, the source of what the homunculi were made of and more and there was a twinkle to it all as Angelo saw, one that was seemingly corrupted and twisted as the being before him, but not completely. Oh, what where the stories he heard before? Of shining powerful crystals from Silvermoon that both were the saving grace yet inevitable damnation to the proud mighty nation he consistently dreamed he had done more to help and protect? Yes, those, those capable of great virtues and great attrocities depending on the hands they wound up in. Angelo could not say he'd ever seen one though he wanted to, though he often deduced and toiled with the idea of asking his best friend just what they were like, what they looked like, and here and now? It was like he imagined, twisted, pulsing, dark and evil in the hands of those not deserving.

For a second, Angelos hands clenched into a fists. The figure kept approaching.

“I knew I should of gone there...I knew I should of pushed Edward more to make sure, but of course I didnt, of course I just sat on my fucking ass and let it all slide...I should of known, the minute I heard of those monsters with Leonard, the minute I KNEW Bradley was back, I should of and I didnt...I didnt I didnt I didnt...”

The fists tightened enough to draw blood and Angelo was half smiling, brow consistently twitching in a sort of maniacal way, sights to the ground before he paused, exhaled a deep breath of air and jut his head up. It was at that point the figure stopped and Angelo pointed at him with a black colored silver scented tinged blood covered hand.

“VON HOHENHEIM!!!!!!”

The shout echoed out throughout the city, what was once a look of dispair, disbelief and one of self-loathing with a sense of utter 'fault' was replaced with that sense of rage, wrath and searing hatred from before! The attack of Hohenheim came. Powerful, red, evil, destructive, it was a blast that most would start out with, perfectly even, controlled, and something to follow up to. However, for Angelo, this game hadn't just began, it had started the minute the shells went off, escalated the minute that damn Rial Gun was fired at him, and at this point in time? When Hohenheim practically destroyed a quarter of the city? It was beyond on: The fucking fire had been lit hours ago and it was raging. What did this mean for Angelo? After all, he was just standing there after he shouted, the attack was coming and sure it would connect at this point, and it did!

But not in the way Hohenheim would expect.

There was an earsplitting screech, something that sounded like a high pitched bird screech and some inhuman howl amplified by the hundreds, and the cause of this screech, the reason Hohenheins attack would fail was clearly seen before him. Said reason was in the form of something that literally sprouted from Angelos shoulder blades. It was like a flat stained glass like, vein covered limb with an eye at the very end and it was both orange colored and glowing. There were four of them, two for each shoulder blade, the three not blocking the attack extending outward (while the defending limb did as well, only it was more condensed given its position) all of them where the concentrated psionic power of Angelo given 'live' and physical form through carefully gathered time and concentration, both of which Angelo had before he even encountered the leader of the Homunculus' before him, from the start of the battle even and being made to form in such a way clearly made them the very apex of Angelos power.

Now as to how the deflected Hohenheims attack, Angelo saw the very make up of the attack; kinetic force, heat, properties of destruction (force, gravity, what have you), and upon touching these properties, the limb, stronger then Hohenheims attack to a good degree (given it was, as stated, a sort of starter attack) forced them off to a side, away from Angelo to careen with destruction off somewhere else, not harmlessly (as they were in the city, not many attacks could be designated harmless even if deflected at this point), but away from him. Any Titans as well that had been foolish enough to try to get close to Angelo or creep up on him would find the limbs jutting out and slicing through them like butter, and expected thing, for something that could deflect raw destruction itself, who was to say thick skin could be protected from it?  Titans possible sliced, destruction set off course, afterward, swiftly, all the limbs shot down enveloped Angelo in their glowing light, covering him head to toe, his whole body eventually covered and hidden as the effects of the wings changed him, made him grow to a height of over ten feet and finally end in a point behind his back where each ending portion of the limb would connect and form something like a cape.

As fast as it had occurred, the orange glow of the limbs faded and left before Von Hohenheim The Knight. The orange about The Knights frame was replaced with something akin to cracked stone like plate armor from head to toe, grayish color with a light silverish glow all about it and seeping through the cracks. Arms/hands bore long segmented gauntlets with claw like finger coverings, three distinct spikes on the outer side of each, shoulders bore square indented pointed guards attaching to a  long flowing silver colored cape of sorts. Legs were covered in 'boots' that merged with the segmented legging armor, spikes jutting on the hind side of these. Lastly, the head was covered in a intricate layered sort of helmet with a concaved triangle like type and a thin orange glowing slit that very obviously constituted as a visor or Eyes.

A simple motion of The Knight brought its slightly hunched frame to stand upright, staring down Hohenheim from a distance. It was like a simple glimmering shine in the middle of the chaos, order to the chaos, destruction of that which would senselessly cause destruction about it and the land it protected. The air seemed to vibrate out about The Knight as it took a simple step forward, metallic grating sounds going as one step was initiated after the next, very obviously towards the monster before it. The voice was deep, inhuman, almost mechanical in a way, it reverberated through the air and seemed to shake the very soul of those that heard it.

“I'm going to kill you, Von Hohenheim.”

{The Knight: 0}

[Illyah]

Group A


Were far from unaware of the approaching titans the giants were far from the most stealthy of creatures. Large head turned in unison as they began to come, a silent command issued to all as they would turn to face the coming titans.  Oddly the titans would find only six of Jophiel's pack waiting, the smaller beasts stepping back in played fear, waiting for the coming charge.  When it happened the other six slipped from the shadows ghosts of destruction that came from behind the largest waiting till he was already in the air an animal that was almost fifteen feet in height, and several hundred pounds of muscle  to roar their call to battle. With him the others would leap, two and three. Once more using their numbers to try and bring the larger foes to the ground. The grounded group attacked also, four weaving and dodging the sloppy strikes of unskilled combatants. Two would be slammed back, bodies sent hurtling through the air to crack sickeningly into a the wall of a already half destroyed building. The force causing the masonry to crack, and crumble in a pile of broken brick work. It wouldn't take too long for that pile of rubble to shift though, as under it broken bones and twisted flesh began to mend itself.  The others though carried on, their own teeth seeking naked flesh, own claws looking to gain grip as they would once more begin to feed. They were like a swarm of piranha just a storm of gnashing teeth and striking claws.


Group B

They would be forced to meet the titans in a frontal attack, normally suicide for anyone trying to fight either group. Still they stayed together keeping their grouping type save for the largest and leader of the group. He moved further forward, powerful taut muscled body tensed before the leap. The closest titan would find his weight upon it, those terrible claws digging into flesh drawing that scalding blood as powerful jaws opened and and snapped close. His attack was the signal, and the others raced forward, each a blur amongst the dark streets. Titan and beast would meet the exchange of violence a rush of blood and viscera.  Three would get tossed back, the others gracefully dodging and juking coming blows those heavy furred bodies seeking to once more push their prey down others moving to take the literal legs our from under the titans. Those that had been struck rising to their feet dislocated limbs popping back into their rightful place, as shattered bones would mend and strengthen.  It seemed these would be a battle of brutal attrition. Titans vs hellish monsters born of madness and eldritch power.


Illyah

Rose from the violence she had caused, blood still steaming from jagged teeth, and tapered claws. Her fur stained a bright scarlet. She watched them come her black lips pulling back from that gore stained muzzle in what could only be a smile. Her attention was on the largest of them, head tilting in avian like fashion as she'd heard the sound of the abnormal at her back. She waited until she couldn't hear the sound of it's rapid approach, and twisted on her left heel, before planting her foot against the street, the road buckling and cracking from the force, shattered stone and gravel filling the air as her left arm snapped out with the speed of a rifle shot. Clawed fingers spread, her aim seeking to catch the leaping titan by it's face, grip if catching letting her clawed fingers to sink past not only flesh but the hard bone under it. With a snarl she'd let it's momentum aid in her throw tossing the overly ambitious titan behind her and into two largest titans with a snort of dismissal. Her head turned to face the hopefully toppled gathering of titans, letting those glowing sickly green eyes rest on the one that was her size. She doubted the challenge would be understood.

She rolled her shoulders, the titan blood making her thick fur sticky.  If her throw had worked the titans would be trying to disentangle themselves from the thrown titan. It as the perfect time to attack, and she wasted no time to turn her savage focus upon the two smaller ones. She moved like a streak of lightning a rush of air and explosion of sound that sent her hurtling into the vicinity of both. The closest was met with the force of her foot crashing into it's chest, seeking to force it to the street below, causing the air to crack and explode the street shattering as the buildings quaked from the power of the stomp. In that same breath she would grab it's head in both hands, using her weight to hold it down as she'd brutally twist and tore it's head clean tossing it to the side. Once the grim task was done a scene of violence that would last for a handful of seconds she turned on the other titan, her claws snapping out slashing with savage accuracy,  her right hand looking to tear through the flesh of the still upright titan's throat and neck. Her left following in a blur of speed as she fought with unbridled ferocity. If she had struck the area would be a wash in blood and meat, the titan she had mauled a broken heap of trembling gore.  More of that blood would spatter her form, turning to face what she figured would be the last three titans as they got back to their feet she'd grin. She was ready to finish this, to get past the betas,a nd find the leader of these malformed lumbering monsters.

[Nethuama]

[One time post, just ignore if you want. Only wanted to icly say I was watchin'.]

-[The Greatest Show.] News of a war had traveled rapidly through the underground. Animals of the land had since fled to safer regions, the thunder of cannon lines echoing across the horizon. There were no nearby spectators to this event; tribes (what there was, of course) at the furthest distance still found themselves watching a dark, blank vista. These sounds, to them, would herald a luminous bolt of energy soaring across the stars. From this perspective, it was an omen that prompted their own retreat miles from whence they stood. Murmurs arose, fingers pointed to the sky above the crowd before dissipating. As quick as it had came, the fiery display had vanished into the darkness and into the fog of war.

Those possessing traits outside mundane, would indeed detect it in the heavens. A high influx of pandimensionally-charged radiation was pouring forth, concealing whatever aberration produced it. The plasmic cascade dissipated, slowly tumbling from what appeared to be a large-winged mantaesque creature. Its tendril-like tails undulated behind it, somehow defying the pressure against it (at such high velocities). Ebon… There was no safe vantage point for being on the ground, especially with the potential scatter of artillery. Ashcroft had sent his winged, alien friend with a archaic, yet effective,  gyrating camera apparatus. It was secured to a comfortable harness of a specialized Kevlar weave; it had to take enough byproduct even if the creature jumped. Was it there to attack? Evidently the opposite as its lithe body and great wingspan would tilt, veering around the wall’s outline from above.

Conveyed through an odd frequency, Our Nostrum was watching pure chaos upon black and white screens. A General was behind this surveillance; manning the camera and recording. She focused on the occasionally blinking picture that lit up those occupying the region. Not quite identifiable at the Hawk’s view but each blob had been designated via colors, since zooming-in required adjustments. Anyways, the fray had an audience now; studying every bit of carnage as Ebon circled above the city’s outer wall inoffensively.

[Sune]

Sune'ere was a force to be reckoned with, even wounded he continued to act the way that a prince of Celesin should. With head held high and a ferociousness that in some ways hinted at the curse of his father's blood. Was he enjoying this? You're damn right he was. His revolver's were spent and reloading in this kind of situation even with his advanced speed would likely get him killed, even with his advanced speed. However they had only just seen the tip of the iceberg so to speak, with Sune'ere's combined knowledge of his own internal Magi and the years of training in the Sphere's of Magic his uncle had taught him he knew his own body inside and out. Though healing was the hardest of feats for him, he could delay the inevitable through not at all careful removal of mental barriers. Upping his own bodies endorphin output along with adrenaline the pain in his stomach was nothing. In fact what this did to him was allow him to push himself physically even farther than he should of normally been capable of.

As his gauntlets attacked he felt the tell tale rumble of the cannons finally moving towards each other. Mere seconds now until they would begin their disastrous path through the desert. On top of that his own Force Projection had found an interesting feature to these troops made of armor. As they were bonded by a soul, there was a point in all of them where it animated from. Most if not all of them remaining would be coated in a thin or thick layer of ice depending on how close they had come to him in the past. He positioned himself as best he could to have all of them within range of his Force Projection field. Calling the gauntlets to him, he would slip them on with practiced ease that looked more like they simply flew onto his hands instead of him literally putting gauntlets on. Before a single bullet more could be fired at him he would pound fist against fist and crouch down to make himself a lower target. Rune's his old lover had carved into the gauntlets flared to life, drawing upon his Magi Core to create a shield for him. Rounded edges not meant to stop bullets but simply deflect them. The shield had a three second time limit but that was all he needed.

The great cannon's smashed together, their speed and mass causing a massive concussive wave to echo throughout the desert. This would cause a massive gust of wind to echo out around it, undoubtedly this would cause the alchemical circles being drawn in the ground to simply blow away. Unfortunate for them, but hey that's what you get for doing stuff like that in a desert where a simple gust of wind could blow the sand about. Bullets deflected in random patterns, and assuming the concussive wave hadn't flattened them all Sune was now pulling upon his knowledge of Magical Spheres to take some of the already spent kinetic energy as it struck his shield and pull it into him. He would be needing it the moment his shield broke.

The shield broke and within the same second he would perform multiple actions all in the same fluid motion as he rose, his eyes burning with the power of his Magi Core. All of his training would come to fruition in this moment as he would find his limit and attempt to exceed it. He extended his Force Projection field far enough to encompass all his enemies, much past his own limit if only for a split instant. Then using the power of the Sphere of Forces, he could feel all the cold he had given them which over time would of condensed into frost which gummed up their limbs only slightly between the joints. Never enough to slow them down, but enough to get his true intention done. Every single one of the troops which had frost on them would have it condense quickly into small jagged pieces of ice, small enough to slip through armor cracks big and small. Then they would simply fire off with the force of a bullet, Ricocheting around inside of the armor. If they had been living they would of become human pin cushions as tens of jagged ice spikes poked and bounced around. However since they were empty the effect would be surprisingly more devastating. The ice would dig into those alchemical circles where the souls were stored. Severing the link and hopefully causing them to go inanimate.

Sune was breathing heavily, even with that amount of his bodies own drugs coursing through his veins, the weariness of fighting this many so consistently was begining to eat away at him. Drawing that deeply from his Core could not be ignored. Using much more of it again outside of passive abilities could rapidly deplete it without proper restoration.The rest of the fight would require him to go on with only his Body Cascade unless he could get some healing in.

When all was said and done he would go to each and every one of them he could find that fell assuming none more "lived" and carve out their seals. Putting them in his pack he would speak calmly over an open channel. "Agent Sune'ere here. Southern flank has been defeated."

[-Dorian Empire-]

The 86th Judgement Company:

-Scouts-
The scout troop outside of the walls had succeeded in at least damaging the numbers of the flyers. From an improperly loaded tracer round of all things. Maybe their alchemy just had an adverse reaction to the Dorian Empires standard munitions? Certainly unheard of but not impossible. The tracer rounds as stated before were meant to illuminate the targets for those on the wall as more were released until finally they were out of range of the ground scouts. As their collective HUDs in their helmets finally linked with the capital ship near orbit they had a better view of the battle field and just what was happening to the west. Massive shapes along with huge energy spikes shown where titans were along with the much smaller but arguably more dangerous forms of Hohenheim and Angelo. The Calvary and the rest of the people on the wall could handle the rest, the scouts outside of the wall would make a tactical withdraw to go and assist the west side of the city. Utilizing the advanced movement macro's instilled in their suits they would make quick work of their move.

The scouts inside of the city which had spoken with the acolytes seemed to accept their reasoning. It was sound and they certainly weren't military trained like the troops were. After some arguing of course the scouts would let them pass as they continued to escort others. Those acolytes, every single one were of such a low order that they would of seemed to slip through. Once most of the people were in the safe zone the local captain would order them to regroup with the scouts who had moved towards the west. They needed to go and save their comrades.

-Infantry-
While the Calvary met and routed the main ground forces this let the remaining infantry on the wall focus their attention on Bradley's aerial squad. Meaning that more bullets would be flying in controlled bursts at the targets which the scouts tracers had illuminated for them. However their loss of forces was not insignificant. Though the Infantry certainly had some of the heaviest armor that was capable of being mass produced, little could be done about that amount of gunfire. After all ballistics armor could only with stand so much blunt trauma. Also there were more than likely a few lucky shots that managed to get into the joints of the armor, enter the body and then use the actual armor to shred the unlucky trooper or two from the inside out. Roughly twenty of the hundred that now manned the wall were either dead, or so shot up that they would lose their military careers after this engagement. The rest of them though, shot until their clips were empty, maybe downing more of the flyers than that single random pyrotechnics display had before. As they came into the city and passed them the Dorian troops would reload in practiced efficiency and keep firing. They no longer had the perfect cover of darkness to hide them. Now they were flying over a city that was in the midst of a chaotic fire ridden siege. The only point at which the Dorian's would finish firing was when the aerial troops had proved to be out of range. Afterwards they would turn back to the desert, changing clips to armor piercing ones designed to stop any of the cavalry that Daish had missed.

The Infantry which had stayed to guard the civilians in the safe zone were equally dispersed everywhere. Though their numbers were far exceeded by the civilians they were charged to protect one could still hardly look one way and not see an infantry man or woman at attention ready to fire should something break their shielding. The only place where they were concentrated was around their make shift barracks which also housed the main console for the shield generator. If the acolytes had some way to sense where energy was coming from they could discern that what powered the shield was deep beneath the ground. Maybe half a mile or more. Surrounded in concrete and alien metals. It was after all a live spore generator, so safety was the number one concern when it was installed. If they could, and this was assuming they knew how to sense energy, they may find that the console was where the energy was being drawn to. If the aerial attack squad made it this far they would find their attacks repelled by the shield.

Within the city there was no commander so to speak. However even if the 86th's infantry was the most common of their troops, this specific companies people were all on the higher end of the bell curve for Dorian infantry. They watched as someone who should of been their commander took out a titan with a very precise and sword stroke along the back of the neck. They reported that to the others and all of the Infantry was instantly aware of the Titan's weaknesses. As for what Angelo did to the other Titan, well it seemed that they could still be destroyed if you overwhelmed them all at once. And there were so many soldiers lining the edges of the battle field that this wouldn't be hard to accomplish. Though the scouts were probably melting in the bellies of Titans, the outer perimeter was now lined with the heavily armed Infantry. Switching to armor piercing rounds and aiming at the necks of slow and fast moving titans alike. Though normal ammo may simply pockmark the flesh of a Titan. These rounds on the other hand were designed to pierce through light hard point shields and heavy armor. Though a single round may not take out a Titan multiple rounds at nearly the same time would surely break through the harder flesh and pierce whatever was controlling them in the neck.

Now of course some of the Infantry could get past the multitudes of Titans, they outnumbered them at least ten to one. With the amount of damage they'd be dealing with others would make it through relatively unscathed. This meant that there would be suppressing fire for Angelo versus Hohenheim. Once the Knight ha deflected the blow the captains and lieutenants which lead the infantry this far would coordinate an attack. Firing at Von Hohenheim with everything they had. Armor piercing rounds, along with hollow points meant to rip his innards to shreds. Once more those with shields prepared themselves. Waiting for incoming fire to try and deflect it. While the main obstacle for Hohenheim was Angelo. Adding in this attack even if they were like bug bites would still at the very least stretch his attention. There were even a few of those tether bullets placed in there. If they hit Hohenheim they like before would activate the telekinetic tether and the soldier whose rifle hit, would begin to pit his own strength against Hohenheim to start literally swinging him around.

-Stationary Artillery-
The second round of explosive shells were loaded in as the call came in from high command to cease bombarding that area. The men and women who manned these cannons were noticeably disgruntled by this order. Potential allies had decided to make a rear attack. That was all fine and good, but maybe they should of informed their combat allies of this before they had opened fire. However with the real time map now open to all of them it would take just a moment to adjust the massive cannons more towards the reserves that were moving away from the enemy commander.

At this moment the commander was walking amongst their ranks, watching as incendiary rounds were loaded. "Use the active burrow rounds. It will limit our allied death count." At that point Keldon began to help with the loading of said rounds. With this knowledge they would adjust their aim to be outside of where the majority of the army was. Since they now had a live feed, this could potentially prove more devastating. After all typically armor was weaker along the underside of most things.

Once loaded fifteen of the active burrow rounds would be fired off. Outside of where the majority of the enemy forces were. Using the active field map now accessible since the real time view was given to them, the drill shaped rounds would hit the ground and burrow before being maneuvered towards the enemy forces. Once they were in position these rounds would burst upwards and explode upon command. Taking ground and enemy along with them as they blew up. This would hit any reserves which were going to assist the storming of the city, causing another great big hole in their army. The only downside of this is that the payload in these weapons was noticeably bigger than the previous simple artillery shells. So assuming he was not towards the front of the battle field at this point, there was a chance that Caden and other Alis Fulminis who dropped in to begin cleaning up the back end of the battle field may be caught in this massive and sudden explosion of earth and fire.

-Aerial Squadron-
The sub-orbital fighters were ready to go, thirty in total. As were the twenty heavy duty power suits which the elites of the Wings of Judgement would use. Lead by their commander's own daughter, and now with a real time map to go off of they could now easily pick and choose targets for bombing as well as short bursts of anti-ground weaponry, while minimizing allied casualties. After propulsion systems were checked, vertical lift jets would activate and take each of the jets and mobile suits up while inertia dampeners activated to stop the oncoming boost from liquifying the occupants. All systems were green, targets were confirmed. Their main objective was simply to clear a path for their commanding officer to make it even further into the enemy ranks and cause even more havoc.

The explosive shock wave of multiple air craft breaking the sound barrier simultaneously probably sounded like distant thunder to those far away. That was the only warning the enemy would get as Dorian air superiority would be felt from the oncoming ranks. The slightly slower power suits on the other hand trailed behind their faster air craft counter parts. Now able to get visual confirmation on the decimation done to the southern artillery. The spore field detected few life signs, and a single ally. Erratic though they might be. Calling clearly into her Microphone the aerial commander gave the order to send a detachment of mobile artillery to that force to clean up whatever mess it was and try and save the allied life form. Then she was back in the thick of her mission.

The air crafts targets were acquired a quarter of a mile from Sergei's current position. The five heavier bombers would open up their undercarriages and allow their cluster bombs to drop. Once they were within a good distance the bombs themselves would open and release a scattering of tiny bomblets meant to rip infantry and armored vehicles to shreds. The explosive trigger itself was nothing to terrifying, however the small disk like munitions that were scattered in all directions were truly horrifying. As they hit the open air they began to superheat and within milliseconds of were literally slag metal shooting off in god knows which direction. Catching fire to flesh and burning holes through armor with incredible amounts of ease. The larger bomb casings on the other hand which had opened up to deposit their deadly payload still had another trick up their sleeve. They would dig into the ground and as soon as they touched down would send out a quick laser light show around them. Interacting with the spore field that showed the real time battle map they would effectively become a targeting assist for the next wave of fighter craft.

The next wave of twenty five came in, with their targets locked on now the practiced pilots would dive down into view from whatever cloud or night cover there was to be had. They would then open with a salvo of super-heated plasma. Tearing through and even igniting some of the metals that they contacted with. A living person hit by one of these wouldn't know what had hit them they came out at such a rapid speed. With no competing air crafts near them they were free to focus upon making Bradley's army a living hell. Once the first pass had been completed there should be a burning lane for the commander to go through for at the very least two or three miles. Hell if they were lucky it all may go back to their rear. And now that they had a good aerial view of the battle field they knew exactly where that back was. They would be adjusting their trajectory on the next pass, to start from the back and go towards Nexxian.

The slower but arguably more accurate power suit squadron was not to terribly far behind their aircraft bound brothers and sisters. Just as the last wave of the bombs went off and the hell of super heated plasma had passed over them like a tidal wave of fire and agony. The power suits broke into a vertical dive at the exact center of the wasteland that the others would of made. All of the power suits were near identical, and had roughly the same capabilities. Though the load outs on each may have slight variations. Armored legs did not so much touch the ground as hovered there for a moment to asses the situation. The edges of the wings heated the air as a coating of multi-colored light could be seen coming off of them. A pistol designed for the size of these things were in both the hands of each power suit. With an unheard order they all split off in separate directions simultaneously. Pistols were fired, a lesser but still just as deadly version of what the fighter jets had been using aimed expertly at the heads of anyone who didn't register as an ally of theirs. Those which got out of the way may be treated to a show in their last moments of life. As they neared anything that registered as an enemy the wings would detach momentarily metallic feathers coated in heated plasma to slice through enemies. Using the same gravity manipulation devices that had allowed the cavalry to transform their own war bikes. As troop infestations became denser the farther away from the path the power suits went, so to would the amount of feathers deployed. These twenty power suits became mobile blenders to anything that stood in their way.

-Mobile Artillery-
The mobile Artillery had gotten multiple orders. Four plus one armored personnel carrier would head directly north towards the southern artillery. The rest would split into squads of forty and thirty five. Thirty five were moving directly North West towards the breach in Nexxian City at their maximum speed, the others were heading towards a neglected flank in the south eastern front.

The five that moved directly north would no doubt find the damage that the prince of Celesin had wrought upon that front. Few if any cannons still remained, and if all went well the prince was still standing if hurt. Two of the larger tank like vehicles would open up fire on the remaining dormant cannons. The other two with mounted guns would begin to pick and choose targets in such a way that they missed anything near the prince. If he was smart he would push them towards the incoming artillery fire, that or he would get out of the way and let them do their job. Crushing the remains of truck and iron infantry alike the APV would go to cover Sune'ere. If they could they would get him into the transport and out of the heaviest fire as they finished up this job. If he came, seeing the extent of the wounds one of the on board medics would immediately go to work on him. This was an opportunity for sure, one that even the most humble of Dorian troops would not pass up. Saving an ally of this level could earn them all the kind of promotion they could only dream of.

The ones heading North towards the Nexxian front would take time to get there. They may even encounter titans along the way. However a titan was a thing of flesh and bone. These were metal and machines meant to take out things like it. In this case the titans would certainly be out of their weight class. Heavy caliber weaponry and explosive rounds would tear them to shreds in instants. That eye sore that Hohenheim had made out of the city would now serve a more noble purpose as within a few moments mobile infantry would pour into the ruins of Nexxian's western section.

The rest of the mobile artillery moved at break neck speeds towards the southern end of Bradley's main force. Though their speed was nothing compared to the war bikes of Celesina dn Dorian, their payload was something of terror and range that the army would soon come to despise.

-Cavalry-
Daish and his crew slew and butchered many as they cut swaths through the army which had evaded part of their initial charge. Spreading out they still coordinated attacks perfectly. Huge weapons decimating trucks and slicing through armor and flesh with the utmost ease. They were spreading out towards Nexxian to stop any more from approaching and destroying the stragglers. Their path was ever northwards. While the mobile infantry would soon press in from the south, they would be moving to make sure none of them escaped northwards. Bradley would have two points of escape, towards Nexxian, and away from it. No other choices would be given, and if their coordinated attack with the other squadrons meant anything. Soon even retreat would be cut off from them.

-Delta's-
Rip, Tear, Destroy, Win. This was the creed instilled in the utterly insane minds of every single delta there. They knew that soon their own personal weaponry would be transported in and they would not need these weak simulacrums. Rip. Tear. Destroy. Win. They cut a swath near their commander as he did what was needed and pushed their advance foot by terrible foot. Could these things feel fear? No. Their enemies should. These weapons were easily on par with some of the lesser genetic experiments that a Shuinsai could make. The irony of it was simple, this wasn't a Shuinsai creature. These had been made to combat those creatures in the first Dorian wars to suppress Sergei's people. The ingenuity and brutality of them had in fact earned Sergei accolades from his now Emperor. As it seemed that things couldn't get any worse for the enemy weaponry from the command ship dropped down upon unwitting battalions. The small house sized drop pods crushing many beneath them. Each one had a symbol painted on it, meant to show whose weapons were where to the simple minds of the Delta's and they would go to get them.

Three of them grabbed cannons which were easily the size to be fitted on medium class star ships. Two grabbed massive staffs from their pods. Four grabbed one handed swords and shields that looked like they belonged on giant robot, and finally one simply picked up his drop pod. Removing shoulder straps and hunching down to place it upon its back. The skeletal wings inserting themselves into open ports as the thing began to glow. It heard the call of Dog from a larger soldier, near its commander. It called out in a booming voice, as it went onto its hands and knee's.

"NO! I BIRD!"

Digging mutated hands into the ground the massive cannon would fire. This was not a blast that was on par with anything that the aerial squadron had been doing. Those were, targeted. This was a blast from a cannon that would be more commonly fit upon a battle cruiser. Delta's had been specifically tailored to take out the enemies of all kinds. That included siege craft star ships. The super heated blast of energy would rip out from it. There was no seeing the blast coming, only being caught in it. Dunes would not stop it, What hope did the iron infantry? The blue colored beam would could out and simply travel in a single direction for five miles before eventually losing power. What was left in its wake would be nothing but scorched earth, not even sand turned to glass except for that caught in the fringe of the blast. Things caught in the bulk of it would simply evaporate as they were subject to heats which nothing was meant to stand up against. The massive beam was done and would take time to recharge of course. Which meant that the other Delta's had to do their job. The other cannons had an effect that was similar albeit lesser than their bigger brother's. Vaporizing things in close quarters and igniting others. These cannons on the other hand could be fired off in rapid succession.

The staffs were certainly misleading. Sure they may of been able to bash things good, but that meant little against armored infantry. Taking each others back both of them would dig the ends of the staffs into the ground and open up both ends. The top ends detached only slightly to show a tube much like a hose that allowed for flexibility. Then it would begin. High pressure jets of sand and earth would begin to fire from them with such speed and deadly precision as to be able to cut through a tank like it were butter to a hot knife. Thinking about what it might do to flesh as even a single stray particle might rip through bone and brain matter at that speed was better left not thought about.

The four with swords would charge forwards with their commander. Offering a shield and blade arm to escort Sergei. With the most liklely immediate threats dealt with by the massive cannon wielding delta, they would offer support and slash through anything that got in their way. Surely the best fighters would be at the end of this army, and that is what they wanted to deal with.

-Sergei-
Sergei grinned when the beings approached him, the Delta specific weaponry in the process of dropping. Twenty seconds was all he would need to hold them off for. He trusted his Daughter and the aerial squadron to take out the rabble that was around them as well as the Cavalry taking out those behind him. The giant iron infantry man came at him with a sword to match his own. Spiked armor meant that a grab was out of consideration. He couldn't simply push the man away like his emperor could with his own mental powers. Sergei just wasn't that kind of leader. He grinned though beneath his helmet. The mental link between his group meant he knew exactly where the hardest hitting Delta would be firing. He waited as that thing ran at him, His other guards coming up with their shields to protect him.

The first swing that the large iron infantry man got in would be his last. The overly large blade to match his own, the longer than average strides. It wasn't like Sergei didn't know how to fight something bigger than him. The swing came in from over head and he did something terrifyingly simple. He stepped forward into the oncoming vertical slice. Dodging the blade and at worst being smacked in the head with the spiked gauntlets which may dent his helm at worst. The giant had a bigger problem being shot off behind him. Just outside of the edge of the Delta's massive beam cannon, Sergei would help his comrade to hit his mark. Flipping his grip on his two handed sword, and moving to face his shoulder towards his opponent he would reel his arms back and in a moment take a large step forward and then use the flat of his blade much like one would a bat.

There was enough force in that single swing send a single man flying. Either immediately backwards into the beam cannon's firing, or arcing up and over it, maybe sending him far back to harass the other troops. Or break his neck or just be stunned into silence. Sergei then took back up a proper fighting stance and waited for the moment when the ground was cool enough to walk over. Going down into a runners stance he would move through the lane which the aerial squadron and his own troops and the artillery had just cleared for him. He was overdue to see this Bradley face to face. After all no one got away with insulting his emperor and got away with it.

-Command Ship-
Arcerion's work was hardly done it seemed. After jettisoning the Delta's weaponry and keeping tabs on where his men and women were, the actual visuals were coming in from all over the battle field. Life signs within a certain APV had him interested, and visual confirmation of the Djinn woman coming through a gate to face off against Bradley as his craft went over head. Sergei's own bravado and the entrance of another bit of Celesin royal blood had him interested.

Then of course there was the fact that one of the titan things was attacking that agency building. He looked at it and watched as the crystalline fist came down upon the shielding that he had given to the agency. It wouldn't be enough to stop the whole of the fist but it would certainly slow it the hell down, maybe even bounce her back once she realized what was happening. What came after that was deliberate, all of the Agencies personal defenses that he had installed himself activated. Turrets and missile launchers firing heavy ordinances within the city. Continuing to fire at the thing until it was dead or driven off.

Don't misunderstand. He would of happily let them smash the building. It had served its purpose. But to his knowledge one of his families residence was still within the Agency. That singular Door to the Doctor's Office. Arcerion simply could not have his mother getting harmed. That was unacceptable. He rightfully couldn't divert his troops to go and protect something like that. If it continued he would certainly have to make an entrance for the nuisance now wouldn't he. After all he'd done the same thing when a young Fenris had spoken ill of his mate.

He would need to ask mother to move the door to someplace that served a more strategic purpose. Until then he would ready two of his nightmares. He would need eyes on the ground, one to watch over royalty and one to watch over a fight. After all, his word needed to be upheld. So with little more than the jettisoning of something from space down to the surface two smaller drop pods would land near their intended targets. Just a little bit of insurance after all.

[Tera]

Tera only gave a slight nod and a quick salute of hand over heart to Khooey at her thanks. As far as the Lieutenant was concerned she was just doing her job, the fact she thoroughly enjoyed that job was just another part of it. She tingled from head to toe, his arrival sending a shiver through her as she gazed at the expanse of lightning’s he had released. Their Lord Caden, arriving in the midst like a descending angel of vengeance. The bonding had taken quite strong in the Lieutenant, building off the admiration and attraction already there before she took the oaths. It seemed a more common occurrence in the Fulminis ranks that the women were Zealots, none more so than the Lieutenant however.

She watched the interaction between the Lord Primoris and Khooey with a tinge of jealousy before he turned and she was given her orders. The Lord Caden was going to fight in this battle, Tera barely kept herself from whistling through her teeth. She hadn’t expected that, perhaps it was because of the Legatus, but all hope was lost for the enemy forces now. Tera and her Havoc’s would just need to have what fun they could for the remainder.

Her Specter turned as did those of her squadron while Caden opened the Gateway. Ready to move through and lay waste to all before them. Celesin was a Military Empire, the Imperium’s might was second to none, even among the other Dra’sin. But it wasn’t the technology or the culture of a warrior society that made a Celesin Invasion or force so insurmountable. It was their Gateways, the Emperor Mesiphidon had first mastered their use, and ensured all parts within the Military had access to technology or means of utilizing Gateways. War above all was about creating advantage, and always having the capability of advantage in movement and position meant enemy commanders could never properly prepare or counter.

It didn’t matter how fortified their base was, where they were or how far. Walls, and Wards nothing could prepare them for the arrival of a Gateway. Especially one like Bradley who had never seen the like or had the knowledge of them. Gateways were unpredictable, there was very few ways to keep them from opening. And worse, unless you knew exactly, what to look for, when to look for it and where. The chance of you impeding or even knowing of its creation until after the troops had already arrived was slim to none.

This was the exact case in terms of Bradley and his men, they did not know about the Gateway’s, or its arrival. He had no preparations or true ways to know it was coming. Gateways required the ability to perceive spacial shifts beyond the current corporeality in order to detect them before the space suddenly opened. Especially since there was no change in energy on the exiting side of the Gateway. And since none in his army had displayed the ability of Spacial awareness, or the ability to actively subdue or maintain an area from a spacial anomaly.  Then there seemed to be little if anything in the way of defenses he could impose against a Gateway.

By the time Bradley and his men realized the Gateway had opened, Tera and her squad and likely the Ultonis were already moving through and opening fire. Ion Gatling’s came to life as her squad pushed forwards, shredding armor, and flesh alike into swiss cheese before they could even turn around.  They were the Vanguard to Khooey’s arrival, and she expected the Ultonis to fan out and use the advantage of their cloaking to wreak havoc among the enemies who likely wouldn’t be able to see them. Still however there was the problem of those cannons, the last set. ”We need to take those cannons out.” Unfortunately the bulk of troops here, made it difficult to get to the canons while keep Khooey safe, they would need to thin the heard a bit. Or hope that Caden could wrap his end quickly enough to come back.

”Double Collapsing Point, Phase two. Prep the bastards for our mud dwelling friends.” The Ultonis should be used to the Lieutenant’s names of endearment by now. She knew what their arrows could do. They just needed to make a clump. It was only a second after her command that Vinly and Aldra fired their Singularity Cannons again. The hollow thump echoed through the air as the darker than pitch spheres shot out in opposite directions at a 45 degree angle until they were roughly a quarter mile apart. A pulsing line of darkness suddenly linked the two and the gravity wells pulsed. Creating points of intense gravity that would draw in anyone nearby as the two points began to pull together.

The pull wasn’t as intense as the ones in the cannons such that it would crush Armor and flesh like a compressor, but more like a super vaccumm meant to draw all the bodies together. The effect was prolonged so that it could drag a vast quantity or troops and armor into a single pile in middle where the two met. Creating a prime target for the Ultonis and their bows. While the effect wasn’t immediately deadly as it was before, the pull was still tremendous, so resistance for anything but a giant was exceedingly difficult.  Tyne only smiled as she waited for the arrows to fly and the destruction to follow. Really the Alis did work best when working together with the other branches.

[Caden]

As the Primoris Fulminis blitzed through the ranks of soldiers at speeds that left a wake of air to stagger the unaware Caden utilized Force Projection to survey the field. Expanding his Core Magi out in a net to set feelers and expand his awareness. His plan required he knew exactly who to target, which meant it would take a few moments longer than he would have liked to act. Killing potential ally forces wasn’t the best way to conclude this battle, even if he was feeling particularly aggressive.

The Wind rippled the snow white cloak behind him which flapped as if for all the world in only a strong breeze. Around Caden as he moved was a shroud of air to negate the friction of his speeds. By using the very air he generated to create a small cocoon it not only protected him from burning up but also acted as quite the suitable deterrent to projectiles and shrapnel as they spun away from him deflected. More importantly however Caden laced the Air Shroud with his Magi and linked it to his natural Aegis. This further enhanced the shielding effects, but more importantly it created a charge that counter acted his inertia, allowing the Lord of Lightning to live up to his name sake, in not just being incredibly fast but exceptionally agile at such speeds. Without needing to counter the inertia of his movements he was capable of fluid motion at any speed. Rather it be altering direction or stopping all together. Perhaps luckily for those he passed he had not yet reached speeds which would have the Air Shroud crackling with electricity and shocking everything around him.

A single circuit of the field gave him all the information he needed, as he stopped for a moment to redirect, his change in direction caused another sonic boom and a shockwave as he took towards the very center of the field now. Caden’s Air Shround beginning to crackle as he finally utilized a small burst of Magi to enact Body Cascade and up his speed beyond its baseline maximum. Moving from the edge of the Western Flank to the triangulated center of the field in a manner of a seconds, having accelerated now well beyond the speed of sound.

As Caden reached the Central battlefield he leapt upwards, taking to the air in a nearly vertical ascent, before the air beneath his feet offered more cushion through use of Force Reaction to climb higher. He wouldn’t be quite the beacon yet, looking more like a firefly above the field as he finally came to a halt. Standing roughly 1300 feet in the air now, cloak still fluttering in the Air Shroud as he extended Iceheart, the White Gladius before him. The strokes of his arm slicing the air, leaving white blue shimmering lines as if the sword had become a calligraphy brush.  Around what was now evidently a Rune the air chilled as the lines were all but finished. A single point in the center of the Rune left unfilled as Caden nodded.

Other than the Dra’sin, there were none living that knew of the True Voice. The Language of Creation, all even the most learned of scholars would gather from what Caden had drawn was that it was old beyond old. A feeling of ancient power beyond human comprehension settling over them. But Caden’s Air Shroud suddenly took light as he filled himself to the brim with Core Magi, his shroud crackling, arcs of lightning striking out around him violently. Flipping Iceheart in his hand to a reverse grip, he pushed his hand towards the Rune causing it to begin rapidly expanding. Following the course of his arm he directed it beneath him. It would be impossible not to see the bright lines of white blue now. Though they were cold beyond cold it seemed they were not made of Energy, but Active Magi. Magi held in tension with a purpose, one of the only forms visible though not exactly readable by any form of instrument.

Night became lit as if by a massive lamp as the Rune expanded to cover the entirety of the battlefield. From North to South, East to West, the City amazingly once the Rune had expanded to full size seemed to have been drawn around. As if the Rune was created around the city, if Arc was watching from Orbit and had visual scanners there might be a glimmer of recognition given his research into the True Voice. But had he ever seen it actually used?

Green fire lit eyes gazed down with a fury that would kill a man in his tracks as he suddenly hurled Iceheart toward the Earth. The Rune following the Gladius' descent until the blade sunk to the hilt in the ground. The Rune suddenly carving itself into the ground in veins of ice as Caden spoke a quiet but clear note in a language very few would even begin to understand. ”Vorensi onsem tze” The Spoken word, tied to the written bonded the two, enforced its power and made Caden the conduit for the True Voice to manifest. The very air pulsed as if struck by a gong that no one could hear, the very fabric of reality throbbed as Primordial Magi was harnessed through the Primoris. Bringing the Voice to life, with one terribly devastating effect. To Freeze them all. Few if any would be able to escape, only those lucky few close to Bradley and those within the city limits were free of the Rune’s reach.

Through the Rune Caden’s intent guided the effect of freezing all enemies, not in the sense that they would stop for no reason. But for the fact that all those within the rune would have all heat drained from their body until near the point of absolute Zero. Flesh, metal, cloth armor whatever the material it didn’t matter. All would become frozen living matter. Terrifying, but it seemed the Fulminis was not quite done. He had only enacted the first half of the rune.

Standing in the air above the battlefield like the terrifying God of War that those who crossed a Primoris knew they were. Caden nearly snarled as he hurled the second sword to earth. The black blade of Stormrage laced with lightning as it drove into the missing point of the Rune.  The blade of the Gladius sinking to the hilt as did its twin as Caden spoke the second invocation. ”Fulmin’dore! The last spoken word echoed, and now the air trembled. Shaking with thunder as countless bolts of lightning struck up from the Rune. Targeted directly at every last frozen enemy target including the cannons and vehicles. The results were devastating. The reaction of the extreme heat of a lightning bolt meeting the impossible cold of the first phase would do as a typical extreme heat and cold reaction. Explode violently; but the absolute titanic difference in temperatures and the all but motionless state of matter for each of the targets meant not only would the bodies explode into countless pieces. But that the sudden jolt would scatter them like piles of ash.

As if getting frozen and then struck by lightning wasn’t quite enough. Unfortunately there was little Caden could do about any allies within close proximity of the lightning strikes. Hopefully the Dorian troops had some protection. The violence was quick and staggering, but unless stopped it ended it silence. The Sands and lower air now covered with the remains, which at this point would be falling snow.  At least their end was beautiful and not many could say they have seen snow in the desert. But he had handled the dregs, and it was up to Khooey now. The lightning around him beginning to eb as he whispered to himself. ”Be safe my love.”

[ALIS-Ultonis]

The Ultonis were not cut out for this kind of open warefare, they were a blade in the dark, not a flaming cudgel, or a hardened-shield. It was a testament to the training perhaps of each special branch of the ALIS that the Ultonis were even able to survive much less attack back when they were out of their considerably flexible element. The fly-boys were handling things quite adeptly on their shiny bikes. "Looks like the Pixies are setting something up." Barten spoke into his comm. The Ultonis had stuck together throughout the conflict, using the  Djinn Legatus as a rallying point and defending her throughout. The Ultonis had lost count on all that was going on, and had decided to focus on the immediate situation. Giants in the background, mutants, it was quite a bizarre and chaotic battle. They had to focus on the task at hand however.

If the gravity-well managed to draw the troops and Bradley together, the Ultonis with their bows drawn, and arrows nocked. Assumedly out of range of the gravity-well, and with their own grav-harnesses they would be able to leap far backwards and high upward as the cluster of enemies was formed, shooting before the full measure of troops would even be drawn in. Their arrows released, seeking to reign death from above, the gravitic-well drawing in the projectiles making them even quicker and more powerful. These were "FM-Arrows". A composite of static possibilities, that when brought together caused an unstable reaction of conflicting forces. Aimed at the ground rather than any particular troop, only two were released, while the Ultonis kept other arrows nocked just in case, not firing. Though if the group somehow survived the Ultonis and perhaps even the Fulminis would most likely be dumbfounded.

The Fused-Magi arrows, upon reaching the ground would cause an instability within a splash effect of primordial chaos, as the gravity-well that even the Fulminis had created was drawn into the fluxuations, compressing the effect, before even that was overwhelmed and a flare of something akin to "anti-matter" flashed into a 15 foot high, 40 foot wide geyser that then simply blinked out, intended to leave nothing in its wake but a smooth crater within the 40 foot radius and a strange prismatic tinted haze like rippling within the environment which would eventually fade.

[Khooey]

In that moment of approach Khooey had something occur to her— seemed Bradley had a lot of faith. Rumoured ruthlessness and tactical genius aside she could see it. Faith something something or someone would take her out, that his contingency plans would take care of her if the sword did not. Faith he could speak at her and expect her to stand and listen.

Faith she was the same animal he’d dealt with prior.

Her approach was only halted briefly for the cavalry to appear in front of her. They intercepted intended fire; razed the throngs of soldiers directed to slow her down or, surely, at least end her and the company she kept. All the while she remained on the forward path— and something began to broil under her feet. Thick black sludge-like plasma, semi conscious and suggesting shapes with faces emerged from licks of pale fire dancing along the sands and perpetually as if assisted by an unseen accelerant and all while curling harmlessly and no doubt unnoticed around the wheels or ankles of her allies. The Dwirgi made their appearance; spreading out exponentially like an oil slick traveling over water. Expanding from the Djinn in an inken wave.

The Djinn watched his mouth move; shouting at someone about God and deities. That narcissistic core of him fully offended by the audacity to mention other deities in his presence. He needed to be toppled and badly— it was fitting in her eyes that she’d be the one to do it. . Said faith would no doubt be shaken once his sheath would ignite on contact with the strangely hued flame; bursting into ash as it careened into her shoulder. No movement had been made to block the object as there was no need. Not in her current state.

Bradley and his faith acting as one were a mistake of epic proportions as they had resulted in the assumption she only meant to use the sword at any point. The Dwirgi did not wait for him to speak either; those forms erupting from the sands— vaguely human shapes of ebony sludge, pinpoints of iris light shining within their shadows and folds— their purchase on Bradley would near immediate; oily  digits with hooked tips accosting him from all angles and assuredly disrupting his focused and furious approach to the Djinn. The tightness of their grip was worse than binding by rope; quickly making to pull him taught by each limb with hundreds of chitinous hands.

They whispered to him. It was unintelligible.  And perhaps one murmur did cry ’Homunculous….’, which would drown away in the midst of his vocalizing. And then Caden's attack struck.

Khooey's intentions had formerly been to follow through with the blade and yet her instincts shifted; the natural inclination to attack just as her father Bahst would leading her to instead take on the groundswell of energy suddenly introduced to her via the
Dwirgi-- which were effectively conduits both for energies and the 'Other side'.

The feedback from the lightening churned through her along with the Dwirgi-- and it would exit again as a true inferno. Columns of Ifriti fire burning closer in temperatures to plasma rather than simple flame; incinerating anything in its wake and erupting wherever the Dwirgi  had traveled or concentrated.

Including Bradley.

The columns reached high; pillars of strange light and intense heat brightening the sky again and only moments after the Fulminis' incantation. Glass erupted from each point of contact per the sands and soon sagged against its own weight while rapidly cooling in the night air.

The Djinn stood  after, still prepared. Still burning white-hot with borrowed fuel.[/i]

[TheHomunculi]

-To the South-

The soldiers piled on high as they attempted to take out the one man wrecking crew that was Prince Sune'ere Dra'sin of the Celesin Empire.

The frost had come all too quickly as the unnatural coldness kicked in. Unfortunately for the troops, they were unable to feel anything of the sort. They were souls bound to suits of armor. They had no feelings of any sort. No sensations. With time, they had been able to learn proper movements without overdoing it. But their lack of sensations besides sight and hearing made some matters difficult.

Freezing to death might have been a worse death if the Iron Infantry had humanoid bodies. But the sound of ice breaking off as the ice fragments ricocheted inside of the bodies of the soldiers certainly got their attention. Unfortunately for them, they would all have been unable to respond properly to the simultaneous piercings of those sigils. One by one, the many tall armored bodies of the Iron Infantry fell. Some letting out cries of indignation and surprise. Only one, the one nearest to the Prince, would react in something close to desperation. The right arm reached out, the palm opening in a grabbing gesture, to the Prince.

"P-Please!"

The voice was metallic but begging all the same. And young as some of the others were bound to have been. The white glow of what had been the eyes of the soldier faded along with the rest of the small grouping of the troops. The arm going slack as the armor landed with a thud on its back. All of the armors laying before Sune'ere motionless. Their souls had been released by their seals being torn through. Were they dead? Did their souls leave and transcend to a higher plane of existence after death? Or did they simply go into a void of non-existence? Regardless, Prince Sune'ere had completed his objective of dismantling the southern flank.

-The Acolytes-

They had been allowed into the sanctuary without much convincing needed. But all the same, they still had quite a problem to try and handle. Unfortunately for them, they were unable to detect an energy source by themselves. They were humans after all. A lowly group of beings, but still capable of much on their own. And they had been given strict instructions on how to proceed as of now.
They weren't keen on sensing energy, but they were quick to notice how the enemy forces were gathered. A large group of the soldiers had gathered around a barracks of some sort. It had gotten the attention of the acolytes who had gathered within the barrier. Many of the acolytes had found one another and moved in small packs around the safe zone. But it was the barracks that had caught their attention. Along with the many soldiers who were positioned around it.

In truth, they could wait for some other moment to attack. But.....they had been given specific instructions. The Master wanted the shield dropped so that he may handle what was left of Nexxian's populace for himself. They were merely servants. Bound to abide by his rule and law. They would do what they must to secure their goal. One of the students moved along the crowds towards the many troops. The student was garbed like many of the others with a cloak and school uniform. There was a look of uncertainty on his face as he approached the group. In fact he looked more than pained as he collapsed before the soldiers face first into the pavement. It would likely surprise the troops. Was the student dehydrated? Had he inhaled too much smoke? Or was it something else? Regardless, if those soldiers came to assist, the student would be gasping for breath as he brought his right hand up to grasp the ankle of the first soldier before him. And even if he were nudged or kicked, the student would not budge as he just grasped harder onto the soldier's ankle and used it to pull himself upward. "For the Motherland!!!" The scream heard from the student as the transmutation was activated by the bright red glow from the red ring on that right hand. The alchemic energies coursing through the soldier as he'd feel his insides on fire. The white glow permeating his entire being and likely blinding the others. It was likely he would be gunned down. But it would matter little. The soldier who had been picked or had gotten closest first would feel the change. The insides of his body clenching as it became harder to breathe. Sweat comign from the brow as it felt like his insides were on literal fire. And finally, the explosion that ended it all.

The large group of soldiers would likely lose many numbers as the students swarmed. More trinkets and alchemical runes activating as the strike force moved in. Two students bringing palms together as their rings glowed. The alchemcial process was, of course, the one performed by the Iron Infantry. The bringing of energies together and causing a friction between the two opposing forces until finally they caused a yellow blast of energy. This time two blasts came from two of those alchemists. The blasts burning along the pavement until finally finding the barracks and any other soldiers that might be inside. The walls would be torn through and possibly injuring any soldiers inside. Other alchemists were quick to disrupt the pavement and concrete beneath their feet. The destruction of the stone paths meaning a large cloud of dust. But no doubt, the explosions would catch the attention of any soldiers who were not at the barracks. The large dust bowl would conceal the students, soldiers, and any citizens nearby.

One of the students, the one who Van had spoken too, moved in with precision in the confusion. Moving to find one of the injured soldiers who was bound to be in the way of the blast but also survive. "Where...." The leader moved in with a knife out. A look of pure apathy on the face of the young man as he gazed down at whatever wounded soldier he could find. "Where is the device projecting this shield? And how do we stop it? Answer and I promise to perform medical alchemy on you."

-The South Western Troops-

The cavalry had unfortunately been halted by the combined forces of the Celesin and Dorian soldiers. They had struggled to find their way to the city but were halted by not only the forces of Nexxian, but also their allies. And they had thought that perhaps they could have gone about going into the city another way.....unfortunately the bombardment came for the rear forces that could have assisted.

Combined with the sudden thundering boom from the skies above, things were for certain not going well for the army. The further bombardments, this time from the aerial squadrons of the Dorian Empire, were paving a path for one pecuilar soldier through the midst of it all. The ground forces were completely stuck in their positions however.

The artillery came for them all. And they were sitting ducks who could not move further to assist their comrades. Indeed, they had been taken off guard and were left to rot, or rust in the case of the Iron Infantry, and die.

The aerial forces were doing all they could to maneuver around the rounds that the enemy were firing from below. The illuminating rounds were doing their job right and the aerial squads had started to raise their altitude in response. A higher altitude would mean that they came down a lot faster. Unfortunately, they were bound to stall sooner or later. The aerial forces, a good solid force still despite whatever deaths that were happening from the wall troops firing upon them, would eventually start to stall.

"NOW!" The barked command came from one commander who suddenly went for a nose dive with his aerial troops. The other squads followed suit as they went for that nose dive to try and descend past the walls. Their lowering altitude had given them the necessary speed to ZOOM past those walls and head into the city. Their forces had dwindled down from being gunned down but still they tried to enter the city. Their destination not being the burning buildings but instead to where the large mass of Nexxian citizens were bound for.

"!" They move through that air as best as they could. Splitting apart from left to right as they sought to spread out. The coming storm had been a surprise with the rain. Snowing in a desert seemed uncommon and unnatural for any desert folk to witness.

It wasn't until the lightning descended for them, that the aerial squads realized they were well and truly fucked. They were caught within the range unfortunately. This had been their last chance to get through what remained of those walls and enter the city. But in truth, it had all been for naught. The Celesin Prince had brought hell down upon them all. Combined with the stationery artillery that had descended on the group forces, it meant that their ground and air forces had been simultaneously taken out by a combination of Celesin and Dorian forces. They were fried and all screamed in agony from it all. The voltages causing them to seize up and some even exploding with the gas canisters that were on their persons as they flew. While the Delta's had their cannons to utterly destroy the ground forces, Prince Caden's lightning strike would handle both the ground and air forces.

For the ground forces, the soldiers were spread out along the desert. Their numbers clammering together as they struggled for one last stand against the more powerful enemy force. The soldier had rushed for Sergei as fast as a hollow armor could that was swinging a sword. The Iron Infantryman had thought that he could take Sergei Deker and end it there and then. He was sorely mistaken. The soldier had paused when his blade was gripped and, instead, he was THROWN away like some rabble. And due to his size, the soldier had surely thought he would have a better chance. Instead, he was just another nock under this Commander's belt.

Elsewhere, another large soldier had engaged the group of Delta's that had formed up. They were of a dangerous sort. But they would be hard to handle as a result. With some confusion, one of them decided to blurt that he was a bird. It had confused the soldier momentarily as they engaged in battle. And, like so many others, the Iron Infantry soldier was defeated.

But what came before the snow and lightning was frightening. An energy blast unlike any other from a metallic weapon. It had been primed and ready to go and it had spread out for five miles flat. Destroying everything its wake as soldiers alike were posted up. The blast soon enough consumed the soldier who had sought to engage these Delta's in a last stand like all the others before him. Paving the way for Sergei Deker and his foursome entourage to head towards the opposing Commander. The other Delta's firing their close quarter beams only further destroying the army that sought to enter the city by force. Perhaps the blasts would be more than enough to destroy the army. Perhaps when those staffs were activated and flesh was torn apart by the weapons and maybe even metal ripped to shreds, the army would be done for. Their numbers were suppose to be great. How could this have happened.

Perhaps the lightning was unneeded. But all the same, the lightning from above churned through whatever was left and assure the destruction of, what possibly, could have been a force of good under a set of different circumstances. Screams of agony and sorrow came from the ground as the forces were assaulted at all sides. They were unable to fight back. Perhaps weaker men might have surrendered. But they were never offered that opportunity. Instead, they were meant to die. None would know their stories or pain. None would know or care of the torture they had received. They were a footnote on this historic day.
This was the end for them all. They had been soldiers of misfortune. Their destinies taken from them and twisted by a corrupted false lifeform. Perhaps, ironically, with their deaths they would finally find the peace that had been taken from them by Van Hohenheim.

-Bradley-

The soldiers had been caught unawares it seemed. The gateway that was used apparently could not be noticed by any who was not keen to sensing such other worldly events. An unfortunate event. It was likely that they were going to lose the day. But even so, these soldiers would give it their all in a last desperate move as they sought to try and use their gun fire on the opposing forces. They had already been prepared for some combat due to the fighting that had taken place to their rear. However they did not expect teleportation of any sort from their enemies. They had been unprepared.

The gravity well hit them soon enough. The many soldiers who were lined up and spread outward across that base were soon enough pulled back. The force was undeniable and many were caught unawares and pulled together. Some even fired on accident by pulling their triggers. Regardless, they were all getting pulled together.

The arrow struck and, soon enough, what was left of the army was eradicated. Nothing left in the wake of the attack. They struggled and tried to move but flesh and metal were bound to their positions. Some cried out for help, but to no avail. The soldiers had been damned the moment that their opponents had used superior tech against them.

The cannons that were assembled at the base of the hill were still not damaged just yet. In fact, when the sounds of what could only be combat at their rear, combined with the lightning display  the alchemists atop of those cannons needed to think and fast. "Readjust!" screamed one of the soldiers who was quick to transmute the cannon he was atop of. The long barrel was lowering some and the others would soon follow suit. Their aim was not for the city no longer but more to the closer structure. To the walls......and soon enough towards the forces that were between them and the city. It was a final desperate attempt.

King Bradley himself, however, was on the move. He had been moving in on Khooey's location. It was unlikely that he would be caught up with his soldiers in the gravity well that they had set up for them. However.....complications arose. As they always did in these kinds of situations.

The King did not slow in his move for her. The fire had been seen and the sheath he had thrown as a projectile weapon had been incinerated. It appeared that Khooey had learned from her past mistakes in seeking to face Bradley with just arms. In truth, Bradley handled himself all too well with just blades. But when it came to the metaphysical, he would find himself outmatched in a battle he was unable to contend in. His brow had furrowed and suddenly the surprise attack came. Bradley, however, was not one to be taken by surprise. He was one to react to any threats that arrived. The first of the beasts that emerged from the sand up might be surprised by the sudden swiftness of the blade coming through its wrist. The others sought to enclose him. The blade swooshed through the air at frightening speeds as the oily demons struggled against him. The speed at which he moved was damn near super human. A slice along the midsection. A stab and tearing up through the shoulder blade. Bradley was a demon in human flesh. The man pivoted and tore through the thralls all too easily as he continued to move for his opponent. Their grips might be tough to break from, but Bradley's speed was uncanny and his skill with the blade deadly. He would tear through them all too get to his prey.

But then the lightning came for them all.

In another time, Bradley would need to have a certain sense of pride for what it would take to defeat him finally. In his duels against other opponents, his raw power had always been overwhelming for his opponent. And Khooey herself knew just how dangerous Bradley could be, considering she had her comrade's weapon plunged into her the last time that they had battled. If not for that particular comrade, Bradley would have killed her then and there on that road outside of that tavern.

The Homunculus slices through the oily monstrosities with an ease unlike any other when he sees it. The inferno descends toward  him in no time at all. His eye is wide and he realizes he must move. Now.

He turns then, a burst of speed coming forth after slicing through the arms of these beasts, as he flanks the large blast that was tall but not as wide. Ten to fifteen or so feet of width was what he estimated for the blast. But even so, Bradley himself was a torrent of speed as he moves past it to his right. His eye flickers across that field as the blast no doubt connects with whatever remained of the beasts she had sent his way. The heat from the tall explosion causes even him to sweat from his brow. But he does not falter. Not even for a moment. He would need to adapt and fast. His left hand reaches for under that coat of his as he sought to continue his pursuit. A single item was dropped as Bradley moved as fast as he could for the Djinn. A pin. A grenade.

The Homunculus was armed to the teeth indeed.

The style was most certainly old as the Homunculus revealed the grenade. The explosive was a stick hand grenade now held in his left hand. The pin had been pulled and now the Homunculus brought his left arm back before chugging it forward to his prey. To Khooey precisely. It might come as a surprise to the Djinn but she may not even recognize the projectile that was being thrown her way. The design was likely a foreign one and outdated. The Homunculus had a plan however. With her likely to turn and fire on the projectile, the concussive force was bound to send her staggering backwards. And with that done, Bradley would move in for the kill. His blade at the ready as his left hand rose up to grasp at the strap of his eyepatch. Quickly, he sought to pull it over head and reveal what was hidden underneath.

The Ultimate Eye. A tool he had not used since before his first, and only, fight against Angelo Zerephan. Indeed it was time to pull out all the stops against the Djinn.

He couldn't bear to focus on anything else. Not his dying men. Not the battle raging in the city that had ended in pain and misery for all. Not the troops he had trained for countless months being destroyed in the desert due to the lightning storm. All of it......all of that didn't matter if he just succeeded in killing the one who thought herself above him. The one who thought herself able to kill him.

With the concussive force likely sending Khooey back, Bradley moved in that burst of speed to close the distance from her left. His blade coming up as he sought to go for her left side. He aimed to try and take off a limb and perhaps even a fatal cut would do. Regardless, he was moving in and fast to go for the kill.

It was time to end this. Once and for all.

(Merry Christmas. Yes. I'm a horrible person.)

[Annie Leonhardt]

The many Titans that had been brought upon the city were decreasing in numbers, but that was fine. They had all served their purpose to the cause. They had helped destroy many of the buildings around them, kill and eat any civilians stupid enough to stay behind, as well as take out as many soldiers as possible. That was, until their weakness had been found. But they were still keeping eyes off of her. All but one.

The fist had gone down once, planning on taking out the Agency building she had been tasked to do with before all was said and done. However, she had not been informed that this place came with such high defense. Her fist made contact with what seemed like a barrier, one she could not see, and caused her to move back a little. The large Female Titan's eyes narrowed as she stared the building down, unhappy with her results. The crystallized fist should have broken through the unknown barrier, the crystallizing had never failed her before. But she needed to remember that she wasn't in her world anymore. This place's science and technology was far beyond that of her world's own.

Stubborn though, the Female Titan drew her arm back up into the air, the fist still crystallized and ready to strike once more. However, in mid-strike, the Female Titan ceased her attack and turned her attention to an object that was coming straight for her.

"!!"

She'd forget all about attacking the Agency building any longer and instead, moved to dodge one of the attacks that had been launched right at her before getting back up onto her feet. There was no reason for her to stick around any longer. She had done when she was told to do and at this point, she was on her own to save herself.

Before any of the other launched attacked could make their way to where she stood by the Agency building, the Female Titan took off in a sprint, going as fast as she could. She was running away from the launched attacks, away from the Agency, and away from the huge battle that had been waged upon the city. It was all up to Bradley and his troops now.

With no one else after her, the Female Titan continued to run from the turret and missile launchers that had been pointed at her, and hopefully flee from the city and back into the desert in the opposite direction she had appeared from.

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