"Unusual Phenomenon: Forest Drake Rampage I"

Snake Calendar, Year 2025

28th Day of September, Sunday

Somewhere in the Inner Part of the Verdant Hollow

Fortified and Reinforced Stronghold 8th

The Inner Zone of the Verdant Hollow was a bastion of order amidst chaos. Its eight Fortified and Reinforced Strongholds, built long before the Outer Strongholds, stood as indomitable sentinels of the wilderness. Each stronghold had its own Commander, seasoned in the art of warfare and system combat. Among them was Commander Astrid Frostwarden, a sniper specialist whose neural command skill, 'One Shot, One Kill,' had earned her a reputation as one of the most precise marksmen in the region. For more than five years, she had defended this stronghold with her battalion.

Today, however, unease rippled through the Inner Zone.

Commander Astrid stood atop the observation tower of her stronghold, her silver hair reflecting the morning sun. Her sharp eyes scanned the horizon as her battalion worked below, their movements disciplined and efficient. Soldiers sharpened their blades, checked their rifles, and recited incantations to prepare their magic. Despite the clear skies, the air was heavy with tension.

"Commander," called her second-in-command, Lieutenant Orin Valek. He approached, his face grim. "We've received reports of unusual activity in the Inner and Core Zones. Monsters and beasts are becoming unnaturally active, and energy readings are steadily rising."

Astrid frowned, her grip tightening on the edge of the tower's railing. "Have the scouts been dispatched?"

"Yes, ma'am. All eight strongholds have sent their best teams."

"Good," Astrid said. "Notify the other Commanders. This could escalate quickly."

Hours Later

The first reports came in, and they were dire. Of the scouts sent into the Core Zone, half had been killed, their bodies torn apart by berserk monsters. The survivors returned with one chilling piece of information: a rampaging Forest Drake had been spotted deep within the Core Zone. Its energy was so immense that it was driving nearby beasts into a frenzy, enhancing their strength and aggression.

Astrid gathered her officers in the war room. A large map of the Verdant Hollow lay on the table, marked with areas of heightened monster activity.

"The Forest Drake is amplifying the stats of the monsters around it," Astrid explained, her voice steady but firm. "This is no ordinary beast. If we don't act now, the monsters will overrun the Inner Zone and threaten the Outer Zone. We must eliminate this threat."

Her officers nodded grimly.

Lieutenant Valek leaned forward, tapping the map. "We'll need a coordinated attack. All eight strongholds will deploy their battalions to encircle the Core Zone and strike simultaneously."

Astrid met his gaze. "Then let's not waste time. Send the orders. Every soldier needs to suit up."

The March to Battle

A thunderous sound filled the Inner Zone as 8,000 soldiers marched out from the strongholds, their footsteps shaking the earth. Each battalion moved with precision, their ranks bristling with swords, shields, rifles, machine guns, and magical staves. Spells of protection shimmered faintly around them, cast by mages walking among the troops.

Astrid led her battalion at the forefront. Her sniper rifle, sleek and deadly, rested on her back. She addressed her soldiers, her voice amplified by magic.

"This is not just another mission," she declared. "We face a Forest Drake, a creature of immense power. But remember this: we are the shield that protects the Verdant Hollow. We are the sword that strikes down chaos. Stand firm, fight with honor, and we will prevail!"

A chorus of cheers erupted from the soldiers, their morale bolstered by her words.

The First Engagement

As the battalions entered the Core Zone, the air grew thick with the oppressive energy radiating from the Forest Drake. The ground trembled, and the roars of berserk monsters echoed through the trees.

The first wave of enemies struck without warning. Dozens of Lesser Ogres and Dire Wolves charged from the underbrush, their eyes glowing red with madness. The soldiers reacted instantly.

"Shields up!" bellowed a captain. A wall of shields formed, bracing against the onslaught.

The Dire Wolves leaped at the front line, only to be impaled by spears or shot down by rifle fire. The Lesser Ogres smashed into the shields, their immense strength pushing soldiers back.

"Mages, now!" shouted Lieutenant Valek.

Fireballs and lightning bolts rained down on the Ogres, scorching their flesh and forcing them to retreat. Archers and snipers picked off stragglers with pinpoint accuracy.

Astrid climbed onto a rocky outcrop, her rifle in hand. She aimed at a particularly large Ogre charging toward a group of soldiers.

"One shot, one kill," she whispered. Her neural commands activated, and her bullet pierced the Ogre's skull. The creature collapsed mid-charge, dead before it hit the ground.

Casualties Begin to Mount

Despite their discipline, the soldiers were not unscathed. A Dire Wolf broke through the front line, mauling a young soldier before being slain by a sword strike. A Lesser Ogre's club shattered a shield, sending its wielder flying. Medics rushed to treat the wounded, their healing spells glowing softly as they worked.

"Medic! Over here!" a soldier cried, cradling his injured comrade.

"Stay with me," the medic said, pressing glowing hands to the soldier's chest. The wounds began to close, but the soldier's face remained pale. "We need to get him out of here."

The battle raged on, and the first wave of monsters was finally repelled. But the cost was high—500 soldiers lay dead or too injured to continue.

Aftermath of the First Wave

The surviving soldiers regrouped, their faces grim. Astrid walked among them, her presence a steadying force.

"We've lost good men and women," she said, her voice heavy. "But we cannot falter. This is only the beginning. The Forest Drake is still out there, and we have to stop it."

A soldier approached her, saluting despite the blood on his armor. "Commander, what are your orders?"

Astrid's gaze hardened. "We press on. Reinforce the front lines, and prepare for the next attack. This battle isn't over until the Forest Drake falls."

As the battalions advanced deeper into the Core Zone, the tension grew. The energy radiating from the Forest Drake intensified, and the sound of its roars echoed like thunder. The soldiers tightened their grips on their weapons, knowing that the worst was yet to come.