Attacking the City

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the sky burned in hues of orange and crimson. A deep rumble echoed across the barren landscape as nearly 50,000 soldiers boarded massive trucks and rugged SUVs. The convoy stretched for miles, a steel serpent winding its way toward war.

These trucks were not ordinary vehicles—they were hastily manufactured using the ship-building machine. Iris had modified its programming to construct land-based transport as well. How she had done it remained a mystery. Sanjay didn't ask. He knew by now—his AI was different.

Hacking modern technology was one thing. Breaking into future-world systems, designed with layers of encryption and failsafes, was another. Any corporation worth its salt would have locked down their machines to prevent unauthorized use. Yet, here they were—rolling into battle with an army equipped by a repurposed shipyard.

But that wasn't his concern right now. There were bigger problems at hand.

Sanjay exhaled, glancing at his augmented arm. He still didn't understand the full extent of his modifications. The battlefield wasn't the place for self-discovery, but every skirmish brought him closer to unlocking his potential. He needed more time to research, but for now, survival came first.

A thousand trucks roared to life, engines growling like beasts as they surged forward. Packed with soldiers, weapons, and rations, the convoy barreled toward Rivenspire City.

Inside a heavily fortified truck, Sanjay sat across from Navin, who monitored the surveillance equipment. Sanjay didn't need it—his interface fed him real-time data. But Navin, as the commander, required every possible advantage.

The convoy moved swiftly, kicking up thick clouds of dust that billowed into the night air. Along the way, scattered groups of bandits caught sight of the approaching force. Panic spread like wildfire. Silhouetted against the twilight, the trucks resembled massive creatures stampeding through the darkness. The bandits didn't dare attack—they scattered, vanishing into the wilderness.

Hours later, Rivenspire's towering walls came into view. Sanjay stepped out, boots crunching against dry earth. His interface zoomed in, mapping the entire area in intricate detail. Soldiers patrolled the ramparts, oblivious to the storm about to crash down on them. The city was a fortress, its defenses solid, its forces nearly 100,000 strong. Whoever controlled Rivenspire controlled the gateway to the nation.

Sanjay's voice was calm but firm. "Iris, scan the entire area. I want a full tactical map."

Drones whirred through the air, invisible against the night sky. Within moments, a detailed map appeared on his interface—barracks, armories, patrol routes, even the mayor's mansion. Every weak point laid bare.

He studied the layout. "Inform the special forces. Target the city gates, the wall's corners, and the towers. Bring them down."

Black-clad soldiers slipped from the trucks, their night-vision goggles reflecting the dim glow of the city. Silent and efficient, they took position, aiming their rocket launchers.

A sharp whistle sliced through the air. Then—

"BOOM!"

The first missile struck the massive steel-reinforced wooden gate. The explosion sent shockwaves through the ground, splintering the structure into a storm of twisted metal and flaming debris.

More rockets screamed toward their targets. The watchtowers shuddered under the impact, chunks of stone crumbling like brittle paper. Flames erupted along the walls, casting erratic shadows over the battlefield.

Sanjay didn't hesitate. "Everyone, move in!"

Engines roared. Trucks and SUVs surged forward, spilling soldiers into the ruined entrance. Perched atop the vehicles, gunners unleashed controlled bursts of fire, cutting down defenders before they could react.

"THUD!"

A section of the wall gave way, collapsing in a cloud of dust and fire.

Sanjay rode in one of the leading SUVs, gripping his rifle. The soldiers under his command had trained relentlessly, adapting to firearms with ruthless efficiency. The enemy, on the other hand, still relied on swords and bows.

Archers scrambled atop the remaining walls, desperately nocking arrows. But they were too slow.

Another volley of rockets tore through their ranks, reducing them to scattered corpses before they could loose a single shot.

Ammunition was no concern. Thanks to Iris hacking a 3D printer, they had an endless supply of weapons, bullets, and armor. It wasn't cutting-edge tech, but mid-22nd-century firepower was more than enough to dominate this battlefield.

Horses burst from the city gates, cavalry charging in a desperate counterattack.

They didn't make it far.

Gunfire ripped through the riders, sending them tumbling from their saddles. The battlefield was theirs.

One by one, the vehicles pushed deeper into the city. Soldiers disembarked, sweeping through the streets, eliminating any remaining opposition.

Chaos consumed the mayor's mansion.

Shouts rang through the grand halls as officers sprinted in all directions, their footsteps pounding against polished marble. The air was thick with panic, the crackling of radio static mixing with frantic voices.

The mayor's furious voice cut through the noise like a blade. "What the hell is going on?"

An officer stumbled forward, his chest heaving. "Sir, we're under attack! The city wall—it's been breached!"

The mayor's face twisted with rage. He grabbed the officer by the collar and yanked him close. "How did they break through so fast? And why am I hearing about both the attack and the breach at the same damn time?"

The officer swallowed hard, his face pale. "Sir… they broke through in minutes."

Minutes? The word sent a chill down the mayor's spine. That was impossible. The walls of Rivenspire had withstood sieges for decades. His mind raced for an explanation, but then he heard it—the deep, rolling thunder. Except there was no storm. The sound rumbled through the city, steady and relentless. It was growing closer.

"Who's attacking us?" he demanded, his voice tight.

"We don't know, sir. They're heavily armed and wearing strange uniforms."

The mayor cursed under his breath and shoved the officer away. His hands trembled, but he forced himself to stay composed. "Where is the commander?"

"He's at the front lines, sir."

The mayor almost laughed. "Front lines? The wall is gone! There are no front lines left!"

A deep dread coiled in his stomach. If the enemy had torn through the city's strongest defenses so quickly, what chance did the mansion have?

His instincts screamed at him—run. 

He had built this mansion with an escape plan in mind. Beneath it, a network of tunnels stretched far beyond the city walls, designed for emergencies exactly like this.

But before he could act, the thunderous sound grew deafening. The ground trembled. 

His gut twisted. Was the mansion under attack too? No… impossible. He had ten thousand soldiers stationed here. That had to be enough.

Didn't it?

A few minutes earlier...

Sanjay crouched on the rooftop of a nearby building, his sharp gaze sweeping over the battlefield. In the distance, the mayor's mansion loomed—the heart of the city's power, heavily guarded by thousands of soldiers.

His interface flashed. The commander was still inside.

He exhaled, tightening his grip on the advanced Desert Eagle in his hand. Without hesitation, he sprinted forward, leaping from rooftop to rooftop with practiced ease. Every movement was precise, every landing calculated. Below, enemies patrolled the streets, unaware of the silent predator above them.

His gun barked, and one by one, they fell—clean shots, no wasted bullets. The scent of gunpowder mixed with the cold night air as he pushed forward, closing in on the mansion.

Stopping on the final rooftop, he took in the sheer number of soldiers guarding the estate. Ten thousand men stood in rigid formation, their armor gleaming under the torchlight.

He vanished for a brief moment. When he reappeared, he held a weapon far deadlier than before—a multi-barrel machine gun, a relic from the late 21st century, capable of unleashing a storm of 15,000 rounds per minute.

He pulled the trigger.

A deafening roar erupted as bullets rained down like a steel storm, cutting through the soldiers like a reaper's scythe. His combat assistance system guided each shot with deadly precision, calculating trajectories and eliminating threats before they could react.

Chaos unfolded. Some scrambled for cover behind iron shields, but the bullets shredded through them like paper. Others tried to flee, only to be gunned down before they could take a step.

In less than a minute, the once-formidable army was reduced to silence.

Sanjay let the machine gun fall to the rooftop with a heavy clatter. He drew his pistol, vaulted over the edge, and landed effortlessly. A handful of wounded soldiers staggered to their feet, swords raised in trembling hands.

They never got the chance to strike.

His shots were swift, efficient. One by one, they collapsed.

Silence fell over the courtyard.

Sanjay stepped over the bodies and entered the mansion. The dimly lit hallways stretched ahead, shadows flickering along the walls. His interface illuminated the path, marking a single moving target—

The mayor.

Sanjay's eyes narrowed. He already knew where the man was going.

Deep within the mansion, the mayor stumbled through a hidden passage, his breath ragged. His trembling hands fumbled against the stone wall, searching for the entrance to the underground tunnels—his only escape.

Then, a gunshot.

Pain exploded in his leg, and he collapsed with a strangled cry.

"Ahhh!"

Footsteps echoed through the passage, slow and deliberate.

The mayor clawed at the floor, forcing himself to turn. His breath hitched as he saw the figure approaching—Sanjay, his gun trained steadily on him.

Terror seized his chest. "P-Please… don't kill me! I have money! A fortune! I can give you anything you want! I—I can serve you! Like a dog! Just spare me!"

Sanjay's expression didn't waver. He had seen too many men like this—those who ruled through fear, treating lives as disposable. He knew how many had suffered under this man's greed. How many had been killed, enslaved, violated.

He didn't need to hear more.

A single shot ended it.

As the mayor's lifeless body slumped to the ground, Sanjay exhaled slowly. There was no satisfaction in this—only necessity.

The nobles of this empire were corrupt to the core, wielding power without restraint, treating their people as nothing more than cattle.

When given the chance to end such filth, he would take it.

Every time.

Elsewhere on the battlefield, another fight was reaching its climax.

Amidst the blood-soaked ground and scattered bodies, two commanders remained standing. The world around them had faded—there were no soldiers left to command, no orders left to give. Only the clash of their swords remained.

Nirav tightened his grip on his weapon, his knuckles white. Across from him stood his opponent—a seasoned warrior, his armor battered, his face hardened by countless battles. They had fought their way through the chaos, and now, only one of them would walk away.

The enemy commander struck first. His blade sliced through the air in a lethal arc, aimed straight for Nirav's neck. Instinct took over. Nirav twisted his body, barely dodging the deadly swing. The moment his feet touched the ground, he retaliated—a sharp, precise strike aimed at the enemy's exposed ribs.

Steel met steel. Sparks erupted as their swords clashed, ringing through the battlefield like the toll of a bell. Their movements blurred—each attack met with a counter, each strike testing the limits of the other's skill.

Nirav's breaths were controlled, his focus unshaken. He studied his opponent's stance, noting the slight hesitation in his swings, the brief falter in his footwork. The man was slowing, his strength waning with each exchange.

Then Nirav saw it—the opening he had been waiting for.

With a swift twist, he locked his enemy's blade and drove his knee into the man's gut. The commander stumbled back, gasping, his balance momentarily lost.

Nirav didn't hesitate.

He surged forward, his sword a blur of silver. The blade pierced through the commander's armor, sinking deep into his chest. A sharp gasp escaped the man's lips, his eyes widening in shock.

For a moment, silence hung between them.

Then the enemy collapsed to his knees, his strength leaving him in a final exhale. Nirav pulled his sword free, the crimson-stained steel glinting in the dim light.

He watched as his opponent crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

Victory was his—but there was no celebration. Only the weight of another life taken, another enemy fallen.

P.S.: I'm working on another book titled I Carry a World in the Zombie Apocalypse. Come take a look and support me!