Chapter 39

The night air hangs heavy, a suffocating stillness broken only by the mournful wail of the wind. A sickening crimson glow stains the horizon, the telltale sign of burning wreckage, a trail left by the advancing horror.

The earth trembles beneath me, a constant, unsettling vibration from the weight of an army that defies all natural laws.

Maximus, a figure of pure terror, stands at the forefront.

His imposing form, encased in reinforced tactical armor, commands the legion of the damned.

The red targeting lenses of his mask pierce the darkness, surveying the battlefield before him. Behind him, the Legion of Undeads march in perfect, horrifying formation.

These aren't the shambling corpses of old tales; they are engineered abominations, reanimated soldiers clad in combat gear, their rotting flesh augmented with cold, unfeeling cybernetics.

Their weapons gleam under the pale moonlight, their purpose clear: to obliterate everything in their path.

Ahead, Dawn Fortress looms, a bastion of steel and concrete, its automated turrets scanning the approaching nightmare. It has weathered countless assaults, but I know, deep in my gut, this is its final stand.

Inside Dawn Fortress

I grip the railing of the command tower, my knuckles white as I watch the approaching threat. I prepared for this, but the sheer, overwhelming scale of Maximus's force makes my stomach churn. He's thrown everything he has at us. He intends to eradicate us completely.

Dylan, beside me, adjusts the sights on his rifle.

"They're bringing in armored units. The undead are reinforced with exo-suits." His voice is tight, strained.

"This isn't just an attack. It's extermination."

I exhale sharply. "Then we fight like we have nothing left to lose."

I activate the fortress-wide comms.

"All units, battle stations. Non-combatants, evacuate to the underground shelters.

Gunners, prepare the Gatling turrets. Snipers, take your positions. Engineers, reinforce the perimeter barricades. We will not fall tonight."

The fortress erupts in a frenzy of activity. Soldiers sprint to their stations, loading armor-piercing rounds into their weapons.

Automated defenses whir to life, targeting the first wave of abominations. Spotlights illuminate the battlefield, revealing the grotesque faces of the charging undead.

The first shots rip through the night, a deafening thunder. Gatling turrets unleash a storm of lead, tearing through the front ranks of the undead.

Explosions rock the battlefield as missile launchers target the incoming armored units. The undead fall in droves, but they keep coming, their resilience unnatural, horrifying.

"Focus fire on the summoners!" I command through my earpiece. "They're the key to stopping the horde!"

A wave of dark energy ripples across the battlefield, and fallen undead begin to rise again. Maximus strides through the carnage, his hand raised, manipulating the void energy that sustains his creations. He grins behind his mask.

My eyes narrow. "Dylan, cover me."

I leap from the command tower, landing on the battlefield with practiced ease. My twin blades flash under the moonlight, carving through the enemy ranks, a shadow among the chaos.

Dylan provides cover fire from above, his shots precise, eliminating key targets attempting to flank me.

But then, the air changes. A thick, suffocating pressure descends upon the battlefield.

Maximus has entered the fray.

"Tang Su Yan," his voice echoes, distorted through his helmet's speakers.

"Your fortress is doomed. Surrender now, and I may spare a few of your people."

I smirk, spinning my blades. "You talk too much."

Maximus laughs.

"Very well. Let's end this."

He raises his hand, and the ground trembles as an even greater horror emerges—a massive war machine, piloted by the undead, its energy cannons primed and ready to level the fortress.

The true battle has just begun.

My grip tightens around my blades as I lock eyes with Maximus. The battlefield around us roars with chaos—gunfire rattles through the air, explosions shake the earth, and the fortress's automated turrets whir as they unleash rounds into the swarm of undead. Yet, in this moment, everything else fades into the background.

Maximus smirks, standing tall amidst the destruction. His dark armor pulses with energy, absorbing the crimson glow of our surroundings.

"You've managed to hold out longer than I expected," he muses, rolling his shoulders.

"But let's see how long you can keep up."

With a flick of his wrist, black energy crackles from his fingertips, surging toward me in an instant. I dodge, narrowly avoiding the searing tendrils that burn through the concrete behind me.

Without hesitation, I retaliate, dashing forward with my blades drawn. The metallic sheen of my weapons gleams under the neon battlefield lights as I strike with deadly precision.

Maximus blocks effortlessly, raising his gauntleted arm to deflect the blow. Sparks fly as steel meets enchanted metal. His other hand swings forward, aiming a devastating counterattack, but I duck, twisting mid-air to deliver a precise slash toward his side.

He spins away, barely avoiding the strike.

"Impressive," he admits. "You're faster than I thought."

I did not reply. I analyze every movement—his reaction speed, the way he shifts his weight, the flicker of energy pulsing through his armor.

Every exchange between us is a test, each attack and block a silent conversation measuring strength, endurance, and skill.

Maximus lunges this time, his enhanced strength making the ground beneath him crack.

He swings a powerful downward strike, forcing me to cross my blades to block. The impact rattles my arms, forcing me back several steps. I grit my teeth—he's strong, but I'm not going to falter.

I feign a retreat, allowing Maximus to press forward. The moment he overextends, I twist my body and unleash a precise counter, slicing through the outer plating of his armor. A thin line of energy crackles where my blade has cut.

Maximus chuckles, stepping back to glance at the damage. "Not bad, Tang Su Yan," he says, flexing his fingers. "But let's see how you handle this."

Dark energy flares around him, the air thick with his aura. I steady my breath, my grip firming on my weapons.

Milena moves swiftly through the underground corridors of Dawn Fortress, guiding the frightened residents toward the reinforced safe halls.

The air is thick with tension; each footstep echoes in the stone passageway as families clutch their children, eyes filled with uncertainty and fear.

"Keep moving! We're almost there!" she urges, her voice calm but firm.

Milena knows panic is just as deadly as the enemy outside.

Just as she reaches the final passage leading to the underground shelter, a sudden chill runs down her spine.

It isn't just the cold dampness of the fortress depths—it's something far more sinister.

A suffocating darkness presses against her senses, like an unseen force watching her from beyond the void.

Then, a familiar voice resonates in her mind.

"Do you feel that too? The strong aura of the Dark Lord Hades?"

Milena's breath hitches. It's the Shadow Eminence, speaking to her through their shared telepathic link.

"I feel it," she responds, her mental voice steady despite the unease creeping through her.

"It's overwhelming… much stronger than before. He's getting closer."

A pause. Then the Shadow Eminence's voice returns, more solemn than before.

"The final confrontation is inevitable. But we're not ready yet."

Milena clenches her fists, glancing back at the people huddled behind her. They're counting on her. On all of them.

"Then we must plan what to do," she says resolutely.

"I'll ensure the evacuation is completed. Tang Su Yan and Dylan are holding the front, but we need to be prepared for the worst."

She senses the Shadow Eminence's agreement.

The link between them pulses briefly before fading, leaving Milena alone once more in the dim underground tunnels.

Taking a deep breath, she turns back to the civilians and motions for them to keep moving.

The darkness is coming—but she refuses to let it consume them.