Airport

The sun dipped behind the mountains, and the evening sky was bathed in deep crimson. Clouds drifted like wind-stirred flames across the horizon, glowing with the last dim light of dusk, reminding all that night was about to descend once more.

Nestled between two looming mountains, the airport slowly lit up in the growing darkness. Ground indicator lights outlined the runway, and most of the taller structures had navigation lights installed at their corners to prevent collisions during night landings.

As a rear-area military facility, the airport handled a variety of strategic roles: long-range bombing operations, ground crew training, and routine aircraft maintenance. For instance, at this moment, a training aircraft was preparing for a nighttime landing.

With a distinct hum from its engines, the plane's front wheels touched down gently, and the aircraft coasted along the runway before coming to a complete stop halfway down. Inside, the pilot and instructor unlatched the cockpit canopy and climbed out.

From a distance, Sennia had watched the entire landing with fascination, but Otto's precisely-timed orders soon pulled her back to the mission at hand.

Since the Fourth Platoon had rejoined the main force the previous day, the judgment cells had not shown up again. Thanks to this unexpected lull, the four platoons successfully reached the airport and began executing their assault plan.

According to Otto's design and with approval from rear command, a friendly transport aircraft was scheduled to land around midnight. For that to happen without interference from radar or base security, the airport's control tower had to be secured first. With control of the tower, they could communicate with nearby radar stations, broadcast false information, and hide the plane's true identity and purpose. Naturally, this task fell to the Fourth Platoon, whose members had received basic training in operating communications equipment.

"Ready!"Otto gave a hand signal, and Edwin nodded in response. At their feet, a bound and gagged man writhed on a rusting metal stairwell.

Bang!The door to the tower's control room burst open with a kick. The Night Knights of the Fourth Platoon poured in. Simultaneously, another team entered from multiple directions, smashing through windows and clambering inside.

The staff inside had no time to react before the squad took full control.

"Hands where I can see them! No funny business!"Edwin caught sight of one captive reaching for the console and quickly intervened.

With the hostiles subdued, Otto and his two men began examining the equipment. But the sheer number of buttons and monitors was overwhelming, especially given that they'd only studied communications tech for a month.

"This one's for frequency adjustment, right?" Edwin said confidently, pointing to a dial.

"That's obviously the radar console—why would there be a radio frequency dial there?"Otto rolled his eyes and gestured to the circular screen above it—clearly a radar scope. Edwin had never been the studying type, and he'd barely passed the training course. Even so, Otto and Nordhausen, both top of their class, couldn't make much sense of the comms panel either.

"Who's in charge of communications here?"Realizing they were out of their depth, Otto turned to the prisoners. The difference between an amateur and a professional was painfully obvious now.

"I'll ask again. Who handles the comms?"

Most of the captives stared at him nervously, but no one stepped forward—until finally, a bespectacled young man raised his hand."I... I do. I'm the communications officer."He was younger and more refined-looking than the others, with a scholarly air.

"Good. Sit back at your station."

Under the threat of several gun barrels, the man complied.

"See? I knew it was that side of the panel," Edwin muttered smugly.

"Explain what each of these devices does," Otto instructed, ignoring Edwin.

"Alright... that's the mic, this is the headset, that's the transceiver, here's the switchboard, and this is the direction indicator..."

The young officer began explaining everything in detail. If Otto hadn't stopped him, the man might've listed every item on the console. Much of the terminology was foreign to Otto anyway.

"Just stay here. If someone at the radar station reports an anomaly, say it's a scheduled drill," Otto said, only to be interrupted by a distant explosion.

Everyone turned toward the source—it came from the hangars at the front end of the airport. Flames and thick smoke billowed into the air.

"You heard me—call it a drill," Otto repeated, then pressed his gun to the man's forehead. "And don't try anything clever."

The comms officer nodded, trembling.

"Rogm sure made quite the distraction. Time should be about right now?"Edwin joined Nordhausen by the window, watching the chaos.

"Should be."Nordhausen didn't even check his watch. According to the plan, once Rogm began sowing chaos, it meant the plane was nearing.

Sure enough, twenty minutes later, the phone rang.

"Answer it," Otto ordered, motioning with his gun. "Remember—say it's our transport trying to land."

The comms officer obeyed."Karn Tower, this is Firmament. We've detected a large aircraft approaching on bearing 168, thirteen kilometers out, altitude nine hundred meters. No IFF code, radio silent, estimated arrival in five minutes. Over."

"Firmament, this is Karn Tower. Please confirm—no IFF and classified as a large aircraft?"

A brief silence. Otto nudged the man again with his gun.

"Confirmed. No identifier. Radar returns classify it as a large model, cruising at approximately 220 knots."

"Karn Tower copies. Identified aircraft is friendly, conducting silent flight training. Lifting combat alert."

"Firmament copies."

The comms officer hung up, glancing nervously at Otto."Very good."Otto lowered his weapon and patted him on the shoulder before tying him up again and placing him back with the other prisoners.

"The convoy's here!"Sennia called out, pointing to the western gate. Eleven military trucks had smashed through the checkpoint. Sentinels tried to report the intrusion but were silenced by Nemilic's Night Knights. Meanwhile, the rumble of aircraft engines echoed faintly overhead.

"Edwin, take your team and assist the convoy. Nordhausen and I will stay here."So far, the plan was proceeding smoothly. The control tower was secured, doubts about the plane's identity had been neutralized, and most base personnel were distracted by the burning hangars. Now all that remained was to get the prisoners aboard.

"Nightingale, this is Phantom. Come in."Using the portable radio, Otto contacted the transport plane.

"Phantom, this is Nightingale. Go ahead."

"Please park at the far end of the runway, near the control tower. Over.""Nightingale copies. Over."

With final confirmation complete, everything was in motion. The transport aircraft descended in the chaos, as the convoy neared the runway.

"Unload the prisoners!"Otto left the tower to join Nemilic. The high-value captives were herded off the trucks. They still staggered slightly—evidence that the effects of Compound No. 3 hadn't fully worn off.

"You... His Majesty will never forgive you for this..."A gust of wind tore the cap from the prince's head. No one responded to his angry threats. The Night Knights kept their focus on the descending plane.

The massive aircraft rolled to a stop in front of them. In the dim cockpit light, the pilot signaled that he needed to turn the plane around. Otto got the message and halted Nemilic from bringing the prisoners any closer.

"What... What is that thing!?"Inaya had never seen an aircraft before. The roar of its engines shook the entire valley. She stared, awestruck and terrified.

"It's a transport plane!"Sennia shouted over the noise.

"What?"Inaya's ears twitched and her tail puffed up. The noise had clearly shaken her.

"You'll see soon enough!"Explaining was pointless for now—they'd be on the plane soon.

Eventually, the transport finished its turn. Rogm and Trenchap, who had been causing the distraction, finally arrived at the extraction point.

"Any later and you'd have to catch the next flight!"Otto joked—until his smile froze on his face.

A silent flash split the sky. A beam of light struck the runway ahead of the transport. When the light vanished, a large formation of white-robed soldiers appeared.

"Judgment cells! Prepare for battle!!"Otto screamed at the top of his lungs. Rogm and Trenchap turned, stunned.

"Form up!"The judgment cells charged immediately. The platoon leaders scrambled to organize their men.

Battle erupted in an instant.

Compound No. 3 was injected directly into arms. The Night Knights' eyes turned crimson, veins bulged, and they opened fire. Dozens of weapons unleashed a storm of bullets—but none of the enemy fell. As Otto looked closer, he saw ripples in the air—waves of force that deflected bullets like stones dropped into water.

Lexomancers!

It had to be them. Otto hadn't yet fought one directly, but this strange phenomenon could only be their magic.

"Inaya, do you have any way to take out the Lexomancers?"

"Me? Against fifteen of them? I'd die!"Inaya rejected the idea immediately.

Suddenly, the Lexomancers launched a barrage of flaming projectiles that scorched the runway and the aircraft alike. The fires clung to every surface, even non-flammable ones.

"Damn it..."Otto cursed. How had they tracked the convoy? Or had they been watching all along?

Boom—!One of the engines exploded. Flames raced down the fuel lines and ignited the right wing. The blast shattered the wing in two.

"Get the pilots out! There's another plane in the hangars!"Charlie's voice snapped Otto out of it. He turned to act.

Meanwhile, the front lines were locked in a bloodbath. Judgment cell warriors swung glowing blades like reapers. Dozens of Night Knights fell in seconds, body parts and gore littering the ground.

"Edwin, take a team and rescue the pilots! Sennia, go hide with Inaya! Everyone else—follow me!"The first line collapsed too quickly. Edwin had to lead his squad with Nemilic's to reinforce the front. Trenchap's unit provided covering fire, but it wasn't enough.

Four Lexomancers had already cast shielding spells that blocked bullets and 20mm cannon rounds. The other eleven continued supporting the assault. Their spells empowered the warriors, coating blades in flames, making them glow red-hot. Even lightning spells were redirected through the blade-wielders as living conduits.

That night, the four platoons finally saw the terrifying coordination between Lexomancers and judgment warriors.

"Shouldn't we be doing something?"Sennia watched helplessly. Shatiel was fighting three enemies alone. Otto and Nordhausen, both wounded, still held the front.

"What can we do?"Inaya sighed. She knew how grim it looked.

"Can't you just throw a fireball like they do?"

"Kid, I never learned that spell."

"Then... is there another way?"Sennia was near panic. Inaya stayed calm.

"I told you. I can run, maybe take you with me."

"Run?"Sennia was furious. That option had never crossed her mind.

"If you decide to, I'll take you."

"No way."She refused flatly. She understood Inaya's position—but she would never abandon her comrades.

"I respect that. I'll stick around a while longer, then.""..."

Sennia said nothing, thinking hard.

"You're interesting, you know. More 'alive' than most. It's a shame..."Inaya murmured like she was already mourning.

"We haven't known each other long, but there are things I still—"

"Wait!!"Sennia suddenly jumped up, startling Inaya mid-sentence.

"What's with you!?"Inaya was annoyed, but Sennia grabbed her and ran without explanation.

"Where are you going? That's the wrong way to escape..."

Curious, Inaya followed.

"See those spots covered with canvas? Find a crate that looks like this and bring it here."Sennia had reached a sandbagged AA gun position and was pointing at an ammo crate.

"What is this?"

"No time to explain. Help me, and I'll convince Andrei to let you go free."

"Andrei who?"

"Our boss."Sennia was already too flustered to care about staying on the same page. She shoved Inaya toward the crates.

She'd studied six months at the Royal Artillery Academy and served a year in artillery—Sennia had confidence in her skills. If bullets and 20mm cannons couldn't breach the Lexomancers' shields... what about a 130mm AA gun?