From the nearest rooftop, Candice took a peek at the hundreds of soldiers marching into position. She observed the Eagles, heads held high, carrying rifles over their shoulders. Groups of knights marched in unison, holding lances and bows, every single one of them wearing full shining armor and deep-blue banners, which displayed golden stags.

Candice stared at a short, bald man shouting at them. He softened his voice at the sight of the girl delivering his shield. That must be Stein. For a General, he doesn’t look that strong. Candice examined his physique and posture until the stench of sulfur overwhelmed her sense of smell.

“Make way for the mages!”

“The mages are coming!”

Candice’s gaze focused on a distant clock tower. Blue smog came out of its entrance, alongside a single row of men and women wearing ornamented robes of violet and valuable leather boots. They were holding long silver staves.

“There goes the Summoner’s division.” A soldier pointed out.

“It’s The Great Charmer,” said another.

Candice fixated on the guy with the biggest, smuggest smirk she had ever seen on a man. I’ve met too many snobs, and this one is the snobbiest of them all. He appeared to be in his mid-thirties, and despite Candice’s denial, she could tell he was good-looking. A man of curly black hair, bearing a goatee beard pointing towards his arrogant lips.

At the distance, the mage approached General Stein and gave him a strong handshake. “Good to see your men are all ready, Sir Stein. How much time do we have left?”

Before replying, Stein took the man by the shoulder and started whispering to him.

Fine, I’ll find out myself.

Candice jumped down from the rooftop and strode through the commotion to the wall, stretching her neck up as far as she could. She tried to whistle, impressed at the size of the defensive structure, but no sound came out. She prepared for a strong jump, leaping 30 feet into the air and landing on a staircase.

“How did you get here?!” yelled a startled soldier.

Candice snickered at him and jumped once more, finding the same results from other eagle soldiers.

“Hey, don’t do that!”

Ignoring a third and a fourth yell, Candice finally made it into the wall walk, reaching a gorgeous view of the white barren field surrounding the fortress city. Dragons aren’t stupid enough to attack this city and die trying. She caressed the black, sturdy merlons. But we aren’t dealing with dragons here.

She turned back to the city. Something resembling a castle stood in its center. Sturdy gray bricks on its left side made it look like a prison fortress, while pearly, tall towers on the right clashed with its appearance, giving it the aura of a fragile palace. Such amalgamation made the structure seem unable to withstand a siege, but Candice knew the outer walls were the only defense it needed.

She looked at the town, towards hundreds, if not thousands of homes. Grim-looking houses on the left side, and colorful red rooftops on the right. She knew that the vast majority of them were empty.

Joseph offered me to live here. He let me choose whichever house I wanted, but I couldn’t live here, surrounded by a big stone fence. Her hand tensed up into a fist. Worse yet, I couldn’t live with myself knowing I’m so close to him, and yet so far.

“Does summer get hot for you?” a voice asked.

Candice looked at her side, finding two eagle soldiers smirking at her. One of them, a man, was wearing a bandana, while the woman accompanying him sported black sunglasses and a cap, sitting confidently over a merlon. Both wore green vests that revealed their naked developed arms and carried sniper rifles on their backs.

“What did you just say?” Candice replied, grunting.

The guy pointed at her exposed pelt. “That fur of yours is pretty much a sweater, doesn’t it get super hot for you in the summer?”

Candice growled, placing a hand over her blade’s sheath. The young woman became startled and immediately jumped down to stand between them. “Whoa, hold on there! Believe me, he isn’t trying to be an ass! We’re genuinely curious, this is the first time we see a Jinga this close.”

“I’m not a Jinga,” Candice grunted, hand still on the blade’s grip.

The woman widened her eyes, appearing slightly confused and disappointed. “You’re not?”

“Told ya,” the lad snickered. His partner, defeated, handed a small object to him.

Candice puffed her chest. “You were betting at my expense?!”

“Forgot my manners, it’s only fair you get a share. Will you take half of this?.” The guy reached out his hand to her. He offered her a brown, bittersweet-smelling item.

Candice turned her head away, grimacing, showing her fangs. No matter where she went, she wouldn’t be properly treated, but she suddenly realized there was something else to the soldier's odd mocking behavior. “Aren’t you afraid?” she asked both. The man kept munching on his chocolate bar while the gal pulled chewing gum out from her front pockets. “You know what’s coming, right?” Candice continued. “If so, why are you acting so…?”

“Anxiety doesn’t mix well with our line of work, missy,” he replied.

“Makes us miss our mark,” the woman added, holding her weapon’s strap. “You don’t seem to be scared, either.”

Candice opened her snout, but almost immediately shut it. This time, she wasn’t certain the words angered her. If I have to blame someone, it would be the damn Alpha... Wait, what am I saying? I’m the Alpha.

The guy tried once more to reach out to her. “Want some?” Candice sniffed it and accepted. She ate the bar, and the look in her eyes made the soldiers chuckle. “I’m George,” said the male soldier. He grinned, which made her notice his plump cheeks.

“I’m Tara,” the gal raised her chin. “What’s your name?”

“Candice,” she shyly muttered.

“So!” Tara grinned. “If you’re not a Jinga, what are you—”

“Civilians are not allowed on the wall,” a stern, deep voice said aloud. The same mustached officer Candice met at the entrance came into sight, and the two Eagle soldiers straightened their posture. “You two, get into position. I won’t repeat myself.”

“Yes, sir!” Both executed a hand salute and ran immediately.

Candice glanced down the wall. For a moment, she had forgotten the raging commotion. Before preparing to leave, a putrid stench came to her nose. She sniffed loudly, attracting the gaze of the Colonel, who then looked at the distance, frowning. “They’re already here,” she whispered.

“Then come back down, for your safety,” the man said, visibly starting to sweat. Candice obeyed, clenching her jaw before jumping down. Colonel Rhino shouted at his men: “Sound the alarm! Everybody get ready!”

A deafening electronic cry was heard through the city. Men and women got into positions. ‘Shooters’, a term favored by the Knights, held positions in one of the towers, pointing their long-range weapons through embrasures carved on the structure’s hard stone. Other Eagles prepared their gun turrets, colossal machines with four 100mm cannons each.

Mages marched on a row through the wall walk, increasing their distance from one another, readying their enchantments.

“Overflow, now!” Spencer, the smirking leader of the Summoner’s division, commanded.

His mages emanated a purple aura, chanting in unison, “Major Water Boost, Overflow!” The air surrounding them became heavier, and their body glowed for short seconds.

“Warlocks, Shamans, bring out your familiars!” Spencer ordered. The mages called on small spirits, which joyfully danced over their shoulders, without a care in the world. Among them were pointy-eared imps, giggly whispering to their owners, while others were translucent animals, looking to be petted. “Conjure long-range Elementals, and hold!” instructed Spencer.

His mages started channeling. Circles of mana appeared on the soon-to-be battlefield.

“Minor Summon, Fire Demon, Juggler!”

“Minor Summon, Ice Fiend!”

“Minor Familiar Calling, Wind Beast, Crinkle!”

The second row of mages marched, following a skinny, scrawny mage wearing gloves with an amber-looking stone encrusted on each. “Archmage.” He nodded at Spencer.

“Mr. Boldo. You’re late,” Spencer sneered at him.

“Shove it, Charmer,” Boldo grunted, at which Spencer chuckled. Each of Boldo’s mages occupied a spot between Spencer’s summoners. “Elemental Division, Overflow!”

“Overflow!” the elementals chanted in unison.

“Geomancers! Stone Pillars 300 feet past the wall, now!” Those beckoned started to channel, releasing mana further ahead. A single stone pillar sprouted from the ground, forming a barricade. More pillars of varying height followed, the tallest barely reaching 100 feet upwards. “Cryomancers, Ice Crafting, now!”

Mages in sky-blue robes channeled their mana at the disjointed, newly formed wall. Sharp ice started covering the stone, forming stalagmites around it.

Inside the castle, at the entrance, Commander Stein kept his knights in position, each of them carrying a large shield and sword. Behind them was an armored tank, pridefully displaying the eagle emblem, pointing its huge cannon at the gates.

“I just hope that thing doesn't blow us up by accident,” a knight whispered to his partner.

“And where the hell are their armored forces?” the other pointed out, turning around. “You’d think the Eagles would boast their Special Units front and center.”

“They are protecting the west entrance,” Stein glanced at him, and the knight straightened his posture. “I wouldn’t underestimate them. I’ve seen them in action, they and their weapons pack a punch.”

“That’s good to hear, Commander, but..” The knight gulped before continuing, realizing he had attracted unwanted attention. “How many will they be able to take down before reloading? We all know swords are a better fit for the job, don’t you agree, Sir?”

Some of the men laughed, but Stein only chuckled slightly. “I see we are in high spirits, eh? If you are confident that your sword can handle it, I want you to take 200 heads all by yourself.” Stein half-smiled, while the knight’s face turned pale. “I can fight and count at the same time, I’ll keep an eye on you.”

“I can easily kill 200 of those bastards!” excitedly yelled another.

“Give us a better challenge, Commander!”

Stein’s men shouted promises of victory, making him laugh. “Alright, alright! Tonight drink’s on me for anyone that brings me 200 heads! Show those Eagles who the better warriors are!”

“Yes, Sir!” they chanted.

“Men...” a female knight sighed.

“Didn’t you hear that? Free booze!” Another woman giggled, playfully elbowing her.

Candice continued observing from her high point on the mage’s clock tower. She could hear laughter, but the air smelled of despair and fear. I know that scent pretty well. She turned her head away.

It did not matter she could not see behind the wall, for her attention was on the main street leading to the castle. She kept searching among the knights and riders showing up, looking for a white, pristine cape.

Suddenly she could tell something was off. A private soldier also noticed it. He kneeled, and frowning, placed his ear on the floor. He could feel a slight trembling.

The battle horn signaled a sighting from the wall. The snipers and the marksmen were the first to see it. A black, shapeless dark shadow started covering everything on the white hills up ahead. Soon, the remaining snowy grass would be gone from sight.“Gunners, get ready,” Colonel Rhino radioed posthaste. Each Gun Turret started spinning as they got into firing position. “On my command…” Rhino moistened his lips. Feeling the sweat under his thick mustache, he watched through his digital binoculars as the humongous black herd started covering the field. “Fire!”

The mages closer to the turrets covered their ears. The powerful turrets released shot after shot, piercing holes and fire into the dark mass, before it immediately patched itself up time after time.

The never-ending March of the Dead. Thousands of them running full speed, feeling no pain nor fear. This was the Black Tide.

“Cryomancers!” Boldo instructed. “Polish the floor behind us, make it shine!”

The mages started forming ice down below. The Black Tide had just reached the Geomancer’s wall and crashed into it. The improvised blockade started crumbling, and those impaled by the ice stalagmites got crushed below hundreds of feet of rubble. The stone barricade fell after barely 15 seconds.

“Archers!” Maya, from the marksmen’s division, commanded. “Prepare! Aim! Fire!” Hundreds of arrows, powered by mana, rained down from the sky and exploded upon impact, blasting heads and limbs.

The newly formed ice floor froze into place the feet of those who reached it first. Unable to move, they were trampled by those rushing behind them. Unstoppable, the Tide reached the wall, using their fallen partners as carpets. The sound of hundreds of skulls stomping against the black walls was sickening, but most of the defenders were too absorbed to hear it.

Dozens of stationary mechanical flamethrowers started unleashing hell on them, but it was like the fire from a match trying to set fire into a river.

“Keep firing!” Rhino ordered the gun turrets, in a futile attempt to decrease their coming numbers. The machines, powered by mana, had to replace operators constantly.

“Make it rain!” Boldo yelled. His pyromancers quickly drew summoning circles in the air, where fireballs were spat out with tremendous force. Every shot burned down as many as 30 undead. “Geomancers! Conjure Sink-Hole!”

Several gaps opened up on the ground down below, each of them reaching at least 30 feet in diameter. Hundreds of charging bodies kept falling into eleven individual pits, before inevitably overflowing.

“This is ridiculous!” a Geomancer cried out loud, lips trembling. “It’s like they’re escaping from something worse!”

“Wrong! What you see here is pure bloodlust!” Boldo replied annoyed, marching behind his mages and turning on his crow-band before broadcasting to everyone. “The Army Without Banners is a result of heresy! Lost, damned men and women reborn through the corrupted power of the self-proclaimed King of Death! Doing his bidding, without fear, without remorse! Let’s help our fallen brothers and sisters by putting them out of their misery! Purify them, dammit! Save their souls from the grasp of The Heretic, Bob, the Necromancer!”

“Yes, Sir!” dozens of elemental mages and summoners cried out simultaneously, pushing themselves to apply even more mana to their conjuring and long-range attacks.

Inside the walls, an Eagle snickered at the speech. “Bob, the Necromancer,” George said to his partner. “Should we tell them that that’s a very stupid name for a so-called evil overlord?”

Tania didn’t find it funny and grimaced while keeping her gaze through her weapon’s scope. “Well, that bastard has been killing our comrades for the last couple of months. He can call himself whatever he wants.” After the scornful remark, she pulled the trigger, leaving George dumbfounded.

“Yeah.” He swallowed hard and looked through his scope, shooting once he focused on a good target. The mana shot pierced the helmet and skull of a knight using red foreign armor.

George reloaded, having his sights on a mage who was in the middle of a conjuring, his priority being to interrupt his channeling. The first shot left a 10-inch hole in his chest. The mage stepped back for a second, puking black blood and trying to resume his magic before George was finally able to land a deathly shot to the forehead. He winced, quickly putting away and shaking his right hand, after feeling his weapon overheat.

“Was that necessary?” Tania chuckled, glancing at him for a second.

“There was a mage,” George muttered, clenching his teeth, “he was channeling for who knows how long.” Once his weapon cooled down, he got into position once more, when he noticed Tania was frowning.

“I got two other mages doing the same thing,” she said, squinting, before turning around. “Colonel Rhino! Please give the order to target every enemy mage on the battlefield, sir!”

“Why? What is it?” Rhino put down his mic to advance towards Tania, but another Shooter also demanded his attention.

“Sir! There’s a group of five preparing a combined attack! 45X, 60Y position, requesting for immediate elimination.”

“Roger that,” informed another through the Crownet. “Eliminating 45X, 61Y target.”

“Roger that,” said George, looking through his scope. “Eliminating 45X, 59Y target.”

Tania got rid of another one of them. The group of robe-wearing undead, congregating in the middle of the Black Tide, got their skulls shattered in quick succession before plummeting into the ground. Tania exhaled, relieved. Her brothers in arms would rather not know the dead mage’s intentions.

“There is another group, closer to us!” she heard through the receiver on her left ear and felt shivers down her spine. “12X, 38Y position!”

“A third group sighted!” George yelled, drops of sweat going down his face. “7X, 15Y position!”

Tania scoped towards the last location, hearing George’s weapon overheat again. She focused on a female mage’s blank stare, her dislocated jaw showing greenish teeth. Before she could aim at her head, Tania heard another rifle overheat at her right, and then another a few feet ahead.

Everyone was desperately trying to stop the enemy’s scheme. Tania pulled the trigger, her target’s head violently recoiling backward from the impact, pieces of brain scattering away.

Maya, the leader of the Archer’s guild, could see it happen all from the outside. Radiant purple aura, shining in the sea of dead, three, four spots suddenly bursting with energy. “Oh, Lord Artheos, help us,” she muttered at the sight of conjuring circles, from which violet, sparkling comets burst out towards the main gate.