Dead Moors,

Watch Border Lanterns,

Grass, warm air, sunlight. Oh, blessed sunlight. We made it. The hell did he do to the ponies?

Kido looked to the walls, their cheers revitalising him.

Yes, he was the survivor here, in more ways than they could possibly know.

Still searching for the next threat, his heart wavered when he found it sooner than he would have liked. Watching the last of the wagons ahead cross over the Lantern border, he gave a silent prayer.

Wait for us, my lord.

Lord Ushii looked over his shoulder scowling at Kido.

“That’s enough now Junior, we’re free.”

“Call me Junior again,” Kido snapped back at him, “and I’ll finish what was started in there”.

Sorely wanting to add Heretic, he couldn’t bring himself to say it. Too many impossibilities raced through his mind, to say nothing of the shame and ridicule he would face for even mentioning it. Besides the man was sitting right there, directly in the sunlight.

“You think you’ll do any better this time?” Ushii laughed back at him.

He did.

He saw how the shadow had withered before his Chi, but held his tongue. Studying instead the Alchemist whilst his Chi blazed hotly through him, looking to see if he could discern anything obvious.

Unfortunately, those lanterns cores still obscured his senses, especially at the back of the wagon where he stood. They were really some of the lowest grade quality he had ever seen.

Shi-baal. Was that the entire point?

The man was right though and Kido knew it, though he was loathe to release his hold on the flame. It had been the only thing that had resisted the nausea the man exuded

“If I relent how do I know I’m not going to throw up my guts the next time you consult the dark god?”

“What the in the Nine hells are you talking about, Preafect”

“Don’t play dumb with me wagon man. I saw you doing something to the ponies.”

“Boneflower you idiot. You saw me attaching boneflower to their harneses.”

“What?” Kido asked incredulous. “You have more of that junk? Then why are they going faster?”

“Because it’s like a fire up their rear, they hate it.” How much better did you perform when I threatened your life.

His words were like a blow to the gut, except it was humiliation that struck. Kido couldn't help but pause and turn away waring in shame.

This freak belied common laws of reality. What was that blur he had thrown in the mist? Tricks, all filthy alchemical trickery.

"I’m going to kill you, Lord Ushii. It might not be today, but it will be someday soon."

"Oh Preafect, better than you have tried and failed. I look forward to our rematch."

“For a dagger-wielding coward, you’re quite bold with the rubbish you spew.”

“By the Taker, look for yourself man. On each stirrup at their hinds, and whilst you look, ponder on that damn Imoogi. You have no idea what’s back there. Now turn that filthy Chi off.

“Filthy!? Are you even human, Maho-tsukai?”

“You dare call…”

A harsh barking snarl sounded behind them, silencing their heated exchange. Both men stared at each other for a split second before bursting into action.

Kido immediately dimming his flame and grabbing hold of a throwing spear. Ushii thrashing the reigns once more, urging the ponies on.

“For the Love of the Taker. It’s like the two of you walk hand in hand with each other. I told you, why must you…

“Because of you, you FREAK!” Kido yelled back as he powered the razor tip. “I know what I face out there and I’m not going to listen to a dagger-wielding coward whose sole ability is to awaken my disgust.”

“I get it, you saw the dagger, boo-hoo. So what, am I supposed to just trust some fool waving around a master blade like a rice farmer. Left side man. Left!

Kido raised the spear looking left, surprised to see the man was correct.

Mental note, the freak has eyes in the back of his head.

Out of the mist came the Chimera, shredding the ground with each massive clawed paw.

“By the Giver, you are ugly,” Kido muttered as he tracked the half-monster, half-beast path towards the wagon.

Thankfully it hadn’t mutated yet, but that still put it at twice the size of the ponies and all pure muscle.

With an enhanced throw, Kido threw it with the force of ballistae. A direct hit to the sternum, smashing the beast to the ground as it tumbled over itself.

Though wounded, it was still very much alive. Snarling and lashing out at any that drew near. He had seen the spear go deep but he doubted it was a killing blow.

Hells he doubted even the waves stampede would kill it. Those bastards were tough.

"Use the crossbow, dammit man. That’s what it’s there for. You’re rocking the wagon with your overpowered throws.”

“I’ll use the crossbow on the back of your fat head if you don’t shut up.”

“Well give me the other one then. These disloyal Pyeanchi are still getting in my way.”

“Fetch it yourself. It’s still attached to the canopy you so graciously left behind in the mists. Or most likely in the hands of a Toka-Loshi by now, so well done for that.”

“Bah.” The Alchemist spat in disgust. “Preafect I’m warning you these wheels won’t survive another hit. Do something about this filth.”

He looked towards the peasants, those that had survived thus far. Yes, they were a problem, but they were a problem for later. Then he looked back towards the towering wall hounding after them as they rattled away in their escape.

It looked as if it were the living incarnation of the entire waves sentiment, seething anger.

“That’s too bad Wagon man, we’ll have trouble enough any second now. Hold onto those reigns and let the peasants be, they serve as a distraction enough for the faster ones.”

“What do you mean trouble?” Lord Ushii asked as they hurtled past the fluttering ribbons atop the lantern poles.

“Uh, you know. The Salamander Shogun sort.”

“What!? He wouldn’t dare! We've just made it for Takers sake, they are cheering for us. I am the First-hand advisor to the…”

With an ear-splitting crack and the sudden neighing of the ponies, the mad man’s head whipped forward at the sound of thousand trees snapping. His anger faltered for fear as he desperately grabbed at the reins.

“Hahaha!” Kido burst out loudly as he watched the skies whistle loudly overhead.

“Did you think you could bring the mists right to his walls?” He asked, voice thick with derision. “Now sit down and hold onto your blasted ponies. Junior.”

The pressure in the air changed drastically and Kido instantly recognised the great power reaching out from the Shogun’s turret, lashing through the sky like a whip. He would’ve seen it too had he not the foresight to look away. Hoisted in the opening volley of the Watch’s catapults, the flying bundles of glazed shrapnel and pottery were cut through with a great weave of Chi.

With a great boom, the heavens exploded in fire and ruin as a hot wind blasted over them. In the blink of an eye, the great mist wall recoiled like giant snakes in the sky.

They vapourised into nothing, struck with the brightest flash of light that burnt the skin to the touch. Those foolish enough to have been caught staring directly into it were blinded as the skies burned in furious white fire.

Reeds and tall grasses bent low, deep pools rippled in concentric rings and the ground groaned as a great force fell upon the moors.

The explosion rolled as freely as the fires in the sky above did, striking Qaelangs great walls and echoing out again. Creating a thunder that stomped across the moors, muting the panicked screams of Beasts that suddenly found themselves exposed to the full bright light of day.

First Wall,

Artillery,

“Release!” The Sergeant bellowed.

With the yank of a thousand levers the aromas of cold sweat, fat-soaked leather and plant rot from the moors, was whiffed away with the strong earthy scent of raw pitch. But only for a moment, as the constant breeze soon returned the scents of the moors once more.

The catapults slammed hard, bouncing lightly atop the walls and sending vibrations through the gathered troops. Their soaked projectiles whistled overhead into the distance, trailing flaming cloth. The Sergeant smiled wickedly, he loved this part.

Right on time, he felt the power of the Shogun, lashing out as each projectile reached its zenith. All veterans looked away recognising the Salamanders brand of Chi, but he only lowered his gaze. Not wanting to miss it. The explosion of a thousand amphora’s went off in synchronistic perfection as the Salamanders Chi whip struck each at the same time.

There! He breathed in deeply, invigorated by the short lived delight.

Just the briefest flash of light and then it was gone. As all the Beasts hidden in the mists looked up in hunger, sensing the Shogun’s Chi and roaring in delight at the feast to come. It was that exact moment when salivating cheer on the faces of countless monstrosities turned to one of pained horror.

Divine Giver, bless my blade that I might add to your glory this day and many more.

The Sergeant had long found that nothing cleansed the soul better than a violent act of god. The roar and tear of the explosion accompanied by the wailing of his enemies, had a unique way of humbling even the hardest of veterans as he gazed out at the carnage.

His men stood firm on the walls, covering their eyes with raised hand whilst the Beasts cowered and writhed in the holy light. With a wicked grin, he acknowledged that not all men might share in his sentiment at this hallowed explosion as he gazed down on the Emperors wagons, battling to calm their rearing ponies.

The mists fled all the way to the opposite side of the riverbanks. Laying bare thousands of Beasts, all thrashing about in pained confusion. Those that could, clawed at their faces that had so eagerly looked upon the Shoguns Chi in hunger.

As the explosion rumbled away, the pained roars of the first wave crescendoed into a hysterical snarling rage. Typical of animals wounded and trapped, they lashed out blindly. Wreaking havoc on their ranks as smoking shrapnel rained from above.

Their yowls and rampant acts of violence frightful to the new recruits, but more alarming were their numbers. And if size wasn’t indication enough, then seeing both reptile and mammal together in a single wave drove the point home.

Shi-baal.

This was two armies.

Raising his eyes to the billowing sky fires, a single pot caught his eye. Flying high above the wagons, it went untouched by the Shoguns whip and sailed off into the distance. Narrowly missing a Kongbu’ horror, as the tentacled monstrosity fell shrieking from the sky.

Its tentacles easily measuring the height of the wall, flailed uselessly about it as it rapidly charred. Trailing smoke, the sun wreaked havoc on it bloated flesh. The Lesser Spirit Beast screeched its last as it burst upon the ground, spewing noxious vapours in an audible gush.

Six more of the behemoths tumbled in the distance, limbs flailing and screeching that terrible shrieking echo sound.

That had been the clearest he’d ever seen one before. The charring left precious little behind. So close to the edge, it had been almost directly over the Wagons.

Hmpf, lucky bastards. Wonder if they even knew it was hunting them?

They had been spared the touch of the Watch’s Alchemical fire rain, as well as that of an old horror. It would surely have plucked them off one at a time.

Locked in grim fascination, he spat over the wall as he watched it burn. A poor attempt of ridding himself of the memory of a time when those Beasts had struck terror into the hearts of even the bravest of Sacred Artists.

Back when the Watch had no counter to the mists, the Kungbu’ had hunted ruthlessly from above. Raking the walls the men stood upon, their sharp ivory hooked tentacles dripped with paralytic poison. Turning an already unimaginable horror into terrifying legend.

Brothers in arms who stood by your side a second ago, vanished in abject silence as they were carried off into the mists those wretched Beasts relentlessly spewed about them.

He shook himself free of the haunting memory. Looking back at the titan of a man in red armour. That had in a time before the rise of the Salamander Shogunate.

As he watched the chaos unfold in the Beast horde, the damage they wrought each other, their howls and screeching. He was reminded of the tasteful works of art renowned artists within the city proper had commissioned. Elegant songs and tasteful Hiaku’s all for the Salamanders triumphant moment when the first wave faltered.

He snorted in amusement.

That the Shogun was worthy of praise, there could be no doubt. But that was where the artists accuracy ended. No Haiku or artwork that he knew of, ever encompassed the smell of piss or the wavering of a warrior’s spirit.

To the untrained of war, most believed with the power of light they could banish the terrors within. Few were ever ready to have them revealed.

To strike a core infused Beast would have it roar back in instinctual challenge. So too striking an entire first wave, led to a trembling of the ground and walls shaking. As much as this moment herald the Salamanders awesome power, so too was it a moment of ultimate clarity on all first-year Seeds of the Watch.

Not everyone would be returning to their families this night.

Lifting his gaze from the burning corpse, the wall had gone deathly silent as the men gazed out in horror at what was to come. It was endless, disappearing again into the mists blasted back to the other side of the river. A few spare seconds was all he allowed the artillery team before getting things going again.

“I don’t hear the crank of a reload happening boys. Perhaps everyone else on the wall would feel better fighting that Beast spawn up here, whilst sitting on your pots of Alchemical fire? Get to it! You’ve all trained for this, and don’t forget the Shogun is watching each and every one of you. Or would you prefer he come over here and ask what in the Nine you were doing with his catapults?”

His words and reproachful stares from veterans chosen for their bravery, was all the shame needed to spur the artillery teams on. It helped break the spell of fear that had settled over rest of the Seeded first years, simply by reminding them that there were multiple ways of dying this day.

Dropped from a lifeline. Shot in the back from a not-so-sharp, sharpshooter quarreller, from high up on the second wall. Even the hesitation of a spear thrust might cost a brother his life. Training mattered here, and none would look kindly on those who abandoned theirs.

To the familiar sound of ceramic levers clicking into place as rope was pulled against wood. He gazed out at the wave once more, noting the mens cheers as the wagons began to move again.

That crazy bastard, going for a dip in the mists. How had he done that and come out alive? The Salamander Preafects were some scary individuals.

The cranking of levers ceased as payloads were gently lowered into padded baskets and he glanced about checking on the other teams as soon as his men reported the reloading complete. They had made good time, now they waited.

And waited.

Instead of firing, the flag to ‘Hold’ was raised.

He shook his head, already knowing the reason.

Those damn wagons wouldn’t survive a second blast, the ponies would tear themselves apart trying to escape.

The irritated veteran knew how important these first two volleys were to the day’s outcome. Although lesser, Kongbu’ were still Spirit Beasts, their minds not entirely enslaved to the will of the Kaiju Master. As such, the simple theory of two successive shots, one to frighten, two to send packing, usually held true.

From deep within the mists, a heavy growling broke him from his thoughts. It sounded like huge hollow rocks grinding against each other and the barking of commands made the hair on his arms stand up.

That was the voice of the Kaiju.

Ascendant Road,

The Muddied boot,

At the crack of a thousand catapults Culus stole a quick glance at the Salamander, knowing time was short. He saw raise his arms up to the skies only to burn them with clenched fists. Looking away in fright he felt a sudden flash of heat and the world go bright even though his eyes were closed.

Then the thunder hit, deafening and terrible. Instinctively he cringed low at its power and remained crouched as it echoed through the skies. Only when sneaking a peek did he see everyone else was likeminded. It was as if a shout from the heavens had burst forth and now rumbled across the lands, seeking the unworthy.

As the rumbling roar moved away, the wails of those caught staring into the blast grew in number. Just like the pained Beasts on the other side of the wall they too writhed about in terror of burning blindness.

He felt for them he truly did, a younger him had learnt the hard way too and it had taken days for his eyes to clear up. There were aways a few caught up in the blinding light, but that was all it took for it never to happen again.

“You okay, Davi?” Culus shook him gently, not yet opening his eyes fully.

“I’m good man.”

Slowly Davi peeked out from behind his hands, blinking furiously in the light. Even closing one’s eyes did little to stem the swarm of daylights that plagued those who had remained facing the explosion.

As Culus stood up, others followed suit. Gawking in horror at the decimated army beyond the walls, the Beast army come to a catastrophic stumbling halt. Laying strewn out in the open was a massive Beast army of smoking ruin as bizarre creatures, huge and small, tumbled from the skies.

Their pained howls frightened him and their unnatural stumbling and writhing freaked him out completely. Even though they had been brought low, few were dead. Those that were had turned on their allies, lashing out and attacking any who bumped into them. He could see they only did so in pain and fear.

“Time to go Davi”

“Already?”

“That wave is a lot bigger than usual. Things are going to get ugly now.”

Davi readjusted his handle over the bundle of grass.

“Did you see that massive flying one, with the hooked tentacles? How was it flying Culus and what are those hooks for? Why’s it burning…?”

He only paused after noting the sarcastic look from Culus.

“I saw it buddy.” Culus squeezed them through the crowd, reaching a much more spacious road now. “The Kungbu’, they’re the ones that control the mists. Stay on the right-hand side of the road, there still might be Sacred Artists coming down to join in.”

“You don’t want to watch a bit more?” Davi asked, displaying an unhealthy fascination.

“Are you trying to prove a point about the wall? I know its dangerous Davi, but people are going to start dying now. So no, besides, we got to get back to the Nest before the city empties of the Watch. The last thing we want is run into a Noble raiding party.”

“Oh man, I can’t wait to tell them we were out there when this all started.”

“You might want to go easy on some of the details there, buddy. Especially around the young ones.”

“No worries there. It’s you who’s going to have his hands full with the other bosses.”

Culus sighed, nodding his head in silent agreement as they climbed the Ascendant road, making much better time.

The other Nest leaders would be gathering, each hashing out varying jobs of exclusivity and news around the city. With the Watch numbers significantly reduced to down below, this was the ideal time to gather. Large crowds of unattended children always drew angry looks around the lower market, so it would only be the leaders gathering.