NOTICE:

This part of the story is soon going to draw to its end. I don't know when but the chapter countdown has begun. This DOES NOT mean that the story has ended.

It just means that the next part will come in under a different title. For very important reasons relating to the story the next part cannot continue under this title.

Due to the complexity of the next part of the story my posting will be as it will be...meaning I don't know when I will be posting as I will be busy with world building and real life.

Chapter 40.1

*** Kennan Oswald ***

This morning…

“We will be raiding the spider nest today boys and girls,” High Commander Ron Gosta. To my left and right were my fellow Company Masters. “As you have heard an entire company was sent in two weeks ago and was forced to retreat. The tenacity and viciousness of these spiders is on a level of its own. They are intelligent and work well together, when you go down there keep in mind that this will be one army versus another. It is not just an extermination mission.

“The plan this time around is to smoke them out, we do not know exactly how large their numbers are which is why high council has agreed to send an entire division to this site. That’s a thousand two hundred warm bodies, this will be the single largest operation we Nocturnum Soles will be a part of since the fire gates.”

“What about air support?” I asked.

“A fire gate is being constructed as we speak,” the high commander replied. “It is unclear whether or not we will have air support, however we will have artillery, and a whole lot of it.”

Now...

“Keep ranks until they are upon us!” I screamed into my comms, there was far too much chatter on the airwaves but thanks to the unique commander’s channel we could deliver our messages to those below us by superseding their voices.

Just a few moments ago dozens of small teams started filling every hole in the mountains with large smoke canisters. Most of the mountain range within view was covered in a slight haze of dark grey smoke.

After they retreated the bugs started to scramble out of their holes, they were big ugly black and red spiders with mandibles large enough to bite a man’s head clean off. They were easily twice the size of any man on average. There were a number of unique spiders, big bloated ones, and even some with wings.

The spiders were disoriented from the smoke but within moments a few of the larger spiders began forming up their ranks. The range was circled, each company was camped around a certain point with the simple task of defending their location. My own company was set in the middle of a small valley, a perfect target for the spiders.

Three large waves totaling at least twice our own number rushed down the mountain sides towards us.

“Prepare to fire!’ I commanded taking my post.

Our “Fortress” was a quickly constructed fortification, it was really a metallic square with high walls mounted with all kinds of armaments. Speaking of which, they began spitting fire once the spiders were in range of their cannons. The mounted guns had their own orders.

As soon as the spiders were within acceptable range of lesser guns I ordered the commencement of the battle.

“Fire at will!” The gun in my hands shook with familiar kickback. The rounds easily did their job of penetrating the spider exoskeletons, unfortunately they are resilient creatures.

The more adept mages in my company began opening with their spells as the spiders reached the walls. Fire, lightning, ice projectiles, and other high level magic began to take form across the battlefield.

“Armor up and take to your swords!” I commanded powering the seal written on my chestplate, it was fueled by diamond capacitors. I pulled the claymore buried into the floor near me and prepared for close quarter combat. “Off the walls, push them back!”

The spiders were coming in endless waves, there appeared to be no end to them as they constantly flowed from the holes in the mountains. The original six hundred or so that came at us had slowly grown to an uncountable number.

We were going to be hard pressed to survive this bout.

“Artillery,” I called out switching my signal towards one that would connect me to the battlefield control HQ. “We need artillery support!”

“This control,” a voice replied. “A scout has already alerted us to your situation. Brace yourself package on its way.”

“Brace for artillery impact!” I switched back to the commander channel.

A few seconds later a loud screeching sound was heard cutting across the sky a bare moment before parts of the mountain became clouds of roaring thunder, dust, debris, and spider parts. The spiders were shaken given us the the needed advantage to push them back and off the walls.

We started forming footholds beyond the walls.

“This is control,” the voice over the comms said. “Air support is on its way.”

*** High Commander Ron Gosta ***

“How goes it?” Vice Commander Roland asked. He was in charge of a much larger force than I, though I held a higher rank. Under the orders of our lord the vice commander was given command of thirty thousand men pulled from the Boraian military, they were completely untrained in our form of combat. It was to be left up to the vice commander to give me functional divisions. Today he had brought a large portion of them to participate in the battle and get real experience.

“As best as it can,” I replied motioning towards the map before me. It had automated pieces on it that were programmed with seals and powered by mana. These pieces displayed the real time locations of their represented counterparts.

Outside the command center the roaring of engines could be heard as airships crossed over the expanded fire gate. The added air power was going to be a whole lot of help.

“Why do you think the lord wants to conquer the spiders?” The voice commander asked. “There is nothing to gain from exterminating them.”

“I won’t pretend to understand our lord,” I replied. “If he wants the spiders dead then I will kill spiders.”