The empire's forces moved fast across the shattered northern badlands. Floating rock islands hung in the air, connected by unstable bridges of cracked stone.
Energy storms crackled between them, spitting golden lightning that could tear a man apart in seconds.
The anti-Pope's army was retreating hard toward the central fracture nexus, and Aiden had no intention of letting them reach it first.
From the sky-palace above, heavy cannons fired down in controlled bursts. Each shot smashed enemy positions and cleared paths for the ground troops.
Aiden led the main column himself, riding at the front while Captain Vespera coordinated the flanking units.
The ground shook constantly. New fractures opened without warning, swallowing soldiers and spitting them out as broken bodies.
They pushed through for six straight hours. When the Church monastery appeared on a massive floating plateau ahead, Aiden gave the order to take it.
