The first roar rolled in like thunder creeping through the mist.
It wasn't just the howl of the wind sweeping the limestone cliffs. It was an ear-splitting, high-pitched vibration, interwoven with a trembling hiss from the rock crevices. The sound echoed from the east, crashing against the half-destroyed Eastern Mountain Forward Outpost of the Iron Empire.
Instantly, the courtyard exploded into a panic.
The soldiers in dull gray uniforms who had just been lying limply on the ground instinctively scrambled in every direction. Some tripped over rotting planks, while others snatched up their steam rifles with trembling fingers.
"THEY'RE HERE! THE MONSTERS ARE BACK!"
The hysterical scream of a single soldier sparked a fatal wave of chaos.
The Outpost Commander—his head wrapped in bloody bandages—froze in the middle of the courtyard. His bloodshot eyes stared up at the ashen sky. His voice caught in his throat. He had completely lost control.
