221 THE ASSAULT OF FORTRESS MYRONE
The desert horizon writhed like a living storm. From every direction, the alien horde advanced … an endless tide of bodies glinting under the crimson twin suns.
This time, it wasn't a raid.
It was an invasion.
The alarm horns wailed across the ramparts as soldiers took their positions. On the western wall, Liorea and Eryn stood side by side, wind whipping through their hair, the air thick with tension.
Below them, squads of soldiers rushed out carrying heavy black suitcases.
Liorea smirked. "Alright boys… open the packages."
The cases unfolded with a metallic hiss, shifting into sleek exoskeletal armor that wrapped around their bodies like liquid steel.
"Whoa—this armor's at least Rank BBB!" one soldier shouted.
"My strength's doubled! No tripled!" said another.
"I can carry a meta-artillery by myself!" a third laughed, hefting the massive weapon with ease.
"The jet packs work too!" someone else yelled, igniting thrusters and soaring into the smoky sky.
As rows of soldiers transformed into mechanized warriors, the defenses of Fortress Myrone surged with new strength and confidence.
But Damen didn't share their relief.
Beyond the dunes, two colossal shadows were stirring—massive figures cloaked in black aura. The Shadows of Anubis, Rank S monsters, harbingers of annihilation, were poised to strike.
Damen turned to Liorea. "Liorea, I need you to do something important. Take all the meta-artifacts from the fortress vault and transport them to Liberty City."
Liorea frowned. "Are we… abandoning the fortress, Boss?"
"I hope not," Damen replied. "You can return the treasures if we win. But if we fall, they can't fall into the enemy's hands."
She nodded, grimly understanding. "Alright."
"Go see Kalmer …. he'll give you access to the vault."
Without hesitation, Liorea vanished into the fortress halls.
Eryn stepped forward. "What about me? I can fight now."
"You stay on the walls," Damen said. "Protect as many soldiers as you can. But when it's time to retreat, go with them. Don't argue."
"And you?"
Damen smiled faintly. "Don't worry about me. I've lived in the desert for a year …. the desert won't kill me… if I don't return with you don't come back to look for me. When I'm ready, I'll return."
She nodded.
Moments later, the air erupted with thunder.
The mechanized soldiers opened fire, their meta-artillery blazing with radiant plasma. Each detonation tore massive gaps into the alien ranks. Hundreds of creatures fell in every blast…but for every hundred that died, a thousand took their place.
Damen watched the chaos below and clenched his fists. It was time.
His body ignited in black light, armor materializing as his aura condensed into a swirling halo. The ground cracked beneath him as Black Halo descended into the fray.
He raised his hand as energy gathered in his chest core and unleashed a searing plasma beam. The beam ripped across the battlefield, vaporizing hundreds in a single strike.
"Halo's Judgment"
The explosions echoed for miles.
Fueled by the improved Heart of Ra and enhanced by the Core of Electricity, Damen's Halo Judgment burned brighter and deadlier than ever before.
He tore through the horde like a storm of light, each blast leaving molten craters in the sand.
But the power came with a cost.
His energy reserves dropped fast — he could only manage five or six full shots before he needed to recharge.
When the energy waned, Damen leapt into melee, his bode blades dripping with plasma heat. He fought barehanded, smashing through chitin armor and splitting blue-blooded aliens apart.
On the fortress wall, soldiers cheered as his silhouette blazed through the enemy ranks.
"Our War God is back!"
"Hail, General Black Halo!"
Their voices rose like thunder. The sight of Damen rekindled their courage — and Fortress Myrone, for the moment, stood unbroken.
-----
Hours passed.
The battle raged like a storm of fire and steel. By dusk, the twin suns were sinking into the desert horizon, their dying light painting the battlefield in crimson.
Damen stood atop the walls, panting.
His armor was scorched, his energy almost spent. He felt his hair rise….the air itself trembled.
The real threat was coming.
He looked to the fading sky. "Without the suns, I lose the blessing of Ra". The healing radiance that had sustained him through countless wounds was fading with the light.
When the last sliver of sunlight vanished, the desert fell silent for a heartbeat….then shuddered. From beyond the dunes, the ground split open, and shadows rose from the earth like a plague.
The Shadow of Anubis appeared—a towering, skeletal being, draped in obsidian smoke. Its crimson scythe gleamed like a crescent of blood as it swung down toward the fortress.
"Damn it," Damen hissed. "I've already exhausted all my Halo Judgments."
His energy reserves were dry.
The scythe slammed into the fortress barrier with an earth-shattering boom. The force field cracked, ripples of golden energy bursting outward.
Hundreds of soldiers were thrown back, many torn apart by the shockwave alone.
"Evacuate!" Damen shouted into the comms. "Initiate full retreat!"
The order echoed through every channel.
The soldiers had practiced for this. Within moments, those on the walls began their withdrawal, leaving only the strongest mechanized units to cover the retreat.
The Hounds of Anubis swarmed the walls, tearing into the defenders. Damen blurred through the chaos, lightning trailing behind him as he slaughtered one after another…
…but there were too many.
The tide was endless.
Then the second Shadow of Anubis emerged from the horizon.
Its scythe raised high before cleaving downward. The impact shattered the already-cracked barrier.
"Damn it—the force field won't hold for much longer!" Damen yelled.
He activated his comm again. "All units, retreat! Everyone! Now!"
The mechanized soldiers disengaged, leaping from the walls to join the convoys below. Damen stood alone atop the crumbling ramparts, surrounded by swarming enemies.
Claws raked against his armor, hundreds of them. These mini cuts were Individually harmless…. but together, their numbers tore through even his reinforced armor.
Sparks and blood flew everywhere.
Still, Damen roared and fought on, energy flaring around him in bursts of black lightning.
He checks on his status update.
Name: Damen Dark
Strength Rank: A | Meta Rank: A | Blood Rank: BBB | Psychic Rank: A
Strength: 4692 | Charm: 5391 | Meta: 6134 | Command: 6135 | Blood: 2904 | Armor: 8366
Even with Rank AA armor he knew….it wasn't enough.
Not against them.
Below, the last convoys rolled out of the fortress gates. Thousands were dead already, their bodies scattered across the walls, but Damen couldn't afford to grieve.
Only the living mattered now.
Then came the final blow.
Both Shadows raised their scythes and struck together.
The fortress barrier shattered completely, the walls buckling and collapsing under the force.
Amid the destruction, a radiant glow surged skyward. A golden giant appeared—it was Lord Nicaesa's Anima Projection.
The spectral form towered as high as the Shadows, its armor etched with celestial runes. Nicaesa's voice echoed across the battlefield like thunder.
"You shall not pass this fortress while I still draw breath!"
The Anima raised a massive hammer and swung. One Shadow staggered back, howling. The other lunged, its scythe cutting deep into the projection's side.
"No…", Damen screamed but there was nothing he could do.