A large cloud of smoke rose in the distance, followed by the loud, churning sound of engines.
Then, one by one, fast-moving black dots appeared on the horizon.
Like a swarm of insects, more and more armored vehicles sped forward, forming what looked like a moving black patch of land.
The vehicles moved with frightening precision as if the narrow gaps between them didn't matter.
None of the drivers seemed worried about crashing.
The army of armored vehicles charged ahead with force, knocking over trees and scaring off animals in their path.
Inside one of the hundreds of vehicles, William sat shoulder-to-shoulder with his original squad members.
No one spoke. The squad sat quietly in their seats.
Only five members remained. Cain was still in the hospital.
The army of vehicles moved steadily for hours. Then, one by one, they slowed down and began forming three neat rows. Engines quieted.
They were getting close to enemy territory. Staying loud wasn't an option.
Leading the fleet were five massive trucks, each with a giant roller on the front.
These cleared a path through the thick forest, flattening anything in the way.
From here on, the battalion advanced slowly and quietly to avoid alerting any monsters too soon.
At the very front, a row of armored semi-trucks drove in tight formation, surrounded by heavily armed escort vehicles.
Inside one of the lead trucks sat Major General Isaac, Dr. Henry, High Mage Gerald, and a group of scientists in sealed suits.
The top three leaders gathered around a small table with a glowing holographic map between them.
"According to scouts," Isaac began, "the Mountain-Eaters have widened their patrol zones. They'll spot us as soon as we enter the poison fog.
That means we'll need to fight our way through hordes of Mountain-Eaters.
Gerald will stop them from tunneling under our vehicles and ruining our formation.
After that, we secure the Eclipse Orchid. The vehicles will form a barricade while the scientists uproot the plant.
Then, we escape the same way we came."
Isaac slammed his hand on the table for emphasis.
"That's the basic plan. Any questions?"
"This all sounds a bit too optimistic," Dr. Henry said. "What if things don't go as planned?"
Isaac nodded. "This is just a summary. My elite squads are trained for the unexpected. You just focus on the plant. Let us handle the rest."
He turned to Gerald. "Anything to add?"
"…"
"…Gerald?"
"…Huh? Oh—yes, yes. I agree." Gerald jolted upright with a loud snort.
His wrinkled face and white hair made him look older than the others.
His soft blue eyes met Isaac's, then Henry's. They stared at him silently.
Scratching the back of his head, Gerald gave an awkward smile. "Uhh… could you repeat the last part? I missed it. Haha—"
Isaac sighed. "Your job is to stop the Mountain-Eaters from digging under us."
"Right, right! Got it!" Gerald said, throwing up a clumsy salute.
Just then, Isaac's bracelet buzzed.
"General, we're ten minutes from the poison fog."
"Understood. Alert the elite units. I'll join them shortly."
"Yes, sir."
Isaac turned back to the others. "Get ready. We're entering enemy territory."
"Understood," Dr. Henry said.
"Duly noted," Gerald replied.
Moments after General Isaac stepped out of the truck, a loud warning blared across the entire army.
[Attention all soldiers! We are about to enter the poison fog. Please ensure your protective suits are on and prepare for battle.]
[Attention all soldiers...]
Red lights flashed as the alarm echoed through the convoy.
Soldiers scrambled into position. The air was tense.
Some climbed near the windows. Others mounted the tops of vehicles and strapped in tight.
A few manned the heavy guns on the roofs.
Within minutes, everyone was ready.
Aeris crouched on the vehicle's roof with her sniper rifle aimed forward. Drakna took his place as the driver. Lina was posted up top as a scout and shield mage.
Tonto, usually the healer, was now the team's main offensive mage.
Due to his lack of field experience, William was assigned as support and stayed seated inside with the healers.
The rest of the squad manned their windows, ready to fire.
Before they entered the fog, Gerald stood tall on top of a semi-truck.
He gripped his staff with both hands, its surface glowing a soft brown.
Wisps of liquid mana floated around the staff, dancing like ribbons.
In the next moment, the mana was absorbed into the staff. The glow turned brighter.
Gerald raised his staff high, then slammed it down onto the roof.
The magic transferred from the staff into the truck and surged through the entire convoy like a wave.
At that signal, the rammers leading the convoy roared forward into the fog.
They crashed through trees and brush with ease, clearing the way. Hundreds of vehicles thundered behind them, shaking the ground.
General Isaac had already abandoned stealth. With an operation this large, there was no way to stay hidden.
"General, Mountain-Eaters detected—200 meters ahead!"
As expected, the moment they entered the fog, they were spotted.
The earth trembled harder as a massive horde of Mountain-Eaters approached.
"100 meters!"
"50 meters!"
"30 meters!"
Then the red dots on the radar stopped.
"They're about to surface! Fire on sight!" the radio officer shouted.
Realizing that couldn't dig further for some reason, the Mountain-Eaters decided to surface.
"OPEN FIRE!!"
A storm of bullets rained down on the monsters, shredding their rocky hides.
Gunfire and spell blasts echoed through the forest.
After a few minutes of nonstop firing, the battlefield went quiet.
The vehicles rolled forward again, speeding deeper into the fog.
Mangled Mountain-Eater bodies were scattered everywhere.
Still on alert, the soldiers scanned the landscape, waiting for a second wave.
Five minutes passed. Then ten. Then thirty.
No second wave came.
Inside a heavily armored truck, General Isaac stood surrounded by floating monitors, his frown deepening.
"General Isaac, something's wrong. The Mountain-Eaters stopped attacking."
"I can see that," Isaac said, eyes still locked on the monitors.
"Could it be an ambush, sir?"
Isaac paused. "It's possible. Or they destroyed the plant and retreated.
Either way, we underestimated their intelligence."
"What should we do next?"
"We keep moving. Tell the army to spread out."
"Add extra protection around the scientists and their gear. And send scouts to search for hidden Mountain-Eaters tracking us."
"Yes, sir."
Then Isaac raised his bracelet and called someone:
"High Mage Gerald, I need your help."
***
In the hazy poison mist, visibility was low. The sound of trees falling and being crushed echoed through the forest.
As the noise grew louder, headlights pierced the fog one by one.
Hundreds of armored vehicles rolled out, their lights shining like glowing bugs through the dense green mist.
It had been thirty minutes since the Mountain-Eaters' first attack. But since then—no movement. No ambush. No scouts. No fleeing enemies.
The forest was eerily silent.
"Scouting Team C, what's the status of the Eclipse Orchid?"
"Scouting Team C, please respond!"
"Apologies, sir... we've lost track of all Mountain-Eaters in the area."
"What do you mean?!"
"Twenty minutes ago, they all dug deep underground and vanished. We tried to trace them but only found signs they moved east."
"So you're saying they left the Eclipse Orchid unguarded?"
"Negative. We still can't detect anything past the purple mist."
"I see. Hold your position and report any changes."
"Roger."
The officer turned to General Isaac, who stood by a holographic map surrounded by top commanders.
"It's a trap," one officer said. "They want us to walk into it."
"But why risk fighting near the Orchid? They might destroy it."
"Maybe that's their goal—to stop us from getting the plant."
"But the Orchid is a powerful weapon. Would they destroy it without a fight?"
As the officers debated, Isaac stayed silent, deep in thought.
After a moment, he turned to Gerald.
"High Mage Gerald, your thoughts?"
"Hmm? Well... we barely know anything about this place. So, let's assume the worst—that they have something that can wipe us out without damaging the Orchid."
"Fair enough. When we reach it, can you scan the area for ambushes?"
"Of course."
Twenty minutes later, the army reached the edge of the mist. Beyond it stood the Eclipse Orchid, a giant plant hidden in the haze.
"Gerald, please begin the scan."
"Understood."
Gerald's eyes glowed sky-blue as mana gathered around his staff, turning the gemstone a deeper shade of blue.
The glow spread down the wooden shaft, changing it into something that looked like a shimmering crystal.
Then, with a sudden flash, a bright blue beam shot from the staff. It cut through the thick poison fog and slammed into the wall of purple mist ahead.
A moment later, the fog split.
A clear path opened where the beam passed, cutting through the thick fog.
The mist pulled back, forming a tunnel.
At the end of it, the Eclipse Orchid stood tall—now fully visible to the army.
Gerald squinted into the distance. "I don't sense any Mountain-Eaters. They're either too deep underground or just beyond my range."
Isaac frowned. The Eclipse Orchid stood before them, wide open and unguarded.
"Trap or not, we're here to take that plant."
He gave the order.
"All units, move in! Prepare for an ambush!"
The army surged forward in a wide formation, crushing brush and trees beneath their wheels.
As they neared the base of the Orchid, its size became clear.
The plant was over five stories tall. Its massive stem loomed above, casting a faint shadow over the field.
Isaac raised his voice. "Form a barricade around the plant!"
Armored vehicles circled the Orchid, forming a protective wall. Giant semi-trucks rolled in and stopped close to the stem.
Dozens of scientists poured out, all wearing sealed hazmat suits and carrying strange tools.
They began preparing to uproot the Orchid.
But before they could begin, the ground collapsed.
A sinkhole opened around the Orchid, pulling in vehicles and soldiers.
"Gerald!" Isaac yelled
Gerald had already prepared a spell. His eyes and staff glowed brown as he cast.
A solid platform formed, catching the falling troops and halting their descent.
The formation, however, was broken.
"It's an ambush! Stay alert and stick with your teams!"
Then the ground started to shake.
"Wait—!"
Sensing that something was wrong, Isaac tried to warn his soldiers.
But he was too late. Jets of dark green liquid erupted from the soil, all around the army.
Soldiers instantly turned pale. They recognized it immediately.
"Toxcarver poison! Don't let it touch you!"
But it was too late. The poison burst from the ground in high-pressure streams, melting armor, burning skin, and paralyzing soldiers.
Panic broke out.
"All mages, put up barriers! Healers treat the poisoned! Everyone else, get inside your vehicles!" Isaac shouted, his voice amplified with magic.
His words snapped the soldiers back into action. They set up shields, pulled wounded inside, and braced for more.
"Gerald! Stop the poison!"
Before Gerald could respond, something slammed into Isaac's truck.
The vehicle rolled, crashing across the field.
***
On William's side—
William's squad regrouped inside of the vehicles.
Two members had been hit by poison and were barely conscious.
William treated them quickly but then heard a deep rumble in the distance.
Aeris glanced out the window. "Our formation's broken. We need to regroup. Drakna, drive!"
"On it," Drakna said, stepping on the gas.
They regrouped with nearby squads.
Then Isaac's voice returned, sounding in their earpiece.
"Mountain-Eaters are approaching from the east! All units, defend the Orchid's east side!"
"Team Alpha, Charlie, and Eagle! Guard the scientists! They're being—Ugh!!"
His message cut off with an explosion.
"You heard him! Move!" Aeris shouted.
Vehicles turned hard and sped toward the eastern flank.
As the soldiers reached the eastern flank, they formed a new defensive line, just like the first.
Suddenly, Isaac's voice came through their earpieces—shaky but clear.
"The anti-dig spell is down. Do not bunch up! Spread out and engage the enemy! Use box formation!"
The army quickly adjusted, spacing each vehicle 30 meters apart as they charged into the enemy line.
Then chaos erupted.
Mountain-Eaters burst from the earth. Soldiers fired spells and bullets in all directions.
***
Far to the north, the ground was torn apart. Trees were uprooted. Soil blasted away.
Two men faced two monsters.
One beast was a giant crocodile, steaming with red energy. The other was a crystal-armored insect walking on two legs.
Isaac panted. "Two level-4 threats... they really care about that plant."
He turned to Gerald. "Can you handle them?"
"I'm fine," Gerald said calmly. "But the crystal one... my magic isn't working on it."
"We don't have time. We're losing people."
"I know," Gerald replied, raising his staff. "Let's end this."
***
William served as a support in his team. His main job was to treat injured teammates.
He could help with offense now and then, but his attack spells were weak and short-ranged.
That's why he was assigned as a paramedic.
The battle was brutal.
Their armored vehicle swerved constantly to dodge attacks from the underground Mountain-Eaters.
The ground shook as monsters chased them, and Drakna struggled to keep the vehicle from flipping or getting surrounded.
Inside, chaos reigned. William clung to his seat, trying not to get thrown around.
It was worse for the gunners. Mounted at the windows, they had to keep firing while the vehicle rocked violently.
Gunfire echoed. The earth rumbled. Screeches from the monsters rang in William's ears. He froze with fear.
"Hey, rookie, snap out of it!" the team's healer shouted, grabbing his shoulders.
"This isn't the time to freeze! Look around! Our teammates are out there fighting.
Someone could get hurt any second—or this vehicle could flip!
You need to stay sharp! Got it?!"
"Y-Yes!" William shouted, forcing himself to focus.
It worked. His hands and eyes glowed purple and green as he prepared gravity and healing spells.
Still gripping his seat, he listened closely for cries of pain and watched for injuries.
Thankfully, the gunners and the squad on the roof were still okay.
The glowing blue shield around their vehicle had held up—so far.
"Watch out! A Driller is coming straight at us!" Lina's voice rang through their earpieces.
Drakna yanked the steering wheel. The vehicle tipped dangerously, trying to stay upright.
But before it could recover, the Driller burst from the ground and slammed into them, flipping the whole thing over.
"Damn it! Everyone out! Flip the vehicle before we're swarmed!"
The soldiers jumped out. Using their inhumane strength and help from mages, they flipped the 26-ton vehicle upright.
But in the time they used to flip the vehicle, the Driller had circled back and charged again.
Its horn crashed into the forcefield, shattering it.
"Back inside! We can't take that thing now!" Aeris yelled.
The team scrambled onto the roof as the driver hit the gas, trying to escape.
"We're retreating until the shield recharges. Lina—just block the monsters. Don't waste energy killing them. Protect the vehicle!"
"Captain! The Driller's chasing us underground! I tried to trap it, but it broke through!" Lina shouted.
"Where's it coming from?!"
"Six o'clock! Right behind us!"
Aeris ran to the rear. Her rifle glowed red. She aimed at a moving hump of dirt and fired into it.
The digging stopped—for a second.
But the Driller was the least of their worries, as a massive Mountain-Eater came crashing down from the sky.
Right in the path of the moving vehicle.
BANG!
A massive Mountain-Eater slammed into them from above.
The vehicle flipped and was pinned beneath the monster's body.
The good news: the monster seems to be dead.
The bad news: their vehicle was trapped.
"Climb onto the monster's body!" Aeris ordered, then called for backup.
"This is Hunting Team B-12! Vehicle down! Requesting immediate support! I repeat—!"
The crash had drawn attention. Dozens of Mountain-Eaters were charging in from all sides.
"Captain! The Driller's not dead! It's coming from below!" Lina warned.
"Tonto—barrier! Drakna—get ready! Everyone else, stay close!" Aeris commanded.
With nowhere to run, they braced for battle.
"Go all out! Don't worry about mana! Just keep firing!"
Bullets and spells flew. William stood frozen. His spells couldn't reach far.
He stayed back, holding his healing magic, waiting to be needed.
But watching his squad fight while he stood by made his chest tighten.
"The Driller's charging!" Lina shouted.
"Drakna!"
"On it!"
The Driller erupted from below, horns aimed at them.
Drakna jumped, hammer glowing bright orange.
"Skyforge Smash!"
His hammer struck the horn with a thunderous crash. The Driller's horn shattered, and it crashed into the dirt.
Aeris aimed and shot it in the head—killing it.
"They're still coming!" a soldier shouted, smashing a lizard-like monster.
Another soldier finished it off with a gunshot.
The wave didn't stop. More Mountain-Eaters charged in.
"Don't let them break your armor! The poison mist will kill you!" Aeris warned.
"Keep firing! Don't let them get close!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"There's too many! We'll be overwhelmed!"
"Hold the line! Don't stop!"
As the monsters closed in, some gunners were forced into melee combat.
William and the main healer finally snapped into action. Soldiers' armor was getting torn apart in the close fights, and poison from the mist seeped into their wounds.
William rushed from one teammate to another, casting healing spells without rest.
Out of nowhere, the massive corpse beneath them began to tremble.
'No way…' Aeris thought, panic setting in.
Before anyone could react, the monster's body burst open.
Aeris raised her gun—but froze.
A man jumped out. He wore similar armor but in a darker color.
He looked just as confused as they were.
Still, the squad recognized the badge on his chest.
He didn't speak. His face was full of questions—but his body moved.
Clenching his fists, he charged the swarm.
A blue shockwave burst from him, tearing through the Mountain-Eaters.
He blasted them apart with every hit.
Minutes later, the battlefield was silent.
He walked back toward the team.
"Who's in charge? Why are you here?"
Aeris saluted. "Sir, our vehicle was crushed. We had no choice but to hold this position."
He narrowed his eyes. "You're supposed to be on the east side of the Eclipse Orchid."
Aeris blinked. "Sir, this is the east side."
"No, it's—"
The man's bracelet buzzed.
"Tess?"
"WHY HAVEN'T YOU PICKED UP?! AND WHY ARE YOU ON THE EAST SIDE?!"
"What? I was on the north side—I swear! Fighting the Horn Beetle!"
"I DON'T CARE! THE GENERAL WANTS YOU BACK AT THE ECLIPSE ORCHID—"
The call suddenly cut off as the man's bracelet turned red—just like everyone else's.
[Attention! All soldiers return to the Eclipse Orchid immediately.]
[Repeat, return to the Eclipse Orchid immediately.]