7 Months Ago
Erebus Field, Antarctic Centre
A titanic rock golem loomed above the shattered ramparts of the stronghold, its single molten eye sweeping across the battlements. Wherever its gaze passed, artillery emplacements sagged and ran like wax.
Behind it, the hell-volcano that had birthed the creature vomited black ash and rivers of liquid stone, a falling curtain of doom threatening to drown the world.
What had once been the guardian and benefactor of the stronghold was now its extinction—an ancient steward turned executioner, marching to annihilate the very lands it had once nourished.
As the sky vanished beneath billowing darkness, the staccato flashes of the railguns carved momentary silhouettes of the titan… a mountainous abomination heralding the end of their people.
People screamed. People burned. People died.
Captain Davis and his Irregular Company had led the assault—Davis and his famed "creepies," the most lethal of Erebus Field. But where were they now? They lay strewn beside Dell, their lacquered armour fused to melted flesh, their bones crushed like splintered twigs.
Even they had not made the slightest mark on the nightmare creature.
Only Dell remained standing—alone at the edge of the breach, crown blazing with furious bands of ochre and volcanic orange—as the golem laid ruin to everything he had ever sworn to protect.
Reinforcements never came.
So Dell accepted the call from the gate.
And Mount Erebus fell.
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Present Day
Morrowmound Outpost, Song Clan Territories In East Antartica
Dell watched the sun rise over the horizon, its light bathing the courtyard, the walls of the stronghold destroyed, having been destroyed by some titanic weight.
Despite the destruction of the stronghold, not a single dead body was to be found.
Dell spun his memory in his hand, the mist in the oracle's orb swirling with passion.
He pocketed it on his belt once more, as he heard a man awakening from his deep slumber.
Commander Reyvan had looked better before. His clothes were tattered and his body bruised.
But as he woke up, the most apparent thing on him was his confusion.
Until his eyes landed on Dell.
''Whe… Where are they?''
''I wanted to ask you the same question?''
''W-What?''
"Seishan and her sister - where are they?''
''Curse you bastard. Where are my men?'' He looked around the courtyard frantically.
''Ahh, that beam did a number on you didn't it.'' Dell sighed. ''They're dead, Captain Reyvan. I killed them… remember.''
A semblance of understanding and another emotion dawned on the Song warrior's face.
Unbridled fury.
The captain stood up.
Dell's crown formed, a pink gemstone glowing on its forefront.
''A war of attrition, it is.''
Dell absorbed the captain's body into his orb.
The captain had a truly powerful aspect, the ability to use his fury to radically accelerate his healing process.
But Dell's dormant ability allowed him to steal essence in proportion to the damage he caused an enemy.
Stealing half the captain's power, and pairing it with this ability, meant the captain and him had duked out a bloody battle, a true war of attrition, but Dell would always come out on top.
As he dusted his tattered clothing he began to walk north.
Towards Greenriver, the main evacuation stronghold of the Song army in their territory within East Antarctica.