The Serpent's Back was a deathtrap. A narrow, winding pass flanked by steep cliffs, it was the perfect place for an ambush. As the Thunderers began their ascent, Aris ordered his scouts forward, their eyes scanning the terrain for any sign of movement. The air was tense, the only sound the clatter of boots and the occasional squeak of equipment.
It started with a single, sharp report of a rifle from the cliffs above. The man walking beside Aris, a young soldier named Corporal Benjin, went down with a cry of pain. Panic threatened to break the ranks, but Aris's voice cut through the chaos. "Cover! Get behind cover!" he roared, drawing his rifle.
The pass erupted in a cacophony of gunfire and explosions. The enemy, hidden in the natural caves and crevices, rained fire down on the Vanguard. Aris, utilizing the terrain to his advantage, led a small squad to flank the enemy position. It was a brutal, close-quarters fight, with the Vanguard using their heavy armor and superior training to overcome the dug-in defenders.
They were making progress when the real threat emerged: a towering, hulking mass of iron and flesh, one of the Crimson Legion's alchemical monstrosities. With its great hammer and spewing toxic fumes, it was a living tank, and it was heading straight for their position. Aris knew that if they didn't stop it, his men would be crushed. "Grenades! Now!" he commanded, leading the charge toward the metal beast.