Shroud Arcanum

42  Chapter 41 -  Explode

Time passed, and as the moment came, Irys, Taking a deep breath, started using her power, and a narrow tunnel began to form through the earth. The soil shifted and reformed, creating a perfect line of sight for Liam's shot.

Liam's focus was palpable as he readied his Talonstrike ability. He took a moment, steadying himself as if waiting for the right moment. "Now!" He exclaimed, releasing the energy. A blazing projectile surged through the narrow tunnel, precisely seeking its target.

Irys sealed the tunnel almost simultaneously, her hands moving in fluid motions. They plunged deeper into the earth's embrace, protecting themselves from the impending explosion. The muffled sounds of distant detonations soon reached their ears, a grim reminder of the devastation they had just unleashed above.

On the ground, Victor, a man with tousled brown hair wearing an exoskeleton, maneuvered a jeep ahead of the advancing troops. Grumbling, he muttered, "Of all the rotten luck, being sent to scout the front lines. Haven't we already gathered enough intel? The commander seems hell-bent on making our lives difficult."

Beside him, Isolde, his no-nonsense companion, with her striking blue hair and wearing military combat armor, shot him a stern glance. "Enough with the complaints, Victor. We follow orders."

Rolling his eyes, Victor retorted, "Boss isn't around, Isolde. You can stop trying to impress him."

Isolde's jaw tightened, clearly irritated by the comment. "It's not about impressing anyone. It's about discipline. We're soldiers, remember?"

Sighing, Victor chose not to press the matter, especially knowing Isolde's strict adherence to the rules. He glanced at the jeep's radar, which, for the time being, showed no signs of activity. "I'd kill for some excitement right about now," he murmured, half hoping for an eventful turn to their reconnaissance mission.

Moments after his words left his lips, a chilling premonition seized Victor, a sensation he had come to recognize from countless brushes with death on the front lines. Without hesitation, he reached out, grabbed Isolde with one arm, and propelled them both high into the air using his exoskeleton's enhanced strength.

Isolde, taken off-guard, began to protest. "Let go! Victor, what the hell are you—" But her words were abruptly cut off, her complaint hanging in the tense air.

BOOM! BOOM!! BOOOM!!! BOOOOM!

A colossal chain explosion erupted right where they had been, its force so intense that the armored vehicles accompanying their two-thousand-strong troop formation were lifted off the ground. The magnitude of the blast sent some vehicles careening through the air, their metal frames twisting and churning in the inferno.

Others weren't so 'lucky' — directly caught above the blast's epicenter, they were instantly obliterated. Flames engulfed several units, trapping the soldiers inside and condemning them to a fiery end. The once organized troop formation was now chaos incarnate.

Amidst the roaring flames and dense smoke, piercing screams and frantic shouts for help were almost drowned out by the cacophony of exploding munitions and groaning metal. The air was thick with a mix of burning fuel, melting rubber, and the acrid scent of destruction.

Having propelled himself and Isolde to safety moments before the catastrophe, Victor landed a considerable distance away from the explosion's heart. His exoskeleton, designed for combat and agility, had certainly saved them both. Still holding onto Isolde, he released her, and they both looked back at the devastation, shock apparent in their eyes.

Isolde, usually stoic, muttered in disbelief, "You and your big mouth? What a jinx..."

Victor, coughing slightly from the inhaled smoke, cut her off, "Now's not the time. We need to regroup, see who survived, and contact HQ. Whoever did this knew exactly when and where to strike."

From the periphery of the explosion, the scattered cries of the wounded and the rallying shouts of surviving officers began to cut through the haze. As the initial shock wore off, Soldiers scrambled out of flaming vehicles, their shouts piercing the thick cloud of dust and smoke.

Some were not as lucky; vehicles overturned and crashed into the unsuspecting, ending their lives instantly. Others writhed in agony, limbs crushed under heavy debris.

Isolde swiftly activated her abilities, generating a frigid aura condensing into ice particles, suppressing the surrounding flames. Meanwhile, Victor desperately rummaged through his gear for his communicator, intent on sending a distress signal.

Yet, despite the turmoil, an insidious feeling of impending danger still gnawed at him. It felt like the blade of a guillotine dangled above, waiting for the right moment to descend. His eyes darted around, trying to pinpoint the origin of this lingering threat.

Isolde, noticing Victor's frantic glances, snapped, "What are you searching for? Contact HQ now!"

Victor quickly attempted to use his communicator, but a feeling of dread sank in as he realized there was no signal. "I'm jammed. Can't reach out. How about you?"

Her brow furrowing in concern, Isolde tried her device with the same result. "Same here. This can't be a coincidence."

Before either could react further, the ground beneath them started to fissure, splitting apart with a loud rumble. Sharpened earthen spikes shot up from the cracks. Both Isolde and Victor, driven by their honed instincts, jumped back just in time to avoid being skewered by the sudden earthbound assault.

Emerging from the protective shadows of the hole, Liam and Iryss maintained their stealth, swiftly positioning themselves for the imminent battle. Liam's grip on his Talonstrike tightened, the weapon almost humming with latent energy. Beside him, Iryss hefted her Warhammer, its intricate engravings reflecting the surrounding chaos.

The battlefield was a tapestry of devastation. Flames consumed vehicles and weapons, black smoke billowed skyward, punctuated by pockets of freezing ice, the handiwork of some enemy's unique abilities. From his quick assessment, Liam deduced that most enemy forces were either incapacitated or dead. The remaining few were ensnared in the chaos, desperately trying to regroup and save their comrades.

His piercing gaze scanned the area, locking onto two distinct figures - Victor, with his combat-ready exoskeleton, and Isolde, her azure hair billowing. The duo, undeterred by the destruction around them, seemed to be organizing what was left of their forces, presenting a threat that couldn't be ignored.

The dynamics of the battlefield had shifted significantly from their initial intelligence report. While there were supposed to be five Ascended, only two were in sight. The number of soldiers was far fewer than anticipated. This discrepancy could mean several things – the rest were hiding, setting up a counter-ambush, or the information they'd received was flawed.

Liam's thoughts raced. Capturing Victor and Isolde could potentially fill in the gaps in their knowledge. But with the element of surprise on their side, a swift elimination might be more prudent. Given the uncertainty of the situation, intelligence gathering seemed to be the most logical choice.

"We need to address those two," Liam whispered, nodding towards Victor and Isolde. Iryss nodded, looking excited for the combat, gripping her Warhammer tighter.

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