Chapter 1.4: The Executioners Arrive

Above the skies of Ren’veil the Night Dreamer served as a mobile base for tens of hundreds of gunships flying in and out of the massive ship delivering supplies to the planet below and the injured to its many hospitals. 

No one aboard the ship was able to rest easy knowing that their brothers and sisters waged a battle to free the world from the shackles of the corrupt. 

Kallen and her adjutants were toiling away rerouting what forces they had left to the fighters below and the supplies, they had brought were now dwindling. 

“Captain, we are almost down to 32% of all resources we have, food, medical, ammunition, everything… The forces on the ground won’t last long if this keeps up and the ship’s power core is only at 40% due to the constant requests for fire support and all available power is being diverted to the hospital's nano-machine fabricators.” The Adjutants reported. 

“Do what you can deploy the solar harvesters, we can at least ease the burden on the Trinity nexus reactors… I know this is a bad choice but reroute power from the shields to the medical facilities.”

The captain leaned back upon her chair thinking of what would happen if the warriors failed and they were to be targeted next with dwindling supplies they may not be able to escape to the fleet if they should fall. 

Just before she could devise another plan alarms broke out all across the bridge as the Adjutants panicked as several warp rift signatures began appearing in the hundreds all across the planet.

Kallen asked what was happening as one of the adjutants scanned the Rift Drive signatures, code-named Executioners. She leaned back as a massive shadow loomed overhead, The leviathan drakes of the High Glaive executioners had come to aid them. 

She immediately ordered all gun crews to stand down knowing if they fire upon one of those monsters they will all be eaten whole. 

The leviathan looked directly at the bridge of the Night dreamer as it unleashed a mighty roar as it left the ship alone. For a moment they were safe until they received a transmission from one of the massive creatures. 

The Adjutants opened the channel to see the leader of the 7 High Glaive clans, Tyrannox Iron hammer, and his kin had come to Ren’veil to answer the call of their progenitor. 

He only advised the captain to continue supporting the forces on the ground and they shall take care of the rest for their kin.

Everyone began to worry as the Executioners are a very dangerous species of Xar-gezh that are remodeled by the twin destroyer viruses to follow the will of their progenitor and enact his/her will.

If they are saved or doomed will remain uncertain the only thing they can do is to continue on with their duty and aid the warriors on the ground. 

Meanwhile, inside one of the 7 Apex Leviathan dragon carriers that surround the planet, Tyrannox and his kin wasted little time on pleasantries as they began deploying their many warriors to the ground and the space around the planet.

Tyrannox and his Iron Demon clan were to deploy north and stop the New Kingdom’s reinforcements from arriving at New Hope.

Syphoria took her leviathans and secured the space around Ren’veil and began making floating hive fortresses from the nearby asteroids to act as a blockade.

Viprax and his Desert snake clan will head west to the desert regions and lay claim to the lands and kill the New Kingdom forces that hide there and create the Hidden tunnels network.

Vulterra will lead his Sky eaters to the southeastern region of the planet and eliminate the mounted warriors heading to the city. 

Levia will head to the eastern region of the planet as a large force of enemies that siege the forest city. Though he is reluctant to send Levia knowing that her clan has the highest adaptability and evolution out of all the clans. 

She would never disobey the will of her progenitor but she would gladly taste the genetic code of her enemies and create wondrous new warriors all in the name of the High Glaives.

Titus would lead his clan further south where a large number of refugees are held and provide relief for them as he is the voice of reason out of all the clans and he is the 1st humanoid high glaive to be born.

While their youngest Astaroth shall lead his newborn clan to New Hope and aid their progenitor though the responsibility is high.

Tyrannox showed compassion to his brother entrusting him with proving the High Glaives are no monsters and will stand true to the rules made by Faith and the kingdom. 

Astaroth saluted his brother as they began their assault while hundreds upon thousands of bio pods began raining down upon the planet. 

At the same time at the ruined defenses of New Hope city, the remaining knights and marine squads made their stand at the last defensive barricade before the city square. 

Khorn, Genji, and the other brawlers held their ground while Rex, Clayton, and Willow’s marines provided cover fire. Without any support, the defenses would fall and the people they came to protect would die, many of their brothers and sisters had already fallen to the New Kingdom. 

It would only be a matter of time before they fell as the enemy somehow used their newfound ranged weapons called the Boom rifle. Against the warriors though normally nothing can pose a threat to their armor made of living Xerrohmite steel but their bullets are laced with manna and spells that could easily tear through their armor. 

Before they could meet their maker several pods crashed all across the city and into the ruined buildings beside the defenders. 

As the dust cleared out they all saw a female Humanoid creature walk out of the pit as she drew her blade unleashing a wailing cry as tens of hundreds of bipedal creatures called Fang Wraith’s rushed out of the pit and mauled the enemy with rage and fury.

Like a pack of wolves, they hunt their prey together surrounding them and attacking in unison with their razor-sharp claws and acidic breath. They tore through the manna-infused armor of the new kingdom with relentless fury. 

While the Fang Wraiths served as the backbone of any High Glaive clan, their older sisters the Ragnophages served as their shock troopers and heavy support.

These dragons, human, snake-like hybrids could use the weapons of their kin. They can fire a volley of acidic spines from their backs and rip apart an enemy tank with their massive scythe arms or double jaws.

With their chitinous exoskeleton, they are able to withstand cannon fire easily and return the damage done to them by the enemy artillery. 

Though somewhat slow they make up for it with their armor and their ability to recycle bio-matter to heal their injured kin or allies.

With the High Glaives' arrival across the city, the New Kingdom was finally being pushed back as a number of apex variants of the Fang Wraith and Ragnophages attacked the enemy forces tearing them apart without mercy or respite. 

The demon watched from a distance as Kent’s children were making quick work of the enemy when a bio pod crashed near him. He turned to see Astaroth the newly born Clan Master was leading a party of Blade Masters clearing the path to his progenitor. 

The Blade masters are similar to their knight cousins in the Dragon-wolf kingdom but they do not rely on technology simply through self-improvement and evolution do they gain strength.

With each battle, the Blade masters grow and so do their living weapon partners. They serve as bodyguards and generals should the need rise yet they possess god-like skills in close-quarter combat.

The Blade masters showcased their strength in battle, cleaving several soldiers at a time and their speed could even rival that of a sport’s vehicle. Though they wear light armor the Blade masters can take hits that would normally kill a person.

With the path cleared the clan master and his bodyguards kneeled before their life-giver begging for forgiveness for their late arrival. He did not care for their tardiness yet he thanked them for answering his call was more than enough to make up for their boorish behavior.

The Demon tapped the young master in the shoulder stating that a time for talk shall come for there is still a battle to be won. He asked the young master to help him clear the path to the western gate and after that, he must take his warriors and aid the remaining Zerrohnians across the city.

Before they went to battle Astaroth assigned his only Daughter Banshee to protect the Progenitor after they helped him deal with the enemy. 

The three along with 25 other Sword Masters rushed towards the enemy tearing their battle lines apart with great ease. With the enemy lines, broken Astaroth swung his hammer down creating a massive shockwave creating a path into the city.

The demon rushed through the opening with Banshee in tow, He saw Rio was about to break the last line of defense.

With fury in hand, He punched the swordsman in the back of the head knocking him off his horse, and threw him out the western gate with all his might.

Kent rallied the remaining squads as they fought the New kingdom head-on while Banshee and her Blade Masters took charge of the city's defenses.

With the enemy routed out of the city and the Strike team rallying behind their lord. 

Rio and the New kingdom were given a run for their money as the High Glaives destroyed all their reinforcements.

The two once again clashed blades as the shockwave of each sword strike was fierce. Rio used all the tricks he had to stop Kent but little did he know that he was facing off against the demon.

Like a tiger playing with its prey, the demon entertained Rio by having his blades hit his skin only to find that his Manna Blades were breaking apart.

The demon smiled with a fiendish grin, He lashed out with wrath and rage. 

He easily tore apart the blades with a single bite followed by a powerful uppercut and a deep cut down his chest in penance for the wound he gave Kent earlier.

Just before he landed the final blow the swordsman pleaded for his life asking for a second chance. 

The Demon had little mercy for him but now he had none for endangering his ladies. Before he could deal the final blow the traitor summoned a massive blade wall blocking his attack.

One of his soldiers arrived on horseback and made his escape from the battle.

The demon slammed his fist towards the blade wall to see his prey escaping to the north.

"This is not over Demon, I will have my revenge!!!" Rio shouted furiously.

Before he could chase after him the demon purposefully let him go as his attention was needed elsewhere.

The Demon returned to the city with the Sky raiders losing more than half of its original fighting force and their remaining tanks were barely operational. 

He went back to city hall and held a council with the surviving captains and the 7 clan masters, the demon first addressed the 7 clan masters for coming to Ren’veil aiding them in their time of need.

Tyrannox stood proudly with his kin knowing praise from their progenitor was worth a million thanks to them. The Clan master quoted his progenitor that they followed the will of their queen and the Empress.

Lady Charlotte had asked the High Glaives personally to aid him despite going behind her husband and Grand Archon Victor Redridge. 

Syphoria excused herself in the meeting as a message was given to her by the empress queen Charlotte to their progenitor.

"My son, I know I failed you before when you stood alone in the trial and being accused of assassination were sentenced into Hell's gate for such a long time… I will gain your father's anger for what I am about to do… Know only that I love you and your brother and sister… I will not abandon you or anyone ever again… Tyrannox please help my son to the best of your ability, Syphoria I will entrust you with this message, and may Faith guide you to him." The message said.

She would risk it all to protect the interests of her people but her first duty will always be a mother to her son.

Overjoyed knowing that Kent’s mother never stopped believing in him despite all that happened. The Demon on the other hand did not doubt her words knowing that Charlotte had remained true to her promise to protect her children, unlike her husband.

Before they could reminisce Tyrannox and the other clan leaders reported that reinforcements are coming to Ren’veil. Despite being 3 weeks behind the Clan fleets, New Dawn and the Royal guard fleet are coming to Ren’veil with the entire kingdom’s current fighting force of 5.32 million knights and 12.91 million Zerrohnian marines with over 500,000 nomadic class warships in tow.

The other captains were happy to hear that their people had not yet forsaken the Sky Raiders after disobeying the Grand Archon’s command for their clan to be grounded until further notice.

But some and even Kent desired to see their Arc-capital ship the Storm Raider to lead the charge with their brothers and sisters.

Kent leaned his back for a moment asking the High Glaives to blockade the capital city of Ren’veil, within a few days' time the sky raiders will spearhead the assault on Arcadia.

The Demon suggested taking the opportunity to attack the capital while the enemy was still down, he merely wanted to make Nerro and Rio bleed for their crimes. 

The Sky Raiders were still mortal and could only do so much, they had been battling non-stop since they left the hyper lane and it would take its toll if they kept pushing themselves. 

The demon grunted heavily knowing what Kent said was true, unlike the High Glaives who do as they are asked with minimal free will with the exemption of the Blade masters and the clan lords. 

The Zerrohnians are more free-minded than their sister kin and are well versed in Improvisations and their imagination in performing their tasks is quite entertaining for him to watch. 

The Demon asked the captains to regroup and gather what men are still available and those men who lost their leaders are to be disbanded and fill up the troops they lost while training the Vai’len in the basics of combat. 

While the High Glaives are to continue their original duty while stopping the New kingdom at their tracks and investigate further on their forces. 

Kent and the Demon could agree on one thing during their battle against the New Kingdom, the soldiers were moving autonomously, soulless, and still fought despite losing their limbs which should not be the case. 

Titus and Viprax took charge of the investigation while Syphoria and Vulterra will route the wounded to the southern base made by Titus’s clan. 

Levia will remain in the eastern forest and help the Elves of Priah set up their defenses and sort out the Refugees. 

Before the meeting ended Kent and the Demon had a personal mission for Levia to find Reyna and the other heroes if they were still alive. 

The last thing he remembers before leaving Ren’veil, the Demon, remembered that the other heroes would return to the eastern forest and the southeastern port. 

Levia jumped in glee accepting her progenitor’s mission without question. 

With the council ending the Demon returned to the 2nd-floor Intensive care unit where the two rest. 

He sat down while Lily was performing her usual checks, she made some tea for Kent asking how did the battle go while she stitched up his wounds.

Kent sighed knowing the battle went somewhat poorly, she smacked her brother knowing that he was too distracted thus making him vulnerable to attack.

The doctor immediately mentioned that the Viruses should have healed his wounds without her doing anything at all but now his wounds are regenerating at a slower pace. 

She then took out a syringe with a strange green liquid and injected it into Kent’s body, rapidly increasing his regenerative abilities.

Lily sighed, smacking Kent in the back of the head knowing that he had not eaten in the past 40 hours and had only been drinking tea. 

“Kent, I told you time and time again that you should eat something… DRINKING TEA IS NOT FOOD… By the goddess I am surprised that the Viruses haven’t started their rampage or feeding frenzy… I just gave you a bio-stimuli filled with enough nutrients to feed a Zerrohnian for days… That should cover you for now but please get something decent to eat and some rest too… You are my Best friend and sister (by name of course) just don’t make me worry too much okay?” Lily asked while crying.

The Demon praised her yet again for her bravery but knowing that her bravery to smack him twice was braver than most could do against him. 

He permitted it for now since Lily is still Kent’s adopted sister, her concern is warranted agreeing to her request for the time being. 

“You have my thanks… For your… Concern… Lillian… But do not get overly comfortable. I am merely permitting you to do as you wish for Kent thinks highly of you but now I will take charge of guarding the two. While you get some rest as well… You have performed admirably this day, child." The Demon smirked.

Lily thanked them both as she left the room after stitching his wounds, he leaned back watching the two silently knowing they are safe and sound. But once they recover they will begin the battle to retake Ren’veil it would only be a matter of time before the Dragon-wolf Kingdom comes.

Until that time comes the two agreed on one thing, the sky raiders needed to free Ren’veil and give them the right of choice to either be free or stand with the Zerrohnians.

The future that lay before them filled with doubt and uncertainty it is up to the mortals of the world to decide whether to embrace it or remain clouded in darkness.