neobear

675 - The Four

Somewhere in the central plains of the Protectorate

A massive sinkhole had unknowingly appeared overnight on the plains., its width huge enough to swallow a city whole. Creatures out of nightmares had appeared and nearby work farms and villages were decimated, only stains of dried blood and destruction remained behind.

A lone creature looking like a centaur slowly crawled out of the sinkhole and its nostrils flared as it took in the surrounding scents. It let out a deep sigh befor...

674 - Flying Beasts

Skies over the Old World

The atmosphere between the three UN airships was grim as the crew watched the lands below them split open and villages and towns were swallowed up by either the earth or hordes of unknown creatures. Following behind the tiny UN flotilla were dozens of airships of various sizes, all clinging after the safety offered by the UN flotilla as the locals abandoned their homes and took to the skies in a variety of airships for safety.

"Why are we not saving those ...

673 - From the Depths

The Old World, UN FOB, Fort Anchorage, Admin Cave Medical Station

Dr. Sharon was at her office in the medical station settling some final details before she get transferred back to the New World when the earthquake hit. At first, it was a slight tremor, barely noticeable that quickly grew stronger. She looked up and frowned at the swinging lamps just as the medics at the station came rushing in, "Doc! Another quake!"

"You all know the drill!" She quickly replied, knowing that ther...

672 - Twilight Zone Part 2/2

The Old World, UN FOB, Fort Anchorage

The cliff walls cracked as strong tremors rocked the cove, sending chunks of stone crashing down. Panicked base personnel and the Banished inhabitants followed orders from the remaining military troops in the base and took shelter inside the fortified bunkers while others boarded the heavily armored UNS Vengeance for safety.

Captain Nemo cursed as a large chunk of rock, almost the size of a Viper, landed on Flight Deck B causing the ship to wo...

672 - Twilight Zone Part 1/2

Hymns and sweet laughter filled the air. White puffy clouds floated leisurely across the land with playful winged beings flitting in and out of the clouds. Upon closer inspection, one would recognize those winged beings as angels. Marble white structures dotted the landscape and Ramuh sat contently on his holy throne and all was right with the world.

Angels carried trays of fruits filled with celestial energy and fed them to Ramuh on the sides. Hundreds more angels carrying petitions li...

671 - Tying Up Loose Ends Part 2/2

"Whoa!" Marine Major James cried out as the ground beneath his feet trembled. Lately, there has been more and more such quakes occurring and none of the egg heads knew what was causing the earthquakes. After a while, the tremors stopped and his men who paused their boarding looked around in confusion until a sergeant started yelling at them to move their asses.

"What is fuck is wrong with this place?" Mills sighed as he picked himself off the floor. "Even the fucking ground is trying to...

671 - Tying Up Loose Ends Part 1/2

The Old World, The Loose Confederation

The crystal goblet shattered and its contents splashed out but the dwarvan dressed in a rich green doublet ignored the mess as he stared off into the distance. Shards of crystal exploded outwards but strangely enough, none of the sharp pieces left even a mark on the clenched fist of the dwarvan, in fact, he didn't even seem to have noticed anything as he stood there motionless.

"Lord Roth!" His retainers cried out in surprise and one of them ...

670 - Divine Sense

The Old World, Protectorate - Iron Kingdom Border

There was a loud clank as a part of the warped metal was wrenched back by a metal bar. Dozens of hands joined the metal bar and soon, an opening large enough for an adult to squeeze through. Eager bodies quickly squeezed into the darkness and soon, items were tossed out of the hole to waiting hands.

The items were quickly grabbed up and the people scavenging for anything useful quickly went through the broken remains of a Protector...

669 - Anxiety Part 2/2

"Even so, we will need to pass through the Iron Kingdoms," Magister Thorn sighed. "At the most, we can make use of the chaos between the Protectorate and the Iron Kingdom to get through?"

"But it still doesn't solve our resupply issues..." Trism said. "Unless we get a wing ship to drop supplies for us along our route?"

"It could work," James Bone, CO of the Marines contingent remaining behind, suddenly spoke from the corner of the room. "Just that we need to have those supplies dr...

669 - Anxiety Part 1/2

The Old World, UN FOB, Fort Anchorage

Saphia was pacing up and down the side of the runway where the three UN airships were parked. After every few steps, she would stop and look over at the work crew that was still moving stacks of crates and other things onboard the airships before she let out a sigh and resumed her pacing. The hard rock beneath her claws was slowly being worn out by her relentless pacing.

Finally, a small wagon came rolling over and a person whose height barely...

668 - Retired

The welcome party slowly winded down and after the majority of the guests had departed, a tired Sherene carried Coa up to the bedroom to rest. Blake left the bedroom after ensuring Sherene and Coa had fallen asleep and made his way to his study. The waiting officers stood up when he entered and waited for Blake to sit down behind his desk before they took their seats once more.

"Sir, is it true you intend to retire?" Chief of Air Force, Commander Tommy unable to keep his silence anymore...

667 - Resignation Part 2/2

The Old World, Tri Border between the Protectorate, Iron Kingdom and the Domain of the Dragons

"PUNISH THE SINNERS!" A gigantic figure with glowing white eyes roared. Behind the giant, circling in the skies was a massive snake as dark as the void screaming at the sun. "THE SUN! THE SUN!"

Leung jolt up from his dream and looked around his surroundings in confusion and found himself in his bedroom. The warm naked body of Nerssia was curled up against him on his left and he could sen...

667 - Resignation part 1/2

The New World, United Nations, Sawtooth Mountain Airbase

Massive wheels lined with treated slime squeaked loudly as they hit the tarmac. Friction between the two surfaces, burnt off the rubbery slime and smoke trailed behind the turning wheels as the wing ship taxied to a stop on the runway. The gigantic flying wing halted right before a tiny goblin waving a pair of light wands excitedly and a boarding bridge was slowly extended out to the side forward hatch while its rear cargo hatch s...

666 - Devil's Due Part 2/2

"Don't be afraid, I am here," Blake consoled Sherene. "We will be home soon."

Sherene nodded as she calmed down and she looked out of the viewports, seeing a world of storm and lightning. The decks of the wing ship vibrated and together, a dull series of booms could be felt and heard as the turrets of the wing ship unleashed a barrage of cannon fire at a large fast approaching piece of floating rock.

"This storm feels so... evil," Sherene shuddered as she saw the rock get blown in...

666 - Devil's Due, Part 1/2

Trism secretly rejoiced as he sized up the dragons lined up before him on the decks of the internal hangar of Bay Three of the Vengeance. He purposed put on a face of hesitation while he eyed the expectant expression on Blue Thunder's face, the cold but with a hint of excitement on Rastraz's expression and finding the sobbing and anxious Saphia.

He came to a realization that ever since becoming an Intelligence agent, he had learnt how to read people, from their facial expressions to mic...

665 - Family!

The rear facing engines roared and coughed out black foul smelling smoke as massive contra propellers of the waiting wing ship slowly came alive, the propeller blades turning faster and faster until they became a blur to the naked eyes. The wind generated by the spinning blades kicked up a constant spray of seawater as the wing ship floating next to the docking pier powered up its engines, ready to take off at any moment.

Dozens of Marines carrying sea bags and their personnel gear, mar...

664 - Domain of the Dragons

In barely a few hours, banners, flags and pendants taken from the lockers of the UNS Vengeance were in full display all around the hidden cove. As the sun slowly set down over the horizon, a huge bonfire was lit on the beach where the high spirited crew and soldiers of the UN celebrated their victory. The people of the Banish joined in the celebrations shyly except for the laughing children who ran around the beach with sticks of skewered meat and potatoes.

Blue Thunder happily shoved a...

663 - A Call For Celebration

Blue Thunder hummed happily to himself as he leaned out of the 'window' dug out of the cave on the side of the cliff. He looked down at the cranking elevator rising up next to his cave abode and cheerfully called out at the figures inside. The elevator came to a halt just next to an opening in the cliff where one of servicemen inside the elevator unlatched the gate and gave way for the Princess's party.

Next, they wheeled a large cargo trolley filled with barrels of fish and locally gro...

662 - Host of Ramuh

With eyes glazed over, Leung was in a world of his own, his mind wandering aimlessly. He was seated on a raised platform, exquisitely decorated that rose a couple of stories tall and on a similarly overly ornate throne. Spread out beneath his feet, were hundreds and hundreds of kneeling people.

From his vantage point, the entire top deck of a massive airship was filled with people all similarly dressed in red. The tower throne which he was seated upon, overlooked packed open deck of the...

661 - Rebel

The powerful whirlwind kicked up by the roaring iron wyvern nearly knocked the dwarven down. Thankfully, the Cartel Grand Lord Hammerfall reached out to steady his old friend from falling on his butt as the iron transport with its twin spinning blades rose higher and higher. Grand Lord Hammerfall grinned as he waved goodbye to the transport in the skies and laughed happily. "Free at last!"

Lord Copperstone sighed wistfully at the disappearing flying machine in the skies before he picked...

660 - Aces

The majesty of the coastal line stretched out before Brendanus's eyes as he rode on his Soarer. A yellow band was painted on the rear hull of the tear drop shaped Protectorate ornithopter, marking him as the Sky Leader of the several other ornithopters flying in formation alongside him. Dozens of symbols arranged in neat rows, depicting a chained tome or a burning scroll, further marked his accomplishments and kills.

A chained tome indicated the destruction of a military airship and Bre...

659 - Shut Down

Power and strength coursed through every fiber of Leung's being. The soul rending pain which he had suffered became a dim memory as if it had never happened as wave after wave of comforting warmth encompassed him. He stood up, feeling taller and stronger as if his body had been changed. He recalled a scene from some movie about a man bitten by a spider and felt it very similar to how he was experiencing things now.

He heard a choking cry and he turned around, seeing two woman struggling...

658 - Soul Torn

Leung froze as he stared at the glittering crystal idol in the middle of the chamber. Soft angry hisses could be heard from inside his soul as Nerssia walked over, carrying the idol in her hands. She took before Leung and the Duchess and declared in triumphant, "Lord Ramuh stands before you! Kneel in His presence and confess all your sins!"

"Eh... Can I... I mean we... not do that?" Leung tried to joke his way out as he felt a strange sense of forbidding from the crystal idol. "I know h...

657 - The Creator and Judge of the World

Inquisitor Campbell was feeling excited with his new assignment as his fleet was recalled back from the frontlines of the Cartel. He was already bored with the daily torture of the heretical short demi people for their confessions and sins, until an urgent order came through from the Judges informing a crime most foul had occurred back home.

As the nearest Inquisition Fleet, he had been pulled away from his important duties of enforcing Law and Order upon a lawless and orderless land. A...

656 - Fight Your Battles and I Fight Mine

Leung followed behind the girl Inquisitor while being surrounded by a bunch of ultra fanatics dressed like some 21st century B grade Japanese action hero flick. Next to him was the Duchess whose expression was unreadable as she followed along, her hands empty after being disarmed by the Protectorate soldiers that found them.

"Relax," Leung said in a low voice to the Duchess. "I... I will get us out of this... alive..."

Duchess Manarva only shook her head at his words and ignored h...

655 - Family Reunion

Leung Chun Kok, of Terran descent, formerly a member of the United Nations of Man Fleet Command, now deserter and a cursed apostle of Apep, nervously watched the two women of opposing hostile ideology face off against each other.

One dressed in form fitting crimson and gold jacket, ending in long pants and boots. The ritualistic scars marking her face did not take away the beauty of her looks and instead gave her a sort of wild primal beauty. She defensively stood there holding a dagger...

654 - Ticket to Freedom

"This is preposterous!" A crumpled scroll slapped against the head of the kneeling messenger. Standing behind a wide writing desk, the Grand Bishop of the Clergy glared at the bearer of ill tidings. "This message comes from within our lawful and orderly lands?"

"Y- Yes, y- your Greatness!" The messenger replied in fear, his head flattened against the glossy red marble tiles. "I- It was sent by a Judge!"

"And where is the reminder of this message?" The Grand Bishop settled back dow...

653 - All Hail Firepowaar!

"Claymore One, this is Beholder, you have air support in the AO," The surveillance wing ship circling above the battle reported. "Callsign Warrior. Channel Four. Over."

"Roger!" Tyrier yelled back over the din of the battle to his comms. His rifle locked back as he fired emptied his remaining magazine at a screaming Beetle Head just several meters away, shredding his magic barrier and turning his scream into a dying gurgle. "Reloading!"

He ducked down behind the crumbling wall and...

652 - Aarborn Gobs To Dee ResKill!

"ONE ROUND AWAY!" Hitsu vaguely heard some one scream out the warning and the whoosh of a rocket torn through the air, followed instantly with a deep heavy boom of an explosion. He ignored the effects of the RPG and instead focused on the rows and rows of red coated infantry wearing that ridiculous looking helmet.

The LMG in his arms rocked hard against his padded shoulders, as if patting him with solid assurance of its superior firepower. Streaks of tracer fire could be spotted here an...

651 - Defense of the Ancients

Tyrier snapped his head back when the distant rumble of thunder rolled across the barren landscape. Princess Sherene looked up to the cloudless skies and asked hopefully, "It is going to rain?"

"No," Tyrier replied grimly. "That's not thunder..."

Sherene's expression as she understood the unsaid words. She glanced over to the direction where the rumbles of thunder came from and vaguely spotted dark clouds lingering over the horizon. "Will they be alright?"

"It's up to their ...