Upon my return I had hoped that we could immediately start on working for a new body, but no, what I do get is a report that there is a large fleet moving towards our location. Lezia immediately, with the help of Akeskriks evacuated the civilians deeper into the temple where they will be safe. Preparations were in process, Titzer planned out traps and ambush points, Kha'aulk readied all the soldiers, equipping them, all those that can fight took up arms, even some of the civilians offered to fight. Most of these were fathers, they have now children that they are ready to give their lives to. Titzer also prepared the defensive armaments, turrets and barricades. All we do not about our enemy is that it is the Cabal, a large formation of them. Dominic stood by our side, he was ready too, awaiting the battle that would soon follow. Now, all we could do is wait, every soldier stood at the ready, weapon in hand, heavy or light, it didn't matter. We saw the ships approach in the distance. 

Faklis: Soldiers, this might be the last time we speak, but a foe dares to attack us. I hope you are ready for this battle, if not, then I am sorry, but it has come to us. I expect you to show them no mercy, do not fight for the Empress or me, fight for those that you dearly care about. Brothers, sisters, show them hell. Fire at will!

The automated and manned turrets immediately started firing, acting as flak to whittle away their numbers, maybe shoot a couple ships down. Our Walkers which have been extensively modified to increase both firepower and survivability were at the ready, our Heavy Shanks joined among our ranks. The Cabal would land not too far away as getting right on top of us would be too dangerous. Too bad for them, those turrets are dual purpose, meaning wherever they go, it will be dangerous. We wait, hiding behind our walls, using them as cover, waiting for them to march out into our line of sight. And they do exactly that.

Faklis: Fire at will! Rain down hellfire on them, show them what you are made out of. 

Shots began flying in both directions, but what we had above them was cover, they were out in the open. Our Walkers and heavy units engaged, firing rockets, heavy cannon fire and machinegun fire. I myself would pick of one by one from a distance, as my railgun was made more as a sniper than anything else. They fell like flies, their tanks are forced to cut through the thick forest, slowing them down and making them an easy target. However, they do have the support of their large ship which does fly above, and occasionally it would fire down upon our positions, taking out some of our men. But our will is unbroken. However, slowly but surely they gain and close the distance. I jump down from my position and walk up to Dominic who is now reloading his machinegun. 

Dominic: I must say Faklis, this is real fun. But there are a lot of them. 

Titzer and Kha'aulk walk up to us to discuss our future actions. 

Titzer: What are we to do? 

I stand to think, looking at the foes that approach. They are quite grouped up and I get an idea. 

Faklis: Titzer, Kha'aulk, could you support Dominic and I, cover us?

Dominic: What are you thinking? 

Faklis: Do you have a sword? 

Dominic: I mean I do. Wait, you don't plan on going in there? 

Faklis: If we rush into them, not only would we be a distraction but there is a potential for crossfire between them. Look at how tightly grouped up they are. 

Dominic: So your plan is to rush in into melee range?

Faklis: Pretty much yes. I don't see many gladiators and war beasts, making them susceptible to up close attack. 

Dominic: It is a crazy ass plan.... But I like it. I do have my Devour which yearns for constant bloodshed. So, Titzer and Kha'aulk, can you cover us?

Kha'aulk: Cover you? Pha, we can protect you if we have to. Alright men! Listen up, a new objective had arisen. You are to protect these two, if they even get slightly hurt I will make you do 1 hour of a plank. 

The soldiers, with the prospect of doing an hour long plank, all nod in unison, a new found moral courses through their veins. 

Faklis: Dominic, are you ready? 

Dominic: Born ready. 

I set down my railgun and grab my two swords and he throws his grenade and after getting a kill a purple energy takes over him. We charge at the horde that stands before us, my movement quicker than his, but he shoots until he is close enough. We slice, stab each soldier that comes at us. Moving swiftly through their ranks, causing panic. If we don't see an enemy that moved in behind us they get shot from one of the Psion's. Legionnaire's fall down rather quickly and with the bigger Colossus I climb onto their back and stab into their throats, killing them quickly. I hear a loud explosion behind me and see a Nova Bomb on the ground, killing enemies as they are pushed into it. I notice some carrying fuel tanks on their back among the troops so I prioritize them, damaging their tanks so that they turn into a bomb, killing a group of others. One of their ship crashes near me, stunning me for a moment but I quickly recover. It saddens me to see this forest fall and get damaged so much but it will grow back, it always does. Some try to run away from us but they are too slow, I can hear Dominic laughing clearly enjoying the battle. He cuts them down quickly, combining his powers and the sword in a dangerous dance. However in the moment of my carelessness, I hear Titzer yell out to me. 

Titzer: Faklis, behind you. 

As I turn around I see a tank charging it's shot, I know I don't have time to dash away and if I were to do that it would hit the base. I take a stance, moving my left left back and outstretching my right hand out towards it. I close my eyes, the many sights pas through my mind at that moment. Memories, the playing of children, Lezia's cute pouting and smile. I concentrate the power that is inside my arm, I am gambling on this working. If it doesn't I am for sure dead. Concentrating harder the noise disappears, the battlefield goes silent and then the large bang. The tank had fired, everything is slowed down in those moments, I open my eyes, seeing the large projectile coming towards me. As it hits however, it doesn't explode, I am pushed back by the sheer power of it but stop a couple meter back, leaving a trail behind and the projectile floats in the air. I quickly send it back at the tank, the projectile penetrates and explodes on the inside, the whole tanks explodes soon after. The whole battlefield had gone silent, everyone staring at me, soldiers, friendly and enemy stare at me. I glance at my hand, inspecting it, it felt weird stopping it, like an invisible force pushing me back, putting strain on my whole body. I feel exhausted, but at the same time, thrilled and filled with newfound energy. Pulling out my two blades again I look at the enemy who now start to panic, I use that to my advantage, dashing forward, killing them mercilessly. Like a predator hunting down little chickens, they run away, there is a sense of fear in them. The men that protected the base let out a war cry and charge forward, grabbing the moment and opportunity. However, I could not continue, the exhaustion quickly sets in and I collapse on the floor, knelling down. The thing I did put too much of a strain on my body which was not used to it. I look up and see a Psion getting ready to shoot me but before he could do that Dominic comes in from nowhere and cuts him down. Offering me his hand I take it. 

Dominic: Let's get you out of there, patch you up. 

I am led off the battlefield, looking back I see our soldiers charging past us and towards the enemy who is now retreating. I look down at myself, at some point it appears I have been shot, I never noticed it. The vision starts to go blurry and the last thing I remember is going through the damaged temple gates before everything goes dark.

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.

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It is darkness, warm but dark, I feel myself floating in something. Feeling like I am suffocating, I swim towards the surface, emerging out of the dark water, find myself out in an unknown area. Did I die? Is the first thing that comes to mind. From the mist in the distance a Pyramid ship appears out from it, it's dark silhouette both menacing and strangely beautiful. It beckons out to me, I can feel it. Reluctantly I follow, walking closer and closer to it. The water beneath me ripples at each step, as if I am walking on it. The ship lowers itself and an portal opens at the tip of it. Walking through I find myself in it, dark interior that is dimply lit. Venturing deeper, following the lit up path I finally come across a large open room. At the center of it is a table upon which a object floats above. It radiates a strange energy, neither Light nor Dark. The room appears to be completely empty, not a statue, just this single table. Approaching the object I feel the Darkness in my arm react to it in a negative way. As if scared of it, it tries to push me away but I persevere. It is a ball like thing, larger than me that is for sure. Something compels me to touch it, some unknown force and as I do, the pain that soon follows. I want to scream but I can't find a voice, images flash through my mind. Around me I notice strange shadow figures appear, floating, the empty room is now filled with strange figures. My hand starts to slowly sink into it, a strange liquid flows across my body, slowly starting to take over me. It goes into my skin, every opening it can, in penetrates. And, with a blink of an eye, it is gone. There is nothing, like nothing happened. All pain gone, all figures gone. But I am not awake. A door opens up by itself, inviting me in. Walking inside I follow another path, doors opening for me until I finally reach another room, however this one end in a massive wall. It is decorated, through it's cracks pulses an unknown energy, a pale grey color and a small pulse of amber. Walking closer to it, it is massive, dwarfing me, but one thing stands out. A small pedestal with a hand mold in it and with the same one I touched the ball I place it on the pedestal. The wall opens up to reveal a weapon, it is oppressive, a bow. 

It radiates something darker than the darkness energy. a chaotic and unstable form, but in it, I detect something, a message. Upon gripping it, the last thing I hear is a voice.

Voice: Pave the path forward with the means of old, use us as you use the air to breath, use our gift as you please. Farewell, oh wielder of ours. 

And then, everything went dark once again, all sense simply shut off and I found myself in complete darkness once more.