Yuren walked around the clearing, examining the wreckage. Most of the vehicles were mostly intact, and some of them had supplies in them. Leftover ammunition and medical kits could be seen inside, but not a single human body was present.
"This is really strange..." He muttered, his eyes wide with worry.
The vehicles and equipment had insignias from both the Kingdom and the Empire, and some had Republic markings. Whatever was here was fighting against multiple factions, and from the direction from which everything was pointed, all three factions were fighting together against that something.
Was this what a Meteorn lord was capable of? He wondered if a being was powerful enough to take on an army alone. "I should report this." Yuren muttered.
He grabbed his radio and clicked the talk button. "Hello, anyone copy? This is Commander Yuren Gotsutoa of the 701st Battalion."
Silence as another radar drone smashed to the ground not too far away, burning up in a blue fire. An intense dread came over him. The entire region had been abandoned and all communication lines cut.
"Oh god." Yuren breathed, realizing the full gravity of the situation.
He was trapped in an unknown location, in a hostile environment, without a clue as to what he was up against. "Think. Think. I need to find high ground."
He headed towards the trees, looking for a path that would take him to a higher vantage point.
As he climbed, the air grew thicker, and the trees began to thin. Soon, he could see the mountains beyond the forest. The view was breathtaking, and he took a moment to admire the beauty of the landscape. "I'm glad I'm still alive..."
Yuren looked around, trying to determine where he was. The mountains seemed familiar, but he couldn't quite place them. Then it dawned on him; he was at the southern end of the Northern Peninsula, the 426th's signal had come from a few miles north of here.
He was quite sure where exactly he was, though; it could have been a different area entirely. "So, what should I do now?"
There was no doubt that whatever was responsible for the destruction in the field was still nearby, and he didn't want to stick around. But at the same time, he could easily end up heading straight into danger.
"I don't think there's a safe way out of here." Yuren looked back at the clearing, debating his next move. If he were to leave, it would have to be through the forest, and with no way to defend himself against whatever had attacked the area.
"Shit." He cursed.
His mind went to the 701st; he wondered what they were up to. Would they notice him missing? Yuren sat down on a rock, resting his head in his hands. He felt like a child, lost and alone, with no idea how to get home.
He let out a sigh, taking a deep breath and trying to calm his nerves. He would need to remain focused if he was going to survive. "Come on, Yuren, think. You're a commander of the 701st, one of the best android battalions around. You're not just going to sit here and die."
The sound of branches snapping caused him to look up, and his heart skipped a beat when he saw the source of the noise.
A Helix Meteorn, standing at least twelve feet tall, its body was covered in a hard shell-like exoskeleton, and its six legs were tipped with sharp claws. It was trotting slowly through the trees and hadn't noticed him.
Yuren quickly ducked behind the boulder, hiding from the creature. He held his breath, hoping that the Meteorn would continue walking past.
Why was it here without a blackout zone being created first? How could it just be here like this?
The sound of its footsteps faded into the distance, and Yuren dared to look out from his hiding spot. The creature was gone.
"Damn." Yuren breathed a sigh of relief. He peeked out from behind the rock, scanning the forest. There was no sign of the Meteorn.
He had to find somewhere to hide. Yuren stood up, brushing the dirt off his clothes, and began walking deeper into the woods.
The sun was setting, and the air was getting colder. He looked up at the sky, noticing the dark clouds gathering above him. "Just my luck..." He sighed.
He knew he couldn't stay out in the open, not with the Meteorn lurking around.
"I need to find a place to wait out the storm." He glanced around, trying to find a cave or something similar.
The forest was filled with trees and thick foliage, making it difficult to see very far.
"There's got to be a cave or a hollow somewhere around here..." He muttered, looking around.
He soon spotted a rocky overhang that looked big enough for him to take shelter under. "Perfect." He made his way over to the rocks, glancing around the forest one last time before ducking under the overhang. The ground was damp, and the air smelled like wet earth.
Yuren shivered, rubbing his arms. "Now what?" He had no idea what the best course of action would be. All he had was his sidearm and a knife. He sat down for one hour, just one hour. He'd rest for an hour, and then he'd figure out his next step.
Yuren leaned against the wall, letting his head rest against the cool stone.
He closed his eyes, listening to the sound of the rain as it began to fall. "Just one hour..." He murmured, drifting off to sleep.
***
Yuren awoke to the sound of thunder rumbling in the distance, the wind blowing fiercely through the trees. He could hear the rain falling outside, the sound echoing off the rocks. He rubbed his eyes and stretched, his body aching from the stress, then proceeded to stand up.
The forest was pitch black, and he couldn't see more than a few feet in front of him. As the lightning flashed across the sky, brief moments of illumination would appear now and then.
He peered out from the cave, squinting through the rain, seeing the eyes of the small robotic creatures taking refuge under the nearby foliage. "Those must be the crab and spider things..."
He watched as the machines huddled together, "Well, at least they aren't aggressive."
The storm was his best chance to make for the Empire's border; using a vehicle would probably be a bad idea, so his only option was to go on foot.
Yuren stepped out into the rain, his clothes soaked in an instant. "Well, here goes nothing..." He muttered, starting his journey through the forest. The rain came down in sheets, making visibility poor. The lightning would flash, illuminating the area and giving Yuren a glimpse of his surroundings.
After what seemed like hours of trudging through the rain and mud, he reached the edge of the forest. In the distance, he could see the faint outline of the mountains; the road that led through them was barely visible.
The sky was illuminated by a mix of purple and blue bolts under a red haze. He had never seen such an odd yet beautiful phenomenon before. Yuren made his way toward the mountains, keeping a close eye on the road. He wanted to avoid any potential confrontations.
The rain continued to pour, the wind whipping at his face and clothes. He had no idea how far away he was from the nearest city, or if he'd be able to make it before his luck ran out. "I need to find a vehicle. Anything." He knew the roads would likely be full of debris and blocked by fallen trees. Even if he did find a vehicle, it might not work, or it could be stuck in the mud.
Yuren kept his pace up, walking through the mud and slush. His boots were caked in dirt, his clothes were soaked, and his hair was a tangled mess. After another hour of walking, he came upon a lake. The surface of the water was still, reflecting the moonlight.
"A lake? I didn't know there was a lake in this area." Yuren remarked, approaching the edge of the water. He knelt, dipping his hand into the cold liquid. It was clear and surprisingly fresh. "I wonder if it's safe to drink..."
Yuren took a tentative sip, the cool water soothing his dry throat. He cupped his hands, drinking deeply. He splashed some of the water on his face, washing the grime from his skin. "Feels good."
The storm was finally starting to subside, and the wind was dying down. Yuren felt relieved, but his body was still tense and weary. As he took another drink, he noticed a large crystal formation protruding from the center of the lake. "What is that?"
He stepped into the water, wading towards the object. It was a massive crystal, its many facets glistening in the moonlight. "Amazing..." He touched the surface, and the stone was cold and smooth.
He felt something stirring inside of him. It was a sensation he hadn't felt in a long time, the sense of security one felt at home. Yuren felt a warmth spread through his body, the aches and pains melting away.
Then saw it, the figure curled up inside the crystal. It was a woman, her body suspended within the crystal. Her long, silver hair flowed around her, her delicate features were visible, and her pale skin glowed. She appeared to be sleeping, her chest rising and falling with each breath.
Yuren couldn't take his eyes off her, his mind reeling from the sight.
She was absolutely beautiful. He reached out, placing his palm against the crystal.
He was overwhelmed with emotion; the feeling was indescribable. He could feel the life within the crystal, the energy pulsing through the structure.
Suddenly, the woman's eyes shot open, and she let out a gasp, the crystal cracking. "What?!" Yuren exclaimed.
The cracks spread through the crystal, the structure shattering. The woman descended from the structure to just over the surface of the lake. Her vibrant red eyes stared into his, her pale white skin illuminated by the moonlight. Her long, silver hair billowed in the wind.
Yuren was awestruck. She was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. He stepped back, unsure of what to do.
"We've been waiting for you." The woman's voice was like a melody, her words carried by the wind.
"I-I don't understand."
"We've been looking for you." Her voice was soft, almost a whisper.
"Me?" Yuren's voice trembled.
"Our dearest lord.... Our beloved master." The woman smiled, her lips curling into a crescent shape.
"What?" Yuren's head was spinning, "Who are you? What's going on?"
The woman slowly stepped towards him, the crystal shards floating in the air. "We have waited for you for so long. To be united with our lord once more."
"I-I don't know who you are. Please, stop." Yuren pleaded.
She stopped just a few inches away from him, her crimson eyes gazing into his "You do not remember us, my lord? What have they done to you?" She caressed his face, her fingers trailing along his jawline.
"I'm sorry. I don't understand." Yuren shook his head.
"You are the one. The only one." The woman placed her palm against his chest, the crystal shards circling them. "What we live for. What we die for. What we fight for."
Yuren felt a surge of energy rush through him, his senses becoming sharper, and his body feeling lighter.
"Avenonia!" A voice roared as something crashed into the water behind them.
The two turned, looking at the figure that emerged. Another woman, her long, silver hair flowing in the wind, adorned with black-scaled exo-armor on her arms and legs, and a large tail-like device on her back, the same shade of red as her eyes. Her appearance reminded Yuren of a dragon; the armor was sleek and streamlined, and her long, flowing hair complemented her elegant features.
"When can I burn those worthless worms and their stronghold to the ground?" The dragon-woman questioned.
"Worry about it another time, Jytenreu. We've found him." The first woman responded, smiling.
"Hah? No kidding? Let me see him!" Jytenreu rushed to Yuren's side, staring down at him, her gaze piercing into his.
"This... this resonance!" Jytenreu grasped his shoulders tightly. "It's true! This is it!"
"So, you recognize it too, Jytenreu."
"Of course! Why wouldn't I?! I was there when they broke Hyphilene and used her core trap and tried to kill him!"
"Jytenreu..."
"No, it's fine, Avenonia." The dragon-woman sighed, then pushed Yuren down into the water, "But it's good to see you again, Master."
"Please don't do that." Avenonia chided.
"I can't help myself. I need some of his resonance." Jytenreu explained as she mounted him, her hands exploring his body, her claws gently tracing over his skin.
"Stop it." Avenonia commanded.
"Just a little." Jytenreu pleaded, "His resonance is amazing, I need a taste."
"You're always so needy, Jytenreu."
"Shut up! I've been protecting your sleeping ass this whole time! I was just about to go burn down their city just so they'd stop sending their puny troops and annoying flying machines after me." Jytenreu retorted.
Yuren couldn't believe it; she shot down all the drones and his aircraft. Was that battlefield from before her doing as well?
"You can do whatever you want later, but now is not the time." Avenonia said.
"Fine." Jytenreu huffed and removed herself from Yuren, standing up.
Yuren stood up as well, taking a moment to compose himself. He looked over at the women; both were staring at him, their eyes full of mirth.
Jytenreu started laughing, "Finally, since you're awake, Avenonia. Let's get out of this place. I'm sick of it."
"Meteorn located!" A voice called out, drawing their attention. A group of armed soldiers was standing on the shore, pointing their rifles at them.
"Ahhh! Finally! Someone to burn!" Jytenreu bent forward, her tail arching over her head, red energy gathering at the base.
"No. Leave them." Avenonia commanded.
"But whyyy~?"
"We're not here for them, and we have better things to do." Avenonia stated, "We're not in a blackout zone and killing humans will just cause a huge commotion."
"Damn, fine." Jytenreu sighed.
The soldiers fired, bullets ripping through the air, smashing into the surrounding area.
Avenonia's crystal shield protected them; the projectiles harmlessly deflected away.
"Wow! Two strong Meteorn? Now this will be fun. Stand down and leave it to me." Masie's voice called out.
The soldiers immediately lowered their weapons, stepping back as a woman approached.
Her golden eyes sparkled with amusement, a smug smile on her lips as she charged for Jytenreu.
"You wanna fight then? Come at me!" Jytenreu challenged.
Masie slammed into the dragon-woman, her fist connecting with the armor.
The blow was deflected, and the force knocked the two of them back.
"That's a nice armor you got there." Masie commented, "I hope you're just as durable."
"Heh. Bring it on." The two women engaged each other, trading blows, the sound of their clashing attacks echoing through the forest.
A shot hit Avenonia's arm, the crystal shattering. "Oh? Trying to sneak up on me, huh?" Avenonia smirked.
"Sorry miss, I need that boy back." Adelah's voice spoke.
"You will not take this one!" Avenonia declared, crystals building up around her.
"That's cute, but I don't think you can win. Those crystals aren't gonna save you." Adelah fired a shot at her.
Avenonia deflected the bullet with a flick of her finger, the crystals forming together and layering over each other; she had become a crystal fortress.
Someone pulled Yuren away by the collar, and a few more shots were fired, all of which were deflected. "Let's go."
Yuren found himself being dragged by Calif, the Sergeant, pulling him towards the trees. "What's going on?" Yuren questioned.
"What did those Meteorn want with you?" Calif asked, ignoring his question.
"They... They were acting really weird. Like they knew me or something. I don't know."
"You're extremely lucky we picked up your aircraft's distress signal. Even more so that Lord class didn't immediately kill you." Calif explained, shoving Yuren into a helicopter, "Sit down and don't move."
Yuren complied, his body trembling. He had never been in such a tense situation before, and the experience was terrifying. The aircraft lifted off, the sound of its engines filling the air.
"Those two Meteorn roam the Peninsula. Codenamed Crystal Chamber and Nidhogg. The former is a Lord class while the latter is a Tyrant class. Both are extremely dangerous and have been attacking supply and communication lines in this area. There is utterly no reason for you to have been out here." The Sergeant narrowed his eyes.
"I..." Yuren gulped.
"Although I don't know the reason why you were sent alone while your battalion is on standby, you need to be more careful. ask questions, and refuse operations and tasks that are overtly suicidal." Calif instructed.
"Right. Thank you."
"Good." Calif nodded.
The ride was quiet after that, and Yuren was thankful that the Sergeant didn't pry any further. He had a feeling the man knew more than he was letting on, but he didn't seem to be the type to press him about it. The trip back to the base was a long one, and Yuren couldn't help but think about the strange encounter he had.