Dawn over Blazemelt City
The morning light of Blazemelt City spilled across Fa and her company, while a faint breeze stirred the iron chains of nine thousand dwarven warriors, the clinking of plates sounding like ancient war drums. After a night of rest, this elite legion led by General Amber stood ready to march — their mission: to escort the traitors Grum and Rock to the Steelmelt Alliance, a journey that would take three full days.
The prison wagon was guarded by nine layers of iron-shield phalanxes. The cart carrying Grum and Rock sat dead center in the column. Their hands were bound behind them with heavy chains, their tattered war robes stained with dried blood. Their pale faces were expressionless, yet deep in their eye sockets flickered a cold, sinister light.
Amber rode her steam-snorting mechanical war-ox, the magic runes on her wind staff pulsing with her breath. Her tightly pressed lips carved pure loathing for the traitors. "Move out!" The staff swept forward, and the iron-wheeled column rumbled into motion. Nine thousand iron boots crushed stone into powder; the earth itself seemed to groan as they marched toward the Steelmelt Alliance.
**Silence of the Wasteland Plains**
On the first day of escort, Fa walked beside Amber at the very front of the column. Beneath her leather boots the sand let out faint whimpers. Her starlit eyes kept sweeping the distant rolling dunes; behind those bald piles of gravel she constantly felt watched — like vultures circling dying prey.
Arya followed close behind, longbow slung across her back, golden hair tied into a ponytail with a leather cord. Every so often she reached out to brush dust from Fa's shoulders; light-element magic danced like fireflies along her bowstring.
"Fa, your star eye keeps glowing," Arya whispered, leaning close enough that warm breath brushed Fa's ear. "Did you sense something?"
Fa shook her head and smiled. "It's nothing. Just worried. I keep feeling someone watching us."
Arya took Fa's hand. "Don't worry. We'll be careful. With all of us beside you, no one will hurt you."
Fa nodded, warmth flooding her chest. She knew that no matter what happened, Arya and the others would always stand with her.
Amber snorted. "Relax. Nine thousand iron guards are here — even the strongest enemy would think twice!" Sweat seeped through the seams of the dwarf general's armor as she ordered the rear guard to remain on full alert.
TISK and Rex marched at the rear. Salsa's mechanical cat body darted through the ranks, scanning for anything suspicious. Kayla stayed right beside the prison wagon, eyes sharp as blades, recording every tiny movement from Grum and Rock.
The column crossed the barren plains outside Blazemelt City. The sky hung heavy with thick clouds, as though a storm were brewing. Fa kept glancing back at the prisoners. Both men remained utterly silent, their gazes hollow and icy. Amber had tried interrogating them several times, but they refused to speak.
"You'll talk when we reach the Alliance," Amber said coldly, threat lacing every word. Her staff sliced the air with a low hum, betraying her fury and hatred.
Fa watched in silence, unease rising in her heart. She could feel eyes upon them — a hidden gaze that had haunted her since they left the city. She closed her right eye, trying to sense the surroundings with her star eye, but the presence slipped away like a ghost.
When night fell, the legion camped in a concealed ravine. Campfires crackled, flames painting the faces of the company in shifting orange. Amber sat beside the prison wagon, staring at Grum and Rock, searching for any crack in their masks. They remained silent, as if indifferent to the judgment awaiting them.
TISK sat by the fire, rubbing his warhammer. "The evidence is ironclad, yet these two are still tight-lipped. Once we reach the Steelmelt Alliance, though, their luck runs out."
Rex nodded, mechanical eye flashing blue. "Data analysis shows extremely strong psychological defenses. Whether the Alliance's interrogation methods are sophisticated enough to break them remains to be seen."
Salsa's mechanical cat body curled at Fa's feet. Her soul form drifted out and spoke softly. "I'm detecting abnormal magical fluctuations nearby. Someone is watching us, but they're far away — I can't pinpoint the location."
Fa frowned, silver light flickering in her star eye. "I feel it too. We must stay vigilant. We cannot give the enemy any opening."
Kayla stepped forward, claws crackling. "If anyone dares attack, I'll make them regret being born." Cold determination filled her voice; her thunder claws hummed with readiness.
The company took turns standing watch through the night. Fa and Arya leaned against each other, gazing at the stars.
"Do you think this escort and trial will go smoothly?" Arya asked, worry in her tone.
Fa thought for a moment. "I believe justice will prevail. Grum and Rock's crimes are proven beyond doubt. They must pay for what they've done."
Arya nodded and rested her head gently on Fa's shoulder. "Yes. We'll witness it together."
**Ambush in the Forest and Revelation**
On the second day, the column entered a dense forest. Towering trees blocked out most of the sun, leaving only dappled patches of light on the ground.
Amber and Fa walked at the very front. The damp air carried the smell of rust; dwarven warriors reached for their hip flasks — the traditional way to drive off moisture. Amber raised a hand. Nine thousand troops instantly turned to stone, only the wind whispering through the canopy.
Fa's star eye scanned like a hawk's. Tension crackled through the ranks; every warrior gripped their weapon. Suddenly Fa stopped and raised a hand.
"What is it, Fa?" Amber asked in a low voice, muscles taut, wind staff ready.
Fa closed her right eye, took a deep breath, and focused. Seconds later she snapped her eyes open. "Ambush ahead. At least two thousand enemies."
The entire column went on instant alert. Amber swung her staff, wind blades slicing branches ahead. "Diamond formation! Shield bearers forward — protect the prison wagon!"
The moment the words left her mouth, thousands of arrows whistled from the depths of the forest, magic lights glinting among them. They slammed into the dwarven iron shield wall, sparking like a meteor shower.
Arya drew her longbow in a flash. Light magic coalesced at her fingertips, forming a translucent barrier that blocked a wave of arrows. Kayla blurred into motion, thunder claws flashing, shattering arrows aimed at the prison wagon into sparks.
"Enemy attack!" Fa shouted. Her short blade leapt into her hand, earth magic flowing brown along the edge. She charged into the forest to locate the attackers.
Black-cloaked figures emerged from the trees, faces masked, moving with lethal coordination — clearly no ordinary bandits, but highly trained killers.
"Protect the wagon! Don't let them near!" Amber roared. Her staff swept out; a violent tornado of wind magic hurled several enemies backward, smashing them into tree trunks with dull thuds.
TISK bellowed, warhammer raised high. Metal magic surged into the weapon; each swing crushed three enemies into bloody pulp, bones cracking like thunder. Rex unleashed nano-drones that fired precise red laser beams, dropping foes instantly.
Salsa's soul form became black mist, weaving through the battlefield. Dark magic condensed into shadow wolves that tore into enemies, screams rising in waves.
Fa and Arya fought back-to-back, short blade and longbow in perfect harmony. Fa summoned stone spikes to force enemies back; Arya loosed arrows wrapped in five-element magic that punched clean through armor. Yet despite the assassins' skill, they were disorganized before the dwarven legion's iron discipline.
"They're testing the prison wagon's defenses!" Kayla's thunder claws shredded dozens of black poison arrows aimed at the cart, blue arcs dancing across the iron bars.
"Fa, watch out!" Arya cried.
A cold arrow shot from deep in the trees, aimed straight between Fa's eyes.
Fa reacted instantly — twisting aside, earth magic raising a stone wall that shattered the arrow into dust. She spun, blade flashing; the earth-wrapped short blade cleaved the shooter in half, blood spraying across the ground.
The battle lasted nearly half an hour. Through flawless coordination and overwhelming numbers, the company repelled the attackers. Enemy corpses littered the forest floor; survivors fled into the depths and vanished.
Breathing hard, the company confirmed the area was clear before relaxing slightly.
"Who were those people? Why attack us?" Kayla asked, thunder claws still dripping enemy blood, the air smelling of burnt flesh.
Fa shook her head, doubt flickering in her star eye. "I don't know. But their target was clear — the prison wagon. Someone doesn't want Grum and Rock to reach the Steelmelt Alliance."
Amber checked the wagon. The two prisoners were unharmed but pale, clearly shaken.
"Do you know who they were?" Amber asked icily, eyes like knives.
Grum and Rock exchanged a glance but said nothing.
"Hmph. Still stubborn." Amber turned away. "We'll see how long that lasts when we reach the Alliance."
**Unmasking the Enemy**
After the battle, Amber ordered a short rest in the forest. Her soldiers gathered the enemy corpses for inspection. Beneath the black cloaks they found identical tattoos — a black scorpion with tail raised high, radiating malice. Their weapons bore badges engraved with the word "Flowlight."
"Flowlight?" TISK frowned.
Amber crouched beside a body and spoke calmly. "Flowlight is a terrorist organization operating across the continent. Its members come from every race — mostly wanted criminals and societal outcasts. They take high-paying contracts for assassination, robbery, and sabotage. They are the scourge of every nation, willing to sacrifice their own lives to complete a mission."
Fa nodded, sharp light flashing in her star eye. "Their tattoos have serial numbers — identification marks. They were sent to stop us from delivering Grum and Rock."
Amber gripped her wind staff, eyes cold. "Whoever hired them, I will drag them into the light."
The company exchanged determined looks. They packed up and pressed on, but Fa's unease only grew. She felt this attack was merely the beginning — greater danger still lay ahead.
**Trap on the Grassland**
Amber and Fa continued leading. Nine thousand iron boots pressed the wild grass into a deep green carpet. Fa's star eye constantly scanned for threats. Though weary from yesterday's battle, the army remained vigilant.
Suddenly Fa's star eye caught a faint magical shimmer on the ground — the activation sign of a magical explosive mine.
"Full halt! Warriors, form defensive layers!" Amber's voice cut through the wind.
A thunderous explosion erupted beneath their feet. Blue flames and shattered rock blasted skyward. The front rank of shield bearers was hurled backward several meters; muffled cracks of ribs echoed beneath armor.
Fa swung her short blade — three earth walls rose in rapid succession, blocking the second wave. Yet purple smoke billowed from the blast center — improved magical mines laced with dark magic.
"They're designed against dwarven magic circuits!" Rex's mechanical arm fired emergency healing agents. "The mines contain magnetized iron powder — it disrupts our metal magic!"
TISK spat blood and slammed his warhammer into the smoking earth. "Come on then! Let's see what else you've got!" His roar echoed; nine thousand warriors pounded their armor in response, the sound like the heartbeat of an ancient beast.
Kayla moved like lightning, thunder claws shattering iron spikes aimed at the prison wagon.
Through united effort, they survived the deadly trap. But the attack slowed their march considerably, and exhaustion crashed over them like a tide.
"This was deliberately set," Salsa's voice emerged from her mechanical cat body, calm and analytical. "The enemy is close, waiting for another chance."
Fa nodded, star eye sharp. "Exactly. We must be even more careful."
The column pressed on, but the atmosphere on the grassland grew ever stranger. Whispers seemed to ride the wind; rustles came from the tall grass. Tension coiled tighter.
As twilight fell, the iron walls of the Steelmelt Alliance finally appeared on the horizon — towering battlements gleaming cold metallic light under the setting sun, gates shut tight, guards standing stern.
They had arrived.
"Finally," Arya whispered, relief in her eyes.
Amber nodded and turned to the column. "We're here. Now comes the moment of judgment for the traitors."