The air over Ettemakse City, the biggest settlement on the central highnds, crackled with fire and death. The Syndicate's drones hovered like malevolent wasps, dropping incendiary bombs onto the once-bustling streets, transforming them into a byrinth of fmes and colpsing structures. Buildings that had stood for decades now crumbled, their foundations shaken by explosions that echoed across the central highnds.
In the streets below, chaos reigned. Mind-controlled civilians faces bnk, eyes hollow wielded pipes, broken gss, and makeshift weapons. They attacked indiscriminately, striking down anyone in their path. Some stumbled forward like puppets on invisible strings, while others moved with horrifying precision, their bodies maniputed by unseen forces.
Cybernetic soldiers, towering monstrosities cd in alloy-enhanced armor, marched through the streets. Their mechanized limbs smashed barricades with ease, scattering Federation defenders as if they were nothing more than pests. Psma weapons mounted on their shoulders spat deadly bursts of energy, leaving destruction in their wake.
At the center of the chaos stood Ve Drasik, perched atop a ridge overlooking the city. Her piercing gaze surveyed the destruction below, the fmes reflecting in her cybernetic impnts. She spoke calmly into her comms, her voice cold and calcuting.
"Let the city burn," she said. "Ettemakse will be our base of power, the foundation of our war against these fools. Test the enhancements. Leave no survivors."
Her words carried no malice, only a chilling detachment that made them all the more terrifying.
Far from the burning city, Ethan Walker stood in the Valeris Guild Hall, poring over maps of the central highnds. The tension in the room was palpable, the air heavy with anticipation as the coalition prepared for their next move. The sound of bring arms shattered the moment, followed by a holographic feed blinking to life.
A Federation officer, his face bloodied and desperate, filled the screen. Behind him, fmes roared as civilians screamed in the background.
"Ettemakse is falling!" the officer shouted, his voice hoarse. "We need immediate reinforcements ! Civilians are being sughtered. Please, anyone, respond!"
The feed cut off abruptly, leaving a grim silence in the hall. For a moment, no one spoke. Then, Guild Branch Master Darrik Voss broke the silence.
"This isn't just an attack," he said, his tone grave. "The Syndicate wants Ettemakse as their stronghold. If they succeed, the central highnds, and possibly more of Kynara, will fall."
Ethan straightened, his expression hard. "Then we stop them."
Within minutes, the coalition sprang into action. Ethan was appointed to lead the strike team, accompanied by fellow D-Rank mercenaries Zyrix Korran and Eliara Venn. Federation Vice-Leader Lirien Vossel volunteered to lead an elite squad of guards, while Resistance Vice-Leader Marik Vos mobilized a unit of seasoned fighters.
The briefing was quick but thorough.
"This isn't just about Ettemakse," Ethan told the assembled team. "If they take the city, they'll turn it into a war machine. Every second we dey gives them more time to dig in."
Lirien stepped forward, her gaze steady. "Our priority is breaking their hold on the city. Push them back, disrupt their command, and neutralize their leaders."
The strike team departed in armored vehicles and dropships, their faces grim as they prepared for what y ahead.
As the dropships neared Ettemakse, the Syndicate's anti-aircraft turrets roared to life. Psma bolts streaked through the air, forcing the pilots into evasive maneuvers. One dropship took a direct hit, spiraling out of control before crashing into the outskirts of the city in a fiery explosion.
Ethan's dropship nded in a clearing just outside the city, the team disembarking under heavy fire. The outskirts were a wastend of debris and burning vehicles, with Syndicate patrols prowling the area.
"Move fast and stay sharp," Ethan ordered, his psma dagger in hand. "Zyrix, take the high ground. Eliara, find a way to disable those turrets."
The team advanced cautiously, Resistance fighters securing a path while Eliara worked to disarm mines and traps. Syndicate drones buzzed overhead, firing sporadic bursts of psma that forced the team to take cover.
The first major csh came as the team approached the city's main entrance. A squad of cybernetic soldiers emerged from the rubble, their glowing red eyes locking onto the coalition forces. They charged with mechanical precision, their alloy-enhanced limbs smashing through makeshift barriers.
Ethan engaged one of the soldiers head-on, his psma dagger slicing through the exposed joints of its armor. The soldier retaliated with a crushing blow, but Ethan dodged, countering with a precise strike that disabled its left arm. Nearby, Zyrix provided sniper cover, his well-pced shots taking out two more cybernetic soldiers.
Lirien Vossel directed her guards to form a defensive line, their synchronized fire driving back the Syndicate forces. Marik Vos rallied his resistance fighters, pushing forward despite the relentless onsught.
As the skirmish ended, Ethan surveyed the battlefield. The outskirts were secure, but the city loomed ahead, its burning heart a grim reminder of the battle yet to come.
From her vantage point, Ve watched the coalition's advance, her lips curling into a faint smile. "Let them come," she said. "They'll bleed for every step they take."
Deeper within the city, Raeth sharpened his bde, his expression a mix of anticipation and malice. "He's here," he muttered, his voice dripping with venom. "Ethan Walker... This time, one of us dies."
The coalition forces breached the outskirts of Ettemakse City, securing a foothold but realizing the scale of the battle ahead. Syndicate reinforcements poured into the city, their numbers seemingly endless. Ethan stood at the edge of the smoldering battlefield, his resolve hardening.
"More senseless destruction and death," he whispered, gripping his psma dagger tightly. "When will this ever end..."
The battle for Ettemakse had only just begun.
