Dragon Of Instinct, Become's The All Father.

Corevid looked on in shock, his mind didn’t even take in the fact one of their supply cars was just blown up. He was staring at Captain Lorggent’s dead body as it fell, while the monsters dragged it away into the woods.

Lorggent troops roared in outrage and charged after them, it took a moment longer for him to realise what was happening and quickly started yelling out orders!

“Stop! Stop this at once you idiots! Stand down you fools, this is what they want! I said stand down! Stop! Get back here!”

Corevid words reached a few but most had already run into the woods to avenge their captain. One of them even brought back his sword. He only then noticed one of the train-cars was now sitting next to the woods. Was it always there? He thought before hearing another explosion he didn't have time for that, so he ordered his troops to stop any griffon who tried to go into the woods!

He meanwhile went off to find Cross who had run off! Protecting the equipment was more important right now, then the life of one captain. He stopped dead in his tracts as he saw a thing standing in the middle of camp.

Cross and his troops had their weapons aimed at a monster, while Brimstone was trying to talk him down. The undead thing was twisted, its wings were turned into long metal legs. He saw how bloated it was, and a strange glow from its gut. Worse than that, it held Captain Vowtan in its claws!

The undead monster looked his way, and he was left speechless as he saw its face, he knew this thing. It was one of the griffons who were first taken. Corevid slowly stepped forward toward them.

“Private Torrent? It’s me. Captain Corevid, you remember me, don’t you? You’re part of my unit.”

It turned its head to his voice while it had a firm grip of Vowtan neck and arm. Brimstone was yelling to get back, yet he walked closer. He could smell something now, and his eyes lit up in fear. As he saw the thing was bleeding fuel. Vowten wasn’t choking from their neck being held, they were choking from the fumes!

“No griffon fire! If you do, you'll kill us all!”

He called out, holding out a shaky talon as he got closer. It hissed at him, holding it captive closer now. As its belly started to glow brighter!

“You remember what you told me! About your family, y-your friends? How they threw you a party before joining the army, h-how proud they were. You won’t be punished, we… We’ll try to help you turn back, just let the captain go. They have a child; she will be three this year. The captain hasn’t shut up about it. You’re not a monster, you wouldn’t take a child's father would you.”

Its head turned from side to side as if not understanding, suddenly it started to shake. It looked like it was having a seizure, its eyes glowed and it suddenly stopped. Before looking right at him.

“LeT… ThEm… gO?”

It asked in a distorted voice, as it drool from its beck. It then started laughing, it adjusted itself to get a better look at Corevid. It no longer had the empty eyes from before. Now it was being controlled by something intelligent.

“I wonder how many said the same thing to you, before you ended their lives? How many did you and your kind murdered them in their sleep, or did you just skip to the part where they’re used as lab rats? I guess you can skip the consent if the parents are dead or locked away in a camp.”

“Let the captain go or die.”

Ordered Lieutenant Cross, as the possessed monster turned to him and smiled. Corevid was hoping the others could distract it long enough for him to get closer. If he could get closer.

“Such care for the lives of your comrades. Or do you not care what happens to this one?”

It suddenly let the arm go and drove its claws into the captain's eye! They could do nothing but watch as Captain Vowten screamed in pain! As they tried to pull the monster arm away.

“We’re all ready to die for the Empire.”

“Or so you say…”

It said pulling it claws out of Vowten eye, as they held there bleeding eye. Trying to stop the pain as the monster moved away from Corevid.

“All of you say you’re ready for death, yet you have so much you don’t want to lose. Your loved ones, your homes, your rank, your riches, even power and yet you willingly throw the lives of your people away for what? A bit of dirt?”

The thing said as Brimstone was next to speak up, offering a deal. One life for another.

“Take me, let them go and you can have me!”

“Oh, I don’t think so, I have so many test subjects already as it is. I also got hold of a new body that is very interesting.”

Every griffon heard gunfire in the woods, as the monster smiled to itself while pulling out a claw full of feathers. Out from Vowten's neck, making them scream again in pain!

“It sounds like I’m about to get more. Besides, we only target the military, unlike you. There are no civilians for you to hide behind. And each last one of you are legitimate targets. I must go, please pray to your gods. I’ll be meeting you very soon.”

With that the monster suddenly started shaking and started to glow brighter, Corevid was the first to run for cover, as every griffon else watched from safely behind cover as the monster exploded. All that was left was a crater and a burned body of the captain. They were all left shocked, as Croevid, Brimstone and Cross walked away and talked about a plan.

“How many did we lose this time?”

“From the first attack or this one? In total, we lost about 40 give or take.”

“There are going to be more of them, they got a hold of the car full of dead griffons. We’re going to be outnumbered soon if this keeps up.”

They didn’t say anything until it finally stopped raining, but now it was getting colder, and fog was rolling in. Brimstone checked his watch and saw it was almost 7 in the morning. No griffon has had any sleep, they couldn’t hold this place they needed to escape.

“What equipment do we have left?”

“More than enough bullets to put them back in the ground. The problem is their speed, if we could slow them down it would make things easier for our troops. Or if more than half of them can fly, but every griffon is soaked.”

“I had my unit take out a few rocket tubes, they used one of them on the metal beasts after the first attack. We have five rockets left and only three launchers. I have a new plan.”

Cross told him his plan was to make a push into the woods and try to find the leader of these monsters and kill them. Corevid and Brimstone looked at each other, they understood what it meant. It meant they would all die out here, they both nod as Cross walked off.

“He's insane, you know that.”

Said Corevid as he looked at who was left, two hundred reduced to less than a third of that number. He saw Brimstone was having his own fears.

“We can still get out of here. Take our most trusted griffons and escape, all we need to do is leave behind enough griffons so Cross won’t notice we’re gone!”

“Are you mad? You can live with leaving all these griffons to die or worse, be turned into more monsters!”

“If it means I live, I will sacrifice every one of my own troops if it buys me time to get away. Be smart, we need to warn HQ about these new monsters. Before they spread!”

Brimstone looked to the troops, the way they were desperately rushing around. Clearing the dead, seeing to the wounded needs and saving whatever ammo or weapons they can find. He couldn't abandon them, even if he was going to become a father soon himself. He can’t turn his back on them.

“Do what you want, I’ll... Tell Cross you’ll be taking who you can from the line and try to flank the enemy.”

Corevid looked surprised and understood his meaning. They were quiet for a while and both captains shook their talons. And agreed to the unsaid plan. Brimstone went to his troops and had a meal with them. The sky was still dark, and it could rain again at any moment. So, he wouldn’t tell them that this may be their last moment of their lives. Because he knew, they were not going to get out of this one. If he can’t save his troops, then he will make the enemy pay for each life they take.

Ten-Lin was engrossed in his newest subject, this griffon had a powerful body. He was perfect for their next line of mechanithralls, his already built three brute thralls. More powerful and could fight a minotaur one on one. Yet that wasn’t as important as rebuilding their losses.

“You think they will try and run?”

Asked Gaston while working on the helldiver that was missing its back legs. Meanwhile Nuk and Overbite were working on finishing up their own work, there was a moan as Overbite walked over to a line of wounded griffons who haven’t died yet. Overbite waved over another member of their group who had been looking after the wounded. He told the necrosurgeon to make sure they don’t wake up any time soon.

“Why keep them alive? We can make so much more useful things out of them dead?”

Gaston spoke up once more, whale Overbite watched. The necrotech rolled his metal jaw, before turning back to his comrade.

“They’re young, they joined a war without knowing all the details. We will give them a choice, hear us out. Join us or…”

“Die.” “Death!” “K-kill?”

Spoke up Nuk, floating over to look at the wounded griffons as it claws twitch. Overbite growled, yet they both knew better than to start a fight here and now. Besides it was rare for members of cryx to get into fights with one another, the Dragon father preferred they used their words then their weapons or power.

“In the end it doesn't matter,”

Said Ten-Lin as one of his arms turned into a saw, as he worked. Cutting into the body and removing the head, as Nuk floated away to bring the Iron Lich a skull.

“In free choice, in life or death. All join cryx as ever friend, vengeful spirits or as mindless thralls. We only calm souls when it is needed, we’re not showing our full might. If we did, this enemy would be looking to hunt us down. For now, we wait and build, we have all the time in the world.”

Once Ten-Lin attached the skull to its new body and its chest thrummed with power. The skull's eyes glowed as it sat up in its new body and stood up. It opened and closed its new claw, then held up its other arm that was a blade of metal. The Iron Lich pointed, and it moved over to the others that were a head shorter than it.

“What do we do with this one I wonder?”

Ten-Lin asked, holding up the tiger-hawk head. The Iron Lich held it with such care as to not damage the skull itself. There was a rumble from the Helljack as it slammed its shield into a tree, knocking it over.

“Oh, don’t worry my friend, you’ll see battle soon. After all, I saw something special in their little army we’re fighting. Our little friend told us about these so-called super soldiers, we have a few of their bodies here. However, we had to deal with them…”

They all looked to the one pile of bodies that no one touched, they removed the armour before burning the corpses. When one got up on its own and tried to attack them, before the helljack split it in two and the helljack was given the job of keeping them dead.

If any of them were still alive, they were stronger and faster than normal griffons. These griffons were a new breed, the only thing they lacked was experience. That was their downfall, yet they were dead now, so it didn’t matter anymore.

“Remember to burn those bodies again before taking them with us. We may find a weakness we can exploit.”

Ten-Lin added before walking over to look at their army of undeath, as they were ready to end this fight. It was now 10 am, and the fog was already heavy. Good it was time to end this little game, the Iron Lich thought as he sent out Nuk, Gaston and Overbite to end this. As the helljacks followed them. However, he kept the Helldivers close, one could never be too careful.

Brimstone watched Lieutenant Cross leave with his unit into the woods, they moved down wind in hopes the undead won’t notice them. There were only 10 of them left, but he wasn’t going to argue with him.

He was looking after the remaining 60 or so griffons who stayed behind. Well, he should say less than that. Seeing as a small number went off with Corevid, he was given the long sword that belonged to Lorggent. It rested on Brimstone's shoulder as he stood at the front of the barricade with his griffons. He didn’t feel like he should be carrying it, let alone use it in battle.

“So, what are our plans for after we’re dead? Get drunk and make poor choices?”

This got a laugh out of his unit, Brimstone laughed with them. The jokes kept coming after that as they all laughed, they may have belonged to different squads and captains. But today they were brothers. That when they heard a new laugh, one that came from the woods. They got ready as the two monsters from before came back and following them was a floating metal monster.

It was like some mad octopus as its skull-like head stared back at them, then the undead stepped out with them. Hissing and growling, he swings the sword into a guard stance. He got a shock as two huge metal things pushed their way out of the woods. One had a harpoon gun where its arm should be and the other slams its huge axe into its shield.

“Who speaks for you!”

Calls out Overbite, as Brimstone calls back, keeping the fear out of his voice. As one of the metal giants looked, for lack of a better word hungry for battle.

“I am Captain Brimstone, part of the 43th combat Legion! If you’re looking for an easy kill, why don’t you come down here and kennel!”

The griffons laughed as they yelled their own insults back at the undead. Yet these mattered little to the necrotechs as they were searching the line they noticed a few griffons were missing. Overbite turned to Nuk and spoke softly to it.

“Take the Reaper with a few thralls and head north, go around the camp. I think a group is trying to escape to get help.”

“No!” “We want blood!” “I d-don’t want too…”

Overbite rolled his eyes before, taping his weapon, then looked back at Nuk. Nuk souls were violent, vengeful, with a bit of madness but great intelligence. Sometimes the best way to get Nuk to do what you wanted was to play into its spiteful nature.

“Very well then, I guess they will escape your wrath. Even if the nearest village is three weeks away. I guess they will get away, on the bright side. If you did go after them, you wouldn’t need to worry about I or Gaston telling you how to deal with them. You’ll be free to do what you want…”

Nuk was at first angry, then calmed down as he listened to Overbite speck. The Iron Lich Overseer understood and started to crackle so loud even the griffons could hear it! Nuk reached out and made a link to the Reaper helljack and sent out his orders, as they moved away from the battle that was about to start.

“You know what Nuk will do to them once it finds them?”

“That’s if anyone did try to escape. I’d raver Nuk hunt down stragglers or go chasing his tail, then inflicting a painful end on the living here. This way it keeps him out of trouble.”

Brimstone didn’t know what the undead were talking about, for a moment the metal octopus looked like it was going to attack one of them. It then started laughing, it was a horrible sound. Like two griffons were trying to laugh at once while being strangled, it reached out to one of the huge machines. Then they started moving away from the camp. Where are they going? Were one of his thoughts.

However, Brimstone didn’t have time to work out what their plan was as the undead started to move. And once the hulking metal monster left the woods, he saw just how tall it was. It was around 10, maybe even 11 feet tall! This was it, they had to buy time for Cross to go after the leader of these things and for Corevid to get away.

“Glory for the empire!”

Brimstone called out, as his brothers in arms roared with him as they opened fire! This may be his last battle, but he was going to make these monsters remember it!

Cross managed to sneak around the army of undead. He underestimated their numbers, as well he saw a few newly risen undead from their own soldiers. He moved on with his unit running deeper into the woods, the monsters he saw before didn’t seem like they were giving orders.

Merely following orders, meaning something else was in charge. They found the old blood trail and followed it when they were attacked! The helldivers burst out from the earth, yet two of his griffons tackled one to the ground. Trying to hold it off with little luck, seeing as it was a few tons of metal.

The rest of his griffons attacked the other metal beasts trying to hold them off, one griffon had their guts ripped out. As another griffon drove their sword into the monster, they managed to kill it, yet they had two more and three of his troops were already wounded.

“Go lieutenant, we will deal with these ones.”

Cross didn’t reply as he ran off deeper into the wood, the scent of blood was heavy in the air. He could still hear the gunfire and the yelling from his team, yet he felt nothing. Finally, he found what he was looking for, an area of ground covered in blood however not a single body in sight.

Standing in the middle of it all was a tall metal monster on four insect-like legs. It had three spine-like smokestacks sticking out from its back. Its head was a skull he had never seen before, it almost looked like a unicorn but had fangs. Along with six pairs of arms four of them folded up on its back.

“Welcome, I was expecting more of you? My name is Ten-Lin the Iron Lich, I am most humbled to meet you.”

Cross brought up his machine gun and fired, the sound of bullets hitting metal could be heard. He did not let go of the trigger until it was empty. The monster had covered its head with four of its arms that unfolded from behind its back. It made a small opening with its arms to look at him.

“You didn’t even let me finish? Or why am I here, aren’t you just a little-.”

Cross didn’t even let it continue as he pulled out his pistol and started shooting at it again. Once that was empty, he threw a grenade at it! It screamed in pain as it went off and crawled away like a spider. Cross ran after it, with his short sword and dagger out ready to kill it. Suddenly something stepped out from behind a tree and almost crushed his head!

Cross backed away before looking up and saw it was another undead monster, but it was bigger and had more muscle. It growled as it pulled its huge metal fist out from the tree. As its smokestacks bellowed toxic smoke from it back.

“This my friend is called a Brute Thrall, unlike its smaller counterparts. This one is armed with heavy steam-fists. Almost as powerful as a jack, so it is more than strong enough to… You’re not listening, are you?”

Cross ignored the monster's words as this undead brute was swinging it fists at him. However, he was smaller and faster, cutting at its flesh. The Brute Thrall roared not in pain but anger, as it threw another punch, and it missed but smashed through a tree trunk! Cross needed to kill this thing quickly.

It may have been powerful, but it wasn’t smart, as he ran between two trees and got it stuck. It wasn’t powerful enough to break free. Cross took this moment to stab it in the head! Its eyes went out, yet its body still rumbled with power, the griffon pulled his sword free letting the body drop before stabbing it again.

This time aiming for the engine inside and it stopped, he pulled his sword out again then saw the undead monster was watching the fight, hanging upside down from a tree.

“Interesting, you have enough power to temporarily stop a helldiver. But not out right, fight it one on one. Oh sorry, I was controlling them while you were fighting. Good news is there are three survivors of your little group.”

It said climbing down from the tree to stand on the ground, it gave off the impression it was impressed. Next its arms unfolded into blades and tools, one of its arms unfolded into a saw and another into a drill. The lich looked eager to fight.

“The bad news is, I sent the other two Brute Thralls to deal with them. Don’t be sad, I’m sure I can turn you all into more interesting thralls. Maybe, just maybe I can turn you into a Bane Lord?”

Cross pointed his sword at the lich. It didn’t matter to him; his mission was to kill all of Die Leucht's enemies. No matter who or what they were.

“I will kill you.”

Ten-Lin giggled to himself, as the saw blade and drill spin to life.

“I looked forward to seeing you try.”

Corevid was walking quickly, his small squad had enough food and water for three days. They could already hear the fighting even now, yet they had to keep going. Five more Griffons joined him on his way out, that was more mouths to feed but he could always use more bodies between him and the monsters.

They couldn’t stop no matter how tired they were, he looked back and started yelling at them to keep moving. Any griffon he lags will be shot! It was enough to get them moving, in all honesty. He wasn’t going to waste the bullets.

They all heard a scream and looked back, when they saw the first few monsters. They dropped whatever they were carrying and started shooting. The undead monsters started rushing toward them, like hungry animals.

One landed on a griffon and started beating them to death with their metal fists, Corevid shot the monster in the head. And yelled for them to hold their ground, he was thinking of the best way to get away when something slams him into a tree! Making him drop his gun.

Corevid gasped for air as he tried to get up, only for a steely claw to grab him by the neck and left him up. He stared into the undead eyes of the metal monster as its skull-like head stared back at him.

“You are not him, yet you look so much like my captain all those years ago.” “It could be his son. A descendant maybe? They do have the same eyes.” “Spare them, p-please… I b-beg you…”

It spoke in such a haunting manner, with three different voices. Corevid clawed at his attacker. Trying to get free yet the monster didn’t even flinch as it leaned in closer. Corevid feared for his very soul as it stared into him.

“Maybe we should kill him slowly, make him regret ever taking a life!” “No, we should cut off his limbs, then send back his animated head! I’m sure that news will spread like fire!” “M-make it quick… Make it p-painless, I beg you…”

Corevid in a moment of clear thought between his gasps for air. Remembering these things were brought to life by magic, without it! He quickly grabbed his dagger and plunged it into the monster skull, for a moment it seemed confused. Until Corevid twisted the dagger and the skull shattered!

The monster clawed at its missing head with its other two hands before throwing Corevid away. It rolled on the ground screaming in pain! Before it regained control of itself.

“You will pay!” “You will suffer!” “You will die!” “Over!” “And Over!” “Again!” “We will!” “Make sure!” “Of it!” “The pain!” “We will!” “Never forgive!” “Never forget!”

It stopped as he saw in horror, it had another two heads. It turned its body so one faced him, before it was being shot at. It roared before crawling away! Two soldiers helped him up as they carried what they could and started running. Corevid looked back and saw a giant of a machine walking over to the rest and set half of his griffons on fire! It was a nightmare, just a nightmare. He will wake up in his warm bed and all of this will be over!

Brimstone was fighting for his life, cutting down another undead. The big problem was the huge Gollum wreaking havoc, they have already waisted three rockets on it. But the damn thing would just raise its shield and hide behind it from the blast. No not hiding, it was blocking the attack!

Before it would swing its axe and cut down whoever was too close. Brimstone had to think of something, anything to turn the tables to win. They still had a few explosives left, if he could lead it away and get it to follow him. He had a plan!

“4th platoon! Sure, up the east side! Heavy’s watch out for swarming from the forest, you two hold your fire! Wait for the gollum to get trapped then shoot it!”

The two soldiers with the rocket tube looked confused yet followed orders, Brimstone watched as the gollum swung its axe down on a group of griffons shooting at it from behind a barricade. Brimstone roared as he swung his sword into its leg, it barely noticed it as it turned and looked down at him.

Brimstone saw something behind those glowing eyes, this thing wasn’t mindlessly killing. There was a form of intelligence there. If it could think he hoped it could get angry too.

“Come on monster! You want a challenge so come and get me!”

It let out a rumble before slamming its axe into its shield three times and stepping forward. Good that worked, Brimstone thought as he ran from it. It was picking up speed as he ran behind a turned over train-car.

The metal gollum just shoved it aside with its shield as it kept up. Knocking the car over and the frame was crushed under its own weight. Brimstone ran into the half empty train-car making sure it saw him before trying to close the door.

Once inside he opened crates throwing hay on to the floor and opening boxes of explosives. Trying to pile them up, the gollum stopped outside and swung its axe into the ground before pulling a door off with its free claw. It poked its horned head inside looking around and saw another door was left open.

It pulled its head back out and saw the griffon running back to the battle. It was going to run him down, when it saw the two griffons with the rocket. They shot it, the helljack brought up its shield ready for the attack. But the aim was off and missed the helljack, it turned to watch. As it couldn't work out in time they were aiming for the boxes of explosives!

The explosion sent Brimstone flying from the shockwave. His ears were ringing, as all he could see was the fire and turned to the ones who managed to kill it. The two griffons were cheering! Brimstone let himself have this small victory.

When suddenly both griffons were crushed by the huge shield! He turned back to the fire and saw the Helljack walking out of it while on fire! Its left arm was limp, damaged and it was looking for its weapon.It stopped once it saw Brimstone and roared! It turned back to the wreck, stomped its foot on a part of the train-car before tearing out a twisted beam of metal with its claw!

Brimstone got up quickly as it ran over, a few undead were already closing in on him. Brimstone cut them down, yet he didn’t have time to deal with them! In a few short strides as he killed the last one the helljack was already on top of him. It swung the twisted metal down at him, he jumped out of the way. But the helljack twists and swings it at him at an angle! Brimstone was sent flying back into the camp, gasping in pain sure his ribs were broken.

Yet he didn’t give himself time to worry about this, as he crawled away over to dead soldiers who still had their weapons. The helljack took it time walking towards him, as he rested his back on the barracuda and took the dead griffon rifle. Brimstone took arm and started shooting at it, it didn’t really matter. He didn’t have the weapons to harm this thing.

Once the rifle was empty, he took the other dead griffon pistol and started shooting! Each bullet bounced off the armoured body. He started aiming for pipes and hoses; however, they were protected by its armoured body. He kept shooting until it too ran empty and threw it at the monster!

Brimstone was finding it hard to breathe now, as he looked at it. As the helljack stood over him with its beam of twisted iron. It stared at him, and turned it head sideways. He didn’t understand what it wanted, yet he wasn’t going to beg. He then heard nothing. Brimstone felt regret, every griffon must be dead. He thought as he heard a sound.

The two necrotechs walked over to look at who was still left alive, Gaston turned and saw the dying griffon. And looked surprised, as he pats Overbites shoulder.

“By the dragon’s teeth, he is still alive.”

“I'm just as surprised as you’re. Normally Rampage here kills anything on site. More so after being damaged by someone. Yet it hasn't tried to kill him… Think something broke in the explosion?”

“Let’s hope not, fixing a cortex is not easy. Still…”

Brimstone could hear survivors, calling out in pain or for help. Brimstone growled in pain as blood ran down his beak, before coughing up blood. He stood on his feet and looked the two undead in the eye and spoke.

“We… Surrender, if you spare our lives… I will go with you, and… And you can do what you want with me.”

Overbite and Gaston looked at each other, this wasn’t part of the plan. They didn’t think any of them would be willing to surrender. They got another surprise as a number of wounded griffons were stumbling towards their captain and stood in front of him.

“You want the captain… You’ll need to go through us!”

“That right, you’ll… need to kill us. Before we’d let you lay a claw on him!”

Now they were truly impressed, these dying soldiers were ready to die for their leader. Even if two of them couldn’t walk, one was blind, another had their guts hanging out, and one lost an arm and their wings.

“We… Can’t make such an agreement, however we can treat your wounds until one of our leaders arrives. Until then, we cannot guarantee anything.”

Said Overbite as the helljack still looked down at the captain. Brimstone nodded and lost all power in his legs. The other wounded griffons fell or yelled for their captain to hold on! Gaston looked to Overbite.

“Think we will get in trouble for this?”

“We’ve done worse, taking in strays is what we do. Even if they tried to bite us first.”

Overbite said with a chuckle. As they got to work, it was going to be a long day, and the rest will pass out soon anyway. So, it wouldn’t be any trouble taking the wounded with them.

Ten-Lin was learning so much from this griffon, as they fought. His movement and skill were something, it was almost supernatural. And yet the griffon wasn’t even tired yet!

“I almost forgot! I didn’t ask you for your name!”

“Do you ever shut up?”

Ten-Lin noticed the griffon was getting annoyed, it seemed this one didn’t like talking. It was a shame really, Ten-Lin had so much to talk about. It would be nice to get a fresh perspective from someone who had no knowledge of their work.

“No, I enjoy talking too much! So, I will give you the honour of becoming my bodyguard!”

Ten-lin lashed out with his drill arm before, attacking with a scissors like claw. Yet Cross blocked the attack, it was getting annoying. The griffon didn’t seem to tire at all, he wondered where the griffon was getting all his stamina from. Then Ten-Lin lost one of his arms!

The iron lich jumped back and looked at the stump of metal that used to be one of his arms. The feeling of pain from the stump was something new, he thought this new body would never feel such a thing again. Ten-Lin stared back, as Cross prepared for his next strike.

“Odd, I assumed your weapons were newly forged. And hadn’t had any contact with magic yet? Could it be that your army has taken weapons from the front and given them to your troops?”

Ten-Lin blocks an attack aiming to try and behead him. Before moving around the griffon and slashed out with the saw, there was a spray of blood as the blade bites into muscle and bone. Rendering one of the griffon wings useless.

“No, there would be no point in doing that. They’d never know if you would live long enough to get any real use out of it, elite units maybe?”

“I grow tired of your rambling monster!”

Cross shouted ignoring the wound to his wing, Ten-Lin was watching the griffon the whole time. The way he acted and reacted, the way he moves, and talks. The fact he was ignoring the pain said something to him, a test was in order. And he attacked!

Cross made several jabs, slashes and parries trying to find an opening. Whenever his weapons did strike the monster, it would recoil in pain. It moved too quickly for anything lethal. Even if his attacks only scratch its metal body it still felt pain.

Good, if it felt pain then he could kill it. The grenade from earlier proved his point, as its shrapnel was orichalcum. All he had to do was drain it over time and it would die! Cross cut off another arm, as it fell to the flood lifeless as the metal monster backed away swinging it arms out in fear!

Now! Cross thought as he threw another grenade right at the monster's face! There was a scream before the explosion went off. Cross closed in ready to kill the wounded monster, the griffon was then sent flying into a tree by a powerful kick! Cross gasped for air, as his armour saved him. He saw to his surprise; the monster had a long metal spike as long as its leg sticking out from its foot!

That wasn’t the shocking part, its head was enclosed in a hood like helmet. The metal spike retracted back into its leg before putting its foot down.

“I must say that it is very interesting how your armour works. High speed impacts or even normal speeds such as swinging a sword or club even bullets, triggers its hardening properties. We’re still trying to work out how it all works. However, slowly bending or crushing the armour works! Yet this is still inefficient for our-.”

“Cross…”

Ten-Lin stopped confused, looking at the griffon through the slits in his helmet. The griffon got back on his feet, as the sound of bones moved back into place.

“My name is Lieutenant Cross. I am part of the Endless Legion project, however that is not important. You will die here, because we will kill you.”

Ten-Lin had an uneasy feeling as he slowly backed away. We, why did he say it like that? He asked himself when he felt a bullet hit his armoured shoulder. Ten-Lin turned back and saw the other two griffons! One lost an eye, while the other only lost a wing, what was going on? Where were the brute thralls?!

Ten-Lin didn’t have time to think as he was attacked again! Now Cross had reinforcements, Ten-Lin was not a fighter by nature, he was a planner, someone who had backup plans for every event. But he didn’t think the other two would still be alive!? He cursed as he tried to block another attack, one of them closed the gap and tried to stab him in the head!

The iron lich's quick thinking was what saved him just for a moment longer, as he picked up a log and tried to use it as a shield. It did nothing to stop the blade. But did slow it down enough for him to grab it! The tip of the sword had already breached his helmet, Ten-Lin could see the tip of the sword just over his eye.

He quickly kicked the griffon away and fell back trying to wrench the blade from his helm. Ten-Lin pulled it out just in time to be shot in the leg, as Cross was moving in to try and stab him. But swings a claw out to parry the sword away. He fired a bolt of magic at Cross, but he just cut the spell away with his sword!

“I should have listened to Volter and brought more support!”

Ten-Lin scolded himself, trying to keep the three griffons at bay. Cross roared as he charged at him, Ten-Lin needed to get rid of their swords. He wasn’t going to try and use magic while they still had them. Ten-Lin planned for everything, yet he did not plan for this. So, he ran!

“I can’t… I can’t run anymore!”

Corevid yelled, tripping over his own paws, the two soldiers who saved him quickly helped him back up and kept walking. They didn’t say anything as they kept moving, one would always look back to make sure they weren’t being followed.

They stop behind a fallen tree and rest, all three griffons painting as one of them started pulling out Ammo from the bag they were carrying. Corevid saw this and the other griffon getting out a rifle.

“Wait, wait a minute! Give me that!”

He took one and dumped its contents on the ground, he then emptied the other bag and to his horror they had nothing but weapons in them.

“You idiots! Where is the water and food!? Did you two think we can eat bullets now suddenly!?”

Corevid started screaming at them as he got up, they needed supplies not weapons! They needed water and food! How were they going to last long enough for search parties to find them. He looked at his watch and saw it was the middle of the day, he rubbed his face trying to think of a way out of this.

“Let me think, y-you two. Do you remember your survival training!”

The two griffons looked at each other, they both had the look of ‘what training?’ this made Corevid swear up a storm! The one time the military started making cuts to the training. They pick the one thing that could save their lives! Corevid looked up at the cloudy sky and froze as he saw a crow looking down at him. It had a metal wing, talon and a glass eye.

It caws at him, as Corevid takes a step back as he looks around. And saw another three birds in another tree. He got worried when he saw more landing on trees around him. The fog was gone but the sky was still dark.

“Get up, didn’t you hear me? I said get up! Pick up this shit and get up, we’re moving on!”

Corevid yelled, feeling like death itself was staring at him. The only time he ever felt like this was one campaign when they were dealing with the ponies. Some of them were out of their minds, he’d have nightmares about this one earth pony. It didn’t matter how many bullets they put in him or that he had three swords in his chest. He would just not stop fighting!

In the end the pony didn’t die by their talon but by their wounds. Corevid looked back at the griffons and froze.

“Hey, where's the other one?”

“His right-what? Hey where did you go!?”

They both started yelling, calling out to the missing soldier. Corevid had a terrible thought, before he quickly picked up and rifle-loaded it, and started walking away before he started running! He ignored the soldier who was now yelling for the captain to come back, he heard a shunt sound before a thump! He turned back and saw the soldier who was yelling now had a huge harpoon in his chest pinning him on to the tree!

The chain attached to the harpoon slowly became taut as the griffon was pulled from the tree and was being dragged away. The last thing Corevid saw of the griffon was him reaching out and trying to call for help. Corevid kept running!

The muscles in his legs were burning now, he saw more of the crows in the trees looking down at him. He finally had enough and roared into the sky and started shooting at the crows! The birds scattered, flying away, as Corevid only managed to kill three of the birds out of his 7 shots.

He heard a snap and fired on the first thing he saw! Blood sprayed over Corevid's face as he saw the missing soldier, who now had a bullet wound in his chest. The chest plate was removed, and out from behind the tree holding the dying griffon was Nuk. Corevid quickly looked for another bullet, yet in his hurry to get away. He only loaded one magazine of 8 rounds into his rifle.

Corevid tried to use the rifle as a club, but Nuk just stabbed Corevid in the leg with his trident. The captain dropped the rifle and cried out in pain, Nok dropped the dying griffon and grabbed Corevid by the throat before pinning him to the tree. His third arm reached up and took the helmet off.

“How should we make you pay!” “We’re not whole anymore!” “We need a third, another!” “Information?” “Yes?” “Yes!” “We need knowledge!” “We need a smart mind.” “One who schemes!” “One who knows secrets.” “Do you know any griffons like that?”

It asked, as Corevid was going to reach for his pistol on his hip. When he remembered, he dropped it. The lich twisted the trident, making Corevid cry out in pain.

Nuk restrained Corevid with his tentacles. Before he started dragging him away, Nuk also grabbed the foot of the dying griffon. Taking him as well, Nuk called to the Reaper. It was looking at the dead soldier on the end of its harpoon. It looked to him, and he gave one silent command. And it followed, forgetting about the dead griffon on the end of its weapon.

They were going back now; it will take them a few hours but that was fine. Nuk had ways to entertain itself. After all, there was nothing more joyful than hearing the screams from the ones he hates.

Ten-Len managed to remove some of the shrapnel from his body while on the run, he no longer felt drained, yet they were still chasing him. Worse, it was only a matter of time before they ran him down.

Ten-Lin was trying to use every trick he picked up to lose them, he even threw a rock at one that crippled one of them in the arm! However, the damage of a broken bone didn’t seem to deter them at all! What kind of mental training did they undergo to ignore pain!

One griffon landed on him and stabbed him with a dagger, the pain was worse than any he had felt when he was still alive! Yet he still ran, as one claw closed around the griffon wrist as the saw blade spins up and is driven into the griffon neck! Just as the griffon let go, Ten-Lin was knocked over a rocky out cropping and fell!

The griffon fell away and took the dagger with him, the lich rolled to a stop as one of his legs stopped working yet still used the rest of his limbs like a spider. If he could get away, that is when Cross and the other griffon with the missing eye land in front of him. Ten-Lin slowly looked up at them.

“I suppose it's too late to negotiate?”

He asked slowly, pushing himself back up to stand, and ready every weapon he had left. His normal arms unfold from his sides, as his last two working limbs are held up ready to attack. The claw snapped open and closed as the saw spins.

“If I am to die, I will take your rotting souls with me!”

Cross didn’t say anything, as they attacked. Ten-Lin fight was desperate as he tried to fight, yet these two were better trained than him. He managed to wound them yet in return they did more damage, then both griffons kicked the iron lich at the same time

Ten-Lin rolled across the ground before stopping at the iron feet of Volter, the iron lich diamond dog held out his hand. And a sword by his side, he then helped Ten-Lin back onto his feet.

“I wasn’t sure you’d make it?”

Ten-Lin said in surprise as both griffons looked shocked there was another iron lich to deal with. The other lich seemed to appear out of nowhere, as Volter looked them over.

“We can use our magic in the middle of the woods as much as we like, if there is no one around to report it. Who are your friends?”

Volter asked, pointing with his sword, at the two griffons who were getting ready for another fight. Ten-Lin looked back at them before replying.

“Would you believe me if I said elite griffons? I hope you brought a helljack with you.”

Volter laughed, as he stepped forward and flipped a switch on his sword. Charging up it mechanika as it lets out a soft hum, the blade lets off a hiss as raindrops land on the steel. Both griffons roared and ran at them, Volter walked forward completely at ease. Not worried by the two griffons that were charging at him. Volter held up his claw and spoke.

“Rise, Barathrum.”

The earth explodes in front of the iron lich. As a steel talon smashed into Cross beck and sent the griffon rolling back in pain. The helljack was a breaching monster of a machine. With it two curved tusks and grinning jaws of bone and teeth. Its shoulders had sharp blades sticking out of them, along with it back and shoulders.

The helljack stepped out from the hole taller than Cross and held up its shovel like talons ready to fight. As Cross squad mate hangs limply from the steel talon dead. Cross roared as Volter suddenly stabbed out with his sword into Cross' chest, sending him back. Cross had to stop as he heard a hissing sound and saw where the blade stabbed was a mark on his chest armour.

“You could have had a chance of beating Ten-Lin, if you didn’t let him run away. You should have cut off anyway for him to retreat. Then attack him all at once.”

Volter said, but Cross just screeched before he was hit by the helljack again! Volter moved in, between attacks. Cutting at ligaments, reducing Cross’ ability to move. Volter moved like water between the Barathrum attacks. Cutting, slashing, stabbing, with each attack looking for a weakness.

Between blocking and dodging the helljack attacks, Cross was given no time to react to Volter. Who was moving in like an expert swordsman. Cross was gasping for air, as he was bleeding from his limbs. Then looked down at his chest plant, he didn’t understand what was happening. The armour should absorb all magic so how, how was the lich stabbing a hole through the chest plant?!

Volter had no need to tell the griffon what was happening or how his sword was made. The Mechanika inside only had two jobs, one was to make a reaction inside the sword, a chemical mix inside. Made to heat up the blade, they would have used rune plates but didn’t want to run the risk of the sword being drained of magic. The heat from the blade was slowly warping on contact with the orichalcum.

Volter ran the griffon though, as he at last pierced the armour! It took time, and you had to fight a certain way for it to work. The slashes had to be long and maintain contact, after a thrust you had to push the sword just a little bit deeper. If one was quick and had spent the time watching their opponent moves, one could end the fight quickly.

Volter pushed the dying griffon off his sword, as the smell of burning meat filled the air. Volter looked down at the griffon, he admired their sprite. Fighting an iron lich with no backup may have been brave but not smart.

“You had a good time making your way here, I was worried I’d miss you. We should hurry back, there are more survivors. And if they were as strong as these two.”

“Don’t worry Ten-Lin, we’ll get back quickly. And the Wolves of cryx, never leave a packmate behind.”

Said Volter as many of his forces moved out of the shadows. As three more helljacks joined them, before Volter opened a portal. They entered to support their comrades; they were done here. It was time to return to the shadows.

She was 23 years old, all she knew was the life of the rebels. Living off the land, she didn’t know her parents or what happened to them. They were walking through the mountains; griffons hadn’t been here for years.

Griffon pilgrims used to travel these mountains, but very few ever do this nowadays. Only a rare few do so now, but the rebels make use of these old places to spend the night or take shelter. But they never stay long.

This will be her first meeting with the resistance leaders, she felt scared as they visited these old temples. That looks like they have been left to ruin, it made her sad as she followed the one who helped raise her.

They saw the others, there were ten griffons, one leader and a bodyguard each. She was the bodyguard to her leader, and as soon as they reached them the meeting started.

“If you’re here that means you weren’t followed, otherwise you wouldn’t risk our movement.”

“We all know what we’re doing. Now let's start, what about the army movements, what do we know?”

“Before that I have something to bring to our attention. Amber, show them.”

Amber, named for the colour of her eyes, walked forward and handed them the letter they’ve been getting for years. Each of them looked at the letters and one even read one.

“Some griffon is helping us, so far, the info can be trusted. They use crows and only send these letters at night. Whoever there, not even our informants in town can contact them. They can find out and send us a target we can handle or warn us about a trap.”

“Could they be some griffon from the alliance?”

“No way, if they could do this. They would have acted sooner. How many years has this been going on?”

“About 40 years.”

Amber watched as they talked, ranging from possible informants in the military. To spies, yet it is very hard to infiltrate the military. Unless you fully believe in what they’re doing and have no concerns about their actions. Then you wouldn’t even make it into the command stretcher. Any griffon with empathy for the enemy will never be promoted in Die Leucht ranks. Yet many didn’t even know they even exist.

“So, some griffon is contacting us, they don’t trust us enough to keep who they are a secret. Yet they know more about us and our movements, to help us aid our kinsman. Should we trust them?”

“They’ve had years to stab us in the back. The fact they haven’t done it yet means, they’re acting with caution. They could be a high-ranking griffon who can only act in this way to help us?”

“If that is true, then we may have some hope. But at the same time, if this is the only way they can help us they must be acting alone. With no other griffon they can trust, so even if we tried to make contact. That alone could compromise them.”

“So, we don’t make contact and trust they’re not trying to hang us all in our sleep? I don’t trust any griffon I haven’t met myself.”

“You need to stop doing that, if one of our cells gets captured and they point you out. It will just be a matter of time before they close in on you, we can’t risk that.”

“Relax, if it ever comes to that. I ordered my bodyguard to kill me if that should happen.”

Amber looked alarmed, as she looked to the griffon bodyguard who had a grim look on their face. The meeting moved on to other matters, and strange stories about strangers walking through the woods at night. This only happened in the most remote of places where no griffon lived, no griffon but them.

The meeting was closed, and they all left one by one until she was alone with her leader, she looked at him as he led the way back down the mountain. She would look at the temples feeling sad, she didn’t understand how griffons could abandon such a place with some much historical importance to them.

“Don’t worry Amber, even if every griffon else has forgotten the Sky god. We haven’t, even if we have lost much of our history. We still believe in them.”

Amber smiled at that as she followed, she heard a crow and thought it was strange. Crows don’t normally fly this high up the mountain. So, she ignored it and went back to her life trying to help her kinsmen. To one day bring freedom to them all.

“So, they were a one off? Whatever these griffons are? We should do more testing to be sure.”

Asked Grimscythe, as Volter had brought the bodies with them. Well, what was left of them anyway. Cross body was displayed like a decision. Organs were removed and muscle was cut away exposing bone. They have found a few interesting things, some of these griffons looked like they were bred while others were modified. In a crude fashion, they sent some of them to Mable though the newu. To see if she can find out more.

She informed them, it was a poor attempt to improve their soldiers. Yes, it made them more physically powerful. But it puts a huge strain on the body, so it was a short-term failure that could be fixed over time. However, they did find one interesting fact, the griffon's ability to feel pain was dulled.

“Most likely, I really can’t think of why they would do this to their own. They want to become stronger; I can understand that but to make so many changes to their body like this. What do you think, Ten-Lin?”

Asked Volter, as the changeling lich was being worked on. Having shrapnel removed along with other damaged parts being replaced. Even in a half-disabled state, Ten-Lin would not stop working. Working on one of the dead griffons.

“I’m not sure, it’s clear they have not only been born to be soldiers but also had surgery to help with this. Yet still the long-term effects are unknown, they could drop dead in ten years’ time or not live past forty. I’d need more data.”

Grimscythe looked on in worry but knew he would be fine. Besides there was another body next to the one that was called Cross. This one was not improved and showed several scars most likely a failure of the same program. It was a slow process, yet in time they could become deadly. These new griffons would need to be targeted first before they push on.

Yet this didn’t interfere with the plan, just added another target to it. They needed to find out where they were being trained. Unless these griffons were made like this, ever way they were going to deal with them.

“I’ve been looking into something that has been bothering me. One of our hunter teams found a group of griffon soldiers in the wilderness.”

“Were they searching for us?”

“No, they were searching for someone else. Someone they believed was a reincarnation of a god. At least that's what they told us. That is strange because the only being griffons are allowed to worship are the king and queen. Even so, there are still places where the practice takes place of worship of the sky god. It's just in small groups and away from other griffons.”

“Think what they’re saying is true?”

“It doesn't change our plans; we’re moving up the time table. We’re going to attack openly this time, we’ll wait a few more weeks before heading out. We’re going to attack the eastern harbour in their main trade hub. And we’re going to sink the city.”

When Brimstone woke up, it was dark, and the soft glow of lights was all he could see. He was laying on a mat, as an VI drip was attached to a glass bowl full of something keeping him alive. He turned his head and saw the rest of his troops like him. Laying on mats resting peacefully.

He then looked to his right and his breath caught in his throat, as a twisted monster of flesh stood next to a griffon with tubes attached to it and the resting griffon. Brimstone was about to sit up when a metal hand rested on his chest to stop him. He turned and saw a pony with three arms.

“It's alright, just a twisted horror. Something newly made by one of our necrotechs, it is a punishment for the cruellest of the living. They must now live on to serve others, replacing the griffon lost blood. Don’t worry, he should be out of the woods soon.”

She told him, adjusting his drip feed. Brimstone was very confused, as he looked around there were others like the pony. They were griffons who had replaced limbs, or tools on claws to help with the wounded. There was even a diamond dog helping.

“What is this place, why are you helping us? What did that thing do?”

She turned to him, and Brimstone saw one of her eyes was replaced. And she had a necklace around her neck. She wrote something down on her clipboard. Before replying.

“This is the medical ward, it's not much but we can treat the living here. It is our job to save who we can and harvest who we can’t. As for that monster, it thought there was nothing wrong with cutting up young ponies and yaks like lab rats. If you ask me, keeping it alive was too good for it. Stay in bed and don’t get up, I’ll send for someone to meet with you.”

She told him and then walked away. Brimstone felt very out of place here, he didn’t even know how long it had been. Or if he and his troops were safe, still why would undead monsters bother to save them? Why keep them alive? It had been an hour, and a griffon with metal wings asked if he needed anything, he turned them down as he wanted his troops seen first.

Then at last the thing walked in, they were tall, had large metal wings and lastly. The skull was that of a griffon staring back at him, their whole body was metal. And then it spoke.

“I am Grimscythe, the leader of the Vipers of cryx, tell me. Do you believe what your nation is doing is right?”

Brimstone was confused, these monsters attacked them, killing so many soldiers. Then treat their wounded and are now asking questions? He guessed he was a prisoner now and looked to his resting griffons. He could tell what would happen if he didn’t cooperate.

“Yes. We’re protecting our homes, our kinmen.”

“Did you know just in this week alone, you have already lost over twenty-eight hundred griffons? That number will only grow as the war drags on; do you even know how it started? Or how long has it been going on for?”

Brimstone feels very confused now, when he thinks about it. Even as a child every griffon talked about the war and how it would end soon, yet it never did. Even now, when he met new recruits, they would talk about how they would end the war. Yet it still went on, and he didn’t even know why?

“This war has been going on for hundreds of years now, yet still there is no end to it in sight. I am asking for your help.”

“My help? Why should I, we would raver die before helping the monsters who-!”

“I see, Nuk, would you come in please?”

The Iron Lich Overseer floated in with a new skull replacing the one that was lost. But it was dragging something behind it in its tentacles. It was Captain Corevid, who looked horrible and pale.

“Do you remember your last battle? Before being sent off to replace your losses?”

Asked Grimscythe, now they had Brimstone full attention. As Corevid looked up with bloodshot eyes, full of fear.

“The cryx can inflict unspeakable cruelty, yet the dragonfather forbids us from doing so. But sometimes even we can be missguided. Did you know, the captain told me something interesting. You were given orders to kill unarmed civilians. And yet you didn’t follow those orders, you lost your rank and Corevid here was promoted to captain and did what you would not.”

The Iron Lich looked deep into Corevids eyes, as the griffon whimpered and broke down begging for his life. Grimscythe simply waved Nuk off, Nuk then started to leave, dragging away Corevid still begging for his life to be spared.

“I want to know why, why would you not kill them? When the rest of your army would have done so without a second thought.”

Brimstone felt uncountable under this monster's glare and yet. All he can remember is his colleagues berating him about not following orders, saying he was weak. Until one of his troops thanked him for what he did. They said, thank you for not making them murder them in cold blood. Brimstone remembered what they said, and the reason they were thankful.

“It is because, if the alliance ever pushed our army’s back. And reached the cities, they would do the same thing to us that we did to them. That's why I disobey orders, for the future of the griffon empire.”

“That will do, I too am fighting for our people's future. Right now, the lives of thousands are at stake, a plan that is ready to be carried out has only one problem. We need the city emptied. What would be the fastest way to do it without loss of life?”

Brimstone didn’t understand, these monsters were more than willing to try and kill him and his troops. Yet stay their claws when it comes to a city full of griffons? He then remembered what the monster said before blowing itself up.

“You don’t want to attack civilian targets… You’re only after the army, not the griffons living in the city. Why?”

“Because like yourself, you understand it is wrong to attack those who cannot defend themselves. To murder the innocent who live in ignorance, it is not their fault they’re being lied to. They must understand the truth, they must see it for themselves. Once you tell me what I need to know, I will tell you, our plan.”

Brimstone thought long and hard about it, there weren't many reasons to ever empty a city. More than that he didn’t trust this monster, yet it could have killed him and his troops but didn’t. Brimstone didn’t want to give anything up, so he will only pass on information any griffon should know. The only reason he could come up with emptying the city was if the city was under attack or…

“Emerum exposure… It is the only thing they cannot ignore and would act quickly enough to get every griffon’s out. Ever that or a gas leak. But I have no idea how you’d fake that; you do know what emerum is don’t you?”

“We know it is toxic to the living, nothing else why?”

“Basically, small cuttings of Orichalcum, without any magic to drain, start to melt. But that only happens to a small piece of it, not whole swords or armour. I have no idea where you’ll get so much of the stuff. We keep it stored away from any griffon, and it is even more difficult to make.”

“Thank you, captain, you have been most helpful. And have given me much to think about. The plan is to sink a harbour, that is all I can tell you for now. Rest you’ll need it.”

Grimscythe said as he turned to leave, back outside Volter and Ten-Lin who waited, one of whom had been upgraded to take more of a punishment in battle. With a few others like themselves. The large gathering of Iron lich’s followed Grimscythe as he moved on.

“Find out if Mable knew about this, inform her about the emerum. The rest of you, start finding ways to mimic its effects. Once that is done, we will move on to sink the dockyard and attack the fort. If we can’t fake it, we will stick to the original plan. Make sure to take out the radio towers in the local area first, we can’t let a single alarm sound off about what is happening. The longer we can keep them blind the better.”

They walked into a large opening full of hundreds of helljacks and thousands of undead. They were all waiting, as the iron lich’s spread out. Grimscythe flew up and landed on top of a colossal helljack. A Kraken as he took control of it, making it stand up so he could see all.

“Things are moving much faster than we planned, but we can always go back into hiding. We can wait for another hundred years if we must. However, this is a rare opacity, to test ourselves. And our enemy, how they react in our next battle will dictate all our battles to come. We’re the Vipers of cryx, and we strike from the shadows!”

There was a collective roar in agreement and howls. Grimscythe looked at the vast horde of undead and jacks. It took them years to build up just this much in this area, there will be three other attacks that will go in line with this one. However, they were less risky than the dock. Because that is where they will be most exposed.

Grimscythe couldn’t wait any longer, he needed to act to save as many lives as he could. Even if it meant he would make life harder for the griffons.

It has been a year now since Golden claw valley was flooded. Some at the harbour had family there, yet work was not slowing down. Ships would come down from the river, drop off cargo, go back and ships from the sea would come from down river and pick it up.

It was a weekly happening, in a way they understood why. The factories were upriver, and it broke off into smaller rivers that only a single ship could move though. Yet supplies moved through here almost every day.

Maxves was at the pub drinking, it was a good place to get information. As well as drink away his troubles. For now, he had finished his investigation and came up empty. WIth no idea what happened to the missing griffons, the few groups who would talk said they would meet someone outside the city. With no info about who they were meeting or who they talked to.

Chilly walked into the pub and quickly made their way over to him and sat next to Maxves. Chilly pats himself off to get the worst of the rain off his choate.

“Rain is starting to ease off outside boss, so you are alright. You’ve been hitting the drink a lot lately.”

“I’ve hit a dead end on the missing griffon case. So, I’m drinking my sorrows.”

Maxves replied as he took another swig of his drink, Chilly hated seeing his friend like this. So, he helped his friend up and led him away, as he paid for his drink.

“Come on Maxves, let go and get something to eat my treat. We can go wherever you want.”

Maxves didn’t feel like arguing, he just let the kid lead him outside as they walked. They both jumped when a rat ran over their paws. Chilly swears as the rat ran away, but then Maxves saw another one run past. Then another and another, then the street was swarmed with rats!

Maxves watched as the rats ran, he looked to where they were coming from. Yes, they were coming out of storm drains, but they were all coming from the harbour. He knew only one thing that would make the rats flee like this.

“Chilly get the chief and tell him something is wrong at the harbour, now!”

Chilly flies off back to the station to tell every griffon what he saw. Meanwhile Maxves took off to find other enforcers who were off duty to warm them as well. He already saw rats fleeing the city, having no regard for their own lives as cars ran them over. Forcing most to stop and watch in confusion.

Maxves had to hurry, they needed to find out just what was scaring the rats. Because if they didn’t, then it turns out to be a gas leak. With these many rats running in large numbers this could be huge! Worse deadly.

Unknown to all, in the swears light helljacks walked scaring the rats out as toxic smoke bellowed out from their smokestacks. As the heavy smoke drifts to the floor of the sewer. They all moved at the same time to scare the locals into running, meanwhile at the harbour cryx had dug under the foundations of the harbour. While heavy helljacks carefully moved with their warcasters to sever the chains to the ship’s anchors. Just enough to cause some chaos.

Once everyone was in place, and outside of the blast. All they had to do was release the build up of gas pressure, and the foundations would crumble under their own weight. A ghost had told Grimscythe that the plan was working, and griffons were already leaving the area near the coast. The Iron Lich looked at the pipes that would feed the gas underground.

He gave a nod, as a necrotech released the gas as rubber pipes filled up and sent it down the tunnel. Grimscythe walked away as they were ready to move. As a single scrap thrall holding a small flame slowly walked down the tunnel.

The harbour griffons were doing their jobs, the cranes and trucks were so noisy one could not hear themselves think. Kueb was a tiger-hawk, but he had no fighting skills, and he wasn’t like the rest of his family.

Some griffon was making a fuss at the main gate, but that was nothing new. Griffons were worried about everything when it came to their cargo.

He liked working on the docks, it was simple. He didn’t have anything to prove, and no griffon asked him too. Kueb was helping lift crates into the back of a truck, once it was in, he hit the truck, and it drove off. He saw an older griffon staring at the water.

“Is there something wrong there, old timer?”

He asked as the older griffon waved him over, Kueb walked over and looked at the river. He always thought it was strange to call it a river. It was too big as far as he was concerned. Then the old griffon spoke.

“Do you hear that? Like boiling water?”

Kueb thought the old griffon was hearing things, then he started to hear it too. A bubbling sound, other griffons started to hear the sound as well as a few stepped closer to the edge of the dock.

“Stay here old bird.”

Kueb said as he walked over to the edge of the dock as well to look down. Every griffon was talking now in worried tones. It looked like the water was bubbling all along the harbour, he watched a moment longer and saw the water level was rising?

Kueb stepped back and looked at the ships and saw they were still sitting where they were on the water. The chains were slowly going tense as the ship was being pushed back by the water, only then did they realise what was happening. Some were slack meaning the water level wasn’t rising!

“We’re sinking, the harbour is sinking!”

All the griffons started to panic as they ran or flew, some tried to save cargo while water rushed over their feet. Kueb ran as he picked up the old griffon and took to the sky! Kueb looked back in horror as he saw the harbour was sinking, and some ships were being pulled under while others crashed into each other.

It was a disaster on a level no griffon has seen before. He then saw a crack run along the line of houses that were by the harbour. Then they slowly started to sink with it.

“We have to warn every griffon, we have to tell them what is happening here!”

Yelled the older griffon. Kueb agreed and flew down into the city hoping to find some griffon who could help.

The garrison at the fort saw everything, the harbour sinking and the chaos it was bringing. They are already on the radio calling for aid. For a moment it felt like no griffon would answer, then they heard a click.

“Thank the royals crowns! We have a disaster here! The harbour is sinking, and it looks like it is taking a part of the city with it. We need aid!”

“We hear you; we will call for aid. Hold for orders, repeat hold for orders.”

Spoke the griffon on the other end. While the griffons in the fort now had hope for help to deal with this. Unknown to everyone the griffon at the radio tower was already turned into an undead puppet. Repeating to outgoing calls everything is fine and to all incoming calls they will call for aid. As the radio tower was full of dead griffons.

An Iron Lich held onto the collar of his helljack that was underwater, the sudden collapse of the harbour almost swept him away. He was lucky the helljack grabbed him before he was out of reach, now the helljack was climbing up the road that was once part of the harbour.

Once they breach the water surface, they could see the houses and roads slowly slide into the water. It wasn’t sinking quickly just as they planned. The helljack then walked out of the water onto slowly sinking stone. The iron lich got down and started walking besides his helljack.

Others soon followed as they started setting fires, to the buildings and the iron lich turned to the fort. As more undead climbed out of the sunking harbour to follow him. The Iron Lich turned to its fellow undead and pointed at the builds that were being set ablaze.

The Iron Lich turned as several warwitch sirens appeared next to him, this time they all wore masks.

“Save whoever is trapped, say nothing to them. Let them be confused and not know who we are.”

They all nodded, as they walked past as shadows concealed them one by one. As the Iron Lich looked at the fires, and the black smoke that filled the sky.

Maxves was already helping griffons leaving their homes and to get to safety, it was chaos. Word already spread that the harbour was sinking, and it looked like fires had broken out. The city could end up following the harbour into the river.

This disaster would do more than lose the docks or the harbour, it could block off the river itself cutting off a major supply line for years to come. For now, that didn’t matter, saving lives did.

“Maxves!”

Called out a voice, he turned and saw a big griffon hurrying to meet him. It was the chief of the enforcers as he stormed over. Maxves was so busy trying to keep everyone calm that it was a surprise when the chief grabbed his arm.

“What is going on out here! First, I got a report that a plague of rats is overrunning the western part of the city. Now I hear the harbour is sinking! And what is all that smoke from the east side!?”

“My guess sir a gas pipe broke and caught fire, and it spread to the local housing. Sir we need to get every griffon to safety!”

Chilly flew over and was gasping for breath, Maxves looked worried as his friend looked like he had bad news.

“Sir, it's bad. It looks like the east side is slowly sinking as well! It is not sinking quickly but if we don’t get every griffon out of there soon.”

“I get it, I get it! Tell all enforcers we’re evacuating the east side of the city. And if any griffon thinks they can skip this because it is their off hours, I’ll have their wings nailed to my desk!”

Maxves looked back at the smoke coming from the east side of the city, he wondered how the fires started. But for now, most griffons had the common sense to abandon their homes and travel light. For now, that wasn’t important right now, they can find out after they have dealt with this madness!

The fort was under attack, the city was in too much of a panic to notice. The griffons inside were not expecting a sudden attack! Let alone right from under their own fort! They may have had orichalcum bullets, but not the armour as command saw no need at the time.

Yet they were not prepared for the helljacks, tearing their way through the floors and walls. They didn’t know where they came from, what they were, or how to deal with them. It was like a nightmare.

In a bigger shock, griffons who try to escape out a window to fly away were shot! They didn’t even know where the shooters were or how many! The griffons were being forced deeper into the fort with no way out.

Then the fighting just stopped, it was worrying. It stopped for a full hour when they heard the fort starting to make sounds. Like the whole building was rumbling, then the building started to list to one side, they were falling! The whole fort was sliding into the river!

It was chaos as every griffon was trying to escape, only to be cut down by pistol wraiths that waited for them outside. All the while the bodies were taken as the cryx dragged them back into the river. Taking them into underwater tunnels that can be collapsed later.

Grimscythe was watching everything from the other side of the river, as cryx boarded the ships that were sinking or soon to be sinking. As Helljacks in the shallows punch holes into the ships and move on to the next one.

The loss of so much material will set back the war, not only that they will need to clean up the river and remove the ships that now block the way. Follow that with a small part of the city falling into the river, to remove everything will take years. He even watched the fort that was now sinking into the river next. Grimscythe than said.

“So much chaos.”

“Feeling guilty?”

Asked the unicorn warwitch who stood by his side. With her helmet off and letting her long mane flow in the soft breeze.

“No, no I do not Moonshade. I should feel something, but I do not.”

Answered Grimscythe, as the fort reached the water and slowly went under. As Griffons tried to escape by swimming, only to be pulled under. Or to be shot at by pistol wraiths, floating over the water. Like fishing birds waiting for the right moment. The iron lich then saw she was holding his steely hand.

“The dragon father did warn this would happen. If you were brought back, you could lose something of yourself. Maybe you lost the ability to feel guilt for your actions?”

He only nodded to her, as buildings burned filling the sky with smoke. It would be time to melt away into the dark soon. Before the dawn rises, before all who live here will try to find out why. It was time, time to speak with Asphyxious. He would need to after this night.

The aftermath was not as bad as it first looked, sure the empire lost the harbour and the beach line for the city. Along with a few miles of housing. Apart from the soldiers in the fort no one had died, yet.

It took a few days, but the locals found out the griffons at the radio tower were missing. The only sigh that anything happened was the blood left behind. It puts the disaster in a new light, yet no one could point to who could do this. Let alone carry it out without notice, so everyone just assumed it was a coincidence the griffons died at the radio tower.

Grimscythe, Volter and Ten-Lin. Gave their reports to Asphyxious, who sat and watched them. Out of the three iron lichs, Volter is the oldest. Ten-Lin was newly risen, little more than a year old by undead standards. Yet his mind for improvising was very useful, however Asphyxous was hoping Ten-Lin would learn some tact.

“Hmmm, I’m not sure how to feel about this?”

“Did we anger you in some way my lord?”

“No, no nothing like that. Tell me, why did you take this action? Why did you destroy the harbour the way you did? You even went as far as sinking the fort and a part of the city? Why did you do this? Why go so far?”

They said nothing as Asphyxious watched them, he would not push them into answering right away. He would give them time to think about it and come up with their reasons why. In fact, it pleased him that they took so much time to think about it and not just come up with something off the top of their head.

“I… I thought it was the fastest way to move things forward. I thought it would help slow down the war and spare more lives in the long run. I have a few other plans for crippling the empire, it will take years, but we can-.”

Asphyxious held up his hand. And Grimscythe stopped, the dragon gave them a moment and started to speck.

“I understand, but this won’t help end the war. Only delay it. Lady Aventurine informed me much about Die Leucht and how they move. Much of the griffon empire is unaware of them and their actions. I wouldn’t be shocked if the royals or the military are unaware of them. If we wish to destroy Die Leucht, we need to make life for them much harder than it already is.”

The three Iron Lichs look on paying attention to his words, this would need to be planned very differently. The way they attacked, the way they gathered support. Everything needed to be replanned and worked on. Everything needed to change.

“They work in the shadows, out of the spotlight, behind the backs of others. Pushing other griffons to do their work for them. What we need to do is force them out into the open. Force them to be exposed, force everyone to see who they truly are. For that to happen, we need to make everyone aware of them. The question is how do we do this?”

It was indeed an important question, how to expose Die Leucht. How do they root them out? How to expose them to their own people, if the griffons found out a group such as them was doing as they please behind everyone's back. It could cause a civil war, that could be a problem.

Even after a hundred years, they’re still no closer to dealing with Die Leucht. Asphyxious however had another concern.

“By the way, why did you call everyone here?!”

The three lichs looked around at the many followers who gathered here to meet their lord. Yet these were not who Asphyxious was talking about.

“I meant the griffons who’re pissing themselves!”

Asphyxious asked, pointing at Brimstone and his troops, who looked like they were going to pass out from sheer terror. Asphyxious reached into a pocket portal and put his ring on, to block the effects of one of his abilities. The griffons started to calm down now, yet they still were on guard.

“I take it you have heard who we’re fighting, agent?”

“Yes, but we need proof before we agree to do anything. Regardless of what that will mean.”

Replied Brimstone, Asphyxious nodded to the griffon. That was no guarantee Brimstone would help them or not, he could just as easily re-join the griffons and tell them all about them. However, Asphyxious saw ways around that.

“Understood, it may take years. We hope you can stand being in my follower’s ‘care’ until that time comes.”

Brimstone agreed to this as he and his griffons were escorted out, there was no need for them to be here for the whole meeting. The planned attack to hit three places may have been too effective, the griffons will be looking for answers as to how this happened. All they needed was to find a link between the targets no matter how outlandish it may seem. Then Asphyxious remembered something.

“Say, you still have that thrall you made? The two headed griffon, what's his name?”

“Yes sir, we do. Why?”

Asked Volter as the dragon smiled, if the griffons wanted to find who was responsible for these events. Then they will give it to them.

It has been two weeks and Maxves was watching the clean-up, most were just digging though the ruins of their homes trying to find anything that survived the fires. The worst part was the river, it was clogged up with some much debris. That it will take even longer, and trade ships were stranded on every side of the river.

Shockingly no one has died, that they know of yet. No one has tried to find out if the griffons in the fort were alive or dead. Going by the lack of soldiers helping it didn’t look good, also a strange story was going around.

While some griffons were trapped by the fire, strangers in armour went around saving them. They said nothing, only pointed to the way out from the flames and then vanished like ghosts. He was looking at a sketch artist drawing of what was described to them, a helmet that covered their face, only the shoulder to the elbow, from the thigh to the knee were exposed with no armour.

They had blades sticking out from their backs and the eyes of the helmet glowed. There were small differences with each scratch, one helmet had a horn, one hand wings and another had claws.

Maxves didn’t know what to make of it, whoever they were they didn’t talk and if they did the only thing that they said was ‘go’ were these strangers in armour the ones responsible for the missing gang members and other griffons?

The more worrying thing, a few days after the disaster enforcers were sent out to find what was going on with the griffons at the radio tower only to find that every griffon working there was gone. Nothing but blood was left behind, after they got in contact and asked for help. More aid had been flooding into the city for the past week, no one knew what was going on, what was happening. Or how did this happen?

Why did the harbour sink into the river, why did the city start sinking next, how did the building catch fire? Maxves looked at the empty packet of cigarettes and threw them away. At least the train line wasn’t hit, if they had lost that things would have been much worse for the city.

“I see the rebuilding efforts are going well.”

Maxves turned to see Dreed standing next to him, the panther-crow looked over his shoulder and saw several soldiers keeping a lookout. Maxves looked at Dreed and noticed he had an off look on his face, something was wrong. He just didn’t know what.

“Walk with me.”

Ordered Dreed, Maxves followed and knew the soldiers would follow. What he didn’t understand was what Dreed was doing out here. Dreed bent down and ran his claws in the dirt. Before he started whispering.

“Act like you’re telling me about what happened here and listen.”

Maxves wasn’t sure what was going on but did as he was told, pointing out with a talon about the river looking like he was telling Dreed what happened.

“Two other places were hit the same night as this harbour. A military base that caught fire and a depo that fell into a sinkhole. However, there is no information about what was in the depo or the base. Or who was working there, I was only told to send a report to the high command. By a griffon I didn’t know, who had a lot of bodyguards.”

Maxves was surprised by this, this wasn’t normal, and he knew that. But he then pointed at where the fort used to be and whispered back.

“Who was he?”

“I don’t know, I was only told to hand in the report they gave me and forget I saw anything. I don’t even know what they were talking about. I don’t want you to act on this yet, I’ll try and find out more on my own however I’ll need you to do your job in the meantime. I’ll send you a file on what I have found. I’ll send more if I can find anything else. You’re good at finding things other griffons don’t. Once you know something, call this number and ask for fish pie, I’ll be waiting.”

Dreed got up and shook Maxves claw and thanks him for his time. Maxves watched as he left with the soldiers, Maxves slowly opened his claw with the paper in his hand and the number on it. Something very wrong was going on and it looked like he was stuck in the middle of it all.

He puts it in his pocket and gets back to work. Once he goes home, he finds mail and brings it into his house. It was a large package, he opened it to find a file and some pictures. With a few notes as well. Maxves took it to his private study and started to read.

The report said Dreed was sent out to oversee damages to the base, and another griffon was meant to look over the depo. They both bring up things about these places that didn’t fit with the buildings. For one thing the depo had a deep basement, far larger than it was needed. And the military base had strange equipment on the site.

A lot of it Dreed has never seen before, Maxves opened a secret compartment in his desk and took out his diary. He may not be a part of that crazy cult his father always talked about, but he did pick up a few tricks that his dad told him once. And started writing.

He kept Dreed's name out of it, and any other names that could point to who was writing this. He went through theories about what this could mean, one photo had what looked like lab equipment in part of the depo that they managed to dig up. Before they were ordered to bury it.

The base had many cells going by the melted bars and doors. Yet what could burn hot enough to warp the metal like that. Yet throughout all these reports they found some griffons dead, but more were missing. Maxves put his dairy away, before putting the file, notes and pictures in the bin and setting them on fire.

Maxves was smart enough to cover his tracks, he even destroyed the packaging they all came in. He knew he shouldn’t get involved, he knew this was nothing but trouble. Yet it was a mystery, and he needed to solve it.