~WHOOOOSH!!!~
Angie moved swiftly through the jagged terrain, her specialized squad following in perfect synchronization. Each member of her team was handpicked for this operation, experts in infiltration and precision strikes.
Their target was the enemy's control hub, and Angie led the charge with calculated efficiency, her red energy aura flaring slightly as she scanned the landscape.
Behind her, Rey and the front-line squads were fully engaged in their role: holding back the monstrous forces swarming the battlefield.
Hulking beasts, with twisted limbs and glowing eyes, charged at them in waves. Rey's weapon was a blur, cutting through the creatures with brutal precision.
"Hold the line!" the squad leader bellowed, and the soldiers redoubled their efforts. Battle cries mixed with the deafening sounds of clashing steel and monstrous roars.
Rey activated [Grand Combat Application], moving with uncanny grace as he dodged an incoming claw swipe and countered with a devastating strike.
A beast fell, its body dissolving into black mist, but three more charged forward to replace it.
His [Grand Battle Aura] flared, creating a shimmering shield that absorbed incoming attacks as he pressed forward.
Behind the front lines, the support teams coordinated their efforts, providing ranged fire and magical suppression to keep the enemy forces at bay. Healers worked frantically to patch up injuries as they occurred, while engineers fortified makeshift barriers to hold their position.
Angie's squad continued their advance, weaving through enemy patrols with practiced ease. Her lieutenant, a sharpshooter named Kael, fired precise bolts of energy to take out sentries before they could raise an alarm. Another squad member, a stealth specialist, used their ability to scout ahead, signaling when it was clear to move.
"All clear," Angie's earpiece crackled.
"Good," she replied, gesturing for her team to proceed. "Stay sharp. We're close."
The battle seemed to be going according to plan.
The enemy forces, though numerous, were scattered and disorganized, allowing the teams to execute their roles effectively. Rey and the front lines were successfully whittling down the monsters, creating a path for the infiltration teams to reach the target.
And then, it happened.
~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!~
A deafening explosion erupted from behind the squad. The shockwave tore through the air, sending debris flying and creating a massive crater where the support teams had been stationed. Rey spun around, his eyes widening as he saw the devastation.
The back lines were gone.
The once-clear skies turned an ominous shade of blood red, casting an eerie glow over the battlefield.
A chilling roar echoed from above, and Rey's heart sank as he looked up.
Descending from the crimson skies were Dragonoids—grotesque hybrids of humanoids and dragons, their scales gleaming with a sinister sheen. Their wings beat rhythmically, stirring the air with ominous intent, and their eyes glowed with bloodlust.
At their center was a towering figure that dwarfed the others.
It resembled a Dragon Lord from H'Trae, its massive wings spreading wide as it descended, its presence exuding an overwhelming aura of power and malice. The air around it seemed to ripple, and the ground trembled as it landed with a resounding thud.
Rey's blood ran cold. This was no ordinary foe.
The Dragonoid leader raised its clawed hand, and the smaller creatures let out ear-piercing screeches as they charged toward the squads.
"We've been set up," Rey muttered, gripping his weapon tightly as he stepped forward to meet the onslaught.
His mind raced as he quickly assessed the situation. The portal wouldn't be ready for hours, and retreat was no longer an option.
"Everyone, fall back and regroup!" a commander yelled through the chaos.
Rey gritted his teeth.
"Regroup? Against that?" He spared a glance toward Angie's position, hoping she and her team were still operational. If the Dragonoids were targeting the squads, then the infiltration team might be in even greater danger.
As the monstrous creatures closed in, Rey's aura flared to life, a radiant golden hue mingling with the blood-red light of the skies.
He activated [Battle Sense], his awareness sharpening to a razor's edge.
"This just got interesting," he muttered, stepping into the fray.
Rey's eyes blazed with determination as he assessed the chaos unfolding around him. Humans screamed and fell under the relentless assault of the Dragonoids, but he couldn't waste time trying to save them.
There was only one way to stop this massacre—eliminate the enemy as quickly and efficiently as possible.
The leader of the Dragonoids loomed in the sky like an omen of destruction, its presence radiating malevolent energy.
If Rey had any chance of stopping it, he'd need to carve a path straight through the swarm of enemies standing in his way.
"Time to stop holding back," Rey muttered under his breath, activating [Doppel] and drawing on the arsenal of abilities he had copied.
His aura intensified, shifting between hues of gold and crimson, crackling with power as it surged outward.
The first wave of Dragonoids lunged at him, their claws gleaming and fangs bared. Rey met them head-on, wielding [Grand Combat Application] and [Grand Weapon Mastery] to their fullest potential. His sword flashed in a deadly arc, cutting down three enemies with a single strike.
He twisted mid-air, avoiding a spiked tail that came dangerously close, and retaliated with a precise thrust that pierced through another Dragonoid's chest.
They came at him relentlessly, but Rey's movements were a blur of precision and ferocity. He utilized [Battle Sense], anticipating their attacks before they could even finish telegraphing them.
With [Mana Recovery] and [Health Recovery] passively keeping him at peak performance, he carved a path through the horde like a force of nature.
A Dragonoid attempted to flank him, its fiery breath scorching the air, but Rey countered with [Doppel: Inferno Wall], summoning a barrier of roaring flames that consumed the creature before it could get close. Another leaped at him from above, but he activated [Doppel: Void Step], vanishing from its trajectory and reappearing behind it with a devastating strike that sent it crashing to the ground.
Despite his relentless assault, the swarm seemed endless.
Dragonoids descended from the sky in droves, trying to overwhelm him with sheer numbers.
Rey gritted his teeth, his mind racing as he cycled through his Skills.
"Fine. You want a storm?" He growled, activating [Doppel: Tempest Fangs].
~BWUUUUUUSSSHHH!!!~