"It's okay my sweet baby girl, your father will be with you in the city while your mother will be back from work. I promise."

"Well be safe soon. Just stay close to me."

"They are inside!"

"Let me go!"

"AHHHHHH!!"

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

"Daddy won't be able to find you. From now on, please protect yourself."

Upon hearing those words from a middle-aged man, the eyes of a young girl were seen slowly opening, feeling weak and tired.

She felt herself lying down on a comfortable surface which was unlike the rough and painful wooden beds she had known while trapped with those terrible men. As her gaze focused, she saw a smooth, white ceiling, flawless and unbroken. Slowly, she turned her head to take in her surroundings.

Her dream from the storm, the monsters, the burning city, gone. Instead, she found herself in a small, sterile white room. Ahead of her, a large mirror reflected her confused expression. The stillness in the room was unsettling, the silence almost unnatural. She blinked, disoriented, as her head swiveled around. That's when she noticed the white blanket wrapped snugly around her, cocooning her in the softest bed she had ever known.

The bed's fabric was something she had felt a long time ago, soft, inviting, the whiteness was pleasing to her eyes, though the air in the room was cold. Slowly, she freed her hands from the blanket, only to recoil in surprise.

Thin tubes and strange strips of paper were attached to her wrists, though there was no pain. She hesitated, then followed the tubes with her eyes to a silver stand beside the bed, holding bags of clear liquid water.

"Am I in heaven?" she wondered, her innocent mind grasping for answers to how she had ended up here, and what had happened to her.

"What is this place?" she thought, her curiosity now competing with the unexpected comfort of the bed and blanket.

To her right, a white door with a silver handle stood closed.

Suddenly, a thought hit her like a jolt.

"Daddy!" Panic flared as she realized her father was not there. The rapid beeping of a monitor mirrored her racing heartbeat.

"Calm down, young one." A soft, unfamiliar voice echoed through the room, soothing yet strange.

She froze in place, fear replaced any other reaction she had. She held onto her blanket tightly, looking around the walls to see where the voice was coming from.

"You don't have to fear anything. You are safe where you are," The voice said, assuring the little girl who was quick to trust the strange person talking to her. She was still shivering, a chill went down her spine causing her to flinch slightly.

That is until her eyes landed on someone else in the corner of the room.

It was a beautiful woman with long, flowing blonde hair and pointed ears sitting calmly in a chair, watching her with kind yet serious eyes. Her presence felt almost otherworldly, and the girl's breath caught in her throat. The woman's elegance was undeniable, but her ears, sharp and unlike any human's, made her appear strange, almost ethereal.

"You're awake," the woman said softly.

The girl shrank back, feeling her heart pounding with confusion and fear. "W-Where am I? Who are you?"

The woman offered a gentle smile. "My name is Floria Melian Shelberry. I'm here to help. Don't be afraid, little one." She stood gracefully and moved to the side of the bed with a comforting yet mysterious presence as she stood near the IV stand.

The girl slowly peeked outside, looking at Melian, who's soft smile never wavered as she gazed down at her. The little girl was still scared, unable to let go of her grip on the blanket.

"What's your name, little one?" Melian asked again.

The girl hesitated but slowly peeked out from behind the blanket, revealing her long, curly brown hair, a patched-up face, and deep, ocean-blue eyes. Melian observed her closely, then reached out gently and patted her head.

The girl flinched but remained silent, unsure of how to respond.

"Can you tell me your name?" Melian repeated the question in a patient and kind tone.

After a brief pause, the girl whispered, "...S-Serena."

"As I thought," Melian said with a soft smile with her eyes closed momentarily. To Serena, it seemed as though a faint light glowed around the woman as she smiled as her presence seemed almost magical.

Yet, Serena's small hands still gripped the blanket tightly as her fear hadn't fully released its hold.

"Where's my dad?" she whispered as her voice still cracked with anxiety.

Melian's expression softened, and she knelt beside the bed, keeping a respectful distance. "I don't know where he is right now, Serena. But I promise we're going to help you. I need you to tell me what you remember."

Tears welled in Serena's eyes as memories flooded back, the burning city, the monsters, the giant tentacles reaching for her.

"It was so scary," she whispered. "The air sirens... the monsters... my dad..."

"I know it's hard," Melian said in a soft and understanding voice. "But we need to understand what happened. Can you try to tell me?"

Serena wiped away her tears and nodded, "We were in the city... everything was fine... then the storm came."

Her hands shook as she spoke, her words faltering as she recalled the nightmare.

"And then the monsters... they came out of nowhere... and... and my dad... he stayed behind..."

Melian listened carefully as her gaze never left the girl, but a knowing look crossed her frowned face.

'Demons.'

------------------------

In a room buzzing with the hum of machines and the low murmur of multiple individuals with white coats busy at their stations surrounding a large metallic box in the center.

Armed guards lined the perimeter, wielding high-caliber guns with one even carrying the new AF-1 Rifle. All eyes, however, were on the metallic box through a large window, where the Elf Queen Melian stood within a containment cell, alongside the young girl brought in by one of the Special Operative Teams.

Outside the cell, Director Kearns, head of the Science Department, leaned over a console, reviewing the data feed with furrowed brows. Beside him, Dr. Thorne, the lead researcher, nervously tapped a stylus against his tablet.

"The fluctuations are... unprecedented," Dr. Thorne began. "Her magic doesn't align with anything we've cataloged. But that's not the strangest part. Watch this."

He tapped a command, replaying a segment of footage on the screen. The video showed the young girl, Serena, lying asleep. Then, without warning, her hand twitched, and the space around her warped as though gravity itself had distorted momentarily.

"I know it sounded unscientific to me, but it's as if she bent space, time even, inside the containment spell. We've analyzed the temporal anomaly she caused, and time inside the cell is running 2% faster than outside. If it weren't for the Mana Crystals we installed around the cell, the effect could have spread much further."

Kearns rubbed his temples, clearly unsettled. "She's completely human, Thorne. Full-blooded, an Austronesian citizen. We even verified her identity," He pulled up Serena's dossier on the console, a picture of the girl, her name, address, and personal details filled the screen. "Her name is Serena Tasilisa. Her father, Antonio Duterte, was a Civil Engineer while her mother, Ludmilla Tasilisa, was a Nurse and a Soviet immigrant. She is born in Davao City-"

"Wait," Thorne interrupted as his eyes widened. "Davao City? In Mindanao? The same city that was destroyed by the demons before we nuked it? There were no survivors reported."

"Exactly. And yet, here she is," Kearns said grimly. "Still, how on earth does a child survived against the demons and sea monsters, then ending up in a fantasy world is beyond me. And with magic?"

Thorne exhaled sharply. "That's the crux of it, isn't it? Humans can't wield mana in this world, not naturally. It's never been possible, not with all the lresearch we've done." He glanced toward Melian, standing mere feet from Serena inside the cell. "But it gets stranger. Melian reported something unusual before the girl woke up. She said her connection to mana was weakening the longer she stayed near her."

Kearns raised an eyebrow. "Weakening? The Elf Queen herself? She's a Tier 2 Transcendent being."

Thorne nodded grimly. "It's not just a distortion. It's as if Serena's presence is somehow draining the mana around her, or maybe warping it. Melian said she's never experienced anything like it. She's been subjected to Anti-Magic before, but whatever this is, it's something entirely different."

Kearns folded his arms and his gaze shifted from the console to the containment cell. "We were besieged from all sides by demons and sea monsters. No human should've made it through alive because of it, let alone adapted to this world's laws."

"And yet here she is," Thorne said quietly.

For a moment, the room fell into silence, broken only by the soft hum of machines monitoring Serena, until Kearns' eyes lingered on the girl before he shifted the conversation.

"And the vial Team Epsilon recovered?"

Thorne straightened and his fingers tightened around his tablet. "The vial they retrieved with Serena? It's in the lower levels of the facility. According to intel from the auction house leader, it contains a substance that allows manaless species, like humans... to wield mana."

Kearns' eyes widened slightly. "You're not serious?"

"I am. It is unknown how these people were able to get this, but whatever's in that vial could change everything. If humans can access mana... the balance of power between worlds will collapse."

Kearns fell into a pensive silence as his face hardened. "We need answers, and we need them fast."

-----------------------

Austronesian Empire, Imperial Maharlika, Malacanang Palace, Conference Room

1st Year of God, Thursday, 3rd Week, Month of Abraham

"God, what a mess! It's been three days since the Orcs landed, and they're still running around like cockroaches," Emperor Maximo muttered as he skimmed through the after-action report and let out a sigh. "This Orc mop-up is bleeding our time and resources dry."

"Yes, Your Majesty," the General agreed. "But we need to clear them out completely, or we'll have a dangerous cancer at our flanks."

"Agreed," chimed in one of the military officials. "Despite our overwhelming victory at the beach, hundreds, maybe thousands, escaped and are now hiding across New Guinea. We can't take the risk of having an enemy there, the Australian wildlife there is brutal enough without adding orcs into the mix. It's better to finish them off once and for all, or we have to spend resources just guarding against them."

Maximo shook his head and glanced down at the report. "30 deaths and 470 injuries from Delta Company. 10 recruits died and 50 injured from cannon fire. We also lost a UAV during the search."

"Your Majesty," one of the senior commanders cut in, "I warned you we should've launched a nuclear strike against their fleet before they gained a foothold!"

The General scoffed. "Have you forgotten the last time we launched nukes on the seas? We had killed two massive sea monsters that were destroying our Navy, sure, but it triggered a massive wave of sea creatures rampaging across the waters in the Imperial Tanah Melayu. Two coastal cities were flooded, and thousands of lives were lost. Even if we wanted to nuke the Orcs now, we can't track them down, not even with our satellites. We'd have to blanket New Guinea with nukes, but there are countless cities there that we've poured billions into rebuilding them, and millions of people to heal."

Maximo placed the tablet down. "Estimated Orc casualties at roughly 21,000 on both sea and land. But there are still around 20,000 Orcs hiding on the island." He rubbed his temples. "And that's not counting the 24 dead and 48 heavily wounded soldiers from Alpha Company."

"Your Majesty," the General said, standing straighter. "The fault is mine."

Maximo waved him off. "No, I am not assigning blame here. No one could've predicted what dangers are in the dungeon. Even with multiple platoons fighting that Boss of that level, they were almost wiped out, even with all kinds of precautions we took."

He exhaled deeply, weighing his next words. "I think we should suspend all further exploration of the dungeon until we consolidate our forces. What are your thoughts?"

The three high-ranking officials exchanged glances before nodding in agreement. One of them spoke up. "Your Majesty, we've been battling external threats non-stop this month without having a proper rest. While the dungeon did offer us substantial rewards, its dangers are just too overwhelming at the same time."

Maximo raised an eyebrow, interlocking his fingers. "So, you're saying...?"

"Stop digging deeper," he replied.

The Army General stepped forward. "Your Majesty, I recommend we stop deeper exploration for now, and limit our operations to Level 2 to meet our resource needs, but avoid any further incursions."

The Air Force General nodded in agreement. "I concur. The risks are just too high, Sir."

Maximo looked at the three officers standing before him and gave a firm nod. "Alright, from now until further notice, all exploration of the dungeon is halted. Harvesting teams can only operate on Level 2, which has been cleared. No one, and I mean no one, goes down to Level 3. Anyone caught disobeying will be prosecuted."

"And be shot," the Army General added with a sly grin.

The Air Force General smirked. "And survivors will be shot again."

Maximo rubbed his face, barely hiding a smile. "Get out of here, you clowns..."

Both officers saluted and left the conference room, leaving one officer behind with Maximo.

"Supreme Commander," the remaining officer began, "Regarding the trade deal with this ExRump Corporation on Aquarius, do you really think it's a good idea?"

Maximo leaned back in his chair. "We're securing a supply line of magic artifacts that even the elves in our custody have trouble producing. Why not take advantage?"

"But it's in enemy territory," the officer countered. "It won't be a stable source of supply. We might lose access at any moment."

Maximo nodded. "I'm aware. That's why I want to milk it for all it's worth before it gets discovered. We'll extract as much as we can while we can."

The officer paused, recalling the list of items. "Most of the artifacts on the list are melee weapons, armor, spatial rings... are you planning to turn our soldiers into magical knights or something?"

Maximo chuckled. "Not quite. But we don't know if our merchant contacts are reliable yet. This is a test, if they deliver, then we'll move forward."

The officer considered this before moving to another point. "And the matter of transporting slaves? According to Sergeant Riley's report, it's a complicated situation."

"Indeed," Maximo said thoughtfully. "If Riley's intel is correct, the slaves are controlled by the Slave Union, a massive organization equivalent to a multinational corporation back home. Their wealth and security are top-tier, making it difficult even for an empire like ours to intervene. But if we can find a way to free them, I wouldn't mind opening our borders to those willing to join us. We lost Hundreds of Millions during the New Year Tragedy and for the past 3 months. We need to rebuild our population."

"Agreed," the officer replied. "Sergeant Riley also mentioned a broker named Elon Tusk, who should have a batch of magic artifacts ready for transport within the week."

Maximo pulled up a file on his tablet, reviewing the intel on Elon Tusk. "A broker for ExRump Corporation, with direct connections to Ronald Johnathan Rumpan Irons, founder of the company and a member of the Obsidian Council. They practically control the city of Aquarius."

He glanced at a series of surveillance photos, showing a blonde merman, likely Ronald Rumpan, who appeared to be the mastermind behind the corporation.

"I'm impressed they managed to dig up this much without getting caught. The people in this world... they're certainly an interesting bunch."

The officer looked curious. "If we partner with ExRump and gain access to their artifacts, do you think they'll accept us as long-term trade partners? Even if they knew we were humans?"

Maximo leaned forward and smiled. "That depends on whether Riley can charm his new friends. For now, we wait and see. But yes, I think they'll want what we have just as much as we want what they've got."

The officer nodded. "So, are you authorizing the mission extension beyond the one-month period?"

"Absolutely," Maximo said as his eyes gleamed with excitement. "There's still so much more to learn! And honestly, I'm eager to learn how globalization, capitalism, and all these modern ideas play out in a world of magic and monsters."

------------------------

Austronesian Empire, Imperial Majahapit, New Guinea, Jayapura Pupua, Jayapura Mining Station

1st Year of God, Thursday, 3rd Week, Month of Abraham

The air around the Mining Complex was thick with the sounds of clanging metal and low murmurs as soldiers prepared for the next battle. The smell of grease and sweat filled the air, and the occasional rumble of heavy vehicles shook the ground as tanks were readied for deployment.

Lieutenant Colonel Ciaphas Cahyono strolled through the rows of barracks and equipment as he looked around the defensive preparations.

As he rounded a corner near the motor pool, he stopped short, blinking at the sight before him. A group of soldiers, easily dozens, had gathered around two of the base's massive battle tanks. They stood silently, heads bowed in reverence, while an Imam, a Muslim priest clad in his simple robes, moved between the tanks, murmuring prayers as the soft cadence of his voice floated in the air, and the soldiers seemed to hang on every word. His hands raised in a gesture of blessing, the Imam walked the length of the tanks, occasionally placing his hand on the cold, hard metal.

"O Allah, Lord of all creation, we place our trust in You as we embark on this journey of battle. Grant this vehicle and those who ride within it Your protection and guidance. May its armor shield them as You shield the hearts of the believers. Let its path be straight, its movements swift, and its strength unyielding, just as Your mercy is boundless. Keep their intentions pure, their spirits steady, and their actions righteous. Guide them with Your wisdom, O Most Merciful, and return them home safely, victorious in Your name. Ameen."

Cahyono furrowed his brow and approached slowly, seeing this scene appeared odd for him, As he neared the group, the Imam caught his eye and smiled gently, nodding as if inviting him closer.

"Ah, Colonel," the Imam greeted him in a respectful manner. "Would you like to join us?"

Cahyono glanced at the tanks, seeing their armored forms gleaming under the floodlights, then back at the Imam.

"What exactly are you doing?" he asked.

The Imam continued his motions, never breaking stride. "I'm blessing these tanks, asking for protection from Allah over those who will ride them into battle. That they may return safely, and that their strength be tempered with mercy."

Cahyono couldn't help but let out a short, dry chuckle. "Blessing tanks? Seems... unusual. Not something you see everyday, blessing a literal war machine designed to level buildings and crush enemies."

The Imam paused and turned to face him directly with a thoughtful expression. "You're not wrong, Colonel. War machines such as these tanks are indeed instruments of destruction, but in times of need, they become the shield that protects the innocent. Is it so strange to ask for divine guidance to protect those who wield them?" The Imam hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice. "Forgive me, are you a Catholic or an atheist? I didn't mean to offend."

Cahyono shook his head quickly and held up a hand. "No need to apologize. Although, you're not wrong that I'm an atheist and I didn't believe in religions until all this Demons and fantasy shit happened, but I'm not offended, and I don't mind what you're doing. It's just... unusual, that's all. Never thought I'd see prayers said over a literal tank."

The Imam smiled faintly. "War brings many contradictions, Sergeant. Faith can coexist with the harshest realities, even on a battlefield. Whether we seek peace or prepare for battle, the prayer is the same, protection for those we care about."

Cahyono nodded slowly, glancing again at the silent soldiers.

"Fair enough," he said, turning to leave.

"May Allah Bless You, Colonel," the Imam said, "...Or 'May God Bless You', as what half of the population usually says in this glorious Empire."

"Well tha-" Cahyono began to say, only to cut off when his radio crackled to life, and he immediately responded to it.

But after hearing the words from the person on the other end, Cahyono frowned.

"The Green Skins... they are here."

------------------------

Not far from the Mining Station, the tall grass rustled softly as an Orc, its muscles rippling beneath scarred green skin, crawled on its belly. In its hand, a crude spear, chipped and bloodstained, dragged quietly through the dirt. Its eyes gleamed with hunger as it stared at the distant lights of the strange, soft-skin fortress, a structure it couldn't comprehend but knew was filled with easy prey.

Behind the Orc, hundreds more shadowy figures slithered, crawled, or lumbered silently through the underbrush. Their guttural breathing and the clinking of crude weapons filled the air as they moved with a singular, primal purpose, which was to feast and pillage.

Their bellies growled in unison, driven by the hunger that had gnawed at them for days. The soft-skins inside the glowing castle had no idea what was coming.

------------------------

On top of the wall, First Sergeant Eurylochus squinted into the darkness with his night-vision sensors glowing faintly as they scanned the approaching shadows. He let out a low curse under his breath. It had been three days since the last brutal skirmish with the Orcs, and though he'd only recently been cleared for duty, it looked like he was about to be thrown back into the fire.

Just minutes ago, he had received reports that the outer perimeter sensors had tripped and movement detectors were lighting up with dozens of hits. Too many.

"Turn out the men and sound the silent alarm," he ordered the crew in the Security Control Center (SCC). "Have all non-combat personnel evacuate the wounded to the mines as we drilled. We've got a shitload of Orcs inbound."

Strapping on his weapon, Eurylochus made his way up the perimeter wall, where he saw several soldiers were already posted in the wall bunkers with their eyes trained on the firing zone and weapons at the ready. He gave them a quick nod before heading down toward the parade square, where troops had begun assembling with rifles clutched tight in their hands.

An entire battalion spread across a 4-kilometer wall. With the basic complement of 500 security guards and 690 combat-effective soldiers. With such a thin spread, each man had to cover about 5 meters of wall by themselves. Not exactly ideal when you had an Orc horde clawing its way toward you.

"Damn it," Eurylochus muttered, rubbing a hand over his face. "How I wish I had a battery of mortars right now. A couple of airbursts would seriously ruin their whole day."

He keyed his comms and spoke into the section leaders' channel. "All units, weapons free at 200 meters. The floodlights will signal the attack."

Acknowledgments pinged back through his earpiece as he glanced back out into the night. The Orcs were creeping closer, using the long grass and uneven terrain to mask their approach, but he could see them, just over 500 meters out now, closing the distance fast.

[Sarge,] a voice crackled through the comms from the SCC, [HQ says reinforcements are en route. Aerial support ETA is 20 mikes.]

Eurylochus exhaled sharply, watching on the live feed as the miners and the wounded soldiers who hadn't recovered yet moved into the relative safety of the mines. Medical staff hurriedly pushed beds with the critically injured while those who could still walk supported each other.

"Alright, once essential personnel have evacuated into the mines, lock it down," Eurylochus ordered.

"Sarge! The green skins had crossed the at 200 meters mark!" a tech shouted from his station.

"Turn on the lights!" Eurylochus commanded, "Blind them!"

------------------------

Stationed all along the perimeter walls were several powerful floodlights. The 225,000 lumens LED lights capable of lighting up stadiums blazed on, instantly illuminating the cleared land surrounding the walls and turning the night into day.

The Orcs creeping up to the walls were suddenly blinded as the flood lights came on, most were momentarily blinded and stumbled in confusion. Cries of pain and shock filled the air as the light seared their eyes, and in that brief moment of vulnerability, the human soldiers seized the opportunity.

"FIRE AT WILL!"

The section leaders shouted, and the perimeter walls exploded with gunfire.

The soldiers, well-trained and equipped with high-precision weapons, found their larger targets, the Orcs, easy to hit, especially at 200 meters. Bullets tore into the thick bodies of the hulking creatures and ripped through flesh and bone. The smaller goblins, though harder to hit due to their small size and panicked, erratic movement, were not spared as rounds blasted apart their limbs and heads.

Down below, the Orc Warleader snarled at the sudden loss of their element of surprise. With bloodshot eyes, he turned to his subordinates.

"CHARRRRGE!!" he roared for an all out charge. The command was like a whip crack, and those not blinded by the lights moved forward with their weapons raised high. A few Orcs stumbled in their confusion, but most obeyed, driven by bloodlust and fury.

"Warleader, should we use dose fings?" one of the Orcs asked, appearing eager to charge forward at those humans cowering behind those walls, then eyed the crude metallic boxes they carried.

The Warleader's yellowed tusks gleamed as he grinned. "Yes! let im taste dere own weapons!" he roared and quickly drew out his massive revolver-like cannon.

"WAARGH!! BREAK DERE WALLS! KILL IM ALL!"

The Orcs beside him laughed as they hefted their crafted firearms, crude and clunky but deadly. With thunderous roars, they squeezed the triggers. Thick clouds of smoke filled the air as the guns fired, the recoil sending some Orcs stumbling but laughing wildly nonetheless.

The Warleader took aim and fired, the loud BANG of his cannon punctuating the battlefield, enjoying the kick from the recoil and the rotten egg smell. The thick dirty gunsmoke blocked his view making him unable to see where his shots had landed.

"Wait? Are they shooti-"

BANG!

Spurt!

The human soldiers up to the walls gasped as several of their comrades were ripped apart by the high-caliber rounds. Bodies exploded in a mess of gore, and cries of alarm spread among the ranks.

The Warleader emptied both his giant revolvers at the wall, shattering stone and flesh alike, and began reloading with grim satisfaction.

But as he finished, he realized something was wrong. A new roar, a rapid, deafening sound, cut through the battlefield, drowning out the wild gunfire of his Orcs. The Warleader's eyes widened as he saw his kin were mowed down and blood sprayed in all directions.

"NOOO!" the Warleader cried out in rage as he watched his comrades fall in heaps and their bodies torn apart by the precision fire from the human weapons.

Rage overtook him, and with a guttural roar, he charged toward the walls, firing his revolvers wildly as the recoil kicked back against his thick arms, but he didn't care.

"DIE, YER 'UMIEZ! DIEEEE!"

------------------------

"Colonel!" A soldier beside him called out urgently from the command center. "Gunfight at the main gates!"

"What happened?" Cahyono asked as he was recieved a tablet which showed him a video of the short skirmish that happened at the main gate.

He frowned as he saw the video of the Orcs not only charging but also firing crude firearms at his troops. The sight of several soldiers being blown apart by the large-caliber rounds was shocking enough, but what made his blood run cold was the undeniable fact.

...the Orcs had guns.

"Are those guns?" he muttered and his eyes narrowed as he replayed the video. The crude but functional weapons in the Orcs' hands were unmistakable. "Where the hell did they get guns?!"

The soldier beside him shook his head, just as baffled. "Unknown, sir. We haven't seen them with firearms before. It's possible they've scavenged them from the military bases that were abandoned during the New Year Tragedy."

Cahyono clenched his jaw and quickly assessed the situation. "They're getting smarter. This isn't the same Orc horde we fought a few days ago. If they've learned to use firearms, this could complicate everything."

He looked up from the tablet and barked orders into his comms. "I want immediate intel on where they might have gotten those weapons. And contact HQ, tell them this is no longer just an Orc mop-up. We're dealing with armed hostiles now."

"Yes, sir!" The soldier hurried off, while Cahyono continued to survey the battlefield.

The Colonel's mind raced. 'Guns in the hands of Orcs.' This changes the whole dynamic of the fight. If the Orcs had access to human technology, especially firearms, then this skirmish could escalate into something far more dangerous. They would need to adjust their tactics, and fast.

He pulled his radio and spoke into it. "All units, be advised. The enemy is armed. Prepare for heavier resistance at the gates and expect more gunfire. Maintain defensive positions and focus fire on the leaders."

As he finished, another explosion rattled the perimeter, and Cahyono felt the ground shake beneath his feet. The battle was far from over, and now they had a new problem on their hands.

------------------------

"WARGHHH! HAHAHAHAAA!!"

The Orcs roared with savage delight as they unleashed a hail of gunfire at the walls, hoping by luck to hit something as their aims were merely driven more by chance than skill. The gathered reserve of Orcs was also pushed up, abandoning any pretense of stealth and their deep, guttural voices screaming for blood as they charged.

"Aim for the gunners!" The command echoed along the ramparts, passed from soldier to soldier.

The assault came from both the Southwestern Gate and the Southeastern walls, leaving the Northwestern quiet of any activity. Eurylochus was tempted to pull some men from the unthreatened walls to bolster the defenses at the gate but decided not to commit yet. Within seconds, the Orcs, moving with terrifying speed like beasts as fast as horses, closed the 100-meter distance. Their massive bodies, while powerful, became a liability as they bunched together.

Cracks of gunfire and bursts of thunder split the air as red tracer rounds streaked from the bunkers. The magically enhanced Mithril-core bullets tore through two or more Orcs if they were packed tightly enough. Even the Mithril bullets ricocheted off the ground would seriously injure an Orc if it was in the path of the spent bullet.

"How many of them are there?" Eurylochus muttered in disbelief as the perimeter sensors beeped madly, and their screens showed a dark green wave pouring from the forest's edge. The computer estimated over 7,000 signatures, an overwhelming tide surging toward the walls.

"Contact HQ! Tell them we've got a horde of Orcs inbound. If they don't send reinforcements soon, we'll be overrun!"

Suddenly, the howl of the TA-7 transport helicopter's engines screamed through the air as it hovered over the concrete landing pad at the mining complex. The rear ramp dropped open, and almost 100 troops housed insid3 rushed out, racing toward the walls. Before the ramp had even fully closed, the helicopter powered up and lifted off, clearing the airspace just as the second transport swooped in for its landing.

Sergeant Eurylochus roared like a madman as he fought off the Orcs storming up several siege towers at the walls. His men stood shoulder to shoulder with him, firing into the bulky creatures as they climbed up in a swarm, crackling and giggling like mad constantly.



"Get these Mexicans off my fucking walls!" The Black African Sergeant bellowed as he racked his rifle's bolt. "Use your grenades and blow those twin towers apart!"

The soldiers around him wasted no time, pulling grenades from their pouches and hurling them over the walls at the base of the siege towers. Explosions followed, shaking the air, and the resulting screams confirmed their deadly efficiency.

"Fix bayonets!" Eurylochus shouted, pulling out his own sword bayonet and locking it under his rifle barrel. "Chargeeeee!"

The Orc presence on the top of the walls ceased as the grenades had done their work, and the soldiers' charge swept through the remaining Orcs that had gained a foothold on the walls. Eurylochus and his men stood over the parapet and fired down into the clustered mass of Orcs below, while others threw more grenades to topple the siege towers, ignoring the giant Orc bullets and streaks of sparkling spells flying everywhere.

"Trolls!" someone yelled at the side. Eurylochus looked up and under the glare of the floodlights, several large humanoids pushing massive siege towers were charging forward on the right.

"You five, follow me!" Eurylochus ordered, pointing to the nearest soldier armed with a bazooka, "The rest, hold the line!" and he sprinted with the group toward the section of the wall where the trolls were aiming for.

The walls towered over 12 meters high, but the trolls, standing at three meters tall, pushed the massive towers as though they weighed nothing. Orcs too slow to get out of their way were crushed underfoot. They wore a set of thick iron armor, with a crudely made full face helm, looking like a bucket with holes for the eyes.

The trolls lumbered forward, grunting in pain as bullets peppered their bodies. But their innate regeneration ability kicked in, sealing their wounds supernaturally almost as fast as they were inflicted.

Eurylochus skidded to a stop near the wall and pointed at the trolls. "Give 'em hell!" he barked at the rocket team. "The rest, provide cover fire!"

The anti-tank team wasted no time as they quickly set up the rocket launcher and leaned over the parapet, aiming the crosshairs at the nearest troll as it pushed a siege tower closer while checking their backblast.

"Clear!"

"One round away!"

The rocket launched with a fiery WHOOSH, followed a second later by a thunderous explosion. At such close range, the rocket would hardly miss. The projectile punched through the troll's iron armor as though it were paper, and the warhead detonated with brutal precision. A jet of superheated liquid metal instantly melts through the troll's thick, bark-like skin, incinerating its organs and turning its blood to vapor.

The troll toppled backward with a mighty crash, with smoke and flames flickering from the gaping hole in its armor. Even with its impressive regeneration power, it could not survive a direct hit to the chest and its healing speed unable to match with the destructive power of the rocket's warhead.

"Fuck yeah!" Eurylochus roared, grinning at the sight. "Hell of a good shot!" He began to cheer along with those that witnessed the kill

"Incoming!" a soldier shouted over the sudden roar of gunfire as a dark rain of 20mm rounds sprayed the walls, followed by bursts of magic exploding on impact, sending sparks, heat, and smoke into the air.

Screams of agony pierced the chaos as the Orcs' bullets tore into the exposed soldiers, ripping through flesh and turning bodies into grisly fragments, while some of the wildly spells hit their mark as well, causing those struck to explode into magical smoke.

"Fuck!!"

"Men down!!"

"Aaaargh!!"

"Medic!!"

"Get to cover and hit those trolls and Orcs!" Eurylochus ordered and ducked behind the parapet as he keyed his comms. "Thunderwing flight, this is Apache Three! Requesting fire mission, over!"

[Thunderwing One, fire mission, over.]

"Apache Three, fire mission, grid three-three-four dash seven-two-niner, fire for immediate effect, over!" Eurylochus read the coordinates off his tablet while his back pressed against the parapet as more rounds pinged around him.

[Thunderwing One, standby,] the radio buzzed, [Thunderwing One to Apache Three, that's right on top of you, over.]

Eurylochus cursed under his breath as another volley of enemy fire shredded through his ranks, seeing soldiers fell and their bodies disintegrated in bloody bursts as a stray spell whizzed past his head, spiraling into the night sky.

"Apache Three, affirmative! Request immediate fire mission!"

[Thunderwing One, roger that! Danger close, repeat, danger close! Coming in hot!]

"Get down!" Eurylochus shouted, waving his men toward cover. "Danger close! DANGER CLOSE!"

The soldiers all dived down and huddled themselves tightly against the parapet as the trolls hammered their siege towers against the walls. Swarms of Orcs soon scrambled up the towers, and their grotesque giggles echoing as they ascended.

But for now, the soldiers ignored them as they huddled behind reinforced concrete to brace for the incoming bombardment. Shouts of "Danger close!" rippled down the line as they covered their ears and opened their mouths, bracing for the shockwave.

The high-pitched scream of Thunderwing Attack Helicopter engines tore through the sky. The gunship roared overhead, lining up with the southwestern gate and unleashing a ripple of rocket fire. The night lit up as the no-man's land was flooded with explosions and the bright bursts casted flickering shadows on the walls.

A wave of flame and smoke consumed the Orc gunners as their positions were obliterated in an instant by the thermobaric warheads. The overpressure slammed into the soldiers, making their insides lurch and causing ears to ring. The trolls and Orcs climbing the towers were ripped from their footholds, many falling to their deaths or succumbing to the concussive blast. Even the trolls, with their thick iron armor, were no match for the ferocity of the rocket bombardment. They crumpled, their bodies charred and were temporarily knocked down by the immense force.

Eurylochus forced a yawn, trying to relieve the pressure in his ears. Despite the barrier of concrete between them and the explosions, he could feel the shockwave and heat. He stood and surveyed the effects of the bombing run, and a smiled in appreciation at the carnage left behind.

"I do love the smell of cooked mushrooms in the morning." He muttered with grim satisfaction.

"Apache Three to Thunderwing One, good run!" Eurylochus called into his comms, offering his thanks to the airborne unit. Turning to his men, he commanded, "Finish off those trolls before they regenerate!"

------------------------

After the battle had ended, more reinforcements from the Liberation Army arrived, tending to the wounded and setting fire to the Orcs' bodies to prevent airborne spores from spreading, which caused the air to be thick with smoke and the acrid stench of burning flesh.

One soldier nudged the gun away from the burly, face-down body of the dead Orc Warleader.

"Check their bodies," he ordered. "See if we can find any clue or something to how these Orcs got their hands on guns."

He crouched down and picked up a massive revolver, feeling its hefty weight in his hands, and the crude craftsmanship was apparent as he examined the weapon.

"Damn," he muttered, "This looks like a knockoff of our Single Action revolvers, but way too crude. Like some smart toddler pieced it together."

He broke the action and ejected the shells into his hand, whistling as he examined an unfired round.

"Must be around 20mm... What the hell is this thing?"

The revolver look simple and primitive, but had a solid frame and a top-break cartridge firing revolver and a 'J' grip was made of roughly polished wood. He sniffed the chamber and winced at the rotten egg stench of saltpeter.

"Shit, something's seriously off with this." He frowned, waving a hand through the air. "Hey, I need a runner! Get these rounds to command now!"

"Lieutenant!" another soldier called from the top of a wagon he was inspecting. "You might want to take a look at this!"

"What now?" The lieutenant felt a knot of dread tighten in his gut as he climbed up the wagon. His stomach sank when he saw it.

"Aww, fuck..."

Several crates, their lids pried open, revealed rows of revolvers nestled in sawdust. His men stood silently around the cargo with shock and unease on their faces.

The lieutenant did a quick count of the crates and swore under his breath, staring at the crude weapons stockpile.

"Where the fuck did they get so many guns!?"

------------------------

At the Mining Operations Station, Lieutenant Colonel Ciaphas Cahyono absentmindedly toyed with the Orc revolver, seeing its crude design contrasting starkly with the sophisticated military equipment scattered around the Command Center. He dry-fired the heavy weapon, needing both hands to steady the awkward frame and squeeze the stiff trigger.

"Damn, this thing is hard to fire," he muttered, setting it down on the table with a thud. "I've gotten reports from the techs, apparently, the mechanism is so jacked up that even our best couldn't fully understand it. So, does anyone have any idea where these things came from?"

The room of officers exchanged uncertain glances. No one spoke up. Cahyono sighed and leaned back in his chair. "Any prisoners? Someone we can interrogate?"

"No, sir," replied the officer in charge of the Gate. "All the Orcs were wiped out, no prisoners taken."

"So, we have no clue where these weapons are coming from, how they're getting them, or who's supplying them?" Cahyono said with frustration.

The officer shifted uncomfortably. "That's correct, sir... no intel so far."

Rubbing his face, Cahyono exhaled deeply. "We'll dig into this later, but for now, I'm going to assume they either scavenged these from abadoned military bases, reverse-engineered the weapons, or came up with their own twisted version using whatever kind of Orc magic-engineering bullshit they have. They're adapting faster than we thought, and they're a hell of a lot more dangerous than before."

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Austronesian Empire, Imperial Maharlika, Malacanang Palace, Conference Room

1st Year of God, Thursday, 3rd Week, Month of Abraham

Emperor Maximo watched the impressive rocket barrage unfold on the screen from the UAV circling high above the mining complex, offering him a bird's-eye view of the battlefield.

"Damn Orcs," he muttered. "How come there are so many?"

One of the attending politicians responded, "As the elves explained, Orcs spread spore-like substances into the air. After a few years, or even decades, those spores grow into either Goblins or full-grown Orcs. Normally, in areas with high mana density, the spores die off quickly, but the Orcs have adapted over time. They've evolved, and can now interbreed with various races, producing as many as a hundred offspring per year."

Maximo's eyes narrowed. "And the conclusion?"

"Their reproductive method is pretty... grotesque, Your Majesty," the politician shrugged. "Their sperm acts almost like a DNA parasite, hijacking the host's embryo. It re-codes the female's DNA and replaces it with Orc DNA. The result? An Orc baby is made."

Maximo grimace in disgust. "That's some sick screwed-up shit. These Orcs are a lot tougher than we gave them credit for."

Another official chimed in. "This invasive DNA re-coding causes Orcs to inherit some traits from their host, though the process can fail. That's why some Orcs have higher intelligence, while others are, well, barely capable of basic reasoning. The DNA mismatch stunts their growth in some cases."

"They're like a mix of fungus and cockroaches," Maximo said, shaking his head. "If we don't stamp them out, they will be a blight to us all."

An officer nodded. "We've also identified larger, more evolved Orcs."

"From the Orc landing ships?" Maximo asked, raising an eyebrow.

A general staff member confirmed. "Yes, Your Majesty. Though we only found remains of those on the ships. The larger ones you've seen on the screen are what we call High Orcs, which are Level 8 to Level 10 creatures, much stronger than regular Orcs and are strong as a Battle Tank. The biggest one, however, is an Orc Lord. These are smarter, faster, and far more dangerous than both regular Orcs and High Orcs."

"So, these High Orcs were Transcendent Entities."

The officer nodded, "Yeah."

"We estimate there are about a thousand High Orcs spread across their fleet, likely serving as lieutenants to control the horde," another general added with a serious expression. "We also suspect the commander of their forces is an Orc Lord."

Maximo turned back to the screen, watching the soldiers push back the final waves of the Orc attack and seeing their numbers were thinning as the battle neared its end.

"Damn it," Maximo sighed deeply. "We are literally besieged from all sides by Sea Monsters, Hostile Nations, Orcs, and now even Demon Cults lurking within our borders. We need to solve every one of these problems if we're going to protect the citizens of Austronesia. A defense line, something to stop future Orc fleets, regardless if its an ordinary Orc or some damned Orc Lord, bastards are trying to eat my people and fuck them, and we can't have that can we?"

The room fell silent at his words, until one politician, with a faint smile at the Emperor's use of vulgarities, broke it.

"No, sir. We can't have that."

Maximo gave a grim nod. "No. We won't." and leaned back in his chair after reviewing the strange report. "So, what's the toll this time?" he asked the Army General.

"We managed to repel the Orc attack on the mining facilities," the general began, "but we've lost over 30 soldiers, with 280 wounded. And... 9 others got hexed."

"Hexed?" Maximo raised an eyebrow. "Like, hacked?"

"No, Sir. 'Hexed', not hacked," the General corrected. "All the doctors and nurses at the facility are investigating this matter seriously."

He passed his tablet to the Emperor, who scrolled through a series of images showing various creatures from Bird-like Wyverns, Frog-like Creatures, and Puffball-shaped Animals. But what caught Maximo's attention were the names and IDs of the soldiers listed next to these creatures.

"What the hell is this?" Maximo muttered, blinking his eyes rapidly in disbelief. "Molecular disassembly and reassembly?"

The Secretary of Defense chimed in. "Yes, Your Majesty. Apparently, it's some kind of curse spell. It transforms living matter, in this case, our soldiers, into animals or critters of some sort."

Maximo rubbed his temple, "Is this hex permanent, or is there a way to reverse it? What's the diagnosis?"

The General replied, "According to the elves, the severity of the hex determines whether it's temporary or permanent. Fortunately, in this case, they believe it's temporary. The affected troops should revert back to their human form in a day or two."

A politician leaned in, curious. "How can we be sure they're our men?"

The General chuckled. "Well, most of them still had their dog tags handing over their necks. They were found mostly next or on top of their uniforms and gear. Plus, there were eyewitnesses who saw a bright green spell hit them before they transformed."

Maximo sighed deeply, barely having much sleep and rest since the attacks from the Orcs. "How is their health?"

"Our doctors are taking good care of them," the General grinned. "It's actually kind of funny. The hexed soldiers retain their intelligence and memories, but they can only communicate through quacking, chirping, or sign language."

"God. That place is turning into a zoo," Maximo shook his head, though a small smile played on his lips. "Bet you that the doctors are having a great time."

Everyone in the Conference room laughed while imagining the chaos of soldiers-turned-critters trying to communicate. But the laughter died down quickly when the door slid open, and Amelia from the IDAC entered the room.

"Your Majesty?"

The men quickly stifled their laighter and straightened their faces into serious and stern looks.

Maximo gave a brief cough to hide his amusement and invited for the woman to take a seat.

"What's going on, Amelia? Everything alright?" Maximo asked.

"Yes and no," she replied, waving off the formalities as she sat down into the chair offered by one of the officials. "Is this about the... zoo you all seem to be discussing?"

Maximo couldn't help but grin. "Well, yes, in part. It's not every day magic turns our troops into animals. It's oddly fascinating."

Amelia smiled faintly but then got straight to business. "Actually, I'm here for something else. The IDAC has new information."

Returning to her stern expression, Amelia placed a briefcase to the table and opened it, revealing a large, clear crystal shard for all to see.

"Isn't that from the T-Rex boss?" one of the politicians asked as his eyes fixed on the crystal.

Amelia nodded. "Yes, it is. The researchers finished their analysis, and the results are in." She retrieved her tablet and, with a few taps, transferred the data to the display screen in the room. "This information will amaze you."

The screen flickered to life, revealing schematics of the crystal alongside colorful graphs and charts.

"This thing holds as much power as a micro-fusion core."

"Wait," a general staff member interrupted, "Isn't it just a mana stone?"

Amelia shook her head. "Not even close. It's nothing like a mana stone or Dragonite stone. This crystal is pure, concentrated energy. It's neutral."

"Neutral?" Maximo's eyebrows lifted in surprise. "What exactly does that mean? How is it different from a mana stone?"

"Mana stones carry elemental properties tied to specific magical elements," Amelia explained. "Dragonite stones, on the other hand, are like fossil fuels. But this crystal? It has no elemental affinity and isn't derived from fossilized magic. It's pure energy, condensed into a crystalline form."

She gestured to the screen. "This could power an entire city, Manila, for example, for a full month."

Maximo sat up straight and was visibly impressed. "Are you sure?"

Amelia nodded. "I've already passed the data and a sample to the Science Department. They're running additional tests, and we should have a full report within a week."

"Finally, some good news," Maximo said, exhaling with relief.

"You should probably take a break, Your Majesty," Amelia advised gently. "It's been a crazy 32 hours."

"Maybe. Anyway, I've heard Odysseus and Yoshiyuki Tomino are working on something big," Maximo remarked, shifting the conversation.

"They are," Amelia confirmed. "After two of his Golems were destroyed by the Silver Land Dragon in the Dungeon, and with the growing threat of the Orcs, Odysseus has been tirelessly creating more Earth Golems. With Tomino's expertise in AI and Odysseus's Earth Magic, they're developing something that could revolutionize our understanding of robotics and magical technology."

"Oh? Do they have a name?"

"Yes... they call them the Men of Stones."

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A/n: I suggest you all go back to read "Chapter 5: Confusion" and "Chapter 40: Hopelessness". You will all know it's all connected!!