After the fall of Arlithrien island, it was the mark for the Austronesia People's Empire's first major victory in this New World.

But it isn't over yet as meanwhile, the rest of the Naval task force were spreading throughout the rest of the Third Civilization Zone and invaded their intended locations.

The horizon glowed with an unnatural hue as the first rays of a long-dreaded dawn illuminated the smoke-filled skies. It was the day that would mark the beginning of the end for many kingdoms within the Third Civilization Zone. With its vast military might and intricate plans, the Austronesian Empire had finally set its invasion into motion.

The Empire forces had built up its forces, amassing millions of a powerful coalition of air, ground, and naval troops, and they moved as one unstoppable force. They had spent months preparing for this day, drawing lines of conquest across maps, planning the strikes, and stockpiling weapons of unimaginable power. The Austronesian Liberation military’s strategy was ruthless as they would cripple the Kingdoms’ ability to fight back, shatter their defenses in the most devastating way possible, and then seize control.

Across the southern shores of the Third Civilization Zone, the roar of engines echoed as an entire fleet of warships emerged from the water with the leading ships’ towering adamantite hulls cutting through the waves like massive sharks. Each ship was a fortress in its own right, armed with missiles that could penetrate mountains, cannons that could level entire city blocks. But it wasn’t the ships themselves that carried the true terror, it was the payloads they delivered.

From high above, the sky over the lands darkened with the arrival of the squadrons of B-24 Greyheat Bombers that descended like a swarm of locusts. The pilots knew their targets by heart from military bases, crucial outposts, and strategic points that would sever any hope of resistance. But this time, the Empire used a weapon that they once intended to use as a last resort.

Nuclear bombs, each one capable of eradicating entire cities in the blink of an eye, were carried beneath the bombers' wings.

In mere moments, the world beneath them would change forever.

The first bomb hit a major military base on the island of Arlithrien, and now the second hit another major military base on the outskirts of the capital city of one of the neighboring kingdoms. The sheer force of the bombs create mushroom clouds that rose from the sky and blocked out the sun, followed by the shockwave that spread outwards with such force that it flattened every building in its path.

Within seconds, communications were lost when the kingdom's military was decimated, and any hope of a coordinated defense evaporated. There were no survivors, only the charred remnants of the base.

As the bombs fell across the land, the Austronesian ground forces began their assault, accompanied by mechanized units, war machines, and armored tanks that rattled the earth with their sheer size. Infantry units in advanced tactical gear advanced alongside, seizing key cities and villages and encountered little resistance as the Kingdoms’ armies, in disarray and without leadership, crumbled within hours.

In the skies above, drones were buzzing around, surveilling the battlefield and relaying information back to command. The Empire had perfected the art of remote warfare, utilizing a fleet of unmanned vehicles to track and engage any remnants of resistance. One by one, the smaller kingdoms fell before them and the Empire's navy anchored off the coasts, preventing any hope of retreat for those who still held on to life.

But what the Austronesian forces hadn't expected was the sheer power of the Third Civilization Zone’s defenders. Although they did expect resistance and their power, the armies of the Tarxan Coalition, which were mostly made up of powerful mages and superhuman warriors, were still beings of unimaginable strength and skill.

They fought with the fury of the elements themselves, wielding magic that could twist the very fabric of reality, and their warriors, who are enhanced by powerful techniques and superior combat prowess, stood as immovable obstacles to the invaders.

The first major clash came at the outskirts of one of the Empire's first targets, the Kingdom of Dhorath, near the kingdom of High Tarxa. As the Austronesian forces pushed into the Kingdom’s capital, they were met with a storm of arcane power with Archmages summoned blinding bolts of lightning that struck down entire platoons of infantry, while battlemages conjured massive walls of flame that scorched the earth.

At the frontlines, their elite knights, whose muscles rippled with unnatural strength, charged and cleaved through armored vehicles and massive war machines with their swords, and even the Austronesian forces’ advanced weaponry struggled to pierce their magical defenses.

The first wave of soldiers, thought to be invincible, found themselves at the mercy of these mighty beings. A mage of unparalleled skill created a shield of light that deflected incoming missiles, and a lone warrior, a massive half-dragon known only as Xhalak, a Transcendent Tier 1 warrior, felled a battleship with a single blow from his magic hammer.

Xhalak’s roar echoed across the battlefield as the Austronesian invaders realized the true scope of the enemy’s power.

Despite their technological might, the invaders began to suffer heavy casualties. The nuclear bombs, while devastating, were only so effective in the face of the Zone's powerful Transcendents. Airstrikes were intercepted by a web of invisible magical barriers, and the Austronesian navy found itself outmatched by powerful Merfolks who could manipulate the waters with the flick of a wrist, causing waves that capsized ships and tore through fleets.

On the ground, Austronesian soldiers faced heavy resistance with superhuman warriors empowered by both magic and advanced combat training as they cut down waves of invaders with terrifying efficiency. The Empire’s troops found themselves locked in brutal close-quarters combat with enemies who seemed to possess superhuman endurance and agility.

But despite the staggering resistance, the Empire continued on their invasion. They adapted quickly and sent in specialized forces to counter the mages and warriors. Stealth teams infiltrated enemy lines and planted more nuclear bombs deep within enemy territory. They turned the tides by targeting the mages’ energy sources, disrupting the flow of magic and limiting the power of their most potent spellcasters.

However, the tide of war would not turn easily. Even as the Austronesian forces made strategic gains, they had yet to face the full might of the Third Civilization Zone’s defenders. More mages, more warriors, more powerful magic artifacts, and more Transcendents were summoned to the frontlines.

In the heart of the conflict, entire armies clashed in a maelstrom of steel, fire, and magic. In the distance, a storm of lightning and thunder brewed, a foreboding sign of the immense powers unleashed by the Zone’s defenders.

The Austronesian Empire had indeed underestimated the strength of their foes, but they were still able to make the powerful mages and warriors of the Third Civilization Zone suffer casualties, but they were far from defeated. Their resolve only grew stronger as their lands were ravaged. The war had become more than just a battle for territory, it was a fight for survival. The Empire’s leaders, despite their overwhelming technological advantage, were learning that victory in this new world would require more than just force.

It would take everything they had.

————————————————————————

Somewhere in the western part of the Third Civilization Zone, a bustling coastal city known as Vireth had long prided itself on its navy and defense infrastructure. Its towering citadel and fortified walls seemed impenetrable… until now.

The sky above darkened as the first wave of Austronesian bombers appeared, cutting through the morning clouds like vultures descending upon a carcass.

Before the citizens of Vireth could react, the bombers released their payload. The first bomb struck the heart of the naval dockyards and a deafening explosion shattered the peace, sending shockwaves that flattened entire neighborhoods. The force of the explosion sent debris flying across the city, igniting fires and turning buildings to rubble. The blast was so powerful that it sent a tidal wave surging through the harbor and smashed against the city’s ancient stone walls.

As the dust settled, the city was left in chaos. People screamed in panic and fled from the ruins, but the Austronesian ground forces were already advancing. Armored tanks blazed their guns while rumbling through the city's streets and tore down structures.

Meanwhile, Austronesian infantry were flooding the streets and moved quickly like a shadow over the city.

Vireth's defense forces, who were still disoriented and reeling from the bombing run, struggled to regroup. But every attempt to mount a counterattack was met with devastating firepower.

————————————————————————

Rellia had been known for its grandeur and marble streets, palatial buildings, and vibrant culture. But on this day, none of that mattered. The invasion had come quickly, and the city’s defenses crumbled just as quickly. The Austronesian air force, having already decimated the outer defense lines with airstrikes, began their bombing raids over Rellia. The city’s skies darkened as Greyheat bombers swooped in with their engines roaring like the cry of some terrible beast.

Rellia's military, caught off guard by the speed of the attack, scrambled to launch their counteroffensive. But the Austronesians had already disabled the city’s communications, leaving the defenders blind.

The human ground troops moved in immediately with their boots thundering through the streets.

Tanks, moving in perfect synchronization, tore through Rellia’s defenses, flattening walls and crushing any opposition in their path.

The first bomb hit the central district, reducing the grand palace to a pile of smoking ruins. In the streets, the sounds of artillery fire, screams, and the desperate cries of the defenders filled the air. But the sheer might of the Austronesian Liberation army was overwhelming with many soldiers in advanced battle armor known as the MK-I Mithril armor stormed the palace gates, fighting warriors who were physically enhanced and cut down any who resisted.

Those who managed to flee the destruction were hunted down by airstrikes, and revealed their hiding places by the numerous drones patrolling overhead.

Rellia, once the jewel of the kingdom, now lay in ruin, either its inhabitants dead or forced into submission.

————————————————————————

The once-proud kingdom of Eleon, located on a vast plateau surrounded by jagged mountains, was known for its intricate network of tunnels and its resilient people. The Austronesian Empire knew that taking Eleon would not be easy, and so they had come prepared. This would not be a quick occupation like the others, but rather a siege that would break the kingdom’s spirit before it could break its walls.

Austronesian Liberation warships had blocked all sea routes to make sure no escape for the people of Eleon. Greyheat Bombers flew overhead and softened the defenses with targeted strikes on key military outposts and fortresses with nuclear bombs. The once-impregnable city now seemed vulnerable with its intricate fortifications powerless against the superior firepower of the invaders.

But the defenders of Eleon fought back fiercely. Soldiers launched desperate counterattacks, defending their cities and tunnels with everything they had. But their efforts were futile against the Austronesian's Liberation army.

Tanks rolled through the city gates and smashed through fortified walls, followed by ground troops pouring into the streets and clearing every building, one by one.

The true terror of the Austronesian Liberation army, however, lay in their use of chemical warfare. As night fell, gas canisters were dropped from the air and blanketed the streets in a toxic fog. Those who breathed it collapsed within minutes with their bodies wracked with convulsions as their mana were the only thing that kept them alive from immediate death.

The remaining defenders, suffocating and disoriented, were easy targets for the Austronesians.

As dawn passed, the city was broken. Eleon’s last stronghold and the royal palace fell to a full-force assault. The remaining civilians and soldiers, exhausted and broken, surrendered as their wills were crushed by the overwhelming might of the Austronesian war machine.

————————————————————————

The last great bastion of resistance in the southern part of the region was Horthol, a fortress city known for its steep cliffs and natural defenses. The people of Horthol had long believed that no army could conquer them, until the Austronesians arrived. Their strategy was simple, yet devastating. They had learned from their previous campaigns and adapted.

The Austronesian navy set up a blockade around the city, preventing any reinforcements or supplies from entering. Bombers targeted the cliffs themselves, weakening the foundation of the city’s defenses. What had once been a proud fortress now teetered on the edge of collapse.

Ground forces began their assault at dawn, storming the gates with a ferocity that left no room for mercy. Tanks fired relentlessly at the walls, creating massive breaches that allowed infantry to flood the streets. The defenders of Horthol, though valiant, were outmatched at every turn. The Austronesian forces had a clear advantage in both weaponry and numbers, and it wasn’t long before they gained full control of the city.

The people of Horthol, after witnessing the utter destruction of their beloved city, were either taken prisoner or slaughtered in the streets when they resisted. Those who managed to escape the bombardment were tracked down by the human troops, who had sealed off every escape route.

————————————————————————

Kingdom of Monarcius. In a Small City, In The Streets, In A Cobbled House, Inside A Room.

1st Year of God, Monday, 1st Week, Month Of David.

A family of four sat gathered in their cozy kitchen, enjoying a lively dinner together. The warm glow of the hearth illuminated their cheerful faces as laughter and conversation filled the room.

The father, a broad-shouldered elf with streaks of silver in his hair, leaned back in his chair and chuckled at a joke his eldest son had just told. His wife, a graceful elf with warm almond eyes, smiled at her husband as she refilled his cup of elderberry tea.

Beside them curled up in a wicker basket was their beloved magic beast that looked like a hybrid between a rabbit and a fox, with silvery fur that glowed faintly in the dim light and large expressive blue eyes that followed every movement of the family. Its ears twitched occasionally, listening to the chatter while it was eating happily on a small bowl of specially prepared vegetables while its tiny wings fluttered whenever one of them gave it a piece of fruit.

"Father, you really outdid yourself with the stew this time," said the eldest son, a young elf with bright green eyes and a contagious smile as he was already reaching for a second helping.

Their father chuckled. "Don't give me all the credit, Aelric. Your mother helped with the spices, and we both know she's the true chef here."

The mother smiled warmly, her soft golden hair tied back in a braid. "Oh, stop it, Leoric. You're the one who hunted down the quail for this meal. It wouldn’t taste half as good without your effort."

The youngest child, a curious little girl no older than seven, was feeding scraps of bread to the magic beast. "Lumi really loves the bread tonight!" she giggled as the creature eagerly nibbled from her hand.

“Don’t spoil Lumi too much, Lyria,” the mother said, though her tone was light and affectionate. “She’ll start expecting a treat at every meal.”

"But she deserves it! Lumi chased away that pesky Shadow Wisp from the garden yesterday!" Lyria protested, giggling as the magical beast nuzzled her hand and let out a soft trill, as if agreeing with her young caretaker.

"That he is," the father agreed as he scratched behind the creature’s ears. "Best decision we ever made bringing him home. He’s kept the garden free of pests and brought more joy to this house than I ever thought possible."

The eldest son leaned forward conspiratorially. "Did you know Lumi can mimic sounds now? Watch this!" He whistled a short tune, and Lumi chirped it back perfectly.

The room erupted in laughter and applause as the magical pet puffed out its chest proudly.

"You’ve been practicing, haven’t you, Yumi?" the mother said, feeding him a small treat.

As the family continued their meal, they shared stories of their day. The father spoke of a successful trade negotiation, while the mother recounted an amusing encounter at the market such as meeting her old former students when she was a professor in a Magic Academy from the Capital City. The children chimed in with tales of their studies and adventures in the nearby woods.

Suddenly, the father leaned back in his chair and patted his stomach contentedly. "I think I'm done for the night. Lyria, would you mind helping your mother with the dishes while I step outside to check the wards? The moon’s bright tonight, I’ll be back before you know it."

"Of course, Father!" Lyria hopped off her chair and started gathering plates, humming a cheerful tune. Lumi bounded after her, wagging its bushy tail and chirping in delight.

With a smile, the father stood and kissed his wife on the forehead. "Thank you for the wonderful meal, my dear. I’ll step out for a moment to stretch my legs."

"Don’t wander too far," she replied with a playful smile.

As they worked together, the eldest son, Aelric, began recounting a funny story from the day’s training session. "You should’ve seen old Master Vorthas when his own spell backfired during the lesson today. He ended up with feathers sprouting out of his beard! It was hilarious!"

"I’ll bet he wasn’t too pleased about that,” the mother laughed. “But when I was a professor in the Magic Academy, there were many similar incidents, so that isn't uncommon.”

“Not at all,” Aelric grinned. “But he said it was a ‘valuable learning experience’ for all of us.”

The evening continued in much the same way, filled with joy and warmth. When the father returned, he brought with him a handful of freshly picked moonberries, which he handed out as a sweet treat. Lumi, of course, received her share as well, nibbling delicately from Lyria's palm.

The family savored the warmth of the evening with the magic beast curling up in the youngest child’s lap, purring softly.

But the serene atmosphere was shattered by a distant unfamiliar noise. The mother’s pointy ears twitched as she glanced toward the window.

"Do you hear that?"

The sound grew louder, transforming into a deafening roar, causing the father to run out of the house to investigate while the eldest bolted to the window and froze as his face immediately went pale.

"Mother, look!"

High above the sky, a group of dark shapes were diving down the city from the sky with their metallic forms glinting ominously in the moonlight.

The father rushed back into the house just as the first explosion shook the ground.

"Everyone, get down!" he shouted and pulled his family toward safety.

In the streets outside, many onlookers were looking at the sky curious as to what was happening, but their curiosity instantly changed to horror when the sky rained fire and steel as the objects flying in the sky dropped a barrage of metal objects, which pummeled the onlookers and destroyed numerous properties.

The magical beast, sensing the danger, leapt from the child’s lap and hovered protectively over her. The family huddled together with their hearts pounding as the walls trembled around them.

But their home was not spared as a massive explosion rocked the foundation, and the house collapsed in a cacophony of splintering wood and crumbling stone.

When the dust settled, silence reigned where the lively home had once stood. Among the ruins, the family lay still with their final moments spent together.

Above, the bombers disappeared into the night, leaving only devastation in their wake.

————————————————————————

[Boom, baby! That was what I call an explosion!] A pilot from one of the bombers shouted enthusiastically over the comms

“Are you not worried we just caused a war crime by doing this? Especially killing a large number of civilians?” A pilot from another bombing plane said in concern.

[Are you really feeling concerned over those knife-ears after knowing everything they have done to our fellow kind for hundreds if not thousands of years? This is revenge, plain and simple, and you should know better, Greyheat 1-2!]

“...Sorry for what I said.”

————————————————————————

The morning sunlight was hidden behind a thick veil of ash and smoke while the once clear sky now darkened by the aftermath of destruction. The mother woke up beneath the rubble of her collapsed home while her body was covered in a faint barrier of mana.

Groaning in pain, she pushed herself free while her fingers trembled as she crawled onto the uneven ground.

Her vision blurred with tears as she looked at the scene around her. The warm lively kitchen where she had shared meals with her family was unrecognizable, buried under layers of stone and timber. Her heart clenched as she spotted her husband’s lifeless hand poking out from the debris, and not far from it, the broken forms of her children.

“No… no, no, no!” she cried as she fell to her knees and clawed desperately at the rubble. She pulled at the wreckage with all her strength with her mana-enhanced body trembling with the effort. But it was no use, her family was gone.

Holding her chest, she let out a wail of grief and her cries echoed in the middle of the smoldering ruins. Lumi, their magic beast, lay still nearby with its once-glowing body now dim and cold. The weight of her loss threatened to crush her, but a distant explosion jolted her back to the present.

Her pointy ears twitched as she heard cries for help in the middle of the crackling of flames. Forcing herself to stand, she wiped her tears and turned toward the chaos outside. Her house was not the only one destroyed, an entire neighborhood had been reduced to ruins. Fires raged unchecked, and the streets were littered with the bodies of her kin.

“Help! Somebody, please!” a voice called out weakly.

She ran toward the sound, coursing her mana through her veins as she lifted a fallen rubble off an injured elf.

“You’ll be alright,” she assured him as she used a quick healing spell to stabilize his wounds. “Find shelter and wait for help.”

As she moved further through the wreckage, she came across a group of elves, who are familiar faces from her past.

“Professor Sylvara?” one of them gasped as his soot-covered face lit up with a mix of relief and disbelief.

“Eryndil,” she breathed, recognizing him as one of her former students. “You’re alive! Are all of you alright?”

There were eight of them in total, all young elves who had once sat in her lectures at the Magic Academy in the Capital.

“We survived, but barely,” Eryndil replied heavily. “Professor, what is happening? The entire city is under attack.”

Sylvara shook her head. “I don’t know. I woke up to this... Have you heard anything?”

Another student, a sharp-eyed elf named Kealith, stepped forward. “We heard rumors that the capital and other major cities have been attacked as well. Some say it’s the Iron Kingdom… others think it might be the Orcs.”

“The Iron Kingdom?” Sylvara frowned. “Monarcius kingdom is way too far from the Iron Kingdom. And the Orcs… this isn’t their usual tactic.”

“Whoever it is, they’ve struck us where it hurts,” Eryndil said bitterly. “We can’t let this go unanswered.”

Sylvara placed a steadying hand on his shoulder. “Patience, Eryndil. First, we must help the survivors here. Then we can think about what comes next.”

Kealith nodded. “Agreed. Some of us will stay here and tend to the injured. The rest of us should head to the capital and see if there’s anything we can do to help.”

“I’ll lead the group heading to the capital,” Sylvara said firmly. “If what you said are true, the kingdom is in grave danger. We need to act quickly.”

The group divided their efforts, half remaining behind to assist the wounded while Sylvara and the others prepared to leave. As they made their way toward the city, the mother stole one last glance at the ruins of her home, feeling her heart heavy with loss but resolute in purpose.

“Leoric… Aelric… Lyria,” she whispered. “I’ll make sure your deaths weren’t in vain. I promise.”

With that, she turned her gaze forward with the flames of the burning city reflected in her determined eyes as they began their journey toward the capital.

————————————————————————

Sylvara is riding on top of a massive winged gryphon with its golden feathers gleaming faintly even in the smoke-filled sky. With her were her former students, Eryndil, Kealith, Arwen, and a few other students, all seasoned mages who went to investigate the mysterious attacks ravaging the Monarcius kingdom. The gryphon’s powerful wings carried them quickly toward one of the nearby cities in distress with its distant skyline blurred by smoke and flames.

Eryndil broke the silence with unease. “Professor Sylvara, what could possibly be causing such destruction? The reports mentioned entire cities being razed.”

Sylvara glanced back at her student with a furrowed brow. “We don’t know yet, but the devastation suggests a well-organized force. It’s unlike anything we’ve seen before.”

Arwen, a quiet elf with keen eyes, tightened her grip on the reins she shared with Sylvara. “Could it be the Iron Kingdom? Or the Orcs? They are the only enemies that the Tarxan Coalition has been fighting since the war began.”

“No, Arwen,” Kealith interjected grimly. “Our kingdom isn't even close to the Iron Kingdom. And the Orcs prefer open combat, not coordinated strikes on major cities.”

Sylvara nodded. “This feels different, but that's why we need to investigate this and help the survivors if we can.”

As the gryphon flew closer to the city, they spotted two flying constructs flying past them with incredible speed, causing their mount to falter midair. Sylvara quickly steadied the gryphon with a burst of mana.

“Easy now, girl,” she murmured as she patted its neck.

“What in the name of the stars was that?” Eryndil exclaimed as he stared at the strange flying machines.

“They looked like advanced airships I've heard from other Civilization Zones,” Kealith said as he squinted at the rapidly retreating shapes. “But… I’ve never seen anything like them. I've been reading all kinds, but those things didn't match with them.”

Arwen, who had been scanning the horizon, suddenly pointed down. “Look! The city!”

They all looked over the gryphon’s side and gasped. Below them, the city was a war zone with fires raged across entire districts, buildings were crumbling, and the streets were filled with panicked elves fleeing from a massive army. The invaders wore unfamiliar armor and wielded strange weapons that spat fire and metal, cutting down both city guards and civilians ruthlessly.

Arwen's heart clenched. “They are murdering our people. What are they?”

“There’s no time to speculate,” Sylvara said firmly. “We must act now. We’re here to protect our people, no matter who the enemy is.”

As the gryphon descended, Arwen spotted a group of elven children cornered by soldiers. “Over there! We need to save them!”

Sylvara guided the gryphon into a sharp dive, and the group leapt off before it landed with their spells at the ready. Sylvara unleashed a powerful barrier spell to shield the children, while Kealith summoned a wave of fire to force the invading soldiers back. Eryndil and Arwen worked together as they launched bolts of mana to disable the enemy’s strange war machines.

“Professor, there are too many of them!” Eryndil shouted as he deflected a barrage of bullets with a mana shield.

Sylvara gritted her teeth. “We’ll hold them off as long as we can. Focus on evacuating the civilians!”

The battle raged around them as they fought to save as many lives as possible. Though the invaders’ technology was unfamiliar and overwhelming, the elves’ magic proved a strong defense.

As they pushed deeper into the city, they encountered more invaders, but they were easily overwhelmed by the talented trained elves.

But what surprised them is that it revealed these invaders were humans.

While they were shocked by this revelation, their focus shifted when they encountered more survivors, some wounded, others in shock, and rallied them to safer areas. But the scale of the destruction was staggering, and Sylvara’s heart ached as she saw the bodies of her kin scattered across the streets.

Once they had secured a small group of survivors in a safe building, Kealith turned to Sylvara with a pale face. “We’ve done all we can here. But the capital is our next priority. If these invaders have attacked here, the capital won’t be far behind.”

Sylvara nodded. “You’re right. We’ve seen enough to confirm this is an invasion. Half of us will stay here to protect the survivors. The rest will come with me to the capital.”

“I’m coming with you, Professor,” Eryndil said without hesitation.

“Me too,” added Arwen.

Sylvara looked at the brave faces of her former students and gave a small determined smile. “Then let’s move quickly. The capital may be our kingdom’s last hope.”

With that, they mounted the gryphon once more and took off into the smoky sky with their hearts heavy with loss but burning with the determination to protect what remained of their home.

————————————————————————

In the elven city of Lyrathen within the Kingdom of Monarcius, chaos reigned as the streets filled with screaming civilians. The Austronesian invaders marched through the once-peaceful avenues with their soldiers wielding weapons that spat deadly fire and metal. The elven city guard, armed with traditional mana-infused weapons and magic, fought valiantly to defend their home but were no match for the invaders' advanced tactics and overwhelming numbers.

The criminals are forced to work together with the city guards to fight them off, but the invading army is too great they have no chance of winning and they are defeated.

A missile truck was sent out and rained missiles down to destroy the enemy defense line, and the Austronesian army will soon take over this city.

Among the invading forces, a squad of troopers armed with AF-1 Magic Rifles marched methodically and gunned down anyone in their path. Civilians desperately fled and carried whatever belongings they could, while others hid in the crumbling ruins of their homes.

“Kill these Superior scums! Show them fear of humanity!”

Without any hesitation, the invading troopers are gunning down on the fleeing civilians.

Sylvara and her companions, who were riding on top of their winged gryphons, look at the carnage below. Sylvara’s heart tightened as she saw the devastation wrought upon her people.

“This is worse than I feared,” she muttered as she gripped the reins tightly.

Eryndil, seated behind her, looked down in shock. “By the gods, they’re slaughtering everyone. What kind of humans are they?”

“They’re not just humans,” Arwen said grimly. “Look at those machines, they’re blending magic and technology. We’re up against something far beyond what we’ve faced before.”

Kealith’s expression darkened. “We need to act now. We can’t let them massacre our people like this.”

Sylvara nodded firmly. “We’ll split up. I’ll take the gryphon to scout ahead and direct survivors to safety. You three, stay together and clear the path for the refugees. Protect as many as you can.”

As the civilians continued running through the street to flee from the city, human soldiers blocked their only path to escape and aimed their guns at them.

“No, please! Spare us!”

“Say that to those so-called ‘Inferiors’ you all raped, enslaved, and murdered!” the officer muttered in disdain and ordered his men to fire.

Then suddenly, the ground began to move from below and launched an entire squad into the sky.

They all look above to see a gryphon swooping down into the city, and the group dismounted quickly. Sylvara immediately directed a group of panicked civilians to a nearby underground tunnel.

“Head for the old tunnel! It’ll lead you out of the city!” she commanded.

“But what about the soldiers?” a frightened elf cried out.

“We’ll handle them. Now go!”

The civilians ran for the tunnel as Eryndil conjured a magic barrier to shield them from incoming fire. Arwen summoned razor-sharp wind blades and sliced through the advancing soldiers, while Kealith unleashed torrents of fire and set the enemy ranks in flames, only for them to survive with their mithril armor.

Sylvara turned to her gryphon and whispered, “Fly ahead and find others who need help. Return to me if you find a larger group.”

The gryphon screeched in understanding and flew into the smoky sky.

Just as they regrouped, the ground beneath them began to shake and a line of tanks marched into view, ramming and tearing through buildings in their path and crushing anyone in its sight.

Eryndil cursed under his breath. “Those things are tearing through the city. How do we stop them?”

Sylvara stepped forward with her hands glowing with mana. “We buy time. Focus on slowing them down and giving the civilians a chance to escape.”

Kealith and Arwen nodded. Together, they channeled their mana into the earth and created towering stone walls to block the machines’ advance. The invaders responded quickly with their cannons blasting through the barriers with terrifying force.

“Fall back!” Sylvara shouted. “We can’t hold this position!”

They retreated through the streets and drew the enemy away from the fleeing civilians. As they ran, a pair of AH-12 Thunderhawk Helicopters descended with their chainguns opening fire on them from above.

As they kept running on the street, Sylvara raised her staff and fired a concentrated blast of mana, striking one of the machine’s wings and sending it spiraling into a nearby building while the other one was able to dodge it and continue to shoot them while chasing them down.

Kealith was his turn as he shot magic missiles at the bottom of enemy aircraft, but the orichulcum armor plate it had withstood the magic attacks and forced it to retreat. They stopped for a while until they saw more civilians running away from enemy forces chasing them.

Arwen turned to Sylvara and spoke tensely. “There are too many of them! Even with magic, we can’t hold them all off!”

“I know,” Sylvara said as she gritted her teeth. “But we don’t need to defeat them, we just need to slow them down.”

Eryndil turned and blasted a massive mana-fueled projectile at an oncoming tank like a juvenile, causing it to explode. “We need to regroup with the others at the tunnel entrance. They’ll need help defending it!”

“Agreed,” Sylvara said. “Let’s move!”

As they reached the tunnel entrance, they found a large group of elven city guards holding off a wave of Austronesian soldiers. Sylvara and her team joined the fight and their combined magic pushed many invaders back temporarily.

Just then, more enemy reinforcements arrived and began to open fire, but Kealith cast speed-enhancement spells and used Wind Magic to maneuver towards them at incredible speed.

Arwen leaped into the air and unleashed fireballs at them which exploded like grenades. Eryndil casted a powerful spell that caused lava to erupt from the ground beneath the invaders, burning them to crisp.

On top of the buildings, more Imperials emerged and fired their guns, cutting down most of the elven city guards in the streets. None but the very best survived the initial attack, and nearly all, including the three mage students were forced to dive behind whatever cover they could manage to find for themselves.

Sylvara, however, sought no such protection. She didn’t even draw any weapon, and with a look of vengeance in her eyes, she dived straight into the attacking soldiers with her bare hands.

While she is not a Transcendent, Sylvara was a master in the Magic Academy of not only Magic Mastery but including Martial Arts and combined both.

Clenching her fist which was enhanced with mana and covered in Wind Magic, she pumped them into the Imperials. Each strike was like the blast of an autocannon loaded with armor piercing rounds, save for the fact that this female elf’s slender limbs were far larger than any bullet those guns fired.

As a result, an entire squad of Imperials were obliterated into multiple pieces.

But despite that, everyone sensed hundreds of more invading soldiers were approaching their location.

Kealith turned to Sylvara, panting. “This is a losing battle. We have to get word to the capital, these invaders won't stop until they’ve taken everything.”

Sylvara nodded grimly. “You’re right. We’ll hold them here as long as we can, then head to the capital to warn the council. If we don’t stop this invasion, our entire kingdom could fall.”

The group fought valiantly, buying precious time for the remaining civilians to escape.

————————————————————————

General Lavikornia of the Austronesian Liberation Army is standing on top of a hill overlooking the Capital city and the carnage below with a steel gaze. Through a pair of binoculars, he watched as the city burned under the bombardment of his artillery. Buildings crumbled, screams filled the air, and the streets were littered with the bodies of elves who had dared to resist. The sight didn’t trouble him as it was all part of the conquest.

He took a long drag from his pipe as the faint aroma of herbs mingled with the acrid smoke of destruction. Conquering this kingdom was proving to be far easier than he had expected. The natives might have their magic spells, mana-infused cold weapons and rudimentary steam-powered machines, but they were no match for the Empire's modern firearms, tanks, and aerial fighters.

As he stood surveying the destruction, a high-ranking commander approached with a crisp salute.

“General Lavikornia, sir!” the commander said sharply.

“Hm? Report,” Lavikornia replied without turning as he exhaled a plume of smoke.

“Sir, a few of our battalions and divisions we've sent have successfully occupied five major cities of this kingdom. Casualties were merely a hundred, resistance has been minimal, and our forces are holding all key positions.”

A satisfied smirk crossed Lavikornia's face. “Excellent. The elves in this country are proving to be as fragile as I expected. Once we crush the capital city and the rest of the major cities across this kingdom, the rest of this land will fall like dominoes. They will kneel before the glory of the Austronesian People's Empire.”

“Sir,” the commander continued, “the bombing of the capital city is underway. The first wave of bombers has already departed.”

Lavikornia’s smirk deepened. “Good. Reduce that city to rubble. Let the elves know what it feels to be feared by man… after what they had done to our fellow kind for centuries.”

“The ballistic missile divisions are also in position and awaiting your command,” the commander added.

Lavikornia nodded as he took another drag from his pipe before speaking. “Commence the missile strike. Let them know the power of mankind. This world will soon understand that magic isn't everything.”

“Understood, General.” The commander saluted once more before turning to relay the orders.

Lavikornia turned his gaze back to the burning city. He could already see the next stages of his conquest unfolding in his mind. This world, with all its magic and wonder, would soon belong to the Austronesian Empire. They would take its resources, subjugate its people, and write a new chapter of glory in their history.

He chuckled to himself as the first missile streaked across the sky with its fiery trail, a harbinger of doom for the elves below.

————————————————————

A squadron of B-24 Greyheat bombers flies across the skies as they start bombing the capital city of Monarcius from above. Below, the citizens living in the city were shocked and afraid of those aircrafts as they unleashed their deadly payload to bomb the city. Buildings collapsed into fiery rubble, and terrified screams filled the air as explosions tore through the city, leaving devastation in their wake.

In the distance, a few Missile Launch Rocket Systems named A-111 “Titan” were cloaked in the shadows of the forest and prepared their next strike. With mechanical precision, the missiles were launched and their fiery trails painted the sky. Moments later, the missiles rained destruction upon the capital city. The explosions reverberated through the massive stone walls, reducing homes and marketplaces to smoldering ruins.

As the chaos unfolded, multiple battalions of Liberation soldiers poured out of the forest and marched towards the city accompanied with a company of ZTZ-99 Super Tanks, PTP-101M Pahlawan Mark V Tanks, and a single MTF-16 Mobile Tank Fortress, followed by legions of heavily armored infantry and mechanized units. The battle tanks aimed their massive weapons at the walls and unleashed a barrage of shells that tore through the ancient defenses, leaving a gaping hole for the invaders to pour through.

The soldiers of the Monarcius Kingdom, armed with mana-infused weapons and riding battle Magic Beast, stood bravely at the frontlines. But they were unprepared for the sheer might of the Austronesian Empire’s war machine. The FV-15 “Monarch” Light Armored Vehicles, FV-16 “Wolfhound” Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, and FV-2 “Stryker” Infantry Fighting Vehicles began mowing down elven forces with their machine guns as they didn't stand a chance.

In the skies above, the kingdom’s airforce rose to challenge the invaders by sending an army of griffins that joined the fight with their riders determined to protect their homeland, but the Austronesians had sent their AH-12 Thunderhawk Attack Helicopters, F-12 Phoenix Fighter Jets, and V-45 Peacemakers, whose advanced weaponry and speed overwhelmed the elven defenders.

One by one, the griffins and their riders fell in bloody pulp by the enemy airforce’s powerful machine guns and missiles which took them so easily and left them crashing into the city below.

The Austronesian Liberation Military took over the sky and the capital city is crawling with Austronesian forces. The council of the Elven kingdom, facing total annihilation, had no choice but to surrender. The invaders’ victory was announced, and the Austronesian banners were raised over the ruins of the capital city. The once-proud capital had fallen, and with it, the hopes of the entire kingdom seemed to crumble.

Miles away, the group led by Sylvara, and her former students, Kealith, Arwen, and Eryndil was escorting a group of frightened refugees to safety. Their destination was a neighboring kingdom that was a member of the Tarxan Coalition Army, where they hoped to establish a haven for the displaced.

As the group stopped to rest in a secluded village, they heard a noise of those flying metal contraption from the invaders outside with loud voice that echoed across the air that could be heard from miles away, but with the elves’ natural enhanced sense of hearing, they were still able to hear it further than that.

[Greetings. This is General Lavikornia from the Liberation Army of the Austronesian People’s Empire. I announce that this once-great nation of yours has fallen to us. This isn't just a message for you, elven people. This is a message for us, humans or inferiors. For centuries, you had suffered under the oppression of these magical scums, but now they first face the iron heel of the Austronesian Empire and the people they always deemed inferior. Now rise up and face against your oppressors! For I promise you, my fellow kin, that the spirit of mankind will not be extinguished. We will rise and show our Indomitable Human Spirit! Glory to Mankind! Glory to the People's Empire!!]

The transmission abruptly cut off, replaced by the repeating message as the aircraft continued to fly across the sky to encourage the humans while also giving the elves tragic news for them. Below, the room fell silent as the weight of the situation settled over the group.

Kealith clenched his fists. “So what we are facing is not just an inferior revolution, but an occupation from a human supremacist faction? They’ve taken the capital. What chance do we have against them now?”

Arwen looked downcast. “We’ve never faced anything like this. Their machines, their weapons, they’re centuries ahead of us even if we had strong magic.”

Eryndil stood and spoke steadily despite the turmoil. “Remember our time in the Magic Academy. We’ve faced impossible odds before. Giving up isn’t an option.”

Kealith frowned. “Even with all our magic, how do we fight an army like this? They’re too powerful, too prepared.”

Sylvara shook her head and stepped forward. “They may be ahead of us technologically, but they underestimate our spirit. We’ve always found ways to adapt, to overcome.”

Eryndil nodded. “Exactly. Right now, our priority is getting these people to safety. After that, we regroup and find allies. We have fought them and they are still human, and after all, humans aren't invincible and are incredibly fragile, and we will find a way to fight back.”

Arwin forced a grin. “Well, if we’re going down, we’re taking some of them with us.”

The group shared a grim smile as their resolve hardened. As they prepared to continue their journey, Sylvara turned to her former students to speak one last time.

“Are you all ready for this?”

Everyone met her gaze with a determined expression. “With you, professor? Always.”

Everyone shared a brief moment of understanding before rallying the group to move. The battle for their homeland wasn’t over, not yet. As long as they drew breath, there was hope.