The sky above Warri had turned an unusual shade of red.
Destiny stood on the highest tower of Wolf Fortress, staring at the distant horizon. Dark clouds covered the sky, while strange flashes of purple lightning illuminated the ruined city.
Something was wrong.
For the past thirty minutes, the Military System had been sending warning after warning.
[GLOBAL ALERT]
[THE SECOND PHASE OF THE MONSTER INVASION HAS BEGUN]
[MONSTER ACTIVITY INCREASING]
[WARNING: MULTIPLE HIGH-RANKED MONSTERS DETECTED]
Destiny opened the global map.
Red markers were appearing across the region. Some were moving toward the city, while others remained stationary.
"System, analyze the monster movements."
[ANALYZING...]
[RESULT: MONSTER FORCES ARE MOVING TOWARD HUMAN SETTLEMENTS]
[ESTIMATED THREAT: EXTREME]
Destiny frowned.
The first invasion had been chaotic. Monsters had appeared randomly, attacking anything they encountered.
But this time, they were moving in organized groups.
It was clear that someone was directing them.
"Commander!"
Destiny turned.
Naomi was running toward him, carrying a communication device.
"We've lost contact with two reconnaissance teams. The last signal came from the eastern industrial district."
"How many soldiers were in those teams?"
"Six."
Destiny's expression hardened.
"Send their last known coordinates to the command center. Prepare a rescue team."
Naomi nodded.
"There's something else. Our scouts spotted a massive monster approaching from the northern highway."
"Rank?"
"We couldn't identify it. But it destroyed several buildings with a single attack."
Destiny immediately opened Tactical Analysis.
[UNKNOWN MONSTER DETECTED]
[THREAT LEVEL: UNCONFIRMED]
[WARNING: TARGET EXCEEDS CURRENT ANALYSIS RANGE]
Destiny clenched his fist.
"Sound the alarm. All soldiers to their assigned positions."
***
The fortress quickly came alive.
Joseph led the Defense Squad toward the northern wall. Daniel gathered the Assault Squad in the courtyard, while Naomi organized the remaining scouts.
Isaac hurried into the command center.
"Commander, the Level 2 upgrade is complete!"
[BASE UPGRADE COMPLETED]
[WOLF FORTRESS: LEVEL 2]
[NEW FEATURES:
- ENHANCED DEFENSIVE WALLS
- ADVANCED TRAINING FACILITY
- ENERGY SHIELD GENERATOR
- INCREASED SOLDIER CAPACITY]
The walls of Wolf Fortress had become taller and thicker. New defensive towers stood at the corners, and a faint blue energy field shimmered above the main gate.
Destiny smiled briefly.
"Activate the energy shield."
Isaac tapped the control panel.
[ENERGY SHIELD ACTIVATED]
A blue barrier spread across the fortress, covering the walls and the main buildings.
"How long can it last?" Destiny asked.
"At the current energy level, approximately forty minutes under a heavy attack."
"Increase the generator's output. We may need it for longer."
Isaac nodded.
"Understood."
A loud siren suddenly echoed across the fortress.
[WARNING: ENEMY APPROACHING]
Destiny rushed to the northern observation tower.
A huge creature was moving along the highway.
It was almost as tall as a three-storey building. Its body was covered in dark armor, and two massive horns curved from its head.
Behind it, dozens of smaller monsters followed.
[MONSTER DETECTED]
[NAME: IRONHORN COLOSSUS]
[RANK: C]
[LEVEL: 25]
[ABILITIES:
- METAL CRUSH
- CHARGED RUSH
- IRON ARMOR]
[THREAT LEVEL: EXTREME]
Destiny's eyes widened.
A C-rank monster.
He had never fought anything that powerful.
"All units, prepare for battle!"
The Ironhorn Colossus lowered its head.
Its horns began glowing red.
Then it charged.
The ground shook as the creature rushed toward Wolf Fortress.
"DEFENSIVE POSITIONS!" Joseph shouted.
The fortress cannons opened fire.
Explosions covered the highway, but the monster continued advancing.
It slammed into the energy shield.
A massive shockwave spread across the fortress.
[ENERGY SHIELD: 82%]
Destiny watched the readings.
The creature was too powerful for the shield to withstand repeated attacks.
"Daniel, take the Assault Squad outside through the western gate. We need to distract it before it reaches the main entrance."
Daniel saluted.
"Understood, sir!"
The gate opened.
Daniel's squad rushed out, firing at the smaller monsters and drawing the Ironhorn Colossus away from the fortress.
Destiny activated Tactical Analysis again.
[TACTICAL ANALYSIS ACTIVATED]
[WEAKNESS DETECTED: JOINTS BENEATH THE FRONT ARMOR]
[TACTICAL SUGGESTION: DISRUPT THE TARGET'S CHARGING MOMENTUM]
Destiny immediately understood.
"Joseph! Target its legs. Don't waste ammunition on its armor!"
The defensive cannons changed direction.
Several shells struck the creature's front legs.
The Ironhorn Colossus stumbled.
Daniel's team took advantage of the opening and attacked its exposed joints.
The monster roared.
It turned toward the soldiers and raised one massive arm.
"GET BACK!" Daniel shouted.
The creature slammed its fist into the ground.
A shockwave threw several soldiers off their feet.
Destiny rushed toward the battlefield.
"COMMANDER'S AURA!"
[SKILL ACTIVATED: COMMANDER'S AURA]
[ALL ALLIED SOLDIERS:
COMBAT EFFECTIVENESS INCREASED]
[MORALE ENHANCED]
The soldiers felt renewed strength and confidence.
Destiny activated Soldier's Will.
He charged toward the Ironhorn Colossus while Daniel and Kane distracted it.
The creature swung its horned head toward him.
Destiny dodged and climbed onto its front leg.
He drove his combat knife into the damaged joint.
The monster roared and shook violently.
Destiny held on.
"Daniel! Now!"
Daniel fired a concentrated burst at the exposed joint.
Ethan released a powerful electric strike.
The combined attack damaged the monster's leg.
The Ironhorn Colossus fell to one knee.
Destiny jumped toward its chest, where Tactical Analysis had identified a faint energy reading.
He drove his knife into the opening.
The creature's body trembled.
Then a bright explosion erupted from its chest.
[ C-RANK IRONHORN COLOSSUS DEFEATED ]
[EXPERIENCE GAINED: 5,000]
[MILITARY POINTS RECEIVED: 4,000]
[MONSTER CORE ACQUIRED]
The remaining monsters began retreating.
But Destiny did not celebrate.
The system displayed another warning.
[GLOBAL ALERT]
[MONSTER ACTIVITY CONTINUES TO INCREASE]
[WARNING: THIS WAS ONLY AN ADVANCE ATTACK]
Destiny looked toward the distant red sky.
The second phase had begun.
And the monsters were only getting stronger.