The air over Ettemakse City, the biggest settlement on the central highlands, crackled with fire and death. The Syndicate's drones hovered like malevolent wasps, dropping incendiary bombs onto the once-bustling streets, transforming them into a labyrinth of flames and collapsing structures. Buildings that had stood for decades now crumbled, their foundations shaken by explosions that echoed across the central highlands.
In the streets below, chaos reigned. Mind-controlled civilians faces blank, eyes hollow wielded pipes, broken glass, and makeshift weapons. They attacked indiscriminately, striking down anyone in their path. Some stumbled forward like puppets on invisible strings, while others moved with horrifying precision, their bodies manipulated by unseen forces.
Cybernetic soldiers, towering monstrosities clad in alloy-enhanced armor, marched through the streets. Their mechanized limbs smashed barricades with ease, scattering Federation defenders as if they were nothing more than pests. Plasma weapons mounted on their shoulders spat deadly bursts of energy, leaving destruction in their wake.
At the center of the chaos stood Vela Drasik, perched atop a ridge overlooking the city. Her piercing gaze surveyed the destruction below, the flames reflecting in her cybernetic implants. She spoke calmly into her comms, her voice cold and calculating.
"Let the city burn," she said. "Ettemakse will be our base of power, the foundation of our war against these fools. Test the enhancements. Leave no survivors."
Her words carried no malice, only a chilling detachment that made them all the more terrifying.
Far from the burning city, Ethan Walker stood in the Valeris Guild Hall, poring over maps of the central highlands. The tension in the room was palpable, the air heavy with anticipation as the coalition prepared for their next move. The sound of blaring alarms shattered the moment, followed by a holographic feed blinking to life.
A Federation officer, his face bloodied and desperate, filled the screen. Behind him, flames roared as civilians screamed in the background.
"Ettemakse is falling!" the officer shouted, his voice hoarse. "We need immediate reinforcements ! Civilians are being slaughtered. Please, anyone, respond!"
The feed cut off abruptly, leaving a grim silence in the hall. For a moment, no one spoke. Then, Guild Branch Master Darrik Voss broke the silence.
"This isn't just an attack," he said, his tone grave. "The Syndicate wants Ettemakse as their stronghold. If they succeed, the central highlands, and possibly more of Kynara, will fall."
Ethan straightened, his expression hard. "Then we stop them."
Within minutes, the coalition sprang into action. Ethan was appointed to lead the strike team, accompanied by fellow D-Rank mercenaries Zyrix Korran and Eliara Venn. Federation Vice-Leader Lirien Vossel volunteered to lead an elite squad of guards, while Resistance Vice-Leader Marik Vos mobilized a unit of seasoned fighters.
The briefing was quick but thorough.
"This isn't just about Ettemakse," Ethan told the assembled team. "If they take the city, they'll turn it into a war machine. Every second we delay gives them more time to dig in."
Lirien stepped forward, her gaze steady. "Our priority is breaking their hold on the city. Push them back, disrupt their command, and neutralize their leaders."
The strike team departed in armored vehicles and dropships, their faces grim as they prepared for what lay ahead.
As the dropships neared Ettemakse, the Syndicate's anti-aircraft turrets roared to life. Plasma bolts streaked through the air, forcing the pilots into evasive maneuvers. One dropship took a direct hit, spiraling out of control before crashing into the outskirts of the city in a fiery explosion.
Ethan's dropship landed in a clearing just outside the city, the team disembarking under heavy fire. The outskirts were a wasteland of debris and burning vehicles, with Syndicate patrols prowling the area.
"Move fast and stay sharp," Ethan ordered, his plasma dagger in hand. "Zyrix, take the high ground. Eliara, find a way to disable those turrets."
The team advanced cautiously, Resistance fighters securing a path while Eliara worked to disarm mines and traps. Syndicate drones buzzed overhead, firing sporadic bursts of plasma that forced the team to take cover.
The first major clash came as the team approached the city's main entrance. A squad of cybernetic soldiers emerged from the rubble, their glowing red eyes locking onto the coalition forces. They charged with mechanical precision, their alloy-enhanced limbs smashing through makeshift barriers.
Ethan engaged one of the soldiers head-on, his plasma dagger slicing through the exposed joints of its armor. The soldier retaliated with a crushing blow, but Ethan dodged, countering with a precise strike that disabled its left arm. Nearby, Zyrix provided sniper cover, his well-placed shots taking out two more cybernetic soldiers.
Lirien Vossel directed her guards to form a defensive line, their synchronized fire driving back the Syndicate forces. Marik Vos rallied his resistance fighters, pushing forward despite the relentless onslaught.
As the skirmish ended, Ethan surveyed the battlefield. The outskirts were secure, but the city loomed ahead, its burning heart a grim reminder of the battle yet to come.
From her vantage point, Vela watched the coalition's advance, her lips curling into a faint smile. "Let them come," she said. "They'll bleed for every step they take."
Deeper within the city, Raeth sharpened his blade, his expression a mix of anticipation and malice. "He's here," he muttered, his voice dripping with venom. "Ethan Walker... This time, one of us dies."
The coalition forces breached the outskirts of Ettemakse City, securing a foothold but realizing the scale of the battle ahead. Syndicate reinforcements poured into the city, their numbers seemingly endless. Ethan stood at the edge of the smoldering battlefield, his resolve hardening.
"More senseless destruction and death," he whispered, gripping his plasma dagger tightly. "When will this ever end..."
The battle for Ettemakse had only just begun.