The battlefield had already descended into chaos, but when the Resonance Amplification Device was activated, the conflict turned into something far worse...a nightmare.
From the depths of Drakor's stronghold, a pulse of brilliant psychic energy shot into the sky, lighting up the canyon in an eerie violet glow. The pulse expanded like ripples in water, spreading outward across the battlefield. Coalition troops froze in place, their weapons trembling in their hands as the resonance passed over them.
Ethan felt it immediately, a wave of psychic pressure so powerful it made his head throb. Even through the dampeners integrated into his armor and his innate psychic resistance, he could feel the subtle pull of the energy, like fingers clawing at his mind. The air became electric, charged with a humming tension that made every breath feel heavier.
Across the battlefield, Syndicate troops reacted differently. Their eyes glowed faintly with the same violet light, their movements growing unnaturally fast and fluid. Cybernetic soldiers, already imposing, became monstrous as they began to shrug off gunfire that would normally tear them apart. Even the armored beasts roared louder, their aggression doubling as they plowed through Resistance barricades with frightening ease.
From his vantage point, Ethan could see a squad of Federation guards standing their ground against a wave of cybernetic enforcers. The guards fired relentlessly, their plasma rounds finding their marks, but it was futile. The enforcers charged through the hail of bullets as though it were rain, smashing into the squad with brutal efficiency. One guard was lifted off the ground and hurled into a Federation tank, the sound of his armor crunching audible even over the gunfire.
"They've enhanced them," Ethan muttered, his voice sharp with disbelief. His hand instinctively went to his plasma dagger, the familiar weight of it grounding him. He activated his comms. "All units, regroup and focus fire on their enhanced troops. We need to hold the line!"
The coalition forces were faltering. Resistance fighters, already pushed to their limits, found themselves overwhelmed by the Syndicate's sudden surge in power. Groups of fighters were scattered across the battlefield, isolated and vulnerable as cybernetic soldiers tore through their ranks.
Marik Vos's squad held their ground near the remains of a collapsed barricade, but it was clear they wouldn't last much longer. Syndicate beasts lunged at them, their claws ripping through armor and flesh alike. Marik shouted orders, his voice hoarse but resolute, as he fought to keep his fighters alive.
Meanwhile, Federation artillery vehicles were being torn apart. Enhanced Syndicate troops threw heavy debris like missiles, smashing the vehicles into twisted heaps of metal. A Resistance sniper's nest was destroyed when one of the beasts scaled the rocky outcropping and tore through the soldiers stationed there.
Ethan clenched his fists as he surveyed the carnage. The coalition was on the brink of collapse, and the Syndicate hadn't even used the full potential of their new weapon.
Then it came.
A low, ominous hum filled the air, growing louder with each passing second. Ethan's heart sank as he looked toward the fortress. At its apex, the Resonance Amplification Device emitted a series of pulses that coalesced into glowing projectiles, missiles made of pure psychic energy.
The first missile streaked across the battlefield like a comet, its violet light casting eerie shadows over the coalition forces. It struck the rear lines of the coalition with a deafening explosion, sending a shockwave rippling across the ground. When the dust settled, a massive crater stood where a supply convoy and a group of medics had been stationed moments before.
Ethan staggered as the shockwave hit him, his ears ringing and his balance faltering. Through his helmet's comms, he could hear panicked voices: cries for help, reports of devastating losses, and desperate pleas for reinforcements.
The devastation didn't stop. More missiles rained down, targeting command posts and densely packed troop formations. Each detonation sent debris flying, and each blast seemed to sap the coalition's morale further. Federation tanks were flipped like toys, and Resistance fighters were hurled through the air as the ground itself seemed to buckle under the relentless assault.
Ethan's squad narrowly avoided a direct hit. The missile landed a few dozen meters away, its shockwave throwing Ethan and his team to the ground. His head slammed against the inside of his helmet, and for a moment, the world spun. His comms buzzed with static, and his vision blurred as the residual psychic energy clawed at his mind.
"Ethan!" Eliara's voice cut through the haze, her hand gripping his shoulder as she hauled him to his feet. "We have to move!"
Ethan shook his head, forcing his focus to return. He could see Thalor engaging a group of enhanced Syndicate enforcers nearby, his plasma blades flashing as he struck with deadly precision. Rourke was setting up explosives to create a temporary barricade, his face pale but determined.
"We're not done yet," Ethan muttered, his voice steadier than he felt. He activated his comms again. "All units, fall back to secondary positions. Regroup and hold the line. We need to neutralize those cannons!"
Ethan knew the coalition couldn't survive much longer unless they disabled the psychic energy cannons. These weapons, mounted along the fortress's outer walls, were decimating their forces with pinpoint accuracy.
"I'll lead a team to take out the cannons," Ethan said over the comms. "Thalor, Eliara, you're with me. Rourke, hold this position with the other Mercenaries and Resistance fighters and cover our retreat."
Eliara nodded, already prepping her hacking tools. Thalor wiped blood from his blade and fell into step beside Ethan.
The team moved quickly, navigating through collapsing tunnels and dodging heavy fire from the fortress. The air grew thicker with each step, the resonance of the device intensifying as they drew closer to its source.
They reached the first cannon, a massive construct glowing with psychic energy. Syndicate enforcers guarded the area, their enhanced reflexes making them formidable opponents. Thalor engaged them head-on, his dual plasma blades a blur of light as he danced through their ranks.
Meanwhile, Eliara worked to disable the cannon's targeting systems, her fingers flying across the interface despite the chaos around her. Ethan covered her, using his plasma dagger and laser pistol to fend off attackers.
The team pressed forward, taking out two more cannons in quick succession. The final cannon, however, was more heavily guarded. The Syndicate had fortified the area with automated turrets and additional troops.
Ethan led the charge, weaving through enemy fire and planting explosives on the cannon's energy core. Thalor and Eliara provided cover, their coordinated attacks creating just enough distraction for Ethan to complete his task.
"Charges set!" Ethan shouted as he activated the timer. "Fall back!"
The explosions tore through the psychic energy cannons, sending shockwaves across the battlefield as fire and debris rained down like falling stars. Each detonation roared with violent intensity, illuminating the night sky with fiery bursts that momentarily outshone the eerie glow of the fortress. The collapsing structures crumbled into the canyon below, their destruction echoing like thunder in the icy air. For a fleeting moment, the relentless assault from the fortress faltered, giving the coalition forces a brief reprieve amidst the chaos.
Ethan's team, however, had no time to celebrate. Syndicate reinforcements surged, their footsteps pounding against the rocky ground. Bolts of energy sizzled past as the team retreated under heavy fire, darting through the jagged terrain to avoid being overwhelmed.
Finally, at a safe distance, they regrouped behind a collapsed ridge. Breathing heavily, Ethan leaned against the icy wall, his shoulders heaving from the effort. He turned to look at the others. Eliara was hunched over, catching her breath, her gauntlet flickering from overuse. Thalor stood tall, his dual plasma blades still glowing faintly as he scanned the area for signs of pursuit.
The burning remains of the fortress's outer defenses painted a haunting image across the horizon. Plumes of black smoke coiled into the night sky, the once-imposing cannons now reduced to twisted ruins. Ethan wiped the blood streaked across his faceplate, his visor cracked from the earlier skirmish, and locked eyes with his companions.
"No time for respite," he said, his voice firm despite the weariness in his tone. "We need to press on. We won't get another opening like this."
Ethan glanced back at the fortress, the glow of the Resonance Amplification Device still visible in the distance. "Its not over for us yet, not by a long shot," he muttered, his determination unshaken despite the odds.