It was the fourth destroyed city. They had already passed through three this week. The army had brought two of them back under Imperial control. And there was only one more left before reaching the rebel stronghold.
"How many, Ember?" whispered Spider. The grizzled veteran sat next to Croy, waiting patiently for his answer.
Undisturbed, Croy let his gaze sweep over the ruins of the city. Having activated Cat Eyes, he could see effortlessly even in the darkness of this starless night.
"So far, no one," he answered quietly, but continued to keep watch.
"Cookoff, what does the thermal imaging show?"
Cookoff just shook her head in response. She knelt at the other end of the building's partially collapsed roof. The beautiful woman had the thermal camera before her eyes, scanning the area with the patience and sharpness of a predator, but she had no more success than Croy.
"It's unlikely we'll spot anyone like that. This deep in rebel territory, they're all wearing camouflage suits," Sandman remarked.
"Doesn't matter. Keep searching."
A slight movement caught Croy's eye, making him turn his head. There, beneath the collapsed maglev track...
"Movement detected. Two o'clock, right where the magnetic rails break off and have crashed into the skyscraper."
Immediately, Croy heard Spider activate the spell himself.
"Cat Eyes," he said, then after a few second nodding in satisfaction, his eyes now yellow and faintly glowing.
"At least four, all carrying standard-issue Spell Rifles."
Their last member, a young woman with the codename Bunny, chimed in.
"Not particularly well-equipped guards this close to the base, if you ask me."
"They're probably preoccupied with the army's advance. Major Maddox reported increased resistance on the march. They've got trouble moving with the heavy hitters, the rebels are resorting to full on guerialla warfare at this point. That's why we're here. We're cutting off the snake's artery."
Spider paused for a few moments. Then he turned to Sandman and Bunny behind him.
"You secure the immediate area around us. Cookoff, you stay here and alert us via communication spell if you spot anything. If it comes to a fight, use the sniper rifle only if there's no other option -it's spells are way too loud."
The three vanguard soldiers nodded in unison and prepared themselves. Then Spider turned to Croy.
"Ember, you're coming with me. We'll go quietly. Any questions?"
No one answered, but Sandman raised his hand.
"My mana is still depleted from the infiltration. Shadow Dome always drains the color from my skin... Uh, that wasn't meant to be racist, Bunny."
"I didn't take it that way."
"Well, you know, we may be of different skin tones, but I swear, my girlfriend is also-"
"Your girlfriend, who goes to another company in a different universe?"
Croy rolled his eyes. A light tap on the back of his head made him look back annoyed. Spider smiled at him.
"Let them have the little fun they can."
But his smile quickly faded as his glowing eyes focused again on the four figures who had now gathered directly under a segment of the ruined maglev track.
"There will be enough blood yet. Sandman, you switch with Cookoff. You may not have long-range attack spells, but you should still have enough mana for a communication spell if anything happens. Cookoff, give him the thermal camera."
Then he stood up and rose to his full height. The leader of their vanguard was a tall man, and even the armor could hardly conceal his powerful stature. The only thing he lacked was hair on his head - but he had an extremely well-groomed mustache.
Croy furrowed his brow.
'How the hell is that thing always in perfect shape?' he thought.
Was that a spell? No, that would be a waste of mana. Although, if he could grow his own beard one day, he might understand. But he was still too young.
And really, he was also too young for the front lines - at least that's what the others always said. For him, he was right where he belonged.
When everyone was ready, Spider gave the command to proceed. He, Cookoff, Bunny, and Croy jumped from the roof and landed quietly on the rubble- and ash-covered streets of the destroyed city.
"No spells. They might have a Sensor among them."
Immediately, Croy deactivated the Cat Eyes, and his comrades did the same. Now it was dark again - as dark as it naturally is, but it should never be this dark in a city. No streetlights were lit, no light in the buildings, the world offered not even stars in this desolate ruin.
'Freedom fighters, that's what the rebels call themselves,' thought Croy as he hurried through the streets with the rest of the squad, taking cover behind abandoned cars and slipping past charred facades.
Was this lifeless city also free? Then so were his parents. Burned and free.
Croy clenched his teeth and pushed aside old thoughts. His new family was here - and had made him into someone who could now fight for his own freedom.
Sandman had already separated from them, and now Bunny disappeared into a side alley as well.
Yes, fight. Now he could fight. Now he could kill. Even if he didn't know these rebels. They had followed the call of their twisted freedom and were part of evil. They deserved it...
"Restrain yourself, Ember."
Spider's voice was stern, but Croy recognized, as always, the caring, fatherly tone in his leader's voice. Every time they were alone together, it was as if the man could read Croy's thoughts. It made him uncomfortable.
"I'll make sure to do it quietly and quickly. We haven't noticed any other enemies, but there could be others nearby, I know."
Spider shook his head. They were almost at the rebels' last known location.
"I don't doubt your abilities, kid-"
"Don't call me kid. You gave me another name," Croy interrupted sharply.
"...but your anger clouds your judgment."
Spider held out his hand and made Croy stop. Only an overturned building now separated them from the rebels. But for some reason, Spider looked only at Croy. The battle-scarred man gazed deeply into his eyes. Every time, Croy saw little in those eyes - but also so much pain.
"It's only a matter of weeks, at most a few months before the rebels fall. In the capital, they've already begun celebrations. The Emperor has lifted the conscription. And only a crippled bunch of rebellious fanatics remain in the rebel stronghold."
Croy did not reply. He already knew all these facts. It was said that the murderers of his parents would finally receive just punishment.
Spider studied him. But when he saw Croy's expression, he sighed.
"Three years, Ember. Three years full of war and killing. You've been with us for three years now. By God, you're only sixteen. I still don't understand why Major Maddox didn't just send you back when we found you."
"Yes, you do," Croy countered. "You know it. The Empire had neither time nor resources for useless war orphans. And I wasn't useless. I've proven that enough."
Then, however, his voice softened.
"What's this about, Spider? We both know the past and the inevitable future. But right now there are four enemies, unprotected and unprepared. What are we waiting for?"
A few moments of silence passed. They were comrades and had been forged into brothers over the past years, almost like father and son. They knew each other, and Croy had not regretted a single day that Spider had taken him in - even if it now meant he was at the forefront in the heart of the rebels.
"What I'm saying is that it's almost over. We all already have places or tasks to which we'll return. And we're all looking forward to it being over. Bunny wants to travel the Empire. Cookoff will return to the academy. I'm going back to the barracks in the capital to train soldiers. Sandman... well, he'll probably look for a girlfriend."
Spider smiled briefly again but then looked at Croy with sad eyes.
"What will you do?"
"I'll join the military."
"I forbid it. You've spent enough time in war for two lifetimes."
"You can't forbid me."
"Yes, I can. And if I can't, then Maddox will."
Now a fire burned in Croy's eyes. What was this again? Who cared what he would do after the war? Croy stood up, wanting to end this pointless conversation. His mana was already flickering within him.
But Spider grabbed him by the wrist.
"Don't worry, we're going. But we'll talk again afterward."
Croy wanted to object but restrained himself. At least his leader had regained his composure. He just nodded silently. Spider accepted Croy's answer with one last sigh and then stood up himself. With cautious movements, they sneaked along the building's ruin - until they reached a spot where they suddenly had a view of the four rebels.
They stood around a hologram. It looked like a map of the city, but hardly a usable one, considering the city's condition. None of them had noticed the two soldiers.
Croy raised his eyebrows. They weren't even keeping proper watch. He couldn't detect a Sensor among them. Spider's caution had been unnecessary in this case. But still, they all wore camouflage suits, and their other equipment didn't look shabby either, better than most rebels.
And yet they weren't prepared for a potential attack.
"They aren't vigilant. No Sensors," whispered Croy.
"They are not a threat," said Spider. "No lethal attack spells or spellweaponry above second level. We'll take them captive."
Croy snorted quietly. Capture them? But before he could say anything, Spider shot him a cold look. A clear, silent command that the discussion was over. Croy drew in his breath and nodded briefly.
Silently, they crept closer to the four rebels, who were still bent over the flickering hologram.
Croy and Spider exchanged a quick glance, a silent agreement, and both tensed for the attack. Their hands rested calmly on their Spell Pistols, their movements precise and perfectly synchronized.
He would have preferred to use the Spell Rifles straight away, but any spell cast by the rifle would most likely have killed the rebels.
With a brief nod, Spider gave the signal, and both pulled the trigger simultaneously. Croy felt the familiar tingling of mana as his spell formed, using the pistol as a catalyst, and a shimmering ball of electric energy shot out of the barrel.
An electric orb spell, silent and precise, like he had fired a thousand times before.
At the same moment, Spider's electric orb glided through the darkness and hit one of the rebels. Both spells flew silently, pierced the Barrier Spells of the first two rebels, who were helplessly thrown back and fell motionless to the ground.
Spider immediately followed up and caused the third opponent to stagger with a precise shot, quickly putting him out of action.
Croy aimed his weapon at the last rebel and was about to activate the spell again, but in the excitement, the rebel's foot slipped over loose stones, and Croy's shot harmlessly passed over him.
The rebel seized the moment and quickly crawled behind a large piece of debris before Croy or Spider could attack again.
Frustrated, Croy clenched his teeth; a quiet curse escaped him, and he rushed forward. Using cover, he moved cautiously ahead, his steps muffled, his breath shallow.
One more, then it would be over.
Slowly, silently, he approached the rebel's hiding place. He held onto the remains of an overturned vehicle, crouched low, and moved tactically to the enemy's flank.
But suddenly, before he had the chance to fire the final shot, Spider's sharp voice pierced the silence.
"Croy, back!" shouted Spider, his voice full of urgent warning.
At that moment, the rebel jumped out from behind the debris, his face twisted into a distorted grimace.
He roared, and a red glow illuminated his eyes and the space around him. Croy froze. He recognized the signs, but it was too late.
"Corecollapse!" the rebel shouted, and a massive surge of energy escaped from his body. Mana flooded out of him, escaping his mouth and nostrils in a blazing red light, pulsing and rapidly growing.
And then, like the surface of a frozen lake, the surface of the man cracked and split open, revealing the boiling mana inside him.
Everything seemed to stand still for a moment. Croy felt the cold tingling as the energy filled the space - and then everything exploded in a blinding light.
A massive shockwave ripped him off his feet, hurling him backward, and the last thing he felt was a burning pain before darkness fell over him.