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C1693

Within a fleeting few minutes, Emery found himself at the brink of the expansive lava sea, its molten waves rippling menacingly beneath him. He could feel the intense heat prickling his skin, and the acrid smell of burning stone assaulted his senses. Despite the dangers it presented, the lava sea was the only barrier separating him from the safety of the citadel.

Summoning the mystical energy within him, Emery invoked the [Light Wing] spell. His words resonated with an otherworldly echo, and in response, a pair of luminescent wings materialized from his back.

He launched himself into the air, the brilliant wings lifting him over the lethal expanse. As the citadel grew closer, the menacing, fiery sea receded into the distance, and the relief of surviving the battlefield turned bitter.

Upon landing within the citadel's protective walls, the magnitude of their defeat hit him like a hammer blow. Of the 14 who had ventured on the mission, only five had returned.

His arrival was met with an eruption of anger from Magus Cass. Her rage filled the air, directed at the Citadel Magus guard who had been on duty. She blamed him for providing flawed intelligence and for his lethargy in dispatching reinforcements. Her accusations, laced with sorrow and frustration, echoed through the citadel, drawing the attention of everyone present.

The atmosphere turned tense as more magus gathered, a potential internal fight looming on the horizon. However, a commanding presence emerged, dissipating the escalating hostility. The elderly and revered figure of Commander Shepard appeared, his imposing demeanor demanding attention and respect. As the murmurs quietened, he began to speak, his voice echoing with wisdom and authority.

"The dark elves had deployed a decoy on the other side of the citadel," he explained, revealing the cunning tactic the enemy had employed to ensnare them.

His words seemed to pacify the furious Magus Cass, who bit back her rage and shifted her focus to aiding the wounded. With Magus Blane in her care, she entered the citadel, leaving behind the crowd of magus, and the sting of their defeat.

In addition to Emery and Atlas, the third surviving member of their decimated group was a space knight. This seasoned warrior served as second-in-command under Captain Steele, who had perished in the battle and now he meticulously recited the details of their mission, providing a full report to the waiting Commander.

Commander Shepard turned his gaze upon Emery, acknowledging the younger man's significant contributions to the battle.

"We are lucky to have you with us," he said solemnly, his eyes radiating sincerity. However, these words tasted bitter on Emery's tongue. He couldn't ignore the casualty of the mission.

Commander Shepard added, "Although life is what matters most, at least the objectives were completed."

Emery had little time to dwell on the Commander's words. Atlas brought forth five large bags that he had carried back from the mission, one filled with the mushrooms and weeds Emery had gathered. The contents of the other four bags, however, were far more intriguing.

As one of the bags was opened, Emery's eyes fell on an oval-shaped, dark green crystal rock. Its rough surface belied the immense energy that pulsated within. Upon touching the rock, Emery could feel its life force, a vibrant, pulsating energy that coursed through his fingers.

"Those are Phantom Drider eggs," Commander Shepard revealed.

He then motioned to Atlas, "Show the new guy what the others sacrificed their lives for."

Following Atlas, Emery shouldered two of the bags and headed toward one of the buildings that previously housed the Juggernauts. The building was more akin to a graveyard of machinery.

As they stepped inside, the sound of a man's voice filled the air. His cries were raw, filled with palpable sorrow, "NO!! No, my baby Juggernaut!! WHY!! WHY!!" The despair in his voice resonated within the hollow confines of the building.

The source of this outcry was a man named Master Borin. He was a fat and short individual whose physique bore an uncanny resemblance to the dwarves. But Master Borin was no mere blacksmith. He was an inventor, a genius in his craft. The Juggernauts, the magus energy weapons—his skilled hands had brought them all into existence.

Upon noticing Atlas and Emery entering with the bags, Master Borin attempted to regain his composure. His voice, though still heavy with grief, carried a note of authority as he directed them, "You know where to put it, at the back!"

In the far corner of the building stood a unique piece of machinery. Master Borin used this device to process the Phantom Dreden eggs. He expertly utilized the outer shells to craft high-tier metals, while the energy-rich insides powered the citadel's technological marvels. This fusion of biology and technology was a product of Master Borin's genius, created with the help of Master Flamming.

While Emery was surveying the surrounding area, his eyes landed on a gruesome sight at the back of the room. Laid out on a table were the bodies of space knights, their lifeless forms stark against the dull metal surface. A chill ran down Emery's spine as he realized these were the very knights who had fallen during his arrival.

It took him only a few moments to realize that the bodies were not there for any funerary rites but were being dissected for parts. The space knights, after all, were implanted with as many as ten different devices, turning their bodies into a treasure trove of useful components. It all clicked in Emery's head - this was why the retrieval of the bodies had been so crucial.

Atlas then went on to explain that their defensive stand against the dark elves was largely thanks to Master Borin and Master Flamming. Their inventions were not limited to the Juggernaut vehicles or energy weapons but extended to the six turrets strategically positioned at the citadel's corners and the energy shields protecting them.

However, their situation had turned dire. With the loss of the Juggernauts, their ability to run supply missions had been severely compromised. Master Borin, frustrated at the turn of events, grumbled about the upcoming weeks he'd have to spend crafting another Juggernaut. The citadel's energy supply, as it was, wouldn't be enough to withstand a prolonged battle.

Master Borin, caught in his frustration, let out a guttural yell, "It's only three weeks until the next drought! ARGHH! I hate this!!"

To be continued