GATE - War of Two Worlds Part 2

V22 - Chapter 252 Operation Apocalypse Fall

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--- City of Dalko, Great Plains Region ---

Date: August 26th, 2026

With the hillside up ahead, the only source of light came from the spells from the Darlko mages, tracer grounds, and the explosives shells from the Griffins II Mobile Protected Firepower. The hillside turned into flames from incendiary weapons while magical attacks scorched the advancing allied approach, forcing them into funnels, usually trapped with runes.

The Dark City of Dalko was situated in a unique geographic position with the large city standing between two Devil Tower mountains. For the better part of a week, US bombers have been bombing the magical city - which is the only platform with enough range to reach the city and back with enough ordinance with ariel refueling. However, the strikes have had minimal effect thanks to the city layout, the few bombers deployed on Falmart, and lack of knowledgeable targets to focus on.

In preparation for the inevitable Terran attacks, the mages of Darlko took advantage of the limited build-up at their quickly established airfield. Darlko turned the chain of hills that lead to the open valley toward their city into a formidable hill fortress, rune traps and additional garrisons.

Vanguard-7 took cover by a collapsed tree and a cluster of boulders, returning fire as they covered the next group. Around them are the other Airborne and some of Krysist's Republican Legionaries. The other Rangers were with other companies, assisting them with their zones.

Once the third Platoon advanced, they triggered a combination of runes that were hiddenly marketed on the ground. A long line of ice formed from the ground and into a twelve-foot-tall wall. A small ground of soldiers was cut off, stuck on the other side while two soldiers were impaled between the forming ice wall.

One of the Griffin tanks fired three rounds against the Ice Wall, finally punching a hole through it. This allowed the rest of the third platoon to breach, backing up their comrades and securing the beachhead.

"I see why the brass was terrified of the possibility of assaulting Rondel," Randy said. "We are going to have to flush them out of their position."

"And now you all understand why the old Empire invested so many resources into magic," Lelei said. "As you saw throughout the war, your technology might have overwhelmed a few mages however, go up against a few hundred or a few thousand?"

"Don't give me the image Lelei," Sharpe ordered. "Tell Soredin and the Rondel mages to move up and remove those runes."

With a combination of tank and rocket fire, holes within the Ice Wall were large enough to allow more forces through. Getting the order to advance, Vanguard-7 got into formation and rushed toward the breach.

Once across, they saw nothing but bright lights on the hillside fortifications, all coming from different mages and whatever spells they were casting. The few Airborne that already made it through were taking cover, trying to pick the Darlko forces off as they covered their comrades.

As Vanguard-7 took cover and returned fire, it was Scott who commented about the strange black ground that was classified as creep by Soredin. While not overbearing, it has been slippery and slimy for the infantry to walk on.

Once Bailey and Johnson's teams followed up behind Sharpe's team, the two teams focused their fire on an attempt to gain fire superiority. The enemy mages forced powerful barriers, deflecting the majority of their fire.

"This would be easier if it was not for those barriers," Andrew said.

"We are going to have to do this the hard way," Randy said.