Army of the Damned

VOLUME 17 Chapter 6

Inside the C-17 Globemaster, Jackson sat down on an empty chair as the entire cargo hold was full of players sitting on the floor, their backs resting on their rucksacks as the Respawn Altar on the edge, standing next to the stairs to the pilots door was silent. The helmets of the players, from the blue of the UN, the green multicam of Zavalda to the arid colors donned by the Men of the Woods whilst the woodland of the Shine Guards and Men of the Woods mixed inside the rattling hold of the aircraft. Many, looking at Jackson whose armor and sword was gleaming so brightly the red tint was unable to invade their spaces.

As he looked at himself, the Knight General couldn't believe his new look, the brand new Dragon armor he is given is made from the scales of a Dragon God, sparkling and victorious in its style, the plate armor seemed as if it was meant to be used by an Event Boss rather than a player. Loud noises then came down the stairs from the cockpit and it's the Co Pilot, saluting to him. "Sir! We have an emergency message from Iron Mountain! Make a full retreat to the Portal Fortress! Woodstock has fallen and the Armada has been sunk!"

His eyes open wide, leaning in, the man clenched his hand as he looked up to the player. "Mana Core explosion was also detected there. The Council of Guild Leaders from the UN has moved their operations base to the Portal Fortress' bunker complex." He looks to his left, Thomas also left without a word to say. "So... we're no longer going to defend till the last part of Dragovh or the shores of Geraldia?" the Co Pilot shrugs. "Negative sir. Iron Mountain thinks it's better for the surviving combat effective armies to use its last strength at the defense while the Native Armies take two for us."

Squinting his eyes, Jackson stands up. Crossing his arms and not losing his balance at the rattling cargo hold. "What? Aren't there supposed to be fresh troops still? Our job is literally to be grinded down to the last soldier in hopes of buying enough time for the Heroes." Yamaoka then stands up too after making sure the resting Mars is properly strapped to her seat. "What's the order this time? Iron Mountain has fallen, its Mana Core gone. All of that is now nonexistent and is just a flat plain of grass."

"Nothing, sir. It's just to transport you to the Portal Fortress and await further tasking. We'll soon deviate from the holding pattern from your Eldwood Air Base, sir." This made Jackson and Yamaoka look at each other with confused stares as Bahamut opens the parachute door from the outside and hops in the plane all willy nilly. "Master! The buses have reached the airbase in the valley!" she walks to him, resting her elbow on his shoulder. "The teleporter circles there are still functioning and the last planes are also flying out. What's the next thing now, Master?"

"Looks like it's the Portal Fortress. Did the two Skeleton Generals also reach their designated planes?" she nods and Jackson sits back down on his chair. Elizabeth with her band of Assassins going to him alongside Alana just made him sigh in relief and clasp his fingers together. Smiling at them. "Well, looks like we survived that part. I only hope those who will never grow old can find peace in this world and its endless cosmic threats."

Soldiers that sat on the floor of the plane were mostly drowsy with silence as they sat there backs on their fellow soldiers, all squished up inside the cargo hold as the netted cargo would occasionally rattle and shake, making noise inside the quiet aircraft.

One of the Sergeants though goes to his backpack and brings out his staff. He then summons forth a bunch of lights that begin to draw hills and mountains. "Sarnt', is that your home?" the player nods. "Yup. Everyone from my squad, I don't care what part of Asia you are from, you're all invited to my house and a wheel of cheese made by my Momma' when we get back home." laughter then fills a small part of the plane. "Sarge, didn't you say you have a sister?" the higher ranking player then proceeds to make a middle finger with his magic as more laughter filled the cargo hold.