First Light of a New Age

Chapter 168: Zombies, Robots, & Orcs For Days

A/n: Tavish has the ability to enter an “Astral Gap” where he time flow very slowly within and becomes completely unaffected and untouched by anything in the Physical Reality. It’s more like he did a "King Crimson" thing, but without the time skip and more like stepping into an extra dimension between reality and unreality.

He eventually mastered this ability with Serena’s help. However, when it comes to creating spatial rifts… he’s still far from perfect.

As for why Serena and Tavish don’t share similar powers despite their abilities originating from the same source, that will be explained later.

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Second Civilization Zone, Southeastern Part of the Continent, Earth Region, Europe, Deutsches Reich, Scotland-England Border, Kielder Forest, No Man's Land.

4th Year of New Age, Tuesday, 2nd Week, 9th Month of John.

From the southern edge of No Man’s Land, the burnt treeline shuddered with each distant artillery impact against a once thriving forest that was shattered and reduced to ash and splinters after weeks of nonstop fighting. The very ground seemed to groan beneath the weight of destruction, as if mourning what had been lost.

Grok’s massive metal frame creaked with every step as he advanced across the broken terrain while Warhound skulked beside him, scanning every movement in the surroundings.

They both paused at a rise in the land to observe the apocalyptic battlefield sprawled before them. The land had been reduced to hell itself with Reich soldiers deep in muddy trenches, firing a storm of firepower at the hordes of green-skinned Orcs charging across the field with mindless fury and raising their crude weapons high.

Bullets shredded bodies on both sides and explosions kicked up blackened dirt from constant bombardment while humanoid tanks released withering suppressive fire, while Guard Robots, mechanical giants with arm-mounted autocannons, stomped forward to mow down the Greenskin charge.

“Quite the damage they’ve done here,” Grok muttered with a trace of artificial surprise in his otherwise emotionless tone. “Best we rally with our allies.”

Warhound responded with a mechanical growl in agreement. 

As they moved forward, a whizzing shell screamed past and exploded against a nearby dead tree, sending flaming bark and debris raining down. Instinctively, they veered away, unphased by the destruction.

Dodging through battle, they crossed the ravaged killing field, carefully avoiding a storm of gunfire exchanged between entrenched Reich soldiers and advancing Orcs, making sure not to get gunned down from both sides.

The trenches were packed with Reich troops unloading round after round into the enemy, while massive war machines clashed across the field.

Reaching the trench lines, the frontline soldiers spotted them and immediately aimed their weapons at them, mistaking them for enemies.

“Halt! Identify yourselves!” shouted one of the riflemen, lifting his bolt-action weapon. 

Several others followed suit, trembling at the sight of the massive figures.

“Hold your fire, you dolts!” snapped an older officer from below. “They’re on our side! Stand down!”

The tension evaporated in the trench as the soldiers dropped their weapons slightly, though the sound of battle still echoed all around them.