Chapter 19: Change of plans.
Stonegate wasn't the only major city struck by the disaster. All over the world, tears in space opened passages to hell, allowing countless monstrosities to spill out.
Armies moved to neutralize the threats. Weapons that have been sealed after the Great World War were unleashed, and people who only worked in the shadows stepped out into the light.
A single fighter jet emerged from the smoke rising from Hope's End. Nothing in particular looked strange about it, except for the person standing upright at its nose, unbothered by the strong wind blasting their face.
She was a woman, or is supposed to be. One would find it difficult to see anything feminine about that wall of muscle, and the armor she donned added to the confusion.
On her back, a massive weapon rested. It was neither a rifle nor a canon but a lustrous black axe that appeared to be carved out of obsidian.
[Are you sure about this, General?] The pilot's voice came in through the earpiece she wore. [That was a tough battle just now. Don't you think a little rest is warranted?]
"A Lord candidate is this close and you expect me to sit still?" Contrary to the pilot's concerned tone, she spoke in quite the joyous one. "No way I'm letting such prey go t-"
Her words were cut by the appearance of a floating screen, and as soon as she read the contents, her smile stretched all the way to her ears.
"Hurry up, Lancer 01!" She crouched down and coated her body in a yellowish glow. "Things just got a whole lot better!"