Once the barrier fell, and with a single command, a brilliant surge of energy came circling through the entire Ironside. The energy circuits and tunnels it passed by significantly dimmed in the interface, and along its sides a trail of energy could be seen being siphoned off at the top of the Ironside. It converged at one single spot and compressed further and further, until a single ball of energy remained ceaselessly circulating and generating heat.

  Within the center of energy, numerous circuits and codes were being formed. When it reached critical mass, it exploded with deafening frequencies and radio signals in a concentric circle that pulsed evenly like a beating heart.

  With explosive frequency of sound and white noise being generated, the Stygians who were rushing forth towards the Ironside were stunned momentarily. Some crashed through debris upon debris as they lost all control of their biological function, as severe confusion was rampant throughout their ranks, while the rest merely stood still, processing what was happening.

  As the energy was being rerouted towards the center, the glowing crimson lights all around the Ironside dimmed with such strength that they were practically without any light.

  Within the cockpit, Altair was frantically navigating through what remained of the Ironside's energy. His fingers delicately danced through maneuvers and buttons, like a conductor in a marching band. With each stroke, pull and press, equivalent cold sweat slid from his forehead, to the nose, to the cheeks and towards the cold hard steel floor of the Ironside.

  "Lieutenant, if we don't reroute power back to critical measure…" Vigil paused, his codes beating and swirling around his artificial mind like a haunting dream. "W-we would be forced towards a new iteration!" His voice sent seismic waves that disrupted Altair's inner rhythms.

  "Fuck!" Altair swore, his eyes moving back and forth. "Forty percent energy and we are still dropping?!" He roared through the interface.

  "What are your orders, Lieutenant?!" Vigil said, his tone changing every syllable like a rooster at morning dawn.

  His hands were trembling, still moving despite the extreme resistance of fear and anxiety. He toughened his jaw and bit his lip until it bled. He tightened his grip on the consoles until his palms turned white, his eyes staring intently to the point a blood streak appeared in his eyes.

  Yet, as adrenaline was rushing forth, time seemed to slow down, and with it his brain being pushed into overdrive. He snapped his eyes shut and counted from one to three as he lost his senses, and upon the number three, he opened them back with such ferocity that intense clarity befell within him. Not wanting to stop the change, he breathed in and out, thereby stabilizing his breath.

  His hands stopped shaking. As calmness returned, his hearing returned to the sound of Vigil panicking like a peacock.

  "Vigil!" His voice thundered through the secluded cockpit. "We have experienced death thousands of times. The only difference is you're aware of it. So, what is the difference?" He let the question linger.

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  "Come on, buddy, death is nothing but a rite of passage for all of us." He smiled devilishly and chuckled as he regained all his focus back.

  "W-Wha—" Vigil responded but was cut off.

  "Vigil, go switch some of our sentries with bomb launchers, and equip smoke bombs." He calmly said, but deep within his heart, despite all that he said, he still feared death the most.

  "I-I understand, Lieutenant!" Vigil stammered for a second, followed by deep forbidding data nodes that unnerved him unceasingly. He followed with haste.

  His computing processor suddenly surged with energy as numerous commands and orders were distributed throughout the systems. Almost instantly, some of the sentries ceased firing. With their guns now being cooled, they slowly retracted and were placed back into the belt machines.

  As it passed by, it was thoroughly disassembled; its interchangeable parts were reused and repurposed towards the bomb launchers. Once done, it was plopped back onto the belt, which moved along as it rerouted back into the compartments.

  Once connected, it rapidly moved and was placed back into the small compartment, tightly locked, followed by a bright green light atop. It was raised as fast as the Ironside could, and from its back, smoke bombs rolled over and were fed into its ammunition belt. Through its sensors, a slight glowing crimson light lit up its surroundings.

  "Lieutenant, the launchers are armed!" Vigil said, his tone now calmer than ever.

  "Aim!" he said as he commanded Vigil to automatically aim the launchers. Once he was satisfied with the destinations, he continued, "Fire!" His voice thundered like a screaming eagle that had found its unfortunate prey.

  Mira's eyes dilated as the barrier that had been protecting them shattered into a million pieces. Her heart faltered, followed by a suffocating presence within her throat. Her body was stiff as a rock, unmoving and frozen in time.

  Then suddenly a spark of energy came flooding through her senses. She dropped her head to the ground as she placed both of her hands over her ears. She narrowly avoided crashing her head down, as Lyria was already supporting her.

  "T-These mana fluctuations!" Lyria screamed at the top of her lungs. "What is happening?!" She juggled in her mind whether to prioritize supporting Mira or herself. In the end, unable to choose, she did both.

  Brennan, who wasn't too magically sensitive, merely brushed off the sweat that formed around his forehead and through his cheeks. His ears, which were shaped like a wolf's, were flattened along his head due to extreme discomfort.

  As he was the only able-bodied person, he wiggled his head and dashed for Mira and Lyria to support them before they collapsed. As to what he was going to do to support them? That was a problem for the future, which was moments ahead.

  Lyria, who was struggling to hold herself and Mira back up, suddenly felt a supporting hand beside her. She glanced back and saw Brennan, who was trying his best despite the extreme discomfort.

  However, as soon as she felt much more comfortable, the sudden surge of mana disappeared as if it had never even appeared in the first place. With the distraction gone, she immediately pulled herself up and raised her staff in her hand that was being supported by Brennan.

  She gazed back towards Brennan, who was staring aimlessly into the abyss. Confused, she lowered her head and looked at Mira, who for some reason had the same look.

  Without a second thought, she glanced forward, and what she saw left a lasting impression on her. Hundreds of Stygians, rows upon columns of them, simply gazed back at them without even moving an inch, as if they were commanded not to.

  Then suddenly a loud whirring sound entered through their ears.

  "Quick!" The voice was raspy but could be understood. "The Ironside will protect you; find us a way out!"

  Not understanding the language, she glanced back at Mira, who had initially been stunned by what she saw, but suddenly rose back up with her face contorted into that of panic.