"Fast isn't always better, lad," Brammel instructed, overseeing the melee members from Siya's and Yuta's teams as they practiced loading and aiming the catapults. "Smooth and steady wins the fight."
He and Jonas would each lead a three-person firing crew, focusing on breaking cavalry charges, taking out enemy engineers, and targeting high-value threats before they reached the ridge.
Across the clearing, Dhalia had claimed the medical tent and was calmly briefing her team. Elliad, Tiri, and Dr. Hana, who stood beside her, listened intently.
"Anything I missed?" Dhalia asked.
Dr. Hana shook her head. The questions running through her mind weren't about patients—they were about this strange spatial world, its golden fields and that vibrant red sun. How was it made? Where did all the wild mana come from? But for now, she simply smiled. "You covered it all, dear."
She'd been completely won over by the first-year cadets—their knowledge, their grit, their sense of purpose. Dhalia, in particular, had a natural grasp of battlefield trauma and coordination.
Dhalia checked the time. "If you don't want to be caught in the time slow, head to the square for retrieval."
She led the way. For once, the medical tent had no patients—everyone was either deployed or rotating through the ringworld for recovery. The brief moments back in the "real world" offered fresh air and perspective, even if only a minute passed outside.
"Oy—not you lot," Brammel called, watching others migrate toward the square. "We'll use our ten hours in slow-time to tighten up our firing drills."
He gave a nod toward Dr. Hana as she passed, catching her smile.
"You sweet on that doc, Bram?" Jonas asked, grinning as the dwarf's expression froze. "She lights up every time she sees you."
Brammel chuckled, eyebrows arched. "Why wouldn't I be? She's fought the Zuni for over a decade. Got more backbone than half the Legion."
Jonas nodded. "And she listens to your stories."
"That too," Brammel laughed.
The group standing in the central square shimmered and vanished, reappearing on Topoc Hill an instant later. Dhalia blinked as they rematerialized—just in time to spot Chanzi, the psi cadets… and Clara?
Clara looked pale but chipper. "Hey, Bestie."
"Hey—wait, what are you doing with the psi crowd?" Dhalia asked, but the group disappeared before Clara could answer.
Near the command tent, Cane stood at the center of the storm, calmly issuing orders, eyes scanning everything.
Dhalia strode over and hugged him.
"Hey," Cane said with a grin. "What was that for?"
Dhalia shrugged. "Encouragement."
Fergis raised an eyebrow. "Me too?"
Teek immediately stepped between them. "I'll give you encouragement later."
Cane snorted, already watching the schedule. "Time to rotate again."
Dhalia returned to the spot where she'd reappeared. Most of the group hadn't wandered—after all, only a minute had passed in the outside world.
She glanced back toward the command tent. "How does he manage to keep track of everything?"
"Captain—three enemy Legions on the march. They'll reach us by midday."
Teek's voice was taut, but Cane showed no flicker of fear—only focus.
"Understood. Man all defensive positions. Any word from Chanzi's group?"
"My scout says they'll finish before the enemy arrives." Teek shrugged. "Probably."
The psi cadets and Magi instructors were still pushing hard to complete the special project.
Cane accessed the ringworld, rotating in another shift of fresh Fury troops. As he exited the portal, Sophie intercepted him near the smithy.
"Cane!"
She threw her arms around him, hugging him tight.
"Careful. I break."
He kissed her, brief but warm.
"Good. You can be one of my patients."
Her eyes held both concern and fierce focus—she had been assigned to the medical tent to handle the wounded once battle began.
"I'll see you after. Don't worry too much."
Cane gestured toward Brammel and Jonas, already flanked by their catapult crews. "Time to go."
Sophie smiled until they disappeared from view. Then she turned and jogged back to the tent, her purpose clear.
A familiar figure sprinted up the trail, ponytail bouncing and cap tugged low. Runner Belzi came straight to Cane.
"Captain!"
She handed over a small message tube. Cane unrolled the orders and read quickly.
Captain Cain:
Our troops have broken through the Northern Front and are advancing on Kra'lor. Expect the enemy to act in desperation.
Fury must win the day.
—Commander Terok
Cane nodded. "Tell Commander Terok I understand."
Belzi smiled. "You do it… after we win."
"Pardon?"
"Commander Terok's taken the field. The TOC, runners, everyone—they're all fighting now."
"I see." Cane gave her a measured nod. "Good luck, Runner Belzi."
She removed her cap and drew a short sword from her hip. "Where do you want me?"
"You're not joining Terok and the others?"
She shook her head. "I'm 1st Company's runner. I fight here—on Topoc Hill—with the rest of my company."
Cane studied her for a breath, then pointed. "Defensive position eight is undermanned. You'll find it on the northeast ring. Report to Platoon Sergeant Davon."
Belzi saluted and sprinted off.
Cane strapped on his command bracer. He'd avoided using it until now—psi-com channels were too easily intercepted. But secrecy no longer mattered. Everyone knew what was coming.
His voice carried into every ear of 1st Company.
"Several months ago, a handful of us from the Magi Academy trained a single company. You thrived in training, then trained the next wave, and the next—until now. Now, we are a Legion.
We were made for one purpose: to hold the line against overwhelming odds so our allies could march on Kra'lor. And now they have. Our forces have broken the Northern Front. They are charging toward the Zuni capital.
This war—decades old—will be decided here.
Let our Fury rage for the fallen.
Let our Fury rage for our families.
Let our Fury rage for victory.
Today, we hold the line.
Today, we fulfill our destiny.
Give no quarter. Stand your ground.
And bask in the flames of our Fury!"
The roar erupted like a storm across Topoc Hill.
"FURY!"
"FURY!"
"FURY!"
It echoed down into the valley and toward the approaching Legions—an answer, a warning, and a promise.
Clara's freckled face was pale, slick with sweat. "Just a little bit more."
Her hands glowed faintly green as vines surged from the soil, weaving tightly through the gravel and boulders the psi-teams had stacked to plug the final gaps.
"There's no time," Chanzi said, holding up Zen with one arm while psychically bracing the wall of stone behind them. "We have to go."
"Don't wait on me."
Clara drove her hands into the ground. Vines punched into the cracks by the hundreds, snaking deep into the rock, locking everything into place.
Chanzi grabbed her by the arm, pulling her back. "It'll hold. Let's go."
Clara shot one last look at the barrier they'd built. "You better be right—'cause I run way faster than you."
Chanzi snorted, just once. "You've never seen me run."
"I can tell. You're slow as mud," Clara called back, already jogging uphill.
They crested Topoc Hill as the sky shifted—clouds darkening with dust from the approaching armies. Clara spotted Cane and Fergis and ran straight for them, flinging herself into their arms.
"I'm so useless in a fight like this," she said, voice cracking. "I'm sorry."
"You've already done your part," Cane told her, steady and kind. "You were there when we built Fury. And this project—is going to turn the tide. Now get back to the ringworld. Rest."
Clara nodded, retreating with the others.
Chanzi lingered, watching her students vanish into the transport square. She stepped close to Cane, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm coming back," she said. "Once I'm recharged. No arguments."
Cane gave her a nod. "Rest up. Stand by."
A low rumble shook the earth.
The enemy had arrived.
Three full Zuni Legions fanned out at the edge of the valley. Their vanguard held back for now, forming up lines and raising field banners. Command tents and rally drums appeared like clockwork.
Cane watched the distant movement carefully. "Hold fire. They're still out of range."
"Aye, lad," Brammel replied, already manning his catapult with grim anticipation.
Nearby, Fergis gently soothed Tazi, his Shadow wolf shifting beside him. "Heavy cav?"
Cane handed him the spyglass. "About four hundred. Fast and armored up."
He activated his bracer.
Captain Cane: Outer ring, prepare for contact.
As he moved toward the ridge, he nearly collided with someone.
"Zio?" he blinked. "What are you doing here?"
Zio shrugged, sparks already flickering at her fingertips. "Paying you back. For everything."
"I thought your eternal friendship was my payment."
"Yeah, well, this is what eternal friends do."
Fergis rolled his eyes. "Just don't zap us this time."
"No promises." Zio winked, lightning crackling in her hair.