"This is Charlie. Hostiles have taken the Eastern Quadrant."
"Med-evac 20 seconds out, start bussing the civis."
"Hostiles have broken through MAT line. Bravo is moving back to rear-guard."
"This is Echo, we're being over-run in the Western Quadrant, we ne-"
"Echo, this is Alpha. Gather the rest of your troops and evac to Foxtrot Sierra."
"This is Bravo, it's been an honor serving."
"Bravo Squad full KIA, all units return to Foxtrot Sierra. Mana be with you."
The voices that rang so loud, yet so distant belted on the radio on the soldiers shoulder. How many rounds had been expended from the rifle they held? How many of their brothers and sisters have fallen to this horrifc enemy? Was there any point in holding on any longer?
These questions rang over and over in their head as they shoved the empty mag out of the smoking rifle to collapse into the blood-made mud. They couldn't tell how long it had been since this hopeless defense had started. Minutes? Hours? The only option now was to hold onto that small sliver of hope that the others will find a way out of this mess. All this lone soldier needed to do was hold them for as long as possible.
A thick sense of death forced the soldier to instinctively jump back from the wrecked vehicle they rode in on, barely dodging a slash from above. Training the barrel towards the source, another slash rushed them down with the intent to kill. By sheer luck, they managed to push the butt of the rifle away in time to block the attack, saving their life at the risk of their left arm.
Ignoring the lost arm that crashed into the ground, the soldier pulled out their pistol and charged it as much as they could with Mana. After expending a few rounds, they rolled forward to avoid another slash before firing once more. A loud, pain filled groan fell from the monster's throat as they collapsed to the ground ontop of the soldier. The crushing weight knocked the air out of their lungs, but they managed enough Mana to strengthen themself to push the corpse off.
"This one will do."
A voice suddenly spooked the soldier just as they stood, making them turn to try and shoot at the source. An invisible blade sliced their arm off just before they saw the target, making them collapse onto their knees. With no way to fight and quickly losing hope, the pain of their missing limbs and broken ribs caught up to the bloodied soldier. Looking up to the voice, they saw a hand reaching down to grab their face.
And just like that, the nightmare ended.
The soldier sighed as they stared up to the stone ceiling that had long since grown familiar. As their habit, they swung their legs over the side of the stone bed to rest their elbows on the metal legs of the armor they now wore. A few minutes passed since they closed their eyes to recollect the quickly fading dream, but it was all for naught. A grey mist filled their right hand, leaving behind a pistol that resembled the one from their dream.
After opening their eyes, they observed the pistol with a weary look before lifting the barrel to the side of their head. Without warning, they pulled the trigger after infusing it with as much Mana as the bullet could take. The explosive shot was quickly followed by the ring of metal hitting metal, then a chunk of metal hitting the stone floor.
"Still not enough." Their weary voice sighed from within the helm they wore.
Returning the pistol to the grey mist, they stood up and looked around the room. The usual sight of the grey stone walls and floors once more made them realize how alone they were. The shelves made into the walls carried a variety of blades, guns, and other trinkets made from the stone and metal used after carving up the area.
Since they didn't like large spaces, the bedroom itself was made just big enough for them to sleep and stand in. On one wall was a mirror made out of some of the metal they mined. Their, even in the dull sheen, they could see the pitch black armor they wore. To put it lightly, the armor reminded them of the black knights often seen in Manga or Comics they read oh so long ago.
The sleek, yet sharp fingers that made up their gauntlets fell to their mid thighs, followed by a pair of grey furred leather wrist guards that came up to their elbows. The sleek rerebraces came up to meet the pauldrons that layered down just past the shoulders underneath the winged tips that flared out a few inches. The collar of the armor was also lined with similar grey fur, luckily not to long, but definitely noticeable in certain stances.
The cuirass was all one, sleek piece etched to look like 5 layers melded together on the chest and back, melting into a few layers to protect the stomach with one layer wrapping the sides. The fauld was lined with the same fur, dripping down cuisses that was of similar design to the cuirass. Over their knees was the fur lined poleyns that practically covered the sabatons. Though, to their dismay, the fur did little to dampen the damned spurs on the heels. It took them way to long to get used to those.
The great helm they wore was of simple make. Small holes made for breathing and a thin line to see before them. It was shaped to match the head without moving around to much if it were a normal set. Their neck wad lined in a thin gorget that didn't impede movement, like it was their very flesh instead of armor. The usual sight of the sheep etched into their chest was something they had long since grown tired of, making them instead feel like prey to a long waiting hunter.
After a sigh, they tugged on their fur lined cloak to check the back of it. The usual sight of stars lined all down their back went straight down to the bottom, with only one space left remaining. Seeing the second to last star was complete, they dropped the cloak and made their way out of the bedroom.
"Ten more years." The weary voice left the helm once again as they pushed past the open doorway and into the living room.
Much like the bedroom, this room was carved from stone to be big enough to fit at least ten people in it. To the right was a metal door that led outside, while in the middle of the room was a metal table that seated a few metal cups. Surrounding the table was a stone couch with cushions made from the leather of the occasional, yet impossible beasts that often attacked their home. At the end of the table was a love chair made up of a different, much softer and lighter leather of their biggest hunt so far.
"Guess I'll spend the day making ammo." They muttered to themself once more, moving to the couch while thinking of what type to make.
A silent alarm made them stop mid step to the couch, making them sigh in irritation while reaching into the grey mist. Walking to the door, they pulled out a simple M4 that had become their main weapon, built after countless failures from the dream that kept haunting them.
"I swear, these things just don't know fear at all." They grumbled and pushed the door open.
Outside was what every mortal dreamed of in their youth. A portrait of black filled with countless stars both close and far. A few large asteroids drifted close by, attracted by the gravity of the Mana Field made on the asteroid they had made into their home. Yes, that deeply beautiful space all dreamed of but never dared to step into.
"5 enemies, pretty small, shouldn't take more tha-" They were interrupted by a sight they never thought possible.
Looking around, they checked to make sure they were still in space. Yes, that space, the one that sucked all life away and left nothing but cold corpses behind if one wasn't careful. No mortal could possibly survive this vacuum, yet floating about 50 meters away from the asteroid were 5 people.
"Yep, that's it. After so long my mind has finally cracked." They muttered sarcastically as they eyed the people before them.
Luckily, it wasn't just them. The others seemed just as shocked as they were. However, they were not shy when it came to getting close it seemed.
Just before the group floated down onto the yard they made out of boredom, the soldier raised the rifle and trained the barrel on the oldest of the group.
"Stop where you are. Drop your weapons and raise your hands!"