Above the scorched earth, the smoke of gunpowder had yet to disperse.
The ground forces had arrived, and the cleanup operation was proceeding with ruthless efficiency. One thousand Spider-Killer Type II units prowled the edges of the ruins like a scattered pack of metallic wolves. Their optical sensors flashed with red light. The moment they scanned any black wizard lackey wearing a gray robe, they skipped the warning protocols entirely and executed the remaining resisters on the spot.
Overhead, seventy-two Storm Falcons circled on high alert, the roar of their engines suppressing the howling of the blizzard. Five Hive mother ships, having followed the legion here, hovered like black floating mountains. Their hexagonal hatches opened and closed as Mad Bee Drones swarmed in and out, weaving an airtight aerial reconnaissance net.
On the outermost perimeter, five hundred Peacekeepers marched with heavy steps, gathering the surviving academy apprentices into a safe clearing.
