Ashes of the Silent War: Shadow of the Leviathans
Chapter 4 – The Architects' War
The glacier valley trembled like a dying world.
Cracks spread across the frozen ground in every direction. Massive sheets of ice broke apart, collapsing into deep fissures that glowed faintly with blue energy.
Kael stood in the center of the battlefield, staring at the horizon.
The fallen body of Abyss Alpha lay behind him.
But the real nightmare was just beginning.
From beneath the glaciers, gigantic shapes began to move.
At first it was only shadows.
Then the ice mountains shattered.
One after another, enormous creatures began rising from the frozen depths. Their black crystalline armor reflected the storm like living obsidian. Their glowing cores pulsed beneath layers of ancient armor.
Lyra's voice came through the comms.
"Kael… there are dozens of them."
Kael slowly lowered his rifle.
"No."
More glaciers exploded apart.
The ground shook violently as even larger shapes pushed upward from the ice.
"There are hundreds."
The soldiers of the Crimson Legion looked toward the awakening monsters in stunned silence.
One of them whispered, "This… this is impossible."
From the ridge above the battlefield, the silver-haired Architect stepped forward again.
His coat whipped in the icy wind as he looked down at Kael with calm satisfaction.
"You see now, Commander."
Kael's eyes burned with anger.
"You buried them here."
The Architect nodded.
"Not buried."
He gestured toward the awakening giants.
"Preserved."
Lyra's voice turned cold.
"What are you talking about?"
The man spread his arms as if presenting a masterpiece.
"Before the Leviathans you fought in the Silent War… there were earlier creations."
He pointed toward the glacier graveyard.
"Humanity's first attempt at weaponizing living titans."
Kael understood immediately.
"Project Abyss."
The Architect smiled.
"Exactly."
Behind him, several scientists activated holographic projectors. A glowing map of the continent appeared in the air.
Hundreds of red markers lit up across the land.
"Glaciers. Oceans. Desert ruins. Deep underground vaults."
His voice echoed across the battlefield.
"We hid the Abyss Leviathans across the world."
Lyra's grip tightened on her rifle.
"How many?"
The Architect looked pleased.
"Enough to cleanse the planet."
Kael's voice hardened.
"You want to destroy humanity?"
The man shook his head calmly.
"No."
His eyes turned cold.
"We want to restart it."
The ground shook again as another Abyss Leviathan tore itself free from the glacier behind Kael.
The monster roared toward the sky.
Then another.
And another.
The Architect looked down at Kael with quiet amusement.
"The Silent War was merely a test."
Kael stared at the awakening army.
"You're insane."
The man smiled slightly.
"No, Commander."
His voice became almost gentle.
"We are the ones who built your world."
Suddenly the comm unit in Kael's helmet exploded with urgent signals.
"Commander!" a voice shouted.
It was Sephira Command.
"We're detecting energy spikes across the entire continent!"
Lyra's eyes widened.
"They're activating more of them…"
Kael immediately turned toward his soldiers.
"Everyone move!"
The ground beneath them began collapsing as the glacier split open completely.
Massive claws burst from the ice only meters away from their position.
"Get to the aircraft!" Kael ordered.
The Crimson Legion sprinted across the shattered ice toward their transport ship.
Behind them, three Abyss Leviathans smashed their way free from the glacier.
One of them lunged toward the fleeing soldiers.
Kael turned and fired an explosive round directly into the creature's eye.
The blast slowed it just long enough.
"Move! Move!"
The team reached the aircraft as the pilot screamed through the comms.
"I can't hold this position!"
Kael grabbed Lyra and pulled her onto the ramp.
"Take off!"
The aircraft engines roared as the transport lifted from the collapsing glacier.
Below them, the frozen valley had become a nightmare battlefield.
Dozens of Abyss Leviathans were now climbing out of the earth.
The silver-haired Architect watched the aircraft escape with calm indifference.
"They'll warn the others," one scientist said.
The Architect nodded.
"Yes."
He looked toward the rising army of monsters.
"That is the point."
The scientist frowned.
"You want them to prepare?"
The man's smile returned.
"Of course."
His eyes turned toward the horizon.
"The next phase requires a proper opponent."
Suddenly the soldiers around him stepped aside.
A tall armored figure walked forward through the snow.
Black armor.
A long crimson cape.
And eyes that burned with quiet intelligence.
Even the Architects stood respectfully as he approached.
The silver-haired scientist bowed his head slightly.
"Commander."
The armored man looked down at the awakening Leviathan army.
"Status?"
"Phase one complete," the Architect replied.
"Project Abyss has begun."
The commander nodded slowly.
"Good."
His voice was calm.
Cold.
Far more controlled than Noctis had ever been.
"Then the war may begin."
He turned his gaze toward the escaping aircraft in the distant sky.
"Send the message to all Architect cells."
The silver-haired scientist waited.
"What message, sir?"
The commander's voice echoed across the frozen wasteland.
"Tell them the Second Leviathan War has begun."
His eyes narrowed.
"And this time… humanity will not win."
The glaciers behind him exploded as the Abyss Leviathan army roared toward the storm.
Far above the battlefield, Kael stared down at the rising monsters through the aircraft window.
His expression was darker than ever.
The war had returned.
And this enemy…
Was far more dangerous than Noctis ever was.