Akio Stoneheart sat on the hover rover with her teammates. She was an anxious wreck. Having faced the Darkness twice already she was afraid of facing them again.

"Hey, you." Kyanè sat across from her. "How are you holding up?

Akio shrugged. "I'll manage. I hope."

"I hear you learned a new skill."

Akio nodded.

"You'll be fine. Remember, teamwork is key."

That was the first thing she'd ever told Akio when they first met.

"Right."

Akio then looked around the rover. A couple of Knights, including Monty, were playing a card game.

She then looked back outside. They had been traveling for two days and we're now in the snowy lands of J'covia. She could see the blizzard from outside. Large glaciers of ice garnished the landscape. If they went outside now they would be cut to shreds by the razor-sharp ice without their mana hull.

It wouldn't be long before they reached the village of Blizzhaven. A safe zone.

The village had been silent for a few months now. Knights had been deployed to find out what happened but none ever reported back. Akio was curious as to what transpired.

A few hours later the group touched down. It was still cold even with her long cloak which was meant to maximize body heat.

"Look alive people." said their squad leader, a Divine Knight. Her name was Xex Col, a member of Lax-Rim's branch. Her fiery red hair reminder Akio of her boyfriend.

Xex sported a mana suit A-2. A powerful piece of technology. The materials used to make something like that were extremely expensive. She had two axes at her sides. Akio was sure she had more mana powered weapons stashed elsewhere on her person.

Kariah would have loved to work with her.

As they moved through the small town, Akio made note of the rundown buildings. They walked for a few minutes and no one came to greet them.

The place seemed abandoned.

"Half expecting to see a ghost fly around the corner," said Monty. "Where is everyone?"

"I'm wondering that myself," responded Xex.

Akio was feeling uneasy. Something was wrong.

The titanium-4 buildings were decaying. The buildings were supposed to give off a soft sliver hue but they weren't. A sign that they haven't been maintained.

As they approached a building with a hole in it, Akio noticed a hand grip the edge. The fingers were large and grey.

Upfront, Xex was busy looking to her left while trying to radio headquarters.

The extreme temperatures must be interfering. Akio thought.

A Master Knight screamed when a grey head popped out.

The creature noticed them and bellowed while trying to reach for Xex's head.

Xex was a flash when she used her ax to cut the creature's fingers off. She then jumped and stuck the blades of both axes in its head.

That's a Divine Knight for you.

More of the creatures showed up. They were surrounded. The beasts were big and bulky with grey, thick skin. They had tusk-like fangs.

"The hell are these things?" Questioned Monty as he pulled out his brown scythe. He activated his brown mana hull.

Akio focused her life force to create mana. She instantaneously shaped that mana into a mana hull and green mana formed around her body. She pulled her jagged, emerald dagger and got into a stance.

Doesn't matter, Xex said in the nurolink--a device that lets a group of people convey thoughts. Take em down fast.

Akio dashed at one of the scary-looking creatures. Monty was at her side. She felt more confident with him watching her back. His familiar presence gave her a boost in morale.

The two Master Knights attacked but to Akio's surprise, the beast activated a grey mana hull and dodged.

Monty spun to kick but the beast caught his leg and slammed him hard into Akio. The two tumbled along the ground.

They hurried to their feet in time to see the monster charging at them. It formed a club made of ice and tried to clobber them with it. Akio barely had time to dodge and the beast wasn't giving her any room to counter-attack.

The thing was fast and powerful.

Akio! Kyanè shouted in the link as Akio's dismay seeped through. Don't let your fear blind you. Focus on staying alive. I'll be there as soon as I can. She was busy fighting off one of the monsters.

Akio did just that. She dug deep and untangled the knot in her belly.

Here goes everything. She thought as she activated sage instinct.

A rush of energy flowed throughout her body, increasing her reflexes and agility beyond what her mana hull normally could muster. Her muscles ached already.

The skill took a tremendous amount of life force but she masterfully swayed each of the beast strikes.

"Haaa!" Monty roared as he aimed his scythe for the creature's neck. He had found an opening.

The blade broke upon contact.

The creature hit Monty with a spinning back fist. Sending him flying through a titanium building. The metal fell like bricks on top of him.

Akio willed her life force to conjure mana around her fist then struck the creature's belly. A green explosion of mana pushed the creature backward but did little damage.

These things were nearly as strong as a Divine Knight. Akio and Monty couldn't do enough damage.

Luckily for her Kyanè was there to cut the thing's head off with her sword made of scorching fire.

"You okay?" Kyanè asked.

Akio nodded. Her heart was still pumping with fear but her expression was neutral as always.

As she looked around she noticed that the other creatures lay dead. So did some of the Officer and Master Knights.

Monty had gotten out of the rubble and looked to be okay.

"What the hell were those things?" Monty repeated.

"Ogres," Xex said. She was kneeling to examine one of the beasts. "We thought as much."

"Uh what do you mean you 'thought as much?'" questioned Kyanè. "What are these things?"

Xex was quiet for a moment. "This site was used for experiments. The Order tried to fuse Vympiri and human DNA. We feared this might be the result."

"Why would the Order do such a thing?" a Knight asked.

"To make super soldiers," responded Xex.

"I vote we get out of here," said Monty. "Us low-tier Master Knights stand almost no chance."

"I second this," Akio spoke raising her hand.

"Agreed." Xex worked on fixing her communication device. "If I can get this damn thing working."

Kyanè stepped forward. "Let's get back to the rover. The radio there might work."

"I'll take the rear, you lead from upfront Shadow Fire," said Xex using Kyanè's title.

The younger woman nodded. Made sense. Kyanè was among the strongest Master Knights here.

After some walking, the group was close to the hover rover. Holy Knight Phyro was waiting for them outside.

"What did you find?" He asked.

"We found ogres." Xex answered.

Phyro's face went grim. "What now?"

"Now we head back to base." Said Xex.  "With this confirmed we know never to try this again. A different team will be sent to wipe out any remaining Ogres."

Xex was cut off by a small orb that rolled in the middle of the group.

Everyone activated their mana hull just as the thing exploded. The explosion wasn't powerful but served to make Akio stumble.

"What was that?" questioned Kyanè.

Akio's mana hull shattered against her will.

What's going on? She asked herself trying to reform her mana hull. She couldn't.

It seemed as if she wasn't the only one having this problem.

It was then that ogres appeared from around the corners of rundown buildings.

"Ambush!" screamed a Master Knight.

An ogre jumped on top of the hover rover then landed on top of Phyro. Squashing the holy Knight underneath its weight.

Everyone screamed as blood splattered the Knights and painted the snow.

Akio wanted to scream but her voice was trapped in her throat. She felt as though she couldn't breathe.

The Ogre reached for Kyanè but was stopped by an ax to the face.

"Everyone calm down!" Xex shouted to be heard. "Stick close to me."

Since her suit was made of mana powered cybernetics, Xex was the only one able to fight but she couldn't protect everyone.

Akio desperately tried to form mana.

Despair was what she felt. She was about to vomit when a Knight's skull was crushed by the hands of one of the monsters.

Knights were dying left and right. Officer Knights did what they could with their mana powered weapons but it was of no use. They simply weren't strong enough.

Their crimson blood decorated the white snow.

An ogre landed in front of Akio. Her knees buckled and she fell.

It swung a large pole ax made of ice at her face. The Knight didn't even have time to put her arms up in defense.

An Officer Knight rammed into the ogre but was quickly cut in two by the monster.

It swung its pole ax again for Akio. This time Xex was there to save her. She kicked the ogre backward and threw two knives into its head. The knives detonated, sending chunks of the beast flying everywhere.

Akio scrambled into the hover rover to find a few Knights already hiding. She did the same.

She heard roars. Then a shard of ice pierced the bottom of the rover, almost skewering her. She yelped as she scurried away. Suddenly the rover was flipped over and Akio's heart leaped into her throat. The monsters began beating on the vehicle, trying to get to their prey.

I'm going to die here. She thought for the second time in under an hour.

A few seconds passed when the sounds of combat finally died down.

"It's safe to come out now." Xex's said between strained breaths.

When Akio made it out of the rover she saw Xex's armor had been torn. There was a long bloody gash across her torso.

Monty was laying on the ground, holding his leg. Kyanè was near him trying to calm him as he cursed.

Akio rushed over and fell at his side. They didn't hide as she had.

Shame filled her. She thought she was over her fear of death.

She thought wrong.

"I-I..." she choked when she remembered the Officer Knight who'd died protecting her.

"It's alright Akio," Kyanè said as she gave Monty a piece of metal to bite on. She then went on to push the bone of his leg back in place. He howled in pain then passed out.

She looked over to Xex who had taken off the top part of her armor. She was being bandaged by one of the Knights who'd hidden in the rover.

"You all did well staying alive." said Xex then winced in pain. "I know you're all scared and confused."

Scared wasn't the word. Akio was terrified. They were trapped here. Their ride was busted up and they couldn't use mana.

"How did these things come upon the anti mana formula?" Kyanè asked.

"Who knows." answered Xex.

"How are we getting out of here?" questioned another Knight.

"We go into the lion's den."

"What do you mean?" said Kyanè.

"We find the headquarters of the experiments. There should be a radio there if it's not destroyed."

"You mean we go deeper into Bilzhaven?"

Xex nodded.

Akio was against this idea but her gut told her it was the only choice left to them.