First Light of a New Age

Chapter 128: Glorious Execution & Internet Trolls

“My lord! Stay inside! Don’t come out until I give the word!”

The head guard drew his sword which was enveloped with his mana and wheeled his mount in a tight circle with his helmet jerking in every direction as he tried to find the enemies.

"Four."

No one moved.

"Three."

A bead of sweat rolled down the guard’s cheek.

"Two."

"One..."

BAAAAM! BAAM!! BAAAM!

The silence shattered and the sound was not like any spell or weapon Mhuk had heard in his life. It was deeper and rawer like the gods themselves had opened fire.

Mhuk flinched violently as the carriage rocked from the shockwaves and the girls screamed in fright as they held each other.

His eyes widened in horror as he saw, through the window, his loyal head guard’s helmet explode in a fountain of blood and shattered steel, and the man’s body toppled from his dragon like a broken doll with his brains smearing the flagstones.

"Drop your weapons! Get off the wagons and carriages! I will not repeat myself again!"

Panic erupted as the line of defense collapsed in seconds.

"Breakout!" someone screamed.

A handful of riders whipped their land dragons into motion and attempted to ride out of the side streets, only to find they were covered up by steel barricades that had appeared seemingly out of nowhere and blocked every alley and road.

The city gates, their only known escape, were sealed shut, guarded by dark shapes wielding the same thunderous weapons that had turned the guard’s head to mush.

BAAM! BAAM! BAAAM!

Another series of thunders roared and screams tore through the caravan. Mhuk heard the clatter of swords hitting stone, the thuds of bodies falling, and the desperate cries of men begging for mercy.

“We surrender! Don’t kill us! Please!”

“I dropped my weapon! Don’t shoot! I’m unarmed!”

"Weapons down! Out of the wagons and carriages! On your knees! NOW!"

Shaking and sweating profusely, Mhuk grasped the carriage door handle and his fingers trembled as he pushed it open and nearly fell out. Without a second thought, he kicked the girls out ahead of him and their shrieks cut through the air as they landed hard on the cobblestone.

The frightened women knelt with their head down and cried uncontrollably with tears streaking through the dust and grime on their faces.

Seeing them seemed fine, Mhuk nervously stepped out.

But as he stepped out, a pair of rough gloved hands suddenly grabbed him.

“GET DOWN!”

“Face the ground, you fat ass!”

Multiple men screamed at his ear and he was thrown down like a sack of meat. The stone bit into his face, and he tasted copper as he bit his lips.

Then, he felt hands groping his body and his mind raced in a frenzy, wondering if they were going to rob him? Torture him? RAPE him? Gods, please not that…

Dozens of booted feet rushed past. Through blurred vision, Mhuk saw men in strange alien uniforms with confusing patterns and shapes of green and grey that made them hard to track even with direct eye contact.