"Confirmed, about three… likely light aircraft!" the engineer yelled.
Above, the aircraft were trying to make a suitable turn to attack again. Currently, they were about one to two miles from the ground. Very close.
"Altitude just over a mile!"
"Does… anyone have Karshia? Shoot back! I don't think I can hold on much longer...!" Guzanke frantically asked.
"My range can't reach that far!!"
"Damn it!!"
BOOM!
The stone layer created by Guzanke was shattered by the second airstrike, exposing their position to the pilots. Just one more turn and a barrage of cannon fire, and they would all be wiped out.
Several soldiers panicked, trembling, trying to lie as flat as possible and shrink themselves to avoid at least one or two crystal bullets. A few managed to stay calm, activated their Karma, and tried to shield others.
"Volzer, Navir, run up and get our cannon down…!" Zimir, a weapons engineer, yelled to his subordinates.
"But it's already disassembled, sir…" Navir replied, trembling.
"Just seven minutes!!!"
BOOM BOOM BOOM
Another airstrike came. Antonio managed to use Karma to create a shield for them. Guzanke, having depleted much of his Dinoera in the previous two airstrikes, had to take time to recover.
"Can we make it up there to get it?" Antonio turned to ask the engineer.
"Their attack window is about eleven minutes…"
"Alright!! Wait for them to attack one more time. The moment the ice wall breaks, I'll run up with everyone!"
"Which vehicle is that cannon in?" Meuner asked.
"Number four, it's right in front of your vehicle," Zimir replied.
Navir and Volzer were now being reassured by Meuner and Guzanke. Volzer finally managed to cautiously lift his head slightly, giving a perfunctory answer to acknowledge the task, then quickly ran with Navir to hide behind Antonio.
WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH
The sound of engines and tearing wind from the aircraft roared once more.
Right as the cannons fired, Guzanke created a defensive layer for the group. The aircraft swooped down like giant Imor birds, unleashed a volley of fire, then shot back up to find space to turn around.
"Go!!!"
As soon as the stone layer shattered, the two soldiers darted forward, Antonio immediately following. It took about a minute to get close to vehicle number four. Antonio directly tore apart the cargo frame; the steel pipes and components of the cannon appeared before them. Hastily, the two soldiers grabbed everything they could carry and rushed back to cover.
CRACKLE SNAP
A sound echoed, catching Antonio's attention. Meuner's vehicle, directly beneath vehicle number four, was torn open by someone. From beneath the vehicle frame, a figure bearing a Dasader insignia emerged. He ripped the vehicle in half and killed the two Vordons screaming in fear. Antonio was stunned, then snapped back to reality by Meuner's shout echoing from their hiding spot.
"IRVICH!!!!!"
Antonio looked at Meuner, then at the Dasader agent.
"Irvich?"
WHIZZ
THWUMP
What awaited Antonio was not an answer but a spear, exactly as Xirvich had greeted Meuner earlier. A stone spear tore through the air, heading straight for him. Antonio quickly dodged, but it still managed to shatter part of his shoulder.
"Gladius Glaciei!!!"
Antonio quickly activated his Karma and dodged a second spear before it could aim at his neck. Antonio then tried to retreat to get closer to the hiding spot while maintaining distance from Xirvich. Xirvich, after being chased by Meuner, now wanted to torment these officers more than ever. He lunged forward, relentlessly attacking Antonio. Realizing the situation was grim, as a Karshia could never defeat a Kartocus at such close range, Guzanke intended to rush forward to support Antonio. But Meuner quickly pulled him back.
"Let me handle it. You stay here and protect them!"
With that, Meuner immediately charged forward. Antonio had just been fatally stabbed in the abdomen by Xirvich, a finger's breadth from his Dinoera crystal. Xirvich immediately saw the exposed Dinoera. He turned his spear to the right, intending to finish Antonio, but was blocked by Meuner. Meuner firmly gripped the middle of the spear, directly breaking it and sending Xirvich flying backward.
WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH
The air force had successfully turned, and in about another minute, they would open fire.
Xirvich saw a good opportunity; he wanted to deal with both of them at once:
"Murus Saxeus!!!"
A stone wall, one meter thick and four meters high, formed an arc, completely encircling Antonio and Meuner. Xirvich launched a series of small rocks at the two, aiming to drain their stamina. Antonio and Meuner continuously defended themselves, trying to find a way to escape.
"Assemble it faster!!!" Guzanke shouted loudly, commanding the panting soldiers outside.
The engineer Zimir also didn't delay. He quickly gathered the cannon parts and, along with two other engineers, focused on assembling it. Guzanke was also extremely worried, as his Dinoera was nearly half depleted, and the other two likely didn't have much left either. The stone wall created by Xirvich had also blocked his view of the two. The situation was now extremely dangerous.
WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH
The sound of the engines was very close to the group. The aircraft were beginning to descend, aiming at the perfect position Xirvich had set up.
"You guys are done for!" a pilot yelled.
In the cockpit, their position was right in the center of the crosshairs. All three aircraft reduced speed, wanting to fire more crystals. The remaining crystal reserves of the three aircraft were enough to fire for a few minutes. Even with some error or deviation from the center, the explosive power of the projectiles would be enough to obliterate a Karma-wielder's body.
Meanwhile, at Aridonia's air defense command, alarm bells were ringing loudly.
"Commander, there are three aircraft hovering in the middle of the plateau."
"Impossible?! Why would they penetrate so deep into our territory?" Librea yelled.
"That direction… Damn it… the engineers are under attack!!!!! Summon Pistermak there immediately."
"Notify air defense to open fire; they must be protected at all costs."
"But sir, it's too far; our cannons can't reach!"
Librea slammed his hand down on the wooden table, his face showing how enraged he was.
Below the palace where Aridonia's Northern Air Defense Command was located, a tall, blond figure hastily jumped onto the back of a Vordon and galloped off. At a nearby airfield, two aircraft were also being fueled.