Encircling the Stronghold (Part 1)

After a tremendous force shattered Mount Mishil, the Orks pushed the front all the way to its foothills. The humans, relying on the many fortifications and trenches built earlier, held back this tide.

The battle remained deadlocked for an entire night, gradually turning into a tug-of-war.

Under such circumstances, Mount Mishil desperately needed massive reinforcements. The continual bloodshed had already pushed the entire defensive line beyond its limits.

Before dawn, the 66th Regiment of the Imperium's 21st Division began climbing the northern slope extending from Mount Mishil through the howling mountain winds and darkness.

They would be the first reinforcements to arrive.

The armored vehicle at the head of the convoy hugged the mountainside with its low profile, advancing along a trail linking the southern lowlands to the valley.

The trail was inconspicuous, but it was clearly marked on the map. Beacons placed at intervals distinctly indicated its location. According to the latest intelligence, the Orks had begun encircling all of Mount Mishil. The main roads had become less safe, making paths like this particularly important.

The brief flashes repeatedly emitted by those beacons were vital guides. Even so, visibility remained miserably low in the darkness, and they could not afford a single mistake.

After several hours of dangerous climbing, the three regiments finally reached the highest point of the trail.

Soon, they would descend into the valley and drive straight toward the Mishil defensive line.

When the sky beyond the mountain began to brighten, Gavlin Lek, the driver of the lead vehicle, let out a relieved sigh.

After several long, tense hours, he could finally see through the sealed window for the first time. Every so often, he had to look up and check the irregular flickers of faint light on the road ahead.

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!

Suddenly, a rocket trailing