Dawn had barely broken, staining the sea of clouds a brilliant gold and crimson.
Veylin led the Stuka Squadron, keeping a close watch on the roiling clouds below.
"Kree!"
With a piercing eagle cry, a squad of dragonhawk knights clad in heavy golden armor broke through the clouds, climbing into the wind.
They were the Empire's Sunfire Dragonhawk Knights' Order. Clearly summoned by their comrades earlier, they now headed straight for the invaders high above.
[Enemy attack! Below, at six o'clock!]
Ola's voice spread through the channel.
Despite the surprise attack, the Stuka Squadron still held the advantage of altitude.
[Fire at will! Don't let them get close!] Ola continued issuing orders, while the mounted Falcon Strike ballista beneath Ola fired first.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
Dozens of armor-piercing crossbow bolts whistled downward, propelled by gravity, shrieking toward the dragonhawks charging up at them.
Meanwhile, the Imperial Knights below displayed astonishing combat discipline. Even as they climbed at high speed, they released their reins and drew their longbows.
Thrum-!
A dense volley of heavy runic arrows surged upward, crossing the falling bolts in midair.
Clang! Clang!
Metallic impacts rang out all around.
Several Imperial Knights raised enchanted Vulture Shields. Bolts struck their surfaces in showers of brilliant sparks, the impacts briefly checking the dragonhawks' flight-but no more than that. Defensive runes shimmered over their golden armor, allowing them to withstand the volley head-on.
On the Stuka Squadron's side, the great skuas' agile aerial maneuvers carried them past most of the heavy arrows. Only a few unlucky birds had the edges of their Living Graft Armor pierced, scattering droplets of blood.
The first exchange ended evenly matched.
But as the two sides rapidly closed, the situation began to turn.
The dragonhawk knights swiftly moved into attack positions. With wingspans of fifteen meters,