Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
The ground trembled with each impact, light tremors rippling through the soles of everyone's shoes. Conversations died off one by one. Murmurs stirred. Heads lifted. Necks craned.
Something was coming.
The kind of something that had people looking around as if suddenly alert.
The sound grew louder.
Thud.
Thud.
THUD.
Someone whispered, "Is that… drums?"
Another whispered back, "If it is, why does it feel like they're punching the ground with them?"
The answer arrived before anyone could speculate.
A line of soldiers appeared.
Familiar, but usually dreaded. The kind where ignorance definitely meant bliss.
Federation.
They marched as one, moving so cleanly in sync that it felt less like people approaching and more like a single massive beast advancing on the venue.
The air thickened with pressure. Spiritual energy radiated from their formation in waves, the sheer uniformity unnerving even the battle-hardened veterans in the crowd.
