The gates of the fortress loomed like the jaws of some old god, rusted iron and bone-pale stone. Kaiden stood with his squad—Rav, Kess, Sylen, and the mage Velra—waiting as two gate guards lowered their spears to bar the path.
"Your unit has been temporarily merged with another," one guard rasped, voice hoarse like gravel in a pipe. "Standard protocol given the... volatile nature of the mission."
Volatile? Within empire borders? Kaiden thought. This is demon territory. What the hell's so dangerous out here we need babysitting?
His gaze dropped to the scientist in chains—Jojun, the man who built his body. Still cuffed. Still silent. The mystery gnawed at him like rust biting through old plating.
While Sylen bickered with Rav behind him—as always—Kaiden kept his eyes on the approaching squad.
Five demons marched toward them, clad in matching black steel. Knights, clearly. The two front-liners bore tower shields and heavy blades—one an axe, the other a longsword. Behind them, two more carried great weapons: a cleaver-like axe and a massive sword as long as Kess was tall.
The fifth stood at the center—helmet off, a thick mustache like a wet mop clinging to his face. From his back fluttered a banner bearing the crossed swords and beast crest of the Steel Demon company.
Kaiden looked down at his own squad.
A brute, a midget, a nerd, a woman who dressed like a bar girl, and a metal corpse in a coat. Yeah. Not the most intimidating lineup.
Still, he puffed his chest and stepped forward, throwing on his best smirk. "Ha, and here I thought the demon army only dressed like village farmers. Now I feel safe."
The captain didn't laugh. He spat near Kaiden's boots like it was a goddamn theater cliché.
"I've never seen such a sorry excuse for a squad in my life," he grunted.
With that, he strutted to the gate. The guards stood straighter and saluted.
"Second Lieutenant Trok, sir!"
"Yes, yes," Trok waved them off. "Make sure my platoon knows they're stationed here until further orders—higher rank only, understand?"
Kaiden didn't bother responding. He was too busy tasting the bitterness behind Trok's insult.
When he approached the gate, the guard closest to him didn't salute. Didn't even look him in the eye. Just whispered, "Get out already. We can't keep this thing open forever."
I'm still a sergeant, Kaiden thought. Still have a damn squad. That should count for something... right?
"Don't mind them," Sylen said softly beside him. "Gatekeepers are all lazy pricks."
They marched.
The Steel Demons led, heavy armor clanking with every step. Jojun stayed in the middle, chains still tight around his thin wrists, casting sideways glances Kaiden's way whenever he thought no one noticed.
He built me, Kaiden thought. And I dont even know why.
After a few quiet hours of marching, they reached a small town—what was left of one, anyway.
No sound. No movement. Just broken walls, burned rooftops, and corpses draped over shattered furniture.
Trok raised his hand.
"Halt. Fifteen-minute break. Then we move into the corrupted zone."
Kaiden stepped forward, scanning the ruins. "What the hell happened here?"
Trok's men said nothing. They sat in silence, blades across their laps—but every one of them looked ready to move at a moment's notice.
"This was a rebel town," the short demon named Kess said quietly. "They probably got purged. Suspicion of sabotage."
Kaiden frowned. The stench of burnt flesh lingered. Some of the bodies had been small. Children.
He didn't know what to say. So he defaulted to what he knew.
"Rebels again, huh? Well... probably deserved it. Treason's still treason."
Kess opened his mouth, clearly ready to argue—but Velra, the mage, beat him to it with a smug laugh.
"Finally, something halfway intelligent comes out of your mouth," she said. "Maybe you're not completely braindead."
Sylen shot her a sharp look. Kess rolled his eyes. Neither said a word.
Trok stood, wiping nonexistent dust off his armor.
"On your feet. We're entering corrupted territory. Be sharp."
Then he looked directly at Kaiden.
"Especially you. I don't want that rustbucket body of yours breaking down on my watch. I'm not getting blamed for a glorified can of scrap."
Kaiden grinned without humor.
"Sure thing, boss."
Trok smirked, the kind of smug smile high school bullies thought was charming.
Kaiden stared ahead, into the dead trees and blackened soil where the corruption began. He felt the chain-clink of Jojun shifting behind him.
What the hell did you drag me into...