Chapter 201: It was Effective

Chapter 201: It was Effective



Valeria stood at the edge of the continent, her eyes focused on Akarios Island. The ocean separating her from the human base rippled softly in the dim light. With a deep breath, she raised her hands, summoning the dark energy within her. The air crackled with power as dark clouds formed above the water's surface, swirling and thickening into dense, ominous mist. Slowly, the mist took shape, spreading across the ocean like boats, capable of carrying her forces toward the island.

Garruk watched with a predatory grin. "Using clouds as boats. Fitting."

Valeria didn't respond, her focus entirely on the task at hand. "We move now," she said, stepping onto one of the misty platforms, her feet making no sound as they touched the dark surface. Garruk followed, along with the rest of the demon forces, their dark armor gleaming faintly in the shadowy light.

The army silently boarded the spectral boats, and as Valeria gestured forward, the misty platforms glided across the water, leaving no wake or trace behind. The ocean was still, save for the faint ripples caused by their movement toward Akarios Island.

As they neared their target, the tension among the demon forces rose. Garruk's massive form remained silent, his gaze locked on the horizon, where Akarios Island came into view.

"This will be their final mistake," Valeria murmured, more to herself than to anyone else.

Above Akarios Island, an MQ-1 Predator drone patrolled the skies, scanning the perimeter of the base. Inside the command center, Sergeant Jacobs, the drone operator, kept a close eye on the monitors.

"Everything looks clear," Jacobs muttered, half to himself. His partner, Corporal Andrews, sat beside him, monitoring the infrared sensors for any unusual activity.

"Hopefully, it stays that way," Andrews replied, leaning forward. "Last thing we need is another demon attack."

As Jacobs scanned the surrounding waters, something caught his eye. "Wait... what's this?" On the screen, dark clouds were forming over the ocean, not far from the continent. The clouds were unnaturally low and seemed to be spreading across the water in a pattern too precise for natural weather phenomena.

"That doesn't look right," Jacobs said, zooming in on the formation. "Andrews, check the infrared. I'm not liking this."

Andrews switched the sensors to infrared mode, and sure enough, the dense clouds were cold but distinct, moving in a way that set off alarms in both their minds.

"Contact the commander," Jacobs ordered. "This might be something."

Within minutes, the feed from the drone was transmitted to the island's command center, where Vincent, the base commander, was overseeing the island's defenses. The room was alive with activity, soldiers manning their stations and monitoring various systems. When the alert came in, Vincent stepped toward the central monitor.

"Put it on the main screen," Vincent commanded.

The screen flickered, displaying the live feed from the MQ-1 Predator drone. The strange, dark clouds on the edge of the continent were spreading across the ocean, slowly but steadily advancing toward Akarios Island.

"That's no storm," Vincent said, narrowing his eyes. "And they are forming in a place where they don't usually form. Is it hovering over water?"

"Yes, sir," Andrews confirmed, his voice tense. "The clouds are hovering just above the water, moving too deliberately. Whatever this is, it's not natural."

Vincent's eyes narrowed as he analyzed the live feed. His instincts told him this was the work of Valeria. Dark magic. He had seen it before, and there was no mistaking the sinister intent behind the cloud formations.

"Prep the Reaper, fire a warning shot, but I want the missile to hit them," Vincent commanded.

"Reaper 0-1 moving into position," echoed the confirmation over the comms. The drone operator shifted, his hands flying over the console as the Predator, loaded with Hellfire missiles, maneuvered into attack range. The drone glided silently through the sky, its sensors locking onto the eerie formation of dark clouds that hovered just above the water, steadily advancing toward Akarios Island.

Vincent stood behind the operator, his gaze fixed on the screen. The clouds had a menacing, unnatural quality to them. He recognized Valeria's dark magic, and he knew she wouldn't stop until she had torn through their defenses. The island had been fortified to withstand many attacks, but this—this was different. This was personal.

Vincent watched as the missile armed itself on the screen.

"Reaper 0-1, experimental missile loaded and ready," the operator confirmed.

"Lock on target," Vincent said, his eyes narrowing on the shifting dark clouds advancing

steadily across the ocean.

The screen flickered as the Reaper's targeting system locked onto the mass of shadows. The missile's guidance system synchronized with the drone's sensors, locking in on the dark

energy swirling around Valeria's forces.

"Target locked," the operator announced.

Vincent took a deep breath. "Fire."

The missile detached from the Reaper, streaking through the night sky with a bright trail of light following behind it. Unlike the previous Hellfire missile, this one carried an unmistakable sense of power, its runes glowing brighter as it closed in on the demon army.

Out on the water, Valeria and Garruk both sensed the shift in the air. The energy carried by the experimental missile was unlike the human technology they had faced before. This was

something new-something dangerous.

Garruk sneered. "They think this will stop us?"

Valeria's eyes narrowed as she raised her hands, summoning a massive dark barrier between them and the incoming missile. The barrier shimmered with black energy, pulsing with the same malevolent force that powered the mist carrying their forces across the ocean.

The missile slammed into the barrier, but instead of exploding on impact, it pierced through the dark energy like a knife through cloth. The runes on the missile flared as it punched through the barrier, causing it to flicker and weaken under the strain of the magic-infused

projectile.

Valeria's eyes widened for a split second, her calm demeanor breaking as the missile tore through her defenses. The barrier, a manifestation of her dark magic, shattered like glass, sending ripples of energy cascading through the air.

Garruk let out a low growl, his muscles tensing as the explosion followed.

The missile detonated in a flash of brilliant light, the shockwave of magic and energy radiating outward. It ripped through the misty clouds, obliterating the dark platforms beneath the demon forces. The demons nearest the blast were thrown into the air, their bodies disintegrating as the magic tore through them.

Valeria staggered, the force of the explosion sending a shock through her entire being. She raised a hand, summoning what was left of her power to shield herself from the blast. Her forces, however, weren't so lucky. Many were swept into the sea by the shockwave, their dark forms consumed by the magic infused into the missile's explosion.

Garruk roared in defiance, his massive body bracing against the blast, but even he couldn't

escape the force completely. His armor cracked under the pressure, and his snarl of pain echoed over the water.

Back in the command center, Vincent watched the explosion light up the screen.

It was effective!n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om