The range became a warzone in seconds.
Association officers who had frozen at the Claimant's emergence found their training again. Veterans who had been grinding these mountains for weeks drew weapons and fell into formation. The evacuation horns resumed, but evacuation was no longer possible. The creatures were everywhere, pouring down from the sky and up from the valleys, cutting off every route.
A Glasswing Darter dove toward a cluster of retreating rookies and an Association officer intercepted it mid-flight, her blade carving through its crystalline wing. The thing screeched and tumbled, but two more replaced it before she could recover her stance.
Somewhere below the ridge, a Mirecrawler's acid caught an A-tier fighter across the chest. His scream cut off.
"Kaiden!"
Brittany and Trisha had reached the ridge from behind, armed and pale. "We need to leave," Brittany said. Her eyes swept the descending swarm. "We can help coordinate the retreat. Get you and the girls to..."
