All the soldiers quickly returned to the tank.
"Move!" one of them shouted.
The driver pushed the controls, and the tank sped away from the castle courtyard. They burst through the outer gates and into the open battlefield.
What they saw ahead was shocking.
Millions of soldiers stood across the plains—an enormous army from the Five Kingdoms Alliance.
Orcs, beastfolk, elves, and dwarves filled the horizon like a living ocean of weapons and armor.
Then something moved in the sky.
Three dragons appeared above the army.
One red, one blue, and one green.
The driver smiled slightly.
"My name is Liien," he said calmly. "Let's begin."
He pressed a hidden button on the control panel.
The tank began to transform.
Metal plates shifted and unfolded. The vehicle rose from the ground, reshaping itself into a massive mecha robot nearly 40 meters tall.
The ground shook as the giant machine stood upright.
Inside the cockpit, the soldiers worked quickly.
John took control of the missile systems.
Other soldiers monitored energy levels, calculations, and weapon systems.
Jessica and the Human King were secured safely inside the mecha's protected chamber.
Liien activated the flight system.
"Engaging aerial combat."
The giant machine lifted into the air and rushed toward the dragons.
The red dragon attacked first, breathing a massive wave of fire.
The flames covered the mecha's armor—but nothing happened.
Liien laughed softly.
"Fire won't work."
Instead of destroying the dragons, Liien selected a different weapon.
"Sleep missiles activated."
Small guided missiles launched from the mecha's shoulders and exploded near the dragons, releasing a glowing mist.
One by one, the dragons' wings slowed.
The massive creatures drifted downward and fell asleep in the forest below.
Liien turned his attention back to the battlefield.
Through the sensors, he saw the scale of the enemy forces.
"Ten kilometers ahead," Liien reported. "Millions of armed soldiers."
The battlefield stretched to the horizon.
Liien tightened his grip on the controls.
"Prepare for full engagement."
Inside the cockpit, John looked at the screen and took a deep breath.
The real battle was about to begin.
Be continued…