Second Wall,

Shoguns Turret,

Sporadic cheering rose from the walls every time one of the large tentacle floating Beasts hit the ground in a bloody gaseous explosion. Where their bloated alchemical corpses burst upon packed groups of stunned Beasts the men cheered their loudest. Still, it was nothing compared to the cheer when the Emperors wagons had burst free of the Mists.

“You said they would not make it.”

The Arch-Tenant pursed his lips in silence, remaining still in the face of the howling horde. A far cry from the thoughts spinning madly through his head, he didn’t know what he’d seen.

“And yet here they come, barely hanging onto their ponies.”

“To be fair my lord, the order was given when the mists took them. There is not a man or woman here to say otherwise.”

“You expect the Palace to be fair when they enquire as to why we fired upon the Emperors wagon?” The Salamander enquired.

“I expect the Palace to use any excuse to demand for an increase in taxation of the Beasts waves, my lord. Let them.”

The air was still crisp with singed flame as the Salamander’s handiwork rumbled dangerously into the distance. From the smouldering sky bodies great and small, tumbled into the stricken horde below. The Shogun turned slowly from his art, raising an eyebrow at the Arch-Tenants brave words.

“Let them?”

“That’s your banner out there my lord and far more symbolic than a wagon bearing no sigil. Let them argue this point that we might pre-empt them and show our diligence in that trail of corpses behind the Kung-bu, that your banner man fought off single handily. Remind them of the great personal costs that you bear stoically due to their delay of vital materials.”

For the first time that day the Shogun chuckled, the sound like wood being crushed. So unusual was it to hear, that crowded turret immediately silenced the ripple of murmurings.

The Arch-Tenant held his breath as the only sound accompanying the Shoguns short laugh, was the creak of stiffened leather armour. Three of the Salamanders frightening Preafects turned to scrutinize the Arch-Tenant silently.

“Ten years…No, eleven.” A flash of anger crossed his face before he schooled it back to serenity. “It has been eleven years Arch-Tenant, since the Palace last delivered a shipment of metal." He recited their excuse. "Troubles in the Depths my lord.”

The Shogun paused with a sigh of finality.

“Eleven years.”

“Yes, my lord,” he stammered.

Very few people knew of that, he did actually, but he was the Head accountant. This was supposed to be a closely guarded, state secret.

How can he trust these new Captains already? Merciful Giver, what is he doing?

“Long have I waited for an opportunity to redress this matter and long have I sought the necessary articulated words.”

Oh, shi-baal. No! No.

“I fear my anger might be provoked, should I have anything to do with those…” He cleared his throat. Smiling for all to see his earnestness.

“Those discussions with the Emperors servants. When and if a councillor arrives, you shall deliver my message, Arch-Tenant.”

Oh, for F…

“I am honoured, Seo-sang.”

“Indeed, a fine tongue such as yours would be best for prevailing heads to come together.” The Salamander said returning to gaze upon his handiwork.

“By your Will, my lord.” He bowed deeply at the honour of the request bestowed upon him. It helped hide his pained expression.

A heavy growling like the crushing of rock interrupted their discussion, freeing him from further scrutiny. The gathered Nobles looked to the opposite side of the river nervously, even he had to suppress a shiver. Although the Salamander seemed to pay it little heed as he finished with him.

“It would be best for all parties, if the flow of metal were restored.”

The Arch-Tenant remained silently bowed, keeping his thoughts to himself.

So, this is what it feels like to be thrown into a blood-sucking Pyeanchi swarm.

He only looked up when the growling ended abruptly and a chorus of short snarls responded in kind, followed by heavy splashes of water up and down the river. A new foe had entered the fray.

First Wall,

Ballista Team,

Kappa, Mud-Horrors, huge lizards of multiple varieties from Kimoto to Fish snappers and these were just the dominant species that he recognised amongst the reptile wave. Those of fur were Spotted dogs, Red Wolves, giant boars the size of ponies and enough Toka-loshi they stretched out all the way back to the river.

The Sergeant sighed himself a silent prayer, not even bothering to identify the flying ones. A lot of men were going to die this day.

With a permanent scowl engraved upon his forehead he watched the flurry of activity happening in the Shoguns Turret. The Salamanders fire had hit the first wave out of crossbow range, so all they could do was watch and wait for his orders.

Unusual, but probably a smart move meant to save on Razors, as reptile and mammal lashed out at each far more viciously than was common.

The man was a tactical genius. How had he known there were two waves?

Then he looked back to the wagon straggler, muttering a curse at the Immortal Emperors poor choice of servant. They had delayed for far too long, and he’d already seen a whole contingent of spearmen sent to hold the Gates.

With that many spears, the Shogun must be preparing for the Beasts to arrive before the wagons. Truly was the Salamander is a loyal servant of Qaelang.

Two Preafects broke off, one going left, the other right.

Deploying his best already?

A little concerned now, he had thought those snarls sounded distinctly feline.

The Sergeant worked on his scowl a bit more, trying to identify the multiple dots swimming across the River. It was bad enough with the dual Beast wave, his men would be fighting all day and risked collapsing from exhaustion. But Beast cats were pure predators and the best climbers of any Wave, walls were of little impediment to them.

Leaping with ease from the very spikes that were meant to impale them, they rarely if ever stopped at the first wall. Worse they were uncanny hunters of Chi wielders, one had to burn constantly just to keep pace with them in battle.

The signal was given and the Horns sounded, suddenly the Captains disappeared behind the second wall being replaced with Duellists as they raced off to the Quarter Masters. Even the Wind-Dancers were called up.

“Cats it has be…please don’t be.” Someone called out. Normally he would have shut it down immediately but he was too intent on watching as the first dot came bounding into view.

“Aw shi-baal!”

His worst fears made manifest, his jaw dropped at the sheer numbers that climbed from the riverbanks. None of them shaking free the water from their furs, for they had none.

Azuma.

“Ballistae! I want my mobile artillery loaded now! Where is…”

Suddenly visible as the men parted in his push towards the front of the wall, he ceased mid yell, biting off a curse.

It was right there in front of him, attached to the rails that the smaller artillery raced up and down on. Briefly he locked eyes with a familiar frightened face, granting a nod of approval as the only comfort he could.

“Clear the space behind him, pile it high with Bone bolts. We’re going rapid fire boys. Loading team and reserve team, you’re operating in sync. When he fires, I want the next lot standing at the ready with a Saw-bone in your hands. I said clear the space!”

“Two rows of Spearmen covering his sides. No Seeds! Only fully enkindled cores. Second Years, that’s you! Move!”

The men leapt into action even before he finished shouting commands, as more of the dreaded Azuma crawled from the river. Forget scaling the walls, these Beasts could clear them whole. But for all the raw power they possessed, their intellect made them something far worse.

Half reptile, half cat, these ancient Beasts were a rare find in any wave, preferring instead solitary hunts across all the Dead moors. When they were found in a Wave, they were generally the ones leading it. Their mutations making them already well on their way to that of a Kaiju.

Three wicked scaled tails, each glowing with sharp barbs the length of a grown man’s forearm. Shields and armour were rendered utterly useless against their claw and bite. They were hulks of the swiftest muscle and thickest hide.

The Azuma’s huge paws pounded the ground hard as soon as they cleared the reeds, setting the swiftest pace for the walls. Keeping their bodies low and sleek as only a cat could, their incredible speed born of mutations as much as their Beast cores. If that wagon did not get moving now, there’d be nothing left of it.

As the Azuma came on, his men began to exclaim in frightened whispers. Something was happening out there. He could feel it.

With a focused scowl, he watched as the incapacitated Beasts of the first wave began to rise. Having witnessed the effects of the Salamanders fires countless times before, he knew full well they should not have been able to do so. Yet rise they did and smoothly too, cleared of their blindness as the Azuma raced past them.

“Masks UP!”

The Shoguns voice boomed across both walls

The Sergeant reached for his headband reflexively, feeling for the thin flattened razor wire within. A small comfort against the unknown Beast magics on display, but all he could afford for the guarding of his mind against the worst of their Aura’s and sadistic latent effects. A higher glyph warrior’s mask was simply too expensive.

The whistles came from atop the second wall, signalling for three rows of spearman and two of crossbow. All along the first wall the rustle of heavy armour rattled as the rank and file took up organised lines of attack and defence. Although he did keep the dual row of veteran spears in place around his ballistae.

Hearing the other Sergeants give their speeches to their men he chose to keep his short, for the foe would be within range imminently.

“Alright Lads!”

“To all you men of the Watch, you know why you’re here. You know why you do this. Riches and Glory belong to those of the sharpest blades and swiftest cuts!”

“First Year Seeded, you too know why you’re here. By the time you defeat your third Wave you’ll have earned enough Beast cores to fully enkindle, putting you on the Path of Ascension. Service to the Shogun is the greatest way to walk this path.”

“Crossbows at the ready! Mark your targets before they get in range. And no firing until you see the yellow of their eyes! If I catch you using a Razor bolt on a Beast smaller than yourselves, I’ll make you fetch it!”

“For Qaelang!” He bellowed.

“For the Shogunate!” He shook his fist at the Heavens.

As one, thousands of voices took up the chant. Fear made way for grim determination as the Watch roared back in defiance at the first Wave.

Emperors Wagons,

Last Stretch,

“Stop shouting at the ponies dammit! They’re going as fast as they can!”

“Then why are we not going as fast as we were before? Damnit, man! Can you not hear that noise?”

“Oh, I’m sorry.” He shook the reigns methodically. “I’m a little deaf since you Master BLEW US UP!”

“Well, maybe your ponies would go faster again if you stopped freaking them out with all your baby noises!” Kido fired his crossbow, putting down a Spotted Dog. “Are you ready to meet the Captains of a Beast Wave Councilor?”

“If they’re anything like your Captains, then we can get out and walk!”

Kido guffawed suddenly before quickly quietening as he reloaded.

Yeah, okay. He despised them too, that didn’t mean he was friends with this slimy Pyeanchi.

“We can’t go any faster because your damn Salamander hit us with an ungodly amount of Ki in his Alchemical firebombs.

So? No one is out here Cultivating. “You’re not making sense, mad man.”

“The Boneflower you idiot, he disintegrated them entirely and then there’s all these damn peasants. Where did they come from? Did they crawl out of these Beast dens? We should just kill them all and be done with it, bastards keep trying to jump onto my ponies. They’re frightening them!”

“So it’s okay for you to stick Boneflower up their arse, but if I shout at them it upsets you? The hell is the matter with you!?”

“I said I put it on their stirrups, you churl!” The wheel hit a ‘bump’ causing the wagon to rattle dangerously one side. “They’re trained against it, I would never burn them with it. What do you take me for, some kind of monster? Now will you PLEASE, do something about these wastes!?”

Oh wow, Kido shook his head incredulously, firing at another Spotted dog coming for them. There was just so much wrong with what that statement, he could not help but cringe. He fired again, this time it flipped over itself.

Had that dog just completely avoided the peasant?

Kido spoke slowly trying to wash the filth that came with understanding from his mind.

“You use the Lepratic warts of addicts, to train the royal ponies? That just about sums up why we have such a high regard for the Palace these day, Councillor.”

Kido reloaded and frowned, just now releasing something. “Wait. Why were they going faster if the Bone flower wasn’t even attached to them?

“The PEASANTS Preafect!” Ushii threw his shoe at them, striking one in the face and knocking him away with a yelp after he tried jumping onto a pony.

“For that matter, we’re still going way too fast for normal ponies but not fast enough… INCOMING!”

The ground shook as the Azuma Beast cat came hurtling their way. It rushed forward faster than a Sacred Artist bearing none of the usual elegance of cats, instead, it leaped frogged from side to side.

Shi-baal this thing knows to dodge.

“Shoot it! Shoot it!” Only now comprehending the terror these creatures wrought amongst the Watch.

Shi… He missed.

Twice the size of the ponies and three times the broadness, the reptilian cat towered over them as it leaped left. Its red eyes glowed with the hunt as it turned to regard him, before looking away again.

What the hell?

He aimed again and at the last minute picked up a spear too. Firing left, he threw right.

“Stop shaking the…!”

The giant cat dodged the bolt entirely, leaping straight into the path of a Ki flaming spear. The blow struck true, arresting the Beasts movement as it bit deep into its broad chest with a sick squelch. Snarling frenziedly with fangs the length of a man's forearm, it clawed at its chest, tumbling over its own momentum, hissing and spitting as it tried to dislodge the spear.

“Hey.” Kido yelled, disturbed at the way the Azuma had focused solely on them.

That was the third Beast that had completely ignored the peasants and come straight for them. He grabbed another spear and whacked a nearby peasant over the head with it, watching as he reloaded.

He wanted to test something.

“In front dammit man, get the ones in front.” The alchemist yelled, shaking the reigns.

Kido ignored him, raising to fire, he watched as two Red Wolves leapt right over the downed peasant and come straight for them.

“Hey! What the hell!” He was right.

“Ushii!”

“What? Focus man, shoot!”

Kido raised his crossbow again this time putting both wolves down. The horde was visibly gaining on them and whilst their pace was incredible, it was not the burst of speed they had had earlier in the mists.

“You tell me right now why the Beasts are ignoring the peasants and coming straight for us. I know it’s not me!”

Ushii cursed, but turned around to fiddle with the lanterns, cursing some more.

Kido almost shot the insufferable man there and then for ignoring him, instead he pulled the trigger on another peasant reaching for the ponies in passing.

Shi…

He hadn’t reloaded and Ushii was not paying attention. Kido winced, bracing himself for the wagon hit. His eyes widening in horror as the peasant screamed, falling away with a good chunk of his shoulder missing. Bit clean through with a fanged bite.

“Ushii! You god-damn, Taker-loving, Heretic! What have you done?”

Ushii looked up in surprise at Kido. Then to the passing screaming peasant, clutching a missing shoulder. Then to the blood-stained pony and finally to the loose reigns that he had let go of to fiddle with the Ki lanterns.

“Aw Shi-baal.” He muttered looking back at Kido guiltily.

Kido clicked the trigger twice.

“By the Taker!” He cursed, almost throwing it instead.

His crossbow was still empty.

“Watch it, Preafect! Even Qaelangs uncored can see us now.”

“To hell with them. What have you done? That pony bit him!”

“So what? Pony’s bite a lot of people. They’re easily angered with fools.”

“Don’t you dare play dumb with me Heretic. I saw it bite clean through and eat him. Those aren’t ponies, those are Taker-loving Beasts.”

“Call me a heretic one more time and I will lawfully end you. These are cored animals for scientific research purposes, furthermore you are forbidden from speaking of this under the Emperor’s strict decree of Throne secrecy.”

“Fool! I’ll kill you myself, and then I’ll kill these abominations. What were you thinking Seeding perfectly safe animals? They’re Beasts now! Where are you hiding their skeletal growths, it’s under the saddles isn’t it?”

Kido reloaded shakily.

“They don’t have any exoskeletal growths you damn fool and they’re not Beasts. Preafect those Toka are getting closer.”

“Shut up, I can see that. All cored animals are Beasts! Lizards, fish, birds, Taker-loving blood-sucking insects. What do you take me for? An idiot?"

The waggoneer sniggered derisively, “hardly.” The fear in his eyes remained though as he studiously ignored the horde of Toka-Loshi. The diminutive Beasts had caught up to them now and were trying to cut them off from the rest of the wagons.

The crossbow sang and the wagon shook from Kido’s powered spear throwing. The Toka horde screeched each time a spear plowed though their ranks.

“You sound like a Monk Watchman. If that were true, then what makes you think you’re not some Beastkin.”

“I…” he grunted, putting his boot through the head of a Toka-loshi that dared reach for him. “Have a human core, just like every other Sacred Artist you blasphemous fool. That you would even dare insinuate such blasphemy only proves how low your court has fallen.”

Ushii wrapped both reigns around his arm, abandoning the lanterns and whipping free his sword in his left. Severing the arms of a Toka-loshi in a single swing, he stopped the creature before it could shove a branch between the wheel spokes. The hot blue flame of his alloy cleaving through its pitiful armour of shell and bone.

“Would you like me to pull over and have this conversation in greater, or would you please just focus on killing everything that gets close to us before they wind up killing us?”

“I won’t take orders from a…”

The roar struck them, blowing his next words away as the titanic Azuma crushed Toka beneath its massive tri-clawed paws.

“Preafect!”

“For the love of the Giver, I can see it! Everyone can see it.”

He reached for a spear, missing, he glanced down in confusion.

The basket was empty.

First Wall,

Balista Team,

Startled to the point of nearly drawing his blade, the warrior landed heavily behind him, jumping from the Lifelines attached to the second wall. Fully kitted in fine armour, their steps smooth and measured. Not at all like the ungainly and clanky movements of the heavier armoured troops.

Dammit, what the hell was this fool doing creeping up behind me as we prepare to fire?

All the Sergeant could see of the real him, or her, was the cold emerald eyes beneath an exquisitely hideous mask. If he wasn’t already certain of it, the bright red tassel dangling from the sword hilt shouted it for all the world to see. A Captain had come.

The Sergeant raised an eyebrow.

What was one of noble stock doing on the first wall? Taker’s tits! He’s got it embroidered in his Kyu Belt as well. If this fool dies here, I’m taking his boots.

Seeing the Sergeants eyes rove over the expensive thread of spider queen silk, the captain nodded in satisfaction. Perhaps not all of these cored Lowborns were beyond redemption. One could admire a man who respected good taste.

“Sergeant.”

“Captain.” He bowed perfunctorily in greeting. “What can I do for you, my lord.”

So complete was the armour, he could not make anything of the Captains expression or the reason for the brief pause. With an annoyed shake of the head, the Captain held out an Ivory chit engraved with a five-petalled lotus.

“From the Salamander’s Vault. Burn here please.”

“Oh Shi-baal,” he whispered

“Sergeant, something the matter?”

“No Sir,” he yammered quickly, realising he’d been too loud.

“It’s Captain and you will mind your manners in front of a lady, or I will mind them for you with the point of my sword.”

Well, how the hell was I supposed to know? Damn Nobles.

“Sorry Si… My apologies Captain. Just a tad caught up in the moment is all. The whole Beast Wave and…”

His voice trailed off as he waved his hand at the horde, all he got was a haughty look from a mask.

A full Kwon, she’s giving me the evil eye. Focus man! She’ll kick your ass.

Bowing again, a little deeper this time. He quickly pulled his Doa blade and burnt his seal into the chit as he had so many times before.

The Captain pocketed it, immediately pulling forth a floral carved wooden box from the satchel she carried on her back. Grateful for his hands not shaking, he took hold of it. Already knowing the contents within, he checked anyway as was expected.

Ten shining ballistae razor heads. Emperor Bolts.

The length of a warrior’s palm and the thickness of a fist, each had a rank five Beast core embedded within. Set to burn upon launching, the artisan had even carved away at the exterior of the core making them look more like jewels. He slammed the lid shut, catching himself lest he stare too long.

“All good Sergeant?”

“Yes Captain.”

Looking at the Sergeant, she felt his heartbeat elevate more with the box than with the surprise she had given landing behind him. Looking over his shoulder she spared a quick glance at the young Artillerist, almost smiling wickedly.

“Good luck,” she called turning to leave.

“Thankyou Captain. You too.”

She paused, tilting her head before snorting. Then without further ado, leaped onto the Lifeline and raced back along the rope to the second wall.

Prick.

Heading over to the Ballistae, he opened the box and handed them out one at a time to the reserve team.

“Get these screwed on and be careful about it! You drop it, it cracks, you die. Badly.”

To their credit they only hesitated briefly before handling the glazed pieces of pottery, each tapering off into four glistening blades coated in metal. Carefully secured to lighter screw tip bolts, they would weigh the same as the lower quality Beast ivory bolts.

He growled at his distracted men who paused to look, knowing full well the metal here represented more wealth than they’d make in their entire lives. Sighing, he couldn’t help but wonder at all of the effort put into their deadly design. Even his reload team seemed more nervous with the fortunes in their hands than the incoming Beasts.

Aimed true, a single well-placed shot could fell a Kaiju Master. One did not waste an Emperor Bolt.

With the Azuma coming, they were handed out early, necessary against the larger Beasts. As Sergeant, he picked the targets for his artillery teams, sharing in the shame of a missed shot. And today it looked like they would be taking a lot of very expensive shots

He placed his hand on the young Artillerists shoulder and squeezed reassuringly.

Bet you won’t forget your spear again, hey Tjien?