“Legion Legate Commander Corvinus, New Roma Territory, Third Garrison Legion,” the man replied in a measured tone, his eyes narrowing slightly as he assessed the pair before him.
Bella, standing beside Ampelius, crossed her arms. “About time the military shows up,” she remarked, her voice tinged with a mix of relief and frustration. “Better late than never, I guess.”
Corvinus raised an eyebrow. “So, how did you two end up down here?”
Ampelius took a deep breath and recounted everything from their escape from the apartment to their encounters with the mysterious creatures. Corvinus listened intently, his expression growing graver with each detail.
“Those things,” Corvinus said after a moment, “whatever they are, are incredibly tough to kill without the right ammunition. Their armor can withstand almost everything we throw at them except armor-piercing rounds. We’ve had several encounters with them since the attacks began, and that’s the only thing that seems to work. Unfortunately, that type of ammo is in short supply. We’ve been burning through it faster than we can resupply. It’s not something garrison units typically carry, especially in the autonomous zones. You two are lucky to have survived an encounter.”
“I call them Zavons,” Ampelius said firmly. “What do you know about them? Why are they attacking this city and killing everyone?”
Corvinus looked thoughtful for a moment. “Zavons, huh? That’s a fitting name. How did you come up with it?”
"It’s a name from my childhood," Ampelius explained. "My friend and I used to play war games and fight imaginary monsters, that’s what we called them."
Corvinus nodded. “Creative. I might borrow that name. As for what we know, it’s not much. They seem to be using volcanoes to launch their attacks. Until recently, they were targeting military installations near volcanoes, whether dormant or extinct. They’ve been incredibly effective, wiping out entire bases one by one. About two weeks ago, Mount Bonavern in Italia was the first to go. The eruption sent a glowing green cloud over the nearby military installation, and there were no survivors. That base was just a few hours from Roma, where the emperor was at the time.”
Ampelius’s eyes widened. “How many bases have been destroyed?”
"Since the Mount Bonavern incident, nearly a dozen bases across the planet have been wiped out," Corvinus said grimly. "As of yesterday, every major city near a volcano has come under attack by these Zavons. This is no isolated event, it’s a full-scale, coordinated assault spanning the entire globe. The Roman military is mobilizing what remains of our forces to defend the territories, but we’re stretched thin."
He paused, his expression darkening. "These attacks aren’t random. It feels like they’re systematically dismantling our defenses and targeting us where it hurts most."
“Wait, what do you mean by that?” Ampelius asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.
“They’re targeting our strategic points. Military bases, research facilities, and even communication hubs near volcanic sites. It’s as if they know exactly where to strike to cause the most damage.” Corvinus’s expression was grave. “And we’re struggling to keep up. Armor-piercing rounds are the only effective ammunition, and we’re burning through them faster than we can resupply.”
Ampelius felt a cold chill run down his spine. “I call them Zavons,” he said, trying to regain some sense of control. “Why are they attacking this city and killing everyone?”
“Zavons, huh?” Corvinus’s lips twitched in what could almost be a smile. “Fitting name. How did you come up with it?”
“It’s a name from my childhood,” Ampelius explained, his voice distant. “My friend and I used to play war games and would fight imaginary monsters.”
Corvinus nodded thoughtfully. “Creative. I might borrow that name.” He glanced at the soldiers around him, their faces tense as they listened to the conversation. “We don’t know much about them. What we do know is that they’re using volcanoes as launch sites. Until recently, they targeted military installations near both active and dormant volcanoes. The first base to fall was Mount Bonavern in Italia—about two weeks ago. The eruption sent a glowing green cloud over the installation, and there were no survivors. That base was just a few hours from Roma, where the Emperor was at the time.”
A heavy silence hung in the air as Ampelius absorbed the information. Bella, standing beside him, shook her head. “This is insane. How are we supposed to fight back?”
“We’re doing what we can, but we need more than just firepower,” Corvinus said. “Right now, survival is our priority.”
Before Ampelius could respond, a sudden, ear-splitting crash echoed through the tunnel. The wreckage ahead groaned under the weight of something massive, followed by the eerie glow of a bluish light seeping through the cracks. The soldiers tensed, their eyes darting toward the source of the noise. In the next heartbeat, dozens of mechanical tendrils snaked through the gaping hole in the ceiling above.
“Incoming!” Corvinus barked, his voice slicing through the tension like a blade.
The mounted machine guns on the train roared to life, spitting out a hail of bullets as the soldiers scrambled to defend their position. The air filled with the deafening rattle of gunfire, the blue light flickering ominously through the chaos.
Ampelius and Bella watched in tense silence as the bullets ricocheted off the tendrils, sparking on impact but failing to penetrate the strange, vine-like appendages. The tendrils rapidly moved, enveloping the wreckage as if harvesting its remnants. Unscathed by the barrage, the tendrils began to coalesce, their movements fluid yet mechanical. In a mesmerizing display, they transformed into a circle of interconnected barrels, each resembling the barrel of a machine gun.
“Fall back! Prepare to flank!” Corvinus ordered, his eyes never leaving the emerging threat. His voice carried a mix of urgency and controlled fear, a testament to his experience. The soldiers moved in a practiced formation, creating a defensive line while maintaining their focus on the tendrils.
The screams of two soldiers abruptly shattered the eerie quiet, their bodies crumpling to the ground, lifeless. No visible projectiles, no audible discharge—just the hauntingly brief flash of blue from the rotating barrels as they fired in sync, each shot landing with deadly precision.
Ampelius barely had time to register the scene before another soldier fell, his chest erupting in an explosion of thick, blue liquid. “Smoke out!” a voice rang out, followed by the pop of a smoke grenade. The tunnel rapidly filled with a dense cloud, obscuring everything in its path. Unsure if the enemy was still firing, Commander Corvinus barked orders for his soldiers to deploy a defensive shield barrier. In synchronized motion, they pushed the barrier into the exposed space between the train and the wall, inching it closer with every step.
Ampelius turned to Bella, his concern evident. “Are you okay? How’s the wound holding up?”
“I’m fine,” she replied, her voice strained. “But I don’t know how much longer we can keep this up.”
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“We’ll figure something out,” Ampelius said, his voice firm despite the fear gnawing at him.
“We have to.”
Commander Corvinus, shifting his focus from the battlefield to Bella, frowned as he inspected her injury. “This looks serious. My medics will check it out when we get back to base. We’ve got a medical center with functioning equipment—she’ll get the care she needs. But first, we need to get out of here.” He turned to his men, his voice rising with urgency. “What’s taking so long? Move it, soldiers!”
A loud screech echoed through the tunnel, followed by a thunderous crack. The ground trembled as debris rained down from above. Through the haze of smoke, a red beam sliced through the darkness, casting ominous shadows of four soldiers caught in its path. In an instant, they were gunned down, their chests exploding with the same thick blue substance.
“I don’t get it,” Ampelius muttered, his eyes wide with confusion. “That blue stuff completely obliterated everyone I’ve seen die before. Why did only the impact areas get hit this time?”
Commander Corvinus, visibly agitated, snapped back to attention. “I’ve never seen them use a weapon like this before. They’re adapting. We need to seal off this tunnel before more of them come through.”
“Are these Zavons elsewhere in the metro system?” Bella asked, her voice laced with anxiety.
“Yes,” Corvinus replied, his tone grim. “They’ve breached some of the tunnels, but we’ve only encountered their foot soldiers and beasts.”
“Beasts?” Ampelius and Bella echoed, the word hanging heavy in the air.
Corvinus nodded. “Terrifying creatures. They can rip a man apart in seconds, but they’re easy to kill from a distance. The problem is their numbers. Where there’s one, there’s usually a hundred more. We’re struggling to hold them off, and every encounter seems to reveal a new kind of horror.”
Two soldiers helped the remaining crew onto the train as the barrier finally locked into position. The machine, relentless in its assault, struck another soldier, wounding him. Blue liquid gushed from his body as he collapsed onto the tracks. The commander, seeing no other option, ordered a retreat.
“Captain, get us out of here now!” he shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.
“Yes, sir!”
The train lurched forward, gaining speed as it pulled away from the machine. Through a small gap in the barrier, Ampelius watched in horror as the machine morphed into a spear-like shape and impaled the wounded soldier, converting what remained of him into the blue liquid. The surviving soldiers could do nothing but watch as their comrade was consumed, their faces etched with helplessness.
As the machine's blue glow faded into the distance, silence fell over the train. The only sounds were the air rushing past and the rhythmic clatter of steel wheels on the tracks. Commander Corvinus, his face set in a grim mask of determination, attempted to make contact with the base.
“Command, this is Eagle, over.” Static crackled in response. After a few tense moments, a voice finally broke through.
"Eagle, we copy. Go ahead with your transmission.”
“We’ve engaged the enemy. Unknown technology. Multiple fatalities. We’re bringing back two civilians, one in need of medical attention. Tunnel X is red, preparing for demolition upon exit. How copy?”
“Good copy, Eagle. Standby.”
The train began to slow as it approached an abandoned station. Ampelius, exhausted, felt himself drifting into a light sleep, only to be jolted awake by the sight of dynamite strapped to the tunnel ceiling. His heart raced as he realized the implications. Commander Corvinus explained that the explosives would seal off the tunnel, theoretically preventing any further attacks from that direction.
As the train came to a stop, two soldiers boarded, carrying detonators. Corvinus greeted them with a curt nod before ordering the train to continue back to base. He warned everyone to brace for the impending demolition. Before they could respond, a thunderous explosion rocked the tunnel, sending a shockwave of dust and debris cascading over the train. Ampelius noticed the engineers grinning with satisfaction, clearly proud of their work, but Corvinus was livid.
“IDIOTS! How long did you set that timer for?” he roared, slapping one of the soldiers to the ground.
The soldier, stunned, scrambled to his feet, stammering, “Ten seconds, sir! We thought—”
“Ten seconds? We could have been buried alive!” Corvinus bellowed, his fury undeniable. He took a deep breath, visibly trying to control his temper. “From now on, you don’t make a move without my orders. Understood?”
“Yes, sir!” the soldier replied, his voice trembling with fear and embarrassment.
Corvinus turned away, still seething. Ampelius exchanged a nervous glance with Bella. The reality of their situation was settling in—surviving the Zavons was only one part of the battle. Now, they had to contend with the human element, where mistakes could be just as deadly.
Before the situation could escalate, the captain interrupted. “Commander, we’ve received intel on a possible Vandal headquarters in Sector 3.”
Ampelius’s heart skipped a beat. “Really? Are they sure?”
Corvinus hesitated, then nodded. “We have to rearm and resupply first, but after that, we’ll deal with those Vandals once and for all.”
As the train neared the main base, Corvinus turned to Ampelius and Bella, offering them water. “We’ll get you treated and back on your feet, but medical care isn’t free. There’s a debt to be paid. However, if you accept my proposition, the debt will be erased.”
“What’s the proposition?” Ampelius asked warily.
“We’re low on manpower. Join our fight, and her treatment will be covered. The debt will be cleared when the Vandal headquarters is destroyed.”
Ampelius glanced at Bella, her face pale and strained as she struggled to remain conscious. He felt a knot tighten in his stomach. His mind raced—he wasn’t a soldier, and the thought of fighting terrified him. But Bella needed medical attention, and he couldn’t bear the thought of losing her.
“And if I die?”
“The debt is considered paid. But if you back out, the debt remains, and you’ll be forced into community service. That’s not something I’d recommend.”
Ampelius’s throat tightened. He felt trapped, cornered by circumstances beyond his control. “Do I have any other options?”
“You can work odd jobs to pay it off, but it’ll take a long time. Food and housing would add to your debt. We’re doing our best to maintain law and order, but these are uncertain times. We need everyone to contribute.”
He took a deep breath, the weight of the decision pressing down on him. He had never considered himself a fighter, but Bella needed him. With a heavy sigh, Ampelius agreed. “Alright, I’ll do it. But do I get a weapon and some training?”
“We’ll arm you with whatever we can spare. As for training, if you’ve shot a gun before, that’s good enough. There’s no time for anything more advanced.”
Ampelius was led through the base, passing by soldiers preparing for the next assault. Some of them eyed him warily, their faces gaunt and haggard from exhaustion.
“New recruit, huh?” one of them called out, a note of skepticism in his voice. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Ampelius forced a weak smile. “Feels like I’ve been living in a nightmare.”
A few soldiers chuckled dryly. “Yeah, welcome to the club,” another one muttered. “Hope you can shoot straight. We need all the help we can get.”
“I’ll do my best,” Ampelius replied, though his heart was pounding in his chest. He felt out of place, like a child pretending to be a warrior. But the soldiers nodded, a silent acknowledgment of the shared burden they all carried.
The captain led him to a small room lined with weapons. “Take your pick,” he said, gesturing to the array of guns and ammunition. “We’ll see about getting you some proper armor, but for now, just make sure you don’t shoot yourself.”
Ampelius stared at the weapons, a sense of dread washing over him. He reached out, hesitating, before picking up a rifle that felt solid and balanced in his hands. He took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. “I won’t let you down.”
“See that you don’t,” the captain replied, his tone gruff but not unkind. “We’ve all got something to fight for. Make sure you remember what yours is.”
Ampelius nodded, gripping the rifle tightly. He thought of Bella lying on that stretcher, and a steely resolve settled in his chest. “I will.”
Ampelius nodded, his mind already spinning with anxiety. He had used a gun before, sure, but he had never aimed at anything more dangerous than a wild boar. And now they wanted him to fight monsters. His hands clenched into fists. “I’ll make it work.”
As they reached the base, medics rushed to Bella’s side, lifting her onto a stretcher and taking her away. Ampelius tried to follow but was stopped by the captain.
“You can see her in recovery. Let the medics do their job. Now, you have a debt to pay. Follow me.”
Ampelius watched Bella until she was out of sight. Reluctantly, he turned to follow the captain, the weight of his decision heavy on his shoulders. “Alright, let’s get this done.”
Corvinus observed Ampelius carefully, noting his tense shoulders and hesitant steps. He could see the fear and uncertainty in the young man’s eyes, and he sympathized more than he cared to admit. But they were desperate for fighters. Too many good men had already been lost, and he couldn’t afford to be lenient. Every able body counted.
"Was he a soldier?" Corvinus wondered, watching Ampelius struggle to keep pace. "He has the qualities of one, but he certainly doesn’t move like it anymore." He exhaled sharply. "Still, he’s got something to fight for. That’s more than I can say for some of the recruits we’ve taken in." He shook his head, pushing down the guilt that gnawed at him. Desperate times called for desperate measures. They needed every ounce of strength they could muster to fend off the attacks.
Edited 3/10/2025
Changelog:
- Fixed narrative inconsistency regarding Ampelius' past as a soldier
- Clarified Corvinus' perception of Ampelius by acknowledging his past service while highlighting his PTSD and hesitation
- Improved flow and internal monologue for better readability and depth