Many light years to the east of planet Srian, General Róngyù had been just as hard at work as Carter. With Damara, his forces had landed on the water world of Eternareign. On the planet, oceans of rain precipitated with no end! The land, all but for small islands, lay submerged in water, fighting the ravenous waves’ urge to devour them. Their only defense was the great cities with large tubes pointed upwards, collecting the eternal water and using it continuously for every conceivable task.

  In the city of Marway, the United Planets and the Nemesis forces clashed. They battled through the mud with a desire as vast as the everlasting rain to conquer the other. But through their conflict, the mighty general came! Róngyù walked with a pulsing energy that intensified with every step. His mastery of the Kai was so great that it surpassed the need to manifest as an element. Invisible to the eye but palpable in the skin, a signal of triumph for his allies but intimidation for the enemy!

  He drew his sword."Retreat!" Making the United Planets run from the front line. Flames of the deepest red swiftly consumed Róngyù's body. He slashed his sword once at the nemesis, spreading the fire. A lake of fire hastily washed across them, bathing the battlefield in an inferno! With the Nemesis in retreat or ash!

  "Victory nears ever closer, my forces! Thou battled hard and sacrificed many; look within thee to summon a thousand times your strength to endure. For our homelands, honor, and justice!"

  Róngyù's energy filled the air, spreading through and around his soldiers. Looking at their leader, the United Planets raised their weapons, shouting with thunderous approval! They swiftly ran to the next battle with their resolve higher than ever! But as they left, a small object came crashing to the ground with meteoric strength near Róngyù. A reptilian being of brown spiky scales emerged from the dust. A small, chubby, drelong Lieutenant Bogen went to his general with exasperation capturing his face.

  "News, old friend?"

  "The attack on the west is going slow but steady, boss!"

  "Cause to rejoice!"

  "If you say s-"

  Bogen coughed and sneezed violently!

  "Bogen, are you well?"

  "Honestly, no, boss! I'm a reptilian species on a cold, dark planet that never stops raining!"

  "Be strong, old friend! I'll need you to endure it. If we are to prevail in this siege!"

  "Well, that's the thing! Bogen took a small holophone from his pants and pressed a button, activating a holographic map of the city.

  "What should I be seeing?"

  "The troops are currently in Nelumbo, moving to Nymphaea. But I strongly advise we direct them through Azolla instead!"

  "We dare not!"

  "Why? The path is shorter, and we would put them in a better spot to attack the enemy's fortress!"

  "Here is why, old friend!" Róngyù touched the image of a titanic pipe on the map.

  "A pipe?"

  "It's no mere pipe! Within lies many thousands of gallons of water. The people of Eternareign must use every drop from the heavens constantly!"

  Bogen pinched his forehead, nursing a migraine, realizing the truth."And you don’t want to risk bursting one because it would flood!"

  Róngyù nodded yes with a smile!

  "This job gets harder every day!"

  "But it shall surely be worth it in the end!"

  In Nymphaea, the United Planets charged toward the Nemesis army as they congregated around a titanic fortress. It stood as an obsidian two thousand seven hundred and seventeen feet pillar like a stake placed in the planet’s heart by the invaders! Battle enclosed the colossal structure from all corners as the Nemesis fiercely defended the symbol of their dominance!

  "Forward," Róngyù shouted.

  Róngyù and Bogen ran through the mayhem, leading their forces to the fortress. The Nemesis impeded their path, unloading a salvo with their guns and tanks! But Bogen blocked the assault, shoving his hand forward, summoning a green telekinetic energy wall, shielding them!

  "Everybody stand back," Bogen said.

  Bogen clutched his hand, and the energy swallowed an enemy tank! The tank lifted off the ground, and as Bogen swiped his hand, it flew away, crashing through the Nemesis! And with a flick of his wrist, the tank came apart down to the tiniest screws, sending them flying as lethal projectiles toward more enemies! But as the path to the fortress was clear, he relaxed, unwittingly allowing a nemesis sniper to shoot at him. However, Róngyù deflected the shot at Bogen's head with his sword.

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  "Eyes forward, old friend!"

  "Sure thing, boss! Thanks!" Bogen gave Róngyù a thumbs up.

  Inside the fortress, the Nemesis scrambled around their many battle stations to defend against the forces of the United Planets. In the center of the turmoil stood a pale purple Nemesis, Captain Corbin, bombarded by questions from his subordinates!

  "How are our outer defenses holding?"

  "We managed to repel the first wave of attack, Captain Corbin! But general Róngyù is relentless! He's already organized his forces for a second and third wave!"

  "Then we have no choice! I must use our fail-safe strategy!"

  "But, captain, several battalions are still in combat with the enemy over the island!"

  "Still, we must implement the strategy! We can't allow the enemy to capture Marway!"

  "B-but we'll kill our own!"

  "A necessary sacrifice for the empire!"

  "Y-yes, sir! I'll send the order!"

  Outside, the battle continued as Róngyù led his forces through plasma fire and the endless rain that bombarded the skin with chilling cold. But as a tremor shook the ground, he drew his attention to the horizon! And saw the tall buildings shaking vigorously!

  Róngyù stared forward, horrified as a grim idea entered his mind."Surely they wouldn't! It would claim the lives of their soldiers as well!"

  "Wouldn't what, boss?"

  Again, the ground shook, but far worse than before! The two armies stopped their battle, falling to their knees from the shaking! And all eyes went to the horizon, seeing the source of the trembling as it swallowed the city, a colossal flood!

  "They burst one of the pipes just to get us?" Bogen asked, horrified.

  "It appears so, old friend!"

  The flood raced toward its victims, with Róngyù and Bogen bracing for impact. But as the seconds passed, the water didn’t hit them. However, a wave of intense heat did! All the eyes drew to the horizon, seeing an inferno block the flood's path as if a small sun fell from the heavens. Damara defended them with her shield as it was ablaze with the flames of the Divinus! A wall of heat extended far past the shield's borders. Not a drop overcame its defenses as it evaporated the deluge! It stood as a guardian, forcing the great flood back to its origin, quelling it as the shield stood in its vigil.

  "I see it, but I don't believe it," Bogen said.

  Róngyù looked toward the fortress, realizing the nemesis was distracted by Damara."Bogen, throw me towards a window!" Bogen swiftly complied, telekinetically flinging Róngyù towards the closest window. He smashed in, igniting his flames at the enemies inside. And hurried through the fortress in a red blur!

  As Damara's shield continued its vigil, another peril came from above. A Nemesis battleship quickly descended upon the battlefield, firing at the United Planets. But Daisy hurried, summoning Flaremane, and flew to the ship. She went to it, drawing their fire, navigating through the barrage, and meeting it with a massive impact!

  Daisy bombarded the ship with heavy punches without the aid of her shield. The vessel crumbled apart with each blow as explosions littered across its haul! And with a final furious scream, she landed the mightiest, sending the ship into an inferno!

  "Flaremane!"

  Flaremane went to Daisy, flying her away from the ship as it exploded.

  Hours later, the United Planets planted their occupation at the foot of the fortress. The flood and the Nemesis conquered; they stood victorious as they gathered war prisoners and civilians, sorting them into the different areas of their camp!

  "Okay, people, the medical unit is this way! We've divided them into two tents, Adults on the left and children on the right," Bogen said.

  The United Planets quickly shepherded the hundreds into the two tents. But as the operation ran smoothly, Róngyù came through the crowds toward Bogen with his usual smile missing! And Bogen turned pale white, seeing Róngyù with a frown pulsing with deep sadness.

  "What's wrong, Boss?"

  "Their commanding officer, Captain Corbin, fled the fortress before I could get to him!"

  "That's too bad! But we can still capture the planet without him!"

  "Still, it would have been far swifter with him as a hostage! Now, our soldiers must sacrifice vastly more!"

  "Where's your positive attitude? I'm supposed to be the negative one!"

  Róngyù's smile returned as he heard Bogen, but soon, his attention went to Damara as she brought two Eternareignian children, a boy and a girl. The natives resembled humanoid frogs, all the features of the amphibians, but standing upright on two legs with full heads of hair. They clung to Daisy's legs greedily, trembling like they were her young, seeking comfort from their mother in the war-scarred landscape!

  "General Róngyù, I found these two on my patrol! They need our help!"

  "Where are their parents?"

  "The Nemesis evicted their orphanage when the siege started. They lost their family in the turmoil and haven't eaten for days!"

  "Most disconcerting! Our food rations are scarce!"

  "Well, give them mine!"

  "Damara, we need you at full strength! Many battles still await!"

  "With all due respect, I can take it!"

  "Nae! They shall have mine!"

  Daisy and Bogen looked at Róngyù in shock!

  "Now, wait a second, boss! We need you at full strength for this siege, too!"

  "I can endure it, old friend! Besides, their blood is more valuable than mine!"

  "Thank you, General Róngyù!"

  A scream flashed through the air, and the group hurried to the source, the adults' medical tent! Daisy dropped the children off with nearby soldiers as she headed to the tent with Róngyù and Bogen. Entering the tent, the trio ignited their powers, readying for battle! But as they scanned the inside for enemies, they found one of the civilians, a Flora man, grappling with the soldiers and doctors!

  "What's going on here?"

  "Nothing, ma'am! Our friend here is just causing a bit of trouble!"

  "Let me go! I must leave the planet!"

  A doctor ran to Daisy and the others!

  "He needs a proper check-up, and we've told him how impractical it is to leave with the siege going on, but he won't listen!"

  Daisy ran to the man, making the soldiers release him. She looked the man in the eyes, and quickly he calmed.

  "Sir, please listen to reason! You're unwell, and the doctors must treat you before you go anywhere!"

  "But I can't afford to wait that long!"

  "Why?"

  "It's my wife! She's pregnant and due for our first child any day now!"

  Daisy placed her hand over her mouth in shock."My god! But how did you get separated?"

  "It was about a year ago! I was off-world for work when the Nemesis attacked, Kiayris!

  "One of the worlds on the great schism?"

  "Exactly! United Planets forces managed to repel the attack, but they didn't leave without hostages!"

  Daisy took a deep breath."Here's the deal! Let the doctors do their work, and I'll escort you there myself! We can be on Planet Flora in no time on Flaremane!"

  "Thank you!"

  Bogen dashed to Daisy!" Now, hold the holophone! I feel for this guy, but we need you here, hero!"

  "Bogen, I will allow it!"

  "But-"

  "As long as Damara can promise a swift return," Róngyù interrupted.

  Daisy grew the happiest smile."I can! Thank you so much, General Róngyù!"