(Perhaps the ?good guys? could get distracted with something else? I?m afraid we?re going to have a one-sided 10 vs. 1 again here. Heh?)
Draven stopped short, hovering some seven feet in the air as a wave of dislodged sand sprayed him. Another one?! Draven clenched his fists.
?Blast it! Just how many secret radical military organizations are there on this blasting continent?!?
He glanced back at Horus.
?Friend of yours???
Judging by the machine?s reaction, he guessed a ?no?.
Turning back to the gigantic cat-like war machine, Draven crossed his arms before him, gathering energy into his palms. Floating seven feet in the air, he was about at its torso?s height. Really, that last fight took a lot out of him, though he did not want to show it? This could get ugly if this second machine were both as strong as he gauged his own to be, and it were at full strength?
Completing the gathering, Draven snapped both arms down to his sides as his fists burst into flame, a bright red orb a foot in diameter surrounding each.
?The Crimson Emperor Draven demands that you reveal whatever it is you?re hiding. Step aside and I shall show you mercy??
----
?Yes, of course??
The doors behind the Kandarinians clicked, and slowly creaked open. A small burst of flame appeared over the treaty, and the words ?THE DARK EMPEROR RETAN? were burned upon the document in script. The scroll re-rolled itself in the air and floated back to the Kandarinian commander.
?Do be mindful of my? soldiers? as you continue your conquest. Though they will not attack you, your paths may intersect, and they may be razing some of the same targets as you??
Dismissing the group, his chair turned back around and his attention returned to a pale blue orb behind him. The short robed figure turned as well, waiting to be called upon by his master?
The exterior of North Point was not how the commanders left it when they entered. The dead silence was gone, replaced by the pangs of scratching armor, of movement, of yelling, of fire? which became audible near the exterior gates as a dull roar, escalating to a thunder on the outside.
The three proud Kandarinian divisions were completely surrounded and boxed in by many small platoons of massive, heavily armored lizard creatures. Some were standing in perfect lines, spike armored officers barking orders in raspy reptilian voices. Many were carrying huge chunks of metal, large pieces of catapult, and various other simple machines into and out of the fortress. Makeshift furnaces were built out of campfires, and there was pounding and shaping of metal. It was chaos. But a cold methodical chaos that worked around the waiting troops.
There were small human legions as well. Proud troops displaying the symbol of the Crimson Empire, now nervously looking about, at the intimidating mass of reptiles, and the new cold blooded commanders that ordered them about? They seemed to be mostly lead? herded more like? into the fortress? A glint of fear and uncertainty in their eyes as they passed the Kandarinians?
The lizards themselves ignored the waiting Kandarinian divisions for the most part, save for a few glances from some of the lower reptile troops. Some were hateful glances, others lustful, others hungry?
