Horizon before dawn

Thank you for the support and stones 

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Two years have passed and our progress has been extraordinary. We've saved more lives, defeated countless Carja forces, and dismantled dangerous machines to salvage advanced weaponry. The armor I've created has proven to be a masterpiece, rivaling even the legendary armor worn by Aloy herself.

Thanks to my tinkering it's even more effective. So far we've managed to craft eleven sets of this advanced armor. However, without additional power cells, they're little more than ornamental, i really need Aloy to grow up and start opening some doors.

Our efforts have borne fruit in other ways as well. We've established a new village, naming it Mother's Song to honor the Banuk and Utaru who inspired us. In addition, we've developed two smaller farms that provide us with both plants and livestock, bolstering our food supply and ensuring our sustainability.

Mother Forge, our main stronghold, has become an impenetrable fortress. Its defenses are unmatched, with Thunderjaw disc launchers and Ravager cannons mounted along its walls, creating an unassailable perimeter. No enemy can approach our gates without facing overwhelming firepower. 

We've successfully pushed the Carja forces back, confining them to their last stronghold in our lands, the Teeth Outpost. My scouts report that all their remaining troops are regrouping there, along with a large number of captives. This presents us with an opportunity we cannot ignore.

It's time to launch a decisive raid. Fire and steel will carve our path as we liberate those captives and claim the outpost. The Carja will learn the true meaning of resistance, and our growing forces will secure yet another victory in our fight for survival and freedom.

The time has come to prepare for battle. The Two Teeth Outpost will fall, and our Kingdom will rise stronger than ever.

When I gathered all my soldiers, I was impressed. The high-tech armor was reserved for me and the squad leaders, but that didn't mean the rest of the soldiers were ill-equipped, far from it. Sturdy armor forged from salvaged machine components and the finest leather protected my troops, creating a uniform that symbolized the strength of our kingdom. It had taken years and immense resources to achieve this, but the effort was worth it. There were no Nora or Banuk among the ranks—just soldiers, united under one banner.

Our arsenal was meticulously prepared for any eventuality. Precision bows were issued to snipers, capable of eliminating threats from great distances. Stormslingers and firethrowers handled both close and medium-range combat, while rattle guns, powerful enough to nearly cleave a man in two, delivered devastating firepower. The improved, resilient spears were a marvel of engineering—not only lethal in melee but also capable of discharging electric bolts at enemies. Every soldier carried two grenades as a contingency, ensuring versatility in battle.

I dared to believe my army was the most well-equipped in the world, both in weaponry and armor. The tides had turned against the Carja. Once, they had seemed invincible, cold steel ruling the battlefield. Now, they were the savages, cobbling together weapons from scraps, while we marched as soldiers of the future.

It almost made me pity them. Almost. But pity was a luxury I couldn't afford. The Carja had caused too much suffering, too much destruction. They deserved what was coming to them, for the pain they had inflicted on us all. 

Beside me stood Albedo and Orlok, their eyes fixed on the two hundred soldiers who would follow us into hell itself if duty called. 

I stepped forward, my voice steady yet fervent, addressing the gathered soldiers.

"Soldiers of the Kingdom!" I began, letting the weight of the moment settle over them. "Today, we march to the gates of Two-Teeth Fort, where the hateful Carja holds our brothers and sisters, our families and friends, in chains!"

I raised my voice, each word sharp and clear. "Today, we march to free them from their clutches! Today, we march to reclaim what is ours! Today, we march for vengeance and justice! Today we march for blood!" I paused, meeting their eyes to ensure they felt the gravity of our mission.

"They think fear will break us," I said. "Albedo, what do you say to that?"

She stepped forward. "I say the Carja will soon learn the cost of underestimating the Kingdom. Their tyranny ends here and now!"

A cheer rippled through the soldiers. I looked to Orlok, whose fierce loyalty was written across his face.

"And you, Orlok? What will you do when we face the Carja?"

Orlok grinned. "I will show them the strength of the Kingdom. For every chain they've forged, I'll break ten. For every life they've taken, they'll pay tenfold."

Then, with unwavering conviction, I shouted, "Are you with me, brave soldiers of the Kingdom?"

Their response was a thunderous roar that echoed across Mother Forge and behind.

"FOR THE KING!"

"FOR THE KINGDOM!"

"FOR OUR PEOPLE!"

"BLOOD FOR BLOOD!"

"DEAD TO THE CARJA!"

Spears were thrust skyward, a sea of sharp iron glinting under the sun. The ground seemed to tremble beneath their unified cry.

I turned back to Albedo and Orlok. Albedo's expression was one of fierce determination, her hand resting on the hilt of her spear.

Orlok nodded, his eyes blazing with loyalty and resolve.

"Then let us march!" I commanded, my voice carrying over the troops. "Let us end the Carja tyranny today. Forward, soldiers!"

With a unified step, the army began to move, a tide of defiance and rage surging toward the distant fort. This was not going to be a battle, it was going to be a massacre. 

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Every 100 Power Stones a new chapter