The twenty-four-hour timer on the Precursor Military Trial was a joke.
Lucifer stood in the center of the devastated southern command center of Sector Delta-Nine. The thick, dark green fleshy webbing that had coated the durasteel streets was completely burned away, leaving only scorched metal and purple ash.
He didn't need a day. He had cleared his five Hives in under two hours.
[System: Objective Progress: 19 / 20 Hives Eliminated.]
[Time Remaining: 21 Hours, 45 Minutes.]
"The final target is dead ahead, Warlord," Celeste reported over the comms rune. The High Ranger sounded exhausted but deeply satisfied. "The Rangers and Elves have converged on the central coordinates. Elara and Isolde are holding the perimeter with the heavy cavalry and the Wyrms. We have the Alpha Hive surrounded."
"Hold your fire," Lucifer commanded smoothly. "I am walking in."
