A landmass suspended above the heavy layers of cloud.
The vast harbor was missing its usual ranks upon ranks of warships; even the Skyward Legionnaires on guard duty had dwindled.
With manpower stretched thin, what used to be two posts had now been merged into one, leaving the entire military port cold and desolate.
A fierce wind swept through, tearing at the military banners.
Atop the massive rolling gantry, a Heavenly General leaned on his long halberd, squinting into the distant sunrise.
Bang!
"What was that sound?" someone cried out in alarm.
"It seems something fell down—quick, go check!"
Looking down, the Heavenly General saw dozens of Skyward Legionnaires crowding toward a corner.
"What is this? A corpse?"
"How could that be? Where would a corpse come from?"
"It looks like it just died not long ago."
The Heavenly General hurried over, parted the ring of Skyward Legionnaires, and instantly drew a sharp breath.
Before him lay a blood-soaked corpse, battered all over, missing limbs, its face so ravaged it was unrecognizable.
Having fallen from such a height, not a single bone seemed intact— even the brain matter...
"What happened here?" he roared.
A Skyward Legionnaire pointed southeast and shouted, "There's someone over there!"
The Heavenly General quickly looked up, but saw only a shadow vanishing into the clouds, lost from sight.
"You—go report to General Ward at once. The rest of you, take the body to the medical bureau! Everyone else, hold your posts and double the guard!"
......