The Lonely Earth - Earth ISOT into Magitek fantasy

Chapter 4: Developments

Zarnarii Islands, Strakhul (Former Ystovan Republics), Far north outside Canada and Greenland, 8 hours after translocation

Jonathan Grant couldn't believe the perilous mission he was embarking on. Flying over a country infested with the undead? Climbing to such heights without seeing the curvature of this strange planet, Xarazanth? What happened to simple, one-syllable planet names?

From his cockpit, he observed the grim scene below, witnessing the withered and grey trees and the massive formations of tanks, infantry, and nightmarish creatures amassing on the ground. The situation was like something out of Dungeons & Dragons, and he certainly wasn't prepared for it.

His U2 aircraft soared overhead, passing by a fleet of warships docked nearby. Some ships seemed to harness energy from massive crystals, which intrigued and unsettled him at the same time. The sight of the enormous citadel dominating the island, shrouded in stormclouds, was eerie. Magic seemed to be at play here, preventing sunlight from touching the citadel.

They were clearly excavating something, using dark energies that sent shivers down his spine. It appeared they were raising the dead to bolster their armies, a chilling thought.

"Why did they retire the Blackbird? I could have buzzed this place and be done already," he lamented, frustrated by the sluggishness of his current aircraft. As he continued his musings, he spotted what seemed like a rocket launch pad amidst the chaos.

"Zombies in space, now that's a new script idea for my agent," he joked to himself, using humor as a coping mechanism during these intense missions. But his levity turned into alarm as he noticed a wing of bat-winged aircraft beginning to climb, seemingly after catching sight of him.

Realizing the dire situation he was in, he quickly activated a transmitter to upload all the data he had gathered to a secure CIA receiver stationed at a safe distance. His survival instinct kicked in, and he knew it was crucial to get this crucial information back to his team as quickly as possible.

In a desperate attempt to escape, Jonathan struggled to turn his aircraft around, his heart pounding in his chest as he anxiously observed the pursuing enemy aircraft. Deep down, he knew the odds were stacked against him, but the instinct to survive overwhelmed any rational thoughts of mere prolonging of life. He pushed the U2's engine to its limit, the roar of the aircraft echoing his racing heartbeat.

Meanwhile, the transmitter he had rigged finally signaled the completion of image uploading. But before he could fully comprehend what was happening, the lead aircraft of the pursuing wing vanished in a burst of purple light. Confusion gripped him as another flash appeared to his right, revealing the eerie enemy aircraft in terrifying detail.

The menacing aircraft was predominantly black with accents of purple, sickly green, and icy blue. It resembled the wings of bats, with struts extending past their flaps. The three engines screamed with a purple flame, and its nose resembled the head of a hammerhead shark. Long, sharp blades extended from the top and bottom, adding to its deadly appearance.

As the cockpit materialized, revealing the mysterious figure inside, Jonathan felt an overwhelming sense of dread. The aircraft's pilot wore a peculiar combination of a First World War flightsuit and gothic plate armor, and their helm obscured their face in shadows, with burning purple eyes piercing through. The encounter sent shivers down Jonathan's spine, and he couldn't shake the feeling that he was staring into the abyss.

In a moment that felt like an eternity, the ominous aircraft hung in the air above him, as if to taunt him with his imminent demise. He heard a haunting whisper in his mind, words he couldn't comprehend but knew held terrible meaning: "Ekonarith ona suth iraev."