Armed Guards waited for Eric at the gates of the prison.

Alarms blared as a crowd of inmates was surging towards the gates. A guard lay unconscious as gunfire erupted off to the side. Eric heard someone screaming in pain. He looked to that side, seeing an inmate beat her. "Fuck you, bitch. You kept me from my son!"

More gunfire erupted, and glass doors exploded outwards. Two guards fell through the doors as even more inmates pushed towards the gates.

"Fuck you! Let me go!" Eric heard a voice yell, and he exchanged a look with Hammond.

"We need more soldiers. Call Echo."

More alarms started blaring. Eric and Hammond ran up to the gates while Hammond pulled out his phone.

Michael raised his weapon, aiming at the prisoners. "US Army! Back away from the gates!" He shouted.

"Fuck you!"

The crowd of inmates kept pushing forward.

Hammond reached for his pistol, keeping his eyes on the crowd. "Jawersky? I need two of the up-armored Humvees."

"Roger that. They’ll be there as soon as possible."

After Hammond hung up, Eric approached the guards. "We have more people on the way. For now, let us in. We’ll try to help with crowd control."

The guard on the right trembled as he looked from his coworker to Eric. "I don’t know if I can do that, sir."

Eric shook his head. "Rules be damned. You’re in another world now, guy! Open the gates. Now."

Another loud crash echoed out as someone dropped from the second floor. The body landed next to the crowd.

"Its the warden!" Came a voice from the front, and the mob advanced towards the man who was now screaming in pain.

"Let. Us. In!" Eric growled.

The guard relented, fumbling for his keys with shaky hands. Once the gates were opened, Eric rushed in with Hammond and Michael. The trio of soldiers stopped one hundred feet from the mob. "Stop!" Eric yelled and the clicking of a safety made the man in front halt. Inmates behind him crashed into him, with the rest of the crowd trying to force their way forward.

Eric sighed and shot a round into the air.

Michael walked to the right of the crowd, also firing a shot. "Down on your knees!" He yelled, his weapon pointed at an inmate who had a shiv in his hand. Blood coated the shiv, and the inmates face.

The courtyard became silent. Inmates stopped immediately. The only sound that could be heard was the Sirens blaring in the background and the moans of the wounded.

"Deadly force is authorized. Everyone be quiet and get on your knees!" Eric yelled, pointing his weapon at the man who had stopped first.

The sound of alarms continued to echo in the courtyard as the guards that were still uninjured began to put handcuffs on the inmates.

Michael walked up to the warden, noticing the man had gone silent. "Dryer? The warden is gone." He called out, feeling for a pulse.

A few seconds later, up armored humvees arrived near the gates. Four soldiers hopped out from each, weapons drawn as they pushed through the open gates.

Eric began barking out orders. "Secure the wounded. Call up Seton in Austin and inform them we have a mass casualty event. Michael, can you call the aid station and tell them that we need them to come here? I will handle things here."

Michael nodded, heading back towards the Humvees to get on the radio.

Hammond walked over to the guard that had the Shiv, kicking the weapon away from him.

"The rest of you, come help the guards arrest the inmates. Those of you on the .50 cals, hold position. Do not fire unless ordered to."

One hour later, Eric stood with the deputy warden in the office. The wind blew through the shattered window, casting a slight chill on Eric as he looked around the room. Blood splattered was covering the reports and documents on the desk, with the computer laying in shambles on the ground, and furniture over turned. The deputy warden observed the mess and shook his head.

"We lost ten corrections officers, and thus far the count is twenty inmates. Thank you, Master Sergeant. If you were not here, that number would be greater."

Eric shook the man’s hand. "You were lucky that it happened right in our back yard. Cellphones work over here, so you can call or text me if anything happens like this. Until you get things settled, I can have eight soldiers stay here. We will have a security company send some of their officers here to help out."

"Thank you."

Eric left with Hammond and Michael. He had been ignoring his phone for a few hours, and now had a chance to check it. "Twenty missed calls from Milano." He murmured before stepping aside to call the general.

"Hello?"

"Report."

Eric sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Sir, when the prison fractured, there was a temporary loss of power. Before the generators could come online, the inmates began making a push for escape. We were able to assist the corrections officers with regaining the scene, but there were many casualties. A total of thirty lives were lost. Eight soldiers will be assigned to the Prison until V.E.T.S. gets here."

Milano sighed. "Okay. Report back to HQ. We have an ongoing situation."

Eric hung up the phone and exhaled. "It never ends." He growled, looking at Hammond.

The older man shrugged and laughed.

Eric, Michael and Hammond headed back to Hood hill. Eric walked quickly, nearly running as he approached the door. He looked up at the sky and grumbled.

"What next? How else is the universe planning on fucking me?"

Hammond looked over and placed his hand on Eric’s shoulder. "Relax. Whatever happens is something we can’t change."

Eric sighed and nodded.

"You’re right. Come on, let’s go see what’s going on."

Back at Hood Hill, Eric didn’t waste any time. He hurried to the command room, and walked in. He paused as he looked around the room. Every staff officer was present. A lieutenant from S3 was shaking. Mia sat in Eric’s seat. She looked up at him, and Eric saw the worry in her eyes he sat down next to her, taking her hand.

"Eric..." She mumbled, not able to get any other words out through shaky breath. He kissed her head and wrapped his arms around her.

Then he looked to his right.

King Remory and Dragon King Tryasche were here as well.

"What are you all..." Eric saw the projection on the wall.

"What the fuck?"

On the projection, Mithrael sat on his throne, looking at the camera. He was smiling warmly. His blonde hair was slicked back, and he wore a suit that conformed to his body.

"People of Earth." He began, his deep voice speaking calmly as if consoling someone. "I am the God of Brishan, Mithrael."

He paused, letting the audience digest his words.

"Your world as you know it will come to an end. Many among you are scared because you think you will die. I assure you that is not the case. Pray to me. Become my followers, and I will be your God."

He stood up, walking around the room. People in priest clothing were kneeling, their heads bowed against the floor as they prayed. A golden light began filling the room, and Mithrael smiled, raising his arms out to his sides.

"Children of Earth, you may think I am fake. That I am AI generated. Here, allow me to show you that I am not."

The comment section of the Livestream flooded to life. Religious comments and calls for blasphemy began to flood the video. Mithrael simply smiled.

He held out his hand. The camera zoomed in, and a replica of the Earth materialized. "This is where you all are right now. Let me show you what I can do if you pray to me."

A golden light shined around Mithrael, and his eyes seemed to focus on a part of the earth. He reached his finger down, and pulled a string towards him.

The comments exploded again. A picture was uploaded:

A yellow rope like structure had descended from the sky. Mithrael turned to the camera, smiling.

A few moments later, a man appeared next to Mithrael. He looked around, before dropping to his knees at Mithrael’s feet.

"I have been alone for so long, praying to a God who didn’t answer. Please accept my faith."

Mithrael smiled as the Earth in his palm disappeared. He looked down at the man. "Child, your faith has been well met. Because of your strong belief and longing heart, I have brought you here. I bless you with a long life here on Brishan."

Mithrael then turned back to the camera with a smile. "Pray to me for guidance, my children. I will be here when you cross over."

The projection ended, and Eric stood blankly, staring at the screen. For once, he couldn’t speak.

The temperature in the room began to increase, and Eric narrowed his eyes. He looked at a spot directly behind Milano.

"Why are you here?"

Dreha appeared. His face was grim.

"Mithrael has broken the rules." The Phoenix said.

"Soldiers of Earth, you do not know me, but I am a Cardinal Phoenix."

The soldiers in the room gasped. One lieutenant tried to bow, but Dreha shook his head. "Worry not, child. I am not here for pleasantries."

Dreha then turned to Tryasche. "Dragon King, you are aware of what Mithraels transgressions will do for this world, do you not?"

The dragon king shivered. His composure was broken as he looked down at the desk.

"A mana backlash." The king whispered. "The world will have mana storms because it cannot handle the power of a God."

Dreha nodded, then turned to Eric. "You have ten days before the first storm. Prepare yourselves."