Assault On Void Star Academy (Kingdom Chronicles Book 6)

Book summary

Shapeshifters target a powerful artifact hidden in the Void Star Military Academy, but their plan spirals into chaos when students discover their scheme, igniting a devastating conflict. Grandell, a student and former Unicorn Slayer, must lead the defense and navigate the escalating war in an attempt to save everyone.

ASSAULT ON VOID STAR ACADEMY is a thrilling sci-fi adventure.

Excerpt from Assault On Void Star Academy (Kingdom Chronicles Book 6)

The rain hit the window. There was the occasional semblance of a rhythm in the water, but the wind killed it just as fast. He sighed and looked out, seeing nothing but the grounds of the school. No one was out today.

“I hate the rain,” Grandell said while he traced his green finger through the moisture. “Yeah, but it could be worse. We could be in it,” Blin replied, trying to suppress a shudder through his body. “I’d rather be out there sometimes,” Grandell said.

“Sure, buddy, you do what makes you happy. I’m going to stay right here where it’s nice and dry,” Blin replied and changed the channel to the news.

“The Shifter Alliance has struck again, this time laying waste to the Antacian border town of Tian. The destruction here is great, as you can see,” the reporter said, and the camera panned to the left, revealing burning buildings and wrecked cars.

“They have left their calling card, claiming that until Jorin Idris has been destroyed, they will never stop their assault against what they call vampire strongholds,” the reporter said, and Blin turned off the television.

“The Northern Kingdom is being attacked by shifters because they think some dusty old vampire king came back from the dead. Are you kidding me?” Blin asked.

“Didn’t you hear about the dust up in Echemos a few days ago? I’m telling you, the world is coming to an end. The unicorn invasion. The blade thing. Even in the Morglands, all the vamps in training got dusted by a golem. Why are we even here? We should be getting ready for the end of the world,” Grandell replied.

“Yeah, or we could just do nothing, put up with our idiot teachers, learn how to defend our home, and call it a day,” Blin replied, setting the remote down.

“From the end of the world?” Grandell replied. “From everything willing to try,” Blin said and crossed his arms.

“Well, I guess I’d rather die in a fight than run from anything,” Grandell looked back towards the window. The rain still fell, and if it wasn’t for the news and his phone, there was no way he could tell that anything was wrong at all from here. This was almost his whole world.

Then a soft tone came through the speakers in the dorm. “Time to go,” Blin said with a yawn, then he stood up. Grandell did too, following Blin into the hall.

The rest of the students were filing out. Trolls, ogres, giants, even a few humans in the mix, the chatter was low as they moved.

“See you later, Blin,” Grandell said. Blin turned to look at him. “You too,” he replied. The two of them moved down opposite halls.

The crowd thinned out, and soon Grandell found himself in the classroom. He moved to his desk and sat down. The others did as well. “Hey, Grindy,” a voice said. He rolled his eyes but couldn’t help but smile a bit. “Yes, what is it?” he asked.

“Nothing, I just wanted to call you Grindy to see if you’d answer,” she said, and he took a deep breath. “Really? I don’t feel good, and I’m not in the mood,” he replied. She laughed. “You always get like this when it rains. Someday you’ll have to explain that whole thing to me,” she replied.

“You wouldn’t understand. I don’t think I even do,” he replied, and she frowned a little. “Someday you’re gonna have to open up,” she said. “It’s just a mental thing. Nothing can be done, don’t worry about it,” he replied.

“Fine, you keep being your grumpy self, slayer,” she said. He cringed. “Don’t call me that,” he replied.

Then, before she could reply, at the front of the class, there was a brief shot of purple light. It faded, then there was an ogre in a suit. Mr. Hummel was there. He did not look happy, not that he ever did, but today he looked especially unhappy.

“Class, I regret to inform you there’s been a change in plans,” he said, his voice deep, cutting through whatever random thoughts the students were having, and bringing them to attention. He took a breath, trying to find the words that came next.

“Due to the recent rise in shifter violence, the top brass has demanded everyone get a refresher course on how to kill Yelena,” he said, not moving or changing his voice at all in the process.

All at once, the class started to moan and complain. “Enough,” he said, and the class shut up. Then hands went up. “Sheila Hoag, ask the question,” he said, pointing at her.

“Sir, killing Yelena is something a second year can do in their sleep. Is this necessary?” she asked, crossing her arms.

The teacher softened his looks. “Yes. I know, but this Yelena Alliance is different. These aren’t your mindless beasts picking off kids outside a village, no, these are warriors,” he replied.

She laughed. “Warriors, really, sir?” she asked, and his black eyes flashed in her direction. “Yelena used to be a plague on this world, and we drove them back. So yes, as of right now, we all get a refresher course on how to kill these furries,” he said.

There was a low groan throughout the class, but it died out in a hurry. “Partner up,” Hummel said.

“Yes, sir,” the class replied in unison and stood up. Hummel snapped his fingers, and the room around them transformed into a full gym.

“Come on, Grindy, you know the drill,” Hoag said. “Come on, stop calling me that, and yeah, the drill, I got it down,” Grandell replied, and she laughed. “Wouldn’t have it any other way, it’s too much fun,” she replied.

The class stood in a line, partnered up. The teacher took a breath, stomped his foot, and his suit turned into a suit of light green armor. The class followed his lead, their uniforms turning into blue armor in a second.

“Alright. These beasts are not your typical shifters. If you’ve been following the news, you should understand that. So, in light of this, I have been authorized to turn off the limits of the training spell. This level of intensity is meant for the actual military, so any volunteers?” he asked, scanning the line.

No one volunteered.

“Mydar, Nyra, you’re up first,” he said and walked back behind the white boundary line.

The two women glanced at one another, then stepped forward. “Yes, sir,” Mydar said. Mydar was a Troll, tall and strong, with black hair under her helmet. Nyra was an Ogre. She was taller, her arms, pure muscle, thicker than most people’s legs. Grandell couldn’t help but admire that much power in anyone. Useful in a fight.

Their weapons appeared in their hands. Nyra had a silver club that looked like it would have taken three people to lift it. Mydar’s weapon of choice was a long, straight silver sword. “Now for the enemy,” Hummel said and took a breath.

“Erom Retsnom,” he said, and in front of them, a column of bright yellow and blue fire erupted from the ground. When the fire faded, a seven foot tall beast stood before them. It was a werewolf, with long, deep red hair, and golden eyes.

“What is this?” Nyra asked. “The enemy,” Hummel replied.

Then the beast attacked. It leapt forward. Nyra swung her club at the thing. It ducked and grabbed her by the throat, picking her up with its left hand and preparing to rip out her heart with its right hand. Mydar rushed the beast and cleaved into its side with her sword.

It sunk a couple of inches into the flesh, enough to make it howl in pain, dropping the ogre to the ground. It put its clawed hand around the blade and pulled it out. The wound spewed black smoke, then healed. Mydar took a step back, seeing her reflection in the beast’s black eyes. It tossed the blade to the ground.

She tried to get out of the way, but the inhuman speed it had was impossible to escape. In three steps it had her by the neck.

She screamed only for a second as her airway was cut off. Then that silver club hit it from the right side, directly in the head. The beast whined, stumbled away, and dropped its victim. “You alright?” Nyra asked.

“Fine,” Mydar replied as she took Nyra’s hand and stood up. Without missing a beat, the two of them ran at the beast while it was still stunned. Nyra swung that club again, and the wolf raised its left arm, blocking it. No shifter should have been this strong.

Mydar took a chance and jumped on the thing, pushing it back to the ground. “Now,” she yelled. Nyra rushed the beast and put the end of the club into the thing’s skull, crushing it into paste. “That’s how you do it,” she said with a smile, only to look down and see those long claws pushed through the armor, into Mydar’s chest.

“Brolox, no,” she said, looking at the bleeding wound. Hummel rushed to her side. “She’s still alive, call the medics,” he said. Nyra put her hands together, then a white beam shot down from above, just beside her. Two elves rushed out of the light, dressed in their uniforms.

“It’s a magic wound. We got this, back off,” the first one said. Hummel did what they said. The elves got on opposite sides and joined hands over the wounded, then all of them disappeared in a similar flash of light.

“Well, now you people see what can happen if you go into a real fight when you’re not ready. People get hurt, people will die. If this was real, neither one of these two would have lived Their form was sloppy, and teamwork even worse. They used one another as bait to get the advantage. Magical creations are a mere shadow of the real thing. This one is the mirror of the captured alliance member the Mystic Police were able to capture,” he said.

The students looked at one another.

“Pay attention, this is your enemy. You will all fight this again and again, but this time I’m turning the safety back on. You’re going to fight until you win or the time for class runs out,” Hummel said, as if he knew something.

“Why would a bunch of vampire haters come here, sir?” Sheila asked. Hummel was going to get after her for asking anything out of turn, but the situation they all watched changed his mind. He thought about his next words carefully.