Even as Barlin fled in panic, he never could have expected to find himself fleeing before he even made his attempt to invade and bend the American Antarctic research crew to his will.

On the way back to Griffin Winter Manor, he cursed under his breath, "Goddamn Americans. It's not that big of a deal, but they are sending in their whole goddamn army!"

A century ago, he really wouldn't worry about having to fight an army—guns and artillery were no threat for a cultivator of his caliber.

But aft