At the heart of the stories that make the Lore of Cross The Ages and more specifically Mantris rich is a particular intervention brigade, that of Division VII. This highly trained elite brigade is known for its tactical approach, its mastery of advanced technology and its ability to operate in the most hostile and mysterious territories of Artellium. The third Airdrop of SR (Special Rare) cards of this season that were revealed this morning, concerns precisely Division VII and gives us a brief glimpse of these agents in action.
Standard Version
Reconnaissance mission in the Dark!
On this map, we can see three agents of this unit of Division VII in full reconnaissance in a dark and mysterious region. According to the background suggesting a wooded and green environment, it could be the forest of Orcunion, or perhaps another forest of Artellium if there is one?!
The members of this Brigade are dressed in their beautiful futuristic armor in steel tones, and adorned with pulsating lights.
This is a sure sign of an advanced energy source.
Their postures, a sign of courage and confidence, are reinforced by the attitude and charisma of the central character. Her dominant position and strict gaze suggest the possibility that she is the leader of this group. These two acolytes remain in the background but attentive, ready for any eventuality.
They wear helmets with integrated visors that certainly include augmented reality systems, with night vision capable of analyzing their environment very quickly.
The blue light emitted by their outfits betrays their presence and indicates the use of advanced technology, such as detection or communication instruments.
Which might indicate that they are off the beaten track?!!
The environment of this forest is cold and dark, the blackness of the sky and the frightening atmosphere that reigns there, attest that these soldiers are exploring a terrain that they do not know. Are they in danger? Will they survive this nocturnal escapade?
The residents here, in their own way, also have equipment to observe and monitor their habitat, perhaps even to alert each other of disturbing visits. In any case, this is what the presence of the curious creature in the background, perfectly camouflaged, seems to suggest!!
Alternative Version
Terrifying confrontation!
The artwork for this card depicts a truly intense and fierce battle scene, with members of Division VII battling hostile creatures.
In the foreground, the woman who was announced as the leader on the standard version of the card is in difficulty.
Disheveled, she has lost some finery in this fight, such as her helmet and her skirt. However, she continues to fight with her team against menacing creatures, a sort of reptile with sharp fangs.
Are these beasts the guardians of the place or are they fearsome resident predators of this inhospitable forest?
In the young woman's hand, we can see a power or a magical weapon, emitting a purple light. In the background of this card, everything is nothing but tumult and destruction.
Other creatures can be seen heading towards her. How many? Impossible to determine…
What will be the outcome of this fight?
The aggressiveness of these beasts is a very bad omen.
Their arrangement around the character announces a fight whose outcome is unfortunately tragic.
Survival no longer depends on equipment, when technology collides with primitive savagery.
These cards, frozen in time but vibrant with interpretations, are a window onto the infinite possibilities that courage in the face of adversity produces. But when it is too late, it is only at that moment that we question ourselves and understand that we are all the same.
The real question these images pose is: How far are we willing to go to prove our superiority over others?
Artist
Tom Zarka is a freelance illustrator and concept artist based in Nantes, France.
He practices both digital and traditional painting and offers his services for various needs such as video games, book publishing, board games, comics, and much more, for professionals and individuals alike.
He also participates when he can in various Cross The Ages events.
He has made several maps for Cross The Ages, such as Tumul, Niguane, Sato, opax unit, blue dream, Kurtis and the SR Division VII map.
