The plains of Stormhollow trembled beneath the march of over two hundred thousand united warriors. Flags of kingdoms waved beside tribal totems, pirate sails fluttered above frost-wolf banners. The sun had barely climbed the skies, yet the battlefield already burned with tension.
King Aerion Vale, mounted atop his fire-wind steed, raised Solthorn high.
"All forces! This is where we show them the cost of invasion. Today, we stand not as scattered bloodlines… but as Lunaris!"
The army roared in answer.
Beside him stood Jarl Havor Stonebreaker, frost hammer glowing. "⟦Reavers! With me!⟧"
Captain Ryker Vale gave the signal. "Ironjaw Cannons—Fire!"
The skies thundered as Corsair cannons lit the air, ripping into Umbrosian frontlines.
From the sand-carved west, Warchief Shaka of the Drek'Kor led his warriors into the fray, bare-chested, axe gleaming with runes. He crushed skulls with every swing, then grabbed a twisted beast by the throat—
CRACK!
Its neck broke in his hands.
"⟦Drok'tar ven!⟧" he howled. "For the desert! For Etherion!"
In the center, Chieftain Kaorun Vael'Norr and Elira Vale fought side-by-side like dance and storm.
"Left!" Elira called, firing Moonpiercer.
"Right!" Kaorun responded, skewering two soldiers with his spear.
"⟦Seryn'thal!⟧" Kaorun roared, vines bursting from the ground, wrapping enemies' legs, exposing them for Elira's precise shots. The battlefield became a waltz of arrows and blood.
At the front, Drulgar and Rugok led the Tharnak warriors, riding their beasts. Earth cracked as they smashed through undead soldiers.
Elder Namier and Selu Tidebloom commanded the rivers, washing away waves of fire and toxic magic.
Above, General Kael Vale clashed swords with an Umbrosian knight on a burning ridge.
"You think shadows scare Etherion?" he spat, blade locking.
"Let me show you fury."
In the chaos, Lyra Vale rushed to heal a downed Reaver, unaware of a spear flying toward her—until—
SHUNK!
Kaorun stepped in front of her.
"Lyra…" he grunted, the spear lodged in his shoulder.
"No!" she cried, grabbing him before he fell. Healing light surged from her hands.
"Elira! He's hit!" Lyra screamed.
Elira's eyes widened as she covered them with arrows, yelling, "Shaka!"
Through the smoke, Warchief Shaka charged forward, picked up Kaorun effortlessly.
"I got him," he growled. "He's not dying today."
Shaka ran through enemies, crushing them barehanded as he carried Kaorun to the barracks behind the line.
Meanwhile, Orion Vale, in full focus, activated Time Freeze—
"⟦Chronos'kai!⟧"
A pocket of time stopped as he pushed Lyra and wounded warriors out of harm's way, barely escaping a collapsing siege beast.
The final blow came from Aerion himself.
Flames and wind spiraled around Solthorn as he leapt, striking the enemy general down.
The shadow line broke.
Umbrosia's forces began to retreat.
The warhorns of victory echoed.
But no one cheered too long.
Aerion gazed at the distant dark horizon.
"This battle is won…"
"…but the war has just begun."