Governor Aldren Voss's army stretched across the horizon like a plague of locusts, their banners fluttering in the wind as they marched toward Veridian. The ground trembled under the weight of 80,000 boots, and the air buzzed with the confidence of men who believed victory was inevitable. Voss rode at the forefront, his polished armor gleaming, a smirk plastered across his face. He had no doubt that his overwhelming numbers would crush Noah's fledgling city. But Noah had other plans.
Deep within the dense forests and jagged hills that surrounded Veridian, Noah's forces were already at work. The Umbra Assassins moved like shadows, their blades glinting in the moonlight as they slithered behind enemy lines. Their mission was clear: disrupt, destroy, and demoralize. They struck silently, cutting throats of sentries, sabotaging wagons, and setting fire to supplies. The Soul-Forged Knights, clad in dark, otherworldly armor, ambushed smaller contingents of Voss's army, their weapons glowing with an eerie light as they cut through flesh and bone with terrifying efficiency.
The first sign of trouble for Voss came when a messenger stumbled into his camp, bloodied and breathless. "Sir, our supply wagons—they're gone! The southern route is littered with corpses and burning wreckage!" Voss's smirk faltered for a moment, but he quickly dismissed the report. "Minor setbacks," he muttered, brushing it off. "We'll forge ahead."
But the setbacks were far from minor. As the army pressed on, they found themselves navigating treacherous terrain—ravines that seemed to appear out of nowhere, bridges that had been destroyed, and narrow passes that were perfect for ambushes. The Umbra Assassins continued their relentless attacks, appearing and disappearing like phantoms. Soldiers began to whisper about curses, their morale crumbling with every passing day.
In the dead of night, the Soul-Forged Knights descended upon a sleeping camp. The screams of men echoed through the forest as the knights cut through tents and bodies with brutal precision. By the time reinforcements arrived, the knights were gone, leaving behind a scene of carnage and a lingering sense of dread.
Soulforged knight and other troops pushed boulder off the cliff directed at the division of soldiers and troop camps destroyed and annihilating division of troops.
Voss's once-confident army was now a shadow of its former self. The soldiers were exhausted, their boots worn thin, their stomachs empty. The once-proud banners were now tattered, and the smell of blood and ash hung heavy in the air. Voss clenched his fists, his frustration boiling over. "Where are they coming from?!" he roared at his officers, who could only shake their heads in fear.
Finally, after days of relentless harassment, Voss's army reached the outskirts of Veridian. But what should have been a triumphant moment was instead a grim reminder of their losses. The soldiers staggered to a halt, their faces gaunt and eyes hollow. The once-mighty army was now a weary, broken force.
From the walls of Veridian, Noah watched the scene unfold. A cold smile played on his lips as he observed the diminished enemy forces. He could feel the power coursing through him, a result of the system rewards he had gained from his troops' successful guerrilla tactics. A translucent overlay appeared before his eyes, displaying the spoils of their efforts:
[System Notification ]
System Points (SP) Gained : 1,200
[ You have gained the Ability : Enhanced Tactical Insight and have met the conditions to summon Commanders type troop]
Noah dismissed the overlay, his mind already racing with the next steps. He turned to his commanders, his voice calm but commanding. "Prepare the men. We finish this today."
The gates of Veridian creaked open, and Noah's remaining troops marched out in formation. The Soul-Forged Knights took the lead, their dark armor gleaming in the sunlight, while the Umbra Assassins lurked in the shadows, ready to strike. The soldiers of Veridian, though fewer in number, moved with a discipline and resolve that contrasted sharply with the disarray of Voss's forces.
Voss stared at the approaching army, his confidence now replaced with a gnawing sense of doubt. "Form up! Form up, damn it!" he barked, but his soldiers moved sluggishly, their spirits shattered.
The tension in the air was palpable as the two forces faced each other. The stage was set for a final, bloody confrontation that would determine the fate of Veridian. Noah stood at the forefront, his eyes gleaming with a mix of calculation and ruthlessness. "Let's see how confident you are now, Voss," he muttered under his breath.
The battle was about to begin.
The march of Governor Aldren Voss's army was a sight to behold, a seemingly unstoppable force stretching across the horizon like a storm of steel and flesh. Their banners fluttered proudly in the wind, and the rhythmic pounding of 80,000 boots sent tremors through the earth. Voss rode at the forefront, his polished armor reflecting the sunlight, a smug grin plastered across his face. He had no doubt that his sheer numbers would crush Noah's upstart city. But Noah, watching from the shadows, had already set his plans into motion.
Deep within the forests and jagged hills surrounding Veridian, Noah's forces were already at work. The Umbra Assassins moved like wraiths, their dark cloaks blending seamlessly with the shadows. Their mission was precision—silently infiltrating enemy lines, cutting the throats of sentries, sabotaging wagons, and setting fire to supply depots. The Soul-Forged Knights, clad in dark, otherworldly armor, ambushed smaller contingents of Voss's army, their weapons glowing with an eerie light as they carved through flesh and bone with terrifying efficiency.
The first blow to Voss's confidence came when a bloodied messenger stumbled into his camp, gasping for breath. "Sir, our supply wagons—they're gone! The southern route is littered with corpses and burning wreckage!" Voss's smirk faltered for a moment, but he quickly brushed it off. "Minor setbacks," he muttered. "We'll forge ahead."
But the setbacks were far from minor. As the army pressed on, they found themselves navigating treacherous terrain—ravines that seemed to appear out of nowhere, bridges reduced to ash, and narrow passes perfect for ambushes. The Umbra Assassins continued their relentless attacks, appearing and vanishing like phantoms. Soldiers began to whisper of curses, their morale crumbling with every passing day.
In the dead of night, the Soul-Forged Knights descended upon a sleeping camp. Screams echoed through the forest as the knights tore through tents and bodies with brutal precision. By the time reinforcements arrived, the knights were gone, leaving behind a scene of carnage and a lingering sense of dread.
On a cliff overlooking a narrow pass, a squad of Soul-Forged Knights and other troops heaved a massive boulder over the edge. It tumbled down with a deafening roar, crushing the division of soldiers below. The camp was annihilated, bodies strewn across the ground like broken dolls.
Voss's once-confident army was now a shadow of its former self. The soldiers were exhausted, their boots worn thin, their stomachs empty. The once-proud banners were now tattered, and the smell of blood and ash hung heavy in the air. Voss clenched his fists, his frustration boiling over. "Where are they coming from?!" he roared at his officers, who could only shake their heads in fear.
Finally, after days of relentless harassment, Voss's army reached the outskirts of Veridian. But what should have been a triumphant moment was instead a grim reminder of their losses. The soldiers staggered to a halt, their faces gaunt and eyes hollow. The once-mighty army was now a weary, broken force.
From the walls of Veridian, Noah watched the scene unfold. A cold smile played on his lips as he observed the diminished enemy forces. He could feel the power coursing through him, a result of the system rewards he had gained from his troops' successful guerrilla tactics. A translucent overlay appeared before his eyes, displaying the spoils of their efforts:
[System Notification]
System Points (SP) Gained: 1,200
[New Ability Acquired: Enhanced Tactical Insight]
[Condition Met: "Commander-Type Troop Summoning" Unlocked]
Noah dismissed the overlay, his mind already racing with the next steps. He turned to his commanders, his voice calm but commanding. "Prepare the men. We finish this today."
The gates of Veridian creaked open, and Noah's remaining troops marched out in formation. The Soul-Forged Knights took the lead, their dark armor gleaming in the sunlight, while the Umbra Assassins lurked in the shadows, ready to strike. The soldiers of Veridian, though fewer in number, moved with a discipline and resolve that contrasted sharply with the disarray of Voss's forces.
Voss stared at the approaching army, his confidence now replaced with a gnawing sense of doubt. "Form up! Form up, damn it!" he barked, but his soldiers moved sluggishly, their spirits shattered.
The tension in the air was palpable as the two forces faced each other. The stage was set for a final, bloody confrontation that would determine the fate of Veridian. Noah stood at the forefront, his eyes gleaming with a mix of calculation and ruthlessness. "Let's see how confident you are now, Voss," he muttered under his breath.
The battle was about to begin.