The heavens above Eldris lay torn asunder, the gaping rift pulsating with malignant energy. Isaroth stepped forward, his boots pressing into scorched earth as the infernal gateway pulsed like a malignant wound upon reality. His gaze swept over the city’s towering walls, where protective runes flickered faintly, holding the darkness at bay.


    He let out a low chuckle. "Clever. A barrier woven into the very bones of Eldris—denying me the luxury of simply tearing through its heart. Smart. I would expect no less."


    Behind him, the demonic horde seethed, their grotesque forms bathed in the sickly glow of the rift. The very ground beneath them withered, recoiling from their presence as if the land itself sought to escape. Isaroth stood at the vanguard, unmoving, his gaze fixed upon the distant citadel that crowned the city.


    "It begins," he murmured, watching the flickering torchlight of Eldris’ defenses as they stirred to life. He had foreseen resistance, of course, but it was inconsequential. The Guardians had abandoned their stronghold, their greatest warriors drawn to Theradrin like moths to an open flame. What remained was a city left ripe for slaughter.


    Yet, as his sharp eyes raked over the battlements, something unexpected stilled his breath. A flicker of surprise—quickly buried beneath cold calculation. Two figures stood at the forefront of Eldris'' defense. Even from this distance, their presence was undeniable.


    Kael Solvain. Elian Solvain.


    Isaroth’s smirk faltered, a shadow of irritation crossing his face. "Interesting. I expected resistance," he murmured. "I expected someone to stay behind. But not them."


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    His gaze lingered on Kael, an enigma unto himself. "Kael Solvain—formidable, unyielding. A warrior of sheer instinct and raw power." Then, his eyes drifted to the younger Solvain, unreadable. "And Elian… the boy of two paths. The key to a power even he does not yet understand."


    A slow breath escaped him, the faintest trace of amusement threading his tone. "Unexpected… but not unaccounted for."


    The pieces had shifted, but the game remained unchanged. His smirk returned, sharper this time. He had orchestrated this moment. The veil of war, the feint in Theradrin, the lure of Guardians to a battlefield leagues away.


    "So fate moves against me," he mused, his voice low, measured. "Shifting the board even as I play the game."


    He turned his head slightly, as if addressing the abyss itself. "Maldrak served his purpose well."


    With the grace of a master conductor, he raised his hand, the very air quivering beneath his will.


    "March forward," he commanded, his voice echoing like a death knell. "Let the streets of Eldris drown in fire."


    A monstrous roar erupted as the demonic legion surged, their claws raking against the earth, their weapons raised, their howls a chorus of impending ruin. The ground trembled beneath their charge, the weight of countless horrors descending upon Eldris like a living storm.


    Within the walls of Eldris, Kael and Elian stood atop the battlements, their gazes fixed upon the infernal tide cresting the horizon. Below them, the city stirred—soldiers rushed to their stations, steel rang against steel, and orders were barked across the stone corridors. The air was thick with the scent of oil and burning torches, the prelude to war.


    Elian’s jaw tightened. "So this is it."


    Kael remained still, his gaze locked on the shifting darkness beyond. "We hold. That’s all there is to it."


    The sky above them flickered with eerie light as the horde advanced, their shadows stretching like claws across the land. In the distance, beyond the waves of encroaching ruin, Isaroth stood watching. Still at the border. Still waiting.


    "He’s studying us," Kael murmured, his voice edged with something unreadable. "Measuring our worth."


    Elian’s fingers curled tighter around his sword. "Then let’s show him exactly what he’s up against."


    The bells of Eldris tolled again, their solemn cry reverberating through the city like a heartbeat before battle.


    Kael flexed his hands, the very air around them distorting as latent power crackled beneath his skin. "Hold the line. No matter what comes through that portal, we do not break."


    Elian took his place beside him, his voice steady, resolute. "For Eldris! For the Guardians!"


    A defiant roar rose from the walls of the citadel as the soldiers of Eldris braced for the storm.


    The battle had begun.