In a remote mountainous region, a war reached its climax. The Kobolds of this area had been besieged for months, and a few weeks ago, their defenses finally crumbled, allowing the attackers to advance and finish the job.

"My chieftain, the human forces have broken through our internal defenses. The human woman is wreaking havoc on our helmet-breakers, but they can still hold for a bit longer. Please consider fleeing," a Kobold said to its leader.

"There's nowhere to run. Only to test the strength of this human woman. Let's see if she's truly worthy of Krog the helmet-breaker," Krog said, grabbing a large two-handed axe and heading towards the exit of his fortress.

In the streets of the Kobold city, women and children ran in all directions, like headless chickens. They hadn't had the chance to be escorted out before the war began, and they lacked the strength to break the siege on their own. They were the unfortunate victims always present in every war.

Krog walked through the streets, observing the destruction left by the siege machines on his city – flames spreading, buildings collapsed, and the cries of parents and children searching for their relatives amid the debris.

Everything was misery. However, in these gloomy times, facing the end of the city, he also witnessed the heroism and dedication that his people had always shown. As he walked towards the wall to confront the human forces, multiple veteran Kobolds, no longer in active service for various reasons, decided to equip themselves and follow him. They fought alongside their chieftain once more, defending their way of life against the invaders.

Upon reaching the walls, the scene that greeted Krog was even more desolate than he expected. The enemy coalition had a significant numerical advantage over his troops, and although the quality was on his side, it had been nullified by a particular force – the humans. Specifically, there was a detachment of elite human forces supporting this coalition against the Kobolds.

Amidst the crowd, Krog finally spotted the human who had led them to this unfortunate state – the famous Maiden of Ashes. She was clad in almost impenetrable heavy armor for his troops, emitting dark energy pulses that neutralized the curses of their own shamans. However, that wasn't the worst part; the worst came in the form of the three Ash Maidens accompanying this regiment. These three women were horribly powerful, and their spells could wreak havoc among the Kobold troops, as Krog knew from the harsh experience of facing them in their first open-field battle, where they were nearly annihilated, marking the slow but inevitable decline of their city.

"We should have handed over the relics to the human when she came to ask for them," one of Krog's lieutenants remarked.

"There was no way to know that this would happen. Although this human order of knights is known, they had never demonstrated such power," Krog replied.

"It's not that they have aces up their sleeves; everyone does. What led to our downfall was not foreseeing that our own allies would use us to gauge the humans' cards," a shaman added.

"The humans have outsmarted us in the game of wit; I grant them that. But we can still make them pay the price. I am Krog the helmet-breaker for a reason. Prepare, shaman, this ends today," Krog declared.

The chieftain began to circulate his internal energy and recite a kind of incantation. His body started to grow, and his muscles began to emerge.

At the same time, the shaman had been drawing circles on the ground with his staff while chanting a long incantation in a strange language. The shaman used his most potent spell to enhance the chieftain's power. Although this spell was better used on a large contingent, he dedicated it specifically to him so that when facing his enemies, he could withstand disruptions even from the three human mages.

The chieftain's body was absorbing the shaman's spell, soon reaching its maximum power. He ordered his few reserve troops to charge near the human leader. His idea was to keep them in place, giving him the opportunity to fight her alone and make her pay for destroying his city.

Krog, the helmet-breaker, advanced with determination towards the Maiden of Ashes, his two-handed axe gleaming with a threatening light. The human woman, with her impenetrable armor, raised her sword in response, ready for the imminent clash.

The two leaders collided with tremendous force, the sound of metal against metal resonating in the air. Krog attacked ferociously, but the Maiden of Ashes' skill was evident as she dodged and blocked his blows. Every move was calculated, and the Kobold chieftain was forced to retreat before the skill of his adversary.

Meanwhile, the Ash mage prepared to cast their spells. Quickly, the Kobold shaman and his group channeled their energy to counteract magical effects, creating a protective shield around Krog. Nevertheless, the battle was uneven.

The battle unfolded in a deadly dance. Krog, with his axe, tried to strike the Maiden of Ashes, while she moved with agility, seeking opportunities to counterattack. The dark energy from the human's armor pulsed, neutralizing the magical tactics of the Kobolds.

At a crucial moment, one of the ashen Mage unleashed a beam of energy towards Krog, threatening to undo the shaman's spell. However, the Kobold leader reacted quickly, deflecting the attack with his axe before continuing his advance.

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Empowered by the shaman's spell, Krog began to show his true strength. His muscles swelled, and his resilience seemed to increase. Seizing this boost, he launched a series of devastating blows against the Maiden of Ashes.

The human, surprised by the sudden surge of power, was forced to step back, her armor cracking under the Kobold chieftain's might. The Mages, disturbed by the sudden resistance, adjusted their spells to counter the new threat.

In a burst of fury, Krog unleashed a roar that echoed throughout the battle. His reserve troops, led by brave veteran Kobolds, rushed towards the Maiden of Ashes without fear of the opportune blows they might receive from their current opponents. Despite being outnumbered, the determination of the Kobolds resonated in every strike and war cry.

At this point, the last ashen Mage who hadn't participated in the previous exchange decided it was time to act. She had given the others a chance to gain real battlefield experience and perfect their magics.

The Mage chanted a short charm and then raised her staff in the air, shouting, "Bastion of Ashes."

This was a signature move of the knights, and it was a skill that one of their former commanders used to give them the upper hand in combat. Unlike how their former leader used this ability casually as if it were nothing, for Lissie and the other two Maidens, it was a great toll on their bodies, and they could only maintain the skill for a short 15 minutes at most.

Under the helmets of each human knight, a faint crimson glow could be seen, and both allied and enemy troops held their breath as they witnessed the effect of such a spell.

The situation on the battlefield immediately reversed, and the Maiden, who was on the verge of succumbing to Krog's power, rose like an imposing titan. Her armor gleamed, and her strength explosively increased.

Not only her but all the knights of ashes in the area received a significant qualitative and quantitative boost in their energy and powers. With this, they launched a renewed offensive to eliminate the elite Kobold troops.

Krog, soaked in the euphoria of his advance, did not anticipate the sudden shift in the battle's tide. The Maiden of Ashes, enveloped in the energy of the "Bastion of Ashes," stood as an indomitable colossus. Her armor shone with a brilliance that eclipsed the fury of the Kobold chieftain.

In an instant, the battle took a violent turn. The Maiden's speed and agility multiplied; her movements were now so fast that Krog could barely trace the path of her sword. Each strike was an explosive burst of energy, and the resistance of the Kobold chieftain was overwhelmed.

Empowered by the Bastion, the Maidens unleashed even more devastating spells. The protective shield of the Kobold shaman trembled under the magical intensity. The reserve troops, valiant but now outnumbered, fought against the knights of ashes, who advanced with renewed strength.

The Maiden of Ashes, with a gleam in her eyes, unleashed a series of lightning-fast attacks. Her sword cut through the air with astonishing speed, leaving behind bright trails. Krog, despite his newly acquired power, was forced on the defensive, desperately blocking the rapid attacks coming from all directions.

The Maidens, with their enhanced energy, cast spells that tore through the sky. The earth shook under magical explosions, and the Kobolds struggled to stay on their feet. The shaman, exhausted but determined, redoubled his efforts to maintain the protective shield, although he felt the pressure was overwhelming.

Amidst the chaos, the voice of the Maiden resonated strongly. "For the ashes that gave us life, for the glory we pursue, annihilate the invaders!" Her call further fueled the fury of the human knights, who now advanced with unbreakable determination.

Krog, though resilient, found himself in a desperate battle. Every effort to counterattack was repelled by the overwhelming speed and strength of the Maiden and her entourage. The Kobolds' situation, already precarious, became increasingly desperate.

In a futile attempt at resistance, Krog signaled secretly to his shaman. He had decided to take his rival's life using a suicidal technique. However, before any plan could be executed, the Maiden's armor began to glow, and her speed increased explosively.

In a swift exchange of blows, the chieftain was finally beheaded. With his fall and the demise of other veteran members of the helmet-breakers, the defenses collapsed. A couple of knights quickly ran and captured the shaman before he could cast his spell.

Soon, the knights of ashes finished off all the remaining helmet-breakers, but before they continued the onslaught on the remaining Kobold troops, the Maiden made a gesture to the rear, and they blew a horn that called back all the knights to formation.

The remaining Kobold troops seized the sudden respite to retreat into the city.

The leaders of the allied troops were surprised by the sudden withdrawal of the knights of ashes, and soon their leaders went to meet their commander.

"Grandmaster Jane, could you explain why your troops withdrew from the battle? Are you reneging on our agreement to fight together?" an elf leader asked.

"I am not reneging on any agreement. In fact, I just fulfilled the agreement since my knights eliminated all the enemy helmet-breakers on their own. Now I just have to wait for your troops to do their part and clear the city to claim my share of the deal," Jane responded without even giving a glance to the approaching allied leaders. She was only inspecting her weapons and equipment.

"But we could clean the city much more easily with your help," another leader interjected.

"But that wasn't what we agreed upon. My troops dealt with the helmet-breakers and captured their shamans. I defeated their leader Krog in single combat. Go back to the siege and fulfill your part," Jane continued without giving them a glance, proceeding to check the condition of her knights and assess the wounded.

The allied leaders tried to convince her for a few more minutes, but all was futile. They finally had to return to their troops and proceed on their own.

None of them had an elite troop like the knights of ashes, so even though the battle was won, the next phase of cleaning the city would be equally exhausting. They would have to face the remaining Kobold troops in urban combat, using every small corner for ambushes, which would wear out their troops and cause a lot of casualties. Of course, they could simply demolish everything, but there were several groups eager to settle in this city.

"It's okay to let them go as they are; the boys can still endure much more," Lissie said.

"It's prudent for our guys to conserve energy and rest. Besides, I see no need to fight unnecessarily. They made a deal and agreed to watch us while we had a horrible battle against their enemies. I see no reason why we can't take a back seat and watch as they finish their part," Jane responded.