As the arrows shifted from volleys to fire-at-will, chaos erupted. Thousands of feline beastmen scattered around the circular walls of the city, their agility unmatched as they began scaling the defenses. The army atop the walls had been prepared for this, but the sheer numbers threatened to overwhelm them.

The first wave of felines was met with swift resistance. Spears thrust downward, piercing into the faces of the climbing beastmen. Some clung to the walls with one paw, swatting at the spearheads with their claws, but more often than not, the spears found their mark, sinking deep into eye sockets and sending bodies plummeting to the ground below. Others that made it over the walls were quickly dispatched with short swords.

But the army hadn't expected what came next. The beastmen formed living chains, linking their bodies and spinning into a coordinated, terrifying ball and chain. Dozens of these living slingshots flung their comrades over the walls in waves, catapulting warriors into the heart of the settlement. Panic set in as catmen rained down, landing among the soldiers, who struggled to shoot them mid-air or regroup to combat the sudden invasion inside the fort. With so much focus on the walls, the inner defenses began to crumble.

Elron plunged his sword between an enemy’s collarbone, the blade sinking deep. He yanked it free and turned to his group, yelling, “We need to get off the wall!”

His seasoned team responded instinctively, cutting through enemies as they made their way to the stairs. Once on the ground, Elron spoke again, “They’re launching the tougher sub-species over the wall. We need to find and kill them before they group up.”

His group nodded in agreement and moved swiftly, hunting through houses and alleyways, dispatching isolated enemies before they could form squads. Though, it wasn’t long before they stumbled upon one of those very squads.

“Slyra, protect Kael!” Elron shouted, clashing with a massive white-furred catman.

Maris raised her mace, summoning a soft glow that enveloped the group before she leaped into the fray, smashing her weapon into a spotted feline’s skull.

Just as Elron swung at his opponent, Kael invaded the beastman’s mind, dropping the cat to its knees. Elron’s blade cleaved through its neck, sending the head flying.

From above, a new attacker pounced from the rooftops, but Slyra’s throwing knives found their mark, sinking into the beast mid-air and saving Elron from the ambush.

“Thank you!” he yelled, returning to the battle against yet another foe.

The skirmishes were relentless. The group fought from alley to alley until, suddenly, they froze, captivated by the aura of three combatants moving at blinding speed. Despite the chaos around them, they couldn’t tear their eyes away from the scene. It was like watching an echo of the legendary battle they had witnessed in the city of Crest.

The three combatants paused for a brief moment, and Elron finally recognized them. A rogue and a fencer, both Sylphs, were locked in combat with a black-furred beastman. The fencer’s blade moved with blinding speed, thrusting so rapidly that it seemed impossible that any creature could dodge it. Yet the catman danced around the point of the blade, slipping through every strike with inhuman agility.

When the fencer’s attacks failed, the rogue struck from behind, but the catman was too quick, grabbing the rogue’s arm and slicing through it with his razor-sharp claws. Blood sprayed the ground, and the rogue fell back, clutching his stump.

The cat smirked. “You two won’t get in my way. Die!” And with that, the beast charged at them again.

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Elron watched closely now, finally able to follow some of the movements. The cat wasn’t blocking all the attacks—he was dodging them, absorbing minor hits here and there. The Sylphs’ strikes landed time to time, but they were superficial at best.

Without warning, the fencer jumped back as the catman pulled his arm free from the rogue’s throat, licking the blood from his fingers. “Mmm, rich blood. You’ll make a fine broth,” the catman taunted, lunging at the fencer once more.

“We have to bring that monster down,” Elron muttered.

“You’ll die if you go in there,” Slyra warned.

Maris added, “If we assist now, retreat won’t be possible, my lord.”

“I’m going in!” Elron declared, charging forward.

Kael, grinning, chimed in, “Fuck it, let’s help him.”

The cat kicked the fencer aside and noticed Elron’s approach. “Oh?” With a fluid flip, the beastman dodged Kael’s mana bolt and Slyra’s throwing knife.

“Go away, little cubs. Let the adults play,” the cat growled, eyes locking onto Elron with a predatory gaze.

Elron’s sword flared green as he leaned into his external powers. “I think not.”

The fencer staggered back to his feet, joining the group. “You four should get the prince to safety,” he suggested, nodding toward the unconscious elf on the ground.

Elron’s mind raced as the fencer and catman re-engaged. But now, Elron could see the movements with greater clarity, and he joined the fight, his blows striking in tandem with the fencer’s.

The catman dodged most of Elron’s strikes effortlessly, treating him like an afterthought. Frustrated, Elron unleashed a flurry of spells—void strikes, arcs of lightning, bursts of energy—but none of it landed effectively. His magic tore through the town, leveling buildings but barely inconveniencing the beast.

Then, a spell backfired. Mana exploded in Elron’s hand, and he collapsed to his knees, staring at his smoldering fingers. He had drained himself completely. Rage and adrenaline were the only things keeping him conscious as he rose again, watching helplessly as the catman drove his claws into the fencer’s chest, flinging him aside like a broken doll.

Elron’s fury boiled over. His sword trembled in his grip as he readied for another attack. The catman was panting now, his body covered in shallow wounds, his breath ragged.

“You’re in my way!” the cat snarled, kicking Maris into a nearby building.

Elron saw the swing coming and braced himself, but before he could react, Slyra leaped in, aiming for the back of the cat’s knee. The move might have worked on a lesser opponent, but the catman was too fast. He caught Slyra by the throat, lifting her into the air.

“Annoying female. Go–”

“Stop!” Elron cried, sinking his sword into the ground. “Please… spare her.”

The cat glanced at Elron, squeezing harder as Slyra’s face turned red. “You have nothing to offer.”

Tears dripped from Elron’s face. “Name your price!”

The cat growled. “Can you end this war, elf? I didn’t think so!” Slyra’s face began to turn purple.

Kael, hiding in the shadows, prepared a spell, but Elron signaled him to stop. He stepped forward, unarmed, and looked the catman dead in the eye. “Release her, and the war ends today.”

“You bluff…” the cat sneered.

Elron slammed his fist into his chest plate, dispelling the illusion over his face. “I am Elron Malfar, second prince of the elven kingdom and captain of this army. I will end this war—today.”

The cat narrowed his eyes, looking Elron over.

“If you kill her,” Elron said through clenched teeth, “I will hunt you and your kind down to extinction.”

With a final growl, the catman dropped Slyra to the ground. She coughed and gasped for breath as the color slowly returned to her face.

“Put it here, oh prince of elves,” the beastman said, extending his arm. Elron grasped his forearm, sealing the truce.

Kael, wide-eyed, removed his pointed hat. “What the hell are you doing?!”

“I’m ending the war,” Elron replied, striding over to his unconscious brother, Adan. He ripped the horns from Adan’s belt and blew them.

The sound echoed across the battlefield, unfamiliar yet unmistakable. The fighting ceased, and the clatter of weapons and shields hitting the ground filled the air. The elven army surrendered, and the city fell silent. Everyone was now a prisoner.