The clash of mortal armies filled the air as Bellic, the newly appointed Pillar of the East, launched a salvo of golden lances towards Valicar. The projectiles, imbued with divine energy, streaked through the battlefield, leaving trails of brilliance. Valicar, fortified by the arcane wards conjured by Spellweaver, raised her arms to shield against the divine assault. The golden lances collided with the protective barriers, glancing off harmlessly. A flicker of frustration crossed Bellic's face as his initial onslaught was thwarted.
As the leaders prepared for their impending clash, the mortal armies on both sides fought fiercely on the battlefield below. The Empire's forces, predominantly humans empowered by templar magic, advanced with disciplined precision. On the opposing side, the Alliance fielded a diverse array of species, each enchanted to enhance their inherent abilities. Their armor, meticulously crafted with magical enchantments, surpassed the strength of ordinary steel. Boots enchanted with speed-enhancing spells propelled them with superhuman agility. The very essence of their being granted them strength beyond mortal limits.
The collision of the two armies was tumultuous. Elven archers, concealed amidst the trees, unleashed volleys of arrows, peppering the Empire's forces. In response, the Empire deployed mundane artillery, cannons roaring with thunderous might, sending shockwaves across the battlefield. The twins, observing from a strategic vantage point, were taken aback by the introduction of black powder into the Empire's arsenal. Though the cannons were large and cumbersome, the revelation hinted at a technological leap that could reshape future conflicts. Fortunately, the absence of firearms provided a temporary relief.
Dwarven and Western Legionnaires formed an unyielding shield wall, their combined strength resisting the relentless advance of the Empire and church forces. The clash was brutal, each side sustaining heavy casualties in the pursuit of victory. The temptation to engage the Pillars directly was strong, but the Alliance leaders exercised strategic restraint, understanding the catastrophic consequences of a direct confrontation that could claim thousands of lives in the crossfire.
The Alliance leaders acknowledged the pivotal role of their united mortal army. No single individual, not even the formidable Pillars, could conquer an entire country alone. The world, vast and diverse, remained beyond the dominion of even the Pillar of the North.
The air resounded with the cacophony of clashing steel, the thunderous roar of cannons, and the heart-wrenching cries of the fallen. The mortal armies fought with unwavering determination, fueled by the belief that victory on this battlefield could alter the course of history.
Amidst the chaos, Mike's frustration erupted in a heated argument with Sophia within Valicar's mind. The two siblings, now in roles of leadership, exchanged tense words in a meeting with the Alliance leaders. Several new faces, mundane political figures with no magical prowess, joined the discussion. To Mike, their names meant nothing, and their opinions held little weight.
"We should just teleport the fucker somewhere then!" Mike's voice rang out, annoyance evident in both his words and demeanor as he spoke to Sophia.
"And we can't do that without permission," Sophia replied, her annoyance matching Mike's. "We can't just go off on our own, Mike. We are in a role of leadership here."
As a warrior king from an obscure southern kingdom rambled on about strategies, Mike continued his dissent. "What, you expect us to listen to these dipshits plan?! I think we are better off on our own. With all these eyes on me, I can solo both of them, for fuck's sake!"
"Chill the fuck out, Mike!" Sophia tried to calm her brother, but his frustration persisted.
"Even if we could beat them both, which I doubt, we don't know where the Pillar of the North is. And if we can use... the Shadow Orb to kill them, we should," Sophia admitted, her voice laced with a hint of guilt at the idea of resorting to necromancy to rip the men's souls out.
"Even if that does work, that is the most bitch way to kill them. I have Red Noon, and I'm gonna make that fucker burn. He doesn't deserve a quick death," Mike declared with fury, his thoughts dwelling on what the Pillars had done to Altheack.
The meeting continued, a clash of opinions and strategies as the leaders grappled with the best course of action. One man even suggested that Valicar kill the whole army, casualties caught in the crossfire be damned. He was willing to sacrifice not only the men's lives but their very souls, erasing them from eternity.
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"So, what? You go over there and fight them. How long would we have that boost of demonic power once all the eyes watching and fueling us are dead?" Sophia challenged as they continued the internal debate.
"That's why I said we teleport them into the sky! We can fly now, so I still have the eyes on me, and I can unleash the full power of Red Noon. Shit, if that fails, they still hit the ground super hard," Mike continued his plan.
"It's... not the worst idea you have had," Sophia admitted, acknowledging the difficulty of using spatial magic. It was never her strong suit even at the Academy of Helmhold, but she had improved dramatically as her body became more magical than mundane. Her dragon-kin features only empowered her magic to new heights, her prehuman body never matching the magical talent of a dragon's natural gift for the arcane. The siblings continued their intense internal debate, wrestling with the weight of their decisions on the battlefield below.
As they debated, another volley of golden lances and balls, infused with divine magic, came hurtling their way. With a passive wave, Sophia called, "Dumhavs!" The magic instantly erected a powerful ward. Although the magical core was generally capable of fending off such attacks, when Bellic or the Pillar of the West lashed out, Sophia and Spellweaver had to intervene. It was a drain on their mana, but a necessary expense to safeguard their army.
The protective ward shimmered with ethereal energy, deflecting the divine projectiles as they collided with the barrier. Sophia gritted her teeth, feeling the strain on her magical reserves. The relentless assault from Bellic and his counterpart required a delicate balance between offense and defense. Spellweaver, standing nearby, channeled his own magical prowess to reinforce the ward, their combined efforts creating a formidable barrier against the divine onslaught.
"Damn these Pillars and their divine tricks," Spellweaver muttered, frustration evident in his tone as he maintained focus on the magical ward.
Sophia nodded in agreement, her eyes fixed on the battlefield below. The mortal armies clashed with an intensity that shook the very ground. The meeting continued with more suggestions, most annoying to Mike, as they all seemed to include his involvement without consulting Valicar. Sophia kept him patient enough to prevent him from rushing off to challenge the Pillars impulsively; he needed Sophia's magic, and she needed time for preparation.
As they waited, Sophia began crafting another magical nuke. Several, in fact, each with different levels of power. The energy was dangerous around large groups, but in the worst-case scenario, these magical weapons could do the heavy lifting in gathering souls. While Sophia's magic could rip souls out of men, it was far easier to collect them after they were already dead.
Mike, feeling the weight of the responsibility on his shoulders, restrained himself despite whispers from Anna Sha, demanding he fulfill his oath. The temptation to rush into battle and confront the Pillars head-on was strong, especially with the ongoing clash below. However, he recognized the strategic importance of waiting as much as it angered him.
"Chill, Mike," Sophia quipped, her thoughts resonating within Valicar's mind. "We're not in a hurry here. We gotta let them tire themselves out first."
"Until you run out of mana," Mike grumbled, eyeing yet another salvo of fire that Sophia effortlessly blocked.
"That won't be a problem," Sophia said confidently, trusting in her ample mana reserves.
"Hold!" Spellweaver's authoritative voice cut through the heated discussion, commanding attention. Positioned at the edge of the council, both he and Valicar stood strategically to defend the army while actively participating in the ongoing conversation. "THE PILLAR OF THE WEST IS GONE!!" The revelation of the Pillar of the West's absence sent a ripple of distress through the gathered leaders, who were still reeling from Bellic's onslaught of fire.
Seizing the opportunity during the distraction, the Pillar of the West materialized in the midst of the mortal forces. With a swift and deadly slash of his sword, he cut through their lines, causing massive damage that the defenders struggled to fully block. Valicar and Spellweaver valiantly attempted to contain the Pillar's onslaught, but the devastation was already underway. Thousands fell with each slash of the Pillar's blade, leaving chaos and death in his wake.
"Move the men now!" Gorlion's authoritative voice boomed as he summoned his magic. With a surge of mana, he expended almost everything in his magical reserves. "Forsh Mas Un!" he bellowed the incantation. In response, a small mountain range and deep caverns emerged between the two factions. Thousands on both sides either fell into the caverns or ascended high into the sky as the rocks rose to hundreds of feet. Through sheer magical prowess, Gorlion had single-handedly separated the armies.
Now, with the Alliance positioned on the elevated artificial plateau, they held the high ground. The forces on both sides continued to exchange ranged attacks, but the Pillar of the West was now far enough away that the defenders could block his magic. Gorlion's strategic move revealed the perilously close assault of the Pillar of the West, catching the Alliance off guard. The separation of the armies created a momentary respite, allowing the defenders to regroup and assess the situation. The battlefield, once a chaotic maelstrom, now held a temporary stillness as both sides recalibrated their strategies in the face of this unexpected turn of events.