Chapter 205: The Revenant Legion

The morning after the convoy's destruction, Mira's coalition celebrated their small victory. Around the sanctuary, there were smiles, laughter, and a momentary lightness in the air. It was rare to see, especially with Kaelen's shadow looming over them. But Mira couldn't allow herself to relax.

Inside the war council room, Solen entered, his expression grim. "We have a problem," he said.

Mira turned sharply from the map she was studying. "What is it?"

Solen tossed a scout's report onto the table. "Kaelen's retaliating. He's sent the Revenant Legion."

At those words, Erynn, leaning against the doorway, stood upright, her usual smirk replaced by concern. "The Revenant Legion? That's not a simple retaliation, Mira—that's annihilation."

Elara frowned. "What's the Revenant Legion?"

"It's Kaelen's most feared force," Solen explained. "Elite warriors infused with dark magic. They're not just soldiers—they're monsters. They don't tire, they don't feel pain, and they don't stop."

Mira's jaw tightened. "How many?"

"Thousands," Solen said grimly.

Preparations for War

The coalition sprang into action, fortifying the sanctuary and preparing for the inevitable assault. Scouts were sent out to monitor the legion's movements, while Mira and her generals strategized late into the night.

"We can't fight them head-on," Solen argued during one such meeting. "Even with our numbers, they'll overwhelm us."

"We don't have to," Mira replied. "If we can hold them at the mountain pass, we can funnel them into a bottleneck and take them out in smaller waves."

"That's risky," Erynn said. "If they break through, the sanctuary will be defenseless."

"We don't have a choice," Mira said firmly. "If we don't stop them here, there won't be a sanctuary left to defend."

Elara nodded. "I'll work on wards to weaken their magic. It won't stop them, but it might slow them down."

Talen, sitting quietly in the corner, finally spoke up. "Kaelen's betting on fear. The Revenant Legion is terrifying, but they're not invincible. If you hit them hard enough, you can break them."

Erynn gave him a skeptical look. "And you'd know that because…?"

"I've seen them fight," Talen said simply. "They're powerful, but they rely on coordination. Take out their commanders, and the rest will falter."

The First Wave

Two days later, the Revenant Legion reached the mountain pass. From the sanctuary walls, Mira watched their approach, her heart sinking at the sight. The legion moved like a dark tide, their armor glinting in the sunlight, their banners bearing Kaelen's sigil.

The coalition forces were ready. Archers lined the cliffs, mages prepared their spells, and soldiers stood in formation at the choke point. Mira stood at the front, her sword drawn.

The battle began with a deafening roar as the Revenant Legion surged forward. The coalition's traps slowed them, and arrows rained down from above, but the legion pushed through, their dark magic shielding them from the worst of the damage.

Mira led the charge, her blade flashing as she cut through the first wave. Around her, the coalition fought fiercely, their desperation fueling their strength.

Erynn moved like a shadow, slipping through the chaos to strike at key targets. Solen's arrows found their marks, taking down commanders and disrupting the legion's formation.

Elara's wards glowed bright, repelling the legion's magic and giving the coalition a fighting chance.

A Turning Point

Despite their efforts, the Revenant Legion kept coming. For every soldier they cut down, two more seemed to take their place. The coalition's lines began to falter.

Mira shouted orders, rallying her troops. "Hold the line! Don't let them break through!"

But the pressure was relentless. Solen fell back to Mira's side, his quiver nearly empty. "We can't hold them much longer!"

Just then, a massive explosion shook the battlefield. From the cliffs above, Elara unleashed a spell of incredible power, collapsing part of the pass and cutting off the legion's reinforcements.

The coalition cheered, their morale renewed. Mira seized the moment, leading a counterattack that pushed the legion back.

Kaelen's Command

Far from the battlefield, Kaelen watched the events unfold through a magical scrying orb. Vyn stood beside him, his expression uncertain.

"They're holding the pass," Vyn said. "The Revenant Legion isn't enough."

Kaelen's eyes narrowed. "Then it's time I joined the fight."

Vyn hesitated. "My lord, if you expose yourself—"

"They think they've won because they've survived one wave," Kaelen interrupted, his voice cold. "Let's show them the true power of the Revenant Legion."