Chapter 1528: Wings of Retribution

The midday sun bore down on the battlefield, casting harsh shadows over the bloodstained plateau. The rebels, battered but resolute, reinforced their defenses with whatever resources they could salvage. Bodies of fallen comrades and enemies alike littered the ridge, a grim reminder of the price they had paid to hold their ground.

Aiden stood at the center of the camp, issuing orders as the rebels regrouped. He had barely taken a moment to breathe since the battle began, his mind racing to anticipate the coalition's next move.

"Elara," he called out, turning to his second-in-command.

She approached him, her face streaked with dirt and blood but her eyes sharp and alert. "What is it?"

"We need a counterattack," he said, his voice low enough to avoid alarming the others. "The coalition won't stop until we're crushed. If we keep letting them dictate the terms, it's only a matter of time before we're overrun."