The Rising Storm
The Great Hall of Frostbane Keep had erupted into a thunderous roar of approval. Warriors slammed their weapons against their shields, chanting in unison, their voices shaking the stone walls.
The Drakenlords had pledged their allegiance to Zorath.
Alex, still catching his breath from the battle with Wulfric, wiped blood from his lip. Every muscle in his body ached, but he remained standing—his gaze locked with the chieftain's.
Wulfric grinned, clasping Alex's arm in a warrior's grip. "You fought well, Zorathian King."
Alex nodded. "You left me no choice."
The chieftain laughed, his booming voice filling the hall. "Good. Weak kings seek peace through words alone. But the strong… they take what they want."
Aldric stepped forward, his expression unreadable. "What now?"
Wulfric's golden eyes gleamed. "Now, we drink."
---
That night, the warriors of Frostbane Keep celebrated.
Massive feasts were prepared—roasted elk, spiced mead, fire-cooked bread, and roasted root vegetables. The Drakenlords feasted like warriors, loud, unrestrained, and wild.
Alex sat at the chieftain's table, surrounded by his closest allies.
Wulfric raised a massive drinking horn. "To Zorath! And to our enemies—may they die screaming!"
The hall erupted into cheers.
Darius grinned, slamming his mug onto the table. "I could get used to this."
Elara, though more reserved, smirked. "It's better than a funeral, that's for sure."
Finn, still processing the events of the day, leaned toward Alex. "We really did it. We have the Drakenlords."
Alex took a slow sip of his drink. "This is just the beginning."
Aldric, ever the strategist, leaned in. "Then let's talk about what happens next."
---
Despite the celebrations, Alex and Wulfric met privately in the war room, joined by their top warriors and commanders. A large map of the region lay before them, detailing Zorath, Varyndel, and other neighboring factions.
Wulfric tapped a dagger against the map. "You crushed Varyndel's armies, but they won't stay down forever."
Alex nodded. "Which is why we're striking first."
The TCS displayed new strategic options.
[ Expansion Strategy Available: ]
1. Crush Varyndel Completely – Launch a final invasion and destroy their capital.
2. Secure More Alliances – Strengthen Zorath's position before engaging in another war.
3. Uncover the Shadow Threat – Investigate the unknown faction monitoring Zorath.
Alex studied the options. "We take down Varyndel—completely."
Aldric folded his arms. "That means war on a scale we haven't faced yet."
Wulfric smirked. "Good. My warriors have waited too long for a real war."
Darius cracked his knuckles. "So when do we start?"
Alex's gaze hardened. "We march in three weeks."
---
The next few weeks were a blur of preparations.
The Drakenlords mobilized, their warriors forging new weapons, sharpening blades, and preparing war steeds.
Zorathian engineers constructed mobile siege engines, powered by Void-energy.
Finn and his mage corps developed new enchantments to reinforce armor and increase battle endurance.
Elara and her scouts mapped Varyndel's remaining strongholds.
The TCS monitored progress.
[ Zorathian Army Strength: ]
Total Forces: 18,000 (Zorath) + 12,000 (Drakenlords) = 30,000 troops
Siege Weapons: Advanced (Void-infused Ballistae, Energy-Enhanced Catapults)
Magic Division: 500 Battle Mages
Darius grinned. "We've never had an army like this before."
Elara, always skeptical, muttered, "But neither has Varyndel."
Aldric exhaled. "Which means they'll fight like cornered wolves."
Alex nodded. "Then we put them down before they can bite."
The campaign to end Varyndel once and for all had begun.
---
The final war council meeting was held in Ironvale's grand war chamber, where maps of Varyndel's remaining territories lay scattered across the table.
The TCS displayed their current objectives.
[ Final Campaign Against Varyndel ]
Primary Goal: Capture or destroy Varyndel's capital, Highcrest
Secondary Goal: Secure resource hubs and prevent enemy reinforcements
Enemy Estimated Strength: 20,000+ troops, reinforced fortresses
Threat Level: High
Alex studied the map, eyes cold. "We move in three phases."
Phase One: Cutting Off Resources
Elara, standing at the edge of the war table, tapped a dagger against a series of Varyndel's key supply hubs.
"We don't attack the capital first. We starve them."
She outlined their strategy:
Zorath's scouts would infiltrate and sabotage enemy supply lines.
Drakenlord raiders would strike key resource convoys, crippling logistics.
Zorath's siege forces would encircle smaller fortresses, cutting them off.
Wulfric nodded approvingly. "Weakening the prey before the kill. A warrior's tactic."
Finn adjusted his mage's cloak. "My people can disrupt their magical supply chains as well. We cut off their enchantment reserves, their mages become useless."
Alex turned to Darius. "You and your best fighters lead the direct raids on their armories. We take their weapons before they can use them."
Darius grinned. "Now that's a job I can enjoy."
Phase Two: Siege of Highcrest
Aldric pointed to Varyndel's capital. "Once we cripple their supply lines, we lay siege to Highcrest."
The TCS outlined potential weak points.
[ Highcrest Fortress Analysis: ]
Walls: Reinforced, enchanted stone (90% defense rating)
Defenses: Ballistae, energy shields, watchtowers
Weaknesses: Limited food storage, slow reinforcement routes
Finn ran a hand through his hair. "This won't be easy. If we hit them head-on, we risk massive casualties."
Elara smirked. "Then we don't hit them head-on."
Alex nodded. "We create an opening. A weak spot."
Phase Three: The Decisive Blow
Darius leaned forward, grinning. "And once they're exposed, we end them."
The plan was simple:
A feint attack from the west would draw their forces to one side.
A hidden force would tunnel beneath their walls, bypassing defenses.
Zorath's mages would disrupt their shield enchantments, creating an entry point.
And then?
Total domination.
---
The campaign launched at dawn.
Zorath's army, 30,000 strong, split into strike teams, raiding squads, and siege battalions.
Drakenlord raiders rode through enemy farmlands, burning supply stations and stealing rations.
Elara's scouts disrupted trade routes, cutting off reinforcements.
Darius led the first direct strike on an armory, overwhelming the defenders in minutes.
The TCS tracked progress.
[ Varyndel Supply Network: Collapsing ]
Food Reserves: Dropping rapidly
Weapon Stockpiles: 40% captured by Zorath
Enemy Army Morale: Declining
Wulfric watched the war unfold from the high cliffs, arms crossed. "They are bleeding. Good."
Alex, standing beside him, nodded. "Now we prepare for the final blow."
---
By the time Zorath's full army reached Highcrest, the city was already weakened.
Starvation had begun to set in.
Morale was at an all-time low.
Desertion among Varyndel's troops increased.
And then, Alex gave the final order.
"We end this."
The siege of Highcrest had begun.
---