Chapter 360 War
A month passed by just like that and the empire managed to deal with the swarm thanks to the generals and armies.
Repairs started soon as many towns and villages were destroyed. But as that was completed the empire was attacked from all sides.
The Duskmire Kingdom attacked from the south alongside the Silverpeak Kingdom in a lightning-quick invasion.
In the east, they were attacked by the island kingdoms of Stormhaven and Fjordhelm which controlled wild beasts in battle.
In the north, the Frostfallen and Icehaven Kingdoms marched their troops into the Avalon Empire's Northern Duchy.
At the same time, the Goldenvale and Aetheria Kingdoms launched a surprise attack from the west using roads and naval assaults.
The reason for all these attacks was their greed for land and riches. The Avalonian cities were extremely wealthy but well-defended causing the invasion to come to a stop.
But soon the empire's allies got involved in the war as the Lionheart Kingdom ambushed the Goldenvale reinforcements.
In the east, the Avaloch Kingdom invaded the Stormhaven kingdom forcing them to divert half their forces to defend it.
The Sabat Kingdom in the north smashed the Frostfallen allies at the battle of Everfrost Plains but it dragged the surrounding kingdoms into the war.
While in the south the Moonhaven and Nagendra Kingdoms moved in on the Duskmire reinforcements and broke them at the battle of the Sunscorch Sands.
When Avalon's allies joined the war, every other kingdom got involved and took advantage to grab more land from the empire.
As the girls were studying in the college, Sia was deployed to the south with her legion and was preparing for a large-scale battle at the Sunfire mountain pass.
The Avalon infantry lined up across a desert road and blocked the way north with a massive shield wall as Moonhavenian archers set up in the rear.
She was fighting alongside the Nagendrans Sunspear Tiger Riders in this battle. Sia's Dawnbreakers took the left flank as the Tigers took the right.
That's when the Duskmire troops started using attack spells but the Avalonian mages blocked them.
Once the attacks stopped that's when Sia saw the Silverpeak Saurian Cavalry making their move.
They went to the right and charged at the Avalonian's left flank. As she watched this a messenger arrived in front and spoke in an urgent voice.
''General. The Field marshal has ordered the Dawnbreaker legion to smash the Saurians before they do any damage to the left.''
The man saluted before leaving and Valeria appeared next to her on her own Dawnbreaker. ''Are you prepared commander? I got a feeling this war will drag on.''
Sia gave her second-in-command a big smile as she answered. ''It's war, Valeria. Now get ready.''
The Dawnbreakers got ready to charge as they saw a cloud of dust heralded the approach of the Saurian Riders, mounted atop fierce raptor-like beasts.
The enemy cavalry, their reptilian scales shimmering in the sunlight, bore down on them with an intimidating ferocity.
Sia raised her sword high, its blade shining like a beacon of hope. Her voice carried across the wind as she bellowed, "Dawnbreakers, with me! To victory!"
With that rallying cry, Sia and her soldiers charged forward, their hooves kicking up sand as they thundered across the desert.
The enemy were equally resolute, and met their advance with a bone-rattling battle cry, the ground shaking beneath the stampede of raptors.
As the two forces closed the distance, the tension in the air was palpable. The clash was inevitable, Sia's heart pounded in her chest as the moment of impact neared.
With a deafening roar, the Dawnbreakers and the Saurian Riders collided in a cataclysmic clash.
Beast met scales as the desert road echoed with the sound of ringing blades and roars of fury.
Sia, a whirlwind of strength and skill, engaged the Saurian commander in a fierce duel. Her sword clashed against the enemy's curved blade, sparks flying as they locked in combat.
Her mount, a swift and agile Dawnbreaker that was bred for battle, danced beneath her, evading the snapping jaws of the raptor.
Around her, the battlefield was a chaotic scene of warriors locked in combat. The clash of steel, the roar of beasts, and the battle cries of both sides merged into a symphony of war.
Sia and her valiant Dawnbreakers continued their epic clash with the Saurian Riders. Swords clashed as the ground beneath them started to tremble.
A thunderous rumble echoed across the battlefield, and the sky overhead seemed to crackle with an ominous energy.
Suddenly the main army of Duskmire and Silverpeak emerged from the shadows of the dunes.
Banners bearing the sigils of their kingdoms fluttered in the breeze as their soldiers marched resolutely forward, their armor gleaming with an eerie silver sheen.
The Avalon lines braced themselves for the impending collision. The ground seemed to shake as the Duskmire and Silverpeak army charged.
A sea of spears and shields moving as one. Their war cries pierced the air, a haunting chorus of determination.
Sia, her sword locked with that of a Saurian Rider, stole a momentary glance toward the horizon.
Her heart clenched as she saw the oncoming tide of enemies, but she knew there was no turning back now.
With a swift and calculated maneuver, Sia disengaged from her Saurian opponent, her mount pivoting gracefully.
She raised her sword high and yelled, "Dawnbreakers, form up and fall back to the main line!''
Her voice carried across the battlefield, and her soldiers swiftly fell into formation, their unity a testament to their unwavering loyalty.
The enemy Riders now outnumbered fled back to their line before Sia joined the left flank and as the two armies clashed.
The Avalonians held the line against the relentless advance of the Duskmire and Silverpeak armies.
Their swords gleamed with resolve, and their will seemed unyielding, even in the face of overwhelming odds.
Sia's voice rang out like a clarion call amid the chaos, rallying her troops, "Hold the line, brave souls! We must stand as one!"
The allied soldiers, their armor battered and their spirits tested, stood their ground with an unwavering will.
But the right flank of their formation was faltering, the Sunspear Tiger Riders, who had been valiantly defending that flank, were now facing a nightmare of their own.
From the dark depths of the Silverpeak army's ranks emerged horrifying monsters, twisted and grotesque.
These aberrations from the abyss struck fear into the hearts of even the bravest warriors.
Their monstrous forms, covered in gnarled spikes and bristling with sinister energy, charged forth with an unrelenting hunger for destruction.
The Tiger Riders, known for their courage and prowess, faced these abominations with valor, but the sheer terror and otherworldly power of the monsters were too much to bear.
The once-mighty unit began to crumble under the relentless assault, their tiger-like mounts unable to withstand the horrors unleashed by the Silverpeak army.
Sia watched in horror as the right flank collapsed, the valiant soldiers overwhelmed by the nightmarish creatures and killed one by one.
She knew that the balance of the battle was shifting, and Sia shouted as she saw the soldiers starting to falter, "We must hold the line, For the fallen, for Avalon!"
She led her Dawnbreakers forward, reinforcing the weakening flank as the battle raged on.
The left and center of the Avalonian formation held steadfast, but the right was now a maelstrom of chaos and despair.
Monsters from Silverpeak kingdom threatened to shroud the entire battlefield, their very presence sowing fear and despair among the Avalonian soldiers.
As the battle raged on, Valeria, a fierce warrior carved her way through the chaos. Her blade was an extension of her will, and her path was marked by fallen foes.
With each swing, she drew closer to Sia, who was fighting at the front lines. As she approached, her eyes locked on the dragon-kin woman.
She knew the weight of the news she carried, and her heart pounded with a mixture of urgency and dread.
Valeria fought through the last wave of enemies, her movements fueled by a singular purpose.
Finally, she reached Sia's side, her breath ragged and her armor splattered with the blood of their foes.
She grabbed Sia's arm and yelled over the din of battle, "Sia, listen to me! We're in grave danger. The Fieldmarshal is dead, assassins have taken out the high command, and we're being surrounded as I speak. You must order a retreat now!"
Sia, momentarily taken aback by the sudden news, she turned to Valeria with a mix of shock and concern.
The realization of the chaos that had unfolded struck her like a thunderbolt. She knew her friend wouldn't lie about such things.
Valeria continued, her voice urgent on the brink of panic, "We can't hold on any longer. If we don't retreat now, we'll be cut off, and butchered by the enemy. We need to regroup and fight our way to Sentinels Reach. It's our only chance, Sia!''
The battle had taken a devastating turn for the Avalonian forces. Sia knew that the only hope of survival lay in a full retreat.
Her voice, strong and unwavering, rose above the din of battle.
"Fall back!" She shouted, her command echoing across the battlefield. "Fight your way to Sentinels Reach!"
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This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺