The first impact shook the fortress walls. Stones cracked, dust and debris raining down as the undead war machines of the Lost Empire struck with terrifying precision. They didn't move like mindless creatures. No, their attacks were calculated, efficient—like warriors that had fought thousands of wars and had never forgotten a single battle.
Jack stood at the top of the fortress, Katrina at his side, the Elven Queen behind him. His mind raced, analyzing every movement, every formation, every strike. These weren't simple enemies. This was a force engineered for war itself. Experience more tales on Freewebnovel
"Hold the line!" Katrina commanded, her voice cutting through the chaos like a blade. Her soldiers, disciplined and battle-hardened, obeyed instantly.
But Jack could see it. Their shields dented, their formation shaken. The Lost Army was pressing forward with relentless force. They weren't slowing down. They weren't stopping.
Jack clenched his fists. This was exactly what he wanted.
"Fall back to the second layer!" he ordered, his voice carrying over the battlefield.
Some of Katrina's commanders hesitated. Retreat? In the middle of the battle?
But she didn't question him. She turned to her forces. "You heard him! Move!"
The warriors pulled back, but Jack wasn't watching them. He was watching the enemy. Would they take the bait?
The Lost Army surged forward, pressing into the space left behind. They advanced without hesitation.
Perfect.
Jack turned to the mages. "Activate the runes!"
A deep, rumbling pulse spread through the ground. Ancient inscriptions, carved into the very stones of the fortress, flared to life. A brilliant, golden light erupted from the walls—then, in an instant, everything within the first layer of the fortress turned into searing white flames.
The undead soldiers didn't scream. They didn't panic. They simply… stopped. Their bodies, bound by the cursed energy that gave them life, cracked and shattered like brittle stone.
Katrina's eyes widened. "You set them up."
Jack smirked. "They don't fear death, but that doesn't mean they're immune to strategy."
But the battle wasn't over. Far from it.
A deafening roar echoed through the battlefield. The smoke and flames parted—revealing a massive figure.
It was unlike any warrior Jack had seen before. Clad in armor of molten black steel, its glowing eyes locked onto him. This was no mindless soldier. This… was a commander.
And it was coming for him.
Jack's mind moved at lightning speed. He had prepared for this. He had predicted it.
He turned to Katrina. "I need you to hold the walls."
She narrowed her eyes. "And what will you be doing?"
Jack smirked. "Winning this war."
Before she could argue, he leaped from the walls. The wind howled around him as he landed in the battlefield below, facing the commander head-on.
The ancient warrior raised its sword, a weapon as large as a fortress gate, crackling with dark energy.
Jack simply raised his own weapon. He wasn't afraid.
Because he was always ten steps ahead.
The battlefield had quieted, but only for a moment. The towering undead commander stood motionless, its glowing eyes locked onto Jack. There was something almost intelligent behind that gaze, something calculating. This wasn't just another mindless soldier—it was a true warrior of the Lost Empire.
Jack exhaled, his grip tightening on his sword. The weight of the battle wasn't just physical; it was mental. Every decision, every move, had to be perfect.
Katrina's forces were holding the fortress walls, the elven scouts watching from the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. The Goblin King's troops, smaller in number but fiercely loyal, were positioned at the flanks, ready to engage if necessary.
But right now, all eyes were on Jack.
The undead commander moved first. A blur of speed that didn't match its hulking form, its blade carving through the air with terrifying force.
Jack sidestepped just in time, the sheer pressure of the swing sending a gust of wind past him. He had seen powerful enemies before, but this was on another level.
He grinned. "Alright, let's see how smart you really are."
Jack lunged forward, his blade aiming for the gaps in the commander's armor. A normal strike wouldn't be enough—he had to find a weakness.
But the undead warrior was fast. Too fast.
With unnatural precision, it parried Jack's strike and countered immediately. Jack barely had time to raise his blade in defense, the impact sending him sliding back across the battlefield.
The ground beneath him cracked.
Katrina shouted from the fortress, "Jack!"
But he didn't look back. He couldn't afford to.
The commander was already moving again, relentless in its pursuit. Jack dodged another swing, rolling to the side as the blade shattered the stone where he had stood just seconds before.
Think. Analyze. Predict.
Jack's mind worked at an impossible speed. The commander wasn't just strong—it was strategic. It was testing him, learning his movements.
Which meant he had to do something unpredictable.
Jack suddenly let go of his sword.
The commander hesitated for a fraction of a second. That was all Jack needed.
He twisted his body, grabbing a fallen soldier's broken spear from the ground. Without missing a beat, he hurled it with deadly precision.
The weapon found its mark—piercing the tiny gap in the commander's armor at the shoulder joint.
The undead warrior staggered.
Jack didn't waste time. He lunged forward, retrieving his own sword in one swift motion. Before the commander could recover, he drove his blade into the same weak point, twisting it for maximum damage.
A deep, inhuman growl echoed from the creature as dark energy leaked from its wound. It wasn't dead yet, but Jack had found its weakness.
From the fortress walls, Katrina's voice rang out. "NOW!"
The elven archers released their enchanted arrows, each one glowing with golden energy. The projectiles struck true, burying themselves into the cracks in the commander's armor.
The warrior stumbled.
Jack leapt onto its back, driving his sword straight through the exposed gap between its shoulder blades.
The battlefield fell silent.
Then, with a final, echoing groan, the commander collapsed.
Dust settled. The undead army, now leaderless, hesitated. The forces of darkness always relied on strength, on fear. Without a commander, they were vulnerable.
Jack smirked. "Retreat."
The undead soldiers hesitated—then, one by one, they turned and fled into the shadows.
The battle was over.
For now.
Jack exhaled, looking up at the fortress walls. Katrina was staring down at him, her expression unreadable.
Then she smiled.
Jack chuckled to himself. "Told you. Winning the war."
Jack stood atop the fortress walls, his sharp gaze locked onto the distant horizon. The Iron Dome of the Dragons remained sealed, but that didn't mean they were safe. The forces of darkness would return, stronger and more relentless.
Beside him, Katrina adjusted the leather strap of her gauntlet. "They'll be back soon."
Jack smirked. "Of course. And this time, we won't just defend. We'll control the battlefield before they even arrive."
Moments later, the Elven Queen and the Goblin King entered the war chamber. Their alliance was unexpected, yet both leaders recognized the threat looming over them.
"You intend to strike before they do," the Elven Queen observed, her silver eyes studying Jack.
"Not just strike." Jack gestured at the massive map spread across the table. "I intend to end this battle before it even begins."
The Goblin King grinned, his sharp teeth showing. "Clever human. Tell me more."
Jack outlined his plan, his mind weaving strategies at an extraordinary pace.
"They attacked the weakest part of the Dome last time," Jack said, tapping the map. "They'll assume it's still vulnerable."
Katrina nodded. "So we reinforce it."
Jack shook his head. "No. We make them think it's even weaker."
The Elven Queen raised an eyebrow. "A feint?"
"A deception so deep that they walk straight into their own doom."
Jack's plan was audacious. When the enemy returned, his forces would feign weakness, retreating strategically to lure them deeper. The elves would set up hidden positions, using the forest's natural cover to rain arrows upon the invaders. Meanwhile, the goblins would dig underground tunnels, sealing off any escape routes.
"We won't win through brute force," Jack explained. "We'll make them think they're winning—right up until the moment they realize they never had a chance."
The Goblin King chuckled. "A devil's mind, this one. I like it."
The Elven Queen nodded approvingly. "It is risky. But with perfect coordination, it will work."
Jack's smirk widened. "Good. Then let's get to work."
Jack didn't just command—he was everywhere.
He trained personally with Katrina's soldiers, fine-tuning their formations. He sparred with the elven warriors, learning their swift, precise movements. He even spent hours underground with the goblins, ensuring their tunnels were expertly placed.
"Jack, you need rest," Katrina scolded after finding him awake at dawn, overlooking the battlefield.
He only smiled. "I'll rest when we win."
The soldiers followed him not because of his title, but because of his sheer brilliance. His mind was sharper than any blade, and every decision had purpose.
When the time came, the battlefield was set.
The night was thick with an unnatural fog when the enemy arrived.
Dark figures moved through the mist—shambling undead, armored wraiths, and towering shadowbeasts. Their eyes glowed with malevolent hunger.
Jack watched from the fortress walls.
"They took the bait," Katrina murmured.
Jack nodded. "Then let's give them a show."
The undead surged forward, and Katrina's forces engaged them, seemingly overwhelmed. The lines wavered. Retreats were called.
From the enemy's perspective, it was a slaughter. They advanced eagerly, deeper and deeper into the trap.
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Then—Jack signaled.
The forest erupted.
Arrows rained from unseen elven archers. Goblin tunnels collapsed beneath the enemy's feet, splitting their formations. Katrina's "retreating" soldiers turned on a dime, striking with lethal precision.
Panic spread through the enemy ranks. The ambush had been too perfect, the illusion of victory shattered in an instant.
Within minutes, the battlefield was theirs.
Jack stood amidst the fallen, surveying the destruction with satisfaction.
Katrina whistled. "Remind me never to play chess against you."
Jack simply smirked. "The game's not over yet."
As the battlefield was cleared, a distant horn sounded.
The Elven Queen and Goblin King arrived—accompanied by an elite force of warriors. But there was someone else.
A massive figure, clad in dark armor, strode beside the Queen. His presence radiated raw power.
Jack's eyes narrowed.
"Who is he?" Katrina whispered.
The Queen met Jack's gaze. "An old friend… and a new ally."
Jack grinned.
This war was only just beginning.