As the Kraken rose from the depths, a hushed silence fell over the battlefield, an eerie calm before the storm. The warriors of House Thorne and their allies stared, wide-eyed and aghast, at the monstrous apparition that loomed before them.
The Kraken was a monstrous behemoth of the deep, an aquatic titan that struck terror into the hearts of those who beheld it. Its body resembled that of a titanic crab, spanning over a hundred meters in length and easily dwarfing any ship that dared to sail the open seas.
Its colossal legs, each thick as a massive oak and covered in armored chitin, extended outward in a nightmarish display of predatory menace.
The carapace that protected its gargantuan body was a dark, murky green, nearly black in the shadows, crisscrossed with deep grooves and scars from countless battles fought in the long past. Some say it kept those scars on purpose as a reminder of its mistakes in the past.
The creature's head was a horrifying sight in its own right, with rows of razor-sharp mandibles clicking and clattering, and a pair of beady, malevolent eyes that gleamed with predatory intelligence.
Upon its back, an array of spiny, bone-like protrusions jutted out at twisted angles, each one easily the size of a small ship's mast. These spines were covered in a viscous, toxic mucus that dripped from their jagged tips, sizzling and hissing as it met the sea.
Its massive pincers, each one dwarfing a war chariot, were lined with rows of razor-sharp serrations and possessed a crushing strength that could effortlessly tear through stone and metal.
As the Kraken emerged from the depths, its countless smaller limbs, armed with hooked barbs, thrashed through the water, sending a violent maelstrom of churning waves toward the shore and swallowing the unfortunate souls near the shores.
The sight of the destruction caused by the Kraken by just showing itself was enough to break even the most stalwart of spirits, and a palpable dread settled over the gathered forces like a suffocating shroud.
Seasoned fighters, hardened by years of conflict, felt their mouths go dry and their limbs tremble as they stared in abject terror at the gargantuan beast.
Whispers and muttered prayers to devils filled the air as men and women alike clutched their weapons in a futile attempt to find some semblance of security.
Even from dozens of miles away from the battlefield, the people could a glimpse of the towering figure of this colossal monster, making most of them take refuge in their homes while praying for their lives.
Those who had been at the front lines, boldly facing the onslaught of the Umbralfiends, now felt their courage seep away like water through a sieve.
*KREEEEEEEE!!!*
As the Kraken's thunderous screech tore through the air, shattering the eerie silence, it seemed to herald the end of all hope for those who had dared to stand against the wrath of the abyss.
The trembling soldiers looked to their leaders for guidance, but even the usually stoic and unshakable figures of Thorin, Esther, and Sabina showed a flicker of unease as they gazed upon the sea monster. The odds had suddenly and irrevocably shifted against them, and the impending doom cast a grim shadow over their hearts.
Thorin's eyes narrowed, his expression betraying the first flickers of uncertainty, "The Kraken..." he whispered, his voice taut with tension, "Their queen has summoned the bane of the deep. It seems like she truly has control over it."
Even Esther, usually the picture of icy composure, was unable to suppress a shudder, "This changes everything," she admitted grimly. If the Kraken had truly gone amok then it wouldn't be bad since the Umbralfiends would have to deal with it as well. But reality was far more disappointing.
Sabina's grin faltered for the first time as she too realized the gravity of the situation. But as the young lady of her House, she was determined to make a stand as she sent a message to her parents, "Father, you can make the necessary preparations for the worst. Mother and I will buy enough time."
Esther briefly glanced at her daughter from afar before sending a message to her husband, "Sabina is right. We have to be ready for the worst."
Thorin furrowed his brows as his mind raced through all kinds of options. He didn't want to leave the battlefield and let the women of his House deal with this on their own while also lessening the morale of his army.
Still, he knew the weight of the decision he must take for the sake of the survival of his House even if it comes at a huge cost.
And so he sent a message back to them, "I will do it. But don't do anything reckless," He then sent a message to his wife alone, "Esther...Keep an eye on Sabina."
Esther knew why he said that and said plainly, "Yes, I will."
The Kraken's arrival on the battlefield was like the coming of an apocalyptic storm, its immense presence leaving a trail of devastation in its wake.
With each ponderous movement, the very earth seemed to groan beneath its weight, as though unable to bear the burden of such a monstrous creature.
The air was thick with the stench of brine and blood, a nauseating miasma that clung to the throats of all who stood before the leviathan.
Like a nightmare come to life, the Kraken stepped onto the land and swept through the ranks of House Thorne and their vassals with merciless abandon.
Massive, chitinous claws, razor-sharp and capable of cleaving through steel, reached out to snatch up hapless warriors like insects caught in a spider's web.
The sickening crunch of armor and bone, the screams of the dying, filled the air as the Kraken wrought its terrible destruction.
Huge, gnarled legs, each the width of a mighty oak, crushed both man and beast as they moved inexorably forward, flattening entire swathes of the battlefield beneath their relentless tread.
The ground trembled with each thunderous step, opening jagged fissures that swallowed up those who were too slow or too paralyzed with fear to escape.
And yet, the most terrifying aspect of the Kraken's assault was not the physical destruction it wrought, but the psychological torment it inflicted upon the survivors.
In the face of such overwhelming power, morale crumbled like a sandcastle against the tide, and panic spread through the ranks like wildfire.
Soldiers who had once stood shoulder to shoulder, united against a common foe, now turned and fled in abject terror, their faith in their leaders and their cause shattered like so much glass.
A surge of awe and admiration swept through the Umbralfiend army upon seeing their mighty guardian punishing the usurpers who had shackled it for too long.
The air thickened with a sense of triumph and empowerment as they watched it unleash destruction upon their enemies.
The sight of the Kraken wreaking havoc, tearing through the ranks of House Thorne and its vassals like an unstoppable force of nature, sent a shiver of exhilaration down the spines of the Umbralfiends
A collective war cry roared through their ranks, their voices united in a blood-chilling chorus that resonated with the deep rumble of the Kraken's wrath.
Esther's resolve, cold and unwavering, refused to waver in the face of the terrifying Kraken.
Before Thorin had departed, she had issued a command to some of her most capable soldiers, instructing them to prepare the Kraken Piercer, one of their deadliest weapons.
This gargantuan ballista had been designed with the express purpose of firing massive, enchanted bolts, capable of cleaving through multiple targets in a single, devastating trajectory. Each bolt was said to hold a sliver of the Kraken's own power, making it the ideal weapon to wound the mighty beast.
However, the sheer destructive force of the Kraken Piercer necessitated a lengthy charging process.
Fortunately, Esther's foresight had ensured the weapon had been charging since the war's inception, and now, as the Kraken rampaged through their forces, the moment had come to unleash its might.
Esther's icy gaze locked onto the Kraken, her hand rising to signal the order.
*BOOOOM!!*
With a thunderous boom, the Kraken Piercer unleashed its deadly payload, the giant, dark blue bolt streaking through the air with a speed that defied comprehension.
The Kraken, for all its size and power, could not avoid the incoming projectile.
The enchanted bolt slammed into one of its joints, causing the beast to screech in pain as blood gushed forth from the wound.
The sight of the legendary creature injured, if only momentarily, sparked hope anew within the ranks of House Thorne and its vassals.
Yet, their elation was short-lived. The Kraken plunged its wounded pincer into the sea, and in the span of a few heartbeats, it emerged completely healed.
The soldiers stared, jaws agape, as they bore witness to the regenerative prowess that made the Kraken an almost unstoppable force when in contact with water.
Despite this unnerving revelation, Esther remained outwardly unshaken.
She knew that her task was to buy time, to slow the Kraken's assault and stave off the Umbralfiends until Thorin's return.
However, even with her steely determination, she couldn't suppress the doubt that crept into her heart, the nagging fear that not only their House's fate hung in the balance but the entire northern lands.
As the air of despair hung heavily over House Thorne and its allies, the dark clouds above seemed to swirl and congregate, hinting at an impending change.
*WHOOOOSH!!*
Without warning, a massive, searing column of flames burst forth from the sky, scorching everything in its path.
Hundreds of Umbralfiends were instantly reduced to ash, while others were forced to retreat from the overwhelming power and heat. Heads snapped upward in shock and terror, searching for the source of this unexpected and devastating attack. Among the swirling clouds, a massive, imposing silhouette took shape, accompanied by smaller, though still formidable, shadows.
*ROARRRRRR!!!*
The air suddenly reverberated with a sky rendering roar that shook the very ground beneath their feet.
The clouds began to part, revealing an immense shadow that seemed to stretch on for at least 50 meters. As the skies cleared further, they could discern smaller, but no less massive, silhouettes surrounding the central figure.
And then, the majestic creature at the heart of the formation emerged from the shadows, its scales shimmering in the sunlight like molten gold.
The dragon, a colossal beast with a sinuous, serpentine body, powerful wings, and razor-sharp claws, exuded a sense of both terror and awe.
Upon its head, a pair of curving horns jutted out like a deadly crown, and its eyes burned with an otherworldly intelligence.
Everyone except the Umbralfiends easily recognized this frightening beast.
This awe-inspiring creature was Flaralis, the mighty and second-strongest dragon who served as the blood-bound companion of Rowena, the Bloodburn Queen.
Seated atop the dragon's back, the Bloodburn Queen surveyed the battlefield with a gaze as piercing as the edge of her blade and with an air of undeniable majesty.
She was clad in an exquisite black armor that seemed to emanate an aura of both elegance and intimidation.
The armor was forged from the finest obsidian, imbued with runes that channeled her dark power and amplified her strength. It hugged her figure tightly, accentuating her lithe, deadly form, while providing ample protection without sacrificing mobility.
She also wore a striking black crown that captured the attention of all who saw her. The dark, metallic circlet was adorned with the symbol of a dragon head that showcased the might of her House.
At the center of the crown, two imposing black horns emerged, curving upwards in a menacing arc, reminiscent of the strongest powerhouse in the Bloodburn Kingdom.
Her body radiated a commanding aura, and her very presence was enough to cause the hearts of her enemies to falter.
As the powerful figure of Flaralis loomed over the battlefield, a deafening battle cry rose up from the ranks of the 50,000 Crimson Army soldiers who stood on the ground below.
Dozens of Dreadwings also were hovering under Flaralis, each ready to punish their foes from the skies.
Their battle-hardened forms were a testament to their resolve, and their presence seemed to make the air tremble with anticipation.
Following close behind the vanguard of the Crimson Army, thousands more soldiers amassed, each one ready and willing to face the Umbralfiends in defense of their kingdom.
As this awe-inspiring army gathered its strength, a renewed sense of hope surged through the hearts of House Thorne and its allies.
The battlefield suddenly felt charged with new life, as the soldiers of House Thorne and its allies looked upon their queen and Flaralis with renewed hope and vigor.
Most of the Umbralfiends, in contrast, felt the first icy tendrils of dread wrap around their hearts upon seeing their fellow people get turned to ashes within just a second by this dragon that sent chills through their blood.
The dragon had purposefully targeted some of the strongest among them, each of them at least a peak Soul Reaper and yet they didn't even realize what killed them.
And seeing the master of this dragon, the Bloodburn Queen, only made it worse. They could feel the fury radiating from her cold crimson eyes that were looking down upon them.
They had underestimated the might of their foes, and it was becoming increasingly clear that this battle was far from decided.
Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freew𝒆bnov𝒆l.c(o)m