A massive ball of energy lit up the skies and the resulting explosion encompassed over a dozen of airships. When the eye shearing light vanished, those airships had vanished and those caught at the edges spun out of control. The magical barriers of Ramuh's Judgement shimmered colourfully as it resisted the attack of the Level 10 spell.
It was the third casting of the ball lightning spell by the Iron Kingdom. The Protectorate had spaced its fleet out both vertically and horizontally which managed to reduce their losses to the Iron Kingdom's powerful spell. Yet, despite the losses in hulls and lives, the Protectorate ships continued advancing steadily without wavering, the crews singing holy hymns as they manned their stations.
"Encircle them from the top," Chief Inquisitor Nerissa commanded without any emotion in her voice, despite the flagship having taken a near miss hit from the level 10 spell. Almost instantly, a quarter of the magical barrier of the flagship was drained as the outer edges of the ball lightning brushed against the magical barrier.
"Keep shooting the steam cannons," She added as she continued to stare out of the crystal windows. The officers saluted and ordered the fervent crew to their duties. A chorus of hymns could be heard in the background as a small choir sang motivational hymns to the crew while a couple of priests performed blessings and recited verses from the bibles in their hands, the cloy of holy incense covering the sweat, blood and smoke.
A portion of the Protectorate fleet detached itself from the main group and their altitude rose. Ships in the rear replaced the emptied space in the formation and added their weight of fire against the Iron Kingdom forces ahead. In response, Iron Kingdom ships rose up as well to counter the new threat and exchanges of steam cannonry raged on.
-----
The Iron Kingdom, The Iron Fortress
The frown on the Iron King's face deepened as he watched the ongoing battle with the Protectorate. Despite inflicting high losses to the Protectorate forces, they had yet to break and their number of ships still far exceed his forces. The casting of the Level 10 Ball Lightning spell had taken a huge toll on the Iron Mages, which forced the mages to deplete their already low mana reserves, forever crippling and dropping their levels.
"Who is in command of the Protectorate?" He called out to his advisors and commanders. He wanted to know his opponent so that he could come out with plans to counterattack.
A short moment later, a Sky General came forward and saluted before he reported, "Your Majesty, our spies report that the enemy commander should be the Chief Inquisitor of the Church of the Protectorate, Nerissa Red."
"Her true age unknown, but estimated to be of thirty nine summers. She was an orphan taken in as a baby by the Church and groomed by the Inquisition," The Sky General read off a scroll. "Known to be highly intelligent and relentless in her pursuit of the teachings of Ramuh the Judge."
"Nine years ago, she rose up in prominence in the Massacre of Lochfield which ended in the defeat of the Dragon Lords and was promoted to the position of Grand Inquisitor," The report went on. The Massacre of Lochfield between the Protectorate and the Dragon Lords was the worse disaster for the Dragons for over a century. The battle took place in an isthmus, a strip of land between the ocean and a large lake, which connects the Protectorate mainland and the frozen wastes of the Dragon Lords.
The Protectorate claimed that Lochfield was their territory for centuries and border skirmishes was common. But the skirmishes never escalated beyond a few hundred casualties per side. It was Nerissa Red, who was newly assigned to that region, had escalated the fight, claiming that the people willing to be slaves to the Dragons were a blasphemy to Ramuh.
Using her status as an Inquisitor, she declared Holy War and took command of the Protectorate forces stationed at Lochfield and managed to break through the defenses of the Dragon Lords. Thousands of Protectorate soldiers were killed, yet she stubbornly pushed on and whipped her troops to a frenzy.
Finally, when the small border city of Lochfield fell, thirteen thousand soldiers, twelve thousand civilians and two dragons were captured. Of that number, twenty thousand soldiers and civilians were executed, including the two dragons, under her order for heresy. The heads of the two dragons, including five thousand children that were deemed reformable, were brought back to the Protectorate's capital and paraded through the streets. The deeds that day brought the enmity of the Dragon Lords and gained her recognition within the Inquisition.
"What we know of her tactics is that she favours pure strength," The Sky General gave his analysis. "She normally employs simple but effective fighting tactics, should as wave tactics to crush her opponent with overwhelming numbers and sheer will."
The Iron King gestured out the crystal windows and said, "So, she is planning for a simple straight attack with numbers?"
The Sky General nodded before he added, "Her forces under her are known to be highly devoted to her cause, unafraid of death and would die on her word."
Hearing that, the Iron King's face darkened. "Order the fleet to extend our distance between the enemy! Do not let them come close!"
"Yes, your majesty!" The Sky General bowed and rushed off to pass down the orders.
The Iron King let out a sigh before he turned to his two sons standing beside his throne. "Najja, you will take a ship and depart to the Free City of Ender immediately!"
"You are to call for the Assembly of the Seven Great Nations and gather allies to our cause!" The Iron King commanded. Prince Najja, who lost the title of Crown Prince, could only give a sullen bow before he stormed off wordlessly.
The Iron King shook his head at the departure of his second son before he said to Crown Prince Herod. "You shall depart immediately back to the Iron Palace! I shall pass you the Iron Seal!"
"The Iron Seal?" Crown Prince Herod was shocked. "But the Iron Seal could only be held by the King!"
"You are the King now!" His father shoved a silver grey object into his hands. "Take it and go! The future of the Kingdom is in your hands now! Be a wise king for your people!"
"But Father! The battle is not lost yet!" Crown Prince Herod protested. "A- And you have fully recovered!"
"No, the battle is not lost yet but I am not a seer! I can't predict the future!" The Iron King sighed. "Leave now! I will still step down from the Iron Throne sooner or later and you shall secede the Throne. It's just a matter of when."
"The Iron Throne cannot be left empty for long," The Iron King said. "My illness has left the Kingdom's affairs in a mess and for that, I am sorry my son! You must make things right again!"
"Leave now!" The Iron King raised a hand to forestall any words from his son. "I need to concentrate on the battle here and your presence is disturbing me!"
"Your highness, please?" An old aide of the Iron King politely pulled the Crown Prince away. "His majesty needs to focus on the battle."
Crown Prince Herod was escorted out of the control cathedral with his mind in a mess. He looked down at the Iron Seal which bored the royal crest of the royal family. With the Seal in his hand, all matters both civil and military would be his to control. He cast a last look at the doors of the cathedral before he gave a salute and headed off to the hangar caverns.
-----
The Old World, Border between the Protectorate and the Cartel
Horns blared across the Border Straits, the mournful moan echoing down the mountain range. Battle cries and explosions joined the cacophony of echoes as the dwaravans of the Cartels and their allies faced off a massive fleet of crimson red ships that appeared right at the border.
"The Protectorate scum are here!" The defenders cried out as the forts were roused. Steam cannons were pushed out of their protective shelters and boilers heated. Hundreds of short dwaravans worked the cranks and pedal generators of the lightning towers, causing lightning to arc and crackle across the orb shaped throwers.
Across the border mountain range, explosions threw up clouts of snow and rock while arcs of lightning snaked across the air and impacted the crimson airships of the Protectorate causing magical barriers to shimmer beautifully and pop loudly when overloaded. In return, the steam cannons of the Protectorate rained projectiles down, smashing cannon barrels and lightning towers, and causing many dwaravans to be buried under tons of rock and snow.
Dozens and dozens of dwaravan drill nose airship were dispatched from the mountain hangars of Green Mountain to support the standby fleets stationed along the border. The Cartel had bolstered up their defenses when word of the invasion of the Iron Kingdom spread, but they did not expect that the Protectorate has so much strength hidden that they could afford another war front!
As Cartel Mountain Lords and Grand Lords were notified and discussing the situation against the Protectorate, another shocking news arrived. The peace between the Tri State and the Cartel was broken by an invading Tri State force!
The news of the Tri State sudden attack along the eastern borders of the Tri State shocked the entire Cartel and the relief forces were immediately dispatched to counter the attackers. It was just at this moment, a small flotilla of several Cartel airships dispatched to investigate the missing airship of the 281st Cartel Air Fleet, the Bronze Picker, turned back from their original mission when the local city the ships were currently being resupplied at, was informed of the attacks.
The flotilla was actually just a day's journey away from the last known location of the Bronze Picker which had been destroyed by the UN, almost a month ago. And just two days journey away from the UN forward base at Waterfall Cove. The crew grumbled about the change of orders and the scums that attacked the Cartel, unknowingly escaped death for the time being.
-----
The Old World, The Free City of Ender, Ivory Palace
Soft music was played behind several beautifully crafted screens and thin muslin drapes. Lord Lei of the Suugon Dynasty had his eyes closed and was enjoying the music with wine. He sat in his flowly grey robes on a cushion and sipped wine from a small jade cup.
A loud snap and crunch of bones broke the ambience as a fat green dragon laying on the opposite side of Lord Lei, bit into a chunk of roasted ribs. Dragon Lord Alder spat out a piece of rib bone and grinned at the expression on Lord Lei's face.
Lord Lei let out a sigh and placed his jade cup down carefully. His brows narrowed as he watched the way the fat green dragon feast on the ribs and he lost all interest in the wine and music. A servant came rushing in and kneed down next to him and offered up a scroll. Lord Lei smiled as he read the scroll, his earlier foul mood gone.
"Lord Alder!" Lord Lei laughed out loud as he stood up and refilled his wine. "The Protectorate and Tri State have attacked the Cartel as well! The Old World is in chaos now!"
"The Tri State?" Dragon Lord Alder was surprised by the news that he had forgotten to chew. He just swallowed the meat and bones together before he looked to the side where his own attendants came rushing over and whispered into his ears. Dragon Lord Alder sat up, his food forgotten as he roared, "Are the Protectorate and the Tri State in an alliance?"
"Are they trying to start an all out war in the Old World?"