Volknair became the central base for warfare once again. Everything needed for the impending battle was there for Quill's commands.
Every warrior, piece of equipment, elite, and mount all looked over the cloudy horizons. While Koroth threatened with another furious storm, no one backed down.
Quill's face looked out towards the incoming Light Legion forces. Banners danced in the wind as Variants marched. With their champion, Verick, standing in the head of the army.
Every step he took, his men mirrored. It was a display of organization and power. It wasn't made to strike fear into their enemies, instead to show off their ranks and discipline.
"Here it is, Quill, your challenger stands where the skies and ground touch. Perhaps telling your vision now would be wise," Suth stood beside her brother.
His cold eyes keenly glared at the incoming army. "A spinner rampaged through the coast, dead. So many dead. In that same spinner, legends rose from the dead. Powerhouses of not war - but balance, all came to drive us deeper into insanity."
Quill placed his hand over his other hand. A metallic noise ringed between the siblings, signalling Quill's readiness for combat. His new forged battle-axe waited for the time to strike.
But he wasn't the only one ready. Outside of the walls, several other Variants rallied their forces to attack.
Risk, Quinn, Valentine, Hizentre, and Kellenas all stood shoulder to shoulder. Their heads high in the skies as they watched, unamused at their display.
"This will be the bloodiest battle we've fought. But it's only the beginning. We stand along the same lines just as Infinus, Ophus, and Encur came together several days ago," Hizentre's dull voice commented.
Valentine and Kellenas stepped aside, allowing Quill through the gates. His glorious white cloak followed behind him.
Each step he took, Imbushko felt colder. One of its most elite Thawed called upon the rage of Digon and the relentlessness of a blizzard.
Each dodge he makes will cause Frost-Waves to sweep Koroth. With every punch, a mountain will shatter. And with every heartbeat, Frozen Souls will find their way up Digon and beyond.
The elites and their forces followed his march. While the Light Legion paraded their troops, Infinus proved their prowess.
With every tear, blood stain, and broken mind. This fight turned the entire war from something personal between the leaders, to something personal between the Legions.
As both Legions got to their respective positions, winds kicked up. Dark clouds moved in and the Nine eagerly watched from the eyes of an entity.
An Alpha Male Feral stood beside Verick. Purple paint to represent his achievements decorated his tight muscles. While his teeth gritted against each other.
His bright orange eyes told stories of monsters from beyond a regular Variant's understanding. While his black hair told the tale of his home inside Etek Dur back when it was named Vilasch.
"Trijunn, you know what to do," Verick ordered.
Without needing more orders, he stepped forward. Mouth occasionally opened and closed as growls faintly screamed from the inside.
After his step, several of Trijunn's Ferals stepped behind him. Each one wore loincloth outfitted with the Light Legion's golden winged shield. Perfectly designed to compliment their white pants as they marched.
From behind the first several rows, Siege Cemtras and Weavers heeded instructions from their masters.
Sole Sibling wore his armor with pride. His chest popped out further than ever before. He wanted to show off the three plates of armor on it. Especially the one in the middle, which was gold.
"Give them explosives," he ordered the beast masters.
On command, they began packing large explosives into the palm of every Cemtras. Once every beast held two explosives in each hand, they waited for their command.
An elite walked passed the lowly Sole Sibling. His two-handed sword carried weight in his hands. Several sets of gold chains wrapped the elite's pale armor.
His chest plates seemed to have been crafted from perfection. Curves, twists, and a mold of a name on the center. Everything made with the name Vildix in mind.
"Do you feel it?" Vildix said as he planted his weapon into the grass. "It's the feeling of a Legion who fears none and claims all. Sole Sibling, are you afraid of the Legion that claimed the lives of your brothers?"
Menkas didn't respond. His mask silently watched the storm brew above the defending Infinus forces.
Towards the other end of his vision, Hizentre watched them. He felt the crushing weight of his chains hold him onto reality.
As he allowed the wind to sway his body, his mind recollected all the memories of being inside Frostikhans and what the birth of his daughter meant to him. These were all memories to account for when staring at a threat.
"Well? What are we waiting for? They're here, we're here, let's get this fight over with!" Risk cried out.
Quinn's sun shot smile burned to life as she heard the voice of her ally encourage the bout. She examined the crowd in hopes of finding Talis, the one who caused her all the pain.
Her gold hair gently flowed like water as the winds began picking up.
And with that, a single lighting bolt dashed through the skies. Officially starting the conflict.
Verick and Quill charged towards each other. Both armies seething with anger.
Explosions lit up the skies above as Weavers from both parties circled the other. It was a struggle for dominance in the skies, just as the struggle would touch the grounds soon.
Quinn used the explosions to create beasts to aid them in their battle. Some eight legged, others bipedal, while a few hovered overhead as they progressed.
Then sides clashed.
Quill swept the floor of the first warrior, then quickly retreated the axe to catch them by their neck. Once they got stuck between edge and stock, Quill spun around and hurled them back to their army.
Another Variant came to attack. They brought their sword down on the enraged Thawed. He dodged, then stomped on the weapon.
Quill lifted up his axe, catching another axe where the previous warrior's neck was. Then he spun around, axe still stuck.
As he turned, it struck aggressors and defenders alike. Leaving no one standing near him. Not like it mattered, it was a life or death situation.
He stopped spinning, causing the axe to drop out. And he remained still as the war waged around him. While he regained control over his balance, Vildix approached.
His broad frame and heavy sword made him stand out from the other warriors. With every challenger that approached, he caught them by their weapons or heads before lifting them up and executing them on the spot.
And Hizentre saw this. His first reaction was to run towards the mayhem. It was how he was raised. During the heats of Metrivious, one needed to destroy in order to gain.
This was no exception.
As he calmly walked towards the Variant, incoming groups of attackers were carelessly tossed around and badly wounded. With every step, he sprung one of his paused effects.
His flail's chains rattled, alerting the Zegus of the incoming challenger.
"Look at you, wearing your disgraced blacks and blues. How futile, do you not recognize where you wen't wrong?" Vildix' equally tough voice asked.
Despite how tempting it felt, Hizentre remained quiet. His eyes steady on his target, and heart beating steadily.
The chains flew across the field towards his target. Vildix rose his sword and swiped away the flail's head. It went in a random direction, striking an unfortunate warrior where it fell.
Hizentre tugged his weapon back, causing the entire flail to come storming back to him again. Swiping all those caught in its path.
Vildix broke into a blind charge towards Hizentre. Completely unaware of his Third Rule. When he got in distance, he allowed a motion to continue.
An invisible flail struck the side of his stomach. The force was powerful enough to almost knock him to the ground.
Despite all the armor, he still felt the pain from the impact. Which caused him to focus on that pain for a little while.
Hizentre didn't wait for his enemy. Instead, he struck with his actual flail. The weapon struck the side of his face. Completely enraging the Zegus.
He unleashed a furious battle cry, then dashed towards Hizentre at blinding speeds. When he was right behind him, Vildix swiped the back of his knees.
Forcing Hizentre to the ground. His neck was now in a perfect cutting height for him.
Just as Vildix pressed the cold metal to the throat of the Thawed, a triumphant Quinn directed one of her beasts to tackle the elite off her ally.
The flaming creature used its two front legs to push him off Hizentre. Then it rammed itself against Vildix until the elite was on the ground.
"Get up, Hizentre. And take care of that elite of yours. I'll clear a path for Risk and his Ferals," her sun shot voice said.
Without looking back, she dashed straight into the heat of combat. Followed by her slowly growing army of beasts.