-12 hours before Ether's execution-
Demon manifested himself back beside his younger brother. Bringing news from the raging war up ahead.
"Eight strongholds taken, ten bases, and sixteen outposts. With our progression, the Light Legion will be on their knees," Demon notified.
Jakery powered himself up, lightning engulfed his frame. "I am expecting heavy resistance. How many elites have been taken down?"
"A dozen. Forces mighty and cooperative, bring overconfidence to their knees. Fields of red and steel await your arrival," Demon replied.
"Okay. I'll be seeing you on the battlefield," Jakery concluded.
With a flash of lightning, the young Zesher found himself overhead a takeover. Weavers rained down from above, burning or electrocuting away their victims, Sky Beasts danced through the skies.
Black and white feathers portrayed their own stories. Of warriors fierce and determined battling the well trained. Up there, it didn't matter what they mounted.
Only if they were ready for the advancing fight.
High amounts of focused energy built up in him. Preparing to embrace the tropical storm of a angered younger sibling.
In the blink of an eye, the entire arena became blinded by powerful lightning. A rampant storm, perfectly orchestrated to tear through adversity.
Sky Beasts tumbled out of the skies, Voltaic Weavers empowered themselves far above what they could handle. Transforming them into Celestial Weavers.
Their worm-like bodies danced in circles around each other, hoping to absorb more electricity into their being. Each Weaver continued to dance across the sky before quickly dividing back into their original form.
Beneath the light show, Light warriors realized their muscles tensed up. Not allowing them to continue moving. A prisoner inside their own body.
Infinus took full advantage of this opportunity to push forward. Weapons pierced armor and unprotected skin. Badly injuring warriors to death.
Jakery descended from the clouds, landing perfectly on his feet like a falling feather. His warriors stare at him, questioning why they didn't get affected by his attack.
"Don't stand around. There's more of them out there," Jakery ordered.
In unison, elites marched their warriors out of the base. Stampeding through the blooming fields. Their armored boots clanked along with their movements.
Demon stepped through his Syndicate Dust, arriving just in time to see his side depart for the next war. As he looked around for the missing conflict, he realized just how still everything was.
"Young heart grows humble in an elder's legacy," he commented.
"Uh-uh, right. How's the rest of the Legion doing?" Jakery brushed over.
"Enoptes longs for a challenge," Demon closed his fists. "Tinzor yearns for Light Fall."
Jakery gestured over towards the direction of his warriors. "I get it, you were messed up from all the corruption. Come on, let's rip a straight path."
-Inside the Light Legion-
Alise carelessly strides into Kas' overlook inside the arena. Armor latched onto her once majestic body. The usual gold and white plates showed their pride.
While a gold outline of a crown decorated her shoulder. It represented how her family made her feel. The rush of being a queen inside of her own household, a perfect life.
"Going somewhere?" Kas broke his silence.
In return, Alise placed her hands on her hips. "No, they are coming to us. Did you not hear?"
Kas felt his heartbeat increasing. "What?"
"The Infinus Legion, Kas. They are rapidly advancing and we have yet to send in our strong elites and armies," Alise barked.
"Maybe that traitor, Decka, was right. I should have not doubted they weren't capable. However, we will stand and fight. Where are they coming from?"
Alise gestured to the world around her. "Everywhere."
Kas scoffed. "Excuse me? You are telling me our surrounding strongholds and outposts are being overrun and destroyed?"
"Not being, no. They are already destroyed. We need to act now," Alise ordered.
"Vildix, Trijunn, Uhera, Verick, and Hesentori will be here with us. Every other elite will go and fight to protect the heart of the Legion," Kas announced.
Without a second heartbeat, Alise disappeared from his sight. Storming away as the conflict leader rested away on his balcony, looking over the arena.
Panic filled the streets as news of the advancing enemies were rapidly approaching them. Thousands began getting worried, wondering if now was a good time to flee.
Children hugged their parents tight, waiting to hear them say it was going to be alright. But even they knew Infinus would be relentless.
Unlike them when they invaded. Everyone could feel the weight of their anger piling over their shoulders, ready to collapse on them as their walls get shattered by heavy explosions and blunt damage.
When Alise reached out to Verick, his first instinct was to run for his sister. Who was resting in her usual position on her bed.
He looked her over, checking for anything that could be making her uncomfortable or needed fixing. Thankfully, there was nothing. Except for the incoming fury of Infinus' warriors.
"Nisa," his worried voice said. "Infinus is right outside our door. I have to go out and protect this city."
She stared up at him, conflicted. Hearing the creeping fear in his voice drove her into becoming afraid of what might just happen to him, and eventually, her as well.
Verick noticed her eyes, how wide they were getting. "It's nothing big, I promise. Just them in their last leg in this region. I'll check on you as many times as I can. But for now, I have to go."
With one last glance at her motionless body, Verick turned away. Forcing his eyes closed to keep tears from rolling out.
In his mind, he knew it was a lie. Odds were, he was not coming back to see her. Infinus proved to being durable during conflicts, this was no exception.
As his footsteps echoed within themselves, other warriors formed small battalions, readying themselves just in case Infinus was going to breach their final line of defenses.
Hundreds of mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters made up the bodies of these forces. Many would have stayed in the Legion to keep things running smoothly while warriors took the front line.
Not here, Verick thought. This time, they were approaching that same line their warriors were supposed to defend. Completely disregarding how powerful a fully armored and equipped Variant could be.
Out in the outskirts of the city, armies upon armies of Variants rallied together to greet Infinus. As day turned to dusk, their hopes of another sunrise over the Legion became even more desperate.
Yet there was hope. Night time usually meant little to no activity from Variants. Many wouldn't see staying up so late, especially during a conflict, as worth.
Except for Ferals. This Infinus knew. Several packs replaced Infinus' forces. They marched through the darkness, eyes glowing yellow and bodies going silent.
Stomping turned to light thumping, heavy breathing turned to slight panting, and their growls were silenced. From then until dawn, their only form of communication was blushes.
Throughout the course of the night, armies took turn watching over the surrounding walls of the Light Legion. When not on watch duty, they would rest.
Nocturnal freezes made it difficult for many to not waste energy on preserving heat. Making Thawed one of their greatest protectors.
However, the dim lighting was their new obstacle. Seeing further than a couple steps ahead of them became a huge hindrance that taunted them.
Every passing second, they expected to see warriors storming through the flat lands around them. Completely unaware of what the Infinus Legion was really doing.
Away from sight, they were recovering. Many drifted to sleep in their own armies, waiting for the break of dawn to continue their rampage.
Ferals were a different case. In their large mega-packs, they scouted the few remaining territories left under the Light Legion's command. They noted down everything they saw in their minds.
When they were done, they would move onto the next location. Until they were none left. By then, night was only half way through. Under the cover of almost-complete nothingness, they made their own advancements.
Instead of retreating to their respective battalions, some Ferals silently entered outposts. They would stalk those defending them.
Silently preparing to ambush whoever they could get. Their silent claws and quick jaw snaps made it easy to bring down anyone left awake.
Right as the horizon began turning orange, they fled back to their battalions. Weary but accomplished.