As Ether died in his sandy deathbed, Infinus prepared for their push to victory. Every elite was sure this was it, the day of Infinus Triumph was here.
Thousands of warriors woke before the crack of dawn. Together, they marched through the final stretch until the Light Legion's walls were in sight.
Fulfilled anger echoed within their every stomp. As they conquered land that has been sworn to keep the Light Variants safe nearly a thousand years prior, history repeated itself.
So long ago, several Legions battled for Imbushko. But the primary fighters were Eurn and Vestercross. One side fought to keep the outskirts of their Legion safe, while the other fought to keep the first from becoming too powerful.
Until after that Primed War - the Fourth Primed War, Imbushko didn't know of any Light. That's when warriors rose from the ruins of a forsaken region to begin anew.
Land was quickly ruled over to support homes for the ill. A safe place for mothers to raise their offspring early on in their lives. But now it wasn't that.
This very same land was used to triumph over. No mothers nurtured their babies, fathers rested with their heads off their shoulders and older siblings slept with a blade in their gut.
Infinus was aware of this. So they continued, making a distant relative to Thawed's drum heavy music. Everything beneath them was theirs now.
Overhead, Siege Weavers roared to life. They pushed those behind them along through the fabric of reality, just to keep pace with the ground groups.
Sky Beasts cruised through the open air. Their wings forming giant X's. Led by a single black beast at the front. Gloria. She spread her wings once more to give flight to Valentine.
Not long after their start, Jakery gave out orders. Without a hint of fear in his voice, he turned to those around him then said.
"Light Falls today. Start the siege."
Orders spread like wildfire. Even reaching up to the heavens where riders mounted their beasts designed for warfare.
Voltaic Weavers crackled, raising the static tension in the world around them. While Pyroatic Weavers rumbled their deep melodies, raising the temperature dramatically.
Any and all Thawed felt the change. Causing them to feel less alive because they felt everything now. Warmth, it was what they looked for. But now with warmth around their bodies.
They did not know what to look for next. Regardless, they raised their weapons and shields. Getting ready to strike down the walls.
Risk cackled in delight as he rampaged forward, leading several of his Ferals behind him. Kellenas and his own Eterra Ferals followed behind. Together, they roared out to them.
Boosting the confidence of every attacking Feral. Today, they weren't going to die. Instead, they were going to triumph; they said to themselves.
Suth marched beside rows of experienced archers, who listened intently on her command. She stopped, they stopped. Her hand darted upwards, they loaded their bows then pulled back the string.
"When the Sky Beasts start surrounding the walls, you will fire. Give those faithless bastards what they so desperately want: death," Suth spat.
Before they could reach any closer to the Light Legion's walls, the sky turned black. Arrows rained from above, ready to penetrate through armor. Their metal tips pointed down, carelessly splitting the skies apart.
Using all of his strength, Decka activated his Third Rule. Putting up a barricade designed to return every single arrow back in full, but with a little extra kick.
Sky Beasts danced through the skies, while Weavers remained unfazed by the downpour of arrows. Their elements destroyed each metal tip before they could reach their bodies.
Shields rose over the heads of many, protecting themselves and those around them. When the arrow heads clashed with them, many enemy archers dropped to the floor dead.
Gloria screeched with great pride as her rider guided her through the open skies. Her wings flapped like a wild beast, untamed. Designed to fly without a care in the world.
When they reached overhead, Valentine gathered up all the blood as he whizzed by. Explosives rocked the world around him as he moved through at full speed.
Hundreds of arrows too flight after him, hoping to strike him down before any of their own riders got involved. But each one missed. Valentine simply laughed.
Enjoying his time up above. Like an energetic child, he was living his best life. The booms of explosions only made it better.
His mask lit up in pure adrenaline as it surged through his body. Blood continued to stick itself onto his vest, until it was time.
Right above the Cemtrin, a large red version of the statue that stood behind the arena formed. This statue, the memory of a fabled warrior, was there to fight alongside him.
As it came down with a mighty pound, several Cemtrin and Variants became crushed underneath its weight. As the figure began to animate itself, a spear designed to fit its royal tastes formed in its hand.
Like a living creature, it howled in anger. Instantly driving the weapon straight into the ground. Many Variants ran away, getting out of reach from the creation. Except for one Feral.
Trijunn dashed closer. His eyes were fixed on the living statue. Clearly showing signs of a challenger. This didn't hold a candle to the amount of goliaths he had slane.
Arrows rain down onto Light territory. Piercing through homes and puncturing through armor with ease. Fleeing warriors got pinned down, before being struck by a fatal arrow.
Sky Beasts followed behind. Their white feathers reflected the almost heavenly resemblance of theirs. Except they carried demons on their backs.
One of these were Hazen. She felt her chains get heavier as she got closer to the battlefield, where Hizentre's memory would come back alive.
Like before, some Sky Beasts picked up Variants before dropping them from high places. Letting gravity turn their victims into an explosion of gore.
Talons closed, trapping panicking Variants. They ascended, bringing screaming foes with them. Then they let go, waving goodbye to poor souls.
While other beasts helped their riders shoot their arrows from above. Scattering forces even more, and rarely bringing down victims.
During one of their runs, Light archers pulled back their bowstrings and unleashed a volley of arrows. Each one directed towards high-traffic areas.
Dozens of Sky Beasts were struck, and almost everyone ended with either the rider or the beast dead. They tumbled out of the sky, lifeless. Molds of who they were prior to taking on the battle.
In almost no time, Light riders took flight. Instead of attacking the offending beasts, they focused their attention on the forces behind them.
Each Storm Chaser descended from the sky. Lances and hooks hung from chains helped pick up and take out targets. Suth directed the archers to fire blindly up above them.
Hoping shots struck their targets. But they were too fast. Sky Beasts continued to cause chaos underneath them, shrugging off all attempts at breaking their hold.
Jakery ascended up into the skies, energy consumed his entire body. Sparks of lightning exited out of his eyes, falling down into the sea of warriors below.
He brought his limbs closer to the center of his body, before erupting them out once again. Powerful electrical surges followed quick.
Many Sky Beasts refused to continue moving, including warriors and other beasts. The nearby Infinus Cemtrin struggled to hold on to the large bombs.
This trick made the attacking forces prone to several incoming volleys of arrows. Each one found a target to sink their heads into, seriously injuring many and killing almost just as many.
During those brief seconds of stiffened bodies, Jakery increased how much work the bodies of every single enemy rider did. With the intention of killing them specifically.
Heartbeats increased, the need for oxygen grew in demand, and the struggle to maintain the body got increasingly difficult.
Until the riders passed away on the back of their tumbling Sky Beasts. Together, they fell to the earth. Getting crushed by the reality of their losing war.
At the entrance of the city, one of their many gates swung open. Bringing forward battalions of warriors, ready to defend their homes one last time.
Weavers descended from the skies, ready to cause destruction beneath their bodies. As they crackled and rumbled, warriors understood it was their time to die.
However, it did not stop them from advancing. Jakery screamed, telling his own warriors to greet their competitors with fury.
In no-time, both sides clashed. One of the first to attack was Decka. His shield cleanly cut through a warrior's neck before they could lift up their weapon.
He brought up his shield to defend from an incoming pike head, then he pushed the warrior back. Before they could recover, he brought the side of his shield right into their chest.
Creating a dent, inviting him in for another blow. He brought his shield one more time, shattering the armor plates, then he used his free hand to reach inside.
Suth charged towards the front lines. Bringing her axe down on anyone who stood in her path. It lodged itself into a victim's skull, catching many by surprise.
As she steadied her feet before the incoming hordes, Suth realized this was what it would have been like to fight in such a large scale conflict. Just like her brother did.