Now that the armies of Hadia had arrived at Amresh and Sworis, it didn't take too long for the first battle to start. The armies, led by the generals of Wize from both camps, and the King of Wize himself, clashed against each other. The defenders of Amresh and Sworis had the clear advantage from the start, but once the battle began, they were in for a rude awakening.
The armies of Hadia didn't attack directly at first; they gave their opponents the impression they were going to charge head-on. But they didn't. Instead, they attacked from the sky first, using some kind of burning liquid. The liquid wasn't too dangerous in small quantities, but they had attacked with a lethal dose—enough to kill some of the soldiers. After that, they sent horses pulling empty chariots carrying flames across the battlefield, destroying and exposing most of the traps laid for them. It seemed they weren't going to throw bodies blindly at the enemy.
Afterward, the enemy advanced with their bombardment cannons. It became clear they hadn't come to preserve the city. With the defenders disoriented and scrambling from the previous attacks, the forces from Hadia used their heavy cannons first, attacking the city and causing significant damage. While Sworis recovered faster due to Jai's presence, they were still unable to prevent the enemy from breaching the walls.
Seeing the breach happen so early, the King sent Henry Laxe and General Zai to stop the enemy. The battle now reached its peak, and as time went on, more bodies began to fall.
Harry Laxe, second son of Harvey Laxe, had been sent by Omi to assist the new King of Wize. Orion, the King's brother, had returned to the King's side, so Harry was sent to bring reinforcements. Initially, Harry was surprised to receive the orders and wondered why the mission fell to him instead of someone more senior. Although the generals in Omi were busy dealing with internal affairs, one of them could have been chosen.
It turned out Lady Kindel had put his name forward for the mission. Even if someone else were to lead, Harry would have been assigned to Wize regardless. He gripped his sword in anger.
"That crazy bitch. Who the hell does she think she is, sending me to this hellhole?"
Harry wielded his massive sword with ease. Holding it with both hands, he dodged an incoming spear that narrowly grazed his face—a bit closer, and he'd have lost an eye. That was the battlefield: close calls, chaos, a little luck, and death. With a single swing, he reduced his attacker to a bloody mess.
But more enemies quickly surrounded him. It seemed they recognized him, as well as General Zai, as threats to be eliminated. Both of them found their movements restricted, the enemy keeping a close eye on them even amidst the chaos.
Harry clicked his tongue. He was surrounded by six men. No one moved, and after a moment, a seventh man joined them, walking past the encirclement to stand in front of Harry.
Harry stared at him, sizing him up. The man's bloodstained armor bore deep scratches and his cape was ragged. A small wound on his shoulder didn't seem to bother him. After a moment of silence, the man spoke.
"Leave us," he ordered, and the others obeyed, vanishing back into the chaos.
"You should've told them to stay," Harry said, smirking. "Maybe then you'd have a better chance."
The man said nothing, removing his helmet and tossing it aside to reveal a scarred face.
Harry chuckled. "That's one ugly face."
Without warning, the man attacked. Harry smiled, blocking the strike. The clash of their swords sent shockwaves around them, marking the start of an intense duel—just one of many happening across the battlefield.
In another part of the fray, General Zai was locked in combat with a tall man wearing similar armor to Harry's opponent. It became evident the enemy was isolating them on purpose.
Meanwhile, in Amresh, General Karim stood against the formidable General Abu. Both warriors were engaged in a grueling fight, surrounded by an inferno. Neither faltered, their eyes locked on each other, undeterred by the raging flames.
Back in Sworis, on the main battlefield, Jai stood, staring at General Kyle and General Khan, who were both some distance away. The god sword raised his weapon, signaling for them to approach.
General Kyle glanced at General Khan, who nodded in agreement. Khan immediately began to approach Jai, charging head-on. Kyle, on the other hand, pulled out an arrow and notched it, preparing for his move.