—1 Month Later—
The Eternal Legion had successfully marched through the Demon Road which is one of the famed roads built by the Valyrians during the height of their empire. The Demon roads are made of fused black stone, a hallmark of Valyrian construction, and are exceptionally durable.
The name reflects the fear and dark reputation surrounding Valyria after its destruction, as the ruins are considered cursed and dangerous.
The Eternal Legion didn't encounter anything cursed or dangerous as they marched through the Demon Road, but from above, Maximus on top of Nyxara saw the remains of the old Valyrian cities and what type of dangers lurked within the ruined region.
The remains of towering structures now succumbed to the surrounding nature. The forests had grown wild, with dense green foliage creeping over the stonework, hiding the towering structures that once dominated the city.
Alongside this, he saw movements of shadows within the ruins, hinting at potential threats that lived within them. He referred to them as shadows because he was too high in the sky to get an accurate description of what he saw, and he wasn't willing to risk his or Nyxara's life to test just what dangers resided in the ruins.
For the moment he just watched from above hoping to see if all the dangerous stories were true or not. He still didn't know if they were true, but even Nyxara was cautious of the ruins which meant a lot considering how powerful she was, "I sense an ominous presence down there. Perhaps some of those stories we have heard are true." said Nyxara. She had heard a few of the soldiers talking about the Demon Road, telling stories about the strange things that have happened to people travelling on the Demon Road.
"As interested as I am, I don't want to find out what lurks in these ruins just yet, in the future however, I will come back to claim this land for its Ancient history and the value it will provide once it's reclaimed." Maximus replied. The lands of old Valyria is not a priority for him at the moment, nor does he have an interests in reclaiming it at the moment when he has other things that he wants to do.
After passing the Demon Road, the Eternal Legion had come across one of the Master's Alliance armies which were waiting for them a few miles away from Mantarys, at a river known as the Sea of Sighs. This river wasn't the only way around as they could just go around the army through the Lands of the Long Summer, but that would be long and gruesome since the land had become scorched, drowned and blighted after the Doom of Valyria.
Maximus wanted to avoid having to go through those lands as much as possible.
Landing on the ground, Nyxara lowered her head allowing Maximus to safely dismount. "Your Excellency," one of the Legion Commanders began. "General Alexander and is already in a meeting to determine the plan of action they would take against the Master's army." reported the commander as Lilith and Merlin had joined his side.
"Excellent," Maximus nodded. His eyes swept across the battlefield, one hand resting on the hilt of his sword. High up from his vantage point, he could see the Master's army, a swarm of insects in the distance by the river, and his own men, seasoned warriors mixed with powerful soldiers summoned from his system who were eager to prove their might.
"Take me to the General," he commanded as the Commander began to lead them to where Alexander was located which was near the center of the Legion. Lilith and Merlin followed silently joined by the Imperial Guards.
Along the way, Lilith and Merlin, who had become quite acquainted with each other over the past month, had begun their own conversation which lasted the entire walk. Maximus chatted with his Imperial Guards like he would normally do to build a strong relationship with them as they were the ones who risked their life to protect him.
The command tent was abuzz with activity as Maximus entered, flanked by Lilith, Merlin, and his Imperial Guards. Inside, a large table filled with maps of the region, markers indicating enemy movements, enemy positions, and strategic points along the Sea of Sighs.
High General Alexander, who was wearing his light armor bearing his house sigil on the chest plate, bowed respectfully upon seeing Maximus. The other lieutenants, Commanders, Deputy Commanders, elven captains, and dwarven tacticians had followed suite. Maximus waived them off as Alexander started to update him on what was going on.
"Your Excellency," Alexander greeted. "The enemy has fortified their position near the river. Their numbers are significant, but their morale appears fractured, likely due to news of our victories in Volantis and our own massive Legion."
Maximus approached the table, his eyes scanning the map. "What do we know of their composition?"
Alexander gestured to one of his lieutenants, a dwarf with a thick beard braided into intricate patterns. "Their army comprises mostly conscripted slaves, with a core of trained soldiers from the Masters' Alliance. They have a few war elephants and cavalry, but their primary strength lies in their defensive fortifications along the riverbank."
Maximus nodded, his mind already piecing together a plan. "And their weaknesses?"
"Their slaves will break if pressed hard enough, and their leaders are arrogant, expecting us to fight on their terms. The river is their lifeline. If we cut them off from it, their supplies and morale will crumble." replied the dwarf.
Lilith stepped forward; her voice laced with curiosity. "What about magic? Have they employed any sorcerers?"
"We've received reports of warlocks from the House of undying within their army, but nothing definitive. If anything, I believe Lady Merlin or Lady Lilith and her witches can handle anything that appear amidst the battle."
Merlin and Lilith nodded as they didn't pick up any powerful magic presences from within the enemy army, but they knew that the enemy could also be masking their own presence to surprise them during the battle.
Not worried about the reports of the warlocks, Maximus leaned on the table, "We have the numbers, the strategy, the morale, and the Imperial Air Force. But let's not underestimate them. Their desperation will make the dangerous and cause more casualties than necessary." stated Maximus as he continued, "Here's the plan, we will launch an air attack drawing the frontline troops away from the edge of the river and their fortifications allowing our soldiers to cross unchallenged. At the same time, I want the witches flying on top of griffons to target their supply lines and their commanders."
He pointed to a section of the map. "The Cannons will fire 3 Volleys before the air attack, then shift to raining down destruction on their rear lines."
Alexander nodded, agreeing with the plan. "A sound plan, Your Excellency. The combination of air superiority, artillery, and coordinated ground forces should ensure minimal losses on our side. The cannons are already in place and ready to fire on your command."
"Good. Timing will be critical. The cannons must break their initial lines before our air forces strike, and the distraction must be sufficient to disorient their command structure. Once the griffons and witches have sown chaos, the Eternal Legion will move in and crush their formation." Everybody nodded and the meeting had ended. They immediately got to work on setting up the things discussed during the meeting.
After a few hours had passed, everything was ready. Flying to the forefront of the Legion on top of Nyxara, Maximus raised his sword high, his voice booming over the entire battlefield as even the enemy army watched. "Eternal Legion! Today, we do not just fight an enemy, we begin to destroy an institution of cruelty and oppression! Let the Masters know that their time is over, and let the world see the might of our Empire!"
The soldiers roared in unison, their voices echoing across the battlefield. The witches cast their spell, as protective magic settled over the army. Above, the griffon riders circled, awaiting their signal.
Maximus signaled to the artillery crews. "Fire!"
The ground shook as the cannons unleashed their first volley. Explosions erupted across the enemy's frontlines, shattering fortifications and sending enemy soldiers into chaos. Two more volleys followed in rapid succession, devastating the enemy ranks and leaving their defenses in disarray.
"Now!" Maximus commanded, and the griffons followed by the Black Wings dove from the skies, their riders launching volleys of explosive projectiles. Lilith and her witches unleashed a storm of fire and shadow on the enemy supply lines, cutting off reinforcements and further demoralizing the Masters' forces.
Nyxara roared, her massive wings creating gusts that knocked enemy soldiers off balance as Maximus led the charge. The Eternal Legion surged forward, crossing the river unopposed and slamming into the disorganized enemy ranks. The ground forces advanced swiftly, flanking the remaining enemy formations and cutting them down with ruthless efficiency.
—Hours Later—
The battlefield lay silent, save for the groans of the wounded and the crackle of dying fires. The Master's army was shattered, their war elephants slain, their cavalry routed, and their commanders either dead or captured. Slaves who had been forced to fight knelt in surrender, their chains broken by the advancing Imperial soldiers.
Maximus stood at the center of the battlefield; his armor stained with the blood of his enemies. Nyxara stood behind him, her presence casting a shadow over the broken remains of the enemy army.
Alexander approached, saluting. "Victory is ours, Your Excellency. The Masters' forces are in full retreat, and their supply lines are in ruins. The Sea of Sighs is ours."
Maximus nodded, his expression stoic. "Well done, General. But this is only the beginning. Mantarys and the rest of the Masters' Alliance must fall, and with them, the institution of slavery. Prepare the Legion to march, we will give the people of Slaver's Bay a future to look forward to."
As the soldiers cheered and the Imperial banners were raised over the battlefield, Maximus turned his gaze to the east, toward the heart of the Masters' territory. This victory would be the first step in reshaping the region.