The air grew colder as the allied forces marched forward, the ground beneath their feet trembling slightly with each step. As Aric and the rest of the vanguard led the way, a strange unease settled over the army. They had faced many battles before, but none had felt like this—like they were marching toward something far greater, far more dangerous than any foe they had ever encountered.
It had been days since the vanguard had held their ground against the enemy's first wave. While they had managed to regroup and push back the darkness, the cost had been high. Many had fallen, and the morale of the allied forces was beginning to waver. Now, they were heading toward the heart of the enemy's stronghold, a place known as the Titan's Reach.
The legends surrounding the place were as ancient as the land itself. It was said that the Titans—colossal beings of unimaginable strength—had once walked the land, and their remains still lay buried deep beneath the mountains. The enemy had chosen this cursed place as their final stronghold, knowing that the power of the Titans could turn the tide of any battle.
Kael walked beside Aric, his eyes scanning the horizon. "This place feels wrong," he muttered, his voice low.
Aric nodded in agreement. The land seemed to shift beneath their feet, as though the very earth was restless. The towering mountains loomed in the distance, their jagged peaks cutting through the sky like the fangs of some monstrous beast.
"We're walking into a trap," Kael continued, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "The enemy knows we're coming."
Aric tightened his grip on his own weapon. "We have no choice. If we don't take the fight to them, they'll overrun us."
Jorath, who had been silent for most of the march, finally spoke. "There's something dark here," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I can feel it... an ancient magic. Something... older than anything I've ever encountered."
"Older than the sorcerer's magic?" Kael asked, raising an eyebrow.
Jorath's eyes flickered with unease. "Much older. Whatever is buried here has been dormant for centuries, but the enemy has found a way to awaken it."
Aric's jaw clenched as he looked ahead toward the mountains. They were getting closer now, and the path that led toward the heart of the enemy's stronghold was becoming narrower, flanked on both sides by towering cliffs.
Suddenly, a horn sounded in the distance, its low, mournful note echoing across the valley. The allied forces came to a halt, their eyes scanning the cliffs for any sign of movement.
"They're coming," Kael said, his voice tense.
The sound of marching footsteps began to fill the air, growing louder with each passing moment. The cliffs above seemed to shudder as the enemy forces appeared, their dark banners waving in the wind. And then, from the shadows, they emerged—massive, hulking figures, their armor gleaming in the pale light.
The Titans.
At first, it seemed impossible that such creatures could exist. They towered over the cliffs, their massive bodies covered in thick plates of armor that glinted with dark magic. Their eyes burned with an unnatural light, and their weapons—huge, jagged blades that looked as though they had been forged from the very earth itself—glowed with an ominous red hue.
The allied forces stared in stunned silence, their weapons held limply at their sides. Even Aric, who had faced countless horrors in his time, found himself momentarily frozen by the sight of these colossal beings.
"We can't fight them," Kael whispered, his face pale.
Aric swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest. "We have to."
The ground trembled as the Titans moved, their massive feet sending shockwaves through the earth with each step. The enemy forces surged forward, flanking the Titans on all sides as they prepared to attack.
"Form up!" Aric shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Hold the line!"
The allied forces scrambled to form a defensive line, their shields raised as they braced themselves for the impact. The Titans moved slowly, but with terrifying purpose, their weapons raised high above their heads as they prepared to strike.
The first Titan swung its massive blade down, and the ground shook with the force of the impact. Dozens of soldiers were thrown back by the shockwave, their bodies crushed beneath the weight of the blow.
"Fall back!" Kael shouted, pulling Aric out of the way of another swing. "We can't take them head-on!"
Aric staggered to his feet, his ears ringing from the impact. He looked around, seeing the chaos that had erupted around them. The allied forces were being pushed back, their formation crumbling under the sheer power of the Titans' assault.
Jorath raised his staff, his eyes glowing with magic as he sent a wave of fire toward one of the Titans. The flames washed over the creature's armor, but it barely seemed to notice, its gaze fixed on Jorath as it swung its blade down toward the mage.
Jorath barely managed to dive out of the way, the blade carving a deep gouge in the ground where he had just been standing.
"We need to find their weakness!" Aric shouted, his sword raised as he tried to rally the troops. "They can't be invincible!"
Kael fired an arrow at one of the Titans, aiming for a small gap in its armor. The arrow struck true, lodging itself deep within the creature's flesh. The Titan let out a low, rumbling growl, but it didn't slow down.
"They're too strong," Kael muttered, his face twisted in frustration.
Jorath scrambled to his feet, his eyes wide with realization. "It's the magic! Their power comes from the magic of this place! We have to cut them off from it!"
Aric nodded, his mind racing. "How?"
Jorath's gaze flickered toward the mountains. "There's something in the heart of the Titan's Reach—something that's feeding them. If we can destroy it, we might be able to weaken them."
Aric looked at the towering mountains, his stomach twisting with dread. "Then we need to get there."
Kael nodded, his grip tightening on his bow. "It's our only chance."
Aric raised his sword, his voice steady despite the fear gnawing at him. "We fight our way through. For Drakenor!"
"For Drakenor!" the allied forces echoed, their voices rising in unison as they prepared to face the Titans once more.
With a final, determined glance at Kael and Jorath, Aric charged forward, his sword raised high. The battle for the Titans' Reach had begun.