The initial skirmishes between the Union forces and the kingdoms of Terra Novum were both a spectacle and a tragedy. The Union's advanced technology met the raw power of magic in a clash that neither side had fully anticipated. The first significant engagement took place near the borders of the elven kingdom of Letharia, a land known for its mastery over nature and elemental magic.
Union forces, having secured a strategic position overlooking a key elven stronghold, prepared for an assault with a blend of precision and firepower. The Union's artillery, powered by Crystals, could level forests and strongholds alike. However, as the bombardment began, the elven defenders responded with a show of magical prowess that astonished the Union troops. Spells of protection and counterattacks neutralized many of the Union's artillery strikes, and the elves' archers, enhanced by magic, struck from impossible angles.
The battle revealed the strength of Terra Novum's magic but also showcased the Union's adaptability. The Union commanders quickly adapted their tactics, deploying their own hybrid units that combined technology and magic. They used enchanted drones to scout and relay real-time information, while magic-infused tanks breached the elven defenses.
Despite their technological superiority, the Union found that the magic of Terra Novum was deeply entwined with the land and its people. The elves fought with an intimate knowledge of their terrain, using the natural world to their advantage. Forests became battlegrounds where trees moved to block Union advances, and rivers transformed into barriers of water and ice.
The battle ended in a tactical stalemate. The Union had managed to push into the elven territory but could not secure a decisive victory. The elves, though pushed back, had demonstrated that their magic could hold off even the most formidable technological advances. This engagement marked the beginning of a protracted conflict, with both sides learning and adapting from each encounter.