The battlefield stretched endlessly before
Marshall General Kael Draven, a churning sea of chaos, blood, and fire. The sky above was a swirling mix of dark clouds and eerie green light, cast by the massive Vorath war machines looming in the distance. The alien invaders had pushed humanity to its breaking point, their monstrous forms tearing through soldiers like paper. Yet, Kael stood firm, his presence a beacon of hope amidst despair.
"Archers, fire on my mark!" Kael bellowed, his voice cutting through the cacophony of battle. His crimson cape was tattered, streaked with mud and blood, but his eyes burned with fierce determination. "Mark!"
A volley of arrows shot into the sky, their black tips glowing faintly with runic magic. The arrows arced over the battlefield, raining down on a cluster of Vorath soldiers—grotesque creatures with chitinous armor and glowing, pulsating veins. The projectiles found their mark, piercing through the enemy ranks. Several of the Vorath let out unearthly shrieks before collapsing.
But the enemy kept coming.
"Shields up! Brace for impact!" Kael roared.
The front line of soldiers locked their shields together just as a group of Vorath brutes charged. These towering beasts stood nearly ten feet tall, their bodies covered in thick, jagged plates of bone. Their massive claws struck the shield wall like battering rams, sending shockwaves through the ranks.
Kael darted forward, his sword gleaming in the flickering light. With precise, practiced movements, he ducked under the swing of a brute's claw and slashed upward, severing its arm. Black ichor sprayed across his armor, but he pressed on, driving his blade into the creature's chest. The brute staggered, letting out a gurgling snarl before collapsing.
"Hold the line!" Kael shouted again. "We can't let them through!"
Kael's mind was a flurry of calculations. The Vorath forces were overwhelming, and their warlord—an enormous, hulking figure barely visible in the distance—was directing them with ruthless precision. Kael knew that unless they took the warlord down, the battle would be lost.
"Yorrik!" Kael called out, turning toward his second-in-command. Yorrik was a burly man, his face scarred from countless battles. He was fighting off a Vorath with an axe, his strikes brutal and efficient.
"General!" Yorrik replied, shoving the creature back before burying his axe into its skull.
"The left flank is collapsing!" Kael pointed toward the chaos. "Take the reserves and reinforce it! If the flank falls, we're finished!"
Yorrik nodded, rallying a group of soldiers and charging toward the left. Kael turned back to the main battle, his sword flashing as he cut down another Vorath. The creatures were relentless, their alien cries chilling to the bone.
As Kael fought, a familiar figure emerged from the smoke: Commander Alaric. His polished silver armor gleamed even amidst the grime of war, his dark eyes cold and calculating. He rode up to Kael on horseback, his voice steady despite the chaos around them.
"Kael!" Alaric shouted. "The warlord is advancing. We need reinforcements at the center!"
Kael nodded sharply, his instincts flaring. "Take the reserves and hold the center. I'll deal with the warlord myself."
Alaric hesitated, his expression unreadable. "You're walking into a trap, Kael. That thing isn't like the others."
"I've faced worse," Kael said, turning away. "Go!"
Alaric lingered for a moment before saluting and riding off. Kael watched him go, unease gnawing at his mind. Something about Alaric's tone didn't sit right, but there was no time to dwell on it. The warlord was the true threat, and Kael had no choice but to confront it head-on.
Kael approached the center of the battlefield, the air growing heavier with every step. The Vorath warlord was a monstrous sight, standing over twelve feet tall. Its jagged, organic armor seemed to pulsate with a life of its own, and its glowing eyes burned with malevolent intelligence. In its clawed hands, it wielded a serrated blade the size of a man.
"Come on," Kael muttered, tightening his grip on his sword. "Let's finish this."
The warlord roared, the sound reverberating through the battlefield like a thunderclap. It charged at Kael with terrifying speed, its blade slashing downward in a brutal arc. Kael rolled to the side just in time, the blade carving a deep trench into the earth where he had stood.
Kael countered with a quick thrust, his blade striking the warlord's armor. The tip skidded off the thick plating, barely leaving a scratch. The warlord swung its blade again, forcing Kael to leap back.
"You'll have to do better than that," Kael growled, circling the creature. His mind raced, analyzing the warlord's movements. It was strong but slow, and its armor had gaps at the joints. If he could exploit those openings, he might stand a chance.
The warlord lunged, its blade slicing through the air. Kael ducked under the swing, slashing at the back of its knee. The blade bit into the exposed flesh, and the warlord let out a guttural snarl, staggering slightly.
Kael pressed the attack, darting in and delivering a flurry of strikes. Each blow was calculated, aimed at the warlord's vulnerable spots. Black ichor sprayed from its wounds, but the warlord fought on, its strikes becoming more frenzied.
Just as Kael thought he was gaining the upper hand, a searing pain shot through his side. He stumbled, his sword slipping from his grasp. Turning his head, he saw Alaric standing behind him, his blade dripping with Kael's blood.
"Alaric...?" Kael gasped, his voice filled with disbelief.
Alaric's face was cold, devoid of emotion. "You always were too trusting," he said, his voice calm. "The Vorath promised me power—power you could never offer. You and this kingdom are finished."
Kael fell to his knees, his strength fading rapidly. He could only watch as the warlord loomed over him, its jagged blade raised high.
"You'll... regret this," Kael whispered, his vision darkening. His last thoughts were of the men he had failed, the kingdom he had sworn to protect, and the betrayal that had sealed his fate.
The warlord's blade descended, and everything went black.