The Kingdom of Zorath's army marched steadily toward Fort Ironwood, the air tense with anticipation. The TCS fed Alex constant battlefield updates, tracking every movement within a 50-kilometer radius. Every scan confirmed the same thing—Varyndel knew they were coming.
Elara's scouting party had detected enemy outriders shadowing their march, likely relaying their position back to the main invasion force.
Darius rode up beside Alex. "They're testing us."
Alex didn't look away from the horizon. "Let them."
Aldric, riding on Alex's other side, nodded grimly. "Varyndel is arrogant. They've never faced an army like this. They'll assume we're just another kingdom relying on outdated tactics."
Finn, sitting slightly hunched on his mount, sighed. "They're going to find out how wrong they are soon enough."
The TCS chimed in Alex's vision.
[ Hostile Forces Detected: Varyndel Advance Unit (Est. 600 Soldiers).
Heavy Cavalry: 200
Light Infantry: 400
Status: Moving to Cut Off Route to Fort Ironwood
Suggested Response: Engage and Eliminate Before They Regroup. ]
Alex's jaw tightened. So they weren't waiting for a siege after all.
"They're trying to intercept us," Alex said. "They want to cut us off from the fort."
Darius grinned. "Good. That means we can hit them first."
Alex raised a fist, signaling the Zorathian forces to halt. Soldiers adjusted their formations, archers took position, and engineers began deploying forward turrets using Zorath's adaptive defense technology.
Elara and her scouts moved into position, ready to launch long-range harassment.
Alex took a deep breath. "This is it."
The first real battle of Zorath's expansion was about to begin.
The Varyndel vanguard arrived with a thunderous charge, their heavy cavalry leading the assault. The sound of hooves against hardened earth sent shockwaves through the ground.
Alex and his elite guard stood firm, watching the cavalry close the distance.
Darius cracked his knuckles. "Hope they're ready for a surprise."
At the last moment, Alex raised his hand. The TCS-fired pulse beacons activated.
The battlefield lit up with defensive energy shields, and the ground shifted, as Zorath's engineers triggered retractable barricades.
The charging cavalry hit the sudden obstacle at full speed.
Chaos erupted.
Horses reared and crashed, throwing their riders. Some men slammed straight into the barriers, while others were thrown over them, landing painfully into the dirt.
The TCS updated.
[ Enemy Cavalry Neutralized: 65%. Remaining: 70. ]
Before the Varyndel soldiers could recover, Elara and her scouts fired.
Arrows rained down, striking exposed enemies, while Zorathian infantry surged forward to engage the scattered remains of the cavalry.
Darius led the charge, his hammer smashing through armor and shields. Finn channeled magic into the turrets, enhancing their energy output.
The light infantry units of Varyndel panicked, caught between the advancing Zorathian forces and the energy defenses.
Alex, moving like a storm through the battlefield, cut down three men in rapid succession.
The TCS marked the enemy morale as collapsing.
[ Enemy Status: Routed. Casualties: 75%. Retreating Toward Main Force. ]
Darius, wiping sweat from his brow, laughed. "That's what they get for underestimating us."
Elara, collecting arrows, smirked. "That was almost too easy."
Alex exhaled. "They won't make the same mistake twice."
The battlefield was theirs. The first major clash between Zorath and Varyndel had ended in a decisive victory.
The TCS updated the situation.
[ Battle Results:
XP Earned: 1,200
RP Earned: 400
Enemy Casualties: 75%
Supplies Captured: 150 Units of Steel, 80 Units of Rations, 30 Horses. ]
Aldric studied the enemy's retreating forces. "They'll report this back to their commanders. Varyndel won't ignore what just happened."
Alex nodded. "That's the point."
Finn looked concerned. "What if they come back with more troops?"
Alex's gaze hardened. "Then we make sure they never come back."
The march to Fort Ironwood continued, but now, Varyndel knew they weren't facing an ordinary kingdom.
The Kingdom of Zorath had made its first move.
The battlefield lay in ruins. Bodies of fallen Varyndel soldiers littered the field, and the smell of burnt earth and blood hung heavy in the air. Zorath's forces moved swiftly, securing supplies, salvaging armor and weapons, and tending to their wounded.
The TCS displayed updated logistics.
[ Post-Battle Summary:
Zorath Casualties: 12 dead, 37 wounded.
Varyndel Casualties: 400+ dead, 150 retreating.
Resources Gained: 1,200 units of steel, 80 crates of rations, 50 additional mounts.
Morale Boost: Zorath forces now battle-hardened. ]
Alex stepped through the wreckage, his mind analyzing what had just happened. This wasn't just a victory. It was a message.
Elara, wiping blood from her bow, frowned. "They'll come back with everything they have."
Aldric agreed. "Varyndel doesn't take losses lightly. Their pride won't let them retreat for long."
Darius adjusted his battle-worn hammer. "Then let them come. We'll break them again."
Alex looked toward the horizon, where Fort Ironwood awaited. "We don't wait for them to come to us. We keep pushing forward."
Two days later, Zorath's army arrived at Fort Ironwood.
The fortress was massive but heavily damaged. Walls were cracked from previous battles, siege weapons lay in ruins, and morale among Ravencairn's defenders was low.
The TCS instantly assessed the stronghold.
[ Fort Ironwood Status:
Structural Integrity: 60% (Vulnerable).
Defensive Weaponry: 40% Operational.
Supplies Remaining: 3 weeks before depletion.
Enemy Threat: High – Varyndel Main Army Approaching. ]
Alex turned to his engineers. "We reinforce the walls, deploy automated turrets, install adaptive energy shields, and double the perimeter defenses. We hold this place, no matter what."
His commanders nodded, moving into action.
[ Upgrade Options Deployed:
Titan-Class Barrier System (700 RP) – Shields the walls with energy reinforcements.
Long-Range Ballistae (400 RP) – Enhanced siege defenses.
Zorathian Command Hub (600 RP) – Upgraded coordination between units. ]
Darius and his builders set to work, reinforcing key weak points in the walls with reinforced Void-Infused Alloy. Finn worked on stabilizing the energy barrier, ensuring it wouldn't collapse mid-battle.
Elara climbed to the highest tower, scanning the distance. "They're coming."
The TCS pinged an urgent warning.
[ Enemy Army Approaching:
Varyndel Main Force: 5,000 Troops
Siege Towers & Catapults Detected
ETA: 8 Hours Until Engagement ]
Alex exhaled. "Then we finish fortifying before the sun rises."
Inside Fort Ironwood's war room, Alex stood before a detailed battlefield projection. He marked enemy positions, calculating the best choke points and kill zones.
Aldric sat across from him, watching in quiet awe. "You don't plan battles like a general. You plan them like an engineer."
Alex smirked. "Because war isn't just about fighting. It's about building an advantage."
Aldric nodded. "Then let's make sure this fortress holds."
The final defenses were completed just before dawn.
Zorath's forces stood ready.
5,000 enemy soldiers were coming.
And they would break upon the walls of Fort Ironwood.
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