The heat of the sun pressed down on the Ash Plains, carrying with it the dust and smoke of an ever-growing battlefield. Pyronis had regrouped after the initial skirmish, their soldiers forming into larger columns, siege engines rolling behind them, and banners snapping violently in the wind. The air hummed with tension as Bao Bao watched from the hill, Sunfire pulsing faintly beneath his skin.
"Rythis's division is holding, but the Terragon Legion reports heavy pressure on the northern ridge," Lyrin Thorne said, pointing to clusters of enemy soldiers testing weak points. "If they push too hard, we risk a breach there."
Bao Bao's gaze swept over the battlefield. "Send reinforcements from the Ironclad Vanguard. Coordinate with the Silver and Bronze armies. Veylara—how are your lines?"
From the ridges, Veylara's voice rang out, clear and commanding. "The Sunshadow Guard holds steady. No breach will occur under my watch. Archers cover every flank, and the cavalry remains ready to strike where needed. We anticipate every move."
Bao Bao nodded, then turned to the other generals. "Every army must act as one. We protect the Ash Plains at all costs. If Pyronis thinks they can divide us, they are mistaken. Report every maneuver, every hesitation. We strike decisively where they falter."
Saku, sitting safely on the palace terrace with Naelith, leaned forward slightly, eyes wide. Dust and smoke rose in columns from the plains, soldiers darting like ants across a giant's table. "They're… they're moving everywhere," he murmured. "How can Father control it all?"
Naelith brushed his hair back. "Because he sees the battlefield as a whole, Saku. Every army, every general, every soldier is part of a larger plan. Watch closely. This is how war is won—not by rushing, but by thinking, by guiding, and by knowing when to act."
On the western ridge, Pyronis's main force pressed hard, attempting a coordinated assault to split the Firelonian lines. Soldiers charged in waves, their iron boots striking sparks from the stone-strewn ground. Siege engines hurled molten projectiles, landing with explosions that sent plumes of dust into the air.
Veylara's voice cut through the chaos. "Hold! Focus fire on their lead squads! Shield the infantry! Flank their left with cavalry!" The Sunshadow Guard responded instantly, shields raised in unison, arrows raining down with deadly precision. Their movements were fluid, almost preternatural, a testament to their elite training.
Bao Bao directed the independent generals with calm authority, signaling movements with subtle gestures. "Push the northern ridge slightly forward. Pull back the Terragon Legion to funnel their scouts into the trap. Silver army, cover the southern pass. Bronze army, prepare to intercept flanking units."
Lyrin Thorne watched and murmured, "They're adapting faster than expected. Pyronis didn't anticipate such seamless coordination among so many independent forces."
Saku gripped Naelith's hand tighter, eyes fixed on the clash. Sparks flew as swords met shields, and cries echoed across the plains. "Are… are they hurting each other?" he whispered, voice trembling.
"Yes, but see how your father and Veylara protect their people first," Naelith replied softly. "This is not chaos. It is control. They are ensuring as many soldiers survive as possible while defending the kingdom. That is true courage."
Veylara, sensing an overextension in Pyronis's lines, signaled the Sunshadow Guard to pivot. Cavalry swept around the enemy flank, striking their rear guard and forcing confusion into the advancing columns. At the same time, Bao Bao's Sunfire flared faintly along the ridge, illuminating the battlefield and throwing Pyronis soldiers into hesitation.
Every movement was calculated. Every army under Bao Bao's command responded like a single, living entity. The Firelonian forces, once thought separate and fractured, moved as one.
Saku's eyes widened as he whispered, "They… they're working together… like Father said."
Naelith nodded. "And that is why Firelonia will hold. Today, Saku, you are seeing how a kingdom protects itself—not through fear, but through unity, strategy, and courage."
As the day wore on, Pyronis tested every ridge and pass, but Firelonia's defenses held firm. The Sunshadow Guard, under Veylara, remained unbroken, and Bao Bao's coordination kept all the independent generals in sync. The first real test of the Ash Plains had begun, and though the battle raged, the kingdom stood together—ready for whatever Pyronis sent next.