The darkness receded, revealing the Burning Valley's scorched earth. The stench of char and smoke filled the air as Corvus's army emerged from the shadows, a tidal wave of steel and fire. The defenders stood firm, a thin line of flame against the storm, their armor glinting in the first light of dawn. The ground trembled beneath their feet as the enemy marched forward, their boots pounding the earth like a death drum.
Duke Harlen's voice boomed across the valley, "Ember Knights, hold the line! Dark Order, target their commanders! Wolf Knights, flank and cut their wings!" His words were like a spark, igniting the battlefield. The Ember Knights responded, their armor glowing with fierce heat as they charged forward, their swords blazing with fiery energy.
The battle erupted, a cacophony of clashing steel, screams, and flames. Kaelith led the charge, her blade a whirlwind of fire, cutting through enemy ranks like they were paper. She danced through the fray, her movements almost too fast to follow, leaving a trail of burning bodies in her wake. Cyrin's Dark Order struck like vipers, targeting Corvus's lieutenants, sowing confusion and chaos. They moved with deadly precision, their daggers flashing in the dim light, taking down enemy commanders with ruthless efficiency.
Arin's Crimson Shields anchored the center, their shields a wall of crimson steel, holding firm against the enemy's fury. The enemy pounded against them, wave after wave, but the Crimson Shields stood like a rock, their shields absorbing the impact, their swords striking back with precision and force.
Corvus himself rode into the fray, his eyes burning with ambition. "For the Shadow Throne!" he roared, his blade cleaving through the defenders. His personal guard, the Nightshade Sorceresses, wove dark magic, trying to turn the tide. They conjured shadows that seemed to have teeth, snipping at the defenders' heels, trying to trip them up.
The battle raged for hours, neither side yielding. The sun climbed, beating down on the carnage. Harlen's Ember Knights ignited the grasslands, a wall of fire driving Corvus's forces back. The flames danced, hungry beasts devouring the dry earth, adding to the chaos. The heat was intense, sweat-drilling rivulets running down the defenders' faces, but they didn't falter, their resolve unbreakable.
But the enemy kept coming, relentless as the tide. The defenders' lines bent, strained, and wanked under the pressure. Kaelith stumbled back, her arm heavy with fatigue, as a burly warrior swung a massive axe at her. Cyrin appeared like a ghost, his dagger flashing, taking the man's life. "Hold, Kaelith!" he shouted, his voice carrying above the din.
Arin grunted, his shield taking a pounding, but still standing. "We need to hold," he shouted, his voice hoarse from screaming orders. "Just a bit longer."
The defenders fought with every shred of strength they had, but Corvus's forces seemed endless. The outcome hung in the balance, the defenders cling to their positions by their fingernails. The Burning Valley was a killing ground, and both sides were trapped in its deadly embrace.
The earth trembled again, and this time, it wasn't just the battle. The ground itself seemed to be rising up, as if the very spirits of the valley were joining the fight. The defenders felt a surge of hope, but it was quickly dashed as they saw the enemy's reinforcements arriving, their banners flying in the wind.
The battle raged on, the defenders fighting for their lives, the fate of Ardentia hanging in the balance. The defenders were battered, bruised, and bloodied, but they refused to yield. They knew that if they fell, all was lost.
The lines surged, clashed, and reformed. The Burning Valley's earth trembled beneath the warriors' feet. Lord Orion's Shadow Knights swooped in, nightmarish silhouettes on the dawn horizon, striking fear into Corvus's ranks. Their commander, Lord Orion Nightwalker, cut a path through the enemy like a dark angel, his blade whispering death. The Shadow Knights followed in his wake, their blades drinking deep of the enemy's blood.
The three warriors stood amidst the aftermath of battle, their armor battered, their faces smeared with sweat and grime. Cyrin, Kaelith, and Arin shared a moment of respite, their eyes fixed on the distant figure of Lord Orion, his Shadow Knights arrayed behind him like a dark, imposing wall.
"Orion's here," Cyrin said, his voice low, a hint of surprise tinging his tone. "I thought he was supposed to be in Erenhall, preparing for the siege."
Kaelith frowned, his eyes narrowing. "I received word he was stationed near Redkeep, on standby. Harlen said to wait until the situation was dire enough."
Arin shook his head, his brow furrowed. "I didn't know anything about this. Orion's Shadow Knights are our best, we can't afford to have them engaged here if the main attack comes from another angle."
Cyrin's gaze lingered on Orion's imposing figure. "He's not one to disobey orders. Something must have changed."
Just then, Harlen strode up, his expression a mix of relief and concern. "Orion's here. I didn't expect him to arrive so soon."
Kaelith turned to him, his voice sharp. "You knew he was coming? Why wasn't I informed?"
Harlen's eyes met his, steady and calm. "I told him to be on standby near Redkeep, but he must have deemed the situation dire enough to intervene. We'll need to regroup and reassess our strategy, now that Orion's forces are here."
Cyrin's eyes glinted with curiosity. "Let's hear his reasoning, then."
As they spoke, Orion dismounted his dark steed, his Shadow Knights forming a protective cordon around him. His eyes, like piercing shards of ice, met theirs, his expression unreadable. "Gentlemen," he said, his voice low and smooth. "The situation demanded immediate action. Redkeep's scouts reported a secondary force moving to flank us. I brought the Shadow order to ensure our backs are covered."
Arin's eyes, scanning the horizon. "We should move, now. The enemy's not going to wait."
The group nodded, their faces set with determination. The battle was far from over, and with Orion's arrival, the stakes had just been raised.