The sky above Astralis was eerily silent. The people had spent the last six days preparing, training, and fortifying—but now, as the final night before battle arrived, the weight of war settled in.
Fires burned throughout the stronghold. Warriors sat in quiet circles, sharpening their weapons. Others prayed before the Everflame, seeking the Creator's blessing.
Leon watched them from above. Would they break? Or would they stand?
His interface flickered.
───[Final Night Before War]───
Morale: Unstable
Readiness: 68%
Chance of Victory: 15%
Fifteen percent.
Even with all their preparation, they were still too weak.
Leon exhaled. He could intervene. He could give them a miracle. But that would change everything.
If he gave them too much power too soon, they would become dependent on him. They needed to fight for their own survival.
But he could still give them a chance.
The First Divine Dream
That night, as the warriors of Astralis rested, Leon whispered into the dreams of the First King.
The king found himself standing on a battlefield, but it was different—it was years into the future.
Astralis was no longer a settlement.
It was a mighty kingdom, with great stone walls, powerful warriors clad in steel, and banners flying in the wind.
At the center stood a throne of gold, and on it… sat the First King himself.
But before he could bask in the vision, a shadow loomed over the land.
The Dreadborne Horde had returned—but they were not the same. They were stronger, darker, more monstrous than before.
And in that moment, the First King understood.
This battle was only the beginning.
The Awakening
The king awoke with a start. Sweat dripped down his brow. His heart pounded in his chest.
He had seen the future.
Not just his own—but the destiny of Astralis.
He stepped out of his tent and looked over his people. They were afraid.
They had trained, but they were still uncertain.
So he did the only thing a true king could do.
He stood before them and spoke.
"We are outnumbered."
The warriors looked at him with wide eyes.
"We are weaker."
Some lowered their heads.
"But we will not kneel."
Silence.
"We are Astralians. We are the children of fire! And though the enemy may march with ten times our numbers, we will show them what it means to stand against fate itself!"
A spark ignited in their souls.
The warriors raised their weapons, pounding them against their shields. The people shouted his name.
Leon's interface flickered.
───[Morale Increased: 92%]───
Fear: Removed
Battle Readiness: 81%
Leon smirked. Good.
They might not be strong enough to win.
But they would fight until the last breath.
Dawn of the First War
The seventh day arrived.
The Dreadborne Horde stood at the horizon like a storm ready to swallow the land.
The Astralians stood behind their walls, weapons in hand, ready for battle.
The First King, standing at the front, drew his sword and pointed it at the enemy.
"FOR ASTRALIS!"
The war horns sounded.
And the first great battle in history had begun.
The Battle of Astralis Begins
The earth trembled beneath the march of the Dreadborne Horde. Thousands of twisted warriors, their bodies marked with dark runes, descended upon Astralis like a tidal wave of death.
At the head of the army, Gral'Zhor the Undying stood atop a warbeast, his massive bone axe glistening with the blood of past conquests. His crimson eyes glowed beneath his jagged helm.
"Break their walls! Burn their homes! Leave nothing alive!"
A thunderous roar erupted from the horde as they charged toward the stronghold.
The Astralian Defense
Atop the walls of Astralis, the Dawnblades stood ready. Their spears were lined along the barricades, their bows drawn.
The First King raised his sword, his voice echoing over the battlefield.
"Steady! Let them come!"
Leon watched from above, his divine presence unseen but felt. This was it. The first true battle of civilization.
His interface flickered.
───[Battle Event Triggered]───
Enemy Forces: 10,000+ Dreadborne Warriors
Astralian Forces: 1,200 Trained Fighters + 800 Villagers
Defensive Advantage: Moderate
Survival Chances: 27%
Leon narrowed his eyes. They were still outmatched.
Would they hold? Or would Astralis fall before it could rise?
The First Clash
The Dreadborne Horde slammed into the outer barricades, their war cries filling the air.
Spears plunged into flesh. Arrows rained from above. The first wave of Dreadborne warriors fell, impaled upon wooden stakes and pierced by Astralian arrows.
But they kept coming.
Siege ladders were raised. Flaming projectiles were hurled at the walls. Dark shamans chanted, their spells crackling with eerie energy.
Leon's interface flickered again.
───[New Threat Identified: Dreadborne Warlocks]───
Dark magic detected. Weakened defensive structures.
Enemy warlocks can summon monstrous creatures.
Threat Level: High.
Leon frowned. Magic was in play.
The First King gritted his teeth. He had expected a battle of steel and numbers. Not sorcery.
"Archers! Focus on the spellcasters!" he roared.
Arrows whistled through the air, striking the warlocks before they could complete their incantations. Three fell instantly.
But then, the ground began to crack.
A hulking beast—its flesh covered in black runes—rose from the battlefield, summoned from the depths. It let out a horrific roar, its claws large enough to crush a man in a single swipe.
Leon's interface pulsed.
───[Dreadborne Behemoth Summoned]───
A creature of war, bred for destruction.
Can tear through walls and soldiers alike.
Astralian survival rate decreased by 10%.
Leon clenched his jaw. This was bad.
Divine Intervention
He hadn't planned to interfere yet.
But if he let this go on, Astralis would fall here and now.
For the first time since creating this world, Leon reached down.
A single command echoed across the battlefield—unheard by mortal ears but felt in their very souls.
───[Divine Skill Activated: Firestorm]───
The sky darkened. Then it ignited.
A massive pillar of fire descended from the heavens, engulfing the Behemoth in an inferno of divine wrath.
The beast howled in agony, its cursed flesh burning away in an instant. In seconds, it was nothing but ash.
For a brief moment, both armies stood in stunned silence.
The First King's eyes widened.
The Creator had answered.
Then, with renewed fury, he raised his sword.
"FOR THE CREATOR! FOR ASTRALIS!"
A deafening war cry erupted from the Astralians as they charged forward, striking back with everything they had.
The Battle Rages On
The Dreadborne Horde faltered. They had expected an easy victory—but now, they faced a people who would not break.
Blood soaked the battlefield. Bodies piled upon bodies.
The Dawnblades held the walls.
The First King cut down foes with unrelenting fury.
The battle was still far from over.
But for the first time since the war began, hope burned brighter than ever.