Fort Arven was on the brink of collapse. Smoke billowed from cracked walls, and the sky thundered with the endless clash of war. On the open field before the western gate, three figures stepped forward, resolute, with enemy troops at their backs. Three generals from three different nations, united with a single goal: to bring Korasium to its knees.
General Vargan of Gargantos, known as the Two-Eyed Wolf, wielded twin short swords with a savage, unpredictable fighting style. His strikes came from all directions, like a steel storm that left little room to breathe. A front-line warrior through and through, he showed no mercy to the wounded.
General Kurell of Rutor was Vargan's opposite. Towering and disciplined, he fought with a double-bladed spear. Every move was calculated, every thrust aimed with lethal precision. He was like a boulder in a storm—silent but crushing.
General Salvius of Livasol stood out not for his strength but his mind. Lightly armored and carrying a slender blade he seldom used, he was the Chessmaster of Livasol, a brilliant strategist who read the battlefield like a puzzle to be solved. Rarely on the front lines, when he did appear, he turned tides with tactics rather than brute force.
The presence of these three darkened the morale inside Fort Arven. The defenders knew—this was no ordinary siege. It was execution.
Inside the fort, General Kael watched from a crack in the wall, his expression hardened. "Three serpent heads... coming at once."
General Yuvan sighed. "This isn't a siege anymore. It's a final blow."
Kael drew a deep breath. "Not if we break the necks first."
The sky burned red as if mourning the fate of Arven. Half the walls had fallen. At the front lines, Kael and Yuvan held what forces remained. Men dropped, not just from wounds, but from exhaustion and despair.
Beyond the gate, the three enemy generals stood still—Vargan with twin blades, Kurell with his poised spear, and Salvius on a hill, calmly orchestrating the enemy like pieces on a chessboard.
Then, a horn split the air.
From the west, reinforcements arrived. The banner of Korasium flew high as armored horses thundered forward. Leading them: Prince Gerald, in light armor, his eyes ablaze with determination.
"For Arven and Korasium!" the Prince roared.
From within the broken fort, hope ignited. Cries of despair became war cries. Spirits rekindled.
Kael raised his greatsword high. "Now! Strike back!"
Korasium's forces surged from the fort like a mountain flood. A counterattack had begun.
At the heart of the chaos, two figures stepped forward to block Kael—Vargan and Kurell.
The clash began.
Kael charged in, his greatsword sweeping down like a falling star. Kurell was forced to retreat, and Vargan had to roll aside. But Vargan was lightning-fast, countering with twin slashes from opposite angles. Kael blocked one, took a cut from the other. Blood spilled—but he stood firm.
Kurell thrust his spear from behind. Kael ducked, spun, and kicked the towering warrior, sending him back.
Blood and sweat dripped from Kael's face, but his eyes remained unshaken.
He slammed his sword into the earth, creating a shockwave that froze his two foes briefly.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Blow after blow clashed. None backed down, but wounds accumulated.
Finally, Vargan and Kurell exchanged glances, gave a small nod. They knew: this was not their day.
Meanwhile, on another flank…
General Yuvan avoided the front. From a high vantage point, he stood with Prince Gerald.
"Look at their formation," Yuvan said. "Salvius has hidden reserves behind the left hill. He plans to cut off our retreat."
"How do we turn that around?" asked Gerald.
Yuvan gave a thin smile. "With the Shadow Formation. Send cavalry to the right hill, make it look like we're fleeing. Salvius will bite... and we'll trap him."
Gerald agreed. In moments, Yuvan's plan worked. Livasol's forces fell into the trap, and when they pursued, they were encircled. Salvius escaped, but his troops retreated in disarray.
Seeing his side collapse, Salvius signaled retreat. Vargan and Kurell received the signal and slowly backed away from Kael, who still stood tall, bloodied but unbowed.
One by one, the armies of Gargantos, Rutor, and Livasol withdrew toward the east and north.
That day, Fort Arven endured.
That day, Korasium triumphed.
But everyone knew... this was not the end.