Mika caught a glimpse of Unutay out of the corner of her eye. Something was different. His presence had changed noticeable even at this distance. But she had no time to focus on it. Above her, winged creatures kept diving from the sky, and she had to give everything to hold them off.
Unutay, however, didn't stop.
He saw the six heroes fighting amid the chaos, side by side, in a storm of magic, steel, and fire. Then he moved.
With an explosive start, he sprinted forward, sword in hand, no longer hesitant but resolute. He dove beneath the massive golem, slid skillfully between its legs, and struck. With two precise cuts, he severed the tendons at the creature's heels.
The golem roared and fell to its knees. Already weakened by Elandra's arrows, it was now vulnerable.
Torgul seized the moment. With a battle cry, he raised his fire axe and leapt, bringing it down with full force on the golem's head. The blow landed like thunder. Stone shattered, and the massive creature crashed to the ground dead.
In the next moment, Unutay was already behind the invisible enemy that had previously wounded Keal and Kiro. He appeared out of nowhere and drove his blade deep into the enemy's back, piercing through to the vitals. The foe let out a short cry before collapsing. Another threat eliminated.
But there was no time to rest.
They all rushed toward Nerion, who had been cornered by several attackers. His magical barriers flickered weakly. While running, Kiro fired multiple arrows at an enemy about to strike Nerion. Each shot landed true. The attacker dropped before he could land a single blow.
From behind, Elandra fired a volley into the air. Her arrows pierced two gargoyles mid-flight, just before they could ambush Mika. The skies became a little safer.
Torgul, Keal, and Mika pushed through the final line of enemies. Keal struck with precision, Torgul shook the ground with every swing, and Mika half eagle, half warrior tore through the air like a storm of talons.
The battle wasn't over. But in that moment, they were no longer just individuals. They were a unit. A force.
All enemies were defeated.
Silence fell. Only for a moment.
The six heroes and Unutay stood together, catching their breath, bodies bruised and weary from battle. But they had made it — at least through this fight.
Their gazes turned to the valley below. What they saw tightened their chests.
Smoke rose in thick plumes. Fire engulfed tents and shattered towers. The once hopeful outpost was now a scorched battlefield, devoured by war.
And though the portal stood far in the distance, the silhouette of the giant was still clearly visible unmoving, like a gatekeeper of ruin.
Nerion took a step forward and looked at Keal.
Keal simply nodded. "Come on. They need us."
Still exhausted from the fight, but without hesitation, they gathered themselves. Their bodies ached, some bled, but none stopped. They ran down into the valley. Side by side. Unutay ran with them.
At the same time in the camp
The defensive lines were beginning to falter. The battle raged on. Magic, blades, and chaos clashed on all sides. Screams, explosions, and the screech of otherworldly creatures filled the air.
The giant by the portal raised his spear again. It glowed, gathering energy, then he hurled it toward the camp. A massive explosion shook the ground, throwing soldiers into the air and tearing through fortifications.
"We need to take that giant down!" Leon shouted to Davor.
"But how?" Davor replied. "He's too far and there's an entire horde between us and him!"
From her elevated position, Valea summoned a powerful spell. A rain of lightning crashed into the enemy ranks, cutting through their formation and giving Davor a brief opening. Gasping for air, he looked up at her.
"I have a plan!" Valea yelled.
She conjured a massive fireball, charged it with energy, took aim, and fired it toward the battlefield, directly in front of Davor.
The fireball exploded, clearing a burning path through the enemy lines.
"Now!" Davor roared.
He charged straight into the gap. His hammer swung wide, his shield crushed everything in his path. Leon followed close behind, leaping over debris, dodging strikes, both cutting a path through the chaos.
Every strike from Davor sent enemies flying. The first few meters were cleared with Valea's help after that, it was brute strength and will alone. He smashed through the last defenders standing between them and the giant.
Just before reaching the target, Davor planted his feet firmly in the ground. Leon, right behind him, used Davor's back as a springboard, launched himself high into the air.
For a moment, he looked the giant straight in the eyes.
Then came a whirlwind of blades.
Leon hacked at the giant with inhuman speed. Deep wounds covered the creature, blood sprayed in waves, but it still stood.
The giant raised its arm for a crushing blow
But Davor reacted instantly. A stone wall erupted from the earth and absorbed the attack just in time.
Then two bright explosions lit the battlefield.
Valea's fireballs struck the giant from afar. It let out a roar, dropped to its knees.
"Now!" Davor shouted, lifted his warhammer, and brought it crashing down with devastating force.
The hammer struck the giant's head and shattered it. The beast collapsed a mountain of flesh, blood, and broken stone.
In the camp, the exhausted soldiers saw the massive enemy fall. Hope reignited.
With a unified cry, they charged forward, inspired by the victory of their commanders. The battle was not yet won but their courage had returned.
The war across the world raged on
Chaos everywhere. Civilians were unprepared and unable to defend themselves. Streets littered with corpses. Buildings engulfed in flames. Even fortified cities fell within hours.
Earth's armies regrouped wherever they could. Counterattacks were launched many in vain. Cities burned. Some were wiped off the map before help could arrive.
Across the globe, warriors fought back. Veterans, mages, tech specialists all tried desperately to coordinate. But the enemy's numbers were overwhelming. Portals kept opening. The invaders came in endless, organized waves.
In the Earth command center, panic reigned. Monitors flashed red. Alarms blared. Officers shouted, trying to sort reports, analyze maps, stabilize comms.
"Call in every elite fighter we have!" one commander yelled.
"Deploy them to nearby battle zones we must hold the lines!"
Another officer, soaked in sweat, stared at the screen. "We… we can't help everywhere. We have to make choices."
A harsh truth was spoken
In some strategy rooms, the idea emerged: abandon entire regions. Evacuate cities. Shift borders. Not to win but to save something.
The strategic situation was dire. The enemy hadn't come to conquer.
They came to destroy everything.
At Arcanum, the sky academy
Meridon and the instructors had managed to repel the first wave. The courtyard was filled with bodies. Smoke drifted through shattered halls. But the portal at the edge of the grounds still pulsed an open wound in reality.
Meridon, breathing heavily, stepped forward cautiously. He needed to see what lay beyond. Who or what was behind this attack.
Then they emerged.
Five beings stepped out, each more terrifying than the last
Two wore dark cloaks, smoke leaking from their sleeves as if their bodies were made of shadow. Their presence felt cold, empty, as if light itself refused to touch them.
Next came two orcs but not ordinary ones. Their bodies were rotting, consumed by decay. Their eyes were hollow. They were shells.
Last came a lone figure — taller than the rest, surrounded by an aura of corrupted magic. It wore a crown. Its face was hidden beneath a dark veil. In its hand, a cracked staff radiated violet energy.
A sudden strike a magic blast flung Meridon across the courtyard. He slammed into a wall and lay still.
The remaining instructors charged at the attackers brave but overmatched. The undead orcs were merciless. They crushed two of the teachers in seconds. Magic defenses shattered like glass.
Meridon pushed himself up, coughing. His vision blurred. Instinctively, he grabbed his weapon. A demon leapt toward him. Meridon parried and impaled the beast.
But there were too many. Far too many.
Leon and Davor stood back to back
Surrounded by enemies. Too far from camp. Bodies aching. Energy nearly gone.
Leon chuckled, hoarse. "The dance started earlier than expected… maybe it ends here too."
Davor, exhausted, managed a grin. "If we survive this, I'll dance with you."
They both knew no help would arrive in time. And they were too drained to hold on much longer.
Then explosions.
Multiple blasts cleared the area around them. Enemies were thrown away by force and fire.
Ships appeared overhead. Sleek, glowing vessels cut through the smoke.
Leon stared. "Aren't those… Xionis ships?"
Davor shouted. "YES! Reinforcements!"
Cyborgs leapt from the ships. Drones soared overhead, firing precision shots. The tide shifted.
Valea, watching from afar, couldn't hold back her tears. She thought she had lost them. Now she screamed
"Everyone full counterattack! NOW!"
And they weren't alone.
Across the world, warriors of the Alliance emerged. Perfectly coordinated. Every front pushed forward at once.
Magicians from Azura, casting spells like starlight
Elven warriors from Elundor, graceful and deadly
Giants from Vargath, shaking the ground with each step
Dwarves from Dunarak, hammers smashing through steel
Angelic warriors from Celothar, wings of light and burning spears
Beastfolk from Nekzar, storming like wild packs
Ice fighters from Frelis, frost-covered blades in hand
Shadow warriors from Vorhatis, striking unseen
White orcs from Orkathar, disciplined and relentless
Water fighters from Aqualar, flowing with the tide, deadly as the sea
They had all come.
In the command center, cheers erupted. Officers cried with joy. Hope had returned.
Across the world, the invaders were pushed back. The portals began to close, one by one. Those who could escape fled. Those who could not were cut down.
The battle was won.
Through unity, sacrifice, and the strength of the Alliance
The world survived.
What did you think?
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