The Third Prince Of Darkness

When I noticed the enemy soldiers advancing between the rocky outcrops, I immediately shouted toward the units beside me,

"Close the flanks! Send reinforcements to the rocks immediately! Archers, focus on that forested area!"

My voice echoed even amidst the chaos of battle. The reserve forces waiting in front of the rocky defenses quickly sprang into action. With shields and spears in hand, they ran toward the rocks, forming a defensive line against Alpshar's approaching troops. However, we were met with an unexpected move by the enemy. Mages hidden in the forest began attacking our defensive units with elemental spells. The ground cracked open, and pillars of fire erupted.

"Have the mage unit in the rear prepare counterspells!" I shouted. At the same time, I gripped my sword tightly and spurred my horse toward the enemy line. I needed to motivate the soldiers at the front.

"Follow me! Leave the rear to them; the front line will hold strong with us!"

As each unit moved according to my orders, my eyes scanned for Alpshar's command post. This move was surely just the beginning of his plan, I was certain. But it also created an opening for us to counter. If we executed our defense timely and effectively, we could break the enemy's momentum and plunge them into chaos.

The third group attacking the rocks was proving more effective than I had anticipated. Our rear units began to falter momentarily. However, the precise shots of the archers I had positioned there and the mages' counterattacks slowed the enemy's advance. Yet the greatest threat remained the major assault on our front lines.

When I reached my soldiers at the front, I could feel the pressure they were under. Shields cracked, spears bent, and the enemy's relentless waves of attacks were wearing down my men. I dismounted immediately, grabbing a heavy shield from a soldier, and stepped into the frontline.

"Do not falter! Step by step, we stand like a rock!" I shouted, pushing back an enemy soldier with the shield.

I ordered our mages to unleash powerful spells on the front lines. This would alleviate the pressure on the riverfront. As the spells exploded, there was a brief hesitation in the enemy line. Seizing the moment, I yelled to my troops,

"Attack! Advance!"

For a moment, we managed to push back the enemy wave. Yet our defensive line still appeared weak, particularly under the increasing pressure near the rocks.

Finally, a risky but effective plan formed in my mind. If I could deceive Alpshar's strongest group and divert their attention, our defense could stabilize, and we might even launch a counterattack. I called over a commander from the nearby unit.

"Send a group of archers and mages into the forest immediately, but make sure they aren't noticed. We'll lure the enemy slipping through the rear into their own trap."

The commander nodded and swiftly set off. As the battle raged on, patience and precision were essential for my plan to succeed. Minutes later, smoke began to rise from around the rocks—a signal that our archers and mages had set an ambush for the enemy group in the forest. At that moment, one of the soldiers at the front raised his sword and shouted,

"The enemy is retreating!"

Alpshar's assault group near the riverbank began pulling back, unable to withstand the impact of our mages and counter-strategy. This was a brief moment of respite for us, but it didn't mean the battle was over.

Just then, a soldier carrying a banner next to Alpshar caught my eye. The banner indicated that the enemy commander was still on the battlefield. Doubt gnawed at me. If Alpshar was truly taking a risk by being here, it meant his proper move had yet to unfold.

I turned to my own banner carrier and gave an order:

"Raise the banners high, strike fear into the enemy! Today, we will write history here!"

The battle wasn't over, but hope rekindled within me. If we could successfully hold our defense, we could entirely disrupt Alpshar's plans and open the door to victory. This war had to be won not only with strength, but also with strategy. Anticipating Alpshar's next move and countering it was the key to our survival.

Thus, the enemy's first day of attacks was repelled, and it seemed Alpshar had decided to withdraw and regroup his forces. However, the battlefield was littered with the corpses of both my soldiers and Alpshar's. Though I was no expert in this matter, I knew these bodies would eventually lead to disease. I ordered my soldiers to throw the corpses into the river quickly and commanded my archers to protect those who carried out the task. Fortunately, Alpshar truly appeared to have retreated.

We were effectively stranded on this peninsula-like strip of land, and as minutes passed, I began to understand why Alpshar had withdrawn. Because of the hurried retreat, we hadn't brought tents or other supplies—there simply wasn't enough time. From what I knew, the nights here were bitterly cold. While Alpshar's soldiers were likely taking shifts to rest, mine were struggling to find comfort on the rocks.

The wind blew harshly, carrying the dampness from the sea, further taxing my soldiers' exhausted bodies. Most of their faces showed weariness and concern. Not knowing Alpshar's next move fanned the flames of my anxiety, but it didn't change the fact that I needed to keep their morale high.

I called one of my commanders. "Assemble a small reconnaissance team immediately. I want to know if there's any activity beyond the rocks. Be quick—we don't have time."

The commander nodded and hurried off. I then turned to the rest of my soldiers and spoke in a louder voice.

"Tonight will be tough, I know. But I need you all to remain disciplined! Lighting fires is risky, So be careful. you'll take turns keeping watch. Rest when you can, because by morning, things will become clearer. We must remain strong."

My words brought a glimmer of resolve to their weary faces. But this was only a temporary solution. Alpdhar's withdrawal strategy clearly indicated that he had another plan in mind. These thoughts meant I would spend a sleepless night.

When darkness fell, even the star-lit sky seemed ominous. The stench of the bodies drifting along the river and the exhaustion of battle weighed heavily on my soldiers. I frequently walked over to the sentries near the trenches to keep them alert. I tried to boost morale by reminding some of the past victories, while with others, I simply offered thanks and placed a reassuring hand on their shoulders.

Around midnight, the scouting group returned. Their leader, with a serious expression on his face, approached me. "Your Excellency, there is activity along the river. However, the lights in their camp have not gone out. They are constantly preparing."

I listened carefully to the leader of the scouting group. The fact that Alpshar's soldiers were in preparation was expected. Alpshar was not a mere strategist; it was likely he would make a move during the night to wear us down. As these thoughts troubled my mind, I ordered my soldiers to set up a tighter defensive formation. However, the night was moving faster than I had anticipated. Enjoy new chapters from empire

When it was completely dark, a wave of unease began to rise from the trenches. One of my sentinels, gasping for breath when I approached, spoke in a hurried tone: "Commander! There's movement in the forest! The enemy may be approaching!"

I immediately ordered the archers to focus on the forest. "Don't let anything slip by! If you see any movement, report it immediately and have your arrows ready!"

At that moment, a scream echoed from the back line. I quickly turned in that direction and saw a faint beam of light in the darkness. Then a ground-shaking explosion followed. One of the enemy's mages had launched a heavy assault on the defensive line at the back line . Alpshar seemed to be feigning retreat, targeting the weakest point of our defense.

"Defend the back line! Reinforcements, send them immediately!" I shouted. My voice echoed in the chaos of battle, but things were rapidly spiraling out of control. Explosions continued at the back line, and the enemy was charging at us in waves.

Enemy fire from the forest also began. Alpshar was attacking on three fronts. His plan was brilliant and ruthless. He attacked us from behind, from the forest and from the front, dividing our forces and creating chaos.

"Everyone, hold your positions! Don't fall back!" I shouted, trying to encourage my soldiers. I drew my sword and rushed to the front lines. But the enemy was always one step ahead. The units defending the cliffs were retreating one by one. I was shouting at the soldiers behind them, "Don't retreat!" but the enemy's attacks were too strong.

At that moment, the enemy mages also targeted the forest line. The enemy's fireball attack blew into the air, one of our mages. This caused panic among the frontline troops. Alpshar's strategy was slowly destroying the morale of my soldiers. The army's order was quickly breaking down, and the atmosphere of panic was growing. I realized that I had to do something. Until now, I had been holding back my power, hoping to get a chance to kill Alpshar, but I now knew that such a chance wouldn't come. To boost my soldiers' morale and deal maximum damage to Alpshar's army, I had to step in.

The air was frosty, but my spirit was boiling. The cries from the cliffs, the explosion sounds rising from the forest, the expressions of helplessness on my soldiers' faces... If we were to win this battle, I couldn't wait any longer. I took a deep breath and unleashed my Kaizer power. My hands trembled as the wave of energy circulating through my body began to envelop me. I focused on the air element, and my feet started to lift off the ground. A wave of wind stirred the surrounding dust, catching the attention of the soldiers in the trenches.

The energy intensifying around me lifted me toward the sky, and for a moment, Alpshar's soldiers stopped attacking, looking up. A silence spread across the battlefield.

I slowly raised my hands and unleashed the fire within me. Suddenly, a brilliant ring of fire formed around my body. This ring grew wider, illuminating the entire battlefield. The orange and red hues of the fire pierced through the darkness of the night. As the fire danced around me, the wind fueled it, and it became increasingly wild in appearance.

The fear and panic on my soldiers' faces shifted to awe and admiration. Even the enemy's chaotic attacks slowed down. They, too, couldn't take their eyes off the scene...