Kharos had mobilised one-fourth of the army for the opening assault on the Ironvale Fortress. The army had not even reached the border of Ironvale, and nearly twenty percent of it had already been wiped out.
The soldiers' morale had fallen, fear surged through their ranks, and their formation had broken due to the onslaught of the elemental arrays.
Retreat was the only wise decision in these circumstances, but if the Emperor ordered it without even reaching the enemy's fortress, the humiliation would be immeasurable, and the fear of the Banes would only deepen within the empire's soldiers.
"Do not yield! The arrays are about to be undone!" Hector's booming voice, laced with Soulforce, echoed through the valleys. "The evil Banes used underhanded tricks to ambush us. Take revenge for your fallen comrades!"
Only slightly, but the army's morale returned. The chaos subsided, and they began reforming proper formations.
"The Prince is right. We cannot let our comrades die for nothing!"
