On Starcrest 15, 1850 AC (Arbiter Calendar), a freezing wind swept across the high walls of the 5th Frostgate Fortress, carrying with it endless snow from the northern plains. The gray sky looked heavy, and the air felt tense as if something terrible was approaching. Thousands of soldiers and knights stood on the fortress walls, preparing their weapons while waiting for the next command.
The entire Northern Army of Frostguard had been deployed for battle. Squads, platoons, companies, battalions, and brigades filled every tower and every section of the wall. Cannons were positioned along the battlements, while riflemen and gunners waited behind stone barriers. The defense of the fortress had begun.
On the Eastern Wall, Knight-Corporal Alistair Dawnstrike stood beside the stone railing while looking across the frozen plains. The wind pushed against his winter combat suit, but he ignored the cold and focused on the battlefield ahead. Beside him stood the members of the 12th Snow Defender Squad, each preparing for the fight.
Knight-Staff Sergeant Sheba stood near the command table placed on the tower platform. A large map of the eastern defense line was spread across the wooden table while several officers waited for her instructions. As the highest ranking officer on the eastern wall, she was responsible for coordinating the defense.
Sheba raised her voice so the soldiers around her could hear clearly.
"Everyone listen carefully. I am taking command of the Eastern Wall and Eastern Tower. Follow the assigned formation and do not break position without orders."
Several soldiers immediately responded with a salute.
"Yes, Staff Sergeant!"
Sheba pointed toward the tower above them where several riflemen were preparing their weapons.
"Riflemen stay on the upper tower. Artillery teams prepare the cannons. Knights and aura users take the frontline defense. Non-aura soldiers remain behind the shield barricades."
She then looked at Alistair and gave him a short nod.
"You will remain at the frontline, Knight-Corporal. Your abilities are best suited for defense."
Alistair nodded calmly before stepping forward toward the stone edge of the wall.
"I will hold the eastern gate section. Leave the command to you."
Sheba crossed her arms while watching the battlefield.
"Understood. Do not let anything climb the wall."
A few meters away, several young soldiers were quietly talking while holding their rifles. One of them looked nervous as he stared at the snowy plains outside the fortress.
"I heard more than a thousand snowy beasts are coming," the young soldier said with a worried voice. "Is that really true?"
A veteran rifleman beside him checked his weapon calmly before replying.
"If the alarm bells rang, then it is true. Stop worrying and focus on your rifle."
Another soldier nearby tried to lighten the mood.
"At least we have cannons this time. Those beasts will not survive artillery fire."
Before anyone could continue the conversation, a loud horn echoed across the fortress.
The watchtower guard suddenly shouted.
"Enemies approaching! First wave incoming!"
The soldiers immediately moved into their positions. Gunners lit the cannon fuses while riflemen aimed toward the snowy plains. Aura users gathered near the wall where the monsters were expected to attack.
Moments later, the battlefield finally appeared.
Hundreds of snowy beasts rushed across the frozen plains like a white storm. Their bodies were covered with thick fur, and their glowing blue eyes shined through the falling snow. Some were large wolf-like creatures, while others looked like twisted monsters born from the cold mountains.
The barrier surrounding the fortress suddenly activated, creating a faint blue wall of light across the battlefield. The magical barrier blocked the stronger creatures from advancing, but smaller snowy beasts were able to pass through the field without much resistance.
Sheba raised her hand and shouted.
"Artillery teams, fire!"
Boom!
The cannons fired together, sending explosive shells across the battlefield. The ground shook as the shells landed among the rushing beasts, throwing snow and bodies into the air. Several monsters were instantly destroyed by the powerful explosions.
"Riflemen, fire!" an officer shouted from the tower.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
The sound of rifles echoed across the wall as dozens of soldiers opened fire. Bullets pierced through the snowy beasts as they continued charging toward the fortress.
Despite the heavy firepower, the monsters kept coming.
Alistair stepped forward as several creatures began climbing the outer stone wall. One of the beasts jumped toward a group of soldiers who were preparing their rifles.
Before the monster could reach them, Alistair moved.
His fist gathered aura energy as he punched forward.
Crashing Pulse Strike.
A powerful shockwave burst from his fist and slammed into the creature. The snowy beast was thrown backward and crashed into several others below the wall.
A nearby soldier stared in disbelief.
"Did you see that? He punched it out of the air!"
Another knight beside him nodded with a serious expression.
"That is Knight-Corporal Alistair. Do not underestimate him."
More beasts began climbing the walls while soldiers fought to push them back. Spears stabbed downward while rifles fired at close range. The battle quickly became chaotic as monsters and soldiers clashed along the battlements.
Hours passed as the fighting continued without pause.
The soldiers of the 5th Frostgate Fortress Division fought wave after wave of snowy beasts. Cannons fired repeatedly while the smell of gunpowder filled the cold air. The ground outside the fortress was now covered with the bodies of fallen monsters.
Despite the constant attacks, the defense line still held.
On the eastern tower, Sheba continued giving orders while observing the battlefield.
"Rotate the frontline fighters," she commanded. "Send fresh soldiers to the wall."
Several tired soldiers stepped back while new fighters moved forward to replace them. Medics carried the wounded away from the battle while supply teams distributed more ammunition to the riflemen.
A young soldier leaned against the stone wall while breathing heavily.
"I cannot feel my hands anymore..."
His friend quickly pushed him back toward the rear.
"Go see the medic. I will cover your position."
Meanwhile, Alistair continued holding the frontline without retreating. His aura abilities made him the strongest defender on the eastern wall, allowing him to block several monsters at once.
With Aura Fortress active, the snowy beasts could barely harm him.
As the battle continued, something strange suddenly happened.
The snowy beasts began slowing down.
Some of the remaining monsters stopped attacking and slowly backed away from the fortress walls. The battlefield gradually became quiet as the creatures retreated into the snowy plains.
The soldiers looked confused as they watched the monsters move away.
One rifleman lowered his weapon.
"Why are they retreating?"
A veteran knight standing nearby suddenly narrowed his eyes while staring into the distance.
Then his expression slowly turned pale.
Far beyond the snowy plains, a massive shape was moving through the snowstorm. Each step shook the frozen ground as the creature slowly approached the battlefield.
The figure grew larger with every step.
A soldier on the tower suddenly gasped.
"What... is that?"
Another officer quickly grabbed a spyglass and looked toward the distant mountains. The moment he saw the creature clearly, his hands began shaking.
He lowered the spyglass and shouted with fear.
"Snowy Mountain King!"
A massive creature emerged from the blizzard, towering over the battlefield like a living mountain of ice and fur. Its glowing blue eyes stared toward the fortress while cold mist poured from its mouth.
The entire 5th Frostgate Fortress Division froze in shock.
Moments later, the emergency horns began sounding across the fortress.
"Call for reinforcements!" an officer shouted.
"Notify the commander immediately!"
The alarm bells rang louder than before as soldiers prepared for the battle that was about to begin.
Because the true ruler of the northern mountains had finally arrived.