Kai stood on the outer defensive wall at dawn.
The cold stone chilled his heavy boots, but his internal mana kept his body perfectly comfortable.
He watched Zara's massive army make camp just beyond the ruined city gates.
The sheer scale of the desert encampment painted a terrifying picture across the rolling dunes.
Three thousand battle-hardened riders moved with disciplined, lethal precision.
They set up massive animal pens, erected large command tents, and dug defensive trenches in mere minutes.
Their enormous war banners snapped violently in the crisp, unpredictable morning wind.
The silken flags depicted crimson serpents tightly coiled around ferocious desert wyrms.
Those distinct sigils represented decades of bloody, undisputed conquests across the southern wastelands.
Yena stood faithfully at his side with her arms crossed tightly over her hardened leather armor.
Her sharp amber eyes narrowed as she studied the vast, intimidating sea of tents and armed warriors.
