The Elven Kingdom had stood untouched for centuries.
Hidden behind ancient forests.
Guarded by magic older than human empires.
Untouched by war.
Until now.
"Raise the barriers!"
Light surged through the trees.
Ancient runes awakened.
A shimmering dome spread across the forest—woven from roots, wind, and mana.
For a moment—
It held.
Then the sky darkened.
Not with clouds.
With wings.
Thousands of shadows descended.
Twisted forms.
Burning eyes.
Flames dripping from claws and fangs.
Demons.
"Archers—fire!"
Arrows shot upward in perfect formation.
Each one glowing with enchanted light.
They struck.
Piercing wings.
Burning flesh.
Sending bodies falling from the sky.
But for every demon that fell—
More took its place.
"Hold formation!" an elven captain shouted.
The forest responded.
Trees shifted.
Roots rose like walls.
Nature itself fought back.
Then—
BOOM.
The barrier cracked.
A single point.
A single impact.
And the ancient magic—
Shattered.
The sky broke open.
Flames poured in.
"No… impossible…"
From the burning sky—
A figure descended.
He did not rush.
Did not roar.
Did not attack wildly like the others.
He simply walked.
Where he stepped—
The ground blackened.
The air warped.
The forest recoiled.
A Demon General.
"…So this is the Elven Kingdom," he said calmly.
An elven captain charged forward.
Blade glowing with sacred energy.
"For the forest—!"
He swung.
The General didn't move.
Didn't block.
Didn't dodge.
He simply looked at him.
And—
The captain stopped.
Mid-step.
Mid-breath.
His body twisted.
Compressed.
Then—
Collapsed.
Like something crushed by an invisible hand.
Silence spread across the battlefield.
"…Weak," the General muttered.
Panic followed.
"Elven forces, fall back!"
"Protect the inner sanctum!"
"Where is the king?!"
The forest burned.
Flames climbed ancient trees.
Creatures fled.
Magic clashed and broke.
And through it all—
The General walked forward.
Untouched.
Unstoppable.
"Call your king," he said.
No one answered.
Because no one could.
Far away—
A signal shot into the sky.
A desperate flare.
A cry for help.
And miles away—
General Kael Varion saw it.
"…The Elven Kingdom has fallen into battle."
Beside him—
Lira chewed on roasted meat.
"…Battle?"
Kael's eyes remained fixed on the distant smoke.
"…Yes."
She swallowed.
Looked ahead.
"…Enemy there?"
"…Yes."
A pause.
"…Strong?"
Kael hesitated.
Then answered honestly.
"…Very."
Lira smiled.
"…Good."
Kael glanced at her.
"…You will not act unless I say so."
"…Okay."
She stood up.
The ground beneath her feet cracked slightly.
"…We go?"
Kael turned toward the burning horizon.
"…We go."
Far ahead—
The Demon General looked toward the distant forest edge.
As if sensing something.
"…Hmm…"
His smile widened slightly.
"…Something else is coming."
He did not know what.
But for the first time—
The battlefield was about to change.