The sky had darkened prematurely, as though the heavens themselves knew war was coming. Winds swept across the Whispering Plains, stirring dust and tension alike.
From the northern hills, Kavach the Iron Hand approached.
Arjun stood at the gates of Dawnwatch, now reinforced with arcanite panels, spiked barricades, and glyph runes. Beside him stood his generals—Shayra, Priya, Gorvak, and Meera—all armored, focused, and ready for the storm.
Scouts returned, breathless. "They're here."
The thunder of marching boots soon followed. An army of elite mercenaries—metal-plated, expressionless, disciplined—lined the horizon. Two massive siege beasts, stone-armored and glowing with red glyphs, lumbered behind them. And leading it all, atop a black direwolf, was Kavach.
He was a giant of a man—towering, broad, with twin steel gauntlets etched with blood runes. His face was half-covered by a bone-mask, his eyes devoid of mercy.
"You have one chance, Thousandfold!" he called, voice echoing unnaturally loud. "Kneel. Surrender your lands and women. I might let your people live."
Arjun stepped forward, his voice calm, but resolute. "You'll leave in pieces. Or not at all."
Kavach laughed, raising his fist. "Then bleed for your pride."
The first wave struck with force. Arrows rained from Kavach's archers, only to disintegrate against Tarun's sky-shield barrier. Then came the vanguard—brutes with enchanted halberds and shockwave boots that shook the earth.
Gorvak roared, leading the frontline defense with heavy infantry. His war hammer crushed enemy bones with every swing. Beside him, Priya's beast-riders flanked the sides, Venomclaws leaping into enemy ranks.
"North wall breached!" a runner shouted.
Arjun turned. "Vaidehi, now!"
With a wicked grin, the trapmaster activated her glyphs. A chain reaction of explosions tore through the northern corridor, throwing bodies and flame high into the air.
The two Lords met mid-field.
Steel clashed with light. Arjun's Thousandfold-enhanced sword, [Starbreaker], moved like lightning, every strike amplified by hundreds of combat augmentations. Kavach's gauntlets deflected with brutal strength, each punch creating sonic booms.
"You're good," Kavach grunted, "but power belongs to those willing to seize it."
Arjun's eyes narrowed. "And responsibility belongs to those who protect."
Their blades met again—this time, Arjun slipped past Kavach's block and slashed deep into his shoulder.
The Iron Hand bellowed, falling back as his blood splattered the plains.
But Arjun didn't stop.
With Kavach wounded, morale in his army faltered. Shayra led a devastating counterattack, her twin blades carving through enemies like a hurricane. Tarun unleashed chained lightning, arcing between enemies with devastating efficiency.
From the eastern ridge, Priya summoned a newly hatched Shadowbite—a juvenile Wraithhowl fused with beast mana. Its sonic howl disoriented enemies, giving her riders the upper hand.
"Push forward!" she cried. "For Arjun!"
The entire battlefield moved as one.
The Sovereign's army surged like a rising tide.
Bloodied, limping, Kavach raised his gauntlets for a final strike.
But Arjun was already in motion.
[Thousandfold Burst]—a skill that channeled every stat boost into a single, devastating moment.
With a blur of motion, Arjun struck—blade through the chest, cleaving armor, bone, and pride.
Kavach gasped, falling to his knees. "You… bastard…"
"You were warned," Arjun said, pulling his blade free.
The Iron Hand collapsed.
Dead.
Smoke curled from the battlefield. Wounded were treated. Fallen were honored.
Victory belonged to Dawnwatch.
Arjun walked through the village, exchanging nods with survivors, clasping arms with fighters. He found Meera tending to the wounded, her robes stained with blood and herbs.
When she saw him, she threw her arms around him without hesitation.
"You're alive," she whispered.
He kissed her brow. "Thanks to all of you."
Nearby, Shayra watched. She approached slowly. "You fight like a demon. But kiss like a poet."
He turned, amused. "Jealous?"
"Curious," she smirked.
He took her hand gently. "We'll talk. All of us. But for now, let's just… breathe."
She nodded.
That night, the village celebrated. Bonfires blazed. Songs filled the air. Children danced. The people—his people—smiled.
In his chambers, Arjun sat on the edge of his bed, armor off, shirt open. Priya entered with Shadowbite trailing behind, now the size of a large dog.
She sat beside him. "You did it."
"We did it."
She smiled softly. "I think I found my place here. With you. With this… madness."
Arjun pulled her close. "Then stay. Build it with me."
She leaned her head on his shoulder. "Always."