The sky burned with divine light as the rift expanded above Ebonreach. Five Divine Heralds descended from the heavens, their golden armor gleaming with celestial energy. Each step they took sent waves of pressure across the battlefield, forcing even the strongest warriors to grit their teeth.
Ren stood at the front of his army, Voidfang humming with anticipation. This was it. The first true test of his kingdom's strength.
The lead Herald, a towering figure with a radiant spear, took another step forward. His voice resonated through the air, powerful and absolute.
"Ren of Ebonreach, you have defied the will of the gods. This land is tainted by your rebellion. Surrender, and your people may yet be spared."
Ren scoffed, leveling his sword at the Herald. "Spare them? You mean enslave them. I've seen what the gods do to those who kneel."
A moment of silence. Then the Herald raised his spear. "So be it."
The heavens roared as divine judgment fell upon Ebonreach.
The Battle Begins
The first attack was like a meteor crashing into the city. A pillar of golden fire erupted from the sky, slamming into the fortress walls. Stone shattered, dust filled the air, and screams of alarm rang through the city.
Ren leaped back as the ground beneath him cracked from the sheer force of the impact. The gods were not holding back.
"Mages! Reinforce the barriers!" Mira shouted as she dashed forward, slashing at an approaching Herald. Her sword met an invisible force, stopping inches from the Herald's body.
Draven cursed, raising his twin daggers. "Their divine shields are strong. We need to break through!"
Ren didn't hesitate. He channeled his energy into Voidfang, the blade drinking in the chaotic battlefield. With a single swing, he sent a shockwave of dark energy toward the nearest Herald.
The Herald blocked it with his spear, but Ren noticed something—the shield flickered upon impact.
They weren't invincible.
"Hit them harder!" Ren commanded. "Their defenses can be broken!"
His warriors surged forward, arrows imbued with magic, spells erupting across the battlefield. The sky turned into a storm of energy as Ebonreach fought back.
The Cost of War
Despite their strength, the Heralds moved like avatars of destruction. One raised a hand, and a golden shockwave blasted through Ren's frontline, sending dozens of warriors flying. Another simply walked through a barrage of arrows, his divine aura melting the projectiles before they could reach him.
Ren ground his teeth. Even with preparation, even with his strongest warriors… the Heralds were beyond human.
A warrior beside him screamed as a golden blade pierced his chest. Another was cut down before he could react.
This wasn't a battle. It was slaughter.
For the first time, doubt crept into Ren's mind. Was this what it meant to fight against the gods? Was his ambition nothing but a fool's dream?
No.
He refused to believe that.
He had fought too hard to stop now.
Clenching his sword, Ren pushed forward, aiming directly for the lead Herald. "If they want to kill me, they'll have to work for it!"
Voidfang roared to life, dark energy surging through its blade. Ren vanished in a blur of speed, reappearing above the Herald and bringing his sword down in a strike that split the air itself.
The Herald raised his spear to block, but Ren twisted mid-air, slamming a second strike into his exposed side. A crack echoed. The divine armor fractured.
For the first time, the Herald staggered.
A murmur rippled through the battlefield.
Ren had wounded a Herald.
A smile crept onto his face. They could win this.
The Turning Point
Mira seized the moment, dashing past another Herald and slashing her blade in a perfect arc. A spray of golden blood hit the ground.
Draven danced through the chaos, his daggers finding weak points in the divine warriors' armor.
The warriors of Ebonreach fought harder, fueled by the sight of their leader standing against the heavens.
The Heralds, once untouchable, now moved with caution.
Ren exhaled. This was only the beginning, but for the first time, the gods had felt fear.
The war had truly begun.