Lux Aurea, Three Days Later.

The Golden City was known for its golden roofs and white marble while walls. The city boasted the largest population in all of Xadia, but that number swelled with people from the other kingdoms. When they announced that humans had broken through the veil, the people had reacted with shock and bewilderment. However, their anxiety was quickly replaced with determination as the Council of Xadia announced that they had formed an alliance and would spend a unified force.

All nations had ordered full mobilization though it would be weeks before they could march out, it was thanks to the demonstrations held within Lux Aurea that they had a massive force ready to move out. Within days their numbers rose as many joined their growing army. To many, this felt like fate had conspired to ensure Xadia would meet this threat head-on as such an endeavor would take several months to prepare under normal circumstances.

Their troop's numbers had increased to 54,000 melee infantry, 20,600 crossbowmen, 9800 archers, 5300 mages, 4,000 melee cavalries, 1500 horse archers, 6500 air cavalry, 2300 winged skywing elves, and 200 dragons. They had 40 ballista's and 20 trebuchets ready as well. The main issue was finding enough capable officers on such short notice.

Meanwhile, inside the palace ground, Vaeril was being lectured by Janai.
"Straighten your posture when riding."

Vaeril had been doing this since morning, "Is it necessary for me to be in the front of it all?"

"You're one of the leaders of the unified front, so you better get used to it," Janai was smirking.

"By being kidnapped by you!" he snapped back.

"You could've just kept your mouth shut then." she countered bluntly.

"Only because I didn't want to suffer another hour of them bickering like a bunch of married couples after finding out they've all been cheating on each other" He wore an expression filled with contempt.

"Nothing you can do about it now, it is YOUR plan, so YOU get to ride with us."

"Ignoring my predicament which you already seem to be doing, do we really need to do this at all?" he couldn't understand why they needed to delay their departure even further.

"We need to raise the morale and sense of solidarity of the people and most importantly the troops last thing we need is for them to start fighting amongst themselves, and we need more time for the supply lines to be ready."

Three Days Later.

The city had wide roads that connected the palace at the center to the city walls. Ordinarily, these central roads would be used by people, carts, and carriages, with merchants setting up stalls on the sides. It was both a transportation network and a large scale commercial zone.

However, today they were being used for their original purpose as a massive army marched through them. Those standing nearby claimed they could feel the ground tremble with each harmonized step the army took.

At the front of this army riding on horseback were its leaders followed by the kings and queens of each nation, they wore black uniforms with broad golden epaulets. Avizandum, Zubeia, and eight other Arch-dragons right behind them. To their flanks were long rows of standard-bearers who were not carrying the flags of each nation but that of the council.

Vaeril tried to maintain his composure, he was used to reading and researching historical events, not being in the middle of them. He tried his best to imitate his colleagues who moved at a practiced pace while ignoring the cheering crowds. He spent the previous day learning to act his part with Janai not giving him a break.

Following close behind them were massive rows of columns of infantry armed with swords, shields, and spears, behind them, were mages, archers, crossbowmen, dragons, cavalry, and at the very rear were ballistas and trebuchets pulled by beasts of burden. Only the dragons and airborne units were missing but no one seemed to notice that. On the roofs of many buildings were choirs dressed in togas singing the anthem of the council which hadn't been sung since a thousand years ago.

To their sides were large crowds cheering as the army marched past them. The troops all wore expressions of pride and determination, they were confident of victory as it had been more than a thousand years since such a powerful force was assembled. The citizenry was even more certain of victory after witnessing the sight before them, to the average xadian an army comprising of all sentient species in Xadia was something straight out of a legend. Many yelled out shouts of encouragement and proclamations of their victorious return like their fore-bearers. All remembered the stories they were told in their youths of how a unified Xadia had defeated humanity and banished them, they all felt in their hearts that this time would be no different.

The army stopped in unison as the front reached the outer gates, after a moment the massive gates slowly swung open to let them pass. Then from behind, over a hundred dragons and thousands of airborne units flew overhead and past the gates before landing outside. They quickly formed rank. After the army had marched past them, they formed up on the rear.

Meanwhile in a command bunker dug into a hill in the northwest, and General Cornelius had finally stopped his boisterous laughing. Henry looked at his pad and read out the details "We currently have 3 full companies of flight mages, all of whom you've give secret orders to just like the other 2 platoons so we have no flight mages anymore.

40 light tanks,
20 medium tanks,
18 heavy tanks,
20 self-propelled gun,
10 self-propelled rocket platforms,
10,000 regular infantry, 4,000 of which can be used to support any armored push if we need to.
5,000 combat mages,
40 fixed artillery pieces,
20 dual-purpose guns at the rear,
40 light anti-air machine guns,

Thermal scopes have been equipped on all tanks and key locations, and the floodlights are all operations as are all the mines, however, the radar is still not doing any better." He looked up from his pad. "That's it general, we've done all we can to prepare and it'll be another month before they can send us any more additional troops or equipment outside of supplies and munitions"

"Are the radios working properly?" Cornelius asked

"Yes sir, no problems found."

"Then our chances of victory are still high, I would've preferred doing this after having all my pieces ready."

"We may have better weapons but if they charge at us without any regard to the cost then they could easily overrun us,"

"True but they have mostly melee troops so our main concern should be the dragons and mages."

"It would've been nice if we could've been given a few airships" Henry mused

"we would've been found out sooner if we had even one, In any case the enemy has already heading here so no point in worry about what we can't change." Cornelius said, "one way or another this will end in a victory for us"

Two Weeks later, the Xadian army had set up camp fifteen kilometers from the enemy. Queen Khessa stood before them all

"Over a thousand years ago humans had created the barbarity we call dark magic, they stole the lives of many of our people to fuel their spells, to fuel their so-called civilization. Our only hope for survival was to unify against them, we did not fight for vengeance or out of anger, but to protect ourselves, our friends, our families, our people. We came out of it triumphantly and chose to spare them by banishing them. Now they have returned to xadia and threaten to visit upon us the same horrors they did a millennia ago. Those of you who feel like you can't fight this great evil may return to your homes but those who choose to stay, know that you walk the same path our fore bearers did and we MUST achieve victory to not sully their achievements." she held her arms out towards the army "Will you fight with us and drive out this enemy to protect all our people?"

The area erupted into thunderous cheering in response to her words, she continued to stoke their emotions, their pride, the fears, every string she could pull she went for it using the oratory skills she learned throughout her rule.

"Your sister is a damn convincing liar," Vaeril found it admirable how she could say all of that with a straight face, he knew enough history to tell most of it were fabrications.

"At least it is working, do you have any idea how problematic easily demoralized troops are?" Janai said

"I understand your issue, outside of us startouched elves and the dragons, those from short-lived races do not know any better so its easy to raise their morale with such omissions, exaggerations, and fabrications." A startouched elf standing next to him said. "As vexing as it is, morale often plays a crucial role in battles so in this case we can overlook it."

Noon the next day,

The lumbering Xadian army had managed to arrive at the battlefield, they had Avizandum call forth a thunderstorm which lowered visibility and the mud slowed them but it had the benefit of empowering the skywing elves and tidebound elves. They had created illusions to make it appear as if their airborne units were still with the main army and not soaring above the clouds waiting for the time to strike.

Vaeril sitting atop the ambler tried to see through the rain using his spyglass and saw 6500 human troops were placed 300 meters ahead of their trenches, only 800 meters from the xadian army.

"The ones in front are on one knee while the ones behind are standing, they have those iron staves pointed towards us with their eyes lined along its length. I think they maybe a type of crossbow." he said

Janai quickly looked through her spyglasses to confirm "I think you are right, but I do not see them carrying any swords."

"Maybe they are to fire a few bolts then fall back to cover?" an earthblood elf suggested a possibility.

As soon as the order was given for the xadian army to move, the Sunfire elves formed a large shield wall in front as they slowly moved, then abruptly began to charge. Vaeril looked to see the humans weren't panicking, as soon as they were within 500 meters he saw small flashes of light from their staves followed by numerous small thunderclaps that could be heard over the storm they had summoned. Then immediately the front line troops felt something pierce their bodies right through their shields while others were consumed by explosions. The explosions seemed only kill those closest to the blast while everyone suffered minor injuries.

The Xadian leadership and army fell into a panic by this sudden attack, but Vaeril immediately ordered them to use a sun wall formation. The front line was quickly replaced by more Sunfire elves, they held their ground with their large shields which projected a glowing barrier in front of them. This rendered them immobile but it managed, for the most part, to hold against this strange attack they were being subjected to. However, occasional lapses in concentration caused the barrier to falter allowed the humans to deal significant damage.

Soon earth dragons and earthblood elves created large earthen barriers that was 8 meters high which was 20 meters in front of them, the Sunfire elves dropped their barrier and moved forward, they formed a barrier again. Archers began to shoot over the walls hoping to at least cause the enemy to panic despite knowing that they needed to get closer for their bows to be effective.

"Damn, what kind of magic is this?! how do we fight this?!" Khessa turned around, her confusion and shock were visible.

"We're not done yet, order the Sunfire elves to move to the earth walls and form another barrier, we'll slowly push forward using them and earth walls." Vaeril was confused, this was his first time seeing a battle, let alone leading one yet he felt calm being here as if he longed for it somewhere within himself, he could think more clearly now than ever before. "We'll have to rely on the other groups to deal the finishing blow because it'll take a while for us to reach them."

They slowly began to move forward and the humans in response slowly fell back. They had managed to move 100 meters so far which was slow any standard that was used. As the earth wall collapse, they saw the humans slowly falling back, this caused morale to rise among the beleaguered xadians who now began to cheer. The euphoria was shared by the leadership as well, they once again felt that they were assured victory.

"Look!" Janai called every one, they all looked through their spyglasses and saw those strange iron behemoths to be moving towards them. "Just what are those things?"

Their attention was focused on the iron pipe attached to each one which reminded them of the iron staves the infantry held, their faces contorted with horror wondering just how powerful something that size would be.

Within their secured bunker, General Cornelius was looking over the battlefield, the bunker gave him an amazing vantage point with almost no risks.
"Sir, the heavy tanks have reach the infantry," said the radio operator.

"Good, tell the infantry to use their under-barreled smoke grenades before falling back to the trenches, the tanks will cover them before heading back." he then turned to his protege. "What do you think?"

Henry looked at the battlefield "The tanks should have no problem dealing wit..."

"Not our tanks my naive protege, I'm talking about the enemy's barriers"

"It is effective as an emergency defense but doesn't offer any mobility" Henry felt that was the correct answer.

"good, you got half of it, the other half is that they do can do this without running out of power whereas our mages need to watch their etherium usage." He explained to Henry, he knew nothing would teach him better than experience gained from a real battle.

As the earth wall fell, the Xadian army saw several great big iron behemoths moving towards them and saw the humans who pointed their staves upwards. Though they didn't know how these strange weapons worked or what they even were, but they all recognized the stance of someone aiming a bow or crossbow upwards. The earth wall was quickly raised and shield barriers were used to form a protective roof over their heads.

Vaeril, Janai, and the others saw the infantry shooting something then ran to the iron behemoths, it hitthe ground and began to spew smoke which reduced visibility greatly. Soon the sound of explosions erutped from iron pipes attached to the behemoths, the same could be seen from beyond the trenches. The earth wall shook violently under the attack, though nothing penetrated it, but chunks of it rained down on them, the fact that they turned to dirt easily meant that no damage would be done but the effect was clear for all to see. Some of the attacks went over the wall hitting the xadians directly and exploded, tearing through the infantry lines with ease. Many broke into a panic as they saw the people who they just met and befriended being reduced to chunks of meat and sprays of blood under a violent explosion.

For the Xadian army who came here in such high spirits certain of victory, their spirits were being smashed against the rocks. The humans who were weaker than them and couldn't use magic were now using weapons and things that they couldn't even understand let alone counter. The leaders knew under this kind of continued pressure, their minds would eventually succumb and the army would fall apart.

"Erect the ice barrier immediately!" Vaeril ordered, "Send messengers to the hidden units to begin their assault, and dissolve the illusions." He knew his force would never make it to the enemy in one piece so he had to rely on the enemy panicking and focusing all their attention on him.

The tidebound elves and water dragons were waiting patiently for this, they began to cast their magic and a massive barrier of ice started to form using the rainwater as material, and formed a semi-dome over them. The Sunfire elves pushed their shields against it imbuing it with their barrier to strengthen it, the massive barrier was held up using pillars and walls of stone to prevent it from collapsing under its weight. Then the startouched elves cast their magic to make the barrier see-through and finally, the moon mages dissolved the illusion they had maintained for so long.

They all hoped this would work.