Guardian Fortress.
At this time, the colossal fortress halted in its endless drift, as though holding its breath, waiting for the inevitable.
Torkez stood at the forefront, his expression solemn. He knew the truth: the battle had already begun, even if no blade had yet crossed. All he could hope for was that their plans, fragile as glass, would unfold without shattering.
Every expert of Astros was present. Thousands stood ready, though most were still below the Shackled Realm. Their numbers were impressive to the untrained eye, but compared to the storm descending upon them, they were a mere candle against the night.
Behind them were the people of the fallen Astros Empire—ordinary warriors, desperate survivors, and a scattering of talents. They had courage, but courage alone could not bridge the gulf between them and Imperium's monsters. Lydia was the strongest among them; the rest were too weak, shadows in the tide of war.
