"Toot! Toot!" The horn sound echoed through the swamps of Mousilon.
The first to appear were groups of Warhawk Riders, elves mounted on giant warhawks. These warriors, born for the hunt, drew their bowstrings, firing precise shots at the Chaos daemons ravaging the swamp. Arrows imbued with starlight ignited upon piercing the daemons' flesh.
The warhawks spread their wings, swooping down from the sky, clawing at the Chaos daemons, causing significant damage to these terrifying beings.
Next, large numbers of woodland cavalry from Athel Loren charged out of the forest into the battlefield.
"The Lord of the Forest, Queen Ariel's chosen champion, Araloth is here!" The wood elf hero, Araloth the Brave, brandished his spear as he joined the battle. Shouting his name, he and the remaining giant warhawks soared, diving like cannonballs from the sky.
He had his target: a Tzeentch sorcerer directing the daemon formation.
"For the love of Lilith, I sentence you to death!" Araloth declared, full of vigor and honor, his golden hair flowing in the wind as he stood up on his warhawk, lifting his spear.
The Tzeentch sorcerer spotted Araloth on his warhawk, his third eye on his forehead wide with terror. He tried to cast a spell in defense.
Araloth's hawk swooped in, savagely pecking out the sorcerer's eye, interrupting his spell. The panicked sorcerer couldn't react before Araloth's spear pierced his chest.
"Eslyr! Advance!" Araloth proudly announced his victory, the warhawk rising again as he sought his next target for Lilith.
Hundreds of Wardancers emerged from the forest, followers of the trickster god Loec. These dancers, with their beautiful steps, elegantly slaughtered their enemies. On the battlefield, Wardancers were deadly warriors, slipping past Chaos daemons and killing them with swift strikes, dodging Tzeentch magic as they went. Many daemons were shredded into pieces by the elegant and lethal moves of the Wardancers.
The fight was far from over; the horns of King Orion continued to blare.
The entire Tzeentch army trembled under the Forest King's horns. Following the initial horn, a series of horns echoed from the forest, filling all mortals with wild excitement.
Fatigue momentarily vanished as Belegar, King of Eight Peaks, raised his hammer, shouting joyfully, "Ah! Valaya's cloak! My grandfather's beard! It's the pointy-ears! The pointy-ears have come to our aid!"
Thunderous hoofbeats, the wild cavalry of the Forest King, arrived.
"Let the wild hunt begin!" In the forest depths, the over-three-meter-tall Wood Elf King appeared. His deep, booming voice rang out, "We cannot stand by and watch Chaos destroy our neighbors!"
"For Athel Loren!"
"Eslyr!"
"Advance!"
Under Orion's command, the wild riders joined the battle, sweeping through the Chaos daemons. Despite suffering casualties along the way, the Eslyr accepted death, finding no greater honor than participating in the wild hunt with Orion.
Even the forest spirits of Athel Loren joined the fight. Massive treemen, over ten meters tall, roared as they stormed the battlefield, crushing powerful daemons with their feet, hands, and roots.
The Forest King wielded his powerful spear, Kurnous, devastating the Chaos daemons. His attacks left swathes of blood and flesh, the daemons' weapons and magic ineffective against him. Kurnous' spear effortlessly tore through the daemons.
Behind him, the Twilight Sisters appeared, each riding a giant forest dragon. Dragonfire engulfed the Chaos daemon ranks.
Forest King Orion had joined the hunt today.
Kairos felt the pressure. As he prepared to cast a large-scale spell, something caught his attention.
A bright green light shone from the forest depths. A knight clad in green armor, entwined with ivy, emerged, slaying two daemons with a single sword stroke. No Chaos daemon could withstand the pain of his blade.
The protector of the knightly kingdom, the ultimate defender of the path of virtue, the embodiment of the eight knightly virtues, the Green Knight, had appeared.
"It's the Green Knight!"
"The Green Knight has come to help us!"
Bretonnian knights, seeing the Green Knight, were invigorated. They reformed, ready for the final battle.
"Finally!" Ryan wiped the blood from his face, growling, "Good!"
"You sought the wood elves' help?" Morgiana panted, displeased. Her beautiful golden hair was soaked with sweat, blood trickling from her nose due to Kairos' psychic shock.
"This was the only possible reinforcement we could get in time," Ryan said seriously. "You understand, Morgiana."
The Enchantress's face showed displeasure, but she nodded, not objecting. Despite her dislike for the wood elves, there were no other choices. The hot-tempered Morgiana knew the importance of the bigger picture.
"Argh!" Ryan pounded the ground with his fist, standing despite the pain.
Blood dripped into the swamp, creating ripples. Ryan wiped his face, his hand covered in blood. His face and chest burned with pain.
But he couldn't stop. Even with the wood elves and the Green Knight joining, the Chaos daemons had not shown signs of defeat.
This was the power of Chaos daemons, beyond mortal comprehension.
Kairos had to be defeated!
"Karad, still alive?" Ryan struggled to his feet.
"Not dead yet!" Karad, covered in blood, wounded by the daemon's attacks, gritted his teeth, trying to stand. "I can... still fight!"
"Good!" Ryan spat, his face filled with anger and hatred. "We must defeat Kairos. Use every bit of strength you have!"
"Understood!" Karad nodded.
"Lord Berhemond?"
"I'm ready, Ryan!" Berhemond's fighting spirit blazed. "Don't back down now!"
Ryan smiled.
Indeed, mortals didn't need a haven, just the courage to keep moving forward.
As long as they didn't stop, the road would keep extending...
Ryan raised the Vengeance Goddess, Impris the griffon landing beside him. Karad mounted his horse.
They were ready to continue fighting.
At that moment, Kairos and Orion had begun their duel.
The Weaver of Fate's power surprised even the Forest King. Alone, Orion couldn't defeat him and was even at a disadvantage.
Kurnous' spear and the sorcerous staff clashed, reflecting in the warp. The spear pierced Kairos' armor, his screams echoing, but Orion was also wounded by sorcerous flames and the staff.
"Ugh!" Orion gripped the spear tightly. This foe was stronger than the beastman chieftain Morgur, with nearly limitless Chaos energy and fierce attacks, forcing Orion back.
It was only early spring. Orion had just revived from the Oak of Ages, not yet at full power. But he knew he had to support Bretonnia. Otherwise, the land outside Athel Loren would be ruled by the dead and Chaos, intolerable for the wood elves. The Eslyr, though accustomed to peace, never shied away from war.
Despite inevitable sacrifices, the Eslyr would always fight to protect their home!
The battle continued, Kairos mocking the Forest King's futile efforts. He recognized Orion as the mortal incarnation of the elven god Kurnous.
But so what?
Perhaps in midsummer, Orion could defeat him. But now, in early spring, he lacked the strength to contend with him.
How could a mortal false god compare to a great true god?
The griffon's cry interrupted Kairos' thoughts, followed by Ryan's roar.
"Don't stop!!!"
The Vengeance Goddess and the sorcerous staff clashed, sparks flying.
Meanwhile, the Green Knight appeared before Kairos, his cold gaze fixed on the daemon. "Return to your realm, daemon. This is not your place."
"Ha!" Kairos laughed sharply, teleporting to the rear of the Tzeentch army.
This move took everyone by surprise, and the next scene brought immense pressure.
Behind Kairos, three Chaos portals opened.
More Tzeentch daemons poured into the mortal world, a blue tidal wave engulfing the allied and wood elf armies. Despite the reinforcements, defeat seemed inevitable for the mortals.
"Destroy everything! Praise Holy Tzeentch!" The Weaver of Fate mocked from the rear. "Your efforts are in vain. The Lord of Change enjoys your struggle. My master has sent more reinforcements. You, pathetic mortals, have rejected true civilization. Your fate is sealed. The Lord of Fate controls all, and victory is at hand!"
Suddenly, two of the portals exploded, killing thousands of Tzeentch daemons.
"What?" Kairos turned in anger.
The portals turned green, emitting a nauseating stench. Thousands of Nurgle daemons emerged, hundreds of Plaguebearers carrying a palanquin filled with alchemical tools, bubbling liquids, and bags of experimental items. They raised their carpeted path, surrounded by countless kin.
Nurgle's first daemon, Ku'gath Plaguefather, appeared. His massive, festering body was covered in sores, ulcers, and wounds. Behind him, the Plaguebearers, Nurgle's elite, entered the battlefield.
"Ku'gath?" Kairos screeched. "You?!"
"Gurgle, gurgle..." Ku'gath laughed, scooping a handful of Nurgle's broth into his mouth. "Kairos, we
meet again!"
"What are you doing here?!"
"To stop you!" Ku'gath raised his giant sword. "This is the master's order. You will not collect the artifacts. The Grandfather forbids it!"
With that, Ku'gath gave Kairos no time to speak, ordering his daemons to attack. "Children, destroy the Tzeentch army for the Grandfather's love!"
"Fool! If you want to die, so be it!" Kairos fumed, ordering all Tzeentch daemons to counterattack.
The Tzeentch army swiftly disengaged from the frontline, retreating too quickly for the allied forces to pursue. All Tzeentch daemons, mid-battle, turned and fled, abandoning the battlefield.
"For the Grandfather!" The Plaguebearers clashed with Tzeentch's Eternal Legion. The swamp filled with daemons battling, tens of thousands of them slaughtering each other.
Kairos stabbed Ku'gath with his staff, riddling him with holes, while Ku'gath's plague sword cut Kairos, scattering feathers.
The human, dwarf, and wood elf alliance watched in stunned silence.
Ryan: "???"
Belegar: "???"
Orion: "????"
"What is happening?" Berhemond asked, confused. "Why are they fighting each other?"
"Never mind! Let's retreat!" Ryan ordered decisively. "We must seize this chance to reach Landuin's Tomb!"
"Only by awakening Landuin's spirit and completely eradicating Mousilon's corruption do we stand a chance!"
"Retreat! Retreat!!!"
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