[The Eastern Plains of Zahryssar — Dawn]
The war horns had barely fallen silent when the earth began trembling once more.
BOOM...
BOOM...
BOOM...
The vibrations spread beneath the feet of every Imperial soldier; thousands instinctively tightened their grips around their weapons ahead, beyond the morning mist...an endless darkness slowly emerged.
Hundreds of thousands of Black Serpents slithered across the plains, their black scales reflecting the crimson light of dawn.
They moved without sound, without emotion, and without fear. At their very front...Azhrakaal stood alone; his black robes fluttered violently in the morning wind, and his pitch-black eyes looked across the Imperial Army.
Then he smiled; his voice carried effortlessly across the battlefield. "So, you survived the first day; it does not mean you will survive today."
The Black Serpents behind him suddenly stopped; the battlefield became unnaturally silent. Levin narrowed his eyes.
"He's planning something."
