[The Eastern Plains of Zahryssar — Dawn]
The first ray of sunlight never reached the battlefield; dark clouds smothered the heavens, and black lightning silently crawled across the sky, illuminating the plains for only an instant before plunging them back into darkness.
The air had changed.
It was heavy as every breath burned the lungs and every heartbeat echoed louder than the last. Thousands of Imperial soldiers stood behind their shields.
No one looked toward their comrades; every pair of eyes remained fixed upon the eastern horizon, waiting for the monster who had consumed the dead.
Captain Varesh slowly drew his sword.
SHIIIIIIING...
The sound echoed unnaturally far.
"First Legion." His voice was calm, and yet every soldier heard the tension beneath it. "Raise shields."
CLANG!
