Before war came, Stormveil was always full of life and vigor.
Merchants and nobles traveling by carriage were often drawn in by the city's charm when they passed through, willing to linger a few extra days to take in its unique atmosphere.
Travelers were allowed to set up camp around the city walls. They could follow guides from the city along the winding mountain paths, breathe in the fresh sea breeze, and admire the rolling landscape unique to Limgrave.
The mountains here rose and fell in long chains, like waves across the earth, giving off a feeling both magnificent and serene. With some luck, travelers might even see flocks of Storm Eagles soaring through the sky.
When the eagles took flight, their great wings spread wide, and their iron-clad steel talons flashed brilliantly beneath the Erdtree, reflecting golden light like mirrors.
But at this moment, standing on the hill, Radahn saw a completely different sight.
All he saw was gray smoke and flames rising into the sky. The once-fresh air had been fouled by smoke, turning thick and murky.
Storm Eagles flew with wings outstretched, gunpowder barrels strapped to them as they hovered low above the soldiers' heads, as if they might set off a massive explosion at any moment.
The world before him was like an uneven mirror, with light and shadow warped across its surface.
The once-beautiful scenery had been ruined by war, leaving only the metallic gleam of armor and the scarlet hue of blood.
Beneath the high walls in the distance, soldiers were tensely assembling makeshift siege engines.
A battering ram slammed violently into the main gate, letting out deafening booms as it tried to tear open the sturdy defenses.
Scaling ladders were raised in haste, giving the soldiers a path up the walls.
Catapults and Golems stood behind the vanguard like two roaring beasts.
Yet their presence did not have much real effect on the battle.
The towering city walls rose like an unbreakable fortress. When giant arrows and stones struck the bricks, they left only shallow marks behind.
After a brief rest, the Flying Dragons quickly spread their wings and took to the sky again, trying to break through the high walls from above and open a path forward for the Redmane Army.
But the Fire-Bearer Army atop the walls clearly would not let them have their way. They kept firm control of the situation, crushing the Flying Dragons' hopes.
The ballistae turned their aim, and the Golem guards stood on the broad walls with enormous crossbows clenched in their hands, like Titans.
As they drew the strings, the bowstrings let out a deep hum. Bolt after bolt shot out like meteors, striking the Flying Dragons in the air with deadly precision.
After just one volley, several smaller Flying Dragons fell from the sky, their wings beating weakly before they crashed heavily to the ground.
Meanwhile, the soldiers on the walls were not idle either.
They quickly poured bucket after bucket of scalding oil down from the ramparts, forming a wall of fire that blocked the Redmane Army's advance.
There were also brave knights who simply seized the scaling ladders and pushed them over, sending the long ladders and the soldiers on them crashing down amid screams.
After circling in the sky for a while, the Storm Eagles released their bindings and dropped the wooden barrels filled with gunpowder.
A series of thunderous blasts followed as the gunpowder barrels exploded in midair, instantly reducing the battering ram to burning wreckage scattered across the ground.
The Redmane Army was thrown into disorder by the sudden explosions, their once-tight formation scattered apart.
Ogha and the other Redmane Knights swiftly steadied the formation, shouting in unison, "Don't panic! Keep attacking!" Their voices rang out like war drums, lifting morale.
Amid the shouting, Ogha suddenly drew a massive bow. His movements were smooth and powerful, as though the bow had already become part of his body.
As the bowstring tightened, Ogha gathered all his strength. He took a deep breath, then released the string.
The Arrow streaked across the sky like a meteor, so fast it dazzled the eye. In the blink of an eye, the Arrow seemed to pierce through time itself and appear on the city wall.
With a dull thud, a Golem guard was pierced straight through and crashed to the ground.
The Redmane soldiers burst into cheers at the sight. But before their cheers had faded, a second Arrow followed close behind.
This arrow was even faster than the first. It flashed like a streak of light, tearing a path through the air, but no second Golem guard fell.
A golden battle spear suddenly shot out from the city wall. The spear shone as brightly as the sun, and the lightning radiating from it was too dazzling to look at directly.
That battle spear was the Lightning Spear in the hands of Vyke, the Fire Knight. Vyke stood atop the wall, his figure made overwhelmingly imposing by the lightning around him.
The Lightning Spear flew forward at astonishing speed and shattered Ogha's Great Arrow in an instant.
Its power did not stop there. It kept flying ahead like a burning star, rushing straight toward the Redmane Knights.
Faced with the sudden counterattack, Ogha did not panic. He quickly drew a third Arrow from his quiver and shot it without hesitation.
This arrow was completely different from the first two. It was wrapped in a layer of purple light, as if it held the power to bind heaven and earth.
Empowered by Gravity Sorcery, the arrow grew faster and faster until it became a bolt of purple lightning, flying straight toward the Lightning Spear.
The next moment, the Gravity Arrow and the Lightning Spear collided, then shattered at the same time.
Ogha stood where he was and took a deep breath.
It was not because fear had shaken him and he needed to calm himself. Those who knew him understood that this was simply his habit. Whenever he faced a powerful opponent worth fighting, his fighting spirit always boiled over.
Back then, on the Weeping Dunes by the Caelid coast, Ogha had also breathed deeply like this for a full minute before challenging Starscourge.
During that time, he said nothing. He merely adjusted his state in silence, then drew the bowstring with his honor and loyalty at stake.
Just then, a figure rushed into Ogha's field of vision. It was a tall, powerful figure, cutting through the air like the descent of a giant god.
In an area covered by Redmane soldiers, anyone who suddenly appeared, even someone capable of flight, should have been swallowed by a rain of arrows.
Yet the Redmane soldiers did not attack. They allowed that figure to hang high above their heads.
"So you're Vyke?" The figure let out a hearty laugh, his voice booming. "What a fine warrior! Would you be willing to climb to the summit of Leyndell with me?"
"Lord Radahn, my apologies, but we are knights of His Majesty Nolan!" Vyke raised the Lightning Spear again and answered without the slightest fear.
"You refuse? No matter. Loyalty and honor are virtues worthy of song." Radahn shook his head. "But our goal is Leyndell, so this ends here."
"Is the General going to act personally? Then come," Vyke said expressionlessly.
Radahn, however, was in no hurry. "Where is your Lord? Since I have already come to the battlefield, why isn't he here? Does he refuse to acknowledge me as a Lord, or..."
"Who said I wasn't here?"
A voice came from the sky. The people looked up and saw only a sea of blood.