The first explosions shook the shores of Seaguard, illuminating the night sky with eerie blue flashes. The naval defenses, despite their strength, crumbled under the devastating power of the long-range strikes. Ether fragments ignited the ramparts, obliterating coastal gun batteries and clearing the way for the enemy fleet.


    Gard''s warships, propelled by Ether, sliced through the waves at terrifying speed. They reached the shores swiftly, unloading legions of Gardians clad in combat gear, their gauntlets crackling with energy. Stered''s soldiers took their positions, rifles raised, as commands rang out from the command posts.


    — <b>Hold the line !</b> a Steredian officer bellowed.


    The battle erupted instantly. Armed with long rifles and swords, the Steredians fought to contain the assault, but the Gardians were fast and relentless. Some surged forward with jet-powered thrusters, dodging gunfire, while others launched Ether-powered projectiles, detonating upon impact.


    On the deck of a nearby ship, Seth and Ori watched in horror as chaos consumed the city.


    A deafening impact. A Fragment, an Ether-charged grenade, rolled to a stop at Ori''s feet. Her breath caught in her throat.


    Seth reacted without thinking. He threw himself in front of Ori just as the explosion went off.


    The blast hurled him backward, his body slamming onto the deck, blood seeping from open wounds.


    — "Help!" Ori screamed, helpless amid the battlefield''s turmoil.


    Steredian soldiers rushed toward the docks, fighting desperately to defend the city, but they had yet to reach White Pearl. At the command center, the officers coordinated their forces.


    —<b>Alert the capital !</b> Erinmore ordered. "Sherone must come immediately!"


    _____________________


    As the Gardians advanced, the cities of Stered were engulfed in smoke and fire. The military scrambled to evacuate civilians, escorting them away from the combat zones, trying to minimize casualties.


    Meanwhile, the generals and admirals fought alongside their men in Seaguard, their concern growing. Soar, the leader of the Gardians, had yet to appear. Starmer, more aggressive than ever, slashed an enemy aside and charged toward a Gardian, ready to strike a killing blow.


    A whisper of wind. A shadow.


    The Steredian soldiers exchanged uneasy glances as if sensing an unseen specter among them. Then, he arrived.


    A single arm rose and blocked Starmer''s attack effortlessly. The admiral''s blade met a wall of unyielding steel.


    It was Soar.


    A commanding figure, both charismatic and enigmatic, stood before them. His long, wavy hair, streaked with gray, and his thick beard gave him the aura of an experienced warrior. His piercing blue eyes seemed to see straight into the soul of anyone he faced. A dark hooded cloak billowed behind him, making him look like a shadow made flesh amidst the battlefield''s chaos.


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    Soar lifted his gaze to meet Starmer''s, his expression devoid of emotion—cold as death itself.


    With one last effort, Starmer swung again, this time aiming for Soar''s shoulder. The blade struck deep, eliciting a grimace from the Gardian leader.


    But before Starmer could land another blow, Soar struck him with monstrous force. The admiral was sent flying, crashing into debris with a sickening thud.


    A young Steredian soldier, witnessing the event, froze in shock as he watched Soar''s wound heal before his very eyes, as if the injury had never existed.


    — <b>Impossible... </b>he whispered, his voice trembling.


    Then, Soar dove into the fray, moving with superhuman precision, cutting down Steredian soldiers with deadly elegance, effortlessly dodging gunfire.


    _______________________


    Ori and Seth


    Ori had dragged Seth onto the dock, desperately trying to keep him conscious. Her trembling hands were soaked in blood as she pressed against the gaping wound in his chest.


    At last, a squad of Steredian soldiers reached White Pearl. One of them gasped.


    — <b>What are children doing here?! </b>One soldier knelt and checked Seth''s pulse.


    — <b>He''s been touched by Ether...</b> He won''t survive.


    — <b>Alert Admiral Brightbill immediately !</b>" another commanded.


    _______________________


    Regan Brightbill Arrives


    The admiral cut his way through the battlefield, sword in hand, pushing back the Gardians as he advanced. Then, he saw her, Ori, holding Seth''s limp body, and his heart clenched.


    — <b>Ori! Seth! Hold on !</b> he shouted, rushing toward them.


    He scooped Seth into his arms, gripping Ori''s hand, and carried them away from the war zone, his expression darker than ever.


    Meanwhile, the Gardians surged forward, conquering city after city with relentless speed, until they reached Stered''s capital. The Steredian forces fought fiercely, but the power of Ether gave their enemies an overwhelming advantage. Thousands of civilians fled, seeking refuge in the old underground tunnels, originally built to shield cities from the desert storms of Nod, long before the Wall was erected. There, in the darkness, families and survivors waited, praying for the storm of war to pass over them.


    _________________________


    The Capital - Hexadome


    Stered''s capital, the heart of its political and military power, was home to the Hexadome, the governor''s stronghold.


    Inside, Sherone sat on his throne. Slowly, he rose, his face set in grim determination. He reached for his Visterian steel gauntlets, massive weapons that locked into place over his arms with a metallic snap. His eyes burned with unshakable resolve.


    — <b>Prepare my troops.</b>


    The Lion of Stered was ready to enter the battlefield.


    As he left the Hexadome, marching toward the front lines, a detachment of Gardians infiltrated the fortress. Moving with eerie precision, they advanced through the corridors, their true objective still unknown.


    In the streets, Sherone made his presence known.


    He charged into battle, his gauntlets crushing enemies with earth-shattering blows. Every strike sent opponents flying.


    The Steredian soldiers, emboldened by his arrival, fought back with renewed ferocity.


    — <b>We don''t give an inch ! </b>an officer roared.


    But as the battle raged, a new threat emerged.


    ________________________


    Soar Arrives in the Capital


    Through the chaos, Soar locked eyes with Sherone. The Gardian leader strode forward, his controlled fury visible in his cold, piercing gaze, shaped by a past drenched in war.


    With a single leap, Soar hurled his Ether-charged gauntlet forward. Sherone crossed his arms to block the impact, his steel gauntlets absorbing the brunt of the blow. But the force was too great—he was blasted backward, barely keeping his footing.


    At the same moment, as the Gardians exited the Hexadome, they unleashed a terrifying weapon.


    A colossal, black-metal device, pulsating with energy, began spewing a dense, ghostly fog across several kilometers.


    — <b>Fall back !</b> a Steredian soldier cried out.


    The shockwave spread through the city, plunging it into an unnatural, spectral haze.


    Then, as if melting into the mist, the Gardians vanished—one by one.


    Seaguard, the capital, and all of Western Stered now bore the scars of devastation.


    The blitz attack was over.