Night.
Somewhere in the Southern Free Federation.
From deep within the thick darkness came faint footsteps, sounding distant and indistinct.
A moment later, the footsteps drew near and became clear. A few seconds after that, with a rustle like a black curtain being pulled aside, a group of dozens of Wizards emerged from the darkness.
They approached a central point from all directions. After walking some distance, they stopped and, as if by prior agreement, each took out a cone engraved with intricate magic runes. They activated them with the magic power within their bodies and threw them toward the ground.
Pfft!
The cones struck the ground like stones dropped into a pool, easily piercing through the soil and sinking out of sight.
The dozens of Wizards had clearly expected this and were not surprised. They exchanged glances, then rose into the air in unison, climbing higher and higher until they vanished into the night several seconds later.
Not long after the Wizards disappeared, new footsteps sounded.
Compared to the Wizards' footsteps, these were much heavier, denser, and far more orderly, like countless drumsticks striking drumheads in rhythm.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
Soldiers clad in blood-red armor emerged from the darkness one after another. There were thousands of them, and they silently advanced toward a predetermined location.
Splash!
They crossed a stream.
Crack!
They crushed stones beneath their feet.
Rustle!
They passed through the grass.
In the end, they arrived outside an ancient castle that appeared to have been abandoned for many years. They surrounded it completely, with the breastplates of the front row of soldiers nearly touching the bricks of the castle walls.
But they were not stopped there. A low shout rang out from somewhere, followed by low shouts from the many soldiers. Dazzling light flared from their armor.