Charge!
The wind rose along the Hell Mountains.
From north to south, it grew from a faint breeze into a gale, pouring into the only gorge that ran through the mountain range.
The gorge had no name.
The fortress did—
Thunder!
A defensive stronghold built entirely of stone, it had taken the Warren Royal House thirty years and enormous amounts of manpower and wealth to construct. It stood within the gorge as a shield for Lerdri, the Warren royal capital.
Its three thousand permanently stationed professional soldiers made the fortress even more impregnable.
Even powerful enemies from the grasslands had repeatedly suffered defeat here and retreated in despair.
This only further convinced the Warrens that Thunder Fortress was unbreakable.
Yet at that moment, Thunder Fortress was facing a great enemy.
The drawbridge had been raised.
Squads of fully armed soldiers took to the walls.
Squads of cavalry stood ready behind the walls.
War machines were hauled out of the warehouses one after another.
All because of a secret order from the military two hours earlier: for one day, stop anyone who attempted to pass through Thunder Fortress!
Anyone who forced their way through...
Kill!
Whoosh, whoosh!
The wind blowing in from the mouth of the gorge grew stronger and stronger.
Its howls resembled thunder, deafening to the ears.
When it lashed against their faces, it brought stinging pain.
Yet the squads of soldiers standing atop the walls stood as straight as spears and javelins. Their swords were drawn, their bows strung, and they watched the distance with murderous intent.
A lone figure suddenly appeared at the mouth of the gorge.
A black cloak snapped loudly in the gale.
The jet-black feathers on the cloak glimmered beneath the moonlight with an unusual radiance.
Clouded, dim.
Like ghostly flames flickering in