None of the Balevad troops expected Ulmara to fight back. The small town looked deserted, even unguarded. Their army—fifteen thousand strong, led by three common officers: Jibrol, Moggort, and Barlung—underestimated everything. To them, Ulmara was just another small town to seize, a connector between Vorthend and Blacksand. Not a target, just a waypoint. No major resources, no fortress—just a pass-through road.
But they were gravely mistaken.
Ulmara turned out to be the hidden artery of Whiteheaven's defense. Emperor Rogg had transformed it into a logistical hub and the fastest supply route, whether from Smokeland or toward Blacksand. Beneath its quiet surface, Ulmara was guarded by some of the finest warriors of the Doliex: Brando Velary, the nimble Nyx, Elandra the silent-eyed, and the Thalvion gatekeepers—Gubel Veynor, Mordin Katoki, and Malgris Faelin.
And not only them. Half of the fighting men from Blacksand had already been transferred to Ulmara. A silent force forming an invisible fortress.
When the Balevad troops landed on the shores, they were struck from all directions. The battle hadn't even properly begun, yet their blood already soaked the sand. Panic. Chaos. No time to think.
It didn't take long. Jibrol, Moggort, and Barlung were dead. Their bodies lay scattered among their fifteen thousand men—slaughtered mercilessly by the sharp blades of the Doliex forces.
At the heart of Ulmara's stronghold, Brisena stood restless on a stone balcony, eyes fixed toward the western horizon.
"Any news from Vorthend?" she asked softly, almost whispering into the wind.
Elandra stepped beside her, firm yet gentle. "None yet, Princess. But our strongest forces are there. Robb, Mendrova, even the legendary Dark Legion... they will send word of victory."
"What worries me more is the city of Blacksand," Nyx added. "There, our forces are led by Damerius, Magnoli, and Eryndor... but the enemy likely outnumbers them."
Suddenly, a soldier came rushing in. "Commander! The Dark Legion is transporting the fallen back to Smokeland. They've won the battle."
Brando Velary, standing at the end of the hall preparing logistics, looked up. "Good. Ready the supplies. We stand by to assist Blacksand at any moment. We only await the order."
Brisena looked up at the sky. "So they won in just a single day..."
"Mendrova shows no mercy," Elandra said with a faint smile.
"And Robb?" Nyx murmured. "He probably offered more than just help to win that war."
"Robb is strong. But pairing him with Mendrova wasn't without reason," Brisena said firmly. "Robb's older brother is my brother's hidden card."
Nyx chuckled. "Then what are we? Backup pawns?"
"Seems that way." Brisena laughed along.
"At least we're stationed in the safest city," Brando joined in as he rolled up a map. "But when things hit a critical point, we'll be the ones needed most. Our forces are complete, supplies sufficient, and we have the warriors of Blacksand. This isn't backup—it's preparation for something greater."
Outside, the conquered Balevad warships were being pulled into Ulmara's harbor. The Doliex forces were transforming them into a new fleet—ready to sail at a moment's notice.
"If the Dark Legion triumphed today, will they arrive by nightfall?" Mordin asked, sipping warm tea.
Gubel stared into the distance. "Not necessarily. That army moves only with the Emperor's permission. But with Vorthend already secured, it's highly likely."
"And what about the palace?" Malgris asked. "What if the Balevad forces push toward it, through Blacksand or Garmund's Rest?"
"Rogg never made the palace the core of his power," Gubel replied quietly. "Smokeland is his final fortress. But more importantly—he's testing something."
"Testing what?" Mordin cut in.
Gubel nodded slowly, his gaze sharp. "The Imperial Army... He wants to see whether the Larfex truly stand with him—or hide a sword beneath their cloaks."
Ulmara, the modest town linking Vorthend and Blacksand, seemed still from afar. Only twenty miles from Blacksand and thirty from Vorthend, Ulmara spanned a decent area, but its population was small. Its resources were scarce—no mines, no vast plantations. Because of that, the lords had no interest in planting influence or building guilds here. Ulmara was just a stopover—a transit point for goods from Vorthend's blacksmiths to Blacksand and beyond.
But for Rogg, Ulmara was a hidden lifeline. The town had one key advantage: a land route leading directly to Smokeland. That's why he stationed troops and stockpiles here. Ulmara was not a dead city. It was a vital pulse of Rogg's strength.
That night, two large convoys arrived.
From the sea, Balevad's once-proud warships docked at Ulmara's port, now flying the flags of Doliex and Whiteheaven—captured during their glorious victory in Vorthend.
From the land, the Dark Legion's cavalry charged like an unstoppable black tide, led by Mendrova and Robb.
As soon as Brisena saw Robb, she rushed to greet him.
"Robb! You're finally here. How was the battle?" she called out, unable to hide her concern.
Robb smiled casually and patted her shoulder. "True to their name, the Dark Legion proved they're legends of war. We won... in a single day."
Brisena eyed him closely, narrowing her gaze. "You look... healthier than before you left."
"Haha! The food in Vorthend was amazing. Grilled ribs—and their venison stew... damn, made me forget there was a war going on!" Robb laughed heartily.
"What? That's what you were thinking about? Food?" Brisena scoffed, amused.
"Yeah... seriously, it was good. And honestly, with the Dark Legion around, war doesn't feel so tense. It's like... they don't even need help. You just ride beside them with your arms crossed."
"Haha. True. They value the honor of battle more than the cost of life. Swift, calculated, as always."
As laughter lingered in the air, heavy steps approached. Mendrova suddenly appeared beside them.
"Princess." He gave a short bow. "Pardon the interruption."
Brisena blinked, slightly startled. "Oh... no, not at all. Please, speak."
Robb chuckled and whispered, "See? Even a man as cold as snow melts when you're around..."
"Shut up!" Brisena whispered back, laughing shyly.
Mendrova ignored it. "I intend to deploy twenty thousand troops to Blacksand immediately. Quietly. As early support for the Emperor—to ensure the battle proceeds as planned."
"I've thought about that too. Our forces there might be outnumbered," Brisena responded quickly.
But Robb raised his hand, interrupting, "No, Mendrova. Don't send anyone yet."
They both turned to him, surprised.
"Rogg has positioned us as the final elite force. I'm certain... he's hiding something. Balevad isn't the only threat he's anticipating. There could be a deeper enemy—an insider. A traitor."
"Didn't the palace trial already uncover the conspirators?" Brisena frowned.
"Maybe not all of them," Robb murmured.
Mendrova nodded slowly. "Then we wait for orders. Still... I worry for the Emperor."
Without another word, Mendrova left.
Brisena watched him go, then turned to Robb. "That's it? No further explanation, and you both already understand each other?"
"Haha, that's how men talk, little sister. Short, sharp, but enough."
"Come on. You promised we'd eat, remember?"
Robb patted his stomach. "I haven't forgotten!"
Preparations in Ulmara awaited only the signal.
The battles in both Vorthend and Ulmara had been won easily by the Doliex forces—not by sheer strength alone, but through strategy, terrain mastery, and lethal surprise attacks.
Now, more than 75,000 Whiteheaven troops were gathered in Ulmara—ready to march on Blacksand by land or by sea.
Morning crept in after the first day of war. A thin mist still clung to the Ulmara plains when urgent hoofbeats echoed near the city's eastern gate. Guards quickly parted. From Smokeland, a group of riders approached, flying the Tharaxis banner beneath the grey sky. Among them rode Yara, bringing dozens of Tharaxis members, accompanied by crates filled with medicine, elixirs, and biological weapons—poisons.
Seeing her, Brisena froze. "Sister?!"
She rushed over and grabbed Yara's arm. "Why are you here? It's too dangerous! We're fine... the Doliex forces have their own medics!"
Yara met her gaze—cold but resolute. "I've stayed in Smokeland too long, Brisena. I don't care who wins or loses... but I won't let our forces die alone on the battlefield. We're here to keep them alive. To make sure they survive."
Brisena bit her lip. "But... what about Rex? He's still too young to be left. And what if Rogg finds out you're here?"
"Rex is with Mother in Aeternum Vale. He's safe. And as for Rogg—" Yara unrolled a scroll from Rogg, "—this is his direct request. Rogg asked Tharaxis to come and bring everything we have."
She looked Brisena straight in the eye. "This war isn't just about swords. Women have a place on the battlefield too—to heal, to save, and to guard what's left of life."
Brisena fell silent. Her sister's words struck her like a blow. She bowed her head slightly, then nodded.
Meanwhile, the elite Doliex warriors prepared to receive the deadly weapons brought by Tharaxis—vials of poison, biological agents...
The moment she saw the figure, Brisena froze.
"Sister?!"
She rushed over and grabbed Yara's hand.
"What are you doing here? It's too dangerous! We're fine… the Doliex forces have their own medical units!"
Yara met her gaze, eyes cold but resolute.
"I've been in Smokeland for far too long, Brisena. I don't care who wins or loses… but I won't let our soldiers die alone on the battlefield. We came to make sure they survive. To keep them alive."
Brisena bit her lip.
"But… what about Rex? He's still too young to be left behind. And… what if Rogg finds out you're here?"
"Rex is with Mother in Aeternum Vale. He's safe. And as for Rogg—"
Yara unfurled a scroll.
"—this is a direct request from him. Rogg asked Tharaxis to come and bring everything we have."
She looked deep into Brisena's eyes.
"This war isn't just about swords. Women have a place on the battlefield too—to save, to heal, and to protect what life remains."
Brisena fell silent. Her sister's words struck her, made her bow her head slowly, and nod.
Meanwhile, the elite Doliex troops were preparing to receive the deadly weapon Tharaxis had brought—vials of poison with a black-green shimmer. A toxin that didn't just paralyze… it killed in seconds.
Yara sat tall atop her horse, scanning their faces one by one.
"Listen carefully," she said firmly.
"This poison isn't just a tool to kill. Use it only when your life is truly cornered. This is not a weapon for mindless slaughter. We still have honor in this war. But victory—total victory—is the only way to save millions in Whiteheaven."
Brisena's gaze lingered on the vial in her hand, uncertain.
"Sister… why would the elders actually allow this poison to be used? Is the situation… really that desperate?"
Yara nodded slowly.
"If this were just another war, the elders would never have permitted it. But this… this is about the fate of millions in Blacksand and across the Guava Valley. We can't afford to lose. Not now."
At the edge of the formation, Nyx let out a low whistle as he held up a vial.
"With this, we might end the war faster," he muttered.
Elandra chuckled dryly.
"Should we just walk it straight to the enemy, then?"
"Do you think life is… a toy?!" Brisena snapped, her voice sharp.
"We're not fighting monsters! These are humans! Even in war, there have to be limits!"
Nyx and Elandra exchanged glances, then fell silent. The tension thickened.
From the rear, Mendrova stepped forward. His posture firm, his eyes ablaze.
"The enemy isn't here for honor. They've come to pillage. To burn. To destroy. If poison is the only way to bring them down… then so be it," he growled, voice rough with fury.
Robb, standing to Mendrova's right, added,
"He's right. The world won't care whether we won with swords or poison. All they'll see is who's still standing when the war ends. If we lose, they'll treat us like beasts. But if we win… we save millions."
Yara drew a deep breath. Then nodded.
"Then prepare yourselves. We've won two cities, but the war's not over yet. Still… we're closer than ever to the ending we've fought for."