As the war against Etherion loomed ever closer, Merslin summoned all leaders of the continent to Elysium. This was no mere strategy meeting. The fate of the entire continent hung in the balance, and the moment called for decisive, united action. With the importance of aerial dominance growing rapidly, each nation had to prepare for a war that would be fought not only on the ground, but in the skies above.
In the grand chamber of Elysium, the rulers of the High Elves, Elves, the Kingdom of Altekhna, the New Luminaria, the Frontier Kingdom, the Gnome Kingdom, and the Dwarf Kingdom had gathered. All were keenly aware of the threat Etherion posed, and all had come to understand that aerial supremacy would determine the outcome of this war.
"To win this war, we must control the skies," Merslin declared, his voice resolute. "Every nation must rally its aerial forces and enhance them without delay. We must seize the skies before Etherion takes to them."
The Elven king nodded. "We are already training additional Hippogriff riders. But our strength alone is not enough. Only through the cooperation of all peoples can we achieve victory in the air."
The Dwarf king agreed. "We've increased the number of Wyvern riders in the mountains, but time is against us. Only through unity can we amass sufficient aerial power."
Then the High Elf queen rose. "We shall reinforce the training of our Pegasus riders. Under your command, Merslin, we will stand together as one in preparation for this war."
The leaders all pledged their full support for Merslin's strategy, vowing to reinforce their airborne forces and dominate the skies. Each race began mobilizing every resource available to build their fleets of sky warriors.
In the Elven forests, Hippogriff riders honed their agility and precision. In the Dwarven mountains, Wyverns were drilled for power and endurance. The Gnomes worked tirelessly in their workshops, forging new Mechanical Griffins and training pilots. The High Elves enhanced their Pegasus knights with divine magic and aerial combat techniques.
Overseeing the preparations from Elysium, Merslin was pleased with the rapid growth of their aerial might. But he also knew something else was needed—a symbol to ignite the people's fighting spirit.
Thus, he orchestrated a grand exhibition: a public demonstration of the united aerial forces, to be held on the vast plains of Elysium.
Citizens from across the continent gathered with hopeful eyes, anticipating the spectacle to come. This was no mere military drill—it was a message. A symbol of hope. A promise of resistance.
As the exhibition began, the skies erupted with life. Hippogriffs of the Elves, Wyverns of the Dwarves, Mechanical Griffins of the Gnomes, Pegasi of the High Elves, and both Griffins and Wyverns of Skyren rose together in unison, painting the heavens with wings of defiance.
Merslin's voice rang out across the plains.
"Now is the time to show our strength. We will take the skies—and we are ready to face Etherion!"
What followed was a breathtaking display of tactics and precision. Elven riders performed agile ambush maneuvers; Dwarven Wyverns unleashed simulated bursts of firepower; Gnomish machines struck targets with mechanical precision; High Elf Pegasi executed coordinated magical assaults; and Skyren's elite formations dominated the skies with overwhelming presence.
The exhibition concluded with a friendly tournament, where each nation's riders demonstrated their prowess—racing, dueling, and striking airborne targets with speed and elegance. The crowd roared in awe and pride. Spirits soared.
After the display, Merslin stood again before the people and their riders.
"Together, we will stand against Etherion. The skies are ours—and we shall guard both the heavens and the earth. Your will to resist is the promise of our victory."
A thunderous cheer erupted. In that moment, unity was no longer just a word—it was a living force. The people believed. And belief, Merslin knew, was the first step toward triumph.
***
The Link Between Worlds – Aerial Power and the EMP Dilemma
Merslin's urgency in strengthening aerial forces was not without reason. While he firmly believed that dominating the skies would be critical in the war against Etherion, his decision was rooted in a deeper strategic consideration—one shaped by a faint connection to another version of himself: Kim Young-min of Earth.
Though Merslin of Luminaria and Kim Young-min of Earth existed in separate worlds, they shared a subtle link—one forged through Young-min's past life as Merslin in Luminaria and the dimensional rifts connecting the two realms. The connection was neither constant nor clear, but it occasionally allowed fragments of insight and strategy to pass between them.
As the threat of Etherion began to extend into the skies, Merslin felt echoes of Young-min's strategic dilemmas. On Earth, Young-min had considered using EMP (electromagnetic pulse) weapons to counter Etherion's airborne forces. However, he also worried that such weapons could severely damage Earth's own aerial capabilities.
"EMP might be the key to neutralizing Etherion's forces in the sky," Merslin muttered to himself, absorbing the thoughts drifting from his other self. "But at what cost? Our own aerial strength could be crippled as well. We must prepare."
While EMP offered a powerful defensive option, the dilemma was clear: it could disable friendly forces as easily as enemy ones. Both Merslin and Kim Young-min were forced to consider how to preserve their respective air forces should such a weapon be deployed.
"Young-min knows the risks of EMP," Merslin reflected. "If we do not prepare for it, we may defeat Etherion only to lose ourselves in the process."
Merslin began devising ways to safeguard Luminaria's aerial units from EMP impact. He issued orders to each nation's leaders, urging them to develop countermeasures. Biological units—like griffins and hippogriffs—were likely to be immune to electromagnetic interference, but mechanical forces, such as the Gnomes' mechanical griffins, were at far greater risk.
"We must consider every tactical angle," Merslin told the assembled leaders. "Find ways to harden or shield our mechanical forces from EMP. At the same time, we must strengthen our biological units to ensure sustained aerial combat capability."
Merslin's push to strengthen air power was no longer simply about agility or countering Etherion's airborne assaults. It was also a response to a shared, cross-dimensional threat. He believed that survival would not come from relying solely on one world's technology or strategy—but through diversified, flexible approaches.
Kim Young-min, fully aware of the hazards posed by EMP use, sought to find balance. Merslin mirrored that effort, focusing on shielding and strengthening Luminaria's aerial forces. Though the connection between them remained faint, the two minds worked in unspoken harmony—complementing each other's decisions in the face of a shared enemy.
Faced with the same looming menace, Merslin and Kim Young-min stood in different worlds, yet their thoughts echoed one another. Merslin's emphasis on enhancing biological aerial units and preparing for EMP contingencies became a cornerstone of Luminaria's war strategy. It was a sign that true victory against Etherion would not come from one world alone—but from two minds acting in unity across dimensions.
**
Unity of Sky and Earth – The Continental Olympics and War Preparations
With Etherion's invasion only six months away, Merslin felt a growing urgency to unite the continent and maximize its collective power. A mere alliance wouldn't suffice. To win this war, something deeper was needed—an event to forge solidarity through shared purpose and sharpen each nation's combat readiness.
Thus, Merslin summoned the leaders of all nations to Elysium. There, he unveiled a bold initiative: the first-ever Continental Olympics. But this would be no mere celebration of sport—it would be a battlefield in disguise, a grand exercise in wartime preparation, designed to test tactics and strengthen resolve against Etherion's coming assault.
In the grand chamber of Elysium gathered the leaders of the High Elves, Elves, the Altekhna Kingdom, the New Luminaria Kingdom, the Frontier Kingdom, the Gnome Confederacy, and the Dwarven Clans. Merslin addressed them with unwavering resolve.
"This is not just a festival," he began firmly. "Through this Olympic event, we will test our nations' combat capabilities, forge tactical unity, and ignite our collective will to resist Etherion. Every event will serve as live training for the war to come. Our survival depends on the success of this endeavor."
The leaders agreed. They recognized the Olympics as a vital tool—not just for unity, but for survival. Each nation began crafting its own events, incorporating its strengths and unique combat techniques.
Yet beneath the surface, old tensions still simmered. Long-standing resentment between Elves and Blood Elves, rivalry between Dwarves and Gnomes, and the quiet friction between the New Luminaria and the Frontier Kingdom all lingered. But Merslin saw this as a necessary crucible—one that could be forged into cohesion through shared effort.
"Our differences will become our strength," Merslin told the leaders. "Only by combining our unique abilities can we stand against Etherion. This Olympics will be a proving ground—not just for strength, but for understanding and cooperation."
The great plains of Elysium filled with thousands from across the continent. Elves riding hippogriffs, Dwarves on wyverns, Gnomes piloting mechanical griffins, High Elves soaring on pegasi—all gathered in anticipation. The people were filled with tension and hope. They came not just to compete—but to prepare for war.
When Merslin stepped onto the central platform, all eyes turned to him.
"Today, we unite the strength of this entire continent," he declared. "This Olympics is not just for sport—it is a test of our readiness. We stand together, for the sky and for the earth. Let Etherion come—we are not afraid!"
At his words, aerial beasts took to the skies, and warriors across the field raised their weapons high, roaring their resolve.
The Olympic events were crafted to simulate real warfare. Each competition honed skills essential to the coming battles.
Aerial Combat Simulation: Riders of hippogriffs, wyverns, mechanical griffins, and pegasi engaged in aerial drills, practicing maneuvers and formations. This event was designed to test their response to Etherion's air superiority—and allowed participants to learn and improve each other's tactics.
Ground Combat Trials: Warriors from each nation formed teams to test their prowess in melee combat. Swordsmanship, polearm technique, spell usage, and battlefield coordination were all evaluated in scenarios mimicking real war conditions.
Collaborative Training Exercises: Engineers from the Gnome and Dwarven factions joined forces with elven mages to develop integrated strategies. These joint drills tested the compatibility of mechanical and magical forces against simulated Etherion attacks.
Strategic Simulations: Military tacticians and national leaders gathered to role-play responses to hypothetical Etherion incursions, testing strategies and refining plans in real time.
The people watched not just their own—but others'—strength on full display. What they saw was unity in action. The desire to fight Etherion deepened, no longer fueled by fear but by shared conviction.
"We are united," Merslin proclaimed at the closing ceremony. "We will fight as one, and we will win as one. Through this bond, we will overcome Etherion!"
After the Olympics ended, each nation returned to reinforce their defenses, applying lessons learned during the event. Merslin convened a closed-door council with key leaders to finalize the war plan.
"Now begins the final phase of preparation," he said gravely. "We must show Etherion the power of a continent united. We will defend the sky and earth—until the end."
The entire continent moved as one. The Olympics had given them more than training—it had given them unity. And with that unity, they were ready to face Etherion.