The wind howled through the towering mountain ranges and whipped the snow into a swirling storm across the frozen wasteland.

In the middle of the tundra, a fierce battle between two titans unfolded. A female elf wrapped in a perfectly tailored gown of white and green along with silver armor with her long white hair billowing like a banner of winter itself, stood against a massive ice bear.

The beast was the size of a literal castle, a Transcendent Tier 1 creature that controlled the very elements of cold. Its every step sent tremors through the earth, cracking frozen lakes and shaking the mountain slopes.

The elf gripped her magic staff tightly and narrowed her eyes as the ice bear let out a thunderous roar, releasing its breath that was freezing the very air around them. With a chilling glow in its blue eyes, it summoned enormous shards of ice that shot toward the elf like arrows, but she moved with effortless grace and dodged the lethal projectiles despite the harsh terrain.

With a sweep of her staff, she conjured a storm of flames, and the molten energy burned through the freezing air. However, the ice bear countered with a raging blizzard in an attempt to smother the fire, but the elf’s magic was stronger. Drawing upon the deep well of power within her, she channeled the ancestral energy of her soul and her staff glowed with ethereal light. With a single incantation, a searing beam of white-hot energy erupted from it, striking the beast in the chest..

The ice bear let out a final painful roar as its enormous body collapsed to the ground with a scorched mark searing its chest. The sound of its fall echoed through the mountains, and the elf stood victorious as she heavily breathed in the biting cold.

————————————————————————

Later, the elf flew through the sky on wings of magic as her body barely spoke against the backdrop of the enormous peaks that stretched beneath her. Below, the Tarxan Coalition’s military base came into view, an impressive outpost hidden within the snow-covered landscape. A shimmering dome of magic shielded it from enemy eyes, rendering it invisible. Inside, over 100,000 soldiers from diverse nations moved in perfect coordination within the stronghold from knights, mages, archers, and mercenaries, all united under a single cause.

The northern lands beyond the Iron Kingdom's border were infamous for their brutal environment from the biting cold and the unforgiving winds. But it's not the ecosystem that makes the northern lands dangerous, it was the dangerous wildlife, filled with countless Magic Beasts that roamed the tundra.

And there are the apex predators of incredible power, with the most fearsome reaching the status of Transcendent Tier 1.

Few dared to venture into this wilderness, let alone establish an outpost within it. This is why the armies of the Tarxan Coalition chose to sail across oceans to engage the Iron Kingdom rather than risk the land.

But against all odds, the Coalition had succeeded in building a stronghold.

She landed gracefully at the heart of the command center, where officers from different allied nations awaited her. One of the commanders from the northern kingdoms snapped to attention and greeted her with a sharp salute.

"General Feralia, you took down the beast?" The Elven commander asked with awe apparent in his voice.

"Yes," the female elf replied coldly with her breath misting in the frigid air.

“And the plan?”

"The plan remains the same…" She stepped forward, addressing the gathered commanders of the Coalition.

With their forces now within striking distance of the Iron Kingdom's borders, the situation has now taken a turn for the better. The Morale of the Troops increased exponentially upon hearing of this news, so the atmosphere was electric with excitement and anticipation.

The twelve commanders, while not Transcendents themselves, were the most formidable warriors in the army. Their presence on the battlefield, combined with their leadership and combat prowess, reassured the soldiers under their command.

The Generals, all lower-level Transcendent Tier 1 beings, stood before the assembled soldiers and addressed them with an air of authority. The troops listened with clear attention and resolve to fulfill their role in the Coalition Army.

Since most of the Generals had not fought for a very long time, there was a kind of anticipation that dwelled in their eyes. After all, these were warriors of immense power and their unsated hunger for battle made them more than happy to receive the news of their grand attack on the Iron Kingdom.

The female elf General known as Feralia stood among the commanders smiling faintly as she listened to the higher-ranking Generals repeat the broad strokes of the plan, with her own thoughts flowing as they made their point.

'They are basically restating what was discussed in the meeting, but leaving out the finer points, of course. There's no need for footsoldiers and dispensable pawns to know the full picture. That role belongs to those commanding them…'

She didn’t think the plan was particularly bad. Sure, it felt a little simplistic, but considering the way the dwarves fought, having a very simple but effective plan seemed like the way to go.

'My Elemental Army will lead the charge from the front. Then the Dragon Army will strike from above.' Feralia nearly chuckled to herself as she went over the strategy that would be implemented. The flanking commanders would also attack from the right and left flanks, leaving no wiggle room for escape.

'Thankfully, we have a lot of air power with the Dragon Corps, so we have a major field advantage.' She smiled and nodded to herself, the plan falling neatly into place.

The most twisted part of the plan, however, involved the Generals themselves.

'While all the efforts are being concentrated on the battlefield, the Generals will head to their most important strongholds and wreak havoc there. If they manage to eliminate their strongest warriors, it'll severely weaken their entire military, regardless if they outnumber us.'

That was the rationale behind their assault, and to be honest it was great.

There was only a single issue about the whole thing, and it was one that Feralia decided to pitch in to help the movement.

'I promised to keep the strongest among the dwarves busy while they destroy the key locations and severely weaken everything. That's the best way I can pull my weight in this, outside of leading my disposable Elemental Army, of course.'

As she pondered the upcoming battle, a scout mage rushed into the command room with a pale face as the snow outside.

"General! Enemies are approaching!"

Feralia’s smile vanished. “They’ve found us already? Prepare the defenses immediately. Activate the dome’s offensive arrays and kill these dwarves!"

Another mage, a captain, rushed forward with panic in his voice. “General! We used Divination Magic. It’s worse than we thought. The dwarves seem to have flying golems, or at least, that’s what we assumed. But one of them wasn’t wearing a helmet and was revealed to be a dwarf. It turned out that these golems were some sort of giant armored suits, making them as large as Orcs!”

Feralia cursed under her breath. “Another secret weapon of theirs? Damn it!”

————————————————————————

The loud screeches of the mechanical humanoids rushed through the air like a perverse trumpet. The battlefield trembled under the sound of their flight and the force of their passage caused the very air to quiver.

These were the Iron Kingdom’s newest armored battle suit, war machines that were built to shift the tides of battle.



The dwarves inside these large mecha suits were an awe-inspiring sight as they flew over the snowy expanse.

Hidden deep within their mountain strongholds, the dwarves had labored for decades, if not centuries on this secret project. As tall as an Orc, these battle suits were powered by a fusion of ancient magic and cutting-edge engineering. Armed with enchanted cannons and magical muskets, each suit had enough firepower to level armies and even hold its own against a dragon in full flight

Their introduction to the battlefield was more than just a show of force, a challenge to the balance of power across all Civilization Zones. The sight alone would have left even the most seasoned generals breathless, had it not been for the immediacy of war.

And now, they will lay waste against the Coalition Ar—

BOOOOOOOOM!

The first projectile that was launched from the Camp of the Tarxan Coalition marked the start of their own march, both figuratively and literally.

It was all a blur, but the 'thing' that was thrust into the air by the Elves and one of their trebuchet-looking catapults was able to instantly obliterate a charging dwarven mech mid-air.

The dwarf inside barely had time to register the hit before his world erupted in flames and crushing force, reducing him, and his once-mighty suit, to ash in mere moments.

There was no moment of silence that followed.

The army of flying mechanical warriors could show no hesitation even witnessing their comrade's sudden demise as they knew hesitation was death. But their cold, mechanical resolve was met with an equally unflinching opponent.

"RISEEEEE!!!"

The cry echoed from the elves within the barricaded camp and their voices melded into a powerful command. As if answering the call, the earth itself began to tremble.

RUMBLE!

The ground split apart, drawing a jagged line through the snow-covered terrain. Their emergence caused the air around to undulate. It felt like everything around them was unraveling as the true forces of nature arose from their depths, the Grand Elementals.

RUMBLE!

The earth shook once more as these ancient beings surged forward. Flames, water, earth, wind, and lightning, all the primal elements materialized in towering, awe-inspiring forms.

Each Grand Elemental radiated with raw mana and their very presence shifted the energy of the battlefield as it soon became a colorful field. No longer was it painted in white, matched with a dreary splash of purple. Instead, it seemed flowers, or perhaps glorious lanterns of bright colors, had sprung out of the earth to add a new flavor to the canvas of death.

Each Grand Elemental stood proud and tall, all of them bursting with abundant Mana and an intensity of the element they represented.

Yet, there were only five.

The sky itself seemed to shudder as the Grand Elementals stood against the dwarves’ mechanical horde. Compared to the Mechanical Army, they were much fewer. The ratio was about 20:1, in favor of the forces of the dwarves. But…

WHOOOOOM!

…In terms of quality, the Grand Elementals were not lacking in the slightest as their power possessed a quality and power that made their fewer numbers irrelevant.

With the battle set, the true clash between magic and machine had begun.

In blurs of light and echoes similar to whispers, the Elementals bravely charged into battle. They moved without hesitation, caring not for the wave of magic bullets they were being fired at, or the hundred dwarves in mechanical suits of armor glaring at them with immense killing intent.

All the Grand Elementals cared for was the mission.

Weapons conjured from raw elemental energy, or the sheer force of their own magic to break into the vanguard of the dwarven mechs. The formation, so meticulously crafted, completely crumbled beneath the might of the Elementals. Unlike living beings, these creatures could not particularly suffer from any pain, and the dwarves' compressed mana bullets did little to stop their advance. The Elementals' natural barriers of pure mana were more than enough to absorb the attacks without suffering significant harm. If the mana in the bullet were too intense, an Elemental could get harmed.

Unfortunately for the army of the Iron Kingdom, these weren’t ordinary Elementals, all of whom shared a very intense climate of Mana so intense that their very presence created an aura of crushing pressure, and the magic bullets that would have obliterated lesser enemies barely scratched the surface of their defenses.

Just as this was happening, the slaughter of the Iron Kingdom’s forces was being carried out by the Elementals.

But don't forget that compared to one of these powerful machines to the Austronesia Empire's weapons, their speed, agility and firepower were comparable to an attack helicopter, and they were armored enough to become impervious to bullets, making them almost durable as a battle tank.

Each mech would rain down devastation, impervious to conventional weapons and capable of terrorizing the battlefield.

That meant they were major threats and worthy challenges for the Grand Elementals.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

…Or not.

They didn't really stand a chance at all.

In the face of the Grand Elementals, these mechanical marvels might as well have been tin cans in a shooting gallery.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

The battlefield echoed with another sound of exploding metal as another dwarven mech was ripped apart. The dwarves inside barely had time to react as their suits were shredded and reduced to nothing but smoldering wreckage. Their advanced technology, their sheer numbers, it all seemed futile in the face of such overwhelming elemental power.

While the dwarves' mechs combined the might of tanks and attack helicopters, they were still no match for the Grand Elementals.

The reason was simply due to a difference in levels.

The gap in their power was simply too vast as most of the dwarven soldiers were between Levels 8 and 9, with only a handful of Level 10s serving as squad leaders. These higher-ranking dwarves, positioned at the rear, watched in horror as their vanguard was decimated.

Ultimately, despite performing their best efforts and possessing superior advanced technological weapons, it felt as though they weren’t even trying.

The battlefield, once a theater of tactical precision, had turned into a slaughter as the dwarves died quickly and their once-formidable machines fell like brittle leaves in a storm.

The way they died so quickly and easily made the Iron Kingdom’s forces appear so weak and so powerless in the face of their enemies.

And while the mechs were meant to provide air superiority and dominated the skies as backup for the footsoldiers below, even that advantage was slipping away. The Grand Elementals' overwhelming power occupied every corner of the battlefield, leaving no room for the dwarves to gain the upper hand.

The Iron Kingdom’s forces were outmatched, and they knew it.

BOOOOOOOOOOOM!

With each explosion that shattered the sky, one more dwarf perished. The night was filled with the ominous beauty of fiery bursts, like deadly fireworks painting the night sky with beauty in the battlefield.

Above, thick clouds rumbled constantly as the dwarves did their best to resist.

In a synchronized effort, groups of the dwarves unleashed their combined firepower, a devastating salvo capable of razing entire towns. The sheer magnitude of their attack was awe-inspiring, but the Elven camp remained untouched as they were protected by a magical barrier.

And, as a reward for their attempt to counterattack…

WHOOOOOSH!

BOOOOOOOOOM!

WHOOOOOOOOSH!

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

More projectiles were launched through the night, and more dwarves were killed off.

The projectiles were either massive golden boulders being flung into the air by constructed catapults, others were enormous golden bolts from crossbows as tall as trees.

Both weapons were manned by Elves, and their ability to consistently get a bullseye was outstanding, tearing through the ranks of dwarven mechs. One had to wonder if this was due to the effects of a magical enhancement Skill, a Magic Artifact, or perhaps a result of the pure skill of the Elves.

Either way, the result was the same as more dwarves were being dominated by the constant barrage of attacks that they eventually began to adopt a new tactic.

Rather than being spaced out, they gathered together into a tightly packed wave, and their numbers formed a concentrated, bristling mass of iron and magic. As a result, the air thickened with their renewed offensive, and the barrage of projectiles that rained down from above grew even more intense.

The Elves had to be freaking out at this point. No matter how fast their weapons fired, they wouldn't be able to halt the dwarven army's advance.

The sheer concentration of their force was overwhelming as a tidal wave of metal and magic rushed toward them.

But just as panic began to creep into the Elves' ranks, the battlefield shifted once again.

ZZZZTTTZZZZ

A low hum vibrated through the air. It was faint at first, almost imperceptible against the chaos of war. Then, it grew louder, crackling with raw power.

The dwarves' advance faltered as confusion rippled through their ranks, feeling something was coming.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!

Like a massive spear that descended from the heavens itself, a massive strike of lightning mixed with the flavors of raw power of every element came crashing into the Iron Kingdom's army. The sky seemed to split as the elemental storm crashed into the battlefield, unleashing unimaginable chaos.

Floating high above the cataclysmic display of overwhelming power was an Elemental General, its majestic and otherworldly form staring down at the chaos beneath it as it commanded the elements with unparalleled authority.

In that single strike, the dwarves’ tightly packed formation crumbled into ruin. The sheer force of the attack overwhelmed them and scattered their ranks like leaves in a hurricane.

What followed wasn’t merely a blow, it was a deliberate, devastating assault that had been building since the start of the battle. The Elemental General, hidden in plain sight, had diffused itself into the very air and waited for the perfect moment to unleash its fury.

As the battlefield approached its climax, the General awakened. Elemental energy swirled within it and charged with the fury of lightning, fire, wind, earth, and water, a maelstrom ready to unleash.

And when the time came, it struck its wrath and the sky itself lit up with a display visible for miles. The shockwave that followed tore through the battlefield, a reverberation of elemental force that rippled far beyond the immediate combat zone.

The dwarves caught in the attack were not obliterated outright as survival had been expected. Their heavily fortified suits of armor, enhanced by the finest dwarven craftsmanship and powerful skills, shielded many from outright death. But the cost was steep.

The formation that once stood strong was in tatters, and the dwarves, powerful as they were, were helpless as they fell to the ground like falling stars. Each impact sent tremors through the earth, creating craters that marred the battlefield.

Before the dust could settle, the Grand Elementals were upon them and surrounded each crater. The dwarves who had survived the fall found themselves face to face with beings of pure elemental force, and now their survival was hanged by a thread. Above, the Elemental General hovered ominously, ready to annihilate any dwarf who might attempt to rise again.

And still, the barrage of projectiles from the Coalition’s forces rained down to make sure that any enemy left vulnerable was quickly eliminated. Golden boulders and arrows streaked through the sky, cutting down any remaining threats with pinpoint accuracy.

The Iron Kingdom’s army, once so formidable, was now utterly trapped. Every move they made was countered, every effort to regroup shattered before it could begin. Surrounded by an unstoppable force as their fate was sealed.

Their defeat was no longer a question of ‘if’, but ‘when’.

————————————————————————

“Amazing! This is simply amazing!”

A female dwarf’s eyes widened in shock as her lips stretched wide so she formed a rather sinister looking grin. She stared at the entire battlefield like a madwoman, observing everything that occurred within it in great detail.

She ignored the piercing gazes of her colleagues and continued to watch the outcome of the battle with unbridled curiosity and amazement.

Every movement, every explosion, every elemental strike was a masterpiece in her mind. She studied the battle like an artist admiring a painting, noting the chaos and destruction with an almost perverse fascination.

"General Feralia... I didn’t expect her to be here, but what a pleasant surprise," she murmured in admiration for the elf who had turned the tide of battle. "A genius like her… it's no wonder she’s made the League Principality such a formidable power."

General Feralia, the renowned Elementalist of the League Principality, had gained legendary status not just for her command over Grand Elementals but also for her political and military savvy, making her one of the strongest 1st Tier Transcendents, borderline Tier 2.

She is a powerful magician that made her the reason why her nation, the League Principality, is among the powerhouses in the Third Civilization Zone both economically and militarily, just below the Iron Kingdom and the Kingdom of High Tarxan.

When the Iron kingdom decided to go offensive in the war against the Third Civilization Zone, intelligence attempted to track her movements, only to find nothing.

But now, not only were she here to save so many Elves that would have died and erected a barrier to prevent any overall harm, but she was also resourceful enough to share her nation’s magic Artifacts and weapons with the other nations.

With that, her presence here was a game-changer. Additionally, with her unique skill of summoning Grand Elementals and sharing advanced magical artifacts and weapons with the Coalition, she had bolstered the Elves and their allies beyond recognition.

The female dwarf observed the catapults, as well as the crossbows, watching as they were being loaded. Her silence was tense and squinted her eyes as she took in all the information he could.

'At this rate, our army will be annihilated. Not only that, but the subsequent army will also suffer the same fate.'

The female Dwarf had no idea if the Elves were still hiding other cards after this. Yes, she had noticed the presence of something in the sky before the Elemental General made its debut, so she could guess that the Elves, or rather, that woman could also have more tricks up their sleeve.

She wanted to know what they were.

As someone who had previously observed the Coalition and their movements with scrutiny, she couldn't help but find this new development jarring.

And she wanted to comprehend it all.

"General Brightmoon, are we not supposed to intervene at this point? At this rate, the army will—!"

One of the commanders tried to break her concentration, but the female dwarf, General Brightmoon, merely raised a hand to silence the concerned commanders. She could tell that they were panicking as they watched their forces being decimated and receiving immense losses, but panic wouldn’t serve them here.

It wasn't like she wasn't moved by their deaths, but she simply had to keep a calm mind during this process.

"I advise that we send another hundred Mechanized units," she said calmly, her mind already calculating. "And have them attack alongside the main army. Yes, they outnumber us, and they have a Transcendent, but we have technological weapons that can deal with that Elemental General. However..."

She trailed off, rubbing her chin and considered their proposition. The numbers were against them, but something deeper troubled her. She wasn’t thinking along the same lines as her subordinates. She needed to understand the true strength of General Feralia.

"How many more Elementals can she churn out? How many of those magical catapults do they still have? What other surprises lay in store for them?" Brightmoon’s mind raced with possibilities. The elves had already shown their resourcefulness, and she had no doubt they were holding back more surprises.

She turned her gaze back to the sky, where the Elemental General floated, a beacon of untapped power.

"There are still too many unknowns," she muttered under her breath.

The more she thought about it, the more the uncertainty gnawed at her. But she had an idea. A way to gather more information, but that would still risk losing their entire force.

'Perhaps it's time to use ‘them’ to test the waters,' she thought as a sly smile creeped back onto her face.

With a nod, she made her decision.

"Prepare ‘the Badgermoles’," she ordered. "Let’s see just how much Feralia and her forces can handle."

————————————————————————

[An Hour Later]

"Fire!"

WHOOOOSH!

Just as was the plan with the dwarves, so was the execution.

Another wave of mecha-suited dwarves rushed toward the Elven camp in droves, their numbers multiplying as they advanced and dominated the skies with a swarm.

Each dwarf gathered mana into their weapons and unleashed orbs of magical energy, while others fired volleys of magic missiles, and tore through everything in their path.

In the intensity of this moment, however, the Elves stood firm.

They already had the spell [Sanctuary] that served as the perfect base to protect them. With the plan that they had been using so far, which worked effectively to their benefit, they stuck to their projectiles and magic and kept firing.

They also relied on their foot soldiers, the ones who felt no such thing as pain, and overwhelmed the dwarves during the last scuffles.

The Elementals were already stationed before the walls of the Camp, so the moment the dwarves reached a certain distance, all of them whirred to life in an instant.

The Elemental General, which stood at the forefront of the army, was the first to move and set himself ablaze with energy. In no time at all, the rest followed suit.

Fire. Water. Earth. Air. Lightning.

Varying colors representing the elements burst up into the sky as each Elemental lit the world around them, each one embodying the raw forces of nature and prepared to defend the Elves' stronghold.

With all of this set up, an intense battle was afoot.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!!

Explosions echoed across the battlefield, mingled with the terrified shrieks of dwarves rang across the expansive field of nightmares. As Mechas and Elementals fought, the Elves did their best to take down the flying dwarves who constantly tried to reduce the integrity of their barrier.

Even though the battlefield was rough, the Elves still had most things under control. They were the ones manipulating the flow of battle, all from a safe distance. Victory seemed within their grasp.

However, in life, the most unexpected could ruin everything. And in war, nothing is certain. The Elves learned this harsh truth as their echoes of victory and excitement were suddenly drowned out by a growing rumble.

RUMBLE!

At first, many dismissed them with mere tremors from the intensity of the battle. But, they got louder with every passing noise and vibration it made.

RUMBLE!

Whatever was causing it, it was closing in fast.

RUMBLE!

No one knew what it was, and just as apprehension mixed with curiosity was about to perfectly mix within the heart of the Elves, a certain Elf ran towards the battle area.

She was out of breath, but she still found the strength to raise her voice and inform them of the source of the rumble.

"THEY ARE AT OUR REAR!!!”

————————————————————————

The mecha-suited dwarves raised their weapons and released blasts of destruction from the depths of their guns and cannons.

VWUUUUUUUMMM!!!

The intensity of their weapons slammed against the barrier protecting the Elven Camp. At first, the shield stood upright, completely deflecting the relentless barrage of magic bullets and destructive magic missiles that were constantly being shot out.

But no defense lasts forever.

With a final shudder, the barrier collapsed.

Grins spread across the dwarves' faces as they watched the Elves' rear defenses crumble. The breach was open, and the next phase of their plan began, the annihilation of every Elf in sight.

WHOOOSH!

Rocket propulsions ignited to life as hundreds of mecha-suited dwarves flew towards the camp with wide eyes gleaming with the promise of destruction with the power of their combined firepower of their advanced technology, and would soon rain down upon the camp.

“FOR ROCK AND STONE!!”

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

The ground split apart wide open as blue flames exploded across the battlefield, sending fiery debris scattering in every direction. The Elves stationed to guard the rear were thrown back by the force of the blast and their bodies were sent flying back like ragdolls as a result of the intense explosions that rushed toward them.

If it hit them, the result would be their demise.

But…

"[Sanctuary!]" The voice of a certain Elf rang out, completely altering the intense situation of helplessness that had permeated everything within the Camp's rear.

As those words echoed out, a glimmering barrier was cast over the immediate area where all the Elves were huddled together, completely shielding them from the wrath of the beings above. Everything outside the shield was reduced to ashes, but within, the Elves were safe.

For now.

The Elves, shaken but unharmed, looked up in awe to see their savior. It was none other than Lady Feralia, the strongest among them. She stood tall, adorned in a perfectly sewn white and green gown, with her enchanting hair dancing behind her as she held her staff gracefully.

She was currently wearing some Magical Artifacts, such as a special necklace, bracelets, and even rings. Amidst all of this, though, she clung tightly to her staff and glared deeply at the aggressors who broke into their fortified place.

"Lady Feralia!"

The Elves were smitten by her valiant presence, but she didn't allow any of her people to grow comfortable due to her being present. She inhaled deeply and closely observed all of the Elves behind her in a moment. None of them were strong enough to stand with her in this battle.

"Go. Retreat. Now!" she commanded.

They were all reluctant to just abandon her, but they better than to disobey others. It was also clear that they would slow her down. Realizing this quickly, they all nodded and fled, feeling the weight of their heart with the knowledge that they were leaving their protector to face an overwhelming foe.

"Huuu…" Feralia stole one more glance at the Elves and smiled at them running off while she exhaled deeply.

Her [Sanctuary], the most powerful defense she could render at the moment, was reaching expiration rather quickly, and she had to find a way to defeat hundreds of mechanized dwarves on her own, a challenge even for someone as powerful as her.

From within the golden barrier, Feralia watched the magical bullets and missiles collide against her magical shield, almost as if they couldn't wait to get in. Her heart pounded, but she steeled herself, preparing for what was to come.

WHOOOOSH!

The moment her [Sanctuary] collapsed, Feralia shot up into the sky like a comet with her body shimmering with a golden aura. The air blurred around her, as if space itself seemed to bend under the intensity of her speed.

"Hold your ground!" Feralia shouted.

Alongside her were dozens of dragons with their riders flew upward, accompanied by her Fire and Wind elementals and clashed with the enemy’s aerial forces.

The dwarves raised their weapons and unleashed devastating volleys from their mechanized suits.

In the next instant, the sky now became a storm of magic and steel as a mix of elves and dragons unleashed their arcane might and dragonfire while the dwarves reponded their mechanical fury.

High above the battlefield, Feralia's staff glowed with power as she rained down spells from skies, her presence like a divine force among the warring armies. As she ascended to the same level as the dwarves, she struck with devastating precision.

With a single sweep of her staff, she decimated several mecha-suited dwarves and their armor crumpled like paper under her magical assault.

'I'll use Elemental Magic to remain in the air, I'll focus more on evasion and defense. The goal is to make sure they don't advance very far.'

It was an impossible task for anyone, except for Feralia. As the strongest magician in the League of Principality, the responsibility was hers to bear.

"Wuthering Waves, Clash and Fall… Rise and Swirl into a fine storm…" She pointed her staff forward as she watched the dwarves ready to launch a combined wave of magical gunfire towards her, intending on obliterating her to death, no doubt.

However, she was just a moment faster.

"[Elemental Storm]!"

A swirling mass of pure energy, or rather, the amalgamation of elements, a cyclone of fire, wind, and lightning which birthed a pure display of energy, swelled out of nowhere and crashed upon the wave of dwarves that lined up before Feralia.

Their combined firepower was not sufficient to quell the storm, and the intensity only increased the more it gained momentum.

The mechanical-suited dwarves were strong between Level 9 and 10, so it was no wonder that they could not handle the Spell that Feralia dished out, which dwelled in the realm of the Calamity.

Not only that, but she was also being buffed by the magic Artifacts she wore, so her Spell's intensity and range was amplified.

The result?

VWUUUUUUUUSSSSHHHH!!!

A fierce storm that threw the Dwarf Army into disarray was born.

Their formation was ruined thanks to the [Elemental Storm]. While the Spell wasn't particularly fatal for them, due to being spread over a wide range, the pulsating energy was enough to disorient the dwarves for a limited period of time.

And with their defenses being brought so low, as well as her Mana saturating the atmosphere for that fleeting moment, all the conditions were fulfilled for Feralia's next trick, something she knew it was time to employ a spell that could turn the tide.

Her ultimate Skill.

"[Temporal Halt].”

[Temporal Halt] was Feralia's trump card, a skill of unparalleled power, but one that came at a steep cost. She could use it only once a day, and the sheer amount of mana required to activate it was staggering. The skill allowed her to completely stop the flow of time for anything she touched or infused with her energy.

But its duration was short, depending on the mana she sacrificed in that brief moment. Normally, it wouldn’t last long, especially against so many targets.

This time, however, Feralia had the upper hand. The magical artifacts she wore greatly enhanced her strength, and the mana within them bolstered her beyond her usual limits.

Still, even with all of these advantages on her end, there was one thing she had to consider.

This was the first time she would be using [Temporal Halt] on so many targets at once.

These were hundreds of them. There was no way her Skill would be able to work on them normally, not with the strict conditions necessary to activate them.

That was why she first resorted to [Elemental Storm]. This achieved two purposes, and its success was what led to her next act.

With the Storm successfully affecting the army of dwarves, they became vulnerable to the effects of [Temporal Halt], and since her energy had permeated the entire area, she could cast the Skill en masse.

The result?

VWUUUUUUM!

In an instant, every mecha-suited dwarf froze in the sky, completely rendered still in place by the effects of her [Temporal Halt].

Feralia hovered above, her breath shallow and her skin pale as she watched all the enemies stay vulnerable before her. The enemy forces were at a complete standstill.

She had expended a tremendous amount of mana to pull this off. As she surveyed the motionless enemies, she allowed herself a small, tired smile.

"Good. With this, I've bought us some time."

As she mumbled this to herself, she couldn't help but feel slightly lightheaded.

'I expended way too much Mana. They'll be like this for a short while, but hopefully that's enough for me to recover my Mana and for backup to arrive.'

While smiling to herself, albeit tiredly, she failed to recognize that the dwarves had planned for this.

Rumble—!

Out of the range of her spell, the ground beneath the Coalition's base began to tremble, and before Feralia could understand what was happening, ten massive drilling machines erupted from the earth bypassing the magical defenses with brute mechanical force.

Her heart sank as she saw thousands of dwarves pouring out each of the machines with their magic-infused muskets cutting down Coalition soldiers in waves like wheat before a scythe.

They had planned for this.

Her eyes widened in horror as the drilling teams emerged, striking at the very heart of the base while she was locked in battle above. Her absence had left the rear vulnerable, and now the dwarves were exploiting that weakness.

"I must—" Feralia began, but her words were cut short as her spell wore off.

The dwarves, released from the hold of [Temporal Halt], immediately resumed their assault as a barrage of magic bullets, rockets, and projectiles rained down on her, slamming into her from all directions.

Forced to go on the defensive, her shimmering shields barely held against the onslaught, pinning her in the sky as the battle raged below.

Through the chaos, Feralia’s heart broke as she watched her troops being massacred. Thousands of elves and elemental forces were cut down by the dwarves' relentless advance. One of the massive drilling vehicles unveiled a hidden weapon, which is a colossal cannon that fired and obliterated her forces in devastating waves.

Fury ignited within her. With a guttural roar, she poured every last ounce of strength into her staff and channeled the remnants of her mana into a final, desperate attack. Elemental power crackled and surged from her staff as she rained down destruction upon the enemy, tearing through their ranks.

But exhaustion was setting in. Her vision blurred, and her limbs felt heavy as if weighed down by lead. Feralia’s strength was fading, and she knew she couldn't hold out much longer.

"Feralia, my beloved… it’s been a while."

The voice echoed through the battlefield, halting the dwarves in their tracks. They immediately retreated, parting to reveal Feralia standing alone in the open.

Recognising that voice, Feralia immediately turned around and her eyes widened.

“Brightmoon?”

Hovering in the air was a colossal mecha-suited dwarf, towering over even the largest of the enemy soldiers at a height of ten meters.



Just then, the helmet dissolved into shimmering magic particles, revealing the familiar face of a female dwarf with piercing blue eyes, ebony skin, and fiery red hair tied in a ponytail.

This is the Dwarf General from earlier.

"I must say, you were hard to find. It's part of why I love you so much," Brightmoon teased, her voice carrying an unsettling mix of fondness and menace. She brandished her weapon playfully, as though the war unfolding around them were a mere distraction.

Feralia, though startled, quickly masked her surprise. "And you still won’t stop being a stalker." She responded very sharply, clearly uninterested in her flirtatious banter. There was no room for pleasantries here.

Unfazed, the red-headed dwarf grinned widely, circling Feralia with a catlike grace despite her towering armor. She had a confident aura about her, almost as if her victory was already certain.

"Oh, come now. Why make this difficult? Join our side. Join the winning side. Join… me."

"No. Never."

Brightmoon sighed dramatically. "Think about it, my love. The Iron Kingdom is far superior to anything in the Third Civilization Zone and in every way. Why fight a battle you can’t win?" As she spoke, the air around them thickened with power as she raised her mechanical hands. The hundreds of mecha-suited dwarves began to regroup, their weapons raised that brimmed with lethal magical energy. It was a threat on an unimaginable scale.

The magical energy in their guns rose to a higher degree, and as the magic formed, it was clear that they were going to unleash hell upon the camp.

Brightmoon’s voice turned sweeter, but the malice underneath was unmistakable. "Last chance, my love."

Feralia remained unshaken. She could feel the rising mana around her, could sense the dread building as the dwarven armada prepared to unleash devastation. Any other force might have trembled at the sight of such overwhelming power.

But Feralia simply smiled, a cold, determined smile.

Without a word, she pulled a high-level Mana Potion from her Spatial Ring and downed it in one swift motion. As her mana replenished, she raised her staff and her eyes gleamed with the deadly precision of someone who had no more time for games.

She muttered a few unintelligible words under her breath, and the magic around her began to shift. The air crackled as energy gathered and swirled around her staff like a brewing storm.

WHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSHHHHHHHHHH!!!

A brilliant beam of magical energy erupted from her staff, shooting high into the sky like a reverse meteor. It was a pure surge of elemental magic, its beauty masking the raw destructive force it carried. The beam raced upward, colliding with the dwarven forces in a spectacular explosion of light.

The moment it made contact, everything changed.

It doesn't matter if the dwarves launched their magic missiles and bullets, powerful as they were, all of them were disintegrated upon impact with Feralia’s spell. The beam consumed them all, its radiant energy swallowing the dwarves one by one. The night sky lit up in a blinding flash as the beam cut through the armada.

In mere seconds, hundreds of mecha-suited dwarves were gone, obliterated without a trace.

Feralia stood alone in the aftermath, her cold smile lingering as the battlefield fell silent. She had destroyed them all with one devastating strike.

Brightmoon’s playful arrogance vanished as she watched her entire force vanish into the light.

"T-that was… I didn’t know you’d gotten so strong." Brightmoon stammered, beads of sweat forming on her brow as she quickly took a battle stance. Despite the tension, she let out a nervous laugh. "Hahaha, oh Feralia, remember the last time we fought? I always admired your strength… and my love for you. But you always brushed me off, saying I was too short and weak."

She spread her arms, revealing her massive battlesuit which is about the size of an Orc Warlord as its intricate design specifically meant for this very fight.

"So, I built this suit myself. Just for you."

Feralia sighed and shook her head. "That was just an excuse, you fool."

Brightmoon chuckled, her glowing eyes taking on a fiercer hue. "You don’t mean that. Besides… I remember the sweet things you said to me after that ‘night’ in the bar." Her voice turned teasing.

Feralia’s eyes widened in horror. "Wait-... what? Is that why I woke up naked?" The realization hit her, and her voice sharpened. "Don’t tell me you drugged me with a dangerous poison!"

Brightmoon’s grin widened, clearly enjoying herself. "That poison would've killed anyone below Level 10… but not us Transcendents. You were fine, see? Hehe~ :3"

"You dwarven bitch!" Feralia shouted as her fury exploded. She immediately took her battle stance and her staff glowed with elemental energy.

Seeing her reaction, Brightmoon smirked and readied herself as well. Sparks of energy began to form between the two and the air crackled with raw power.

Before long, both of them fired up their respective weapons with energy that sparked with myriads of colors.

WHOOOOSH!

In a swift blur, Feralia unleashed a barrage of elemental blasts, fire, wind, lightning, and ice converging into a single, cataclysmic attack. At the same moment, Brightmoon fired a hundred magic missiles from her suit, each one racing toward Feralia with devastating force.

The clash was instantaneous. The brilliant colors of their magic lit up the sky as their opposing forces met in a violent storm of energy.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

The impact leveled the entire battlefield and the ground beneath them was reduced to a wasteland of devastation. Smoke and debris filled the air as the two forces collided in a battle that shook the very earth.

Both Feralia and Brightmoon remained standing, locked in a deadly standoff. Their powers were matched, and it was clear that this fight would determine everything.

————————————————————————

As the battle between Feralia and Brightmoon raged on, the scene was being transmitted from the small drone that captivated the operatives in the nuclear submarine near the Iron Kingdom.

The sheer destructive force of magic and technology clashing left even seasoned soldiers like Angelo and his team speechless. They watched as the land trembled beneath the two warriors’ feet, the sky above them darkened, and every explosive collision reshaped the battlefield. It was a surreal mix of fantasy and science fiction, as if they were witnessing an epic showdown from a different reality.

Nathan couldn’t tear his eyes away from the feed. "Holy shit, this is like some cool ass fantasy battle with a mix of science fiction." He muttered with eyes wide as he watched the devastation with the one with the magic staff sending her magic attack flying towards the enemy in a mech suit, who readily blocked it with her own.

CLANG!

BOOOOM!

CLING!

Their dance was far too fast for regular humans like them to possibly keep up with as they only watched in sheer wonder.

All they knew was that for every clash they had, it felt like the very lands were being torn to shreds. They could only wonder how long it would take before the Coalition base, and even the snowy lands surrounding it, was reduced to a complete wasteland.

“God damn, this is very unexpected. Just look how they go! These two might have hated each other so much.”

Paulo, another operative, shared his awe. "We knew this world was dangerous, but these two are on a whole different level. We have to report this back to the Empire. If this is just one fight in the Third Civilization Zone, I can’t even imagine what the others have."

The captain, Angelo, sat quietly and absorbed every detail. The military might of the Iron Kingdom, paired with the magic of the Elves in the screen before them, was a major threat to the Empire.

"All we need is to get our nation stronger, to prepare ourselves for when the Empire inevitably gets discovered in this god-forsaken world."

Everyone in the submarine all nodded upon hearing his words.

As the two women continued to decimate the landscape with their powers, Marco, one of the more reckless members of the team, made a suggestion.

"Captain, what if we bombed them with one of our ballistic missiles? We could wipe out both of them and the entire battlefield in one strike."

Paulo’s eyes widened in shock. "Are you insane? We were given strict orders not to use any ICBM unless it's against a higher-level Transcendent!"

But Marco persisted. "Look at them, Paulo. These two ladies are literally spamming bombs at each other with a stick and a literal robot suit from an anime. No one would know the difference. By the time anyone investigates, they’ll just think it was part of their battle."

Angelo, still watching the feed, weighed the decision carefully. They had orders, but they also had a rare opportunity. Marco wasn’t wrong. If they acted now, they could cover their tracks, and no one would be the wiser.

“Captain, are you really going to follow what Marco said?” Paulo asked their leader.

After a tense moment, Angelo made his call.

Angelo: