A general born to rule

The dragon kins

The war raged on as Valorcrest gained an undeniable foothold in both naval and air superiority. With its advanced Cold War-era technology, Marcus' forces were cutting off the Drakthar supply lines, isolating their troops and putting pressure on their territories. Ships from Valorcrest's navy patrolled the seas, submarines lurking beneath the surface, and squadrons of jets controlled the skies. Each passing day saw Drakthar's forces losing ground as artillery barrages, ordered by Marcus, rained down on their armies, devastating their ranks.

But Empress Valdrianna was not one to let such a tide go unchecked. In a move that stunned everyone, she unleashed a small portion of her ancient, formidable power. The air around her crackled with energy as she soared into the sky at impossible speeds, faster than any aircraft could hope to match. As she flew, she created a massive EMP blast that rippled through the skies, temporarily shutting down the technological superiority of Valorcrest. For a moment, jets fell from the sky, ships went silent, and the mighty war machines ground to a halt.

This sudden shift allowed Drakthar's forces a brief window of advantage. Without the support of their technology, the Valorcrest troops were vulnerable. Dark elf archers and dwarven warriors stepped up to hold the lines, compensating for the temporary loss of advanced weapons. The battle grew fiercer, as the once-crippled Darkthar forces surged forward, but the advantage was short-lived.

Soon, the technology of Valorcrest began to come back online, their jets roaring back to life and ships launching missiles once again. The tides were rapidly turning back in Valorcrest's favor, and the overwhelming firepower of their combined forces began to hammer Drakthar's army once more.

Meanwhile, in the depths of his lab, Sam received news from his allies-the elves had discovered this world's equivalent of uranium. It was an untapped resource of unimaginable power. Although Sam didn't yet have the materials necessary to fully utilize this discovery, he quickly began setting up trade agreements. His mind worked furiously, envisioning what this new resource could mean for Valorcrest's technological dominance.

As Marcus continued to coordinate the war efforts from his command center, Empress Valdrianna made her move. After revealing just a taste of her power, she arranged a meeting with the Dwarf King, Dark Elf Queen Elandra, and Marcus himself. She expected Marcus to be rattled by what he had witnessed-after all, what he had seen was only a fraction of her full capabilities. As she approached the grand hall, her thoughts were consumed with victory.

"He'll have no choice but to surrender," she thought confidently. "A mortal man like him will see the futility of resistance. Once he's defeated, he'll have to bow before me-and by ancient tradition, the defeated become the lover of the victor." A predatory smile crossed her lips as she envisioned Marcus at her side. "He will be my husband, and this entire world will bow before us."

Yet, when she finally stood face-to-face with Marcus, she didn't see fear in his eyes. Instead, there was a steely determination-a resolve that was unshaken by her display of power. Her internal monologue faltered for a moment, her confidence dimming slightly as she realized that this man would not submit so easily.

As they exchanged words, Marcus made it clear that he had no intention of surrendering. If anything, Valdrianna's show of strength had only made him more determined to fight. The challenge excited him, and his iron will seemed to burn even brighter in the face of her ancient might. Valdrianna was taken aback, but in a way, it only made her desire him more.

Meanwhile, far from the battlefield, Valdrianna's brother, General Kaelrath, was preparing to make his own move. Kaelrath was the greatest general in the empire, feared across countless lands. He had always resented that their father had chosen Valdrianna to be the Empress instead of him. While Valdrianna had always been cunning and strategic, Kaelrath was far more brutal-a force of destruction. His cruelty was well-known, his throne made from the bones of those who had fallen before him, and his eyepatch a constant reminder of the power he wielded with his remaining eye.