A general born to rule

The final stages of revolution

Under the glowing lights of Valorcrest's sprawling citadel, Sam found himself sitting in a plush armchair, surrounded by the soft laughter and gentle insistence of his wives: Alara, Aislin, and Seraphine. The three demi-human women-Alara, the graceful cat-like beauty; Aislin, the calm and steady wolf demi-human; and Seraphine, the quick and agile cheetah demi-human-had banded together to do what no military force or powerful adversary had managed to achieve: make Sam relax.

For days, Sam had been obsessively tinkering in his lab, pushing Valorcrest's technology and military advancements even further. His mind was constantly whirring with new inventions-drones that could think faster, weapons more powerful, vehicles more agile. But his wives had noticed the toll it was taking on him. They knew him better than anyone, and they could sense the exhaustion in his bones, even if he wouldn't admit it.

"Sam," Alara purred, her voice soft yet firm as she ran her fingers through his hair. "You're working too hard again. You need a break."

Aislin, who was more practical by nature, stood beside him with a warm cup of herbal tea, a knowing look in her eyes. "You've been in that lab for days. You know how important it is to recharge, don't you?"

Seraphine, ever the energetic one, curled up next to him on the sofa, her sharp eyes watching his every move. "We're not letting you go back to work until you've relaxed. So, settle in."

Sam chuckled, feeling the warmth of their presence slowly melting away his tension. "I just... there's so much more to do. Valorcrest is already so far ahead, but I know I can push it even further. The revolution is close to victory, but we can't get complacent."

Alara placed a hand on his chest, silencing him gently. "You've done more than enough for now. You're always thinking ten steps ahead. Let Marcus handle the war planning for a bit."

Sam sighed but leaned back into the chair, knowing that they were right. His mind was always spinning with ideas, but he trusted Marcus to steer the military campaigns while he took a short reprieve.

---

Meanwhile, Marcus stood in Valorcrest's war room, eyes fixated on a map spread across the table. He traced the path of the revolutionary forces, which had now pushed deep into the kingdom of the Holy Gates, nearing the capital. Theophilus had been fighting desperately, throwing every soldier and resource he had left at the revolutionaries, but they were being overwhelmed by the combined strength of the rebel forces and the advanced military technology provided by Valorcrest.

Marcus rubbed his chin thoughtfully, his brow furrowed as he considered the next phase of the siege. The battle had already shifted dramatically in their favor, but Marcus wasn't one to leave anything to chance. He had to ensure the final blow would be swift and decisive.

At his side, the leaders of Valorcrest's elite divisions were gathered, listening intently to his strategy. "We'll hit them hard at dawn," Marcus said, his voice calm but commanding. "Theophilus is rallying his last remaining loyalists within the capital. His forces are spread thin, and their supplies are running low thanks to the Silent Eye's operations. Now is the time to strike."

He pointed to a weak spot in the capital's defenses. "The volunteers from Valorcrest will lead the charge here. Their modern armor and weapons will punch through Theophilus' defenses. Meanwhile, we'll deploy drones to disrupt their communications and air support to crush any resistance before it even reaches the front lines. This war ends with us breaching their walls."

Marcus felt a familiar presence at his side and turned to see Empress Valdrianna, the fierce ruler of the Dragonkin, and Queen Elandra, the elegant and sharp-witted leader of the Dark Elves. The two women, both of whom had deep ties to Marcus, offered their support as well.