Empire Of Ash

Chapter 28: The Final Stand

The year was 142, and the Veldar war machine was once again on the move. After months of grueling warfare, Veradin’s forces had been steadily pushed back, losing city after city as Veldar's overwhelming power and technological superiority became impossible to counter. The streets of Veradin were filled with whispers of despair. Their once proud army had retreated to the capital, the last bastion of resistance, now surrounded on all sides by the encroaching Veldar forces.

For Veradin, this was the final stand.

A City Under Siege

In the heart of Veradin’s capital, General Lukan Varrow stood before a table littered with maps, battle plans, and hastily written reports. His face was a reflection of exhaustion, etched with worry and defeat. Around him, his officers, the few who had survived the relentless onslaught, were silent. They all knew what was coming.

“The enemy is pushing through our outer defenses faster than we anticipated,” one officer muttered, pointing at a section of the map. “They’ve broken through the eastern perimeter, and reports indicate their Panzerö tanks are rolling through the northern fields. If we don't make a decisive move soon, they'll be at the capital walls by morning.”

General Varrow took a deep breath. His gaze fell on the city’s defensive positions, hastily fortified with whatever they could find. The reality of the situation was grim. Veradin’s military had been fighting a losing battle for months, trying to hold back the unstoppable tide of Veldar’s war machine. The once-proud Veradin forces had been reduced to a shadow of their former strength, their soldiers fatigued and their weapons outdated.

“Mobilize every last soldier we have left,” Varrow said, his voice firm despite the heavy weight of his words. “We can’t afford to let them take the capital. If Veradin falls, the rest of the world will follow.”

Veldar’s Relentless Advance

Outside the capital, the skies were darkened by the ominous roar of Veldar’s Luftstreitkräfte. Their advanced jets patrolled the skies, ensuring no Veradin aircraft could take flight. Below, the ground rumbled with the sound of the Panzerö divisions, the massive tanks crushing everything in their path as they made their slow but unstoppable approach to the city.

Führer Von Klaus, from his war room miles away, received reports of the progress with satisfaction. The Veradin capital was within his grasp, and with it, the complete and utter domination of yet another nation. His generals stood at attention, awaiting his orders, but Klaus simply stared at the map, watching as the pieces fell into place.

“Let them make their final stand,” he said, a cold smile spreading across his face. “It will be their last.”

The Battle Begins

As the night fell, the Veradin capital prepared for its final defense. In the streets, makeshift barricades were erected, and soldiers dug in for what they knew would be a brutal battle. Civilians had either been evacuated or were hiding in their homes, praying for a miracle. The distant rumble of Veldar artillery echoed across the city, a constant reminder of the doom closing in.

At dawn, the first shots were fired.

Veldar’s artillery opened up, unleashing a barrage that shook the very foundation of the city. Buildings crumbled under the bombardment, streets turned to rubble, and the defenders scrambled to take cover. Veradin’s own artillery returned fire, but their outdated cannons were no match for the precision and power of Veldar’s war machines.

From the north, the Panzerö tanks pushed through the fields, crushing any resistance in their way. Veradin soldiers, armed with rifles and grenades, made desperate attempts to slow them down, but nothing seemed to stop the hulking beasts of war. Bullets ricocheted off the thick armor, and grenades exploded harmlessly against their sides.