A general born to rule

The battle and background

The war had entered its most desperate phase. Marcus, leading the combined forces of Valorcrest and its allies, saw the full strength of their military power unfold as they transitioned into rapid production. Sam’s naval prototypes, having proven their worth, joined the older Cold War-era ships to form an impenetrable defense. Together, they dominated the seas, backed by aircraft carriers and squadrons of naval bombers and superiority fighters that patrolled the skies, fighting fiercely against Zarlos’s advanced imperial fleet and the brutal orcish warships.

Despite fierce resistance, the combined air and naval dominance of Valorcrest began turning the tide. The Orcish Navy, commanded by Gruknar, and Zarlos's imperial ships found themselves overwhelmed by relentless bombing runs and strategic strikes. As the war at sea dragged on, the imperial fleet, once untouchable, began to fracture under the might of Valorcrest’s tactics.

The turning point came when Marcus received intelligence that Zarlos, Malakaroth, and Gruknar were pinned down at a crucial port in the Freehold Republic. Their forces had been encircled by entrenched Valorcrest and allied soldiers, including elves, dwarves, and dark elves, all fighting with valor to protect their homelands. The soldiers, armed with advanced weaponry and bolstered by dwarven inventions, held the line. Meanwhile, dragonkin forces under Empress Valdrianna soared through the sky, raining fire down upon the enemy.

Zarlos had become increasingly frustrated as his armies dwindled and supplies ran low. His naval forces, once expected to dominate the sea, had been repelled at every turn. His attempts to weaken the coastlines through bombing raids had been abandoned in favor of desperate fights for naval superiority, but to no avail. The port’s defenders, entrenched and supplied by Sam’s new ships, refused to yield.

It had been months of grueling stalemate, and Zarlos, growing more furious by the day, screamed into the radio as news came in that his naval forces were losing ground. "Focus all ships on the naval battle! Forget the coastline! We need supplies!" His rage was palpable, knowing his army was running low on ammunition, food, and men. The losses had become too great to ignore. His stubborn refusal to retreat left him in a precarious position, and his realization that Sam’s technology was the key to his defeat boiled his blood.

As the second month of the siege wore on, Malakaroth and Gruknar launched a desperate assault, pushing with what remained of their forces to the neighboring city of the Freehold Republic. But Zarlos wasn’t so lucky. Weakened and cornered, Zarlos made one last, fateful charge at Marcus and his forces. His desire for revenge drove him to this final act of defiance, but Marcus, ever the calm strategist, saw the opportunity.

In a pivotal moment, Marcus took aim with his pistol, focusing on Zarlos as the tyrant charged. Time seemed to slow as Marcus’s bullet flew through the air, striking Zarlos square in the head. The shot was perfect. Zarlos, the once-great conqueror, fell to the ground, his empire collapsing with him. His death marked a turning point in the war.

With Zarlos gone, his forces crumbled. The news of his death spread quickly through the ranks, throwing the imperial army into disarray. Command structures collapsed, and without their leader, Zarlos’s forces fell into chaos. Friendly fire incidents became rampant as coordination broke down, and soon, the imperial forces were retreating in utter confusion.

Back in the Freehold Republic, Malakaroth and Gruknar had managed to enter the nearby city, hoping to resupply and regroup. But they found themselves facing fierce resistance not just from the military, but from ordinary civilians. People from every walk of life had taken up arms, fighting alongside soldiers to defend their homes. The battle became a street-by-street struggle, and despite their strength, Malakaroth and Gruknar were unable to overcome the overwhelming resistance.

As they fought their way through the city, both Malakaroth and Gruknar were shot and killed in battle, marking the end of their reigns. The death of these key leaders was a devastating blow to the invading forces, and soon, the imperial army began a full-scale retreat, with their navy shattered and their air force decimated.