A general born to rule

Chapter 49

As the reinforcements arrived, the rumbling of the armored trains and convoy trucks heralded a new wave of hope for Marcus’s forces. The reinforcements were a sight to behold, the heavily armored trains slowing down as soldiers and tanks disembarked. Jets screamed overhead, their engines piercing the night as they engaged in dogfights with vampire air units and undead dragons. Helicopters provided cover, their machine guns lighting up the sky, strafing the hordes of undead below.

Marcus stood atop a hill with his binoculars, scanning the battlefield. His heart sank when he spotted Empress Valdrianna and Dark Elf Queen Elandra, both powerful leaders and two of his lovers, being dragged off by undead soldiers. The dark, twisted forms of the undead pirates and skeletal warriors pulled them toward the enemy lines. The two women fought with all their strength, their magical powers dimming as they were overwhelmed.

"Get those troops moving!" Marcus yelled into his radio, rallying his reinforcements. "Priority is on saving Valdrianna and Elandra! Focus fire on their position!"

The response was immediate. Tanks began rolling forward, their cannons thundering across the battlefield, blasting the undead apart with deadly accuracy. The sound of artillery fire joined the chaotic symphony as shells rained down on the enemy. The reinforcements surged across the battlefield, cutting through the mass of undead like a knife. Soldiers leaped from trucks, their rune-enhanced rifles spitting rapid bursts of fire, carving a path through the shambling horde.

As the reinforcements neared, Valdrianna and Elandra’s captors began to falter. The undead, though tireless and relentless, were no match for the sheer firepower brought by Marcus’s forces. Just as the undead were about to pull the two women into the darkness, a tank shell exploded nearby, sending bones and rotted flesh flying in all directions.

“Now! Move in!” an officer shouted as a squad of soldiers rushed forward. They cut through the remaining undead, their rifles flashing as they cleared the way to Valdrianna and Elandra. Within moments, the empress and queen were free, gasping for air but alive. The soldiers quickly escorted them back to safety, leaving the battlefield to the heavy machinery and the unyielding reinforcements.

As the battle raged on, Marcus returned his focus to the larger war unfolding around him. The air was thick with smoke, the scent of sulfur and blood mixing with the cold night air. Jets streaked overhead, engaging in high-speed dogfights with the vampires and their dragonkin allies. The sky flickered with the light of missile fire and explosions as both sides fought for control of the air.

On the ground, helicopters strafed the undead hordes, supporting the artillery barrages that pounded the enemy’s rear lines. Cannons fired in a constant rhythm, sending shockwaves through the earth as they obliterated undead formations and enemy siege engines. The tanks rolled forward with a thunderous roar, their heavy treads crushing anything in their path as they provided cover for the infantry.

But the enemy was vast—Nyzora’s forces seemed endless. Wave after wave of undead surged toward the frontlines, supported by the human tribes, blood elves, trolls, goblins, and vampires. The sheer numbers were overwhelming, and despite their best efforts, Marcus’s forces found themselves fighting for every inch of ground.

The night dragged on, illuminated only by the flickering fires of battle and the flashes of gunfire. Soldiers fought tirelessly, their nerves fraying as the undead kept coming. The line between friend and foe became blurred in the chaos, but the reinforcements held strong. They had no choice.

Marcus took a moment to check his radio, hearing updates from all over the battlefield. "This is Delta squad, engaging trolls on the eastern front. We're holding them off, but we need more air support!" one squad reported. "Bravo company has pinned down the goblin advance, but they're swarming us! We need artillery cover, now!" another voice called in.