The frontline camp of the Black Stone Territory.

The afterglow of the setting sun gilded the sprawling Black Stone Mountain Range with a golden edge. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Raylo stood on a newly built wooden watchtower, his gaze traveling past the nascent defense works and toward the dark green horizon to the South.

In the direction of the Jade Swamp, the clouds still roiled ominously, like a cauldron of poison soup that would never cool.

Even from such a great distance, he and the Sun had felt the heart-stopping aftershock of that world-shaking roar.

The master of this vast swamp had been utterly enraged.

Just then, a great cloud of dust billowed on the western horizon as a dull, thunderous pounding of hooves grew louder, approaching from the distance.

"My Lord! A large cavalry unit has been spotted to the west, approaching us at high speed!"

The sentry’s cry broke the tranquility of the camp.

"Don’t panic."

Raylo said.

"They’re our own."

No sooner had he spoken than a banner emblazoned with a blue Thunder Dragon appeared in view.

As the dust settled, the full might of a Heavy Armored Cavalry unit was revealed.

A full one hundred Knights, uniformly clad in full Plate Armor. Both riders and their mounts were encased in heavy steel.

Their armor reflected a grim light in the setting sun, and their warhorses were larger and more robust than common steeds.

The lead Knight reined in his warhorse before the camp and dismounted with a single, fluid motion.

He removed his helmet to reveal a rugged, resolute face. A vicious scar ran from his left forehead, past the corner of his eye, and down to his jawline.

He strode before Raylo and, with a CLANG of armor, dropped to one knee. His voice boomed.

"Thunder Dragon Knight Order, Second Squadron, Captain Howard, reporting for duty!"

"Captain Howard. It’s good to see you."

Raylo stepped forward and personally helped him up.

"You’ve arrived just in time."

Howard stood up, his eyes sweeping over the soldiers on high alert and the fledgling fortifications in the camp.

Raylo suppressed a smile and patted Howard’s shoulder.

"Let the Knights enter the camp and rest. Feed the horses well, and let the men eat their fill. There’s a tough fight ahead."

"As you command, My Lord!"

Howard immediately composed himself, turned, and issued orders to his men.

The arrival of the Thunder Dragon Knight Order was like a shot in the arm for the entire camp.

The Knights removed their heavy armor, started bonfires, and the camp filled with the aroma of roasting meat and the low murmur of their conversations.

Night deepened, and the sky filled with countless stars.

...

The roar of the Corrosive Poison Wing Dragon tore through the viscous, poisonous miasma above the Jade Swamp.

As its great wings beat, a grey-green toxic fog streamed from the spots on their membranes, cascading downward like a waterfall. Everything in its path, from the twisted swamp behemoths to the thick, tenacious vines, silently withered and liquefied, dissolving into bubbling pools of dark green pus.

Any creature in the swamp below that failed to escape in time convulsed in the venomous mist and was reduced to bare bones.

Najasha was coiled on the Winged Dragon’s broad back, letting the fierce wind blow her dark green hair.

Her upper body was leaned back slightly, feeling the breakneck speed of her mount, but her eyes, hidden by her long hair, remained locked on the direction of the Black Stone Territory.

The dark green Magic Patterns on her fair skin seemed to come alive, flowing slowly in time with her icy killing intent.

She was in no hurry.

The Winged Dragon let out another ear-piercing screech. This was not a display of aggression, but a command.

The sound waves pierced through layer upon layer of miasma, carrying the command with precision back to the lake at the heart of the swamp.

Beside the lake, the encampments hidden beneath the roots of massive banyan trees and within submerged grottos stirred, like the surface of a pond disturbed by a cast stone.

"SHH... SHH-SHH..."

A dense, skin-crawling slithering sound arose.

Agile and deadly figures slithered out from the shadows.

These Snake-men were slender and well-proportioned, possessing a certain streamlined grace.

Their humanoid upper bodies were nearly perfect, covered in a fine layer of scales as smooth as Obsidian, which reflected a cold, dangerous sheen in the swamp’s dim light.

Their lower bodies were thick, powerful serpentine tails, and every silent glide held astonishing explosive Power. They wielded Poisoned Curved Sabers and dark green Metal Short Spears that glinted with venomous light.

Some of the warriors also carried Powerful Short Bows on their backs, made from Swamp Earth Dragon Tendon.

This was Najasha’s Personal Guard, the true elite of the Jade Swamp.

The "Dark Scale Guard."

They were Priests as well as warriors.

Each member was skilled in the use of Poison and Curses, and each was a master of deadly weapons.

They didn’t roar like beasts; silence was their most powerful Weapon.

A particularly tall commander of the Dark Scale Guard slithered out from a vine-covered cave. A vicious old scar on his face accentuated his ruthless demeanor.

He raised his head, sensing the will of Lady Najasha from the sky. Her icy killing intent crossed the vast distance, branding itself clearly upon the soul of every member of the Dark Scale Guard.

"Assemble."

As if by an instinct rehearsed a thousand times, hundreds of Dark Scale Guards converged from all directions, quickly forming a neat and grim phalanx in the clearing by the lake.

Three hundred Dark Scale Guards, all Tier Three Snake-men. This was the force Lady Najasha trusted most.

He raised the Poisoned Long Halberd in his hand, pointing it in the direction of the Black Stone Mountain Range.

"Move out."

This time, it was a clear and hoarse command.

"HISS!"

The three hundred-strong Dark Scale Guard silently departed from their lakeside post.