In a vast expanse of grassland that stretched for tens of kiloters in all directions, its vibrant green carpet was only interrupted by the towering mountain chains visible at varying distances and the sea of darkness.
If one saw from afar, one would see a sea of darkness stretched across the serene green field, but on closer look, one would discover that the dark curtain was an army composed of a plethora of races who stood ready, ard to the teeth, numbering in the tens of thousands.
Amidst this sea of warriors, hundreds of feet tall war titans lood, colossal constructs of war glinting under the sun.
These war titans were accompanied by the Magi's battle engines, known as Celestial Arcantrons, their sleek, silver fras brimming with arcane energy.
Iron Worms, capable of tunneling through space and ground alike, and other big and small weapons of destruction were present on the ground.
In the sky, alongside tens of thousands of flying creatures from various races, tens of massive ships hovered like silent giants, the apex of Magi technology, humming quietly, showing their readiness to unleash their wrath upon the world.
The sea of soldiers was divided into groups by magical barriers, so groups being briefed about the upcoming battle and others waiting in silence, and amidst them, Alex and his group could be seen standing.
"I had my doubts, but seeing that six of ten Division Marshals are present, on top of all these war engines, this confirms that the Empire does not plan to just send a warning by destroying a few cities."
"I could be wrong, but all things point to this being an expedition that will only end with the completion of a goal which could very well be the destruction of Clan Venenox," The man standing next to Alex said.
"But all three Skaven Clans provide indispensable manpower in many fields to all three Empires and provide the most benefits to the Magi Empire, so for them to take such action, what could be the reason?" Skrel the giant armadillo said.
"DB, what do you think?" Alex asked, shifting his attention to the towering augnter standing by his side.
"It could be a preemptive strike to crush a rebellion before it takes root, or a move to silence a group to keep a dangerous secret from being exposed. It could be any number of things," DB replied, his voice devoid of emotion.
"Do you think it's out of fear? A threat the Empire can't afford to let grow?" Alex said, sharing his own opinion on the matter.
"Captain, you sure have so wild imagination," Skrel said, chuckling, his tone making it clear he thought Alex's worries were unfounded.
Alex knew little about the history of the three ga empires but knew enough to know that they were the rulers of the ancestral realm with very few capable of challenging them and none capable of defeating them.
This was also the reason why Alex felt that the only thing that could move such an empire to declare war on a much smaller power that was a valuable asset to them with such force and urgency could only be a threat, but it could very well be that he was overthinking it.
Alex and his group were forced to shift their attention to the source of the sudden aura that engulfed them, and they were greeted by the sight of a massive naga forming out of fla.
Atop this elental fire naga stood a commanding figure. She was nearly two ters tall, with an alluring physique that radiated both power and grace.
Her armor was a marvel of craftsmanship, a blend of technology and magic of the highest grade that shimred with a fiery hue. Her left arm was bare to the shoulder, revealing a web of tattoos of various animals woven together.
She was Licinia Catilina, a Brigade Captain of imnse power and authority, soone only two ranks below the Grand Arcanum of the thirteenth regint.
"Warriors of the Magi Empire," Licinia began, after a long pause, her voice, amplified by magic, carried across the field, reaching every ear.
"We stand here today, 81,000 strong, with no one present being weaker than a five-star enchanter, accompanied by the best of the weapons of war that our great empire has to offer."
"Among us, we have the might of Magi automatons, the devastating power of Annihilator ships, and the support of our highest-ranking officers."
"But rember, on the battlefield, you are nothing but ants, and that applies to everyone, including ."
"So do not let our numbers or strength make you overconfident, because our enemy is not to be underestimated, as they will number in the millions, and their number is their strength," Licinia said before she paused, allowing her words to sink in, her piercing gaze sweeping over the assembled soldiers.
"The Skaven are diverse in their magic, as their power systems are various just like ours, but their true strength lies in their sheer numbers."
"The more Ratlings there are in a state of battle, the stronger they beco, as their natural healing grows faster, their magic control grows stronger, and their pain tolerance becos unnatural."
"Even in death, they will help their comrades, as when they fall, their bodies begin to release mana, causing the others to go berserk, losing all reason and entering a feral state, and they will not stop until they either fall unconscious or burn out their very lives," Licinia said, listing out the strong points of the enemy.
Licinia's words were not just a speech, but they were a stark reminder of the brutal reality they were about to face, so the soldiers listened intently, their expressions one of determination and pride.
"The war engines will be responsible for opening up the underground cities, but even with their power, they could only do so much to the cities that stretch tens of kiloters below."
"So accompanied by smaller titans and war engines, we will descend to do the cleansing, clearing all those rodents from the face of our land."
"But understand that inside those maze cities of unknown depths, we will be in the realm of those Ratlings, so do not let your bloodlust or pride cloud your judgnt and rember to stay united," Licinia said, and after a short pause and a resolute glance over her troops, she continued.
"Prepare yourselves."
"We march to battle, not just for victory, but for the survival and glory of our Empire."
"May the Arcane light guide us all," Licinia roared, and with her roared every soldier present.
'I was hoping she would give us a reason for this war, but I guess I'll have to find one on my own,' Alex thought, sighing in displeasure.
Alex was not a killer and he was not going to beco one because it helped achieve his goal, so while he was going to participate in the war and kill the warriors of the Skaven, he was not going to lay a finger on the innocent civilians of the Skaven clan.
If Alex discovered that the empire was just butchering the clan for petty reasons, he had made up his mind to not take part and leave imdiately, but he had a feeling that there was going to be a big reason behind this war.
Alex's gut feeling stemd from the fact that days had passed and the other two empires had not made any objection to their action that affected all three empires.
The three clans upon whom the empire had declared war played major roles in various industries, including mining, construction, craftsmanship, technology, and more, and while not critically dependent on them, they heavily contributed to the said industries.
The three empires were powerful rulers, not tyrants, so if they decided to eradicate even a small clan, they would need to justify it to their people, let alone waging war on nearly an entire race that contributed heavily to all three empires.
Alex waited with patience waiting for the barriers separating the groups to dissolve which finally did minutes after Licinia's speech, followed by massive wormholes opening before them, ready to take them to the doors of the enemy.
The war engines roared to life, and the skies filled with the hum of the floating ships, while the vast army began to move as one, a dark wave ready to crash against the enemy.
Alex took a deep breath and followed the crowd into the wormhole. As the darkness faded, he was greeted by the sight of the vast expanse of Vozentar in the distance.
A land perpetually cloaked in elental miasma, with dark, miasmic clouds stretching overhead, turning crimson far in the east, and pungent green in the west.
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