The Stand at Scarlet Palace

The Scarlet Desert expanded continuously as its red sand sparkled under the harsh desert sun. The Scarlet Palace stood as an ancient blood-red stone fortress that defied the scorching heat of the desolation. The fortress functioned as more than just a castle because it represented the Champion castle siege (CCS) which drew the strongest warriors from across all realms. Today Lady Vhaera had chosen this place to fight her battle.

RoD faced off against R4V in the first round of the tournament despite the fact that R4V brought together seasoned warriors from across Westeros. Despite its power RoD needed additional forces to achieve victory because they did not have enough members to win on their own. The alliance required additional forces so they reached out to their allies from N3O. The alliance designed a strategy which needed to work despite their brief preparation period. Their opening match would establish the foundation for everything that followed in the tournament.

B3nni would lead, claiming first position. The second position belonged to CrimsoNDawn who provided stability in the face of battle. The warrior LoliEdd secured the third position among the fighters. Lady Vhaera stood by the war table as she continuously evaluated every possible outcome. No one could afford to delay their actions.

The moment arrived. The signal was given.

CrimsoNDawn led his army at full speed during the attack against R4V's defenders which caused a turbulent blender of sword combat and sand-filled explosions at the Scarlet Palace. The desert atmosphere merged with the music of clashing swords and flapping battle banners which joined the commanding voice of battlefield leaders during the frenzy. R4V demonstrated immediate aggressive behavior by conducting endless offensive maneuvers to penetrate his defensive lines. But N3O was ready. Numerous reinforcements arrived in an unrelenting flood. Lady Vhaera led the formations with exactness to ensure all lines maintained their positions.

The teeth of CrimsoNDawn clenched as he checked the battlefield. He spoke with frustration as he watched the enemy launch multiple attacks at him. "But they won’t break through. Not today."

Then came LoliEdd’s turn.

She moved forward to her position after CrimsoNDawn established his hold on the battlefield. The infantry units of her army moved forward with power and military discipline. But R4V was cunning. Their strategy evolved when they sent cavalry against her troops which functioned as a natural enemy. The shift was immediate, brutal. The soldiers of LoliEdd formed a shield wall to resist the charging horsemen while pushing their spears against the enemy formation. The battle remained in a critical state between victory and defeat.

LoliEdd recognized the dire situation when the cavalry units approached her position. “They adapted too quickly. But I won’t yield.”

Lady Vhaera gripped the edge of the map as she observed the ongoing battlefield. The effort to reinforce LoliEdd turned out to be significantly harder than anticipated. The enemy responded rapidly to their changes which required them to counteract swiftly. Every decision mattered. Every second counted.

The situation demanded an opening which she whispered to herself. “Think, Vhaera, think.”

From his position at the command lines B3nni gripped his fists tightly. “We need to move soon. The delay in execution will result in increasing complexity of the situation.

But LoliEdd held. She clenched her jaw as she fought against continuous cavalry attacks while refusing to surrender. The fighting forces of her army continued to resist despite heavy losses. In the center of combat she stood as a solid barrier against all enemy advances. Her endurance protected their strategic plan from failure.

Now, the final step—B3nni’s move.

B3nni executed his decisive attack after LoliEdd successfully obtained the needed time. His forces carried out a sweeping offensive against the Scarlet Palace where they cut down every remaining defender with the force of a storm that took back the territory. He ascended the fortress walls under unyielding power to display his banner as a defiant proclamation. The Scarlet Palace was theirs.

B3nni took a breath while he looked down at the battlefield. “We did it,” he thought. “But it’s not over yet.”

But the battle was not over.

R4V refused to surrender. R4V retaliated with every weapon at their disposal by sending continuous brutal attacks. B3nni, unwavering, held his ground. Lady Vhaera used her command lines to transmit reinforcements to B3nni exactly when he needed them to maintain total defense coverage. They battled for an eternity during the last minutes as they fiercely clung to their defensive position.

Lady Vhaera swore to herself that she would not permit their enemy to seize what belonged to them. “Not after everything.”

CrimsoNDawn used his sleeve to wipe away sweat before he regained his breath. “They’re relentless,” he muttered. “But we’re stronger.”

LoliEdd took a deep breath while remaining upright under the savage counterattacks. She thought to herself that this was the reason they had come. “Victory or nothing.”

The battle concluded when the last horn blared.

The battle had ended. The Scarlet Palace served as the headquarters of N3O and RoD.

The soldiers expressed their tired but jubilant emotions through loud cheers. The soldiers collapsed onto their knees because they felt the enormous impact of their victory. Lady Vhaera caught her breath as she wiped sweat from her forehead with a racing heartbeat. They had defied the odds. Their complete strength went into the fight. And they had won.

B3nni surveyed the battlefield from the fortress walls as he scanned the fallen weapons and banners which remained after the conflict. Both CrimsoNDawn and LoliEdd shared the victory with him despite their war-worn condition.

CrimsoNDawn spoke with a hoarse voice as he declared their fighting was excellent.

Lady Vhaera moved toward them to observe her comrades and friends. She understood this marked the start of more battles to come. The upcoming battles along with upcoming challenges grew in number.

But today, they had won. And today, that was enough.