First Light of a New Age

Within a vast cavern which showed glittering walls with veins of enchanted ore that pulsed faintly like a heartbeat, the elves of Lord Kean’s unit worked quickly.

In the center of the cavern, a large magic circle had been drawn on the ground with glowing lines etched with ancient runes that hummed with latent power.

At its heart, a strange artifact stood, which appeared to be a crystalline orb mounted on a pedestal of intricate carvings with its core swirling with a malevolent red light. The circle began to emit a faint ticking sound like a clock counting down to an inevitable catastrophe.

One elf knelt by the circle’s edge while delicately adjusting the alignment of the runes. "The humans are stronger than we ever anticipated," he said grimly. "They've breached all our defenses with ease, killing Lord Caelith and the other Transcendents in under a minute, and their war machines will soon reach the main base. We can't hold them off much longer." 

Another elf nervously glanced at the ticking circle. "Do we truly understand what we’re doing here? The Mountain Beast… It was sealed for a reason. They say releasing this beast would result in the destruction of nearly the entire Third Civilization Zone!" 

“And now it will serve a purpose,” the first elf replied coldly. “Better it annihilates these invaders than allows them to defile our lands." 

Near the artifact, a third elf worked silently with a calm expression. "We are out of time. Lord Kean’s orders are clear and the humans have forced our hand.”

The ticking grew louder, reverberating like the steady drum of an ancient war song. A faint rumble echoed from deep within the mountain, as though the earth itself was beginning to stir from a deep slumber.

"But what if we can't control it?” the second elf said as he raised his voice, “If the beast turns on us—" 

"Enough, Altherin!" the first elf snapped. "Doubt is a luxury we cannot afford. Finish your preparations and fall back."

The elves stepped back as the magic circle flared to life with its runes blazing with fiery brilliance. The cavern shook violently with dust and small stones raining down from above. The ticking had grown deafening now, each pulse a hammer blow against the air like the final seconds of a countdown. 

The third Elf stood and let out a grim smile to the others. "These inferiors wanted war,” he said softly. “Let them meet an enemy older than whatever petty kingdoms they come from." 

As the magic reached its zenith, the elves retreated into the shadows quickly. Behind them, the rumbling grew into a thunderous roar, a primal sound that shook the mountain to its core. An oppressive sense filled the air, a harbinger of something ancient and terrible awakening from its slumber. 

"May the Elven Goddess forgive us for what we've about to unleash," the first elf murmured as they disappeared into the darkness. 

The last echo of their footsteps faded, leaving only the cavern’s trembling walls and the beast’s guttural roar as it would soon break free from its slumber and herald its return to the world.

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Kingdom Of High Tarxa, In An Ocean, High Tarxan Sea, Island of Arlithrien, Tarxan Island Outpost, Deep Inside The Forest.

1st Year of God, Monday, 1st Week. Month Of David.

Dust and dirt were splashing all around the amphibious vehicles as the thunderous roars of their engines were being pushed to their absolute limits. The sound reverberated across the battlefield, trembling through the air and into the very ground beneath them.