Laston was finally dead, but his last words lingered in the air, leaving behind an ominous feeling about what was to come.
His death should have brought them relief, maybe even joy, for they had successfully eliminated another great threat. But why did it feel ? As if his death was not the end, but the beginning of something far worse?
King Gulben's legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground. He wanted to think more about Laston's final words, but he could no longer do so. His mind, body, and magic energy were completely drained, far beyond their limits. At this point, he was powerless to do anything.
Saeldir, still unable to stand, watched his king fall. He gritted his teeth and let out a weary sigh, frustration evident in his exhausted face.
Darkness crept into King Gulben's vision, his surroundings blurring. Within seconds, his consciousness slipped away.
The battle raged on around them. The metal constructs, programmed to fight even in their master's absence, continued their relentless assault on the Forest Elf army. But the elves, having witnessed the fall of Laston, felt their morale surge.
Their enemy's leader had fallen. Now, it was only a matter of time before his mechanical army followed.
However, the elves still battling inside the palace were unaware of Laston's death, as they were too far to witness the fight firsthand.
Eccar, seeing Laston's lifeless body, wasted no time. He shot toward the palace, hovering above the warriors still engaged in battle. Then, with a voice amplified by Magic, he roared the news.
"LASTON IS DEAD! I REPEAT, LASTON. IS. DEAD! YOUR KING HAS KILLED HIM!"
Eccar's voice thundered across the Elf Palace like a cold wind sweeping in after a scorching storm. The soldiers, archers, and mages let out cries of triumph. Even the advisors inside the throne room erupted in cheers.
This was a true victory.
A newfound energy surged through the Elves. Their morale soared as if reaching the heavens. And with the certainty that Laston had fallen by their king's hand, they launched into battle with renewed ferocity, no longer fearing that another surprise would emerge from a sudden dimensional portal.
With their spirits ignited, the soldiers, archers, and Mages of the Elf Palace unleashed an all-out assault against the enemy forces. No longer weighed down by fear or hesitation, they tore into the Ogres and Daemons with relentless fury.
Elven archers who now free of the looming threat of Laston's power, took higher positions on rooftops and towers without special orders from their leaders and raining arrows down on their foes.
Their remaining enchanted arrows pierced through the exo-suits of those mad and monstrous warriors. Every well-aimed shot sent metal-clad Ogres crashing to the ground, their bodies convulsing before going still.
Mages who now also emboldened, chanted in unison, weaving powerful spells that crackled through the battlefield.
Lightning bolts shattered steel plating, firestorms engulfed groups of Daemons, and wind blades cut through their mechanical limbs.
The once-imposing suits of armor that filled with glowing runes, meant to enhance the brute strength of the enemy, became nothing more than metal coffins trapping them inside as they fell, one by one. The runes loosing their power after Laston's dead.
The Elven soldiers also fought with newfound vigor. They struck with precision, aiming for the joints and weak points of their enemies' exo-suits.
The heavy constructs that they once feared for their overwhelming durability were now being dismantled piece by piece, their thick plating ripped away under the merciless Elven assault.
Above the battlefield, Eccar hovered in the air, watching as the tide of battle turned. His hands twitched with the urge to join the slaughter, his Dragon blood boiling with the need for combat.
But he held himself back. This was their fight now. This had to be their victory.
If he intervened, it would no longer be the Elves' triumph, it would be his. And that was not what King Gulben wanted.
The Forest Elves, led by King Fairon, surged forward with renewed aggression now.
With Laston gone and the battle shifting in their favor, Fairon's words spurred them into action. Their warriors stormed the battlefield with deadly precision.
The remaining metal constructs that still mindlessly following their last orders soon found themselves overwhelmed.
Fire Magic scorched their frames, ice spikes froze their joints, and blades of wind severed their power cores.
The Forest Elves fought with ruthless efficiency, destroying the soulless machines one by one, ensuring that none remained standing.
The battlefield was no longer a struggle after Laston's death. It was a massacre.
As the final metal construct collapsed, its limbs twitching before going completely still, silence began to creep over the palace grounds.
The sounds of clashing weapons and battle cries faded, replaced by the heavy breaths of the victorious Elven warriors.
The battle was over and they had won.
Erend landed next to King Gulben and checked his condition. He could still sense the king's life and the rise and fall of his chest. He concluded that the king was mostly fine.
Then, he walked toward Saeldir, who was still kneeling on the ground. Once he reached him, he asked, "How are you feeling?"
"Messed up," Saeldir replied. "What about the king?"
"He's fine," Erend said. "I'm going to call Aurdis and the others."
Before Erend could spread his wings, Saeldir spoke. "Did you hear what Laston said before he died?"
Erend looked at Saeldir with a hard expression. "Yes. I heard it."
Looking up, Saeldir could see that Erend's eyes were glowing again, as if he could already see the next battle that was bound to happen.
Saeldir sighed. "We should've asked him what he knew before he died."
"No need. We'll find out what he knew when we go to his world and investigate his tower."
With that, Erend spread his wings and shot toward the palace.
He had heard Laston's final words—words that basically confirmed another danger was coming. Not just that, but Laston had spoken about something specific: them, the Dragonborn. That meant this future threat would directly involve them as well.