Chapter 40: The Battle of Dead Man’s Pass
The Imperium of Everfrost's grand army had finally arrived.
From the high ridges of Dead Man's Pass, Alex stood with his war council, watching the endless columns of enemy troops march into the valley below.
The TCS updated the battlefield intelligence.
[ Battlefield Analysis: Dead Man's Pass Ambush ]
Enemy Forces: 80,000+ troops (Everfrost's main army)
Zorathian Forces: 15,000 (Zorath & Drakenlords)
Advantage: Terrain, Traps, Pre-set Battle Strategy
Projected Victory Rate: 65% (If executed perfectly)
Darius whistled. "I've never seen that many people in one place before."
Elara, crouched beside him, scanned the enemy formation through her enchanted scope. "They're overconfident. They don't expect an ambush."
Aldric, arms crossed, studied the battlefield. "Which means we strike first."
Finn adjusted his battle robes, his fingers glowing with latent energy. "The moment they realize what's happening, they'll retaliate with full force. We have one shot to do this right."
Alex exhaled slowly. "Then we don't miss."
He raised his hand—the signal to begin.
---
The first explosions detonated within seconds.
Zorath's engineers had lined the cliffs with void-charged explosives, carefully hidden within the rock face.
As the enemy's front lines marched deeper into the valley, Alex gave the order.
"Collapse the cliffs."
A thunderous roar erupted as tons of ice and rock came crashing down, burying thousands of Everfrost soldiers alive.
The TCS issued an immediate update.
[ Everfrost Army Status: CHAOS ]
Casualties from Collapse: 12,000+ instantly buried
Frontline Troops Separated from Rear Guard
Command Structure Severely Disrupted
Darius roared with laughter. "That's how you start a battle!"
Elara's archers rained fire arrows down on the remaining Everfrost warriors, turning the valley into a death trap.
Finn and his mages activated the next phase— creating a barrier of flame and ice to cut off any escape routes.
Then, Zorath charged.
Alex led the vanguard, his Void-Infused Battle Axe cleaving through enemy soldiers like a hurricane of death.
Darius smashed through their formations, sending Everfrost warriors flying with every swing of his hammer.
Elara's scouts struck from the shadows, eliminating high-value targets before they could react.
The Imperium of Everfrost had walked straight into a massacre.
---
But Everfrost was not defeated yet.
The TCS flashed an urgent warning.
[ WARNING: HIGH-LEVEL ENEMY DETECTED ]
Identity: Emperor Kael'thir of Everfrost
Strength Rating: EXTREME
Status: Entering the battlefield
Alex froze mid-strike, his instincts screaming.
From the center of Everfrost's army, a terrifying aura of cold magic erupted, freezing the air itself.
A figure clad in blackened silver armor strode forward, his long frost-forged spear crackling with unnatural energy. His eyes glowed with an eerie blue light.
Kael'thir, the Emperor of Everfrost, had arrived.
Darius spat. "Well. That's a problem."
Elara cursed. "That's more than a problem."
Aldric's expression darkened. "We're about to fight a legend."
Finn shuddered. "And we might not win."
Alex gripped his axe tighter, his heartbeat steady. "We'll see about that."
The real battle was about to begin.
---
The temperature dropped sharply, the very air cracking with frozen energy as Kael'thir, Emperor of Everfrost, stepped onto the battlefield.
His presence alone shifted the balance. The Zorathian army, moments ago dominating the battle, now felt the weight of something beyond human.
The TCS flashed a critical warning.
[ WARNING: MAJOR ENEMY THREAT ACTIVATED ]
Name: Emperor Kael'thir of Everfrost
Power Rating: S+ Tier
Abilities: Absolute Frost Manipulation, Tactical Genius, Warlord Combat Prowess
Projected Damage Output: Catastrophic
Darius rolled his shoulders, gripping his hammer. "We've fought tough enemies before."
Finn's face was pale. "Not like this."
Elara's eyes scanned the battlefield. "Something's happening to the Everfrost soldiers."
Alex followed her gaze. The enemy troops, who had been in chaos and disarray, now stood straighter, their fear evaporating. A new icy energy coursed through them, as if they had become extensions of their Emperor's will.
Kael'thir's voice rang out across the battlefield.
"You think yourselves conquerors."
He lifted his frost-forged spear, and the world itself responded.
A shockwave of frozen energy exploded outward, encasing thousands of fallen Everfrost soldiers in ice. Then, before Alex's horrified eyes—
They moved.
The dead soldiers rose once more, their bodies now animated by pure ice magic.
The TCS flashed red.
[ UNEXPECTED ABILITY: NECROTIC ICE RESURRECTION ]
Enemy Reinforcements Generated: 10,000+ (Frozen Undead Warriors)
Morale Impact on Zorathian Troops: CRITICAL
Threat Level: BEYOND EXPECTATIONS
Finn's voice was barely a whisper. "He's making his own dead fight for him."
Darius swore. "That's cheating."
Alex exhaled sharply. "No. That's war."
---
The battle turned into a nightmare.
The undead frost warriors moved without hesitation, without fear. Arrows did nothing. Swords shattered against their frozen bodies. Magic slowed them, but didn't stop them.
The TCS updated real-time battlefield status.
[ Zorathian Forces at Risk ]
Casualties Rising: 1,500+
Enemy Reinforcements Strengthening
Morale Dropping: 50% and declining
Alex's mind raced. If this continued, the battle would be lost.
Darius was still fighting at full strength, but even he was starting to slow. "Any ideas, boss?"
Finn gritted his teeth. "Their bodies are infused with ice magic. We need something stronger than fire."
Elara notched an explosive arrow. "Then we hit harder."
Alex nodded. "We don't fight them like soldiers."
He turned to Aldric. "Prepare the Void Bomb."
Aldric's eyes widened. "Are you sure? That weapon is untested."
Alex's voice was ice. "If we don't use it now, we won't get another chance."
---
The TCS displayed the Void Bomb activation process.
[ TCS Prototype Weapon Deployment: Void Bomb ]
Effect: Devours magical energy, cancels all spells within range
Risk: Collateral damage possible
Deployment Time: 3 Minutes
Elara fired a flare arrow, signaling the last line of retreat.
Darius and his warriors held the line, buying time.
Finn's mages channeled protective barriers, ensuring the bomb only targeted the undead.
And then—
The Void Bomb detonated.
A massive pulse of black energy exploded outward, consuming everything in its path.
The undead warriors froze in place. Their ice magic drained away, their bodies crumbling into dust.
Kael'thir's eyes flickered in shock.
The TCS displayed the results.
[ Void Bomb Effectiveness: 98% ]
Undead Army Destroyed
Zorathian Morale Restored
Kael'thir's Magic Severely Weakened
Darius laughed. "Hell yes!"
Elara grinned. "That actually worked."
Aldric, exhausted, muttered, "Never… do that again."
Alex, however, kept his eyes on Kael'thir. The Emperor of Everfrost was still standing.
And he looked angrier than ever.
---
Kael'thir's spear crackled with energy. "You are… interesting, Zorathian King."
Alex stepped forward, gripping his Void-Infused Battle Axe.
Kael'thir raised his spear. "Shall we settle this properly?"
Darius stepped forward. "I can handle him."
Alex shook his head. "No. This is mine."
The TCS issued a final duel alert.
[ DUEL INITIATED: KING OF ZORATH vs. EMPEROR OF EVERFROST ]
Arena: Battlefield
Rules: No interference
Victory Condition: Opponent incapacitated
The warriors on both sides fell silent.
The battlefield had become an arena.
Kael'thir smirked. "Let us see if your empire is worthy of survival."
Alex charged.
Their weapons clashed, shaking the battlefield itself.
The real fight had begun.
---