The sun shone down brightly and intensely, the sky ablaze in shades of orange and red as if ignited by the presence of the Stellaris armada.
Perched high atop a large hill overlooking Ravenspire stood the Ravenstein estate, a grand structure now overshadowed by the looming, fiery figures in the sky.
The Stellaris armada, numerous and massive, hovered like beasts born of the sun itself, their hulls glowing orange, reflecting the brilliance of the star upon which their powers were based.
The very presence of the Stellaris army seemed to make the sun shine even fiercer, with the temperature climbing steadily as they advanced.
Above, the warships pulsed with the energy of the sun, their engines emitting orange light that spilled across the land, casting long, flickering shadows on the hill.
Their advancement was eerily slow, each fiery airship moving at a steady, deliberate pace. There was not a hint of urgency in their movements, a display of their absolute confidence.
On the hull of the largest airship stood a multitude of powerful individuals, each one sporting large, intense grins. The heat radiating from them was palpable, as if the sun itself was blessing their presence.
They were all donned in the same attire, mirroring the uniforms of the other warriors of the Stellaris family.
Unlike the Alverians, the Stellaris family—much like the Ravensteins—was a warrior family through and through, born and bred for the battlefield.
Their war uniforms were form-fitting, vibrant orange suits that clung to their bodies like a second skin. The fabric seemed to blaze as though cut by an invisible breeze. There were no unnecessary adornments—just a sleek, smooth design that radiated power and heat.
"Hahaha! Yes! It worked! It fucking worked!"
The man standing at the forefront of the group screamed at the top of his lungs, his grin widening as he raised his arms in absolute thrill. He appeared truly ecstatic.
The other men turned their eyes toward him, none of them showing any displeasure at his outburst. In fact, they joined in.
The Stellaris family was known for their exuberant and fiery nature, so the current situation wasn't surprising in the least, despite the fact that the men currently shouting and screaming were seasoned elders of great power and authority.
"Haha! Yes, family head! I can't wait to crush those bastards!" one added.
"We'll finally put those monkeys in their place!"
The man who had started it all smiled brightly, both hands on his waist as he looked down at the Ravenstein estate.
He was none other than Helios Stellaris, the current family head of the Stellaris family and the father of Seraphina and Gerald.
Ever since he had heard about Atticus's altercation with his son, there were no words to describe the hatred that formed in his heart.
Earning the Stellaris family's ire was not something anyone would want.
Despite their bubbly and lively demeanor, they were shrewd and would stop at nothing—no matter how petty or dirty—to exact revenge on their enemies.
The elders of the Stellaris family had joined this attack, making it clear that the Stellaris were going all out, seizing the opportunity while they could.
"Get ready!"
Helios's expression morphed, turning icy in the next second. His men responded in kind, the sound of a unified stomp echoing across the entire sky.
The Stellaris warriors stood on the hulls of their ships, unmoving as the blazing orange of their form-fitting armor shimmered in the sunlight.
Each warrior, clad in the sleek, battle-ready uniform, looked as though they were part of the ship itself—blazing with solar energy.
As their ships approached, the forms of multiple individuals suddenly floated out of the estate.
Stellaris burst into an intense chuckle as he saw Avalon's cold expression.
"Haha, Avalon! I love that look on your face! I'll be sure to savor the moment that expression crumbles, and you beg for your life."
Stellaris's voice was loud, reaching the entire vicinity and even parts of the city farther away. The morale of the Stellaris family warriors intensified, each of them letting out another stomp.
The current number disparity between both families was too vast to compare. Only Avalon and about fifteen elders came out on the Ravenstein side, while thousands of master ranks and nearly a hundred grandmaster ranks stood on the Stellaris side.
It didn't help that it was noon, with the sun at its peak—when the Stellaris family was at its strongest.
As the saying goes, never battle the Stellaris when the sun is high in the sky.
To any observer, the odds were clearly stacked against the Ravensteins, and with their main force currently at the border, the situation appeared bleak.
However, there was not a single hint of uncertainty in Avalon or the elders' gazes—only cold killing intent.
Avalon didn't deem the clown worthy of a response. Instead, he uttered one word that instinctively made many of the Stellaris warriors narrow their gazes.
"Descend."
As Avalon's voice echoed, the air itself seemed to freeze for a heartbeat.
In that moment, a new sound cut through the tension—the unmistakable sound of a walking stick hitting the ground, loud and unyielding.
It reverberated across the battlefield, and all eyes shifted to the skies.
Suddenly, the clouds tore open, and eight massive fortresses plummeted from the sky like divine judgments.
The Fire Sanctum.
The Water Sanctum.
The Air Sanctum.
The Earth Sanctum.
The Ice Sanctum.
The Light Sanctum.
The Darkness Sanctum.
The Lightning Sanctum.
Each sanctum crashed down with the force of a meteor, shaking the earth beneath their might.
And atop each sanctum stood their respective masters— their gazes so cold they could freeze an ocean.
Behind each of them were students, thousands of battle-hardened master+ ranks, eyes burning with intense killing intent.
Avalon didn't give the Stellaris a single second to comprehend the situation, his mouth parting to utter another word:
"Now."
Stellaris's eyes flashed dangerously, but time waited for no one.
The entire Ravenstein estate erupted in a blinding light that surged down the large hill, tracing intricate paths through the ground.
Each trail of energy ignited the runes embedded deep within the soil.
The radius of light expanded, swallowing the entire Stellaris army.