The Blogger: Foldon the Coward

  In the year 551 After the Renaissance, the year humanity emerged as a powerful force, the island of Bilonb, also known as the Holy Empire of Bilonb, was invaded. It was the central intellect of humanity on the continent of Afrois, while non-human creatures controlled vast lands across the continent.

  However, in that year, 551, on the Human Renaissance Day, a massive dragon appeared in the sky of the Empire. Its white wings blocked the sun over the Empire, accompanied by hordes, and on that day, it destroyed an entire city, turning its inhabitants into scattered dust in the air. Nothing remained except land turned black from the intensity of its power. The Empire resisted for three weeks, as more dragons began to appear.

  The Emperor at that time was a legendary hero, who had helped in the Renaissance, and was also the tenth Emperor of the Empire: Oiblis Fod Atlatos the Tenth.

  On the first day of the fourth week of the holiday, the Empire was wiped out of existence. Only its shattered ruins remained, carrying with them the hopes of its people. On that day, a bright sun shone on the ruins of the Empire and the once prosperous Atlatos family.

  It took several days for the news to spread throughout the human and non-human kingdoms, about the fall of the Empire of Bilonb, the beacon of humanity’s glory.

  Kings wept for the loss of the Empire, but they were determined to retaliate against the dragon. A force of about a hundred thousand soldiers, both human and non-human, gathered in an alliance that united all the nations of the Afrois continent. It took several months to prepare the army and forge alliances between human and non-human kingdoms. Even mercenaries, thieves, and bandits joined this alliance, which was led by five heroes from the human side and five heroes from the non-human side.

  This great alliance was called Optimus, a term from the Bilonb Empire’s language, meaning [The Shining Renaissance]. In the year 552 After the Renaissance, legions of soldiers marched toward the fallen Empire to eliminate the destructive beast.

  The legions were from the earth and the sky. As they approached the Empire, the land and sky began to darken. The forces of the alliance clashed with the dragon on the edges of the continent. Since the island of Bilonb was geographically detached from the continent, bridges had been built to connect them by order of the Sixth Emperor. The bloody battle continued for an entire year. All the forces of the alliance were eradicated, with only a few wounded and dying left. Even the heroes, who were glorified, were brutally killed by the white dragon.

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  In the year 553 After the Renaissance, the dragon returned to the island of Bilonb [The Ruins of the Empire], after annihilating the forces of the alliance. It destroyed the bridges that connected the continent and the island.

  The horrors of that battle reached even the dark rainforests on the southern front of the continent, and even deep underground in the goblin and dwarf kingdoms. The ten heroes used all their abilities to counter the dragon’s powerful attacks.

  In that battle, the common humans among the mercenaries who had come, only died when they heard the roar of the dragon. It was simply a one-sided massacre. Only one race of the alliance survived with its injuries — the Elves of the Moon and Spirits. With their long experience, they led the battle and were the ones who contributed most to the alliance’s forces against the dragon throughout that bloody year.

  The elves were divided into several teams in the alliance:

  The Healing Team, led by their hero Hilton Burden. Most of the elves contracted with the Spirits of Light, helping heal the wounded in the early stages of the war, alongside the priests of the Temple of Teel, who worshipped the God of Light.

  The Reconnaissance Team, led by Hilton’s apprentice, the elven scout Brodin Afulton, was the most effective and helpful to the alliance’s forces. They contracted with the Spirits of Shadows and gathered much intelligence about the dragon and its followers.

  The Assault Team, led by Hilton’s apprentice, the war machine Tertus Fadlar, had limited attacks but were very effective against the dragon and its followers. They contracted with the Spirits of the offensive elements.

  Humans, though few in number within the alliance despite being the founders of it, were dedicated to revenge and countering the monster’s aggression. It wasn’t that they lacked in numbers, but rather in the effectiveness of their attacks. There was, however, one human team that was highly effective, led by five heroes:

  The Iron Hero Taroht the First, King of Ekhdaluis.

  The Bone-Bound Hero Jhol Ho Adol, King of the Shadow Marshes.

  The Golden Hero Trois the First, King of the Promised Ferson.

  The Saint Hero Vheldin the Blessed, Saint of the Teel Church.

  The Rose Heroine Helinya Fu Dlets, Queen of the Rose Kingdom.

  This assault team, all using auras, was the most effective human team in the alliance.

  The Dwarves had one goal: to forge military equipment for the alliance’s forces. The War Manufacturing Team, led by their hero Senkhrit the Soldi, worked in the rear of the battle to manufacture equipment for the soldiers, though they were constantly attacked by the dragon’s soldiers.

  The Rainforest People, or Moteerians, lived in the dark rainforests and had two sacred heroes: the Dark Brothers Terdos and Herodus, who formed an assault team to repel the dragon’s stealth attacks.

  Finally, the Goblins, led by their hero Zhanous the First, King of the Goblin Fang Kingdom, also participated.

  These were the main races that fought in the Battle of the Bloody Year, or the Battle of Optimus. I am now writing these words, as a mercenary who survived with severe injuries from that terrifying battle.

  I don’t know how I survived or how I returned home. I write these words with a deep-seated hatred, raging fury, and concealed shame. I call upon the beloved gods, I beg the ancient heroes — may the filthy dragon die! Thirty years have passed since that battle, my body still rots, and my mind still fears its horrors. The dragon and its followers are still destroying cities… Oh, my god, I call from the depths of my heart — may this beast be slain.

  Book: The Battle of Optimus

  Blogger: Foldon the Coward