The fall of Graymoor Keep was a turning point. The once-mighty fortress, long considered an unbreakable bastion of noble control, now bore the crimson banners of rebellion. With its collapse, Juri Winkler’s forces had secured a clear path to the capital. The nobles’ grip on the region was unraveling, their remaining strongholds isolated and vulnerable.

  Inside Ironclad Bastion, the air was electric with anticipation. Rebel soldiers prepared their weapons, engineers fine-tuned machines, and scouts reported on noble movements. Everyone knew the final battle was coming.

  Juri stood in the war room, his sharp blue eyes fixed on the map of the capital region. Around him, Kira, Halrick, Valeria, and the other core leaders gathered, their expressions a mixture of excitement and unease.

  “This is it,” Juri said, his voice calm but firm. “The capital is the heart of their power. If we take it, the war is over.”

  The map on the table was marked with key locations around the capital: Castle Vorell, the seat of noble authority; the surrounding districts, home to the capital’s elite; and the outer city, where thousands of civilians lived under the nobles’ control.

  “Our objective is twofold,” Juri continued. “First, we neutralize the nobles’ defenses, including their remaining war machines and artillery. Second, we take the castle and force their leadership to surrender.”

  “And how do we get through the city?” Valeria asked. “The capital is a fortress in its own right. Every street will be a battlefield.”

  Juri smirked faintly. “We don’t fight through the city. We fight around it.”

  He pointed to the outer districts on the map. “The nobles rely on fear to maintain control. If we rally the people in the outer city, they’ll rise up against their oppressors. While the nobles are busy dealing with an internal revolt, we’ll strike at the castle.”

  Halrick grinned, slamming his fist on the table. “So we turn their own people against them? I like it.”

  Valeria nodded slowly. “It’s a bold strategy. But if the uprising fails, we’ll be trapped in hostile territory with no way out.”

  “It won’t fail,” Juri said, his sharp blue eyes gleaming with determination. “We’ve been building to this moment. The people are ready—they just need a spark.”

  The rebellion mobilized with ruthless efficiency. The Dominion-class Mech, newly repaired and outfitted with upgraded weapons, led the march toward the capital. Behind it, a column of rebel soldiers, Adaptive Drones, and Bastion Walkers moved in disciplined formation.

  The sight of the approaching army sent ripples of fear and hope through the surrounding villages. Civilians gathered to watch as the rebellion passed, many of them joining the march.

  Juri made it a point to speak with these new recruits, reassuring them that their fight was for something greater than vengeance. “This isn’t just about tearing down the nobles,” he told them. “It’s about building a world where people like us can stand tall without fear.”

  Inside Castle Vorell, the nobles were preparing for their final stand. Lorian Vehr stood in the castle’s central chamber, addressing a group of officers and councilors.

  “Winkler is coming,” he said, his voice cold and sharp. “And he’s bringing everything he has. This will be the last battle—either we crush his rebellion here, or we lose everything.”

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  Lady Alarice Vorell, seated at the head of the table, regarded the room with an icy calm. “We’ve prepared for this. The capital’s defenses are unmatched. Our remaining war machines, artillery, and mages are stationed at key points. Winkler may reach the city, but he’ll never breach the castle.”

  “And if he does?” one councilor asked hesitantly.

  “Then we ensure he never leaves,” Alarice replied, her green eyes glinting.

  As the rebellion approached the capital, the nobles’ forces moved to intercept them. The outer city became a war zone, with soldiers and mages defending key streets and chokepoints.

  Juri guided the Dominion through the chaos, the mech’s railgun tearing through enemy barricades and its Arc Pulse Cannon disabling noble war machines. Kira led the ground forces, using explosives and guerrilla tactics to outmaneuver the nobles’ superior numbers.

  “We’re making progress, but it’s slow,” Kira said through the comms. “They’re dug in tight.”

  “They’re stalling,” Juri replied. “They’re buying time for reinforcements. We need to force their hand.”

  The rebels focused their efforts on the noble command center in the outer city. After a brutal firefight, they captured the facility, cutting off the nobles’ communications and sowing chaos among their ranks.

  With the outer city in disarray, Juri turned his attention to the civilians. He broadcast a message through the captured communication systems, his voice echoing across the city.

  “To the people of the capital,” he began, his tone firm but empathetic. “You’ve suffered under the nobles’ rule for too long. They’ve taken your freedom, your dignity, and your future. But today, you have a choice. Stand with us, and we’ll tear down the system that’s kept you in chains. Together, we can build a better world.”

  The response was overwhelming. Civilians took to the streets, overwhelming the remaining noble forces in the outer city. Improvised weapons clashed with swords and spears as the people fought to reclaim their freedom.

  With the outer city under their control, the rebels advanced toward Castle Vorell. The fortress loomed in the distance, its black spires cutting into the stormy sky.

  The nobles’ final line of defense was formidable: rows of heavy artillery, enchanted barriers, and elite soldiers. As the rebels approached, the defenders unleashed a barrage of cannon fire and magical attacks.

  “Stay in formation!” Juri shouted through the comms. “Drones, target their artillery! Walkers, cover the infantry!”

  The Dominion-class Mech led the charge, its weapons firing in precise bursts. Juri activated the Kinetic Absorbers, deflecting blasts from the nobles’ cannons as he moved toward the gates.

  Kira and Halrick fought alongside the ground forces, cutting through waves of defenders with brutal efficiency. Valeria coordinated the attack from a forward command post, ensuring every move was calculated and precise.

  As the rebels reached the castle gates, a deafening roar filled the air. From within the fortress, the nobles unleashed their final weapon: a towering construct known as the Aether Warden.

  The Warden was unlike anything the rebellion had faced—a massive, humanoid machine powered by a raw Aether Core. Its movements were swift and precise, and its weapons included an energy whip capable of devastating entire squads with a single strike.

  “Juri!” Kira shouted through the comms. “What the hell is that thing?”

  Juri’s sharp blue eyes narrowed. “Their last card. Take the ground forces and focus on the gates. The Dominion and I will handle this.”

  “Alone?” Kira protested.

  “Just trust me,” Juri said, his voice steady.

  The Dominion and the Aether Warden faced off in front of the castle gates, their towering forms dwarfing the battlefield around them. The Warden’s energy whip lashed out, but Juri dodged with precision, using the Dominion’s Kinetic Absorbers to deflect the blow.

  The two machines traded blows, their weapons tearing through stone and steel. Juri fired the railgun, aiming for the Warden’s Aether Core, but the machine’s barriers absorbed the impact.

  “It’s shielding the core!” Eren’s voice crackled through the comms. “You’ll have to disable the barriers first!”

  Juri gritted his teeth, guiding the Dominion into close combat. The mech’s plasma cutter slashed at the Warden’s armor, carving through the runes that powered its barriers.

  With one final strike, Juri pierced the core, sending the Warden into a violent meltdown. The resulting explosion shattered the gates of Castle Vorell, clearing the path for the rebels.