The sun was still rising over the Kingdom of Elris, its rays gleaming across the ruined city out in the distance, and all those who gathered could see it clearly.

For some, that city was their heritage, a place their family ruled over for years; for others, it was what they were fighting for, a symbol they needed to mark the true liberation of this land.

The group gathered in an abandoned town near the city, one of many used for collecting food back when it was a functional kingdom.

Roland and his closest companions gathered around one of the largest houses.

The air was filled with dust as they busted through an old door to get in.

The place looked unused for some time, but at least for the first time in years, it was not tainted by the red mist.

A long table was quickly found, and chairs were gathered to make a makeshift gathering room.

The table's surface was soon littered with crude maps and hastily drawn sketches of what they could gather about the castle.

It was mostly Norelli's doing, as his bats had previously checked the place out; Roland only had to explain the structure in detail.

Renar, who quickly stood over the maps, marked them with his usual calm intensity, already directing the scouts and officers who had survived the campaign so far.

"This will not be like the factories," Renar reminded everyone, his finger tracing the outer walls of the castle sketch. "They were designed for withstanding countless sieges before it was ultimately lost, so the defense will be top-notch.

The castle of Elris is a fortress. Its halls are narrow, its gates reinforced, and I have no doubt the remaining demons and vampires are hiding inside to make us bleed for every step we will need to take to reach them."

Roland folded his arms, standing opposite him. His body still bore the strain of the last battle, but his eyes burned with determination to free the remaining part of this kingdom from the filth of the demons.

At his side, Stella was silent as she analyzed everything.

She stared at the map, her hand brushing against the corner of the parchment as though touching the lines could connect her to the home that would have been hers if not for the demons.

"This was once my father's home…" she said softly. "Where he used to rule, where our people lived peacefully for centuries. I will not see it remain in their hands any longer."

Lucien placed a hand on her shoulder, his expression steady. "Don't worry, we will take it back. But we can't rush in, in blind anger, Stella. Working together and being smart about this will win us this fight, so relax, we are almost at the end of all this."

Stella met her brother's gaze, and after a moment, she nodded.

Zavar leaned against a pillar nearby, the contour of his half-blood features was shown through the sun's rays that entered from a nearby window, and he was enjoying the heat they brought.

"We just need to make a good entrance and not get flanked; it should be fine with Roland's power. The problem now is getting equipment at a moment's notice," he said, his voice low. "They will be like cornered beasts. They'll have nowhere to run, so they'll fight until the bitter end. We must proceed as fast as possible to leave them no time to run or make plans, though... We'd better prepare the soldiers for that."

Morrag's crimson eyes glimmered as she crossed her arms, checking the map laid out on the table.

She had supplemented a lot of the information to create such a detailed plan; she had once been dragged through some of those chambers when she was brought here. "They won't run, those that stayed till this moment have too much pride for that… This castle is as good as ours, but you are right, we will need new weapons... How about we storm the storage room first? I bet there are countless weapons there, some of which were left behind by your kingdom, even… they were probably too useless for our kind to wield, so one might be what the hero needs."

Renar glanced her way, thinking about the supplemented information, and nodded.

He turned back to Roland. "We need to assign positions. One force at the gates, another breaching the side towers, and the last one will be with you to storm that place. Hopefully, it will have what you need so you can continue with full force."

Roland gave a single nod, then raised his gaze to the others. "Then let's decide. Tonight, the Elris the demons knew will fall, and the Elris humanity once had will be back... everyone rest up and have the scouts ready, we need to know everything that happens throughout the day before the big assault."

The meeting ended with plans set in place, but the day was still far from over.

And yet many had to sleep, even if a little since they stayed up most of the night fighting.

Within those Stella, Lucien, and many others began to look for a place to sleep before the assault.

Roland who stayed with her in a small room could not find peace within himself and chose to leave her to rest.

Truthfully he did not need much rest, his thoughts were still too scattered from his swords influence making him far too restless to let him sleep.

He left the old house and stepped into the courtyard where soldiers and freed prisoners had gathered.

The sun was high above as it was a little past noon after the meeting. Its strong rays struck the ruined town with a warmth none had felt in years. Many of those assembled still bore the scars of living under the demon's tyranny, yet now all those oppressed were able to breathe in the fresh air and be humans once again.

When they noticed him, murmurs spread quickly. "The hero." "Roland!" Faces turned toward him, each and every one of their eyes filled with hope.

They were gathered with blades or farming tools clutched in their hands, volunteering to fight for the castle while asking Roland to take them with him.

Roland moved among them quietly, offering nods and words of encouragement, yet his thoughts were not fully at ease. As he inspected each volunteer, he wondered if it was truly the right choice to take them into the coming battle.

Some still looked too weak to even stand, their bodies frail from years in captivity, but their eyes carried a fire that refused to be dimmed. They looked ready to lay down their lives for the coming cause.

The veterans straightened under his gaze, while the newly freed wept openly, swearing they would follow him to the gates of Elris. For the first time, Roland saw a strength he could not put into words.

The human collective, united by their will to reclaim their home, was far stronger than the fear they had endured throughout years of suffering.

He paused at the edge of the crowd, watching the smiles and hope on their faces.

The coming fight was more than just another battle. To them, storming the castle was something greater than the worth of their meager lives. It was the return of something stolen, a symbol that humanity was not broken but rising again.

Elios's voice soon echoes through his mind, adding to the moment.

[You feel it too, do you not? This is what you have achieved, Roland. This will be the last thing I ask of you. Slaughter those demons. I will aid you further by letting my spirits strengthen these humans, if only for today. Go forth, and make certain the demons understand that their actions have consequences. The death of Silmira comes with a great price.]

Roland's chest tightened as he exhaled slowly, watching the crowd cheer as more volunteers stepped forward.

He raised his voice so all could hear. "I have just received a message from the Spirit of Light himself. As you all know, we must avenge Silmira, the great Spirit Queen, slain by the hands of vile demons and vampires. Those who stand with me to avenge her death will be granted power from the Light Spirit for this day. You will have the strength to take your revenge for the years of torment you have suffered. Today, we fight not as slaves or survivors, but as warriors of humanity, reclaiming what is ours!"

Roland's words thundered through the courtyard, and for a heartbeat, there was silence. Then the crowd erupted. Soldiers and freed prisoners alike roared as one, their voices shaking the old stone walls. Weapons were lifted high, fists slammed against chests, and chants of "For Silmira!" and "For Elris!" spread like wildfire until the entire camp began to chant.

It was then that particles of light began to manifest before the crowd. Hundreds of radiant motes appeared above them, glowing like tiny suns suspended in the air.

They descended like falling stars, merging with the men and women who had stepped forward to fight. One by one, the spirits fused with their chosen hosts, and the volunteers' bodies ignited with a soft brilliance that shone even brighter than the sun overhead.

Gasps rippled through the gathering as strength surged into weakened limbs. The once frail prisoners stood taller, their eyes burning with newfound fire. Blades lifted high, voices raised louder than ever, they were ready for battle.

Roland watched the transformation, his gaze softening for a moment. He wondered if the roaring crowd had woken Stella from her rest; he hoped the barrier she had woven around their simple room had dulled the noise.

He could not help but smile, seeing that hope had come to those who had only looked defeated this morning, and now they cried out in triumph.

By the time Roland returned to the house, the chants and roars of the soldiers still echoed through the ruined town.

Stella had awoken, Lucien, her brother, by her side, both watching the glowing volunteers through the window with quiet amazement.

"Was that the Light Spirit's blessing?" Stella whispered, her eyes lingering on those who still shone with an almost golden radiance.

Roland turned to her with a faint smile. "I suppose I riled them a little too much… sorry about that. I know you needed to rest."

Lucien shook his head, his voice steady. "No, this is good. We are glad to see our people wanting the kingdom back just as much as we do. Thank you, Roland… for giving them what we, as their leaders, could not."

Renar was already waiting at the table, his maps neatly folded. Zavar and Morrag lingered near the doorway, ready to move. Their eyes met Roland's, and no words were needed.

"It seems we will need to move the plan forward," Renar said, his tone calm but decisive. "Your little stunt has stirred them into a frenzy, and that is fine. Those the spirits blessed will burn brightest under the sun, so we strike while their strength is at its peak. We should move out at once."

They emerged together into the midday sun, the gathered army parting to let them pass.

Every soldier, every freed prisoner-turned-volunteer, stood shining with the light of Elios's spirits.

No one spoke; each of them was ready for what lay ahead. All eyes turned to Stella as she stepped forward, pausing at the head of the crowd. Bathed in the Light Spirit's blessing, a radiant shield and aura surrounded her, marking her as the one chosen to lead the troops.

Roland, meanwhile, would move covertly with a smaller force to strike into the storage area.

Her cloak billowed in the breeze, and for a moment she seemed every bit the princess her people could follow without question. She raised her voice, clear and unwavering.

"This day, the castle of Elris is ours again! For our people, for our fallen, for Silmira and all we have lost, we march!"

The crowd answered with a thunderous roar, the ground trembling beneath the weight of their unified cry.

Lucien, that first prince, lifted his blade next to her, an action that seemed to attract even the sunlight that gleamed across the edge of his royal weapon, as if the world itself bore witness.

"Forward," he commanded, his voice steady and resolute. "We end this."

The army surged as one. Banners rose high, voices chanted in unison, and feet struck the ground in rhythm. Ahead of them, the fortress of Elris stood waiting, a symbol of everything they had lost, and everything they were about to reclaim.