Dawn came with the smell of sulfur and fear.

Liam stood at the northern ridge overlooking The Scar, watching five massive stone bridges span a canyon that dropped three hundred feet to jagged rocks below. Each bridge was wide enough for perhaps twenty soldiers to cross shoulder-to-shoulder. Each was defended by Radiant Empire forces who'd spent weeks preparing for exactly this assault.

Three thousand defenders against two hundred thousand attackers.

The mathematics should have favored the demon army overwhelmingly.

But mathematics changed when the only paths forward were bottlenecks that artillery could target with devastating precision.

"Legion One is positioned," Commander Torven reported, his voice steady despite the violence about to commence. "Assault formations ready. Soldiers understand the cost."

Liam could see them now—thousands of demons arranged in waves that would crash against fortified positions until bridges were taken or assault became unsustainable.

The first waves knew they'd probably die. The soldiers behind them knew they'd advance over corpses. Everyone understood that taking these bridges meant paying blood.

"Fourth Order eliminated seventeen sentries during the night," Kael'thra added, appearing from shadows where her warriors had been operating. "Disrupted three communication posts. Created gaps in their defensive coordination. But their main force is alert and prepared."

"Artillery positions?" Liam asked.

"Six confirmed installations covering the bridges. Range to eliminate them with conventional forces before crossing." Her scarred face showed frustration with that limitation. "The Fourth Order can infiltrate and sabotage, but not quickly enough to prevent casualties during initial assault."

So they'd cross under fire. Lose hundreds—maybe thousands—to artillery and defensive positions before reaching the far side where actual fighting would begin.

"All legion commanders confirm ready status," Zara reported, her analytical mind processing final calculations. "Assault commences on your signal. Estimated time to capture all bridges: two to four hours depending on defensive strength."

Estimated casualties: eight hundred to fifteen hundred dead.

The number sat in Liam's mind like lead. More demons than he'd lost in entire Ashard campaign. More death compressed into single morning than battles that had established his reputation.

This was what real warfare looked like.

Not clever tactics or supernatural powers preventing casualties. Just brutal mathematics of attackers overwhelming defenders through sheer weight of numbers willing to die.

"Signal the assault," Liam commanded.

Horns blew across the demon encampments. A sound like reality breaking—thousands of war horns announcing that violence had begun.

Legion One surged forward toward the northern bridges.

---

The first wave hit the bridges running, demons moving with speed that should have overwhelmed unprepared defenses.

But the Radiant Empire forces were prepared.

Artillery opened fire before the first demon reached mid-span. Not conventional artillery—blessed rounds that exploded with divine energy specifically designed to devastate demon physiology.

The first volley killed approximately sixty demons in explosions that left nothing except ash and the smell of burned essence.

The second wave didn't hesitate. Just advanced over the gaps where their comrades had been, shields raised against fire that was already seeking new targets.

More explosions. More demons reduced to ash. The bridges became killing grounds where every step forward meant stepping over evidence of those who'd failed to complete the crossing.

Liam watched from the ridge, his tactical mind processing what he was witnessing while something deeper recoiled from the casual brutality. Demons dying by dozens. By hundreds. Artillery fire that didn't discriminate or show mercy—just killed efficiently.

And still they advanced.

"Northern bridge first wave broken," Zara reported clinically. "Ninety percent casualties. Second wave advancing. Artillery reloading."

"Central bridges encountering similar resistance," Torven added. "Legion Two holding formation despite losses. Estimate four more waves before we establish foothold on far side."

Four more waves. Four more groups of demons who'd charge across bridges while artillery tore them apart.

Liam's hands clenched involuntarily. This was what he'd ordered. What necessity demanded. The brutal calculus of taking territory that defenders were willing to kill to protect.

"I'm going down there," he said suddenly.

"My lord?" Torven's surprise was evident. "Your presence on the bridges during artillery barrage is—"

"Necessary." Liam was already moving, Igar's Shard in hand, [Abyssal Plate] coalescing around his form. "Soldiers are dying for bridges I commanded them to take. Minimum I can do is stand beside them as they die."

He heard Zara shouting something about tactical stupidity and Kael'thra volunteering Fourth Order support, but he was already running toward the northern bridges where Legion One was mounting its third assault wave.

The demons saw him coming. Saw the Primordial Demon in shadow armor sprinting toward bridges that artillery was systematically turning into charnel grounds.

The effect on morale was immediate—if their god was willing to cross under fire, how could they show less courage?

The third wave formed around him, demons taking inspiration from entity leading them personally into artillery fire.

"FOR THE EMPIRE!" someone shouted.

"FOR THE PRIMORDIAL!" others echoed.

They charged.

Liam hit the bridge at full sprint, [Phase Shift] already active, moving faster than artillery could track.

The blessed rounds that had devastated previous waves passed through spaces where he'd been milliseconds before. Demons followed in his wake, using the gaps in artillery timing his movement created.

Halfway across, an artillery round exploded close enough that even [Abyssal Plate] cracked from the impact. Liam felt the divine energy tear into his essence—holy power designed specifically to destroy demons burning through his defenses.

[Health: 97%]

[Abyssal Plate: Damaged]

[Warning: Divine ordinance detected - demon physiology vulnerable]

He kept moving. [Infernal Conflagration] erupted from his free hand, not aimed at artillery positions but creating smoke screen that obscured the bridge from targeting.

Demons poured through the smoke, using cover his flames provided to cross sections that had been death sentences moments before.

The far side of the bridge came into view—fortified positions, Radiant soldiers prepared to repel assault, paladins ready to meet demon charge with blessed steel.

Liam was the first to reach them.

[Sovereign's Dominion] activated, the crushing pressure of primordial presence making defenders hesitate.

In that hesitation, Igar's Shard found throats and gaps in armor. [Infernal Conflagration] washed over defensive positions in waves that ignored conventional protection.

He was magnificent. Terrifying. The demon god made manifest in violence that left no doubt about what stood before them.

Behind him, Legion One poured across the bridge he'd secured through personal presence.

The soldiers who'd been dying by hundreds suddenly had foothold on far side. Had space to establish formation. Had living god fighting beside them.

"SECURE THE BRIDGEHEAD!" Torven's voice boomed as Legion One command arrived. "ARTILLERY POSITIONS—PRIORITY TARGETS!"

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