Day sixteen began with the burial of twelve hundred thirty-seven demons.

The demon tradition wasn't elaborate.

Bodies were returned to volcanic earth, essence released back to the world, names recorded in books that would be sent to families once the campaign concluded. No grand ceremonies. No lengthy speeches. Just acknowledgment that these demons had served and died and would be remembered.

Liam stood with Legion One as they interred their dead, watching soldiers who'd survived the bridge assault pay respects to those who hadn't.

The atmosphere was somber but functional—veterans who understood that death was part of warfare, who grieved briefly before continuing the mission.

"They accept it faster than I expected," Koth observed quietly. He'd been ranging with advance scouts but had returned for the burials. "Twelve hundred dead in single engagement, and by evening they'll be marching again like it didn't happen."

"They're professionals. They processed the outcome before the assault began." Liam watched as another body was committed to earth. "Grief is luxury that soldiers can't afford during active campaign. They mourn quickly and move on because alternative is paralysis that gets more of them killed."

"You sound like you're trying to convince yourself as much as explaining their behavior."

"Maybe." Liam's voice was flat. "Understanding it was necessary doesn't make it feel less heavy."

Koth was quiet for moment. "You led the charge personally. Soldiers are talking about how the Primordial crossed bridges under artillery fire. How you created smoke screen that saved hundreds. How you reached the far side first and secured foothold that made subsequent waves possible."

"I watched twelve hundred demons die following orders I gave. The heroics don't balance that ledger."

"To you, maybe. To soldiers who survived because you led assault personally?" Koth gestured to the demons conducting burial rites. "They see god who fights beside them rather than commanding from safety. That matters more than you think."

---

By midday, the army had reformed and resumed march.

The wounded who could travel were integrated into formations with medical support. Those too injured to continue were left at The Scar with minimal garrison—Fourth Order volunteers who'd ensure they weren't captured if Radiant forces attempted to retake the bridges.

"We're three days from Radiant Empire border," Zara reported during march. "Intelligence from Fourth Order scouts suggests increased military presence ahead. Not major garrisons, but observation posts and patrol groups have doubled in frequency."

"They know we're coming. They're tracking our advance." Liam studied maps that showed projected route. "How many days to bypass the observation infrastructure?"

"Bypass is impossible. The observation posts cover all practical routes. We'd need to add week to timeline or march through terrain that's impassable for force this size." Zara's voice was matter-of-fact. "We assault through the observation network or we accept being tracked continuously."

"Then we assault through. Fourth Order eliminates posts ahead of main army. We maintain aggressive forty-mile pace even if it means fighting through resistance." Liam made the calculation quickly. "Speed is more valuable than stealth at this point. They know we're coming—better to arrive before they finish preparing defenses."

The orders were distributed and the march continued at punishing pace that was starting to show strain even on demon physiology. Soldiers were tired.

Equipment was wearing from constant use. Supply trains were consuming resources faster than conservative projections had anticipated.

They were still functional. Still capable. But the aggressive timeline was taking toll that would matter when they reached Sanctum Lux and needed fresh troops for assault.

"How are the legions holding up?" Torven asked during evening briefing. "Morale seems adequate but physical exhaustion is accumulating."

"They're holding because alternative is failing," Liam answered. "But you're right that exhaustion is becoming factor. Once we reach Radiant border, we implement two-day rest period before continuing to Sanctum Lux."

"Two days rest after sixteen days forced march?" Zara's analytical mind was calculating recovery rates. "That's barely enough for physical recovery, much less mental processing of accumulated stress."

"It's what we have time for. Longer rest means Radiant Empire gets more preparation time. We balance soldier recovery against strategic timing." Liam looked at his senior officers. "This is the calculus we're operating under. Imperfect solutions to impossible problems. Optimize what we can, accept limitations we can't change."

The brutal pragmatism was becoming easier. Each day of march, each engagement, each casualty report—all of it accumulating into understanding that command meant constant compromise between ideal and achievable.

That night brought the first real resistance since the bridge assault.

Fourth Order scouts reported Radiant Empire observation post that wasn't just watching—it was fortified position with approximately two hundred troops and communication infrastructure that would alert Sanctum Lux the moment it was attacked.

"We can bypass it," Kael'thra reported, her scarred face showing unusual uncertainty. "Takes six hours longer but avoids engagement. Or we assault and eliminate the position before they can send warning. Fourth Order can handle assault, but casualties are probable."

"How probable?"

"Fortified position with prepared defenders against two hundred of my warriors?" She calculated. "Thirty to fifty Fourth Order casualties. But we eliminate observation post and continue timeline."

Thirty to fifty of his devoted zealots who served without question. Against six hours delay and continued observation.

"Assault it," Liam decided. "We can't afford six-hour delays accumulating. Eliminate the position. Accept the casualties."

Kael'thra bowed and departed to coordinate the operation.

Within three hours, she returned with report that was delivered with professional detachment that didn't quite hide grief underneath.

"Observation post eliminated. Communication infrastructure destroyed. All two hundred defenders killed." Her voice was steady. "Fourth Order casualties: forty-three dead, seventeen wounded."

Forty-three. More than the bridge assault had cost the militant faithful. More than any single engagement had taken from his devoted warriors.

"The Fourth Order performed admirably," Liam said, recognizing that Kael'thra needed acknowledgment even if she wouldn't ask for it. "Their sacrifice prevented delay that would have cost more lives during main assault."

"They served divine will." Her voice carried absolute conviction despite the grief. "Their deaths have meaning because they advanced our objective. That's all warriors can hope for."

She left to attend to her wounded and organize burial rites for her dead.

And Liam was left processing that his command decisions were accumulating casualties across multiple forces. Legion One at the bridges. Fourth Order at observation posts. Wounded who'd never fully recover. Dead who'd never return home.

The ledger of command was growing heavier.

---

Day seventeen brought them within sight of the Radiant Empire border.

Not a physical wall or formal boundary. Just transition from contested no-man's land into territory that was unambiguously Radiant-controlled.

Villages that flew their banners. Roads that were maintained by their infrastructure. Patrol groups that were numerous enough to suggest organized military presence rather than scattered observation.

"This is where real fighting begins," Commander Torven observed as they studied the border from elevated position. "Everything before was preliminary. Now we're in territory they'll defend seriously."

"How far to the border city?" Liam asked.

"Valengard. Approximately eighty miles inside Radiant territory. Population thirty thousand, garrison of five thousand troops. Fortified but not to Sanctum Lux standards." Zara pulled forward intelligence reports. "It's the major city between border and capital. Taking it gives us staging area for final push. Bypassing it leaves hostile force in our rear."

"So we take it. Question is whether we assault immediately or rest troops first."

"Troops need rest," Torven said bluntly. "Seventeen days of forced march. Major engagement at bridges. Constant skirmishes with observation posts. We're functional but depleted. Assault on fortified city with five thousand defenders requires fresh troops, not exhausted ones."

"Rest means giving Valengard time to prepare. Means garrison can be reinforced from Sanctum Lux." Zara's counter was logical. "Speed has been our advantage. Losing that advantage might cost more than exhaustion."

The tactical debate was familiar now. Speed versus preparation. Aggressive timeline versus soldier recovery. Imperfect solutions to impossible problems.

"We rest," Liam decided. "Two days at border before advancing on Valengard. Troops recover. Supplies are redistributed. Wounded receive proper medical attention. We attack Valengard with army that's rested rather than force that's too exhausted to fight effectively."

"And if Valengard is reinforced during those two days?" Zara asked.

"Then we fight stronger garrison with rested troops. Better than fighting current garrison with soldiers who are one engagement away from physical collapse." Liam's voice was firm. "We've been trading soldier welfare for speed. Time to balance that equation before exhaustion becomes tactical liability."

The orders were distributed and the army prepared to cross into Radiant Empire territory. Seventeen days of march. Twelve hundred dead at bridges. Forty-three Fourth Order casualties. Hundreds wounded.

And the real fighting hadn't even begun.

"Strange feeling," Koth said as they prepared to cross the border. "We're invading. Actually marching into enemy territory with intent to destroy their capital. This is what offensive warfare looks like."

"This is what desperation looks like," Liam corrected. "Offensive warfare implies choice. We're doing this because alternatives are worse."

"Does that distinction matter to Radiant Empire civilians who'll watch demon army march through their territory?"

"No. To them we're invaders. Monsters proving everything their propaganda says about demons." Liam's voice was quiet. "We can't change that perception. Can only hope that destroying Sanctum Lux prevents the extinction that justifies this invasion."

They crossed the border as sunset painted the sky in colors that looked like fire.

Just under two hundred thousand demons advancing into Radiant Empire territory.

The largest demon offensive in centuries.

A desperate gamble to prevent prophecy.

Or apocalyptic mistake that would doom them all.

Time would reveal which.

[Day 17 of March: Complete]

[Distance Covered: 640 miles total]

[Current Position: Radiant Empire Border]

[Casualties: 1,510 dead, 2,234 wounded (total campaign)]

[Next Objective: Valengard - 80 miles distant]

Soldiers rested and prepared for assault on fortified city that would either fall or break them.

The march paused.

The war continued.

And seventeen days of campaign had only been the beginning.

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