"Legion One reports northern quarter secured," Zara updated. "Legion Two is advancing toward city center. Legion Four still engaged at western gate—heavier resistance there than other positions."

"Western gate was always going to be hardest," Liam observed. "The defensive commander positioned his best troops there. But with three other breaches, they're isolated. Eventually they'll fall."

Hours blurred together in fog of combat and coordination.

Liam moved through the city with Legion Three, his presence ensuring soldiers knew their commander was sharing the risk. He fought when necessary—[Infernal Conflagration] clearing defensive positions, [Phase Shift] allowing him to reach isolated demon units that were pinned down, [Abyssal Scream] breaking resistance when defenders tried to mount organized counterattacks.

But mostly he coordinated. Directed forces toward objectives. Redirected legions to support each other. Made tactical decisions that cost lives to achieve strategic gains.

By midday, three-quarters of Valengard was demon-controlled. The western gate had finally fallen, Legion Four pouring through to join the systematic clearing of remaining resistance. Garrison forces were scattered and broken, reduced to small groups making desperate last stands in fortified positions.

"The garrison commander is dead. His second is attempting to organize surrender," Kael'thra reported. "Should I allow it or eliminate remaining resistance?"

"Allow surrender," Liam decided. "Fighting is effectively over. No point accumulating additional casualties on either side."

White flags appeared from the remaining defensive positions within the hour. Approximately eight hundred Radiant soldiers surrendering after watching their city fall in single day of sustained assault.

"Final casualty report," Zara's voice was tired. "One thousand nine hundred forty-three demon dead. Two thousand six hundred twelve wounded. Valengard garrison estimates three thousand two hundred killed, eight hundred prisoners. Civilian casualties..." She paused. "Approximately four hundred to six hundred. We tried to minimize non-combatant deaths, but urban combat doesn't allow perfect separation."

Liam stood in what had been Valengard's central market, now transformed into temporary command post. Around him, the city burned in sections where fighting had been heaviest.

Smoke filled the air. Buildings showed artillery damage and combat scars. Bodies lay in streets waiting for collection—demon, human, soldier, civilian, all reduced to same still forms.

"Secure the garrison stores," he commanded. "Medical teams treat our wounded, then enemy wounded if resources permit. Prisoners are contained. Civilians are instructed to remain in their homes while we establish temporary order."

"And the city itself?" Torven asked. "Do we garrison? Abandon? What's the plan?"

"We resupply, rest two days, continue toward Sanctum Lux. Leave minimal force to maintain order and protect supply lines. Valengard is waypoint, not objective." Liam studied maps showing route to capital. "We don't have resources to properly occupy. We take what we need and keep moving."

The commanders dispersed to implement orders, leaving Liam surrounded by the aftermath of urban assault that had killed nearly two thousand demons and transformed beautiful city into smoking ruin.

"You survived without leading dramatic charges," Lilith observed, appearing from where she'd been coordinating reserve forces. "That's progress."

"I was busy coordinating four simultaneous attacks. Didn't have time for dramatic charges." Liam's voice was flat. "We took the city. Cost about what projections suggested. Now we find out if captured supplies justify the casualties."

"Lord Arcturus reports garrison stores are extensive," she answered. "Enough food and equipment to resupply most of what we consumed getting here. Medical supplies are adequate. This was worthwhile target."

"Worthwhile in pure logistics. Less worthwhile measured in two thousand demons who died taking it."

"Those measurements aren't separate. The two thousand died so the rest of army could continue toward Sanctum Lux. That's the calculation." Lilith's voice was gentle despite brutal pragmatism. "You're processing casualties again. Questioning whether tactical success justifies strategic cost."

"I'm recognizing that we've now lost over three thousand demons during campaign and we haven't reached the actual objective yet." He gestured to the burning city. "How many die at Sanctum Lux? Ten thousand? Twenty? How many casualties before the offensive becomes unsustainable?"

"Unknown until we reach Sanctum Lux and discover what breaking prophecy actually costs." She moved closer, close enough that her presence felt grounding despite being surrounded by evidence of violence. "But standing in burning city questioning casualties doesn't change the mathematics. We committed to offensive. We're achieving objectives. The dying is necessary price of preventing extinction."

She was right. Didn't make standing among aftermath feel less heavy.

"Two days rest," Liam said, forcing his mind back to operational requirements. "Then we march toward Sanctum Lux. Final push. Either we succeed or we fail definitively."

"Approximately one hundred fifty miles to capital," Zara provided. "At forced march pace, eight to ten days. Then siege that could last weeks or be decided in days depending on defensive preparations."

Eight to ten more days of march. Then the real siege. The assault that would either justify everything or render it meaningless.

"Rest period begins tomorrow," Liam announced. "Soldiers need recovery. Medical teams need time to stabilize wounded. Supply integration requires organization. We fought all day—we rest now."

As evening fell over Valengard, the city's fires gradually diminished to smoldering ruins. Demon forces established control over a city that had woken that morning under Radiant Empire authority and ended the day under military occupation.

Thirty thousand civilians processed what had happened—their garrison defeated, their homes damaged, their city captured by demon army that would rest briefly before continuing toward capital they'd been trying to protect.

And somewhere in the command structure, Liam processed that three thousand demons had died during campaign that was only halfway complete. That Sanctum Lux would cost more. That mathematics of survival required accepting casualties that felt unconscionable.

But feeling didn't change necessity.

And necessity was all that mattered when extinction was alternative.

[Day 22 of March: Complete]

[Valengard: Captured]

[Casualties: 1,943 demon dead, 2,612 wounded (assault)]

[Enemy Losses: 3,200 killed, 800 prisoners]

[Civilian Casualties: 400-600]

[Total Campaign Dead: 3,453]

[Distance to Sanctum Lux: ~150 miles]

[Days to Capital: 8-10 at forced march]

[Status: Preliminary objectives achieved]

[Note: Army has lost approximately 1.7% of strength]

Tomorrow they'd rest and resupply.

Day after that, the final march would begin.

And somewhere at the end of that march, prophecy waited to be broken or fulfilled.

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