Chapter 597: Chapter 597: The Battle for the Valley of Echoes

The dawn broke over the Valley of Echoes, casting a pale light over the jagged cliffs and steep ravines that defined the landscape. The air was thick with the scent of dew and earth, a stark contrast to the tension that hung over the assembled forces. The soldiers, clad in armor that caught the morning light, stood in disciplined silence, awaiting the command to move.

Elara stood at the front of her unit, her eyes scanning the horizon. The Valley stretched before them, an unforgiving expanse of rock and shadow. The Shadow Shard's forces would be advancing soon, their approach marked by the telltale signs of darkness seeping into the land. She could already feel the faint tremor beneath her feet, the first sign of the enemy's march.