High waters and swift currents marked the Ben Liu River in May.
Together, the St. Hilde family and the St. Sean family deployed over 300,000 troops, anxiously taking positions on either side of the Ben Liu River.
In the past month, both sides had seen dozens of skirmishes, turning the riverbank into a muddy war zone. Yet, the situation remained deadlocked, and victory seemed far from clear.
On the northern bank of the Ben Liu River, inside the Uman Clan's camp, hundreds of injured soldiers were being tended to.
Though cries of pain echoed constantly, the soldiers' faces were still adorned with smiles, for they had just won a battle.
Such probing battles occurred almost daily, with victories and defeats alike. Of course, the soldiers hoped to win, as victories earned them merits.
A pungent smell of medicinal herbs pervaded the wounded soldiers' camp, deterring surrounding soldiers from drawing near.