Shadow Slave

As the gate of the city closed behind the elite forces of the Steel Horde, Azarax raised an eyebrow and glanced at Effie with a hint of cold displeasure in his eyes.

“Pristess... it seems that you weren't entirely honest with me. Or is it that your soldiers are not as obedient as you believed, and decided to disregard your orders?"

He meant her promise that the defenders of the city would lay down their arms and surrender their lives without a fight. Azarax's tone was deceptively calm, but dangerous... however, he did not seem concerned. And why would he be? After all, the greatest obstacle in his path was the walls of the city. Now that his soldiers were inside, the hardest part of the siege was over.

Even if the remaining defenders tried to mount a resistance, they would be easily slaughtered by the elites of the Steel Horde. Plus, he was here as well. Even if Azarax had not joined the Dread Warriors in plundering the city, he could reach them quite rapidly if he wanted to — so, even if something unexpected happened, he would have plenty of time to react.

Or so he believed.

Effie, however, had her own thoughts on the matter.

It was all premeditated. She had known that the Dread Warriors and other elites of the Steel Horde would enter the city first. She had also known that Azarax would not kill her... more than that, she had known that he would not follow his soldiers inside.

That was because Azarax would not be able to resist the temptation of staying with Effie as she watched the city fall. He would find a good vantage point and force her to watch, doing his best to break her spirit... reveling in her dishonor.

His cruelty, too, had been accounted for. Effie had come up with the general form of the plan. Morgan, their tactician, worked out its every detail, including innumerable branching contingencies to account for unexpected variables and make the plan flexible enough to survive colliding with reality. Seishan was the one who had made it all possible, while Kai, Nightwalker, and Jet were meant to play key roles in what was about to happen.

Effie smiled faintly, feeling her fear dissipate.

She knew very well that she might die here... in fact, her eventual death was highly probable. Before that, she was bound to experience things that would make her wish she was dead.

But that was alright, as well. Because the possibility of her eventual death had been accounted for, too. It was one of the variables, and not one of the important ones at that.

Because her own task would be completed whether she lived or not.

"They should be following my orders just fine, Plague of Steel. Ah, but I have to admit — I might have been a little bit dishonest. I am not the most honest person in the world, you see. Let alone in two worlds."

Azarax frowned, scrutinizing her with a displeased expression. Then, he turned to look at the distant city gate.

But it was already too late.

Effie and Morgan had known that it would not take Azarax long to reach the city and scale its walls. So, whatever they were going to visit upon the plunderers had to happen rapidly... it had to happen instantly.

And now, Effie was going to enjoy the show — even if it could be the last thing she would see in her life.

In fact, she had to thank Azarax for choosing such a wonderful vantage point.

‘I hope he appreciates my showmanship, as well...'

Far away, in the city, the Dread Warriors and numerous of the best soldiers of the Steel Horde were busy ransacking the affluent houses or advancing toward the castle.

None of them noticed that the city gate had closed yet — and, of course, none of them had learned that the complicated mechanism which moved the titanic slabs of stone was destroyed immediately after the gate shut close. This time, forever.

The people responsible for activating the mechanism one last time before sabotaging it were volunteers — those without families, slowly dying from the plague. They knew that this would be their last mission, but they also knew that their lives would be used as fuel to cause the Steel Horde great harm.

And since everyone in the city had lost friends and loved ones to the horrors of the siege, they were willing to trade their faltering lives for those of Azarax's best.

As they completed their mission, Kai was far away, standing on a tall bastion of the inner keep's wall. The Stone Castle had been built near the sea, so almost all of the city sprawled before him — countless streets, myriad homes. And dark rivers of the Steel Horde warriors spreading through the tangle of streets like poison.

There were several people behind him — Morgan, Seishan, Nightwalker, and the prince of the city. However, due to the distance, only he could see that the gate had already been closed, and that its mechanism had already been destroyed.

Kai inhaled deeply and then spoke in a low, emotionless tone:

"It's time."

Nightwalker sighed and nodded.

"That's my cue, then. I will go and prepare the Stone Castle for battle."

As he walked away, the prince looked ahead with a pale face, a storm of emotions raging in his eyes. However, he did not say anything — just clenched his fist, enduring the turmoil silently.

Morgan and Seishan were matter-of-factly preparing for battle, their expressions as mundane and business-like as on any other day.

Kai closed his eyes for a moment.

He knew what he was about to do.

He knew what the price of his actions would be, as well.

Just like the prince, his heart was bleeding... even if it was for a different reason.

He was worried about Effie. He was frightened for her.

But he also knew that she was right, and that this was the only way. If they were stronger, smarter, or luckier, there might have been a different path to conquering the Nightmare — but they weren't. They were weak, and in this cursed world, weakness was a sin.

But it was also the fuel that allowed those like them to grow and overcome impossible obstacles.

And so, Kai opened his eyes.

Looking at the dying city sprawled below him, he called upon his Aspect and spoke a single word:

"Burn."

And, responding to his command...

The city was swallowed by flames.