Boom!
A massive explosion erupted, the shockwave tearing through the air as Norika launched a fiery inferno into the oncoming wave of robots. The fireball collided with precision, engulfing a dozen mechanical soldiers in a blinding blaze. Screeching metal and acrid smoke filled the battlefield, and yet, her relentless assault only painted a more chaotic scene. The city around them was already reduced to a blazing inferno—buildings crumbled under the licking flames, leaving no corner untouched.
“Norika, you do realize Eve’s going to tear you a new one when she sees this, right?” Paradox called out, his voice laced with dry humor even as he punched through a robot’s torso, sending its remains crashing into another.
Norika froze for a moment, her sharp eyes scanning the burning wreckage she had wrought. For a brief second, a flicker of fear crossed her face—a vulnerability she rarely showed.
“You... you don’t think she’d forgive me?” she asked hesitantly, her voice faltering.
Paradox let out a chuckle, brushing ash off his shoulder. “Not a chance. You know how Eve gets. She’s not exactly a fan of, uh, urban barbecue. This looks way too much like her hometown when we first met her.” He gestured toward the flaming skyline with a wry grin. “Watch your back, Nor.”
“Maybe I should just go into hiding, then.” She sighed nervously before slicing through three charging robots with her obsidian blade, her movements a blur of deadly precision.
“Won’t help. Eve has a way of finding people,” Paradox quipped, landing a series of bone-crushing punches on another robot. The machine’s metal frame buckled under his fists before it was sent hurtling into a nearby wall, collapsing in a heap.
----------------------------------------
The battlefield was an orchestra of destruction. Norika darted through the horde of robots with fiery fists, obliterating anything in her path. The heat from her flames was suffocating, distorting the air around her as she rampaged.
“Nor, could you not turn this place into a furnace? It’s getting way too hot here,” Paradox complained, dodging a plasma blade that narrowly missed his neck.
“Deal with it!” she shouted back, a wide grin plastered on her face. “I’m having way too much fun!” She exhaled a column of flames from her mouth, incinerating a group of robots in a single, devastating blast.
Paradox paused for a moment, scanning the area with his Omni-Watch—a sleek device that pulsed faintly, now seamlessly integrated with his being. The watch pinged as it detected something unusual. Among the dwindling mechanical forces, four figures appeared on the radar. Three stood in formation, encircling a central figure radiating an ominous aura.
“Interesting. Very interesting,” Paradox murmured, his tone shifting.
“What’s interesting? Spill it,” Norika demanded, smashing a robot’s head into the ground and crushing its plasma core.
“We’ve got the big bad bosses not too far ahead,” he said, nodding toward their position. “Why don’t we go pay them a visit?”
A manic gleam lit up Norika’s eyes. “Oh, I like the sound of that. Let me wrap this up first.”
Leaping high into the air, she summoned an enormous fireball, her energy flaring brighter than ever before. With a triumphant yell, she hurled it down into the center of the battlefield. The explosion engulfed everything, leaving nothing but smoldering wreckage. Without missing a beat, she launched herself toward the enemy, her figure streaking across the smoky sky like a comet.
“Always in such a hurry,” Paradox muttered, shaking his head before taking off after her on foot.
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Meanwhile, in the heart of the enemy stronghold, a shadowy figure knelt before an imposing throne.
“My King,” the figure said with calm reverence, her voice unwavering. “Our uninvited guests are nearing. How shall we proceed?”
The man seated on the throne leaned forward, a glint of amusement in his piercing crimson eyes. “Let us see what these intruders are capable of. Sylvia, why don’t you give them a warm welcome?”
Sylvia, the shadowy figure, bowed deeply. “As you wish, my lord. I will make it a spectacle worthy of your gaze.”
With a fluid motion, she disappeared into the darkness, her form dissolving into the surrounding shadows.
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In seconds, Sylvia materialized before Norika and Paradox, her arrival silent but menacing.
She stood at 5’6”, her lithe figure cloaked in a sleek, form-fitting black suit that shimmered faintly under the moonlight. Her pale skin seemed to drink in the surrounding darkness, and her silver-lined cloak flowed behind her like a living shadow. Her silver mask reflected the dim light, leaving only her glowing, obsidian eyes visible.
“Welcome,” Sylvia said, her voice smooth and almost melodic. “You have entered the kingdom of my king. State your business.”
Norika wasted no time, her impatience getting the better of her. “My business? To kick your ass!” she yelled, charging forward with a blazing axe kick.
Sylvia’s form melted into shadow at the last second, Norika’s attack passing harmlessly through her. The tendrils of darkness reassembled a few feet away, and Sylvia turned to face her adversaries with an air of detachment.
“Feeble,” Sylvia said coldly. “As ‘The Veil’ of my king, I will ensure you go no further.” She raised her hand, and shadowy tendrils erupted from the ground, writhing like serpents.
Paradox stepped forward, his tone mocking yet calculated. “So, you guys plan to take over this city, huh? Turn it into your kingdom after losing your own? That’s why you sent your Obsidian Unit Mk-V robots to invade, right?”
Sylvia faltered, her calm demeanor breaking momentarily. “H-how do you know that? That information shouldn’t be known to anyone.”
Paradox smirked, easily dodging the tendrils as they lashed out at him. “I have my ways. I also know that your powers let you control shadows, turn invisible, and create constructs. Pretty fitting for someone called ‘The Veil,’ wouldn’t you say?”
Sylvia narrowed her eyes. “You know too much. For the good of my king, I will kill you here and now.”
She vanished into thin air, her body blending seamlessly with the surrounding darkness. Arrows made of pure shadow appeared from all directions, raining down on the duo in a relentless barrage.
Paradox phased through the attacks, his body shimmering like a mirage, while Norika enveloped herself in a fiery sphere, the arrows disintegrating on contact.
“Not good enough,” Paradox taunted.
Sylvia’s mind raced. These two... they’re far stronger than anticipated. And worse—they’re not even taking this seriously.
Paradox turned to Norika, his expression resolute. “Go on ahead. I’ll deal with this one.”
Norika grinned. “Fine by me. I’ll leave the cleanup to you.”
As she darted past Sylvia, the shadowy assassin moved to intercept her, only to be struck by an invisible force. She was sent hurtling back, crashing into a wall as Paradox stepped forward, arms crossed.
“Your fight is with me,” he said, his voice dripping with authority. “So, kindly, don’t look away.”
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Norika’s fiery onslaught continued as she unleashed torrents of destruction across the battlefield, reveling in the chaos. But her smirk faltered when a massive shockwave surged toward her, forcing her to stagger. She barely steadied herself when a spiked mace whistled through the air, aimed straight for her face.
With a deft twist, she dodged the attack, her eyes narrowing at the new opponents. The woman who had spoken stepped forward, radiating an unsettling aura of menace.
“I would kindly advise you not to speak ill of our king,” the woman said, her voice calm yet cold as ice. “We do not take kindly to disrespect.”
Norika examined her foes carefully. The woman stood at an imposing 5’9", her elegant frame betraying the deadly grace beneath. Her emerald green eyes gleamed with an intensity that sent a chill down Norika’s spine. The deep red waves of her hair cascaded like rivers of blood, a stark contrast to her pale, crimson-tinged skin. Her heart-shaped face bore sharp, menacing features that promised malice.
The man beside her, in stark contrast, was a mountain of muscle. Standing at 6’5", his broad shoulders and scarred body exuded raw, brutal strength. His steel-gray eyes gleamed with unrestrained violence as he hefted the spiked mace in one hand, the heavy weapon seeming light in his grasp. The jagged edges of his blackened armor gleamed under the ominous red sky.
“I’m going to enjoy smashing your head in,” the man grunted, his voice deep and gravelly. “I can tell you’re strong. Strong enough to make this fun.”
Norika smirked, unfazed. “Just don’t aim for the face. It’s too pretty for that.” With a sudden surge of strength, she grabbed the mace mid-swing, muscles straining as she yanked the man off his feet.
With a ferocious roar, she slammed him into the ground, cracking the earth beneath him. The impact sent shockwaves through the battlefield, but Norika didn’t pause to celebrate. Her instincts screamed as the woman raised her hand, her eyes glinting with cruel satisfaction.
The world around Norika shifted. Her body froze in place, and an icy sensation spread through her veins. She struggled to move, but her muscles refused to obey.
“What’s going on?” Norika asked, her voice eerily calm despite her predicament. “What did you do to me?”
The woman smiled, an expression dripping with malice. “I control your blood. One wrong move, and I can stop your heart or boil you alive. Your life is mine to command.”
For a moment, the tension was palpable. Then, with an agonized grunt, Norika began to move. Slowly, painfully, she forced her limbs to obey her will, her body trembling with the effort.
“You think controlling my blood will stop me?” Norika growled, her eyes blazing with defiance. “You’d be better off trying to cut off my head.” With a flick of her wrist, she drew her obsidian sword. The blade shimmered ominously before erupting into flames, the heat warping the air around her.
The woman’s smug expression faltered, replaced by a flicker of unease.
“Now,” Norika snarled, her voice laced with fury, “let’s see if the two of you can handle the heat—or if you’ll need to get out of the kitchen.”
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Meanwhile, back in the thick of the shadows, Sylvia’s voice echoed from all directions as she observed Paradox.
“Seems Norika found your two comrades,” Paradox remarked with an almost casual air. He cracked his knuckles, his smirk widening. “I feel bad for them. Their deaths won’t be painless.”
Sylvia’s voice carried a venomous edge. “What makes you think she could win a two-on-one? She doesn’t strike me as particularly intelligent.”
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Paradox chuckled. “She doesn’t need to be. That woman’s like a force of nature. She doesn’t stop until her target’s dead.”
Sylvia bristled at his words. “Then I’ll finish you quickly and help my comrades,” she said, raising her hand. A dense fog of shadow erupted from her body, blanketing the battlefield in pitch-black darkness. Paradox squinted, his senses heightened, as daggers glinted in the faint light before flying toward him at breakneck speed.
“You’ll have to do better than that,” Paradox taunted as he phased through the first volley. But a sudden jolt of pain startled him. One of the daggers tore through his side, leaving a searing trail in its wake.
Sylvia’s mocking laughter echoed around him. “Surprised? These daggers are special. They’re forged to harm ethereal beings and bypass tricks like phasing or invisibility. Your little gimmick won’t save you.”
Paradox, instead of looking worried, seemed amused. “Is that so? How intriguing.” His nonchalance irritated Sylvia, her composure cracking slightly.
“Why aren’t you afraid?” she demanded.
Paradox shrugged. “Because I know all your tricks. I knew about your powers long before this fight started.” With a snap of his fingers, Sylvia’s daggers vanished into thin air. She stumbled back in shock as another snap sent her flying, a force slamming into her chest.
‘What is this?’ Sylvia thought as she landed hard, coughing. ‘How is he hurting me without even touching me?’
Paradox answered her unspoken question, his smirk widening. “It’s the power of Imagination. Whatever I think becomes reality. And before you ask, no, there are no limits.”
Sylvia’s fists clenched. “You’re insufferable! You think you’re above everyone, don’t you?”
“Of course,” Paradox said, his tone as calm as if discussing the weather. “Why should someone of my caliber concern themselves with an ant?”
Sylvia’s rage boiled over. The world around them shifted as an impenetrable darkness engulfed the area. The temperature plummeted, and an oppressive weight pressed down on Paradox.
“This is my realm,” Sylvia’s voice whispered, disembodied and everywhere. “The Realm of Shadows. All who enter are trapped here for eternity.”
Paradox yawned, his stance relaxed. “So, what? All I have to do is kill you, and this little trick ends, right?” He stretched his arms lazily. “Come on. Enough theatrics. Attack me already. Your hiding act is getting boring.”
His arrogance was infuriating, and Sylvia vowed to make him pay.
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"This girl is insane. Does she have no care for her own well-being?" Maeve muttered, her voice carrying a mix of awe and frustration.
Roderick, his lips curling into a predatory grin, let out a deep laugh. "Yeah... but that's what I'm all for. She's powerful. I haven't felt the thrill of a real battle in ages. I just hope she can last long enough to satisfy me."
Norika stood several paces away, her sword ignited in a ferocious azure blaze, the heat distorting the air around her. Her expression was one of unrestrained confidence, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "Could you two quit your pointless yapping and fight already."
With those words, Norika released the second rune of her obsidian blade, unleashing a torrent of blue flames. The temperature spiked dramatically, causing the very ground beneath them to crack and sizzle. The intense heat washed over Maeve and Roderick like a tidal wave, forcing them to brace themselves.
Norika swung her blade, sending a massive arc of flames hurtling toward the duo. Both narrowly evaded the attack, the fiery arc slamming into the landscape behind them with explosive force. Before either could regain their footing, Norika moved like a phantom, appearing behind Roderick in a blur of speed.
Her kick landed squarely on his back, sending the towering man crashing into the earth with a thunderous impact. She didn’t pause for even a moment. With a swift rotation of her body, she drove her knee into Maeve's face, a sickening crunch accompanying the blow. Blood streamed from Maeve's nose as she staggered backward, clutching her face.
"So much for being ‘Knights,’" Norika mocked, her tone laced with derision as she casually scanned them with her Omni-Watch. A small smirk tugged at her lips.
Roderick 'The Iron Fist' Kaine.Strength sufficient to destroy a mountain with a single punch.Maeve 'The Scarlet Empress' Thorne.Master of blood arts and necromancy.
Norika’s grin widened. "Interesting."
Snapping out of her thoughts, she easily ducked under Roderick’s powerful right hook, spinning to dodge a barrage of blood arrows launched by Maeve. Her movements were fluid, almost playful, as if she were toying with them.
"You think you’re the only one who can wield blood arts?" Norika raised her hand, her voice dripping with venomous amusement.
Cuts began to appear along her arm, blood pouring from the wounds like a crimson flood. The liquid coalesced, swirling with ominous energy, until it formed a massive golem of blood. Its eyes burned with an unnatural glow, and its very presence seemed to radiate malice.
"If you want to fight me, then prove yourselves worthy and defeat my creation. If not..." Norika’s grin grew disturbingly wider, her tone turning icy. "Let’s just say I’ll make your failure far more painful than death. I’ll torture you—make you scream for mercy, then beg for death. And I won’t grant you either. I’ll keep going until you’ve made up for the boredom you’ve subjected me to."
The blood golem let out a guttural roar before charging at the duo with alarming speed. Its colossal fist slammed into the ground, creating a shockwave that fractured the earth and sent debris flying in every direction.
Maeve leapt into the air, forming a protective barrier of blood to shield herself from the cascading rubble. Her voice trembled as she spoke, "What... what is she? No one can manipulate that much blood without collapsing from agony—or dying outright. I... I don’t think we can win this."
Roderick, however, was undeterred. Planting his feet firmly into the ground, he bellowed, "If we’re going to die, then let’s go out with a bang! I’m not backing down from this monster!"
With a roar, he charged at the golem, his spiked mace colliding with its massive fist. The impact caused a deafening boom, but Roderick absorbed the kinetic energy from the blow instead of being overpowered. His muscles tensed as he redirected the energy back into the golem, causing it to stagger.
"Oooo, impressive!" Norika clapped her hands mockingly. Her voice carried an unsettling edge, her eyes gleaming with predatory delight. "That unyielding endurance of yours is something else. Taking an attack that could level a city with barely a scratch... Perhaps I underestimated you."
Maeve glanced at Roderick, desperation creeping into her voice. "Why does it feel like she’s just getting started? Like... like we’re about to enter hell itself?"
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Meanwhile, in the Realm of Shadows, Paradox danced effortlessly through Sylvia's relentless onslaught. Her twin daggers glinted in the faint light of the shadowy realm, each strike aimed with deadly precision. Yet, Paradox dodged each attack with an almost infuriating ease, his eyes closed as if he were toying with her.
"Too slow," he taunted, sidestepping another flurry of blows. "Just because this is your realm and it’s pitch-black doesn’t mean you should be moving like a snail."
"How... how are you dodging me? You shouldn’t be able to sense, let alone see me in this realm!" Sylvia snarled, frustration evident in her voice.
Paradox chuckled, his voice carrying a smug undertone. "I’ll tell you how. First, no one escapes my senses once they’re in range. And second, I love the dark—it’s warm, cozy, and oh so dangerous."
In an instant, he appeared beside her, landing a devastating strike to her side. The force of the blow sent her reeling, her body barely holding up against the assault.
‘When... when did he get beside me?’ Sylvia raised her arms in a desperate attempt to block the barrage of strikes Paradox unleashed. Each hit felt like a hammer blow, forcing her further onto the defensive.
"Are you going to keep running and hiding, or are you going to fight back?" Paradox’s voice was laced with boredom. He drew his Chrono Sword, the blade shimmering with temporal energy, and with a flick of his wrist, time itself froze.
In that fleeting second, he struck her multiple times, each cut precise and merciless. As time resumed, Sylvia let out a pained gasp, her body collapsing to the ground.
"From what I’ve observed, your phase ability works by shifting your body into this realm at the exact moment you’re about to be hit. Clever trick," Paradox said, his tone almost conversational. "But in your own realm, that ability is useless. You’ve trapped yourself."
Sylvia clenched her teeth, refusing to back down. "That may be true, but I have other ways to fight!"
The darkness around them began to shimmer and twist, forming dozens of identical clones of Paradox. Sylvia’s voice echoed ominously, "Let’s see how you deal with an army of yourself."
"Boooooring," Paradox drawled, yawning. With a mere glance, half the clones vanished, their forms disintegrating into nothingness. Half of the shadowy realm itself seemed to fade along with them.
"No... no way!" Sylvia’s voice trembled. ‘This man... no, this monster... what is he?’
Paradox smiled faintly, his tone dripping with condescension. "Honestly, I hope your so-called king is stronger than this. I’m getting sleepy."
With a casual wave of his hand, the remaining darkness crumbled away, revealing the true battlefield once more. Sylvia fell face-first, unconscious, her body battered and broken.
"Good night," Paradox murmured before turning away.
As he walked toward the distant clash of flames and thunder, his expression was calm, even indifferent. "Let’s see how Norika’s holding up," he muttered, his pace unhurried. The chaos ahead promised even more entertainment.
----------------------------------------
The battlefield was chaos incarnate. Smoke and flames roared, obscuring the sky in a choking haze of darkness. Heat rippled through the air, and every breath tasted of ash and despair.
Norika stood amidst the destruction, her silver bangs falling over her eyes, the gleam of her obsidian blade reflecting the carnage. Her voice cut through the roar of the flames like a dagger.
“I’ll fight both of you with one hand,” she declared, a smirk curling her lips. “And I guarantee, I can still win.”
The audacity in her tone was met with a scoff from Maeve.
“She’s quite cocky, isn’t she?” Maeve sneered, her crimson eyes narrowing. “Don’t think for a moment this fight will be as easy as you imagine.”
With a swift motion, Maeve slit her wrists, dark blood pooling at her feet before coalescing into a writhing mass. From the crimson mire, undead spirits began to rise, their hollow moans echoing with anguish.
“This is my most powerful technique,” Maeve said, her voice tinged with pride and malice. “Do you think you can handle it?”
The spirits surged forward like a tidal wave of despair, their forms distorted and grotesque. But Norika remained unfazed. Her hand ignited in blue flames, and with a single sweeping motion, she incinerated the entire horde.
“Pathetic,” she said, brushing imaginary dust from her shoulder. “I wonder—how do you gather so many spirits? Are they from everyone you’ve killed before?”
Maeve’s grin widened, though her expression darkened. “Precisely. Each life I take serves my king’s goals. At least in this way, they can still be useful.”
Norika’s eyes glinted with cold fury. “You should be thankful my father isn’t here. If he were, your deaths would be far more agonizing than what I’m about to deliver.”
Before Maeve could retort, a deafening crash reverberated through the battlefield. Norika twisted just in time to block the massive spiked club descending toward her. The force of Roderick’s strike sent her skidding back, but her stance held firm.
“We won’t go down without a fight,” Roderick growled, his hulking frame looming like a mountain of muscle and steel. “We are the Iron Vanguard, the king’s final line of defense.”
He swung the club again, the air splitting with each thunderous blow. Norika deflected each strike, her movements a blur of precision. Yet the sheer force behind Roderick’s attacks forced her to stay on the defensive.
“Every defense has a weakness,” Norika said, her voice calm despite the chaos. She leapt into the air, spinning to dodge a whip of blood that lashed toward her. Mid-spin, she grabbed the whip, yanking Maeve into Roderick. Both crashed together with a resounding impact.
“Humans are such fascinating creatures,” Norika mused as she landed gracefully. “You find goals to pursue, people to cling to for protection—or even love. That, I can respect. But it also makes you weak.”
Maeve staggered to her feet, her gaze burning with defiance. “Weak? How does having purpose or caring for someone make us weak?”
Norika’s voice turned icy. “Ties. Reliance. Obedience. When you depend on others, you dull your own senses. You become a liability to yourself. In this world, the only thing that matters is power. Defeating your enemy. And from where I stand, you’re both pitifully weak.”
“That’s a naïve and childish way of thinking,” Maeve shot back, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and sorrow. “Have you never had someone to lean on? Someone to make proud? Someone you wanted to be with, no matter what?”
The question pierced through Norika’s defenses like an arrow. Her eyes darkened, and memories she had long buried began to surface.
“I did,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “Once. But nothing ever goes as planned.”
She thought of her father—of the stories of his greatness, the immense power he wielded, and how he allowed himself to die. Her hatred for him burned anew as she remembered her resolve: to surpass him, to prove she needed no one.
Norika shook her head, forcing the thoughts away. “Enough of this,” she said coldly. “This fight has left a terrible taste in my mouth. I’ll end it now.”
Gripping her obsidian blade, the blue Blue flames erupted around her, their searing heat radiating like an inferno. With a single sweep of her sword, she obliterated Maeve’s remaining spirits, their anguished cries fading into silence.
Norika’s blade arced toward Maeve’s neck, but a deafening clash stopped her strike. Roderick’s spiked club had intercepted her attack.
“I won’t let you win,” he said, his voice a growl of determination. “If we lose, all of this will have been for nothing.”
He unleashed a shockwave that forced Norika back. But she retaliated in an instant, spinning on her heel and delivering a devastating kick to his neck. The impact sent Roderick crashing into the ground, leaving a crater in his wake.
Before she could drive her blade into his throat, Maeve’s blood whip coiled around her arm, holding her in place.
“You’re persistent,” Norika said, yanking the whip with such force that Maeve was dragged toward her. She raised her sword, ready to end it, but the ground trembled violently beneath her feet.
Roderick slammed his foot into the earth, the force creating a shockwave that disrupted her balance. Maeve seized the moment to regain her footing.
Norika sighed, her patience wearing thin. “I can only use it for a second,” she murmured, her voice tinged with resignation.
“Use what?” Maeve asked, her voice tinged with unease.
Norika didn’t answer. Her skin turned crimson, and the very air around her shifted. Steam and red smoke enveloped her, the sheer intensity of her aura suffocating.
Maeve’s eyes widened in terror. “What… What is she?”
Those were her final words. In a flash, both Maeve and Roderick were reduced to nothingness, their bodies disintegrating into steam.
Norika collapsed to her knees, panting heavily as she clutched her chest. “Even a second in that form... drains me this much,” she muttered. “I need rest.”
“Well, you sure dooo!” a familiar, carefree voice called out.
Norika’s eyes snapped up to see Paradox strolling toward her, his usual grin plastered across his face.
“Good job, Nor,” he said with a mock salute.
Her narrowed eyes silenced his jovial tone.
“Again with that look?” he said, scratching the back of his head. “I know you’ve got some grudge against me, but I haven’t done anything. If you want to deal with it, talk to future me.”
“When the time comes, you’ll come with me,” she replied firmly.
Paradox chuckled nervously, sensing her resolve. “Fine, fine. I’ll happily go.”
“What about your opponent?” she asked, her voice laced with suspicion.
“Oh, she’s still alive,” he said nonchalantly. “I’ve got plans for her. But you should rest. I’ll deal with the king.”
Norika hesitated before vanishing into the shadows. “You better not die,” she said, her voice low but firm. “Not until I decide what to do with you.”
Paradox smirked as he watched her leave. “Such a scary and violent girl. I wonder who raised her?” he joked to himself, his gaze turning toward the distant throne.
“The Iron Vanguard,” he muttered with a smirk. “What a cool name for such a weak group, maybe this king will spice things up."