The Weight of Power
The dawn that followed the battle brought no comfort. Billy stood on the edge of the settlement’s watchtower, gazing over the blood-streaked battlefield below. The bodies had been cleared, but the scars of war remained—craters in the earth, broken barricades, and the acrid scent of chaos energy lingering in the air.
The chaos blade rested against the railing beside him, its pulsing glow subdued but ever-present. It whispered in his mind, a seductive hum beneath his thoughts. You were strong. You can be stronger.
Billy closed his eyes, gripping the hilt tightly. He could still feel it—the power. For a moment, during the battle, he had been unstoppable. But when the chaos took over, he barely remembered what happened. The fear in Kaela’s eyes haunted him more than the corpses he left behind.
A soft voice pulled him back to reality.
“You’re up early.”
Billy turned to see Kaela approaching, her eyes searching his face for answers. She leaned against the railing beside him, silent for a moment before speaking again. “You scared me out there, Billy.”
“I scared myself,” he admitted, his voice raw.
Kaela looked at him intently. “We’ve fought side by side for a long time. But yesterday… that wasn’t you.”
Billy sighed, running a hand through his purple hair. “It was me, Kaela. Just... the part I’ve been trying to keep buried.” He glanced at the chaos blade, its glow intensifying at his attention. “This thing... it wants more.”
Kaela reached out, placing a hand over his. “Then don’t give it.”
Billy met her gaze, but before he could respond, a soldier hurried over. “Commander, Ardyn is awake. Soria’s waiting.”
Billy straightened, his jaw tightening. “Let’s see what our traitor has to say.”
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Interrogation and Doubt
The prison cell was dimly lit, the only illumination coming from flickering energy lamps. Ardyn sat in chains, slumped against the cold wall, his visor removed. His face was bruised, a fresh cut running down his cheek, but the smirk he wore remained infuriatingly intact.
Billy stepped inside, followed by Kaela and Soria. Aelric leaned against the far wall, arms crossed and eyes narrowed.
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Ardyn lifted his head, his voice laced with sarcasm. “I was wondering when you’d drop by. Missed me?”
Billy ignored the taunt and pulled up a chair, sitting across from him. His eyes were dark, unreadable. “Why’d you betray us, Ardyn?”
Ardyn chuckled, shaking his head. “Betray? No. I just chose the winning side.”
Kaela stepped forward, fury etched into her face. “You could’ve gotten us all killed.”
“That was the idea,” Ardyn said casually. “But Billy here... he’s different. He’s playing with forces he doesn’t understand.” His gaze flicked to the chaos blade strapped to Billy’s hip. “Or maybe he does.”
Billy’s grip on the weapon tightened. “Enough games. Who else is working with you?”
Ardyn smirked, leaning forward as far as his restraints allowed. “You think I was the only one? The Dark Accord has eyes everywhere, Billy. In your ranks. In your allies. And soon... even in your mind.” His grin widened. “It’s already whispering, isn’t it?”
Billy’s jaw clenched, but Kaela’s hand on his shoulder steadied him. He exhaled slowly. “You’re going to tell me everything. Whether you want to or not.”
Ardyn laughed, shaking his head. “Torture won’t work. I’ve been trained for worse.”
Billy stood, his eyes cold. “I wasn’t talking about torture.” He turned to Soria. “Get the cypher unit ready. I want his mind scanned.”
Ardyn’s smirk faltered for the first time. “You wouldn’t dare.”
Billy leaned in, his voice a whisper. “Watch me.”
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Lines Blurred
Later, in the strategy chamber, Billy poured over reports while his thoughts raced. Ardyn’s words gnawed at him. How deep did the Dark Accord’s infiltration go? Who else could he trust?
Aelric dropped a mug of steaming tea on the table beside him. “You look like hell.”
Billy didn’t glance up. “Feel like it too.”
Aelric sat across from him, his expression serious. “Listen, I know things are... rough. But we need to talk about that sword.” He nodded toward the chaos blade resting beside Billy. “It’s changing you.”
Billy’s fingers curled around the hilt reflexively. “I have it under control.”
“Do you?” Aelric’s voice was firm. “Because yesterday, you nearly killed Kaela without realizing it.”
Billy’s chest tightened. “I didn’t—”
Aelric cut him off. “She won’t say it, but I will. We need you, Billy. Not whatever that thing is turning you into.”
Billy was silent for a long moment. “I can’t stop using it, Aelric. Not yet.”
Aelric sighed, rubbing his temples. “Then make sure it doesn’t start using you.”
Billy stared at the blade. The whispers were quiet now, but he knew they were never truly gone.
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An Uneasy Alliance
The next day, Soria burst into the command tent with urgent news. “We have a problem.”
Billy looked up from the map. “What now?”
She took a deep breath. “Scouts spotted movement at the southern border. Not the Dark Accord. Another force.”
Billy frowned. “Who?”
Soria hesitated. “The Crimson Vanguard.”
Aelric swore under his breath. “Those mercenary bastards?”
Kaela crossed her arms. “What do they want?”
Billy exhaled. “An opportunity. They wouldn’t be here unless they thought they could profit from our war.”
Soria nodded. “Their envoy wants a meeting. What’s the plan?”
Billy’s eyes darkened. “We hear them out. For now.”
As the meeting adjourned, Billy lingered in the tent, gazing at the chaos blade once more. The whispers returned, smooth and insidious. You don’t need allies, Billy. You just need power.
Billy clenched his fists. “Not yet.”
But deep inside, he wondered how much longer he could resist.
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End of Chapter 71