THE DEVIL’S BARGAIN
The morning sun bled across the war camp as Billy strode toward the Crimson Vanguard’s pavilion. His officers followed, their silence heavy with unspoken doubts.
Reinhardt Vale sat at the same table, a knowing smirk on his lips as Billy took his seat. He gestured lazily toward the contract on the table. “I trust you’ve made your decision.”
Billy’s gaze flicked over the parchment. The terms were clear—too clear. No loopholes, no hidden clauses. Just a simple promise: The Vanguard fights under his banner, and in return, they get a slice of the empire he was trying to build.
It was a pact written in blood.
Aelric, standing behind Billy, folded his arms. “This contract binds us to your mercenaries for years. What’s stopping you from turning on us when a better offer comes along?”
Reinhardt chuckled, tapping the polished cane beside him. “Professional pride, my dear Aelric. The Vanguard doesn’t break contracts. That’s why we’re still alive.” His golden eyes glinted. “Besides, if I wanted to kill you, I wouldn’t need paperwork.”
Billy ignored the exchange, picking up the pen. His fingers hesitated for only a breath before he scrawled his name across the page.
Reinhardt’s smile widened. “A pleasure doing business with you.”
Billy pushed back his chair. “Don’t make me regret it.”
As he walked away, the weight of his choice settled in his chest. He had just chained himself to killers with no loyalty beyond gold.
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But war didn’t wait for morality.
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SEEDS OF DOUBT
That night, the officers gathered in the war tent. The air was tense, thick with unease.
Kaela’s voice was sharp. “You should’ve rejected the deal.”
Billy met her gaze. “And what, fight a war against the Dark Accord alone?”
She exhaled, pacing. “You don’t trust them. I don’t trust them. Reinhardt Vale is a viper, and now we’ve invited him into our camp.”
Aelric sat back, rubbing his temples. “It’s done. Now we figure out how to keep them on a short leash.”
Billy nodded. “We use them. We win. And when the time comes, we cut them loose.”
Soria leaned forward, arms on the table. “Speaking of things we can’t trust, we need to talk about the chaos blade.”
Billy stiffened, feeling the weight of the weapon at his side. The whispers had been louder since the battle, threading into his thoughts at every turn.
Power is the only truth.
Strike before they betray you.
Kaela’s voice pulled him back. “That thing is eating at you, Billy.”
His fingers curled into a fist. “I have it under control.”
No one looked convinced.
Aelric sighed. “I hope you’re right. Because if you lose yourself, it won’t be the Dark Accord that kills you. It’ll be us.”
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THE BLACK THORN AWAKENS
A scream tore through the camp.
Billy was on his feet instantly, chaos blade drawn. His officers followed as they rushed toward the source—one of the prisoner tents.
Inside, the guards lay dead. Their bodies were twisted, limbs bent in unnatural angles. The metallic scent of blood mixed with something foul—something wrong.
In the center of the carnage stood Ardyn.
Or what was left of him.
His veins pulsed black, chaos energy twisting through his form. His visor was gone, revealing hollow eyes filled with nothing but hunger. He grinned, blood dripping from his lips.
“Looks like Erebus left me a little parting gift.”
And then he moved.
Too fast. Too unnatural.
Billy barely had time to raise his blade before Ardyn was on him.
The battle had begun.
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END OF CHAPTER 73
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