Bang!

The door to the ball room opened loudly, Duke Varian's steps echoed in the otherwise loud and chaotic atmosphere. Leaders of noble houses had swarmed the venue hall immediately after the attack began. Panicked expressions painted their faces, questions already spilling from their mouths.

The nobles' district was relatively unharmed regardless of the destruction that had occurred around the capital. However, none of those present felt safe, the intense tremors echoing outside was a stark reminder of the ongoing battle.

As Duke Varian walked deeper into the hall, the loud chatters and conversations died down, all eager to hear what he had to say. One chubby man could not hold himself back any longer, he stepped up and asked for all to hear. "What is the meaning of this!"

He went by Marquee Ruel. He was well known throughout the populace simply for his wealth and riches. That and his greed. A former merchant, promoted gradually from a baron up till he reached his current status all because of his financial contributions to the kingdom. He controlled most of the major markets in and around the capital, his words held a lot of weight even among nobles despite his weakness.

He was only an intermediate rank. Even that he managed to reach thanks to consuming hundreds of potions and elixirs.

His rotund figure was swathed in a luxurious doublet of deep burgundy velvet, embroidered with intricate gold thread that shimmered in the candlelight. The doublet, tailored to accommodate his round frame, featured padded shoulders.

Draped over his shoulders was a cloak of midnight blue, lined with the finest sable fur, fastened at the shoulder with a brooch encrusted with rubies and sapphires. His trousers, made of the finest silk, clung to his legs and were tucked neatly into knee-high leather boots, polished to a mirror-like shine.

Around his waist, a wide belt of tooled leather cinched his ensemble, adorned with precious stones that caught the light with every movement. His fingers, pudgy and adorned with rings set with emeralds, diamonds, and amethysts, gestured grandly as he spoke, each ring a testament to his wealth and status. Most of them were enhancement and protection artefacts.

His hair, slicked back with a generous application of gel, gleamed under the chandeliers, each strand meticulously in place. The nobleman's face, framed by a neatly trimmed beard, bore an expression of smug satisfaction, his eyes twinkling with the knowledge of his own importance.

"We were suddenly attacked out of the blue in the comfort of our homes and now we have two powerful unknown individuals fighting above our city. This is unacceptable!"

Duke Varian's eyes narrowed as he surveyed the room, his gaze settling on Marquee Ruel. The tension in the hall was palpable, the air thick with fear and uncertainty. Varian took a breath, his voice steady and authoritative as he addressed the gathered nobles.

"Marquee Ruel, your concerns are valid," he began, his tone measured. "We are facing an unprecedented threat, one that has taken us all by surprise. But rest assured, our forces are mobilizing to defend the city. The safety of our people is our utmost priority."

The nobles murmured amongst themselves, their anxiety evident. Varian continued, his voice rising above the din. "We must remain calm and united. Panic will only serve to weaken us. I have already dispatched our best warriors to confront the intruders. We will not allow our city to fall."

Marquee Ruel's face flushed with anger, his pudgy fingers clenching into fists. "And what of our homes? Our families? Are we to sit idly by while our city burns?"

Duke Varian's expression hardened. Clearly all this greedy pig was concerned about were his stores and coffers. But he could not say that out loud.

"I understand your fears, Marquee. But we must trust in our defences and in our king. We have faced threats before and emerged stronger. This time will be no different."

As Varian spoke, a loud crash echoed from outside, followed by a blinding flash of light. The nobles gasped, their fear palpable. Varian turned towards the source of the commotion, his jaw set. 'The king might have to act on himself at this rate, those two a far stronger than I am, I would be squashed under their feet.'

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

"Stay here and protect the hall," he commanded, his voice firm as he looked to the guards stationed on either side of the doors. "I will go and assess the situation. We will get through this."

....

King Alden was still seated on his throne in the empty hall. The wall across him down the hall was visibly falling apart. The blast had hit a large part of the wing just beside his throne room. Even so, his countenance was as calm as could be.

He was very much aware of the threat the demigods outside posed. But he saw this as an opportunity, an opportunity to weed out the week. His motto remained the same throughout his life, and the same goes for this ordeal, 'Survival of the fittest'. Even if he were to fall here, battling to the end of his life, then so be it. That means he was too weak.

He had mostly left those under him to their own devices for the last few decades for that same reason. Even as his kingdom was slowly corrupted from within. As his nobles robbed the denizens' pockets under the pretext of taxes, as the sons of his nobleman raped and killed innocent women and girls.

He watched as they plotted to replace him over the years, they formed factions, supporting each of his three sons to succeed him. Even offering up their own daughters to please his sons and gain favour.

He clung tightly to his belief and watched it all unfold. As such even though he came to realise his actions had caused them all to grow complacent. He found rare gems in the rough. He found loyal men like Duke Varian. A true nobleman who possessed a valiant soul.

At this point in his life, nothing could ever seem to shake someone of his stature, he had seen his fair share of the struggles of life and battle. And the day he realised that he had reached the ends of his potential and could not progress any further past his current rank, life became monotonous and meaningless.

The door to the throne room creaked, one of its hinges had come off, leaving it hanging at an angle from its initial position. Varian enter slowly, making his way to Alden's seat before coming to a stop and dropping to take a knee twenty metres from the throne.

"Speak"

Varian: (holding his head in a low bow) "Yes my liege, we have received calls for backup from our borders, they were all attacked at once. It is as we thought. The previous skirmishes were all coordinated attacks to prepare for this very moment.

"A beast horde has launched a relentless attack from the forest to our western side of the border. We are not sure if they came from within the forest or from the other side of the border, from the Feys are a passive bunch. I don't see why they would be a part of this attack."

"Mmmm, worst case, keep that as a possibility, we don't know that for sure."

"Yes. And I took care of the spies in our kitchen as you ordered. However, the guards posted to the north have yet to heed to my calls."

"You will go there once we are done cleaning up here. Any news from our agent at the academy?"

"Yes. He sent an echo"

Varian approached the throne with a red shard in his palm. An invisible force lifted it off of his hand and it appeared in Alden's fingers.

"If that is all you may leave. Take care of any remaining mercenaries. The battle outside is almost at its end. I will be making my appearance to confront the masked demigod who battled the terrorists."

"Yes, my lord" He bowed respectfully and went on to make his exit through the door he used to enter.

Alden went on to inspect the shard in his hands. The message played out in his head; a flicker of surprise briefly appeared in his eyes. But it disappeared as quickly as it came. He supported his frame with his arm on the rests of his throne before standing up.

"It is time"

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Baddump!

Rio felt his heart leap up to his throat as the light engulfed him. Any attempt to zip away was stopped by an invisible force as the space around him solidified. He was locked in place.

'Space element!'

Time seemed to slow as the attack made its way toward him, his features twisted grotesquely as fear took hold of his heart. He could feel it in his very bones, there was no dodging this attack, and there was no surviving this attack.

He could only imagine a single outcome, his death. Regret, sorrow and helplessness flooded his mind in the last milliseconds of his existence as his life flashed before his eyes.

There was no struggle, no screams of despair even to the last moment, the flashing attack did not even make a sound. And after a few seconds, everything cleared out. There was nothing left of Rio. The photons of light had wiped him off the face of the planet. As if he never existed in the first place. It was truly a terrifying thought.

Raph floated calmly in the sky, his breath calm and light, looking down on the land below. Not a speck of dust visible on him. He looked like a man taking a casual stroll in the air. You wouldn't have guessed he had just been in a heated battle.

His baggy pants swayed lightly in the windy sky, despite his casual appearance, he almost looked a deity among men. Well, a deity in a mask.

An old man appeared a few metres away from him. He was not exactly old, but he was slowly getting there, specks of grey hair were already visible in his head of blonde hair. Raph immediately recognised who he was from his aura alone. He had felt this very aura from the moment he stepped foot in Belgrav.

"The king finally decides to grace us with his presence." Raphael spoke first, his voice deep and raspy.

"You know who I am, good this should make this conversation easier then. First things first, since you recognise me, it is only right if you'd introduce yourself "

"And if I choose not to?"

.....