The leader’s grin remained as he slowly drew his weapon.The sword slid free with a long metallic scrape that echoed across the glowing field.It was enormous.The blade alone was nearly as tall as Draven himself, forged from dark metal that shimmered faintly beneath the eerie green light surrounding the battlefield. Strange golden veins ran along its length, pulsing softly as though the weapon carried a life of its own.The leader lifted the massive sword with one hand effortlessly.The weight that would crush most warriors seemed meaningless in his grasp.“You might want to step aside while you say your last prayers to the gods.” The leader said to the Vaelcryx, swaying the sword, gesturing he moves aside.The Vaelcryx laughed.“I'm confident in my master. Go ahead to him and watch how you become a shaft before the wind.”“We’ll see about that.” The leader smirked.Draven stood, his expression unreadable.The Vaelcryx stepped aside, letting the leader walk towards Draven.He stood i

The leader suddenly stopped laughing.The wild amusement vanished from his face as if someone had cut the sound from his throat. His eyes narrowed slowly, fixing themselves onto Draven with a new kind of attention.Draven did not hesitate. His sword shifted instantly in his hand, its form shrinking and reshaping with precise fluidity until the long blade became a dagger. The transition was smooth, almost seamless.In an instant, he vanished.A blur of motion tore across the field. Blue flames trailed faintly behind him, streaking the air like burning wind. The ground beneath his feet barely had time to react before he was already gone.That was how fast he moved.The space between him and the leader disappeared in a heartbeat.Draven appeared directly in front of the leader, dagger ready to pierce through the exposed weakness he had discovered moments earlier.CLING!!!Steel met steel.The leader’s massive sword lifted just enough to intercept the strike. The sound of metal clashing r

“Shit!!”Commander Shaw hissed the word through clenched teeth, the frustration in his voice sharp enough to cut through the silence of the room.His eyes burned with irritation.And as usual, Thomas, his assistant, stood directly in the path of that storm.It had always been like this.Whenever Shaw’s temper erupted, it somehow found its way toward Thomas… or toward whatever object happened to be sitting on Shaw’s desk. Vases, files, laptops, none of them had been spared before.Thomas knew the pattern well.Yet he stood there calmly.Commander Shaw suddenly slammed his palm against the desk.“What on earth do you mean by Midas was stabbed moments ago?” he thundered.His fists clenched tightly, the muscles along his forearms tensing visibly.Thomas stood straight before him, his posture disciplined. His hands were crossed neatly over his crotch, his shoulders squared in a respectful stance.“He was stabbed by the prime minister’s wife,” Thomas replied. His tone remained measured and

At Madrick Hospital…The corridor outside the private ward was unusually quiet. The polished floors reflected the bright hospital lights above, giving the place a cold, sterile glow. Two guards stood rigidly at the entrance of the room, their attention fixed ahead in disciplined silence.Then Margaret appeared.The moment she approached, the guards straightened immediately, their posture snapping into perfect attention. Their heads bowed slightly in acknowledgment as she walked past them without even sparing them a glance.Her presence alone commanded the respect.Without hesitation, she pushed the door open and stepped into the ward.“Midas!” Margaret’s voice rang through the room sharply.The sound cut through the quiet like a blade.Midas’s eyes opened immediately. Not out of surprise, but out of irritation.His gaze burned with restrained fury as it locked onto her.“At least show some respect, woman!” he thundered.His voice echoed slightly in the confined space of the room, thou

The Vaelcryx emerged cautiously from behind the jagged rock it had hidden behind, its eyes widening at the sight before it. Everything seemed settled, the air no longer crackled with energy, “Master?” the creature murmured, a mix of awe and unease in its tone.Its gaze flicked downward, and a thought passed through its mind, sharp and incredulous: Where did his clothes go?Draven opened his eyes, slowly. His body, still emanating faint traces of the gold and blue energy. He looked at himself, registering the absence of any clothing. A smirk touched his lips, though it held no amusement, only a simmering edge.He turned his gaze to the Vaelcryx. “Any clothing stores in the meres? Spirits? Creatures? Anything around here that sells clothes?” His voice carried the heat of barely contained anger, sharp and commanding.“Yes… yes… there’s an exchange house not too far from here,” the Vaelcryx replied, hesitating slightly.“Exchange?” Draven repeated, the single word slicing through the air