"Hold your breath, Gerry! Don't let the impact crush your ribs!" Kael shouted, his voice muffled by the roar of the night wind battering the river's surface at tremendous speed.Gerry did not answer. He tightened his grip on Kael's robe, using the man's body as his primary shield as the violent impact with the river's surface slammed into them like a solid steel wall. High-pressure, icy water forced its way into his nose and mouth, while excruciating pain pierced every inch of his muscles, already torn apart by the effects of the energy-restraining formation in the tower.[System warning: Physical impact detected beyond biological tolerance threshold. Muscle tissue damage has reached sixty percent. Initiating automatic emergency recovery protocol...] Vesper's voice hummed weakly inside Gerry's mind, breaking up as the young man's consciousness faded.Total darkness immediately swallowed Gerry's vision, consuming all traces of pain and the roaring sound of the ri

“Let’s move. First step, we start by sabotaging their logistics,” Gerry said coldly.The generals stared at Gerry with wide eyes. “Your Highness, are you sure we’re going to sabotage their logistics route right away?”“Of course. You all know that, surely. It’s a strategy used in battle.”“We’re ready!” General Coran replied.They began moving toward the palace’s logistics center, using the map Gerry had obtained. However, when they entered the weapons storage complex, the place was guarded by mechanical robots.“Position the assault units in the eastern sector! Do not let a single one of those mechanical guards touch the main detonator before the detonation time!” General Vargast roared, his thunderous voice shattering the silence of the night outside the imperial central armory complex.Gerry stood atop a rocky cliff, staring sharply at the complex ba

“Open your eyes wide and look at who just sold the blood of our own comrades!” General Hektor barked, throwing a palace-sealed scroll directly into the muddy puddle in front of hundreds of rebel soldiers.Gerry stood tall atop a rocky outcrop, staring sharply at the middle-aged man in silver armor who now knelt before him with his hands bound in iron chains.“General Orson, do you have an explanation for why our military crest was found on the palace commander’s desk last night?” Gerry asked in a flat voice, yet the coldness of it pierced to the bone.Orson looked up, his face pale as cold sweat poured down his temples. “That... that’s slander, Your Highness! The document is fake! The enemy deliberately framed me!”“Slander?” General Vargast stepped forward, drawing his sword and pressing it directly against Orson’s neck until fresh blood trickled down and stained his steel collar. “I

"Seal off the escape routes in the main hall! Don't let that western rat breathe!" a deep voice bellowed from behind the golden doors of the Emperor's chamber.Gerry kicked the marble doors open, revealing the luxurious interior of the high-ceilinged room, filled with white marble pillars. At the far end of the room, a middle-aged man wearing a golden crown sat on a jewel-encrusted throne, staring at him with a cold sneer."Welcome to the end of your journey, you little bastard," the false emperor said as he rose from his throne.Gerry stepped inside without fear, Obsidian Fang in his right hand, the blade hissing as it emitted dark black flames. "You're sitting on the throne that claimed the lives of my family, Malakor."Gerry's gaze swept across the entire room. Not a single person dared to approach, even though the footsteps of soldiers could be heard faintly from behind the doors. They knew that a battle between two users of dark energy like this was

"Do not let a single drop of blood from these traitors remain on the floor of this palace!" General Vargast roared as he swung his sword through the last remaining line of palace guards.Gerry stepped out of the ruins of the throne room with his mother on his back, his gaze sweeping across the vast palace courtyard, which was now completely under the control of the rebel forces."Your Highness! All enemy commanders have surrendered, and the main gate has been fully secured!" General Hektor reported breathlessly, quickly dropping to one knee before Gerry."Good. Make sure none of the soldiers engage in looting or executions without orders," Gerry commanded firmly, his voice echoing between the charred marble pillars."Spare us, Your Highness! We were only following Malakor's orders!" screamed a senior imperial minister who was crawling in terror near the foot of the throne steps.Gerry stared at the silver-haired middle-aged man without mercy. "You watched the massacre of the Sterling