The sky had turned silent.
Not peaceful—
But empty.
As if even the heavens had chosen to look away.
---
The walls of the clan stood tall.
Unbroken.
Unyielding.
Yet behind them—
Fear had already seeped through.
---
The soldiers stood in formation.
Armor equipped.
Weapons drawn.
But their hands trembled.
---
They knew.
Every single one of them knew.
---
"This… isn't a war we can win…"
One soldier muttered, his voice cracking.
Another fell to his knees.
"…we're going to die, aren't we…?"
No one answered.
Because no one could lie anymore.
---
Some clenched their teeth.
Some looked toward the gates.
Some…
Simply lowered their heads.
---
A young soldier wiped his tears with the back of his hand.
"…I just wanted to live peacefully…"
His voice broke.
"…just once…"
---
Nearby—
A veteran gripped his spear tighter.
But even his eyes shook.
"…this is the end…"
---
Behind them—
Civilians gathered.
Mothers held their children tightly.
Elders stood with trembling breaths.
---
A child stepped forward.
Looking up at the sky.
"…please…"
He whispered.
"…someone save us…"
---
Another voice joined.
Then another.
Then many.
---
Prayers.
Desperate.
Broken.
---
But the elders…
Closed their eyes.
---
"…the gods won't come."
One of them said quietly.
"…not for this."
---
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Crushing.
---
Because deep down—
Everyone understood.
---
This was not something even divinity could interfere with.
---
Then—
A sound.
---
A low tremor.
---
The ground shook.
---
Slowly—
The massive gates of the clan began to vibrate.
---
From beyond them…
A presence approached.
---
The Demandres Army.
---
Endless.
Monstrous.
Unstoppable.
---
Creatures twisted beyond reason.
Warriors devoid of emotion.
Beasts that existed only to obey.
---
At their front—
Stood a single commander.
---
Still.
Silent.
Watching.
---
Then—
He raised his hand.
---
The army stopped.
---
The air froze.
---
"…this is it…"
A soldier whispered.
---
The commander pointed forward.
---
And the army moved.
---
The gates trembled violently.
Cracks spread across the surface.
---
Inside—
Panic erupted.
---
"Hold the line!"
"Prepare for impact!"
---
But even those commands lacked conviction.
---
Because everyone knew—
---
They wouldn't last.
---
The gates began to break.
---
CRACK.
---
A piece fell.
---
CRACK.
---
Another.
---
Light from outside seeped through.
---
Dark.
Red.
Terrifying.
---
The army roared.
---
And just as the gates were about to collapse—
---
It happened.
---
Silence.
---
Not natural.
Not gradual.
---
Absolute.
---
The roar stopped.
The tremor ceased.
The air…
Froze.
---
Even the Demandres army halted.
---
Confusion spread.
---
Then—
A single step echoed across the battlefield.
---
From beyond the broken gates—
A figure emerged.
---
Alone.
---
He wore black.
A long coat, dark as void—
Threaded with faint golden designs that shimmered under the dying light.
---
His body was covered in blood.
---
Not his own.
---
The blood of the Demandres.
---
Dripping.
Still fresh.
Still warm.
---
He didn't rush.
Didn't speak.
Didn't react.
---
He simply walked forward.
---
Each step—
Slow.
Measured.
---
And yet—
Every step carried something unbearable.
---
The soldiers inside the walls felt it instantly.
---
Not fear.
Not pressure.
---
Something deeper.
---
Something that forced their bodies to still.
---
Outside—
The Demandres army…
Stopped moving.
---
For the first time—
Their formation broke.
---
They stepped back.
---
One step.
Then another.
---
Their commander's gaze sharpened.
But even he—
Did not advance.
---
Because the figure had raised his head.
---
His eyes—
---
No one could fully describe them later.
---
Some said they were red.
Some said they were empty.
Some said they looked like death itself.
---
But everyone agreed on one thing—
---
The moment those eyes opened—
---
Fear was born.
---
Not in humans.
---
But in the Demandres.
---
The army that knew no pain.
No hesitation.
No retreat—
---
Began to move backward.
---
A low sound escaped their ranks.
---
Not a roar.
---
Not a command.
---
Something closer to…
Instinct.
---
The figure stopped walking.
---
He stood at the center of the battlefield.
---
Facing them all.
---
Alone.
---
Then—
He placed his hand on his sword.
---
Left hand.
---
A simple motion.
---
He didn't draw it.
---
Not fully.
---
Not even halfway.
---
Just—
A slight movement.
---
Barely an inch.
---
The blade emerged.
---
One percent.
---
That was all.
---
And the world…
Broke.
---
A slash of crimson flame tore through existence itself.
---
Not seen.
Not followed.
---
Only felt.
---
Time froze.
---
Sound disappeared.
---
The sky split.
---
And in the next instant—
---
Everything ended.
---
The entire Demandres army—
---
Gone.
---
Not wounded.
Not scattered.
---
Erased.
---
Their bodies disintegrated into ash.
Their commander—
Vanished without a trace.
---
The battlefield stood empty.
---
Silent.
---
Unreal.
---
The soldiers behind the walls couldn't move.
Couldn't breathe.
Couldn't understand.
---
"…what…"
Someone whispered.
---
The gates stood broken.
But nothing came through.
---
Only him.
---
The figure slowly lowered his sword.
---
Without looking back—
He turned.
---
And began to walk away.
---
No words.
No acknowledgment.
---
Just silence.
---
As if what he had done…
Meant nothing.
---
From behind—
A voice trembled.
---
Yun Lianhua.
---
"…who…"
Her voice barely formed.
"…who was that…?"
---
Silence lingered.
---
Then—
Yun Meiying stepped forward.
---
Her eyes fixed on the place where the figure had disappeared.
---
Her voice came out quiet.
But it carried something that shook the very soul.
---
"…remember this, Lianhua."
---
"A name…"
---
"…that ended a war before it could begin."
---
A pause.
---
Her lips moved.
---
And for the first time—
She spoke it.
---
"…the Lord of Death."
---
The wind passed through the battlefield.
---
And even years later—
That name alone…
Was enough to make the world remember fear.