Shriinng… slaaang… slaaang…
The sharp metallic clashes echoed through the room.
The sound dragged the unconscious Yelena Sterling back to awareness.
Her eyes slowly opened.
"What is that sound…? Where am I…?"
Above her was a high ceiling decorated with luxurious art and intricate noble carvings — the kind only found in the manor of a powerful household.
She realized she was lying on a large bed, covered with fine silk sheets.
Then—
Flash.
Memories surged into her mind.
The wedding, that was ruined.
The blood,that was spoiled.
The axe swing by an man.
The warmth of the blood on her face.
Her father's death.
His body—
She gasped sharply and sat up, breathing fast.
"Water… water…"
She looked around desperately.
From behind her, a voice spoke.
"Here,my lady"
It was feminine — yet there was a rough, almost masculine undertone to it.
Without thinking, Yelena grabbed the cup and drank quickly.
Only after finishing did she turn to look.
Standing there was a young woman in her early twenties. She had a ripped, muscular build, dressed in a maid's full gown uniform.
Besides her, there were an bunch of young maids who numb and trembling in fear.
She wore a calm smile on her face.
Yelena's eyes narrowed, yet with confusion and fear,
"Who are you? Where am I?"
The maid bowed slightly.
"Olivia Varkhal. That is my name. And we are at the Viscon Household."
"Viscon Household?" Yelena repeated.
Her thoughts raced.
Viscon? They were long-time enemies of Sterling. Why am I in their manor?
Before she could question further, Olivia answered calmly — almost as if she had read her mind.
"No need to worry, my lady. It's an sound of celebration that our liege's long time wish came true"
She smiled wider.
"After all, you are the love of our liege."
Then her tone shifted, though the smile remained.
"So we are celebrating this victory by painting the ground and wall with the blood of lowlife."
Yelena froze.
Her mind went blank again.
She rushed toward the window.
Outside—
The city was burning.
Houses were in flames.
Roads were shattered.
People were running.
In the center of it all stood three figures.
One of them was Seth Varkhal, twin daggers flashing as he sliced down anyone who approached him.
Nearby, Zeckie Varkhal wielding a chained axe shouted loudly,
"Oi! I tried to cut their mouths, but instead I cut their heads too! Still need more training handling this chain axe!"
He killed everyone indiscriminately,
civilians, soldiers, women, children whoever stood in his path.
From behind him, another voice responded calmly, serious yet mocking.
"Hey, Zeckie. If you want to improve your proficiency, better lose some weight. With your build, nothing moves the way you command."
The speaker Lexus, who had an athletic build and very tall.He wore a leather classic suite and carried a massive war hammer.
With one swing, he smashed the ground, collapsing soldiers around him.
People were stunned at how could he handle such a giant weapon which was as same size as him.
Zeckie varkhal laughed.
"Not everyone is like you!"
And again he spun his chain axe wildly, dancing through the chaos as he continued cutting down everyone in his path.
Yelena watched the massacre unfold before her eyes.
Even though Visconnia was once an enemy territory of Sterling, the brutality happening now was unbearable.
Burning houses. Screaming people. Blood everywhere.
She could not accept it.
Behind her, Olivia continued speaking casually, without considering Yelena's feelings.
"My lady, don't be suprised by seeing it, it's an small of token of love that our liege wanted to present before you"
Yelena were froze and Olivia, she just continued,"like this there would be a lot of surprises waiting for you all the way, my lady"
Hearing those words while watching the slaughter below—
Yelena couldn't control herself.
"Wah—"
She vomited onto the floor.
The sight disgusted her. The smell of blood. The violence.
Olivia's smile slowly faded.
Her expression twisted and slowly turned towards the maids who were there at there room,
"My lady vomited because of your poor management of this room?"
Without hesitation, she pulled out the long hair needles from her head.
Yelena immediately turned, alarmed.
"No… no… wait—"
Too late.
Olivia flicked her wrist.
Three needles shot across the room.
Each one pierced a maid directly in the neck.
They dropped dead instantly.
Olivia calmly adjusted her hair.
"Serves you right."
Yelena stood frozen. She couldn't stop it.
She couldn't save them.
People were dying… because of her.
Outside.
Inside.
Everywhere.
Her legs weakened.
Despair swallowed her whole.
Olivia turned back toward her, smile returning.
"My lady, I will inform my liege about your recovery. Until then, please take some rest."
With that, she left the room.
And Yelena stood there— Alone.
Weeping on the ground ,"Adrian,save me from this hell"
Surrounded by blood.
Knowing she had no control over anything anymore.
Next day morning, at the royal palace of Kingdom Valedyrn,
Within its golden royal palace, illuminated by rows of beautiful candles, the king resided.
King Magnus Daimoor IV sat upon his throne in a relaxed manner, casually rotating his crown on his finger, the very crown that was meant to rest upon his head.
His face looked lifeless. And everyone who were present at the royal courtroom were concerned about their highness's behaviour.
His advisor stepped up and spoke with restraint.
"Your Highness, it is inappropriate to play with the kingdom's crown as if it were a frisbee."
King Magnus Daimoor IV smirked slightly.
"What do you expect me to do, uncle? I am a battle lord known for my lust for battles across the continent.
My sole purpose is to fight the strong. That is why I live. And suddenly, you made me king when father fell ill and taking away the every possibilities that I had to fight."
The advisor was Lord Cassian Valmere, Archduke of the Kingdom of Valedyrn and also the king's mother's brother.
Concern was clear on his face, worried that Magnus still did not understand the weight of his position.
The king continued.
"My hands are itching to fight… to slay the strongest foe I have ever encountered. Until then—"
He spun the crown again.
"This is my entertainment. To kill my boredom."
Suddenly, the palace doors burst open.
A royal guard rushed in along with the overseer.
"Your Highness!"
All the royal subjects that were present in the royal chamber turned in shock as they see the overseer much wounded,like he was in life or death situation,
Lord Cassian Valmere stepped forward and saw the overseer and asked the guards,
"What is the matter?"
The overseer struggled to speak.
"The Sterling's County… have been annihilated."
Shock spread across the council chamber.
"What the hell happened?" one of the nobles shouted.
"Who has the audacity to wage war against us?" And another nobles shouted.
Admist all the chaos that were happening at the courtroom suddenly an guard ran into the court room screaming,
"Your Highness," and then fell into his knees.
Everyone for an second fumbled by the guards sudden appearance and the Archduke Cassian Valmere who stood at the center of the hall,
"What happened for you to run here sreaming and falls on your knees"
And then the guard with panic in his eyes,
"County Visconnia ... " As he was saying, everyone's eyes got widened,
And he finished what he was about to tell,"County Visconnia had been annihilated"
Tension and panic were aroused among the royal subjects and Archduke Cassian Valmere,"Who said that?"
And the guard said with panic in his eyes,
" An single soldier who survived from the annihilation dropped dead in front of the palace by uttering the news and who caused it"
Archduke Cassian Valmere,his mind started to calculate who might be it and,
whereas for King Magnus Daimoor IV his brightened up, though his kingdom's two county got annihilated over an night.
And the Overseer who already been in the terror screamed,"An another county ..... Got annihilated.....?"
And he get on the ground by kneeing down and covering his face with his hands,
"No...no....no.....no...." And he screamed,
"They are going to destroy this Kingdom"
Lord Cassian Valmere narrowed his eyes.
"Who was it? The Demon Kingdom? Or the Kingdom of Eryndor?"
The overseer trembled. His limbs were wounded; he could barely stand.
Fear filled his eyes as he spoke a single name.
"The Varkhal."