[Chp. 13] The War Starts

The sky was no longer blue. It had turned a dark, ominous gray, thick clouds swirling like the breath of an angry beast. Across the continents, banners of war rose high—crimson flags bearing the mark of Ember Vow—like storm clouds blotting out the sun. The earth groaned beneath the weight of marching armies, the ground trembling with each footfall. In the distance, the sound of war drums echoed, a foreboding rhythm that set the pace of impending devastation. Atop a jagged, broken-down hill, fifteen figures stood—silhouettes of darkness, their forms barely visible against the fading light of dusk. The wind howled around them, as though the very air could sense the arrival of death. Voragoth stood at the front, his shadow long and menacing as it stretched across the battlefield. His cloak billowed like smoke, eyes burning with a cold, calculating fire. He raised his voice, sharp and commanding, slicing through the wind. “Listen up, my thirteen subordinates,” Voragoth’s voice was low, but it carried a weight that seemed to make the very ground beneath them quake. “There are fourteen kingdoms. Each continent has one kingdom, and there are fourteen continents.” He paused for a moment, letting the words sink in. His gaze swept over his subordinates, sharp and piercing. The others stood still, an unsettling silence hanging between them. “Leave the Kingdom of Eldora to me and Zero,” Voragoth continued, his voice a dagger. “The rest belongs to you. Each of you takes one kingdom. Thirteen kingdoms for thirteen of you.” His tone darkened, final, like the closing of a tomb. “Make sure the entire kingdom is destroyed. Make sure their kings and queens are dead. Leave nothing behind.” He turned his back on them then, but his presence still loomed like an oppressive storm. His eyes flickered to Zero, who stood beside him, a figure of dark resolve, eyes gleaming with the cold anticipation of battle. "Are you ready, Zero?" Voragoth's voice was quieter now, but no less commanding. Zero nodded, his expression unreadable but filled with deadly intent. "Yes, my Lord, I am ready. We leave whenever you are." Voragoth's lips twisted into a thin, cruel smile. “Let’s see how each kingdom fares against my subordinates before we make our move. I look forward to watching the chaos unfold.” With a swift motion, Voragoth raised his hand. The air around them seemed to crackle with dark energy. One by one, his subordinates teleported, vanishing into the ether like shadows swallowed by the night. Each one, sent to their designated kingdom, prepared to bring forth the destruction promised by Ember Vow.