A half-open letter lay on the desk. It was read just recently, and the words were still fresh.
Near a slightly open window, Zephyr gazed out to the streets of the Imperium City.
He heard the usual chatter of tradesfolk, the clattering of carriages nearby, and the familiar church bell ringing in the distance.
It was all peaceful.
However, Zephyr knew that all that peace and quiet would end shortly.
He straightened his sleeves, buttoned his coat, and then left his office.
With a small railing in front of him, he leaned against it and looked below. He could see his guild coming to life as the mbers arrived for their weekly eting.
"Everyone!"
With a loud scream, the guild building turned silent like a grave, and all eyes turned on him.
"Prepare for the war." Zephyr said coldly.
…
Red Thread, the old antique shop.
Alistair read through so of the latest news he had received.
With monts flying by, he started to look older and tired.
"Uncle and nephew…" He sighed and looked at the very old chandelier that hanged by the ceiling.
It seed worn and about to break down, just like himself. However, there was one final mission ahead, and he hoped that he would last enough to see it through.
From one of the drawers, Alistair brought out an old revolver and spun its chamber like a wheel.
At that mont, a pair of shadows moved behind the foggy windows, and then, the door opened with a cling of a bell.
With a quick throw, a flashbang grenade rolled inside.
Alistar hid behind the counter with the revolver in hand. The flashback grenade exploded behind the counter, blinding the antique shop.
"Its a war ti, bitch, die!" Tyson stord the antique shop with a tommy gun and riddled the walls with bullet holes.
Ratatatatatata!
Through the valuable antique items, through the walls, and through the windows, the bullets made everything look like Swiss cheese.
"Hahahaha!" Tyson laughed maniacally, but then the gun needed a reload.
Behind the counter, Alistair stood up, unscathed, pointed his revolver at Tyson, and fired a single bullet. The bullet went through Tyson's forehead.
Tyson's friend jumped through the door, and before he could shoot his own tommy gun, Alistair pointed his revolver at him and fired the second bullet.
Swoosh.
Through the eye, he also died.
"Cough, cough!" Alistair coughed wildly and dropped down on his chair with drool dripping from the corner of his mouth.
The war didn't only revolve around the Mortal Online. The real world was as dangerous a place now for those participating in the war.
"The first bullet has been fired…" Alistair cleared his throat. "No going back now."
…
Under the scorching sun, Orion sat on a rock bench, a walking cane in hand, and looked as two of his beloved pupils fought by the yard.
Sapphira's and Arkham's attacks were fierce. It didn't look like an ordinary spar, but a fight to the death.
Sapphira danced beautifully, her light sword moving like a lightning bolt from the sky, fast and deadly.
With his heavy axe, Arkham struggled to keep up with her speed and agility, but with one overhand slash, he managed to land a solid blow on her shoulder.
Spurt!
The cut was clean, and Sapphira's arm flew off her shoulder, landing on the ground with a sickening thud.
Orion chuckled like a child, but then a mber of his guild ca to him, whispered sothing, and then left.
It wasn't good news.
Far from it.
However, Orion didn't look worried and just let the two younglings fight without telling them that the war had basically already started.
'No need to hurry. The war isn't going anywhere.'
…
"Wohoo, war!" Calamity danced on top of a table that was packed with alcohol bottles.
The bar was loud like a concert as the mbers of the Death rcenaries partied after the news of the war reached the ears of their guild master.
While the official announcent of war hadn't co yet, they knew that the war was already at their doorsteps.
It was only a matter of ti before they would be called into battle.
After today, who knew how long it would take before they could party like this again. It could be years!
"The war, haha!" A drunken rcenary laughed. "Calamity, perhaps you can beco the latest S-ranker after all, once that Palestar brat is dead, hahaha!"
Calamity grabbed an alcohol bottle and smashed it against the rcenary's face. Its sharp glass cut through his face like a knife and left him badly disfigured.
"Moroooon!" Calamity shouted and took a big gulp of alcohol. "I am the latest one. He hadn't proved himself yet, and I don't care what those old geezers say. He is S-ranker in na only; unless he proves himself in the war, he's nothing!"
"Argh, fuck!" The disfigured rcenary scread. "You hurt , bastard!"
Calamity scoffed and threw his alcohol bottle at him. The bottle exploded against his face, causing blood to spurt out everywhere.
"How exhilarating!" Calamity scread. "In this war, everyone will die and perish!"
…
A brilliant throne, embedded with the brightest jewels, stood at the royal hall of the Royal Palace.
At the throne, seated with one leg crossed over the other, King Moriarty read through a letter that the ssenger just brought.
With his golden eyes moving through the text, he looked apathetic, and after reading it through, he gave it back to the ssenger.
"My liege, what shall we do?" His left-sided royal advisor spoke to him. "With nearby villages and Godswood in your control, they're tempting places for Ancient Guilds to target to get a strong foothold."
Then, his right-sided royal advisor, who shared the sa face as the left-sided royal advisor, said:
"You must act swiftly to protect your lands and people."
King Moriarty raised his hand to silence them.
"They don't matter."
"My liege?" The royal advisors exchanged a concerned gaze.
"It is the throne that truly matters. Those villages that I am in control of have only a population of five hundred each. Godswood is housed by Chaosbeings. I won't exchange my n or resources for such insignificant things."
"My liege, you're still ruler of this realm. If you don't protect your territory, your alliances will fall apart."
"Evacuate the villages, and burn the Godswood to the ground." King Moriarty said. "With Godswood gone, the trees that give that place natural defenses will be gone, making that place worthless."
"Madam Aria Darkstar sent a letter." The left-sided royal advisor said. "She has her concerns."
"She has my support." He said. "Those Originals from the evacuated villages will be relocated to her lands to act as reinforcent for her army."
"It'll make them dissatisfied. Aria will send them to be atshields."
"At least they will have their uses," he said. "Their dissatisfaction also doesn't matter when they're dead."
"What will Imperial Order do during this ti?"
"We aren't the main party of the war." King Moriarty said. "Leave the fighting for Ancient Guilds first. We're the last boss, after all."
…
Wheeling down a bumpy dirt road, a wagon loaded with supplies jostled and bounced, the driver struggling to maintain control as they headed towards the towering city of Imperium.
After opening the flap of the wagon, Adam peered outside, inhaling the fresh scent of pine trees and feeling the cool breeze on his face.
It was only him inside the wagon beside so cabbage boxes, food delicacies, and a few boxes of water.
The Imperium City lood closer and closer with each bounce.
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