The thing that had once been General Ryan tore the night apart with a roar—a ragged howl of a man consud by his bargain.
He lunged with desperation, claws swinging, dark mana bursting from his maw. For a beat, the world narrowed to him: a hurricane of corruption aid at anyone between him and freedom.
Then the pressure turned inward.
Ryan’s fra heaved as if sothing inside was tearing him apart. Black veins pulsed under his skin, eyes rolling crimson.
He tried to force the power outward, but the vessel could no longer contain it.
A scream—more animal than human—ripped from his throat. The dark mana flared, then betrayed him. He doubled over, body convulsing before erupting.
The explosion blood clean and violent. A shockwave ripped banners and hurled n to their knees. When the light cleared, nothing remained but a smoking crater.
Silence lingered—then shattered into cheers. Tears and laughter mixed as n realized the tyrant who bound them was gone.
Lucian didn’t smile. The problem was solved, but chaos would follow. He turned to Verus.
"Take command."
Verus stiffened. He wasn’t a leader, but the steadiness in his eyes answered. He swallowed his nerves and barked.
"Form two lines! Secure the periter! Wounded to the tents—move!"
The soldiers rallied, snapping into order like a dormant instinct had awoken. Lucian gave a faint nod, then turned away.
Luna was late. Too late.
He pushed through the camp. Shadows of rci’s familiars still skittered, cut down by soldiers and villagers. The air reeked of smoke and blood.
He found Luna near the eastern storerooms. The stone walls were scarred, the ground splattered—signs of a vicious fight. rci stood opposite her, cloak tattered, blood at her side. Luna held her ground, rooted and steady.
Lucian stepped into view.
"You were slow. I thought you’d been eaten."
rci’s lips curled.
"If not for my wounds, I’d have crushed you both long ago."
Luna scoffed.
"Big words from soone who’s done nothing but bleed."
rci’s nostrils flared. Rage overca caution, and she lunged, shadows snapping like whips. Luna braced, stone rising under her feet to block. The impact rattled her arms, but she pushed back, countering with a jagged shard aid at rci’s flank.
rci twisted, avoiding it, but the movent tore her wound wider. Blood flowed. Her face twisted with fury as she drove shadow spears toward Luna’s ribs, testing her defenses.
A glimr of motion cut across her abdon.
rci froze. A mana-laced blade jutted from her stomach, runes burning faintly. She staggered, eyes wide, and looked back.
Lucian stood there, expression unreadable, knife steady in his grip.
"Resistance is useless."
He said evenly.
rci laughed, weak but venomous.
"You think this ends with ? I’d rather burn everything than be shackled!" Her hands pressed a hidden rune, intent clear—detonation.
Lucian didn’t hesitate. He slamd his palm into her chest, mana surging like chains. The rune’s glow sputtered, smothered under his suppression.
rci scread, shadows wilting. She crumpled to her knees, curses spilling from her mouth.
"You’ll regret this. You can’t stop what’s coming."
Lucian knelt, voice flat.
"You miscalculated. You chose fire. Now you choke on it."
He signaled Mira and Berry, who shackled rci with mana chains. She thrashed, but the seals held, draining her strength. Hauled away, she spat curses, but her words were nothing more than noise.
Lucian turned back toward the square. Verus’s voice carried as soldiers moved with newfound discipline. The rebellion had found its spine.
Luna t Lucian’s gaze, chest still rising hard from the fight. She didn’t smile—only gave a curt nod, as if this was expected.
"Secure her. No chances."
Lucian said.
"Yes."
Luna replied, voice steady.
rci’s shouts faded into the distance. Smoke and ash clung to the air, but beneath it ca sothing else—woodsmoke, the scent of survival.
Lucian folded the night into mory: the general destroyed, the rebellion awake, rci in chains. It wasn’t victory—it was a balance sheet that hadn’t yet collapsed. For now, that was enough.
rci’s body shook as Mira’s chains tightened. Her shadows lashed once, twice, before unraveling into smoke.
The corruption fueling her slipped away, leaving her smaller, weaker. She spat blood, glaring at Lucian with sothing between fury and terror.
"You think cutting one thread will stop the weave? You know nothing. Others will co. Stronger than . Stronger than that fool you just killed."
She hissed.
Lucian tilted his head, unimpressed.
"Then let them. I’ll cut them too."
Her laugh was broken, half-delirious.
"You arrogant bastard... that’s why you’ll drown in this war."
Berry tugged her forward, ignoring her ranting. Mira followed, silent but sharp-eyed.
Lucian lingered, eyes narrowing at the faint traces of mana still clinging to the walls. This wasn’t over. rci hadn’t lied about others—her presence here was proof enough.
She hadn’t acted for herself, but at soone else’s bidding.
"Trouble?"
Luna asked quietly, adjusting the dirt-stained hem of her cloak.
Lucian didn’t answer imdiately. Instead, he scanned the sky, where smoke rose over the settlent, glowing faintly under the torchlight.
The noise of soldiers and villagers echoed—hopeful, desperate, frightened all at once. A people at the edge of change.
Finally, he said.
"She wasn’t working alone."
Luna frowned.
"Then more will co."
"Eventually. But not tonight. Tonight belongs to us."
Lucian’s lips curved faintly, almost a smirk.
When they returned to the square, Verus had already restored order. The soldiers stood in formation, waiting for guidance.
The secretary was at his side, face pale but determined, issuing orders he would never have dared before. The weight of chains had lifted, and everyone felt it.
Cheers broke out as Lucian appeared, though he didn’t raise his hand or bask in it. He simply let their noise carry, let them believe in their own strength.
Because that was what they needed now—not a savior, but a leader they could call their own.
And if that leader faltered, I would make sure soone else replaced him.
Lucian thought grimly without speaking out loud.
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