Black stone walls rose like cliffs, carved with ancient sigils that pulsed with a faint crimson glow. Torches burned with unnatural dark flames, hissing instead of crackling. A cold mist crawled across the floor like a living thing.
At the center of it all sat a long table of obsidian, its surface shining like frozen blood. Nine figures sat around it—monsters wrapped in human shapes, each radiating a different kind of malice.
At the head sat Aldric Vaelthorne, his kingly posture rigid, eyes glowing faint gold with venomous intent.
"It's time," Aldric said, voice sharp as a blade. "We address our problem.
Reider."
A ripple of cruel amusement spread across the table.
Lucian smirked first, leaning back in his chair.
"That child believes himself untouchable. I will show him the meaning of divine punishment."
Across from him, Selene Blackgrave twirled a ribbon of floating blood around her finger like a toy. Her smile was slow and hungry.
"I say we take him alive. I want to peel that calm expression from his face… layer by layer."
Karn the Butcher—massive, scarred, breath smelling of iron and old death—gave a booming laugh.
"Alive? I want to hear his bones snap. See if the boy bleeds like a man."
Dredge Hollowborn, wrapped in creeping void energy that whispered like distant screams, lifted a hand swirling with black mist.
"Pain is meaningless if it ends quickly. Let him drown in the abyss.
Let him beg for an ending."
Veyra Nightshade sipped dark wine behind her veil, her smile cold and poisonous.
"You're all loud and messy. Poison is quiet. Elegant. One touch, and he'll collapse before knowing who killed him."
Kaelith the Pale Flame rested calmly in his seat, cold blue fire flickering around him without heat.
"No. We burn what he loves. We leave him standing in the ashes. Only then do we kill him."
Azrael Morgrave leaned forward slowly, long fingers flexing like claws.
"Let me twist his mind first. Let him fear shadows that aren't there. Let him scream before anything touches him."
Lucian glanced at Aldric, smiling like a serpent.
"You see, my King? We have options. Quick and violent…
or slow and exquisite."
Aldric steepled his fingers, expression chilling.
"I want him broken. Not merely dead. His allies must see him crushed."
Selene grinned at that, leaning forward.
"Then let me start. I'll handle the dark elf and that dragon woman too."
Dredge's eyes glowed deep.
"I'll bring back his corpse. Or whatever remains."
Karn slammed his axe on the table, the stone cracking under it.
"Give him to me first. I want to hear if the boy screams like a warrior—or a child."
Veyra chuckled softly.
"Careful. You might be surprised."
Kaelith's voice was calm, chilling.
"He killed stronger men already. Underestimate him and you'll die."
Azrael hissed, eyes glowing sickly yellow.
"Which makes breaking him all the sweeter."
Lucian's grin widened.
"You forget—Dain raised him. That alone makes him more dangerous than he looks."
Aldric's expression turned blade-sharp.
"All the more reason to use everything we have. Burn their homes. Kill their allies. Take everything away."
Selene licked her lips.
"And Mei? His little mother? Shall I visit her first?"
Lucian's grin sharpened.
"Oh yes. Kill her. And make him watch."
Veyra's voice dripped like venom.
"Poison would make her death slow. Beautiful."
Kaelith smiled coldly.
"Or burn her. Let him choke on the scent of her ashes."
Dredge's laugh was hollow.
"I'll take her soul when the body is done."
Azrael leaned forward with a delighted hiss.
"And I want the boy to see every moment."
Karn cracked his neck and laughed.
"If anything's left of him after I'm done."
Lucian whispered, eyes glowing with cruel delight.
"He will know pain. And he will know loss."
Aldric smiled without warmth.
"And when he breaks… we show him to the world. A warning."
Selene's eyes glittered.
"Oh, this will be fun."
Kaelith whispered, "And when nothing remains but ash… the world will understand."
Lucian stood, bloodlust thick in his voice.
"Then it begins. We strike before he moves."
Azrael grinned wildly.
"He'll never see it coming."
Veyra purred, "Nor will the women with him."
Aldric finally rose, his shadow stretching across the table like a crown of darkness.
"Crush them. Crush all of them.
Bring me Reider's head."
A map lay across the table—Reider's face painted onto it in dried blood.
All nine stared at it like wolves staring at a wounded deer.
Selene leaned over it, voice dripping hunger.
"Let the game begin."
Kaelith whispered, "The world will burn."
Dredge murmured, "The void will feast."
Lucian leaned close to Aldric, whispering,
"We'll tear him down, my King. Piece by piece."
Aldric smiled the cruelest smile of all.
"Reider will never see us coming."
The torches dimmed.
Shadows spread.
War began.