The world shook.
A thunderous blast ripped through the city, a shockwave rolling across stone and steel. Flames climbed into the night sky, painting the horizon in violent orange. Screams echoed through the streets as people scattered, their shadows flickering against the burning ruins.
Deep within the castle, the grand chamber trembled. Dust drifted from the ceiling as two men stood before the throne, their faces drained of color. Panic clung to the air like smoke.
"Sir—what do we do?!" one of them cried, voice cracking.
"The enemy draws near! Your orders, sir!" the other shouted, barely holding himself together.
On the throne sat the king, draped in ornate robes that suddenly felt far too heavy. He lifted a hand, silencing them with a gesture. His expression remained composed, but a faint unease flickered behind his eyes.
Beside him stood a winged man—tall, unnervingly still, and cold. His presence alone made the chamber feel smaller. His eyes held no warmth, only a distant amusement.
"Calm yourselves," the king said. "We have him."
The winged man's lips curled into a faint smirk.
"Bring them in."
The heavy doors groaned open. A group of women and children were ushered inside, their steps unsteady, their faces streaked with tears. Their quiet sobs filled the chamber, a fragile sound swallowed by the vast room.
The king leaned forward, lowering his voice.
"I've gathered more women and children. Pure and untouched, as you requested. Will these be enough to fulfill your end of the contract?"
The winged man's smirk widened into something darker.
Then he moved.
A sudden rush of air swept through the chamber. The king flinched, the two men recoiling in shock. The winged man's attack was swift—too swift to fully comprehend. The terrified group collapsed where they stood, their lives extinguished in an instant.
The king and his advisors stared at him, horror tightening their throats. The winged man only laughed, the sound sharp and unhinged.
"Yes… yes. He will be pleased indeed."
He crouched, dipping his fingers into the spreading pool on the floor. With slow, deliberate motions, he traced a circle across the marble—a faint glow pulsed from its center, growing brighter with each stroke.
"And it's all thanks to foolish humans like you," he said, voice dripping with mockery.
The king stumbled backward. "Foolish humans? What are you saying?! What of the promise of power? We made enemies of the world for you!"
The winged man rose to his full height, grin never fading. From the shadows behind him, more winged figures stepped forward—followed by monstrous shapes that crawled and slithered into the chamber. Their presence twisted the air, filling it with a suffocating dread.
"Oh, that," the winged man said lightly. "There's been a change of plans."
He gestured toward the creatures.
"My friends here are hungry."
The king's eyes widened. His advisors froze in terror, rooting them in place.
"So die like the cattle you are."
The monsters surged forward. The chamber filled with screams—raw, desperate, and quickly swallowed by the chaos as the castle trembled once more.
And in that moment, the kingdom's downfall began.