A cacophony of shouts and panicked cries ripped through the tranquil palace, shattering the illusion of peace. Alerted by the sudden uproar, Imperial guards surged from their barracks, a tide of steel and leather. Weapons clutched tight, shields held high, they raced towards the heart of the chaos, their expressions grim and determined.
"Protect the Heavenly Emperor!" They cried out.
"Protect the Golden Dragon Palace!"
"Vanquish the demons!"
A deafening roar ripped through the air as demons surged from the dimensional portal, effortlessly crossing the impossible divide between realms. The portal snapped shut with a final flicker as the last monstrous figure squeezed through.
Chaos erupted around Qiao Wei.
Imperial guards clashed with demons of all shapes and sizes, their panicked cries swallowed by the cacophony of battle.
