Chereads / The Sacred Frontier / Chapter 58 - Act II Chapter XXIII

Chapter 58 - Act II Chapter XXIII

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Fliodan, Cambolton Palace: The Castle, Time: 1:00 AM

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Crack! The sound of a neck-snapping echoed through the room as the guard fell to the ground, unconscious. 

Amidst the chaos, Sugar moved swiftly and silently. His mysticism over magic allowed him to navigate the castle, rendering the castle's security useless against his dark influence.

"And that makes it 400," Sugar muttered, keeping track of the incapacitated guards as he planned his next move.

He intended to infiltrate King Morgan's forces and ensure their defeat through a calculated series of actions.

With determination, Sugar navigated through the labyrinthine passages of the castle. His ultimate goal was to reach the uppermost floor, where the ornate door to King Morgan's bedroom awaited. 

Uninvited and unwelcome, Sugar swung the door open, interrupting an intimate moment between the king and his partner.

"Who are you?!" Morgan's voice quivered, panic evident in his words as he searched for a weapon, only to realize it was already in Sugar's possession.

His partner, equally terrified, trembled as she tried to make sense of the intruder's motives.

Sugar's grin remained sinister as he advanced toward King Morgan, effortlessly evading a feeble punch with a nonchalant sidestep. 

In a swift motion, his red scarf transformed into a weapon, wrapping around Morgan's arm to immobilize him. The king struggled, but the grip was firm.

"What do you want from us...?" Morgan's partner's voice wavered, her fear palpable. But Sugar's attention was solely on her husband, his gaze unwavering.

"Oh, your majesty, don't worry. I am here for a specific purpose," Sugar's tone dripped with ominous intent as he drew closer to Morgan. 

Despite the king's desperate attempts to resist, Sugar's control remained unyielding. With calculated precision, he released his hold on Morgan and cast a fleeting, sinister smile at the queen. It was a smile that concealed both innocence and the malevolence of a predator.

Silently, Sugar withdrew from the room, leaving Morgan's partner in a state of helpless dread. 

She decided to look outside for any help, only to witness the chaos that unfolded. Explosions, fire, and chaos engulfed the scene as people fought for their lives. It was a scene of utter devastation and panic.

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Fliodan, Cambolton Palace: King Morgan's Office, Time: 1:10 AM

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In a wild display of power, Sugar violently hurled King Morgan into his own office, the sound of the impact reverberating through the chamber. 

The fallen king lay on the floor, struggling for breath. Seizing a chair, Sugar positioned himself upon it, a smirk playing on his lips as he looked down at the disoriented monarch.

"Come on, spit it out," Sugar's voice oozed with a mix of mockery and impatience. Confusion clouded King Morgan's face as he tried to make sense of the chaos.

"What... What is happening?" Morgan stammered, his voice barely audible. But Sugar had no time for explanations.

His fist lashed out with brutal speed, connecting with Morgan's face in a ruthless blow. 

The once-mighty king crumbled, his anguished cries filling the chamber, shadows of despair dancing in his eyes.

With an air of chilling superiority, Sugar grabbed Morgan by the collar, yanking him upright with unrelenting force.

Their eyes locked, and Morgan found himself ensnared by an enigmatic threat. "What did I say?"

"Why did you make a peace treaty with Twilight?" Sugar's words were calm yet seething with fury, his grip on Morgan's collar emphasizing the demand for truth.

The room quivered in the face of Sugar's wrath, a storm brewing as he sought answers from the fallen king.

Morgan's chest heaved, fear and pain etched across his features. Sugar's unyielding gaze bore down on him, each moment stretching into an eternity. 

Slowly, as if the truth were being extracted against his will, Morgan began to speak, his voice trembling.

"It... It was necessary," he stammered, sweat forming on his forehead. "The kingdom was crumbling. We needed an alliance to survive."

Sugar's grip tightened, knuckles turning pale under the pressure. "An alliance with those abominations?" he spat, venom lacing his words.

Morgan's eyes pleaded for understanding, for mercy in his vulnerability. "You don't understand," he rasped. "The darkness was spreading. Our people were dying. We thought we could sign a peace treaty with them, but it turned out to be a myth..."

Sugar's fist trembled with anger and disbelief. "And you think they will return with the needed medicine for the people?!" he thundered, incredulity echoing in his voice. Waves of anger radiated from him, mirroring the furious storm within.

"They wanted to control The COU and turn the entire kingdom into their puppet," Morgan choked on his words, tears mingling with fear in his shattered expression. "Those Leviathans even harassed my wife..."

"T-they wanted me to be the scapegoat for this operation," Morgan confessed, the weight of betrayal evident in his shattered tone.

"Morgan," Sugar's voice, cold and controlled, cut through the heavy atmosphere. 

The command in that single word was unmistakable. In an instant, Sugar's swift foot delivered a kick, and Morgan's body jolted in response. A clockwork-style gun pointed at his trembling head.

"I want you to read this out to The COU in the art projection," Sugar's instructions came with a paper held out to Morgan. The gravity of the situation was undeniable – a power play fueled by rage and determination.

Sugar's eyes blazed with unwavering resolve, his grip on the device unyielding. In that charged moment, it was clear that the reckoning he sought against Twilight would be both ruthless and unrelenting.

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Fliodan, Cambolton Palace: The Soldier's Dormitory, Time: 1:30 AM

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In the soldier's dormitory, Toodies stood amidst the chilling aftermath of a mountain of bodies he had caused. 

He seemingly transformed into his regular self, surveying the lifeless figures before him. Every single one lay dead, and Toodies couldn't escape the realization that he was the architect of this gruesome scene.

Toodies maintained an eerie silence, his hands shaking as he stared at them. It was his first time embroiled in a mission of such brutality, and the result was an absolute bloodbath.

Questioning his morals, Toodies wondered if these people truly deserved their fate or if there could have been a less violent alternative.

'Stupid, Stupid, STUPID! All you can do is just push your bad memory onto others because you are just nothing but a simpleton child!' Toodies clenched his head, attempting to drown out the self-condemnation. The silence was all he craved.

A dark blue aura surrounded Toodies before Dy'va's hand touched his shoulder. "You alright, bud?" he asked, his concern evident as he stood amidst the stillness surrounding the bodies.

Toodies was on the verge of pushing him away but stopped himself. "No, I'm alright, thank you..." Toodies transformed back into a black cat, settling on Dy'va's shoulder. 

Both of them nodded silently, acknowledging the heavy toll the mission had taken.

Dy'va nodded, acknowledging the gravity of the situation. "It's a harsh reality, Toodies. But sometimes, there's no room for alternatives in these missions. We do what we must," he said, his tone reflecting a pragmatic acceptance of the grim circumstances.

Toodies, still in the shape of a black cat, nuzzled against Dy'va's shoulder, a wordless acknowledgment of the shared burden they carried.

Their unspoken connection provided a semblance of comfort in the aftermath of the chaos.

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