While Alonz and the military force were guiding a ruined city toward the era of the Xaos Civilization, hundreds of kilometers to the west, a drastically different scene was unfolding. There, the Xaos Kingdom's forces were engaged in a grueling battle that left no doubt about their overwhelming might. Instead of shepherding a population into prosperity, they were subduing and annihilating a horde of demons, driving the monstrous creatures into the ground and draining the hope from their eyes.
A swirl of dust clouded the battlefield as Freya charged into the chaos. Her usually bright eyes had hardened to icy slits, revealing the unyielding resolve that burned within her. She surged forward with a burst of speed and drove a crushing punch into the closest demon's chest. Bones shattered in a terrible crack, and the demon collapsed, dead before it hit the ground.
