In the profound silence of the ninth district of the Kingdom of Lior, where even the breeze dared not disturb the emptiness of the deserted streets, a titanic battle unfolded. Durin and Gronnak faced Mammon, the lord of deception, in a clash defined by the collision of elemental forces. The fury of earth and wind enveloped the scene, as sparks of energy met with hissing explosions.
Amid the chaos, Durin felt the weight of her mistake pressing heavily on her chest, memories of recent events flooding her mind.
Flashback:
She vividly recalled the moment earlier when she had allowed Midoki to enter the kingdom, unaware of the trap about to ensnare her and her people. Mammon, ever cunning, had taken Midoki's form, mysteriously appearing before Lior's protective barriers. Durin's heart faltered, her instinct to safeguard the realm overridden by the familiarity of a face she deeply trusted.
Disabling the kingdom's defenses, she welcomed him, unaware that destiny was about to betray her. Overcome by a wave of emotion, she let him draw close, and in a gesture steeped in memories of the past, she surrendered momentarily to that sense of tenderness. Yet, something unsettling made her pause. A peculiar scent, out of place, stirred her suspicion. Her mind raced, realizing that this was not the Midoki she knew.
Before she could act, a powerful presence shattered the silence. Gronnak, patrolling nearby, sensed the muffled tremors of battle through the earth and rushed to Durin's aid. The truth was revealed moments later.
- Mammon: "You realized too late, Durin," his voice dripping with cruel sarcasm as his grotesque true form emerged.
- Mammon: "It has always been King Canvos who interfered with my plans. Now, he must die."
End of Flashback
Mammon, still in Midoki's guise, smirked wickedly. In one fluid motion, his eyes gleamed with an ancient, terrible energy.
"Shinrei, Law of Originalism – Destruction."
The devastating technique unleashed a wave of power that tore through the air, knocking Gronnak unconscious before he could intervene.
Durin struggled to resist but was quickly overwhelmed by the same overpowering force. As her consciousness faded, a fleeting thought crossed her mind:
- Durin (thinking): "This is Midoki's power, but it feels significantly weaker."
With both of them down, Mammon surveyed his victory with predatory satisfaction. Approaching them, a cold smile on his lips, his features began to shift, slowly taking on the appearance of Sir Alden Voss, Lior's most loyal knight.
Durin and Gronnak, now captives, had fallen prey to an enemy hidden in plain sight. The fate of the Kingdom of Lior hung by a thread, in the hands of a master of mimicry.