Baelor strides to the window, pushing it open with a forceful shove. The sight outside is one of utter chaos. The city below is filled with panic as people scatter in every direction.
Saer followed from behind, and despite his feeble trembling legs, he stood by with courage, overlooking the upside-down city of upheaval.
As Baelor and Saer stared through the shattered window, the scene outside was one of utter chaos.
The ground quaked violently, sending shockwaves through the city. Buildings trembled and glass shattered, while people below scrambled in panic.
"What could have caused such a massive explosion?" Saer's voice trembled with fear, his face pale as he struggled to grasp the enormity of the disaster.
Baelor, though affected, remained composed as he tried to assess the situation like a great leader would. "And also, what is this palpable wave of fear spreading through the city?" he asked, trying to maintain his focus amid the chaos. His eyes narrowed over the gap of the crowded chaos that was engulfing below.
Saer, his eyes wide with dread, responded, "This is no ordinary fear. It feels as if something overwhelmingly powerful is driving it. I've never felt such intensity in my life before"
Baelor's eyes narrowed as he analyzed the situation. "It could be a dark portal appearing or even a demon"
"Such a vast energy, it seems to be the latter"
Saer's hands gripped the edge of the table as he glanced nervously at Baelor. "Is it possible that a dark entity has crossed into our world? This is bad. Out of all the places that it could appear, why here?"
Baelor's voice was steady but urgent. "We need to be ready for anything. If a demon or a dark portal is involved, the city's safety could be at great risk. Millions could perish"
"Saer, go through the teleportation gate and inform the nearest Demon Extermination branch"
Baelor commanded his voice firm yet tinged with urgency. "I alone might not be enough"
Saer's eyes widened in fear. "B-but Lord Baelor, I can't leave you alone like this. And the demon extermination branch, they are unreliable... "
Baelor's tone turned colder, a steely resolve underlying his words. "This is not an order. This is my plea to you. I don't care if I die, but the people of this town are innocent. They are not deserving of what's to come."
"As for their willingness to help, send these words of mine. Betraying this wail of aid is akin to betraying their race"
Saer hesitated. The weight of the decision was heavy on his shoulders.
The sheer gravity of Baelor's plea was overwhelming, but with a bitter resolve, he nodded. "I will inform the capital too."
"Good," Baelor responded, his gaze steady despite the chaos unfolding around them.
As they prepared to move, a burst of maniacal laughter echoed from the mountain, carried by a hollow, sinister wind.
The laughter was followed by a massive mushroom cloud rising into the sky accompanied by a loud boom after it.
Baelor's expression darkened. "A demon, then. It seems to be so," he said, his voice low and grim. "Hurry!" he shouted, urgency lacing his tone.
Saer nodded once more and rushed towards the teleportation gate, his heart pounding with fear.
The sense of impending doom weighed heavily on him as he disappeared through the gate, leaving Baelor alone to gape upon the mountain by the window.
And as Saer's figure receded into the distance, Baelor turned his gaze toward the mountain, where the ominous mushroom cloud loomed against the night sky.
The explosion had scattered the clouds, revealing the twin moons that danced together in the heavens, their pale light casting an eerie glow over the chaotic landscape below.
"Whatever you are, I will chop you into pieces!"
*Boom!*
With a determined leap, Baelor propelled himself through the window, shattering it with a resounding crash.
The force of his exit left a gaping hole in the wall, and as he soared through the air, his clothes billowed violently in the wind.
His eyes scanned the city beneath him, now teeming with fear and confusion.
Taking a deep breath, Baelor bellowed with a voice that echoed across the trembling streets, "All at ease! All at ease!"
His words, carried by the night wind, brought a measure of calm to the panicked citizens below.
They looked up, catching glimpses of their lord, and hope flickered in their eyes despite the chaos that had erupted.
"Donber! Ready the army!" Baelor's voice rang out again, commanding attention.
Without waiting for a response, he leaped across rooftops, each landing a blur of motion as he raced toward the city wall's highest point.
*Boom!*
Baelor landed on the wall with such force that cracks spread out beneath his feet. The ancient stone groaned under the impact, but the structure held firm.
The inertia of his leap left his knees slightly bent as he straightened, his imposing figure emerging from the dust that swirled in the air.
The guards stationed on the wall stared in awe at their lord's arrival.
His sudden appearance amidst the chaos was both a relief and a spectacle. They exchanged glances, murmuring in hushed tones.
"Lord Baelor is here!" one guard whispered, a mixture of relief in his voice.
Baelor, his eyes sharp and focused, turned to the nearest guard captain. "How's the situation?" he asked, his tone firm.
The captain, a seasoned warrior with a scar across his cheek, snapped to attention.
"Lord Baelor, the city is on high alert. We've mobilized the troops and are fortifying the defenses"
" But the blast… " The captain paused for a moment in his words, seemingly to be hesitating. Though under the Lord's gaze, he mustered up his responsibility.
"it caused a lot of damage and casualties, and the people are terrified. We haven't seen anything like this before"
"I-I am sorry, My Lord. This is a first for me to see such a scene"
Baelor nodded, absorbing the information quickly. "And the source? Any further clues?
"No, my lord," the captain replied, his voice low. "But… there's a palpable fear energy in the air, something unnatural."
"The men are on edge. Some are saying it's a demon… others whisper the wrath of the deity"
"It took a lot of effort to appeal to the guard morals"
Baelor's expression hardened. "Ready the men, and make sure the city is secured. We can't afford to let panic spread further"
"All gates are to be closed at once!"
The captain saluted. "Yes, Lord Baelor. I'll see to it at once."
As the captain hurried away to carry out his orders, Baelor remained on the wall, his gaze fixed on the distant mountain where the mushroom cloud still lingered.
"I hope Saer can make it in time," Baelor whispered to himself, his voice barely audible over the night wind.
The thought gnawed at him—if it were a portal, he would worry less as what would come out are just a bunch of weak dimensional monsters and minions, but the presence of a demon changed everything.
His mind raced as he considered the implications.
"The demon race... those who devote themselves to the divine of darkness, those tarnished divines of the damned race, constantly devouring to satisfy their endless hunger for power"
"Even a lower-ranking demon could be beyond my strength..." His voice trailed off as his thoughts were interrupted by a sudden, blinding light erupting from the city center.
The light flared with an intensity that burned through the darkness, a beacon of hope in the midst of growing despair.
With a sharp sonic boom, the light shot toward him, cutting through the night like a comet.
It landed with a resounding thud in his grasp, stirring up dust around him.
As the haze settled, the cold, metallic sheen of the weapon came into focus—a massive axe, dark red as if stained by centuries of blood, its length as formidable as a halberd.
"But at least, I will have to try" He whispered
Carefully examining the weapon, his fingers traced the intricate designs etched into its deadly blade.
"And I hope," he continued, his voice resolute, "that my strength is just enough to buy us some time... just enough for help to arrive."
The source of the chaos wasn't just a mindless force—it was deliberate, orchestrated with intent.