High above the battlefield, Terry Ayr flew with haste, oblivious to the tragic fate that had befallen his sister. His thoughts burned with hope that the detestable Prince Shok would waste more time reciting his hollow proclamations of justice.
"Engie, there!"
Following Terry's gesture, Engie descended swiftly, heading toward the chaos below.
On the ground, Gao Shun and his less-than-hundred men were locked in a desperate struggle against a pack of corpse tigers.
In this war-torn land, conflict was as commonplace as the air its people breathed. Even the smallest disputes could escalate into full-blown wars between minor states. The aftermath often left countless bodies unburied, giving rise to mutated creatures. Among these were the corpse tigers—fearsome beasts drawn to the faintest whiff of death.
Gao Shun's ragtag recruits had attracted their attention, their gathered aura of death acting as a beacon. Now besieged, their inexperience and panic left them defenseless against the relentless onslaught. Only Gao Shun's composure kept the situation from becoming a slaughter, though his attempts to rally them yielded little effect.
Terry's arrival brought a glimmer of hope. At the very least, he could summon the remaining men back into the safety of his domain.
But to Gao Shun's surprise, Terry gave a very different command the moment he landed.
"Attack!"
Without hesitation, Terry summoned a thousand flying undead from the void, unleashing them upon the corpse tigers.
The aerial assault began with measured precision as the undead circled overhead, seeking their moment to strike. The corpse tigers, sensing the impending threat, turned their attention skyward.
Engie let out a piercing shriek, signaling the charge. A wave of undead descended in organized waves.
But the first fifty undead disintegrated in an instant upon contact with the beasts, their ethereal forms torn apart with shocking ease.
Even Terry flinched at the display. What manner of monstrosity were these tigers, to wreak such havoc on his forces?
"Engie, finish this quickly. Everyone, attack at once!"
Acknowledging the command, Engie rose higher, rallying the remaining undead for a coordinated strike.
The tide turned as twenty undead swarmed each tiger. Unable to withstand such concentrated assaults, the tigers fell one by one, unable to comprehend their downfall. These creatures, who had always preyed upon the dead, now found themselves devoured in return.
Wasting no time on the carcasses, Terry issued the next command. "Move out!"
The urgency in his tone gave Gao Shun pause, but he obeyed. While the remaining recruits were left behind with strict orders not to wander, Gao Shun quickly caught up to his master.
Terry's frantic pace left no room for conversation, his heart a tempest of dread. When he reached the execution platform, his worst fears were confirmed.
Prince Shok was long gone, but what remained was far worse—his sister's lifeless body still bound to the bloodstained post, surrounded by silent onlookers.
"…Sister."
Terry staggered forward, collapsing at her side. Cradling her battered form, he wept uncontrollably.
She had been his only family in this foreign land. And now she was gone, stolen from him before his very eyes.
Gao Shun, who had arrived moments later, froze at the sight. His towering frame trembled violently as understanding dawned.
Had Terry risked everything to save him? A man hardened by countless battles, Gao Shun felt his chest tighten, his vision blur.
Terry, straining with all his strength, tried in vain to lift his sister's body. To a boy of thirteen—even one strengthened by magic—it was an impossible task.
Without a word, Gao Shun climbed onto the platform, kneeling beside his master.
"My lord… I…"
Terry raised a hand, silencing him. His voice was steady now, cold as iron.
"Take my sister's body. We're leaving."
"Leave?"
Terry nodded firmly, his grief tempered by resolve. There would be time for vengeance, but not today.
Respecting his master's decision, Gao Shun lifted the body with care and followed Terry back to the portal. Together, they vanished into the night.
By the time Prince Shok arrived, fury etched across his face, the platform was deserted. His guards had failed, as he knew they would. Still, his rage was unabated.
That night, the Aartean Palace erupted in celebration. The king held a lavish banquet, commemorating the execution of a Trisian "remnant." Prince Shok basked in the adoration of the court, the night's hero.
But outside the city walls, a solitary figure stood silently, gazing at the palace's glowing lights.
"What troubles you, my lord?" Gao Shun asked, breaking the quiet. "For a kingdom this small, taking it down would be no great feat."
Terry turned to him, intrigued. "Oh? And how would you do it?"
Gao Shun pointed to the city's silhouette against the mountains. "Look closely. Their fortifications are flawed. Though the cliffs offer some protection, their location amidst the peaks is a grave mistake. By using boulders to attack, their defenses would crumble."
Terry chuckled, shaking his head. "That strategy might work in our homeland, but not here."
"Why not?" Gao Shun asked, confused.
Terry's voice was grave as he explained. "This is a world of swords and sorcery. Here, high-level warriors and mages can annihilate entire armies. A small kingdom like Aarte would have at least two fifth-tier swordmasters. To them, a rock is no more a threat than a pebble."
Gao Shun's eyes widened, the reality of this world dawning upon him.
"But don't lose hope," Terry continued, offering a faint smile. "With enough training, you'll reach their level. You'll see."
These words were little more than a comfort, a means to keep Gao Shun's spirit intact. Terry knew better. Progressing to such heights was no simple feat, even for someone as exceptional as Gao Shun.
As the young lord paced the hillside, his gaze never left the glowing city below.
He would not let this slight go unanswered.