Daytime
It was a pretty big town bustling with activities as the people went around with their usual activities — children played across the streets, vendors advertised their wares and sought for serious buyers. Families and couples also strolled down the streets peacefully.
The town was in a really peaceful state — a stark contrast to the chaos about to befall them in a few seconds.
It started with total silence across the village and the people pausing to assess their current situation.
Traders stopped selling, kids stopped playing, and families stopped strolling.
Then, all of a sudden, the sky began turning black like night — or so they thought.
In actuality, a dark magical veil was descending upon the village, about to unleash the chaos that would befall the people in a moment.
The dark magical veil kept spreading till it covered the entire town.
"What is happening, Daddy?"
The kids asked their parents in fear, but their parents were stuck in a deep state of shock and were unable to reply.
A split second after the veil appeared, numerous dark figures popped out of the sky and descended upon the people.
Before they could even voice their concerns and need for help, the figures began stabbing and slaughtering them without blinking.
These figures were adorned in vinta black armors that made them camouflage with the darkness easily.
They had thick red eyes that glowed menacingly, and their armors leaked out a dark aura.
"What is happening?"
"Somebody help! Please"
The people began crying for help.
The once peaceful town was suddenly filled with the voices of innocent people crying for help as the dark figures slaughtered them without even blinking.
Blood splattered across the streets. Screams filled the air. The dark knights moved swiftly, slashing at anyone who crossed their path. Their swords cut through flesh like it was nothing. Men, women, and children fell to the ground, the light leaving their eyes.
Bodies piled up in every corner. The knights did not slow down. Their eyes burned red, matching the pools of blood at their feet. They showed no mercy. They slaughtered their victims with silent precision, leaving no hope for rescue.
In the midst of this chaos, two of the knights broke away from the rest. They stomped through the streets, their steps heavy with menace.
Their glowing red eyes seemed fixed on one location: a large, ornate building at the center of town. It was the Lord's house.
They approached the massive doors. With a loud crash, they burst inside. Servants cowered in corners, too terrified to speak. The knights marched straight to the Lord's chamber. There, they found the trembling ruler, a large man who was too frightened to move.
Without warning, they dragged him outside. The Lord screamed, but no one answered his cries. His eyes darted around, desperate to find an escape. The knights threw him to the ground in front of the townspeople who still remained alive. One knight lifted his sword high.
"For the cult!" they bellowed, voices echoing through the darkened sky. The blade came down. The Lord's screams ended in an instant, his head rolling across the blood-soaked earth.
Chaos returned to the streets. The once peaceful town was now a nightmare. Buildings burned, and blood flowed like rivers between the cobblestones. Survivors ran in every direction. Their screams mixed with the crackle of flames and the mad laughter of the knights still roaming the alleys.
Above this inferno of violence, a single figure hovered in the swirling darkness — it was none other than Alister, who watched the whole chaos with a calm expression on his face.
"My soldiers are perfect now," he muttered, still calm.
"With this success, I'll be able to create more stronger soldiers and fulfill my dream of possessing the strongest dark mages unit in the magic world," a brief smile appeared on his face as he said this.
It only lasted for a few seconds before disappearing, as he sensed a new presence approaching him in the air.
Alister didn't even bother to look back, for he could already tell who it was.
Xandros, under the disguise of Vishirk, floated towards his older brother while his eyes focused on the chaos below.
He noticed the dark knights slaughtering the people and his eyes widened as he turned to Alister.
"You did it!?" he asked.
"As you can see, it's already a success, Xandros. One phase of the plan has been concluded once again," Alister replied without looking at Xandros.
"How many more phases to go before I get the chance to kill Dragun?" Xandros inquired.
This time Alister looked at him and shook his head, clearly disappointed.
Xandros frowned immediately, "What is with that look, Alister? Answer me!"
But Alister remained silent, only watching the blissful chaos.
"Answer me, Alister! You called me here and suddenly you decide to keep me quiet!"
Xandros caused a tantrum trying to make his older brother speak.
Fortunately, no one below could see them floating in the sky at the moment.
"We are on the verge of completing one of the greatest goals of the cult and your major goal is to slay a common mage? Where is your pride, brother? Where is your sense of priority, or have you forgotten the importance of this ritual?"
Alister reprimanded him without even looking, irritating Xandros even more.
Xandros clenched his fist and was on the verge of striking his older brother.
But he could only grit his teeth and hold back. While he was a powerful dark mage, compared to Alister — who was not only stronger but also possessed an Ethereal Battle IQ — no matter what trick he played, Alister would definitely gain the upper hand.
Not only Xandros, but even some stronger dark mages in the cult were actually afraid of engaging in combat with Alister.
"I thought you wanted to strike. Been a long time since I actually fought someone," Alister scoffed.
Xandros did not bother to reply this time.
"You did not call me here just to show me the prowess of your creations, right?"
"Hmm," Alister nodded.
"I called you for a different reason; it's about the cult's new decision regarding Winterseed and our current targets." Alister tossed a scroll at Xandros.
Xandros grabbed it, unfolded it, and fed his eyes on its content.
As he kept reading, his expression kept transforming — first a smile, then a frown, then an uglier smile, and it just kept shifting.
"What the heck is this? This was not part of the plan! Don't tell me you suggested this!"
Xandros floated towards Alister, grabbed the collar of his robe, and questioned him violently.
"Of course this is not my plan. I am not so dumb to suggest a switch right in the middle," Alister replied.
"Then who? Who the fuck came up with this and why didn't you react?"
"Because there is nothing I could do other than to accept and share the new plan. I think someone is trying to sabotage the dark seed ritual and monopolize it for their own personal benefit."
Xandros let go of Alister's clothes and became even more curious. "I might be dumb, but I can perceive that much from this letter. Who do you think might be behind this?"
"Still working on it at the moment. Though there is no suspect on ground," Alister continued.
Both brothers discussed the situation for some minutes while the chaos below continued — it even got more interesting.
Several battle mages stationed outside the town were trying to break into the veil to save their people.
Others present were trying their hardest to repel the dark knights who held no trace of emotion, failing miserably in the process.
At least more than 60% of the people had been wiped out at this point.
Xandros and Alister appeared really unfazed and continued their discussion to the deepest details.
"I will contact you in a few hours and share the changes I've made," Alister suggested after some time.
"Why not share it now? I never knew you as someone to hesitate, brother."
"We have people spying on us at the moment," Alister revealed.
Xandros reacted immediately and looked around to find the spy. Alister quickly reprimanded him to behave quietly so as not to draw suspicion.
He then discussed the final bits of the current situation before bidding him farewell, all while he continued to admire the delightful scene below him.