VOIDBLADE: THE LAST SWORD OF THE END

The aftermath of Ravenwatch's purge lingered like a storm waiting to break. The village lay silent, its streets stained with the blood of traitors. Fear hung heavy in the air — but it was not the fear of the innocent. No, it was the fear of those who knew judgment had come.

Void God stood at the village's highest point, the wind tugging at his cloak as the sun's first light painted the horizon in fire and gold. From here, he could see the county stretched before him — farmlands, forests, and the distant spires of other villages and keeps. All of it ripe for taking.

Vos appeared at his side, moving with that quiet efficiency they always had. "The message has spread," they said without preamble. "The rival lords know their spies are gone. Reports say Lord Castien's forces are already on the move."

Void God's eyes didn't leave the horizon. "How many?"

"Two hundred soldiers. Mercenaries and conscripts. They'll reach Briarstead's border by nightfall."

He considered that. A show of force, but not their full strength. Castien was testing the waters, trying to gauge the threat. The other lords would be watching closely. It wouldn't be long before they all moved.

"Let them come," Void God said. "We'll make an example of them."

Vos hesitated. "And the village?"

He finally turned to look at them. "The villagers will remain unharmed — so long as they stay out of the way. If they take up arms against me…"

He didn't need to finish the sentence.

A rustle of movement drew their attention. From the shadows emerged a familiar figure — Jin, the Ghost Father. His younger brother in life, but here, a rising force of his own.

Jin's eyes flicked over the village, taking in the aftermath with an unreadable expression. "You've been busy."

Void God inclined his head. "Preparation is necessary."

Jin crossed his arms, his lightning-etched armor crackling faintly with energy. "And what exactly are you preparing for? You've already shaken Briarstead's foundations. The lords are scared. You could negotiate from a position of power."

"Fear isn't enough," Void God replied. "Not yet. They need to understand the inevitability of what's coming. And for that, they need to bleed."

Jin sighed, but there was no real argument in it. "You always did have a flair for the dramatic."

Void God allowed a faint smirk. "And you're here because you know I'm right."

The younger man didn't deny it. "What's the plan, then?"

"War."

Jin's eyes sharpened. "You're serious."

"I've seen what waits beyond this world," Void God said quietly. "The realms beyond realms. The Void God's presence… and something deeper still. What happens here is a prelude. We need power. Allies. Resources."

"And you think taking Briarstead will give you that?" Jin asked.

"It's a start."

For a long moment, Jin said nothing. Then he nodded. "I'll back you. But if this goes sideways — if you start turning on the people we're supposed to protect — I walk."

Void God met his gaze. "Fair enough."

A distant horn sounded — the first sign of Castien's advancing forces. The time for words was over.

It was time for war.