VOIDBLADE: THE LAST SWORD OF THE END

The battlefield fell into silence. The last echoes of Lord Heska's fall faded, and in their place rose a wave of fear. The soldiers and players who had fought under Heska's banner stood frozen, their eyes locked on the figure standing over their fallen lord's corpse.

Void God.

The air around him pulsed with the weight of Abyssal Dominion — a presence so vast and crushing it seemed to distort the world itself. The black steel of Voidfang still dripped with the blood of the man who had called himself a ruler. And yet, the blade's hunger was far from sated.

The survivors knew it.

When Void God turned his head — slowly, deliberately — they broke.

The first soldier ran, his sword clattering to the ground. Then another followed. And another. Panic spread like wildfire, and within moments, Heska's forces collapsed into chaos. Men and women fled in every direction, their fear overwhelming any thought of pride or duty.

Void God watched them go without expression. He had no interest in chasing prey. Let them spread the word. Let them tell the other lords what had happened here. The time for subtlety was over.

"Briarstead belongs to me now."

A soft sound behind him drew his attention.

Jin — or Ghost Father, as the world knew him — stepped into view. His face was calm, but his eyes gleamed with quiet intensity. He surveyed the battlefield, the broken bodies, and the shattered remains of Heska's forces. When he finally spoke, his voice was light.

"You know, you really know how to make an entrance."

Void God sheathed his sword. "It was time to make a statement."

Jin nodded thoughtfully. "Well, you made one, alright. The other lords won't take this lying down. They'll rally, and they'll come for you."

"I'm counting on it."

The two stood in silence for a moment, the wind tugging at their cloaks. Then Jin's mouth curled into a sharp grin.

"Let's get to work."

---

The war room was a simple, functional space carved into the stone of Blackstone Ridge's keep. Maps of Briarstead County lay spread across the table, marked with the positions of the remaining lords' strongholds and forces.

Jin leaned against the wall, his arms crossed. "Five major lords left. Heska was one of the stronger ones, but the others won't make this easy. Lord Brechan's already mobilizing — his spies probably told him what happened the second Heska fell."

Void God traced a gloved finger across the map. "Brechan's the next target. If he's preparing for war, we'll strike before he's ready."

"His fortress is well-defended," Jin pointed out. "And you can bet the other lords will send support once they hear what's happening. We need to disrupt them first — cut their supply lines, break their alliances."

Void God's eyes glinted. "Leave that to me."

Jin raised an eyebrow. "And what about me?"

A small smile tugged at the corner of Void God's lips. "You're going to build an army."

---

The next few hours passed in a blur of preparation. Messages flew out across the county, reaching mercenary groups, independent players, and rogue NPC factions. Gold spoke louder than loyalty, and Void God had more than enough to make them listen.

Jin handled recruitment with ruthless efficiency. His charisma and connections brought in warriors and specialists from across Nytheris — assassins, siege engineers, and elite spellcasters. In no time, a force began to take shape.

And then there were the items.

Void God's personal vault was vast, filled with treasures and artifacts he had collected — and many of them were still unused. He handed them over without hesitation, outfitting their growing force with weapons and armor far beyond their current level.

When Jin received the Stormcaller's Mantle — a legendary cloak that amplified lightning magic — his eyes widened. "You've been sitting on this?"

"I've been waiting for the right time," Void God replied.

"Well, consider this the right time."

---

By nightfall, their forces were ready. Scouts reported that Lord Brechan's army was on the move — marching toward Blackstone Ridge with an alliance of two other lords' forces.

A combined army. Thousands strong.

Jin whistled when he heard the numbers. "You've really stirred up the hornet's nest."

"Good." Void God's eyes burned with cold purpose. "Let them come."

He turned toward the window, looking out at the dark horizon. Far off, the faint glimmer of firelight marked the enemy's approach.

The void inside him stirred — hungry.

Tomorrow, the real war would begin.