Chapter 44: Chapter 45: The gathering storm 3
The night stretched long and silent over Blackstone Ridge. The wind carried the scent of ash and blood, and in the distance, the glow of approaching campfires spread like a slow-moving inferno. Thousands of soldiers and players gathered under Lord Brechan's banner, marching toward their inevitable end — though they didn't know it yet.
In the war room, the air crackled with tension. Jin stood over the table, his hands braced against the edges, eyes scanning the map with razor-sharp focus. Void God stood on the opposite side, arms crossed, his presence still and suffocating. Around them, their commanders — NPCs and handpicked players alike — waited in silence.
"We're outnumbered five to one," one of the captains said, his voice edged with unease. "Even with the reinforcements we've hired, their numbers will overwhelm us in a direct fight."
Jin didn't look up. "We won't give them one."
The room fell silent.
Void God finally spoke, his voice low and calm. "Brechan thinks numbers will protect him. He's wrong." His fingers traced a line across the map. "We hit their supply lines first. Starve them. Then we bleed them."
Jin nodded. "I've already sent scouts. Their supply wagons are slow — too much weight, not enough protection. We take them out tonight."
One of the mercenary leaders grinned. "I like it. Quick and brutal."
"Then we move to phase two," Jin continued. "Sabotage. We collapse the bridges on their approach and cut off their escape routes. Brechan's bringing an alliance — let's see how loyal they stay when they start losing."
Void God's eyes glinted. "And when the time comes, we strike."
The room filled with the quiet rustle of steel and preparation. Orders were given. Weapons were readied. By the time the sun rose, the storm would break.
---
Night cloaked the land as Void God stood atop a rocky outcrop, watching the enemy camp below. Fires flickered like stars, spread across the valley. The scale of their numbers was impressive — but not enough to stir fear. Not anymore.
Jin appeared at his side, his movements silent. "The strike teams are in position. Just waiting for your signal."
Void God's eyes never left the camp. "Let's begin."
The first attack came with no warning.
The supply convoy burned. Arrows rained from the darkness, cutting down guards before they could react. Shadow-cloaked assassins slipped through the chaos, blades flashing. By the time the last cart fell to flames, the enemy's provisions were gone.
Then came the sabotage. Explosives planted days ago tore through wooden bridges, sending them crashing into rivers below. Mountain passes collapsed in controlled avalanches. Escape routes turned into death traps.
Panic spread through Brechan's forces like a plague.
---
By dawn, the enemy camp was a fractured mess.
"Brechan's losing control," Jin reported, his grin sharp. "The other lords are starting to pull back their support. They didn't sign up for a disaster."
Void God's response was simple. "Good. Ready the vanguard."
---
The first charge was devastating.
Void God led the attack himself. Voidfang carved through the enemy ranks, leaving nothing but silence and ruin. The void surged around him, swallowing spells and blades alike. Every step left devastation in his wake.
Jin followed close behind, lightning crackling around him. With the Stormcaller's Mantle amplifying his magic, every strike was a tempest — bolts of blue fire ripping through the battlefield.
Their forces pushed forward, cutting through the chaos with precision. The enemy broke, scattered — and then they ran.
But there was nowhere left to go.
The trap closed.
---
By the time the sun set, Brechan's army no longer existed.
Void God stood in the ruins of their camp, Voidfang still in hand. Around him, the survivors knelt — soldiers and players alike, their weapons cast aside.
Jin approached through the wreckage, his eyes gleaming. "Two lords down. Three to go."
Void God nodded. "We're just getting started."