After the nighttime food distribution, the following day in Valnark began in turmoil.
The people took to the streets in protest against the current situation. A large crowd gathered in front of Lord Darius' castle, demanding an end to mass recruitment and an alliance with the Drakhor people.
From one of the castle windows, Lady Sylren observed the crowd with an expression of pure disdain.
In another room, Darius watched his people's uprising. He could feel his power crumbling. Rumors spread through the castle halls: even the nobles who once supported him were now conspiring against him, inciting a possible civil war to overthrow him.
It didn't take long for Lady Sylren to meet with him again.
"What do you intend to do about this noise?" she asked impatiently.
"I'm thinking..." Darius murmured.
"Your way of ruling disgusts me," she said with contempt.
"SHUT UP!" The lord, visibly shaken, lunged at Lady Sylren, blinded by rage.
But she was faster. Dodging with agility, she struck Darius in the stomach with a precise punch in a single motion.
"You're pathetic… Attacking me like this?"
Darius fell to his knees, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
"F-forgive me, my Lady… I don't know what came over me..."
She stared at him coldly.
"You are unfit. But don't worry, I will help you."
Sylren placed her hand on Darius' head, completely altering his memories. The man who once ruled with fear and insecurity now became nothing more than an empty shell, a puppet in his Lady's service. No emotions. No will of his own. Just a servant of the Order.
Following her orders, Darius walked into the castle's great hall, where dozens of soldiers were gathered for training. He raised his voice:
"Put an end to that chaos in front of the castle… Eliminate any resistance."
The soldiers exchanged glances. Some, eager, prepared to carry out the order. Others hesitated. That didn't sound like something their lord would say.
One of the more experienced soldiers stepped forward.
"My lord… are you certain of this?"
Darius narrowed his eyes.
"I see there are still doubts..."
Raising his hand, he replicated Lady Sylren's power. Within moments, he altered the memories of the soldiers present.
The light in their eyes faded. Like obedient puppets, they marched toward the gate, ready to crush anyone who dared to challenge the new command.
The crowd gathered before the castle gates had no idea what was about to happen.
As soon as the gates opened, dozens of soldiers charged at the people, initiating a brutal crackdown.
Some townsfolk quickly realized the imminent danger and ran before the violence began. However, not everyone was so lucky.
The soldiers who had undergone Lord Darius' brainwashing were the most ruthless. Without hesitation or mercy, their swords pierced any civilians within reach, cutting down lives without remorse.
Noticing that some had managed to escape, the soldiers, after slaughtering those left behind, pressed forward, spreading terror throughout the city.
In the city center, the survivors ran and screamed, warning the protesters gathered in the square about the massacre that had just occurred. Panic spread quickly. The uprising had begun. The people were furious, but also terrified—they knew they had no strength to stand against trained soldiers.
Then, the news reached the Adventurers' Guild. The atmosphere there quickly became a cauldron of outrage and fury. The adventurers began pressuring the guild master, demanding that he issue a call to arms and summon as many adventurers as possible to protect the townspeople.
In his office, the guild master pondered. Until then, the guild had been reduced to nothing more than a tool for the city's rulers, straying from its original purpose. But now, in the face of such barbarity, even fearing the Order and Lord Darius, he made his decision.
"Issue an emergency call. Any adventurer who joins in defending the people will be properly rewarded."
The response was immediate. Groups of adventurers set off toward the central square, determined to intervene before more blood was spilled.
From the rooftop of one of the buildings, Kaelon and his group of rebels watched as chaos spread through the streets.
"Kaelon… those people who died…" Zinoe murmured, shocked, unable to finish his sentence.
Kaelon remained silent for a moment, his eyes fixed on the carnage. Then, he let out a heavy sigh.
"I didn't expect him to take this route… I think I underestimated Lord Darius."
The battle in the central square was escalating dangerously. The adventurers, determined to protect the people, fought Lord Darius' soldiers with efficiency but avoided killing. Their strategies focused on disarming and immobilizing the enemies, preventing unnecessary bloodshed.
However, the real problem was the soldiers under Lady Sylren's mental control. Unlike the others, they fought without hesitation, without fear, without mercy. To them, killing adventurers or civilians was simply an order to be carried out. Any adventurer who tried to subdue them without extreme caution was swiftly and brutally slain.
Meanwhile, inside a large tent in the mercenary camp, Lord Darius entered with an imposing presence, his expression heavy with coldness and impatience. The mercenaries sat around a makeshift fire—some drinking, others sharpening their blades.
The group's leader, a burly man with a deep scar across his face, stood as the lord approached.
"Lord Darius… to what do we owe the honor?" the mercenary asked, his voice dripping with irony.
Darius ignored the man's tone and got straight to the point.
"The resistance in the central square is becoming a problem. You will go there and eliminate anyone still standing against us."
The mercenaries exchanged glances, some chuckling under their breath.
"Anyone?" the leader asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Everyone. It doesn't matter if they're adventurers or civilians opposing the government. End this."
The leader shrugged and turned to his men.
"Well, you heard him, boys. A job's a job."
Without further questions, the mercenaries gathered their weapons and set off, marching toward the square like hunting dogs eager to tear into their prey. After all, they had no loyalty—only followed where the gold led them.
Back in the square, the battle between the adventurers and soldiers raged on. Though they managed to subdue many, the adventurers began realizing that their real challenge was the brainwashed soldiers. They felt no fear, no pain, no hesitation. They were killing machines.
Kaelon, still watching from the rooftop, narrowed his eyes. The situation was already dire, but then, in the distance, he saw the mercenaries approaching.
"Damn it… this changes everything."
Wasting no time, he grabbed a communication rune and activated it.
"Orzoth, we have a problem! Mercenaries are heading for the square. We won't last much longer!"
On the other end, Orzoth remained silent for a moment, analyzing the situation. Then, in a firm tone, he responded:
"Understood. Hold on. I have a plan."
The rune dimmed. Kaelon didn't know what to expect, but he knew Orzoth well enough to trust that he wouldn't make empty promises.
Meanwhile, the mercenaries arrived at the square, ready to turn the tide of battle. And they did—brutally. Unlike the disciplined soldiers, the mercenaries fought with chaos and lethality.
The advantage the adventurers had gained began to slip away. The square was consumed by screams, dust, and blood.
But then… something happened.
Inside the Adventurers' Guild, now empty due to the turmoil in the square, a bright glow emerged in the center of the main hall. A portal opened, tearing through reality in a spiral of arcane energy.
And from it, imposing figures stepped forth.
Orzoth, his expression ever-calculating, walked at the front, followed by the group known as the "Lost Wings." His sharp gaze swept across the empty hall before he raised his voice.
"We're moving out."
The Lost Wings members nodded and, without hesitation, stepped through the exit portal, emerging in the central square amid the chaos.
The adventurers, who had been on the brink of despair, turned to see the unexpected reinforcements. And with that, a new hope flickered in the eyes of those still standing.
Kaelon smirked.
"Finally… the real counterattack begins now."