Midnight was near.
The sky, covered by a vast expanse of darkness, received only a faint glow from the moon, whose pale light barely managed to pierce the shadows that dominated the landscape.
**Hwooosh—Shff shff...**
A cold wind swept through the region, its icy whistle weaving between the trees, gently creaking the branches with each gust.
**Rustle... Crack... Shff...**
The dry leaves were swept along by the current, sliding over the ground with a rough murmur, some hitting against the stones before disappearing into the gloom.
In the distance, imposing and solitary, stood the castle of Emperor Agmar, a fortress of colossal dimensions that dominated the horizon. Its black stone walls reflected a solemn architecture, with sharp structures and elevated towers, designed not only to intimidate but to withstand massive attacks.
The outer walls, reinforced with thick metal plates and adorned with ancient emblems, protected the fortress against any attempt at invasion. Its imposing structure, worn by time but still indestructible, conveyed a sense of absolute power.
From its multiple watchtowers, **the yellow lights moved slowly**, casting beams over the ground in a meticulous search for any anomaly.
Each sweep briefly illuminated the terrain, **revealing fleeting shadows before fading back into darkness**.
**VVVRRR—TCHK—VVVRRR…**
**Beep… beep… beeeeeep…**
These automated towers, strategically positioned atop the walls, rotated with precise mechanical movements, scanning the area with advanced sensors capable of detecting even **the slightest variations in air pressure.**
Nothing could escape their watch; any change in the environment would be immediately recorded.
**THMMM…**
At the main entrance, a colossal reinforced steel door remained shut, protected by a double security system that ensured impenetrable access.
**CHK—KRRNNK—TCH…**
Its internal mechanisms hummed with minimal passive activity, designed to withstand brute force, electronic manipulation, and even attacks with advanced technology.
**CLANK… CLANK…**
A group of elite guards patrolled with discipline along the walls, moving in calculated formations.
Their attire, a combination of reinforced fabric and metal plates in vital areas, muffled some of the sound, yet still let escape the metallic echo of their steps with each tactical turn.
**CLINK—CHNK…**
They reflected the yellowish light of the lanterns, providing clear visibility of the perimeter.
**Zzzzzt…**
The lanterns emitted a constant low electric hum, as if they too were silently watching, useful for detecting any irregularity in the stillness of the night.
However, despite all the great security of the castle and its perimeter, the change occurred without warning.
**Tchk—Vmmm...**
First, an imperceptible flicker in the lights of the watchtowers, so brief that the guards barely noticed it. A faint electrical crackle accompanied the flash, almost inaudible in the silence of the night.
**Tzzzt—Krrkkk.**
Then, a second flash, more prolonged… this time with a subtle crackle, as if the system hesitated between functioning or shutting down completely.
**Bzzzt—Shhhhk.**
Afterward, a third, much more intense. The lights vibrated with a muffled buzz.
**Zzzzt—Krrkkk.**
**Bzzzt—Tchhkk...**
The security system began to exhibit inexplicable failures, its code struggling to maintain stability.
**Vrrmm—Chhhhk!**
The beams of light from the towers distorted, casting irregular shadows on the fortress walls. The lines of illumination vibrated, breaking down their forms as if an electric ghost were manipulating them.
**Tchh—Krrkkk...**
The automated towers slowed their rotation speed, stumbling in awkward turns that seemed not to follow their original programming.
**GRNN—CHK—VRRM…**
Their mechanical movements emitted a dry, dragged sound, as if their gears were straining to keep functioning.
**Bzzzt—Shhhkk...**
**The guards exchanged worried glances, their brows furrowed as the noise from their radios filled with interference.**
[**Krrt—"…unit four… —repeat!"—zzzkkhh…**]
Orders turned into a chaos of disconnected words.
**TKTKTKTK…**
The digital murmur of static increased, as if the system were suffering an invisible pressure.
**Chhhhk—Tkkhh...**
—"Repeat that! I can't hear you well."
**TAP—TCH!**
One of the soldiers struck his communicator in frustration, trying to clear the sound.
["…towers… no response…"]
[**krhhk** "…intrusion…"]
[**chhhk** "…we can't…"]
**ZZZKRHH—KRT—KRT**
—"What the hell is going on?"
Another growled, adjusting the volume of the device with a sharp turn of the dial.
"TCHK—KRNN…"
**Fzzzzt…**
The interference continued to grow, as if a living static began to infiltrate the entire channel.
**Bzzzzt—Shhhhk.**
The static became louder, overriding any attempts at communication. Only snippets of voices could be heard, fragments of disconnected orders, as if someone were deliberately cutting the transmission.
—"Boss, our communications are compromised!"
The soldiers took a step back, feeling the tension pierce the atmosphere. Systems were falling one by one, and they didn't even know why.
**Chhhhk—Tkkhh...**
The night wind became denser, its whisper seemed to carry a silent warning. It was as if the castle itself were holding its breath.
... ....
Then, disaster struck.
"Vmmm—PZHHHHHH!
The lights of the towers went out abruptly, plunging the fortress into total darkness.
The artificial glow vanished, engulfing the hallways, the walls, and every corner of the castle in an unsettling gloom.
**Krrrk—Tchhhh…**
A final agonizing hum accompanied the collapse of the electrical system.
**Tzzzt—Krrkk...**
The motion sensors ceased to respond, the defense systems did not trigger their alarms.
**Thmp… Thmp…**
The slowed footsteps of the guards, uncertain, barely interrupted the dense silence that filled the air, disrupted only by the confused murmurs of the soldiers.
—"What was that?"
—"I can't see anything…"
—"Follow the line…"
""Bzzz… Ktch—Ktch…**
Their radios attempted to reconnect unsuccessfully.
In a matter of seconds, the main hallway became a scene of uncertainty.
**Tap… Tap…**
The faint sound of tense fingers on ready triggers, as the shadow of panic began to weave in the darkness.
—"Does anyone have contact with the watchtower?!"
A guard shouted, turning on his handheld flashlight.
—"Nothing, sir. The radio is full of interference."
"*Bzzzt—Shhhhk.**
—"Check the generators! This can't be a simple failure."
**TAP—TAP—TAP…**
The soldiers and guards moved quickly, following contradictory orders as they tried to coordinate in the midst of the darkness.
**Clank—clink—thmp…**
The clash of boots, equipment, and reinforced plates sounded throughout the corridor.
**Tac—Tac—Tac…**
From another hallway, an elite guard advanced firmly, his silhouette barely visible in the gloom.
—"We can't just wait. Get the technicians to check the system right now!"
**Rmm… thp—thp…**
The assistants nodded nervously, disappearing into the depths of the castle in search of a solution.
**CLANK—clink…**
Armor brushed against walls as they moved away.
Among the shadows, the palace maidens suddenly stopped.
**Tap—tap…**
Their light steps became a reflection of their fear.
—"What is all this? This has never happened before!"
One murmured, her voice trembling.
—"It's better if we stay together. Something is not right."
**Tip—tip—tip…**
The women slowly retreated, taking refuge in one of the rooms as chaos erupted in the castle's corridors.
The murmur of uncertainty grew, spreading through every corner like an invisible presence. The castle was paralyzed, trapped in a bubble of fear and unsettling silence.
(*****)
Moments earlier, in Emperor Agmar's personal office.
He was reviewing documents of his territory when the lights began to flicker.
**Zzzzt—Krrkkk.**
Dressed in a fitted imperial tunic and a dark coat trimmed in deep blue, Agmar projected the image of a young strategist, still without the scars of the future, but with the sharp gaze of one who was already weaving betrayals in silence. His hair was perfectly slicked back, and his gray eyes, with amber reflections, scrutinized every word as if evaluating enemies.
The screens, which covered the walls with constant reports and security maps, flickered several times before turning off completely.
**THUUUM!**
**Krrzz… BEEP… PFFT.**
In an instant, everything went dark.
**CLACK… Vmmm—…**
The screens died, the castle lanterns extinguished, and the watchtowers were plunged into the void.
Total darkness enveloped the fortress, interrupted only by the faint glow of the stars twinkling in the sky.
Agmar looked up, his expression hardening.
The only glow came from his window, the only source of light in a kingdom that, just seconds ago, vibrated with inexhaustible energy.
Emperor Agmar felt a deeply rooted unease.
The castle lights had gone out completely.
**Tzzzt—Krrkk…**
He frowned, his hands gripping the documents on his desk.
This was not a simple failure. There was something more.
Without wasting time, he reached for his communicator, a console that did not rely on the electrical system, designed to function in emergency situations.
**Click—Vmmm...**
He pressed the button and spoke firmly.
—"This is Agmar, report security status immediately."
…Silence.
… …
Agmar waited a few seconds, his frown deepening.
He adjusted the frequency channel dial, trying to reach some signal.
**Krk… Bzzzt—Shhhhk.**
More static.
—"Guards, respond!"
... ...
Nothing.
The interference drowned out any communication.
Agmar noticed how the discomfort settled in his throat.
Maybe it wasn't a technical failure… but he had no proof to assert it yet.
Suddenly, he rose from his seat, pushing the chair back violently.
**THUD!**
—"Guards! Servants!"
His voice echoed through the room, an authoritative shout that reverberated among the castle walls.
**THOOM—THOOM**
**KRANG!**
The doors swung open abruptly, a hurried group of soldiers and assistants burst into the room, stumbling over each other in their attempt to respond to the call.
**Tap tap tap—SCRHHH!**
The footsteps thundered on the floor, confusion reflected on the soldiers' faces.
—"What is happening in my castle!? Explain immediately!"
**Hff—Shhhhk…**
Agitated breaths filled the air, the soldiers trying to regain their composure as chaos took over the castle.
The men exchanged worried glances before one stepped forward with a trembling voice.
—"Sir… we've lost the system throughout the castle and surroundings. But our technicians are already working to restore it."
Another soldier, more nervous, added desperately:
—"It must be a temporary failure. We'll resolve it soon."
The words seemed reasonable, but did not convince Agmar.
His gaze hardened, his jaw clenched tightly.
He was not someone who believed in coincidences, much less in spontaneous failures.
But he also did not want to rush.
—"If you don't find the reason soon, it will be your skin that pays," he growled, with a cold tone that made them step back.
**TCHHK.**
The soldiers nodded quickly, moving away with hurried steps to locate the cause.
**TAC—TAC—TAC…**
But Agmar felt a foreboding.
One he could not explain, but that troubled him more and more.
All this was too precise. Too simultaneous.
Without wasting time, he turned to his desk.
Under the reinforced wooden surface, he skillfully slid his hand and pressed a small hidden mechanism.
**Click—Vmmm…**
**CHK—TSSHT…**
A secret compartment opened with a faint click, revealing an advanced communicator, much more sophisticated than the one he had tried to use before.
This device did not rely on the castle's electrical network, nor on conventional communication signals.
It was a direct, secure, and encrypted line, used only in absolute emergencies between Emperors.
Its connection did not pass through internal systems; it was independent and designed to penetrate interference blockages.
Agmar trusted this technology. It had always worked.
(—"I need to know if this problem is just here… or if it also affects others.)
He thought seriously. He did not want to leave this to chance.
But when he activated the signal…
**Bzzzzt—Shhhhk.**
Silence.
... ...
He tried again.
Nothing.
... ...
A third time.
Nothing.
... ...
**TCH—GRRNK…**
His jaw tightened.
Each attempt was a failure.
And with each attempt, certainty took shape: whatever was happening… was not casual.
**THUD—VRRRMMM!**
Agmar slammed the compartment shut and stood up, pushing the chair back.
He no longer had doubts that something abnormal was occurring on a large scale.
**THHHHWOOOOOM!**
Suddenly, a thunderous noise shook the night, a deep vibration that rumbled from the bowels of the sky like mechanical thunder.
... ...
**VRRRMMM—GRRRRRHHHH!**
It was not a single sound, but several metallic roars, engines buzzing with an overwhelming power, vibrating the air with an intensity that felt in the chest, like the impact of an invisible shockwave.
**TUNK—THUD!**
Agmar ran to his window, his hands pounding the glass forcefully as he heard a second explosion, more distant but fierce.
**PZZHHH—BOOOM!**
From the darkness, the mechadragons emerged like specters, their arrival accompanied by a muffled roar, engines bellowing with a power that shook the structures of the castle.
**WHUMMM—TSSHHH!**
Their silhouettes were barely visible in the night's blackness, but their presence was a thunder that rumbled with every vibration of the ground, in every deafening echo that resonated like a storm of metal and energy.
A blue flash illuminated the horizon.
**CHKKKK—TZZZZZT!**
The outer turrets began to fall, swept away by energy bursts, the sound of destruction resonating with a metallic crack, fragments of armor crashing to the ground with dull thuds.
**KRHHHKKK—THUMP!**
Agmar stepped back, his pupils reflecting the lights of the assault, his face tensing.
There were no longer any doubts.
It was an attack. A perfectly anticipated siege.
(*****)
**WHUUUMMM—VRRRMMM...**
From four directions, sixteen mechadragons advanced with perfect synchronization.
**CLNK—CHHK—ZMMM...**
Their stabilizers adjusted the course in real time.
Each group of four deployed on their respective flank, following a meticulous strategy to neutralize the turrets without wasting shots or interfering with each other.
During their approach, they kept the sound to a minimum, their engines operating at a silent tone, almost imperceptible in the vast darkness.
But that was over...
On the northern front, Vaelinne led her squadron with a sharp gaze, her fingers steady on the controls.
**Beep—Chhk…**
Tactical interface active.
Her focus was absolute, leaving no room for distractions.
[—"Everyone, maintain positions and follow the plan to the letter."]
From the opposite end, to the south of the castle, Lyrielle directed her formation with calculated precision, adjusting the controls of her ship.
**Tktk—click—vmmm…**
The panels responded to every movement.
Her tone was serious, leaving no room for doubts.
[—"Squadron, confirm positions."]
The responses came immediately through the transmission:
**Krrt—Bzzzt!**
[—"East Group, ready."]
[—"North Flank, targets marked."]
[—"Confirmed from the South, waiting for signal."]
Lyrielle reaffirmed her position.
[—"The attack window is short. There is no margin for error."]
Vaelinne's usual playful tone had faded. This was a serious mission.
[—"Each ship must focus on its target. Do not waste time with unnecessary shots."]
[—"Understood. Left flank ready for the sweep."]
**WHRRMMM—KRRT…**
In perfect synchronization, the ships turned in a precise maneuver, their sensors focusing on the automated towers of the castle.
**Tzzzt—Vmmm...**
The targets were marked without issues.
**WHUMMM!**
The targeting systems locked onto each turret, ensuring that each mechadragon eliminated a distinct target without interference.
Vaelinne gave the final order.
[—"Fire in synchronization!"]
[—"Aim at the turrets, eliminate them before they can activate the counterattack."]
**WHUMMM—TZZZHH!**
From beneath the ships, energy bursts were projected with surgical precision.
**BOOOM!**
**SHHHRAK—KLANK—THMP!**
The turrets exploded in flashes of sparks, nullified before they could react.
**TZZZHH—BOOM!**
**FZHHH—KRRKT!**
Each impact was clean and calculated, neutralizing defenses without causing unnecessary casualties.
As the first explosions illuminated the night, the castle remained shrouded in uncertainty.
**THUUUM—KRHHK!**
**FLASH—TCHHRM…**
The explosions lit up the night, casting intermittent flashes on the castle walls.
The thunder reverberated in the air, shaking the structure with undeniable force.
From their positions, Vaelinne and Lyrielle observed the results of the first attack with tactical precision.
[—"Primary targets eliminated. Proceed to the next phase."]
Lyrielle confirmed coldly.
**WHRRMMM—ZZHHW…**
Without wasting time, the sixteen mechadragons turned in a synchronized maneuver, rising to execute the next move.
Vaelinne, frowning, adjusted her ship's controls.
**Tkt—bzzz…**
[—"Prepare to attack the hangars. We cannot allow reinforcements to take off."]
**WHOOOSH—TCHHH!**
**KRKT—KZZOOM!**
The units accelerated, positioning themselves over the buildings where the Emperor's ships awaited.
The castle remained engulfed in chaos, with its defenders trying to reorganize after the initial impact.
Lyrielle observed the sensors.
**Beep—beep—ping.**
Nothing indicated activity in the hangar yet, but they could not take risks.
[—"Marking collapse points. We must disable takeoff before they even attempt to react."]
**CLICK—LOCK!**
**Zzzkkkt…**
The targeting systems locked onto secondary targets, focusing on the reinforced ground and launch platforms housing the quick response ships.
Vaelinne inhaled deeply, containing the tension in her chest, and as she exhaled, she pronounced firmly:
[—"Synchronize fire!"]
**THUUM—BOOOOM!**
**SHRRRAA—KRRRSSHH!**
The energy bursts descended like focused lightning, impacting with devastating power.
**KLANK—CRRRNK—KHHH!**
The platforms collapsed one after another, the lifting mechanisms pulverized before any ship could even initiate the startup protocol.
From her own ship, one of Lyrielle's companions observed the results on the thermal and structural analysis screen.
**Ping—ping—…**
[—"Confirmed: the launch platforms have been disabled. They will not be able to counterattack from the air."]
Vaelinne squinted at the column of smoke rising from the smoldering remains, not losing her focus.
[—"Perfect. We ensure they cannot reach us from the skies."]
**KRHHKK—THHHHWUMMM...**
The ground trembled after the last detonations.
**VRRM—CLANG—TZAKK!**
Twisted fragments of metal structure flew through the air, mingled with dust and incandescent sparks.
The imperial hangars lay destroyed, reduced to rubble still smoldering inside.
On the opposite flank, Lyrielle exchanged tactical control signals with her squadron.
**Bzt—blip…**
[—"Maintain altitude and vigilance. Peripheral turn in ring formation. Let's ensure there are no hidden defenses ready to respond."]
**WHRRMMM—TZZZKT...**
**ZMM—ZMM—ZMM…**
The sixteen units executed an enveloping turn, tracing patrol circles in the air like a perfectly coordinated swarm.
Your flight was not to intimidate: it was to seal the victory.
From above, they controlled every angle, every tower, every access.
Inside the fortress, the darkness grew heavier.
The defenses fell one after another, and the castle, once invulnerable, lost all possibility of immediate response.
**THUUUM—KRRKKK...**
The enormous mechanical door of the castle began to rise, having lost its first electric lock.
**VRRRMMM—CHK-CHK…**
The internal mechanism, still intact, advanced without resistance, oblivious to the bewilderment of those watching it.
On the walls, the guards watched in horror as the structure, which was supposed to remain closed at all costs, continued to open with stubborn slowness.
**KRRRNN—GRRKT…**
—"Why at a moment like this?! This shouldn't be possible!"
Roared one of the elites, his voice filled with genuine panic.
Immediately, he ordered a group of guards to run to the control cabin, where they should be able to stop the mechanism.
**TAP TAP TAP—THUD!**
**CLANK—SCRHHK—CLANK…**
The soldiers rushed down the metal corridors, each step a heartbeat of urgency.
Every second the door rose was a gift to the enemy.
Upon arrival, they attempted to activate the emergency lock.
**CLICK—BZZZT…**
Nothing.
**Bzzzt—Click!**
The system did not respond. The insistent sound of the motor continued to roar with ominous cadence.
**THRRRRNN—WHMMMMM…**
Their gazes met, filled with desperation.
Panic slid like thick fog through the corridors.
**Hff—Krrk…**
... ...
From above, the leader of the elites—unable to wait any longer—descended with another squad to verify for himself.
—"Let's go, quickly! Something is very wrong."
**THUMP—SCRHHK!**
But upon arrival, they stopped in their tracks.
…
The air became dense, as if the castle itself were holding its breath.
**THUD—TCHH!**
The first guards sent lay on the ground, inert like corpses.
**Hhh… Hff…**
**Hhh… Hff…**
Breath became short.
One soldier took a step back.
One of the elites knelt, checking with trembling hands.
—"They're not dead… They're knocked out."
Silence enveloped them like an invisible trap.
… … …
—"Who did this?"
—"When did they enter?"
—"Where are they now?"
But there were no answers. Only more questions.
The leader, holding back the tremor in his voice, forced himself to act.
—"Check the mechanism right now!"
They ran toward the control center. Upon arrival, everyone stopped abruptly.
**TCHHHK—KRRK—ZZZT…!**
A high-grade sword was embedded in the core of the system, sunk among gears and circuits, jamming it with great brutality...
**CHHHK…**
The metal gleamed with a ceremonial edge, sealing with sinister elegance the doom of the castle.
This was not improvised sabotage. It was a warning.
**THCK—SCRHHK!**
A dry crack in the left corridor made everyone turn immediately.
**KTT—WHMM—CLICK!**
**FZZZT—FLASH!**
The flashlights of their rifles flickered in unison, casting shadows among the columns.
Nothing. Empty.
… ...
**GULP**
The leader swallowed hard.
—"Closed formation! Back to back. No one stays alone."
*"THUMP—SCRHHK!**
The soldiers grouped in a circle, aiming at all angles, blades raised with racing pulses.
**Tktktktktk…**
Tense fingers over the triggers.
… ...
But the only response was silence, dense, sharp, cruel.
**WHMMMM...**
The mechanism continued working.
**VRRRMMM—THNK—GRRRK…**
The gate rose inch by inch, until reaching full opening.
The leader clenched his jaw and spat the order:
—"Return to your posts, now! We don't have time to chase ghosts."
And although they obeyed, they knew the ghost had not finished its work.
The questions remained unanswered…
…Meanwhile, from the sky, the sixteen units of mecha-dragons flew over the castle.
**WHMMMM—ZRRRRMMM…**
Watching with strategic calm as the doors swung wide open.
Vaelinne and Lyrielle knew they should not cause unnecessary casualties.
Although the soldiers still resisted, the plan advanced with precision, and attacking indiscriminately was not an option.
*"WHHHHHMM—GRRRKKK...**
The door, now fully open, revealed the vast interior courtyard of the castle.
**WHHHSHHH…**
For a few seconds, only the night wind filtered between the walls, carrying ashes and dust from what once was an impenetrable defense.
Then, from the outer shadows, figures began to emerge.
First a few… then dozens... and finally, a whole wave of ground units, uniformed, armed, and advancing steadily—but swiftly—into the heart of the bastion.
Their movements were disciplined, and all carried reinforced front shields designed to absorb shots from light and moderate projectiles.
They emerged from flanks that, due to the recent opening of the gate and the incline of the terrain, remained out of the effective firing angle from the walls.
There was no time or clear visibility to fire effectively, and there was no option but to lower.
**THUMP—THUMP—THUMP...**
**CLANK—KRRRK—TCHNK…**
The sound of hundreds of boots echoed on the threshold stones, growing with each step, like a war drum announcing the end of Agmar's dominion.
The castle soldiers stood paralyzed for a moment, their faces dimly lit by emergency lanterns and the glow from the ships overhead.
—"Invasion in progress! All to your positions, now!"
Shouted one of the lieutenants, his voice torn with urgency.
**WHHRK—SCRHHH!**
—"Protect the interior! Get down from the walls!"
**TAP TAP TAP—CLANG!**
The guards began to descend in droves, leaving elevated towers and corridors to form defensive lines in the heart of the castle.
**SHHHHK!**
Swords were drawn.
**CHK—VRRRMM!**
Rifles loaded.
**TCHHHK—CLAMP!**
Shields deployed,
The metallic echo resonated like a desperate clamor to contain the inevitable.
But even though the commanders shouted with authority, many soldiers descended with tense, trembling, confused faces. Some could barely comprehend how they had gone from a calm night… to an open front within their own fortress.
And while the invaders advanced with discipline, the contrast was evident:
—on one side, cold and planned order.
—on the other, broken haste and internal doubt.
At the forefront of the invasion, an elite officer, clad in a black camouflage uniform—designed to blend with the darkness—and a ceremonial sword at his side, raised a portable loudspeaker.
His squad, equipped with the same stealthy attire, had approached undetected until the last second, shielded by the darkness and tactical silence of the night.
**CLICK—BZZZT**
—"Listen carefully! For charges of conspiracy against the peace of the kingdom, Emperor Agmar must surrender immediately. This fortress is under our jurisdiction until the investigation is complete. Do not prolong the inevitable."
His voice, firm and unwavering, projected with authority toward the walls, while he was protected by his unit, all carrying shields resistant to fire and maintaining an impenetrable formation.
**WHHSHHH…**
For a moment, only the wind responded.
The castle remained silent… until the faint sound of footsteps and agitated weapons above broke that apparent stillness.
**TAP—CLINK—KSHHH…**
The last guards of the emperor hesitated, caught between duty and fear.
**THUMP…**
Their fingers trembled over the triggers, searching for certainty that no one seemed to have.
Tension seized the walls.
**DRIP…**
Sweat dripped to the ground like an invisible metronome.
The lower-ranking soldiers looked at each other, restless.
Sweat rolled down their temples, and their hearts pounded fiercely beneath their uniforms.
Then, the voices accustomed to dominating fear raised their tone.
The veteran officers, aware of what they risked if Agmar fell, shouted with contained rage:
—"Do not listen to those lies! The Kingdom only wants to subjugate us. Resist, for honor and for the emperor!"
Each word was like a chain thrown around the necks of the indecisive.
It was not loyalty that held them. It was fear.
—"Do not lower your guard! Our only option is to fight!"
**TCHHHK—CLANK!**
**Hhhh… hh…**
The youngest trembled, their breath hitching beneath their helmets.
They never imagined having to wield a weapon against their own compatriots.
Some hesitated. They did not pull the trigger.
Their fingers faltered.
It was then that the voice of the siege commander thundered like a verdict:
—"Surrender now! You will be judged fairly. Do not expose your lives or the future of your families for the crimes of others."
**THUUM…**
The message fell like a slab. The gazes between soldiers crossed, loaded with a new unease:
What if all this was true?
What if we were used?
The high command, on the brink of losing control, reacted with desperate vehemence:
—"Do not be deceived! They have not provided evidence! This is a maneuver to weaken us!"
—"This is not justice, it is an invasion! The Kingdom wants to divide us!"
—"Lies! The Kingdom offers no mercy, only subjugation! This is propaganda to break us... Fire now!"
**CLACK—TCHK!**
Several weapons were raised…
But then, the sky responded first.
**BZZZT—"INCOMING TRANSMISSION..."**
**KRSHHH—PING…**
From the mecha-dragons, an audio boomed over the towers and inner courtyards of the castle, unreachable, inevitable.
And then, the voice of Agmar emerged, unmistakable, cold, calculated:
{—"Gentlemen, I have already told you to remain calm…"}
The recording crackled with real texture. Other voices joined in, each different in tone.
{[—"More reports have arrived about your progress on the planet Admina. We should act immediately."]}
{[—"We have the power needed to take control right now…"]}
{[—"If we make a mistake, we could delay our plan indefinitely…"]}
{—"If we do things right, we will take what legitimately belongs to us…"}
{**CLACK—THUD**}
... ...
Silence fell like a curse.
The faces of the soldiers lost their color.
Not just Agmar. All the emperors were implicated.
It was no longer a battle between factions.
It was a betrayal from the very top of power.
Everything was true.
One of the soldiers lowered his gaze. He dropped his rifle.
**THUNK**
Then his sword. Hands raised.
**CLINK—CLANK…**
His companion mimicked him. Then another. And another.
—"No more…"
Murmured one, his voice cracked by the weight of the truth.
The surrender spread like fire on dry grass, freeing those who no longer wanted to hold onto a lie.
From above, the commanders watched their world crumble.
One, blinded by rage, fixed his gaze on the young man who had started the wave.
**THUMP—Knock-knock!**
He took off running, as if he still had an escape.
**WHOOOSH—BANG!**
A precise shot pierced his foot.
**AHHHH!**
He fell face down, screaming, without dignity to cushion the impact.
**THUD—GROAN…**
The other officers looked at him… and understood.
The wall of loyalty had collapsed.
One of them raised his hands, voice tense:
—"We surrender! But please… our families must not bear this."
The siege commander, firm, without arrogance, replied:
—"I promise. They will not pay for mistakes they did not make."
**CLANK—CLANK—CLINK...**
One by one, the weapons fell like metals defeated by shame.
Helmets, shields, rifles… thundering on the cobblestone floor like an echo of renunciation.
And thus, the last imperial leaders surrendered.
One by one.
Without glory.
But perhaps… with a final glimmer of dignity.
The emperor's guardians surrendered to the weight of the truth, not to the edge of the sword.
**WHRRMMM…**
High above, amidst the clouds torn by columns of smoke and the still-latent glow of explosions, Vaelinne and Lyrielle observed the castle from their cabins.
The partial silence after the surrender seemed unreal, almost as if the storm had never begun.
Both shared the same held breath. It was not fatigue…
It was relief.
The plan worked.
Without unnecessary casualties.
Without massacres.
Without the need to destroy more than necessary.
Vaelinne closed her eyes for just a second.
[—"It was clean. Just as designed."]
She said quietly, more to herself than to anyone.
Lyrielle, from her private channel, responded with grave serenity:
[—"Every system, every tower, every decision… was exactly where it needed to be. Without him, it would not have been possible."]
Both knew who they were referring to.
The hidden strategist, the faceless figure who that night risked his life from within.
The infiltrator who had opened the door without breaking it.
While below the weapons surrendered to the weight of the truth, above the ships repositioned in perfect formation.
Vaelinne raised the open channel with a clear voice:
[—"Air units, next phase. Execute the marked route. Do not slow down. Maintain total vigilance."]
**WHUUMMM—VRRRMMM...**
Twelve mecha-dragons turned in unison, their lights cutting through the sky like flaming spears.
In a matter of seconds, they disappeared towards the next target, leaving a fading metallic rumble like a heartbeat.
Four ships remained in the air, at an elevated position, watching like guardians in the dark.
Among them: Vaelinne and Lyrielle.
For a few moments, the sky was paused.
And although the castle began to fall under control, in both their minds lingered the same unspoken question:
Will you make it…? Will you catch him in time?
Agmar was still inside there.
And the true core of the night…
was not yet over.
(*****)
Minutes earlier, in Emperor Agmar's Office.
The distant murmur of muffled explosions and scattered gunfire reverberated like a diluted echo, almost drowned behind the thick stone walls.
**WHUUM—dffmm**
Every so often, a distant rumble faded among the columns, as if chaos surrendered to the solemn silence of that noble room.
Inside, the air was still, dense. The soft crackle of an oil lamp was the only living sound in that space lined with dark wood that he had lit to illuminate the darkness of the room. Barely perceptible, the metallic tick of an old clock marked the seconds on the wall.
And yet, Agmar felt everything.
In the distance, he could distinguish the dull breaking of doors, muffled distant screams.
**TICK—TICK—TICK…**
**CRACK**
Agmar closed the report with a sharp snap, the parchment bending under his hand with the creaking sound of taut paper.
**Vrrrrm**
The desk vibrated.
**Tlin… tlin-tlin**
An inkwell trembled slightly, emitting a subtle tinkling sound as it moved in its glass base.
And then, in a low voice, contained like a knife between his teeth:
—"I will not fall with this empire tonight."
**Grch...**
The brushing of his teeth as he clenched his jaw mingled with the dull vibration of his voice, which was lost in the wood like an unspoken promise to no one… except the echo of the abyss itself.
**THOK… THOK… THOK…**
His boots resonated on the marble floor with a solid and authoritative rhythm as he advanced.
**Shiink**
From the marble pedestal near the desk, he took his two-handed sword, ancient and gleaming like a forgotten vow.
**Tac-tac**
He adjusted it at his hip, closing the sheath with a precise movement.
**THOK… THOK… THOK…**
He walked towards the built-in security cabinet in the wall, its surface studded with enigmatic symbols.
**Tzzzt… Clack!**
Agmar, without hesitation, traced the sequence at high speed.
**Krrr…**
The compartment opened with a mechanical whisper.
There lay an experimental automatic rifle, already loaded. Compact yet lethal, it had a capacity of fifty rounds per magazine, more than double that of standard models. Its design not only offered greater capacity but also a better cooling system when firing and a refined balance that made it easier to handle even in continuous bursts.
Of recent manufacture, it incorporated hybrid technology—based on schematics stolen from the Kingdom—that allowed it to fire modulated bursts in power and speed, adapting to different combat conditions with unsettling precision.
—"A borrowed idea… but effective."
Murmured Agmar as he recalled.
Next to the weapon lay several magazines arranged on a belt, several spherical metal grenades, and his personal tablet: armored, encrypted, and loaded with highly confidential files.
**Shhk-click**
**Crrric**
Agmar slung the rifle onto his back, securing it with the strap designed for that purpose, thus gaining greater freedom of movement.
**Zip... thud**
Then he tightened the belt with the magazines and stored the tablet along with the spherical grenades in the inner compartments of his black coat.
**Shhhk—TCHUNK**
The compartment closed with a firm mechanical snap, sealing with it his preparations for the escape.
**THOK… THOK… THOK…**
The sound of his boots echoed solemnly as he crossed the room. Upon reaching the window, he paused for a moment.
Outside, the howling of the wind mingled with distant sparks of energy and steel, barely filtering through the thick glass. The lights of the castle flickered like dying embers, fragile before what was coming. Agmar averted his gaze. It was not a time for contemplation.
He headed to the personal library at the back of his office.
**Shhhk… shhhk… shhhk…**
With quick movements, he slid three volumes in a precise sequence: Strategy of the Red Dawn, Secret Geography of the Inner Skies, and The Hunt for the Heir. As he did so, the shelf emitted a dry click.
**Click—Whrrrrk…**
The wood creaked and slowly shifted to the side, revealing a narrow metal opening, with dark walls and armored structure. Inside, a hidden elevator awaited, built decades ago as a last escape route.
With everything secured, Agmar entered.
**WHRRMMM—Click…**
The metal and wood door closed behind him with a deep groan, and the library sealed itself again, burying maps, treaties… and the ghosts of an extinguishing power.
Agmar was alone.
**Vrrrrr…**
**Shhh… shhh…**
The elevator descended. The metallic vibration was the only thing accompanying his contained breath.
**Tac.**
Agmar rested a hand on the hilt of his sword, as if by doing so he could remind himself that he could still fight against the night slipping through his fingers.
And yet, something troubled him.
... ...
Because, for some reason… the silence did not sound like safety. It sounded like an anteroom.