Burning

A biting wind howled under a somber sky. Nights across the Great Anzetta Wasteland were always this bleak and freezing—yet tonight was different. Streaks of artillery fire ripped through the pitch-black canopy, weaving a dazzling, blazing web across the heavens that lit the earth as bright as day, illuminating the hideous faces of demons lurking in the dark. “Boom!” “Boom! Boom!” The bombardment showed not the slightest sign of relenting; its cadence didn't drop even by a fraction. This was the current military might of the Cinder Empire. This battle had raged for an entire day, yet the defenders of the Imperial Wall had not even exhausted their stockpile of shells, with an endless stream of munitions still being transported in from the north. Amidst the surging demonic tide, terrifyingly grotesque smiling faces flashed by. These towering, bat-winged demons possessed teeth and claws that were barely discernible as physical matter; the rest of their forms remained concealed in darkness, seamlessly blending with the shadows. They were shadow demons, known as the hunters of the night. It was said that when an especially envious soul was dragged into the Abyss, it warped, splintered, and recombined with other souls until a form emerged—one brimming purely with jealousy and malice, entirely devoid of physical substance. This was a shadow demon. Darting and gliding through the gloom, the shadow demons effortlessly evaded wave after wave of artillery bombardments, slipping straight into the treacherous minefield. Skimming the ground like phantoms, they were incapable of triggering the landmines. In mere breaths, the shadow demons reached the front of the Imperial Wall. “Roar—” “Khehehe, you cannot stop the Abyss...” Chaotic black silhouettes slithered across the ground, the raspy, guttural laughter of the shadow demons echoing before the fortress, sending chills down the spine. In truth, they were searching for hosts to possess. Rumors of demonic possession were common enough, often cited by the ignorant to explain bizarre or violent behavior. Although in most cases it merely manifested as madness or insanity, that was usually the work of shadow demons. When war arrived, shadow demons would possess the enemy's soldiers and commanders, plunging them into paranoia and suspicion toward their own comrades. Inside the bunker, Adrovel gazed at the black silhouettes and instantly deduced their origin. “Those are shadow demons!” he urged anxiously. “We must uncover their tracks immediately! Otherwise, the consequences will be catastrophic!” Yet even as he spoke, faint, eerie smiles had already surfaced on the faces of several soldiers atop the Imperial Wall, faintly wreathed in wisps of dark mist. Duoluo looked surprised, though he remained composed. “Shadow demons?” Adrovel shut his eyes and cast several divination spells in rapid succession. When he reopened them, starlight glimmered within his silver pupils. With a solemn expression, he explained, “These demons are amalgamations of the Abyss and the Plane of Shadow. They can travel through shadows and possess mortals. They're exceptionally tricky to deal with, unless there is a—” *Whoosh—* Suddenly, a blinding brilliance flared to life. A new sun seemed to rise into the sky, bathing hundreds of meters in every direction within its divine radiance. “No—!” “Aaaargh—!” “Damned mortals! How could you possibly... wield such power?!” The possessed soldiers writhed and convulsed on the ground. Billows of black smoke poured from their bodies, and twisted dark silhouettes wailed in agonizing torment. In the end, as those twisted forms dissolved into ash, the brilliance thoroughly purified the shadow demons, leaving behind only the bewildered, disoriented soldiers. “A legendary Light Cleric,” Adrovel murmured, only now finishing his interrupted sentence. “Marshal Duoluo... I have come at His Majesty's behest to assist you.” Holding a scepter and clad in pristine, gold-trimmed white robes, a woman stepped forth from the light, nodding slightly toward Duoluo in respect. She was none other than the former honorary bishop of the Church of Amaunator and current court cleric of the empire—Ingrid. “Thank you for intervening, Lady Ingrid.” Duoluo returned the greeting, an unsightly grin spreading across his face, baring the fangs at the corners of his mouth. “You are too kind, Marshal. This is all for the empire, and expelling demons is my duty in any case.” Ingrid nodded again with a polite smile, a faint gleam shimmering in her beautiful eyes. Duoluo pressed a hand against his chest and replied, “Indeed. All for the empire.” Meanwhile, Adrovel stared with wide eyes, utterly stunned and in disbelief. The Cinder Empire had actually enlisted a legendary Light Cleric! Such beings were almost invariably pure Lawful Good practitioners, who would never condone an expansionist, aggressive power like the empire. Ingrid noticed Adrovel beside him and said, “You must be the 'Guardian Scale,' the hero who has long fought against demonic incursions.” Adrovel, rather flattered, replied, “You flatter me, my lady.” Then Ingrid turned around, her eyes slowly closing as she floated up into midair, holding the scepter horizontally across her chest. When Ingrid opened her eyes once more, a golden-red flame danced within her pupils. Gazing into the distance at the raging tide of demons and the relentless barrage of artillery fire, a myriad of emotions welled up in Ingrid's heart. She couldn't help but murmur softly under her breath, “The empire...” Years ago, in that battle, she had been coerced by the emperor, forced under threat of death to sign a contract pledging thirty years of service to the empire. Over those years, Ingrid had watched with her own eyes as the empire grew and flourished. She had seen the brand-new lives the emperor bestowed upon the people, yet she had also witnessed the bloody shadows lurking beneath. Later, her attention turned to the brutal war in the south, and she had grieved ceaselessly for the people of Fadlan who perished in the conflict. Even now, she felt a trace of bewilderment. What was truly right? Those three imperial scions who claimed divine blood had plunged the realm into war for their own selfish desires, tearing countless families apart. Yet it was this 'Evil Dragon Emperor' who ensured the people of Anzeta were well-fed and well-clothed, bringing them a new order. Perhaps... allowing the empire to rule Fadlan was the right choice after all? Regardless of which path was right, exterminating demons and repelling the Abyssal invasion was never wrong. Rather than agonizing over what constituted the right path, it was better to eradicate what was undeniably wrong. “Phoo...” At last, Ingrid let out a soft sigh, choosing to cast these distractions aside and dedicate herself wholly to eliminating the approaching demons. The cleric raised her hand. The scepter rose along with her gesture into the upper air, unleashing boundless radiance like a sun rising in the dead of night. *Boom—* Radiant energy converged, and a golden wall slowly rose from the earth, leaving all the demons skulking in the darkness nowhere to hide. Even the shadow demons darting through the shadows in an attempt to breach the rampart burst straight into flames, letting out agonized shrieks and venomous curses. Wall of Light. “For the empire... or perhaps, for this world,” Ingrid murmured coldly from high above, gazing down at the burning demons.