Realm Lord

The familiar sensation of the king’s eyelids closing and opening once more brought Arthur to yet another scene, this one more ominous than any he had witnessed so far. When the king’s vision cleared, Arthur found himself standing on a grand stone balcony that jutted out from the highest tower of the royal castle. The balcony was crafted from the same pristine white marble as the throne room, with ornate railings carved into intricate patterns that spoke of master craftsmanship. Decorative banners bearing the royal crest fluttered in the wind, their vibrant colors a stark contrast to the scene that lay beyond the castle walls.

From this vantage point, the king could see the entire expanse of his kingdom spread out below him like a living map. The city stretched in all directions, a maze of cobblestone streets lined with houses, shops, and markets.

But it was not his kingdom that held the king’s attention now. Arthur could feel the grim tension radiating through the monarch’s body as he stared out at the scene unfolding beyond the city’s fortified walls. The king’s hands gripped the marble railing with such force that his knuckles had turned white, and his jaw was clenched so tightly that Arthur could feel the ache in the muscles.

’The void creatures.’

Arthur’s understanding came with a shock of recognition and horror. Beyond the walls of the city, reality itself seemed to be tearing apart like fabric. A massive gate had opened in the very air, its edges crackling with dark energy that made the surrounding landscape appear to shimmer and distort. The portal was enormous, easily the size of a cathedral, and from its yawning depths poured forth an army that defied description.

Hundreds upon hundreds of void creatures emerged from the gate in an endless stream of nightmare. They came in all shapes and sizes—some resembled twisted versions of familiar animals, while others were geometric impossibilities that hurt to look at directly. Some crawled on multiple legs like spiders made of shadow, while others flew on wings that seemed to be made of pure darkness. What united them all was their wrongness, their fundamental opposition to the natural order of the world.

To meet this otherworldly threat, the king’s army had assembled on the field between the city walls and the void gate. From the balcony, they looked like toy soldiers arranged for battle, their colorful banners and polished armor gleaming in the sunlight. Arthur could see the neat formations of infantry, the cavalry positioned on the flanks, and the archers lined up behind protective barriers. It should have been an impressive sight—the full military might of a prosperous kingdom arrayed for battle.

But Arthur understood with growing dread why the king’s expression was so grim.

The king let out a deep, shuddering sigh that seemed to carry the weight of his entire kingdom’s fate. His hand moved almost unconsciously to rest on the ornate handle of his sheathed blade. For a moment, the king stood there in silence, watching his soldiers prepare to face an enemy they could not possibly defeat.

Then he blinked again.