As the days passed, the city fractured.
The protesters split into factions—one side calling for Drahkt's reform, believing the man they once followed could still be saved. The other demanded revolt, convinced that whatever ruled the mansion now was no longer human. Some remained neutral, paralyzed by fear and uncertainty.
None of them knew the truth—and none of them were prepared for what came next.
On January twenty-eighth, just as dawn threatened the horizon, the city was shaken awake.
BOOM.
BOOM.
BOOM.
BOOM.
Explosions thundered through the streets, rattling windows and tearing screams from sleeping throats. Citizens rushed from their homes, panic spreading like wildfire.
The source was unmistakable—Drahkt's mansion.
Heitr arrived first.
The air was thick with dust and ash as he knelt beside the shattered stone, running his fingers across the rubble.
"…Just look at this." he muttered.
Something black writhed beneath the debris.
His expression darkened.
"Corrupted Numa." he said coldly. "And concentrated."
This wasn't collateral damage...this was intentional.
As he leaned closer, movement caught his eye.
"Who's there?" Heitr called.
From the wreckage, a maid emerged—her body wrapped in a cracked bronze Numa shield. She struggled to lift an unconscious man beside her.
"Please…!" she coughed, blood staining her lips. "Please stop Lord Drahkt…"
Her strength failed her and she collapsed.
Two days later, in a quiet inn, the maid's eyes fluttered open.
"Silas!" she cried.
"Victoria!" the butler shouted back, rushing forward to embrace her.
From the doorway, Heitr watched in silence before stepping inside.
"You're awake," he said, pulling out a chair. "Good."
He sat.
"Now tell me everything."
Victoria spoke of Drahkt's transformation—his growing rage, the corruption eating away at him, and the experiments conducted deep within the mountains. She spoke of screams and of things that should never have lived.
When she finished, the room fell silent.
"…So my guess was correct." Heitr said quietly.
He lowered his gaze.
"I hoped I was wrong." he admitted.
"…But, I have to kill him."
Victoria and Silas stiffened, shock written across their faces—but neither objected. They understood.
"Stay here." Heitr said as he stood. "When I return, we'll head to the central continent."
The closer Heitr drew to the mountains, the heavier the air became.
Then he saw them.
Creatures—once human—dragging themselves across the ground.
"H…elp…m…e…"
Their voices were broken. Their bodies worse.
Heitr's grip tightened around his sword.
"This is inhumane," he said bitterly.
"Drahkt… what happened to you?"
He struck them down swiftly, granting mercy where none should have been needed.
As blood soaked the earth, memories surfaced.
"Heitr. Drahkt. You are to be dispatched immediately."
"A dark figure has halted our advance."
"Eliminate it."
"Sir!" Both of them answered.
The laboratory loomed ahead—fortified and guarded.
Two demon lizardmen stepped forward.
"Halt!" one hissed.
"If you want to reach Lord Drahkt—"
"You'll have to get through us." the other sneered.
Heitr tried to walk past.
They blocked his path.
"Move." he said flatly.
"And if we don't?" the lizardman mocked.
Heitr sighed.
His Numa surged.
"I fucking told you." he said, raising his hand.
"Move."
The pressure crushed them instantly.
Inside the lab, chaos reigned—equipment shattered, corrupted Numa pulsing violently.
Drahkt stormed out, fury twisting his features.
"You fucking nitwit!" he snarled.
"I'm sick of you ruining everything! You ruin my work! My life! My fun—"
"Fun?" Heitr cut in, his voice sharp as steel.
He stepped forward, eyes blazing.
"To hell with this," Heitr growled.
"I know you're not the Drahkt I once knew."
His Numa flared, anger finally unleashed.
"The man I fought beside," he continued,
"would never say something like that."
The air between them warped.
Two former comrades.
One inevitable battle.