The battle ensues

At the exact same moment the torches at the edge of the stage went out from a gush of a phantom wind, inaudible shouts and petrified shrieks flared all over the palace grounds.

One by one, shadow-like winged beasts came crushing down from the night sky. Fallen angels come to claim blood and flesh. They hoisted their victims up into the starlit darkness faster than I could see them, their claws sharp as blades ripping out citizens as if they were mere sheets of paper. Bones, tissues and tendons cracked and crunched before raining down on us in droplets of red.

The scent of iron was now even stronger than before. This was hell itself.

I did not want to merely watch. This time, I would fight them the first time I lay my eyes on the Ri Shalli. I would not avoid them and take longer to move. I would not wait for more death to come by.

Tonight, there were no quivering breaths and shuddering shoulders. There was only my resolve to protect.