Blood -3

"For His Excellency..."

"For the Empire..."

In barely audible whispers, thousands of Shadow Swords chanted in unison.

Then, without hesitation, they lowered their black masks, concealing their faces entirely.

And in the next breath—

They vanished into the embrace of darkness~

STAB.

A Great Serpent Emperor felt a sudden piercing pain in his back.

"Arrgh!!"

Whipping around, he swung his weapon in a powerful, sweeping arc— but there was no one there.

His breath steadied, and for a moment, he convinced himself it was merely a stray fragment from a nearby battle.

But as his fingers traced the source of pain, he felt it—warm, wet blood trickling down his back.

And then he noticed—

The wound was deep. Nearly half a finger's length into his flesh.

A realization dawned upon him.

That was a stab wound.

His pulse quickened, "What was that—?!"

STAB. STAB. STAB.

"AAAGH!!"