King of Corruption ( 540 )

Meanwhile, in the Human Kingdom…

The grand throne room had lost its former light.

What once shimmered with noble banners and sunlit glass now hung heavy with darkness.

King Edmund sat tall on his throne of stone and gold.

His armor gleamed black with etched crimson veins, subtle, pulsing lines of corrupted mana.

The air around felt heavier.

The royal guards lining the hall stood motionless.

Eyes dulled.

Even the nobles, stood quiet under the unnatural pressure that clung to the room like smoke.

King Edmund rested his cheek lazily on a gloved knuckle, elbow on the armrest.

In front of him knelt two men.

One of them, cloaked in military red, spoke first:

"From our observation team embedded in the Dwarven Kingdom..."

He bowed lower.

"We believe the fall of the last two strongholds is only a matter of time, my liege."

A pause.