š HEAR YE, HEAR YE, BRAVE SOULS! šāØ
š„ Let the drums of destiny roar as we welcome our newest LEGENDARY adventurersā¦ āļø Buddyschlym! āļø and āļø Moran! āļøšā”ļø Our journey just leveled UP with their arrival!
***********************************
Far from the bustling heart of Shenlong City, the southern border of the Bai Da Empire stood as a bastion of military might. Within a sprawling encampment fortified by towering walls and vigilant sentries, General Shen Rui, a veteran of countless battles, was deep in thought. His command tent, adorned with maps and tactical plans, was dimly lit by an oil lamp. The flickering light revealed his scarred face, a testament to decades of service.Ā
He was not a man prone to fear, but tonight, an uneasy stillness in the air made him pause.Ā
The flap of the tent opened suddenly, and a messenger, drenched in sweat, rushed in and bowed deeply. "General Shen Rui, urgent news from the northern border!"Ā
Shen Rui's sharp eyes snapped to the messenger. "Speak."Ā
The messenger hesitated, his voice trembling. "General Shen Kai... has passed away. Poison, my lord. His entire camp is dead."Ā
The silence that followed was deafening. Shen Rui's hand gripped the edge of the table as he rose to his feet, his towering frame casting a shadow over the trembling messenger.Ā
"Poison? Infiltration? Explain!" Shen Rui barked, his voice echoing through the tent like a crack of thunder.Ā
The messenger swallowed hard. "It seems... someone infiltrated General Shen Kai's camp. Not a single soldier survived. The poison was in their food and drinkāmeticulously planned."Ā
Shen Rui's jaw tightened, his mind racing. Shen Kai was a stalwart of the empire, a man whose vigilance was unparalleled. For his entire camp to fall meant the assassin was no ordinary foe.Ā
"Send word to the capital immediately," Shen Rui ordered. "We mustā"Ā
His words were cut short as a sudden, searing pain shot through his chest. His vision blurred, and he staggered, clutching at his heart.Ā
"General!" The messenger cried, rushing to his side.Ā
Shen Rui collapsed onto the table, knocking over the oil lamp. Its flame extinguished as darkness enveloped the tent. Outside, the camp descended into chaos as news of their leader's death spread like wildfire.Ā
As the southern camp mourned their fallen general, similar tragedies unfolded across the empire.Ā
In the western mountains, General Wu Tian, a brilliant strategist known for his unorthodox methods, stood on a cliff overlooking his encampment. He breathed in the crisp night air, savoring a rare moment of peace.Ā
"My lord," Captain Fang, his trusted aide, approached with a flask of wine. "To your health and to our continued victories."Ā
Wu Tian accepted the flask with a grin. "Ah, Fang, you always know how to lighten the mood. Let's drink to that."Ā
They clinked their flasks, but as Wu Tian took a sip, his eyes widened. His throat burned, and he dropped the flask, clutching at his neck.Ā
"General!" Fang shouted, rushing to his side.Ā
Wu Tian fell to his knees, blood trickling from his lips. His last words were barely a whisper. "Traitors... among us."Ā
Before Captain Fang could react, a blade pierced his back, wielded by a soldier he had trusted for years. The assassin's cold eyes met his as he whispered, "The empire falls tonight."Ā
The western camp erupted in chaos as hidden assassins struck down officers and sowed discord among the ranks.Ā
In the eastern plains, General Luo Min, a master tactician known for her sharp mind and unmatched loyalty to the emperor, received a visitor in her tent.Ā
"General Luo," The visitor said, bowing low. "I bring urgent news from the capital."Ā
"Speak quickly," Luo Min commanded, her piercing gaze fixed on the visitor.Ā
The visitor handed her a sealed letter. As Luo Min broke the seal and began to read, a faint, sweet scent filled the air. Her vision blurred, and she staggered back, the letter falling from her hands.Ā
"What... is this?" She gasped, clutching her throat.Ā
The visitor smiled, their face transforming into that of a beautiful assassin with eyes as cold as ice. "A message from the shadows. The reign of Bai Da ends tonight."Ā
Luo Min reached for her sword, but her strength failed her. She collapsed, the last thing she saw being the assassin slipping out into the night like a phantom.
By dawn, the news of the generals' deaths had reached Shenlong City. The emperor's court was in uproar as messengers flooded in with reports of chaos from every corner of the empire.Ā
"Your Majesty," Minister Shen Zhou began, his voice trembling, "General Shen Rui has fallen. Poison claimed him, as it did General Shen Kai. Reports from the west and east confirm similar fates for Generals Wu Tian and Luo Min. Assassins have struck at the heart of our military."Ā
Shen Wuyang, who had been basking in the glow of victory just hours ago, now sat pale and silent on his throne. His golden robes seemed to weigh him down as the gravity of the situation pressed upon him.Ā
"Who dares to strike at my empire in such a cowardly manner?" He roared, slamming a fist onto the armrest of his throne.Ā
Prime Minister Wei Yan stepped forward, his voice steady despite the turmoil. "Your Majesty, this is no random act of rebellion. This is a coordinated attack, targeting the pillars of our strength. We must act swiftly to uncover the perpetrators and secure our remaining forces."Ā
As the court deliberated, a shadowy figure watched from the rafters above. Cloaked in darkness, the assassin listened intently, a sly smile playing on their lips.Ā
"The Bai Da Empire has grown complacent," The assassins whispered to themselves. "Their arrogance blinds them to the cracks in their foundation. Tonight, the seeds of chaos bloom."Ā
Below, the emperor issued orders with fury and desperation. "Send reinforcements to the borders. Double the guards around the palace. I want every spy, every traitor, rooted out and executed!"Ā
But even as his commands echoed through the hall, the shadowy figure slipped away, their mission complete.Ā
Across the empire, the deaths of the generals sent shockwaves through the populace. Soldiers whispered of curses and betrayal, their morale shattered. Nobles bickered among themselves, pointing fingers and sowing division.
The once-mighty Bai Da Empire, a symbol of strength and unity, now stood on the brink of collapse.Ā
In the shadows, the assassins moved with precision, their blades striking down key figures and spreading fear wherever they went. They were ghosts, leaving no trace of their origins or motives.Ā
As the sun set on Shenlong City, Shen Wuyang stood on the balcony of the Shen Palace, his gaze fixed on the horizon. His empire was under siege, not by armies but by an unseen enemy that struck from within.Ā
"Whoever you are," He muttered, his voice low and dangerous, "You will pay for this treachery. The Bai Da Empire will not fall."Ā
But even as he spoke, the seeds of doubt took root in his heart. For the first time in his reign, the dragon of Bai Da felt the chill of vulnerability. And in the shadows, his enemies waited, their plans far from finished.Ā
--- ā¦ ā¦ ā¦ ---
š Limited-Time Sale Now Live! š
I'm excited to announce an exclusive ongoing sale on my Patreon and my other writing platform! Whether you've been thinking of joining for a while or upgrading your current tier, now's the perfect chance to dive deeper into all the content I've been creating.
āØ Use code: D166Eš Valid from:April 19th ā April 2th
On Patreon, this gives you early access to chapters, behind-the-scenes content, polls, and more.
Don't miss outāthis offer won't last forever! Come join the community and support the stories you love š
š Patreon: patreon.com/Myth_Valley
ā Or support directly: buymeacoffee.com/myth_valley
Let's keep the adventure alive! š„šāØ