The tremor that rippled through the Grand Colosseum wasn’t an isolated incident caused by a natural disaster. It was the first signal of the chain of destruction that was planned for the day.

The first planned explosion occurred at intersection where the Capital was connected to Frosthail, the target was the Magic Gate.

The enormous Gate constructed of stone, engraved sigils and mana stones connected the northern routes to the capital and stood as the most vital arteries of movement.

It remained intact after the first explosion, however the cracks started forming in the center where the light crackled as the figures started emerging.

The furry, deformed creatures stepped out snarling and growling. The creatures could be called former shifters of the wolf and bear races but currently they looked like they were mutated monsters hungry for blood and flesh.

Around two hundred of the creatures crawled out, some of them cleared at the ground beneath their paws, some growled and howled. Blood and the saliva dripped from their maws as they roared and snarled.

Behind them a petite figure stepped out followed by ten, tall figures.

Just as the last of the people stepped out, the light hummed faintly before one of the black clad people tossed something behind and the light crackled loudly before it pulsed and an explosion tore through its core.

The runes and the magic stones shattered and the light collapsed inward before bursting outward in a violent surge. This second explosion was so strong that it created strong shockwaves that made the ground tremble. The mutated shifters yelped and growled back at the origin of explosion but didn’t approach it.

The structure crumbled in on itself and the ten figures who had walked at some distance stood crowding around the petite figure.

At their center stood a young girl, she didn’t look older than 14 or 15 as she was clad in a black gown and a black cloak that covered her petite form. She had long deep black hair and ghostly pale face with large, hollow amber eyes.

"It’s done. Let’s move ahead." One of the black figures said and the girl raised her hand.

The creatures that were snarling and roaming around suddenly halted in their movements and faced the girl whose eyes glowed faintly.

And then, they moved in the direction of the other towns.

The second explosion came moments later, this time from the western district at the edge of Esmertia territory.

The great market, the busiest artery of trade in the capital, erupted into chaos as the blast tore through its center. Stalls splintered, goods scattered, and flames climbed hungrily over canvas and timber. The crowd, dense just moments before, dissolved into panic as people ran in every direction, their voices rising in confusion and fear.

"What...just happened?"

"He-Help me!"

Yet the destruction did not end with the explosion, it began there as the red smoke rose from the explosion and the scent of rotten flesh and blood choked the air.

The bodies of the ones who died at the impact slowly started twitching as the red smoke wafted over them. Their broken bones cracked as they slowly crawled to their feet.

One by one, then in clusters, figures rose from the ground, some from beneath collapsed structures, others from where they had fallen moments earlier. Their movements were unnatural, delayed as though they were roused from a deep sleep. Their eyes held no pupils and black marks coursed up their skin like insects crawling over their bodies.

A woman who saw this sight screamed and fainted right there.

More than the explosion, it was the resurrection of these ghastly and dead corpses frightened the people to the bone as they screamed and started running.

The dead corpses moved swiftly and grabbed whoever was the closest and dug their teeth into their flesh tearing out chunks and splashing the blood over the floor and their bodies.

As the rampage went on, the horde of these undead corpses grew larger and larger and the screams turned into the gurgling sounds as they moved around hunting the living with blood dripping from their mouths and eyes.

On top of one of the buildings stood a man watching the bloodbath below with hollow eyes. It was Azar, a side of his face still carried the three faint scratch marks left there by Ocean’s familiar owl Nox.

His black cloak billowed with the wind as he stood there looking deeply satisfied and relaxed before glancing at the ten more figures clad in black cloaks and gave them a signal.

It was time for them to start marching with their undead army as well.

He brought his hand up to his mouth and let out a shrill whistle which froze the movements of the undead before their turned to him and at the wave of his arm, they started moving further deeper into the West to cause more destruction.

The final disaster struck at Oasis.

At one moment, the people were happily going about listening to the announcement of their beloved Prince being announced the winner but the sudden wave of tremors beneath their feet made them stagger and hold on to each other.

They all were confused as a few more tremors rippled through, they still didn’t have any idea that it was that serious but soon enough, one of the little girls who was mounted on top of her father’s shoulders turned her head and looked at the large fountain that had stopped sprouting water.

She also saw a lot of lithe figures clad in black whom she knew were to protect the city hurriedly running towards the crowd shouting something while waving their arms wildly.

She opened her mouth to tell her father about it before a deafening explosion tore through the plaza, blinding everyone for a moment and throwing dozens of people far from the site. A huge mushroom shaped black smoke cloud rose covering the entire city of Oasis.

The people lay on the ground, some underneath the rubble some on or under the pile of several other people.

The screams and wails quickly followed by and the guard units who had rushed in the moment and started pulling the people away.

"Hurry and get them away!"

"H-Help me!"

"Mamma!"

Though the orders were given to the teams beforehand, they all had failed to make it in time and thus it caused a large number of people to get injured and caused casualties.

Some people scrambled to their feet, disoriented and panicked, calling out their families and some simply started running in the directions that the guards shouted.

For a moment, it seemed like the situation was soon going to be under control but the real horror was yet to begin.

The darkened sky covered by the large black smoke that resembled the angry clouds suddenly started raining.

Fine, grey flakes descended slowly from above, so light that they seemed almost harmless. They settled over the streets, over rooftops, over shoulders and hair. Some brushed them away without a second thought, too focused on escaping to care.

At first nobody noticed in the chaos but when some people did notice, they looked up at the sky and felt the ashy flakes fall over them and then dissolve.

A man started coughing, his throat grew dry and itchy before he coughed again feeling his chest tighten up. He staggered, confused as to what was happening to him before he covered his mouth feeling another fit of coughs.

He could barely register the people around him who had also started coughing, when he brought his hand back, his face grew ashy as he saw blood staining his hand.

His ears started ringing before the burning pain seized his body and he fell to his knees letting out a blood-curdling scream.

The guards in their frenzy didn’t realise it until the screaming that had once settled had begun again but this time the sounds were more primal and agonizing.

They turned their heads watching the people coughing and retching blood, clutching at their throats and chest.

Those who weren’t injured much earlier began to choke, their breaths turning ragged as they clutched at their throats. Others clawed at their skin, nails digging in as if something beneath the surface was burning them alive. Some collapsed outright, their bodies convulsing against the ground, their screams cutting through the air in raw, unfiltered agony.

"Help me!"

"It burns!"

The guards watched in stunned silence, their limbs locked in place as they saw the horrifying sight.

"Cover yourself! Don’t breathe it in!" Suddenly a voice screamed making the guards who were froze to move.

They began dragging civilians away, using their cloaks, their arms, anything to shield them from the falling ash. Their uniforms, built for concealment and protection, covered them from head to toe, sparing them from direct exposure, but even they did not linger.

This was not something they could fight, they had to escape somewhere safer hoping that this ashy rain would stop soon.

"Hurry, bring them over here!" One of the guard leaders shouted from the entrance of the building that was still miraculously intact.

The guards quickly rushed the survivors to the safety, praying that their Master would fix this soon.

After most of the survivors were hurried into the building, the guards who were outside checking for any more survivors suddenly noticed some people approaching from the other side.

For a moment, they thought their Master had sent reinforcements but they didnt spot any familiar faces.

Rather, the closer this group came, they realised that the ashes had no effect on them.

They all walked as one with one figure in the lead all of them were dressed in black, but unlike the guard uniforms these were clearly not one of them.

The Domina, clad in flowing black robes that seemed to merge with the smoke around her moved without any haste. Her crimson hair lashed wildly behind her, a stark contrast against the grey world around her. Her right hand resembled a charred claw of a monster, completely black and hideous.

In her other hand, she carried a black tome, its surface faintly pulsing with a malignant glow.

Beside her walked Reikah and a handful of dark mages, their presence steady amidst the destruction.

The Domina’s gaze drifted over the scene, over the fleeing civilians, over the futile attempts to save the people, over the guards who struggled against something they did not understand.

A faint smile touched her lips.

She knew the time she had been waiting for had arrived. This was the first attack of the Dark Forces on this world and the Dragon despite being strong had failed this time.

Even if the Dragon did try anything, who could he save? There weren’t one or two but three places that needed his help.

"Run little Dragon, who will you save? The people in West? East? Or your own town?"

Beyond Oasis, beyond the fire and the chaos, her attention shifted toward the distant rise of the capital where the Grand Colosseum stood.

The three strikes had struck and the Dragon was caught, it was the day the Dragon would fall.