Voranthar stood on the balcony of his highest tower and gripped the stone railing. He watched the starving citizens drag his perimeter guards to the cobblestone streets.
The wooden gates of the capital swung open, allowing Iron-Scale and the Vanguard army to march directly into the city without facing a single arrow.
Voranthar stumbled backward and ran a hand through his hair. He desperately needed a countermeasure because the Heralds were completely gone. He remembered the Aether-Core device Soros presented at the coalition summit weeks ago.
The weapon rested in the center of the royal war room, designed to emit a localized anti-magic pulse that would vaporize any hostile forces approaching the palace walls.
He sprinted down the winding stairs and burst into the war room. The metallic device sat on a marble pedestal, covered in intricate protective runes.
Voranthar rushed to the pedestal and grabbed the activation lever. He pulled it down forcefully.
