Maya's POV
The Eastern Kingdom forces collapsed in chaos when Elias fell.
Soldiers scattered. Officers screamed conflicting orders. The army that had been so disciplined and organized turned into panicked survivors running for their lives.
Kaden's Northern forces pushed forward and claimed the downtown ruins within an hour.
It should have been victory.
But then the horizon turned black.
An army so large it looked like a living tide emerged from the western ruins. Forty thousand soldiers. Maybe more. All wearing the same brutal insignia. All moving with the coordination of a single organism.
The Western Dictatorship.
Led by a warlord named Kross who had earned his reputation through bloodshed and cruelty. He had conquered seven territories and held them through fear alone. His soldiers fought because they were terrified of what he would do if they didn't.
Kaden stood on the tactical tower and watched them approach.
His face went pale.
