(The Heart of Dominion has become a battlefield. What began as a rebellion has escalated into a full-scale war within the city, and Cassius and his group are moving unseen through the chaos. Their target: the noble figures who serve Raziel. While the lower nobles and commoners fight desperately for freedom, Cassius and his allies strike with precision, ensuring that no rulers remain to reclaim the city. And far above, Raziel’s gaze begins to shift.)

  This chapter contains brutal urban warfare, assassination, and the slow unraveling of Raziel’s power. Themes of revolution, calculated violence, and the consequences of tyranny are heavily present. Reader discretion is advised.

  ?? SYSTEM NOTICE: ? REBELLION ESCALATING TO FULL-SCALE WARFARE. ? MORTAL RULERS LOSING CONTROL. ? DIVINE INFLUENCE WEAKENING.

  The streets were drenched in blood.

  Flames roared in the distance, painting the city in hues of orange and crimson. Smoke curled into the sky as the once-gilded streets of the Heart of Dominion turned into a battlefield.

  Gunfire cracked through the night, mixing with the clash of steel and the explosive detonation of magic spells.

  Bodies lay strewn across cobbled roads, both rebels and loyalists alike.

  The lower-ranking nobles who had turned against the ruling families fought with everything they had, wielding enchanted swords, modified firearms, and forbidden magic.

  Against them stood the elite guards of the great houses, trained warriors sworn to protect the city’s rulers.

  And in the midst of it all, moving like shadows in the blood-soaked alleys, was Cassius and his group.

  Their mission was not to fight the rebellion.

  It was to ensure there was no city left for Raziel’s rulers to reclaim.

  ?? SYSTEM NOTICE: ? TARGET ACQUIRED – DUKE EVERAN VALCREST. ? GUARDIAN FORCE: HEAVILY ARMED. ? STRATEGY: INFILTRATE AND EXECUTE.

  Cassius moved swiftly through the ruins of the noble district, his sword coated in blood.

  His target: Duke Everan Valcrest.

  The richest of the noble lords, the man who had profited the most from Raziel’s control.

  His mansion loomed in the distance, heavily guarded by mercenary elites.

  Lorien knelt beside Cassius, her eyes scanning the battlefield.

  "He’s panicking."

  She pointed toward the front gates, where Valcrest’s guards were trying desperately to hold back the tide of rebels.

  "His forces are losing. If we strike now, there won’t be a retreat."

  Cassius nodded.

  "Then let’s move."

  ?? SYSTEM NOTICE: ? INFILTRATION IN PROGRESS. ? DUKE EVERAN VALCREST – SECONDS FROM DEATH.

  The attack was swift.

  Cassius and his group moved unseen, cutting through Valcrest’s guards with brutal efficiency.

  Lorien’s blades danced through the air, severing throats before a single scream could be heard.

  Ronan crushed a soldier’s skull beneath his foot, his war axe splitting another man in half.

  Within minutes, the gates were breached.

  Cassius stepped into the mansion, where the Duke stood trembling.

  "P-please," the noble stammered, backing away. "I can make you rich—"

  Cassius stabbed him through the heart.

  "I don’t need your gold."

  He twisted the blade.

  The Duke fell, choking on his own blood.

  ?? SYSTEM NOTICE: ? DUKE EVERAN VALCREST – ELIMINATED. ? NOBLE POWER STRUCTURE WEAKENING.

  ?? SYSTEM NOTICE: ? NEXT TARGET: LORD CEDRIC HAWTHORNE. ? STATUS: COMMANDING MILITARY FORCES IN THE NOBLE DISTRICT.

  The battle outside raged on.

  Hawthorne’s forces were still holding out, using advanced magical weaponry to push back the rebellion.

  "We take out Hawthorne, we break their last line of defense," Ronan growled.

  Cassius nodded.

  "Then we end this."

  They moved quickly, cutting through the chaos.

  BOOM!

  A massive explosion tore through the battlefield as rebel mages unleashed raw destruction, leveling entire buildings to crush the noble armies.

  "They’re fighting like they have nothing to lose," Lorien muttered.

  Cassius smirked.

  "Because they don’t."

  ?? SYSTEM NOTICE: ? DIVINE ATTENTION SHIFTING. ? RAZIEL NOTICES THE UNREST. ? WARNING: COUNTERMEASURES MAY BE DEPLOYED.

  Somewhere beyond the mortal plane, high above in a realm of golden light and false divinity, Raziel turned his gaze toward the Heart of Dominion.

  "What… is this?"

  The Archangel’s voice was cold, unfeeling.

  "A rebellion?"

  His wings twitched slightly, irritation flashing in his golden eyes.

  This was not part of the plan.

  Something had changed.

  Something was slipping beyond his control.

  His fingers curled, divine power crackling around them.

  "Unacceptable."

  But for now, he did not act.

  Not yet.

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  He would watch.

  And when the time came, he would remind them what it meant to defy the heavens.

  ?? SYSTEM NOTICE: ? RAZIEL HAS TAKEN NOTICE OF THE REBELLION. ? HOSTILE ACTIONS MAY FOLLOW. ? WARNING: THE WAR HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN.

  The Heart of Dominion is collapsing, its noble rulers being slaughtered one by one. The rebellion rages on, and Cassius’ group moves unseen, ensuring no one survives to reclaim control. But Raziel has taken notice. The moment of divine intervention is drawing closer.)

  ?? SYSTEM NOTICE: ? NEXT TARGET: LORD CEDRIC HAWTHORNE – MILITARY STRATEGIST, NOBLE ENFORCER OF RAZIEL. ? STATUS: COMMANDING LAST DEFENSIVE FORCES.

  Cassius and his group moved through the wreckage of the city, their footsteps silent, their blades stained with noble blood.

  Ahead of them, in the noble district’s last standing stronghold, Lord Cedric Hawthorne barked orders to his troops.

  His armor was polished silver, his hand resting on the pommel of a blade inscribed with holy runes.

  Even as his men fell to the chaos, he stood firm.

  "Hold the line! These dogs do not have divine favor! We will—"

  CRACK.

  A bullet ripped through the skull of one of his captains, sending blood splattering across the white stone.

  Hawthorne spun around, eyes narrowing.

  "Who dares?"

  And that’s when Cassius struck.

  ?? SYSTEM NOTICE: ? ASSASSINATION IN PROGRESS.

  Lorien dashed forward first, her twin daggers flashing.

  A soldier turned—too slow.

  Her blade slid across his throat, his body collapsing before he could even scream.

  Ronan moved like a shadow, his axe cutting down two knights in a single motion.

  "Focus on Hawthorne!" Cassius growled.

  Hawthorne snarled, his golden eyes burning with faith-fueled fury.

  "You dare strike against the gods?"

  Cassius lunged, clashing blades with him.

  Steel rang against steel, sparks flying as their swords met in rapid succession.

  Hawthorne was strong. A warrior groomed for war, a man who had never tasted true defeat.

  But Cassius was faster.

  More precise.

  More ruthless.

  ?? SYSTEM NOTICE: ? LORD HAWTHORNE’S DEFENSES FAILING. ? EXECUTION INEVITABLE.

  Hawthorne’s blade came down in a vicious arc—

  But Cassius sidestepped at the last second, bringing his sword up, slicing into Hawthorne’s shoulder.

  The nobleman grunted in pain, staggering back.

  "You fight like a dog!" he spat.

  Cassius smirked.

  "And you die like one."

  With one clean movement, he buried his sword into Hawthorne’s chest.

  The noble’s eyes widened, his mouth opening in a silent gasp.

  Cassius twisted the blade.

  "This is what happens when you put your faith in false gods."

  Hawthorne collapsed.

  Blood poured from his mouth as his body went still.

  And just like that, the last pillar of military power in the Heart of Dominion had fallen.

  ?? SYSTEM NOTICE: ? LORD CEDRIC HAWTHORNE – ELIMINATED. ? MORTAL RULERS REMAINING: 1. ? NOBLE POWER STRUCTURE ON THE VERGE OF COLLAPSE.

  ?? SYSTEM NOTICE: ? DIVINE ATTENTION INCREASING. ? RAZIEL HAS NOTICED THE DESTRUCTION OF HIS FAITHFUL SERVANTS. ? WARNING: INQUISITOR PRESENCE DETECTED.

  Far above the city, beyond the reach of mortal eyes, something stirred.

  A ripple in the fabric of the world.

  A voice, deep and commanding, resonated through the divine plane.

  "This cannot continue."

  From the golden halls of Raziel’s domain, a figure stepped forward.

  A warrior clad in holy fire, bearing the sigil of judgment upon his chest.

  An Inquisitor.

  "Find the ones responsible."

  "And burn them to ash."

  ?? SYSTEM NOTICE: ? A HOLY INQUISITOR HAS BEEN SENT TO THE HEART OF DOMINION. ? A HUNT BEGINS. ? HOSTILE INTERVENTION IMMINENT.

  (The Heart of Dominion is in ruin. The nobles fall one by one, their thrones reduced to ash. But as Cassius and his allies move to finish the last remnants of Raziel’s control, something shifts. A divine force is now on the move. The rebellion may have started as a mortal struggle, but the gods will not sit idle forever. And in the shadows, the first whispers of divine wrath begin to stir.)

  ?? SYSTEM NOTICE: ? FINAL TARGET: LADY EVANNA RAYE – MASTER OF TRAFFICKING AND WAR. ? DEFENSES: COLLAPSING. ? RISK LEVEL: LOW.

  Cassius and the others moved quickly through the streets, slipping between the riots and the burning buildings as they made their way to the last noble stronghold.

  Lady Evanna Raye, a woman who profited from suffering.

  She had traded in slaves and war, selling soldiers and civilians alike as currency for the highest bidder.

  She was the last remaining pillar of Raziel’s mortal empire in the city.

  And now, she was running.

  ?? SYSTEM NOTICE: ? LADY EVANNA ATTEMPTING TO ESCAPE. ? PURSUIT ENGAGED.

  Lorien grinned as they cornered her in the ruins of her own estate.

  "Nowhere left to run, Lady Raye."

  The noblewoman’s once-pristine robes were stained with blood and soot.

  Her eyes darted between them, searching for a way out.

  "Wait! I can pay you!" she gasped. "Gold, land—anything you want!"

  Cassius’ expression remained stone-cold.

  "We want you dead."

  Lady Evanna’s face twisted in fury.

  "You think this changes anything? Raziel will see you! The heavens will burn for what you've done!"

  Cassius drew his blade.

  "Then let them burn."

  And with one clean stroke, he slit her throat.

  Blood splattered against the scorched walls.

  Lady Evanna collapsed, her lifeless eyes staring at the sky as though waiting for salvation.

  It never came.

  ?? SYSTEM NOTICE: ? LADY EVANNA RAYE – EXECUTED. ? ALL MAJOR NOBLE TARGETS ELIMINATED. ? HEART OF DOMINION – POWER VACUUM CREATED.

  Lorien exhaled sharply.

  "That’s all of them."

  Ronan wiped blood from his axe.

  "Then why doesn’t this feel like victory?"

  Cassius turned his gaze to the sky.

  Because he knew.

  "Because this isn't over."

  ?? SYSTEM NOTICE: ? DIVINE ENTITY APPROACHING. ? AN INQUISITOR OF RAZIEL HAS ENTERED THE CITY. ? WARNING: EXTREME DANGER.

  Far above the city, beyond the chaos and the flames, a figure stood atop the tallest tower.

  His white robes were pristine, untouched by the filth of the mortal world.

  His eyes burned with golden light, filled with purpose, with absolute conviction.

  He watched as the nobles fell, one by one.

  He listened as the city drowned in rebellion.

  And he smiled.

  "Foolish mortals."

  His voice was calm. Almost amused.

  "You think you have won?"

  He lifted his hand.

  The air trembled.

  Chains of divine fire erupted from the heavens, stretching toward the battlefield below.

  A new war was about to begin.

  ?? SYSTEM NOTICE: ? RAZIEL'S INQUISITOR HAS ARRIVED. ? RETRIBUTION IS IMMINENT. ? WARNING: PREPARE FOR HOLY WAR.

  ?? Author's Note: This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, and settings are purely imaginary. This novel contains dark themes meant to enhance the story and character development. Reader discretion is advised.