The warriors of Rhazgord and Adler stood motionless upon the battlements, their breaths misting in the cold morning air. The walls trembled beneath them, a distant, rhythmic rumble that grew louder with each passing second. Then, from beyond the hills, they appeared—an undulating tide of chitinous nightmares, their blackened carapaces glistening under the dying moonlight. The demons appeared on the horizon just as the Rhazgordians had said they would. The first shrieks echoed through the valley, high-pitched and unnatural. The walls of Rax trembled as monstrous claws scraped against stone, seeking purchase. Archers loosed arrows in steady volleys, their shafts shattering upon thick chitin. Some demons clambered upwards, their hooked limbs dragging them ever higher—until massive axes split their skulls, sending them tumbling back into the writhing mass below.

  Rhazgorians were much stronger than normal humans. Not as strong as a 'blessed' , but strong enough to hurt the demons. By the first light of day, the number of demons had decreased and it was time to open the city gates. The Rhazgordians' plan succeeded and the demons were stuck at the city gates, making them easy targets. With the soldiers hiding outside the city joining the battle, the demons were easily destroyed.

  Corvus fought at the front in this battle, proving once again his strength and leadership skills. The battle was hard fought, but the Rhazgordians suffered few casualties. The same was true for the soldiers of the city. Belisarius had also fought in the battle against the enemy, even though his father did not want him to, and he had gained many supporters among the soldiers.

  The first day after the battle was a sad one. The city had been defended, but there were casualties. The next day was filled with the joy of victory. The Rhazgordians celebrated the victory and the loot they had obtained. While the soldiers celebrated, Corvus, who had learned the Adler language quite well, sat on the city walls with Belisarius, watching the celebrations in the city.

  Corvus sighed heavily as he leaned against the cold stone walls of the city. His shoulders slumped and a look of deep sadness appeared on his face, casting shadows under his tired eyes. “Your empire may have fallen, but your city and its laws still bear the glory of an empire,” he murmured, his voice was full of admiration. He took a deep breath before continuing, “But look at us. Every empire on this continent trembles when they hear the name of the Rhazgord.Our warriors, feared by all, defeat the demons that plague our world as easily as if they were nothing.” A bitter laugh escaped his lips. “And what about our capital? Nothing but a few mud huts!” He clenched his fists as he spoke, his voice growing louder and more passionate.

  Belisarius listened to his friend's words, nodding his head in agreement, but also with a hint of concern on his face. “Though I have never seen your capital, I can imagine,” he said. “We have all the qualities you desire for your people, but look at us. We are nothing more than a small city crushed under the Sizat Empire.” A sad smile tugged at the corners of his mouth but never quite reached his tired eyes. “But you Rhazgordians are free! Do not take this blessing for granted.” He put his hand on Corvus' shoulder, wanting to reassure his friend. His voice was soft.

  “These things must change!” Corvus said in a loud voice.

  “No more shall we wallow in the filth of our forefathers! No more shall Rhazgord be spoken of as nothing but brutes and blades! We shall forge cities of stone and steel, greater than any before us. And as for Adler—your kingdom shall rise once more, and together we shall cast down the Sizat bastards!”

  “And how will that happen?” asked Belisarius. Unlike his friend, he was not confident.

  “I don't know about you, but for us Rhazgordians, the only measure of superiority is power. We live by two things: Killing each other or killing our enemies. If I succeed in becoming the strongest, I will build an empire to rival the best of your ancestors! After the city of Rhazgord is even more magnificent than this city, I will help you to drive out the Sizat bastards!” said Corvus and laughed a laugh that made the walls tremble.

  'Drive out the Sizat bastards!' It was something Belisarius would not have dared even think of. But when he saw how simply Corvus had said it, he couldn't help but laugh.

  Then Belisarius sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. “I think you should be satisfied with what you have, but I know I can't change your mind no matter what I say,” he admitted in a low voice, avoiding Corvus' sharp gaze. Belisarius hesitated, the weight of his name pressing heavy upon him.

  Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

  “You speak of great things, Corvus. But the world does not change on words alone. The Sizat Empire crushed my people, and they will not fall easily. Are you prepared to risk everything for this dream?”

  Corvus said “Yes!” without thinking and in a firm tone

  This time a genuine smile appeared on Belisarius' face and reached his tired eyes.

  By morning the Rhazgord army had finished all their preparations. The demons had been defeated and it was time to turn back. But Corvus was nowhere to be seen. Valerius was about to send some men to Rax to find out where his nephew was when Corvus appeared at the city gates. He was accompanied by a few men and two carts filled to the brim with goods.

  When Corvus arrived, he was greeted by Valerius' angry glare. They should have been on their way already, but without Corvus they could not return. This angered Valerius, who wanted to get back to Rhazgord as soon as possible. Valerius was as curious as he was angry. He was as curious about the two carts with his nephew as he was about the men with him.

  “Who are they?” he asked. His voice was harsh and rude. When Corvus saw that his uncle had forgotten his anger and succumbed to his curiosity, he seized the opportunity. Pointing to the old man, he began to explain who he was.

  “This man is Neratius. He is a famous sculptor. I am taking him with me to build a great statue in a Rhazgord city to honor my father. The other men you see are his assistants.”

  Corvus said the word 'sculptor ' in Adler Language because there was no word for 'sculptor' in Rhazgord language. Valerius, too, showed with his gaze that he did not know what a 'sculptor ' was.

  “Do you remember the big stone people in the city? The men who made them are called sculptors” Corvus said.

  For Valerius, statues had no value. He had seen many statues in his life as a mercenary, but he had never felt the need to take a second look at any of them. But he had no intention of interfering with his nephew.

  “And what's in the carriages?”

  Corvus was a little alarmed by this question. After thinking for a moment, he said, “Just the things the sculptor needs, uncle. Nothing important.”

  Valerius narrowed his eyes as Corvus approached, his cloak weighed down by dust and something more—something heavier than mere exhaustion. Behind him, the carts groaned under their weight, filled with objects no Rhazgordian had ever deemed necessary. Scrolls. Paintings. Tools of craft, not war. “What's on your mind, boy?” Valerius muttered under his breath, though Corvus did not answer. He simply smiled, his eyes burning with something new. A vision. A future.

  Valerius said nothing, but as they rode through the desolate plains, his gaze lingered on his nephew. Corvus had always been different, but now… there was something else in his eyes. Not just ambition, but something deeper. A hunger not for war, but for something Valerius could not name. He tightened his grip on the reins. “Be careful what you wish for, boy,” he muttered under his breath.

  “Not all dreams end the way we want them to.”

  Corvus had indeed hired Neratius to sculpt a statue of his father, but the cargo in the carriages was not just what the sculptor needed, as he had said. There were books, paintings and tools not found in the city of Rhazgord. Corvus had sold his share of the Lightstones to buy all this.

  The reason he wanted a statue of his father was to impress his father. He hoped to gain his father's support to change the Rhazgord and its people.

  The journey to Rhazgord took two weeks and Corvus spent the whole time with Neratius and his men. He was constantly asking them questions, asking them to explain parts of the books he had read that he did not understand. The men, each of them well educated, diligently answered Corvus' every question in return for good pay.

  One night, as the Army of Rhazgord rested under the cold stars, Corvus sat beside Neratius, watching the flickering flames. “Tell me, master sculptor,” Corvus murmured, eyes fixed on the fire.

  “What makes a man immortal?”

  Neratius chuckled, brushing dust from his worn hands. “Some Kings believe it is war. Scribes believe it is history. But I know the truth.” He gestured toward the block of untouched stone in the cart.

  “A man is only truly immortal when his image endures. When his name is spoken long after his bones have turned to dust.”

  Corvus remained silent for a long moment before nodding.

  The first sight of Rhazgord’s jagged peaks sent a shiver through Corvus. The winds howled like restless spirits, carrying with them the scent of steel, fire, and untamed wilderness. Here, strength reigned above all else. He had left as a warrior, but now he returned as something else—something more. And whether his father saw it or not, Rhazgord would change. Even if he had to carve his vision into the very bones of the mountain itself.

  Rhazgord would change. Whether it willed it or not.

  And that’s another chapter done! If you’ve made it this far, thank you so much. The world of “The Fall of Everything!” is vast and full of details, so if there's something you're curious about, I'd love to explain it in more depth. Your thoughts can also influence the story—whether it’s something you’d like to see more of or a question you want answered, feel free to share it in the comments! Your feedback is incredibly important to me and helps shape the story. The next chapter is coming soon, so stay tuned!

  [EDITED]