Lion Heart Royal City, Camelot.
The former King Arthur personally pioneered this flawless sanctuary amidst wasteland and darkness.
Swarms of seabirds circled in the sky, dense buildings sucked on the meandering coastline, and the ports at both ends of the city were crowded with passing fleets.
The palace at the city's center was built very tall, very high.
The spires of golden towers pierced the sky, the towering gray city walls resembled indifferent giants, inspiring awe.
The entire royal city's atmosphere seemed oppressive.
Golden Armored Knights rode on fine horses, holding sharp blades, patrolling back and forth near the city walls, residents dashed under the shadows of the giant city, no matter male or female, all kept their heads lowered, hurrying along, not daring to loudly chatter on the streets.
Emaciated slaves were seen everywhere, overseers swung their whips, and occasionally someone would be crushed by goods, only to be quickly replaced by someone else numbly picking up boxes beside the corpse and staggering forward.
Cold corpses were casually tossed into the sewers.
A fat rat nimbly threaded its way through dry corpses, twitching its nose as it crawled deeper along the pipes.
Faint firelight appeared in the darkness.
The royal city prison was built in the dark and damp underground, fresh smell of blood wafting over, the rat lingered before a cell, chirping excitedly.
A young man wearing golden robes sat on the carpet.
His figure was slender, face handsome, with a high nose bridge, even imprisoned he maintained a gentle demeanor.
Squeak... Squeak...
The young man was carefully chewing something, eating with great concentration, not even sparing the soft cartilage between joints.
"Prince Ryan."
Someone stood outside the bars calling softly.
The Eldest Prince raised his head, discovering a well-dressed middle-aged man outside the cell door, the other was obese, wiping fine beads of sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief.
"Ah, it's you, Minister Balrog."
The Eldest Prince smiled gently, putting aside the food and gracefully wiping his hands: "What brings you to me?"
"Prince, those despicable Alliance people are plundering your lands!"
Balrog appeared anxious: "The Second Princess has completely lifted the port restrictions, a large number of Alliance people are starting to come by ship, those arrogant folks are swallowing your interests!"
He gritted his teeth: "The Second Princess, as a member of the Royal Court, is selling our country little by little to the Southern Alliance, we can't wait any longer."
"Be patient, Minister Balrog, Olivia does not represent the Lion Heart Royal Court."
Prince Ryan chuckled softly, his voice soothing: "Hard times shall pass."
"But..."
Minister Balrog was still resentful.
He originally managed the two ports of Camelot, all local traders had to be fleeced by him entering and leaving the port, but the Second Princess's special decree changed everything!
Those arrogant, greedy Alliance people were raking in profits here, yet he as the port supervisor had no authority to rein them in...
This is unacceptable!
Facing the kingdom minister with an unpleasant expression, Prince Ryan casually drew a rib from the food's body, blood splattering.
He moved on the ground.
Balrog's eyelid twitched, attracted by the drawings, Ryan's arms steady, with a few strokes he outlined the basic shape of Lion Heart Kingdom.
"Though Lion Heart Kingdom is wedged between the Alliance and Empire, the Alliance's influence in Camelot is ultimately limited."
The Eldest Prince added lines: "Only one safe route exists between the royal city and Alliance, their legion ships must spend considerable time crossing the Fog Strait to safely reach the royal city."
"But it's different with our supporting Empire."
He patiently explained: "As long as the Northern Border Dukes make up their minds, their War Giant Structure can quickly land on the kingdom's northern territory."
Balrog's eyes lit up.
Indeed! We still have the Northern Empire as our Absolute Ace!
Once the Empire's War Giant Structure moves into Lion Heart Kingdom, that terrifying destructive behemoth will easily crush all the resisting southern insects!
The more he thought, the more excited he became.
"Prince, please allow me to spread this good news!"
Balrog knelt down on one knee, his voice invigorated: "The Empire's glory is shining upon us, as soon as you let the news out, those nobles favoring the Second Princess will soon switch back to us!"
The Empire's glory...
Ryan sighed.
He got up, beckoned gently, speaking softly: "Minister Balrog, come to my side."
Looking into those eyes, Balrog's body suddenly trembled, he swallowed hard, moved forward slowly one step.
Boom!!!
At that moment, the Eldest Prince yanked the minister's hair, dragging him fiercely backward, Balrog's plump face immediately slammed into the cold bars!
"You must understand, Balrog."
Ryan's smile grew wider: "Olivia is a wretched dog selling the Royal Court's glory, I am not."
He picked up the sharp rib, pressed it against Balrog's eye, applying pressure slowly.
"Ooo... ooo..."
Minister Balrog trembled violently with fear, his small eyes full of terror.
"Lion Heart Kingdom will not belong to the Alliance, nor the Empire, it is mine, mine alone, do you understand?"
Ryan's voice was gentle, gradually deep red mist arose within the prison, converging behind the prince, morphing into strange giant crimson eyes.
He had already become part of them.
"Since childhood, I've heard the great former king's voice, he sacrificed himself to the Abyss... I... will go further..."
Ryan softly whispered: "I will offer everything in this world to the great Master of the Abyss..."
Minister Balrog was terrified to the extreme, in his despairing gaze, wisps of blood mist slithered snake-like into his body.
Shadows danced madly in the torchlight.
"Now, you are an Apostle of the Master of the Abyss."
Ryan affectionately stroked the minister's face, released his grip, Balrog staggered, collapsed, curled up, retching violently.
"I don't mind the Alliance people coming to Camelot, for they are merely bait to lure Empire soldiers."
He grinned widely, showing blood-stained white teeth: "In my view, they're all excellent sacrifices."
Balrog trembled more violently.
"Go, Balrog, gather the Lion Heart Knight Order I assigned to you long ago."
Ryan softly said: "Next, we shall spread the Master's blessings to every inch of our land!"
"Y-yes!"
Balrog scrambled away on hands and knees, escaping in panic.
Ryan casually tossed the remnants of the young body aside, the waiting rats immediately pounced to feast on the obliterated corpse.
Torches on the walls cast a chilling glow, the smell of blood permeated again.
The dim prison was left with the prince alone, he sat back in place, smiling, continuing to murmur softly:
"Strip the soul spirit... blood sacrifice to the Abyss..."