Outside Monarch City.
This was the only city in this world with walls. They towered more than fifty meters high, a height clearly intended to withstand Rune Jinn. And they could hardly have been built by mortal hands alone.
A vast human army raced across the land outside the city. The lush wheat fields had been reduced to ruins. Rain rarely fell in this world, yet the ground beneath their feet was still a mire. Amid the battle cries, the knights of the Sun Sect swept forward unstoppably, knocking thousands upon thousands of soldiers to the ground.
"This world must have a Monarch, and that Monarch is me, Alistair Augustus! I will put an end to every rebellion, and I will rebuild the Glorious Fortress!"
"By my authority as Monarch, I command you to kneel!"
Mounted on a golden-maned lion, Alistair roared at the army before him. The outcome of this chaotic battle was already clear. The Sun Sect's soldiers, armed with supernatural power, held an overwhelming advantage. Mortal strength could not contend with them.
"You vile traitor! Alistair, you will never become a true Monarch!"
Loyalty was never in short supply among the embattled troops. No matter how much slaughter the Sun Sect's knights inflicted, they showed no intention of submitting to Alistair.
That only fueled Alistair's inexplicable fury.
"Traitors! Traitors! Every last one of you!"
"Kill them! Kill them all!"
Alistair's eyes were bloodshot. His rage had reached such heights that he no longer cared about anything else. He would follow his father's example and kill every opponent, every enemy.
"Leave-not one alive!"
His roar spread across the battlefield, and the Sun Knights grew bloodier still. Crimson blood splashed like flames across their cloaks and armor. The divine essence that elevated them beyond mortals had stripped away their