Asahi Royal City, a colossal city majestic as a mountain. With a king seated within, it had endured since time immemorial, and none dared offend it.
Under the night sky, a troop of more than ten armored riders galloped toward the royal city beneath cover of darkness, their rumbling hooves deafening.
Swift as the wind, still as the forest, fierce as fire, unmoving as a mountain—the Asahi Royal Cavalry's fame had spread far and wide. Those who heard of them trembled; those who saw them quailed.
For thousands of years, the Asahi Royal Cavalry had rarely left the city. Yet whenever they deployed, not a blade of grass was left standing.
The dark night was cold and still. The iron cavalry thundered onward, kicking up dust for ten li before vanishing into the darkness in the blink of an eye.
Behind them, five figures raced past, their faces filled with fury and hatred. Bursting through the dust like madmen, they pursued the dozen or so royal riders from Xu Ri City.
Suddenly, the leader of the royal cavalry, a man clad in heavy armor with his face covered by a black iron mask, raised a hand and ordered them to halt.
The twelve royal riders obeyed, all reining in their warhorses and stopping in place.
The cavalry leader looked back at the five figures drawing ever closer, and killing intent flashed through his eyes.
"Kill!"
Without another word, at the leader's command, the twelve royal riders turned back along their original path and charged toward the five.
Curved sabers left their sheaths, scattering icy gleams beneath the moon. Amid the swirling dust, the twelve royal riders met the five; their blades swept past throats, killing intent pressing down like a storm.
In that instant, the wind rose and blood splashed.