Prologue

Lomero[1], the commander of King Layo’s[2] forces, stood before an old deserted well, two meters wide and tens of long dismal meters deep. Its ancient walls were covered with thick vegetation, and the dark bottom seemed like an endless abyss.

Behind Lomero, extended lines of soldiers awaited his orders. Lomero quietly wiped with his hand the traces of blood he found on the edges of the well, and when he raised his hand to his nose, he detected the aromatic smell of blood that only one devil of Arkosia possessed.

Lomero, confident that the seven wanted men were hiding at the bottom of the well, fixed his eyes on the dark depths.

“IN THE NAME OF KING LAYO, THE SOVEREIGN OF THE KINGDOM OF EMPAMALANGON[3], I ORDER YOU FOR THE LAST TIME TO SURRENDER YOURSELVES IMMEDIATELY,” he shouted, “COME OUT OF THE WELL!”

Commander Lomero stepped back, mounted his horse, and signaled the rear ranks to retreat six meters. The frontline soldiers then encircled the well, extending their palms to create a circular ring. Gradually, a luminous energy ball formed, a process that took a few minutes to complete.

“THREE — TWO — ONE!” he shouted, “FIRE!”

Without hesitation, the soldiers unleashed the ball of energy into the depths of the well, observing as it descended at an incredible speed. The attacking squad promptly withdrew, leaving the three rear platoons assigned for defense in their designated positions.

The force of one hundred soldiers encircled the designated well, conjuring a sky-high barrier of relentless, flowing energy from their hands. With raised hands in the air, the soldiers sustained the barrier, shielding the commander, their comrades, and the residents of the neighboring town from the imminent explosion’s impact.

A few seconds later, an incredible explosion erupted from the well’s opening, unleashing thick black smoke in a vertical, cylindrical ascent to the sky’s limits. The eruption intensified briefly before transitioning into a horizontal expansion, creating a black cloud obscuring the glowing sun at sunset and casting darkness over that side of the valley.

Commander Lomero maintained his gaze on the well while the soldiers fell into a mixed state of silence and awe as their eyes were fixed on the sky, staring at what was about to descend upon them.

Charred lumps of flesh descended upon them, landing on their heads and feet. That sight prompted a few soldiers to retreat in panic while others recoiled in disgust.

Once the chaos of the explosion subsided, Commander Lomero walked calmly toward the well opening. He came to a halt near its outer walls, which had now crumbled.

The commander then tossed a white handkerchief, previously wrapped around his neck, onto the debris above the well before stepping back.

“THE LEAGUE OF THE SEVEN DEVILS THAT BROUGHT CHAOS AND TERROR TO THE WORLD IS HEREBY ERADICATED,” declared Lomero.

He then raised his hand and commanded, “MOVE OUT!”

As night fell, the highlanders of Pyrom[4] peered out from doorways and windows with curious eyes. Uncertain of how to react, they gazed in awe and reverence at Commander Lomero and his soldiers, whose uniforms had changed colors from white to red due to the crimson rain of blood that exploded from the well.

After two days of relentless pursuit, the soldiers successfully eradicated the seven rebels on the third day. From Dambala Valley, they carried the kingdom banners and torches along the kingdom’s roads with the sounds of drums and flutes announcing the mission’s success until they finally arrived at Lipin[5], the capital.

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