The Legacy of the Uncharted

~ Chapter 69~ The Sky That Shouldn't Be Dark

The Sky That Shouldn't Be Darker

The Lantern Reaches burned behind them, smoke still drifting from the collapsed ridge where the ambush took place. Bodies of hostile pirates lay scattered across the sand, and the sea breeze carried the metallic sting of gunpowder.

Galen, Elara, Eli, and their chosen fighters moved deeper inland with Kaidren Voss at their side. He had saved them barely but nobody fully trusted him yet. Not even close.

Eli wiped blood from his cheek. "If that was the welcome committee, what are your real enemies like?"

Kaidren didn't answer. His amber eyes stayed fixed on the horizon. He looked troubled almost unsettled.

Elara slowed her pace and narrowed her gaze.
"You keep staring at the sky. Why?"

Kaidren finally stopped walking.

"Because it wasn't this dark an hour ago."

The wind shifted.
The clouds above them rippled with black veins—moving too fast, twisting like ink spreading through water. Galen stepped forward, brow furrowed.

"Elara... tell me you're seeing this too."

"I am," she said quietly. "The sunset shouldn't look like this."

The sky wasn't just darkening.
It was closing.

A low hum rolled through the air—deep enough to vibrate in their bones. Eli looked at Kaidren sharply.

"What is that?"

Kaidren swallowed. "The reason I asked for this meeting."

Before anyone could question further
the sound intensified.

A distant boom echoed across the horizon.
Then another.
And another.

Elara spun toward the coast. "That's coming from the mainland."

Galen's eyes widened. "The Navy."

Eli cursed under his breath. "Something's wrong."

Crown Capital The Purge Begins

The Hall of Dominion was no longer a council chamber. It was a fortress.

Every window sealed.
Every guard armed.
Every corridor locked down.

Grand Fleet Admiral Rae Sterling stood on the balcony overlooking Crown Capital as flames lit the city in scattered pockets. His officers Seraphine, Lira, Kira, Aveline, Barron, Moriah, Magnus gathered behind him, shaken but ready.

A runner sprinted up the stairs breathless.

"Grand Fleet Admiral Code Purple enforcement has failed in three districts! Pirates are rallying villagers burning Navy notices refusing to obey!"

Sterling didn't look away from the burning skyline.

"Then execute the Purge Order."

The runner froze. "...sir?"

Sterling turned, and for the first time the room saw the fire in his eyes.

"The Purge Order," he repeated.
"No mercy. No warnings. Any village, town, or noble house rejecting Code Purple is now enemy territory. Burn out the rebellion before it spreads."

Seraphine stepped forward.

"Admiral this is extreme even for wartime."

Sterling's voice dropped to a razor's whisper.

"The seas are turning. Mordeclai is moving. Alexandria Vale is missing. The shadows are stirring. And the world is slipping from our fingers."

He faced the city again.