The Mankerret Citadel is a fortified prison located in a remote area surrounded by hills and wild forests. Guarded by the imperial army's elite soldiers and a platoon of skilled mages, the Citadel is further protected by a lake teeming with flesh-eating piranhas. The only way in or out is via a heavily guarded bridge.
Despite its appearance as a prison, the interior of the Citadel resembles a luxury palace. The spacious rooms feature comfortable sofas and personal maids, and elite noblemen have access to jacuzzis and spas. Even lesser officials, such as regional lords, are housed in the cellar with soft beds, good food, and personal slaves.
These individuals were arrested under the orders of the Church of the Virtues, a powerful religious sect with global influence that even the kingdom's royal family could not ignore. However, the royal family is keen to maintain good relations with these influential figures without upsetting the Church. Thus, the Citadel of Mankerret was built—a luxurious prison where prisoners could live comfortably while preserving their allegiance to the royal family.
But at this moment, the Citadel had turned into a nightmare for all its inhabitants.
Former prisoners had morphed into grotesque, deformed trolls. Some had enormous muscular arms, others had disproportionately large heads, but all shared the same monstrous appearance. Their brains had been reduced to mush, and the only thing they knew was to kill anything in their path.
The imperial guards, soldiers from the imperial army known for their physical prowess, found themselves overwhelmed. Though they were formidable enough to subjugate any monster, these trolls were too powerful. The soldiers were being tossed around like mere toys.
Suddenly, an elderly officer took charge, barking orders with authority:
"Form a formation! Spearmen, take the vanguard! Archers fall back and aim for the heads. Mages provide long-range offensive spells. Any transmutant close-combat mages, aid the rest of my men!"
The guards quickly formed a defensive line, with mages supporting them. They stood as the last line of defense, blocking the only way out. If the trolls breached the stairs, they would reach the upper floors, where fat nobles and aristocrats with no fighting experience would be slaughtered.
The army of grotesque trolls charged toward the formation of guards, swinging their massive arms like battering rams.
"Incoming! Shields!" shouted the commander.
"Heavenly Blessing!" a mage chanted, casting a protective layer over every guard and mage in the formation.
"Ice walls!" another mage called out, creating a frosty barrier of ice.
The trolls burst through the ice wall, swinging their enormous arms at the guards. The shields gritted their teeth, absorbing the impact and pushing them backward. Some shields crumbled under the weight, killing a few guards, but most held their ground.
"Attack!" the commander ordered.
Spears pierced the trolls' vital areas through the gaps in the shields. A volley of arrows and spells from the mages and archers whittled down the trolls one by one.
As the trolls fell, their carcasses began to convulse.
"Dammit! They're about to explode again!" shouted one of the guards.
Suddenly, a woman from the back stepped forward.
"Leave it to me!"
She was an elite mage.
"Divine Spirit Possession, Mystic Mirror!" she intoned.
Her eyes shone brightly, and her body began to glow. She stretched her hand out toward the dead trolls, absorbing all the impact from their imminent explosions into a glowing, unstable white orb.
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St Chaos Healer
FantasíaOnce a powerful Demon Overlord, betrayed and murdered by his own subordinates, vows revenge with his dying breath. Reincarnated as Benjamin Almond, a human baby, he must adapt to his new mortal life without demonic powers. With his past memories int...
