The heavy iron doors crashed open with a deafening boom, the sound echoing like a cannon shot through the cavernous central spire. Kael strode into the throne room, his midnight aura bleeding into the dimly lit space like a thick, suffocating smoke. The interior of the spire was a jarring clash of dark stone and violently arcing electricity. Massive chains hung from the vaulted ceiling, conducting blue lightning from the storm outside directly into the raised obsidian throne at the far end of the hall.
Sitting on that massive throne, bathed in a sickening, unnatural blue light, was Alpha Victor. He wasn't wearing the pristine, dignified ceremonial uniform he had arrogantly flaunted at the Iron Fortress tribunal. Instead, he wore heavy, blackened battle armor. His scarred face twisted into
