An Understated Dominance (Dustin Rhys)

At the peak of Embercrest Hill, inside a quiet old temple, Grace stepped out of the hidden chamber just as a female guard rushed in.

“Your Highness, we’ve got a situation. A powerful intruder is breaking through the outer gates,” she reported

“Who is it?” Grace asked calmly, as if she’d expected this would happen.

“Judging from their appearance, they look like elite fighters from the Hall of Gods, or royal gods,” the female guard replied gravely.

The defensive and offensive formations around Embercrest Hill didn’t stand a chance. Both shattered on impact, as if they’d never been there. Only someone at the royal god-level could force their way in like that.

“They got here faster than I expected,” Grace muttered, eyebrows knitting with concern.

She hadn’t left the temple, but she already knew who it was. At a time like this, the only ones who’d come to Embercrest Hill were Zeus and Hera.

Grace had been keeping tabs on the situation in Oakvale.

At first, she’d figured Nathaniel’s plan to divert the threat would spark a clash between Zeus and Matthias’ forces. That way, Matthias would be too tied up to go after Dustin. But things hadn’t played out the way she’d hoped.

She suspected Matthias had slipped out clean and sidestepped a major disaster. What was supposed to be his problem had landed squarely in her lap.

“Your Highness, the Hall of Gods is still pushing through the defenses. Should we step in to stop them?” the female guard asked.

asked, “How many formations are

has been destroyed. I estimate the Hall of Gods’

the barrier to buy us as much time

the female guard

clearing and took out a small steeple from her pocket. At first glance, it looked ordinary-only a few inches

murmured an incantation and tossed it into the

the steeple swelled in size. Within seconds, it

golden steeple continued to rise as it expanded tier by tier. In less than a minute, it

seal and

came crashing down and slammed onto the peak of Embercrest Hill. A second later, it vanished like it had

slow breath. “Let’s hope the Seven Shards

and said to be nearly indestructible.

steeple might hold. But if two

was hope Dustin would finish

Hill collapsed and the steeple failed to

sat in the courtyard and poured herself some tea. There was nothing left to do now

base of the hill-a reminder that the enemy was hammering at the formations and breaking

in money, resources, and time. She’d called in every favor she could, rallied every ally willing to fight tooth and nail when