Within the heart of the cave, tension wound itself around every breath. Queen Eli stood unmoving, her glowing serpentine eyes focused through a narrow rock window that offered a perfect, dreadful view of the enemy encampment.
There, like a beast being dragged from hell, the device arrived.
At first, it was only a shadow behind the snow and haze. But soon the truth revealed itself. A cannon. But no mortal cannon. This one was long—longer than three horses in length, with a thick barrel carved from soul obsidian alloy and runes etched in deep gouges along its length. The ancient markings didn't just shimmer—they pulsed, twisting the air around them like heat mirages in a blizzard.
