The Crimson light split the world in two.
The Ray of Sanguine Devastation carved a perfect path through sky and stone alike, a searing column of crimson that drowned out every colour until even the emerald light of Mephisto's dying core vanished. The air screamed with a high-pitched howl, like metal tearing apart as the beam devoured mana itself, rippling away everything it touched.
For a moment, there was only silence.
As if the land died.
"Haa..." Asmodeus breathed out, a thick mist floating from the corners of his mouth.
The plains buckled and peeled open like molten scars, as the battlefield sank into a smoking trench, black stone and earth liquefying under the heat.
Towers along the outer wall collapsed as if kicked by a god. His army of orcs, elves, knights and beastkin were thrown to the ground by the shockwave, their ears ringing from the unholy shriek that followed.
The crimson light faded.
Ash fell like slow rain.
Something moved inside the smoke.
