(Ten minutes before the live broadcast began, the execution platform)
The execution platform stood silent beneath a sky stripped bare of clouds, its dark metal surface drinking in light without reflection as the Chakravyuh formation remained locked in absolute stillness around it, billions of soldiers frozen in place as though the planet itself had been commanded not to breathe.
The air felt tight, not yet charged with mana, but heavy with anticipation, as if reality itself was holding its breath and waiting for permission to exhale.
Then the first disturbance came.
The ground convulsed violently as fractures ripped outward from a single point several hundred meters from the platform, stone exploding skyward as something slammed down with obscene force, the impact rolling outward in a concussive wave that rattled armor, shook teeth, and sent a visible ripple through the inner rings of soldiers.
*KABOOM*
*THUD*
Helmuth had arrived.
