The World Is Mine For The Taking

I pointed my sword at one of them, close enough that the blade nearly brushed against his chest. But he didn't flinch, didn't move an inch. It was like they weren't even human—just a silent, immovable wall.

It was clear now that if we wanted to get through, we'd have to use force. Yet, when I looked into his eyes, something flickered, a trace of humanity peeking through. I sighed and lowered my sword. It looked like killing them wasn't an option. Slaughtering innocents wasn't our style.

"So... are we forcing our way in or not?" one of my companions asked, impatience creeping into his voice.

"No. That's not an option," I replied firmly. "Their eyes may be vacant, but that doesn't mean they're evil."

"But then, how are we supposed to get past them?"

"There's always another way," I said, glancing down at the ground. If there was a sewage system beneath this road, maybe we could slip through without harm. "Let's fall back and see if we can find a different route."

We turned away from the wall of bodies, their vacant stares trailing us as if they'd keep blocking us forever, silent and immovable. Whoever had ordered them to stand here had drilled it deep into their minds.

When we reached the sewer entrance, though, our plan hit another wall—literally. More of them, packed shoulder to shoulder, filled the narrow space, their faces just as blank and unyielding.

"Damn it… it's the same here," I muttered, clenching my fists.

"We can't get through if it's like this everywhere. What now?" someone asked, frustration simmering in his tone.

I had no idea. This was a predicament unlike any I'd ever faced. Each option felt like a dead end, and I couldn't see a way around it.

Just then, the echo of footsteps sounded on the cobblestone floor, cutting through the silence. A woman's voice, smooth and laced with a hint of amusement, echoed in the dark. "Looks like you're struggling, boys. Need a little help?"

We turned, squinting into the shadows. A tall figure approached, and as she stepped closer, dim light traced the outline of her slender, powerful form. She was a woman—unusually tall, standing nearly as high as I was, with a dangerous glint in her dark purple eyes.

Her black hair was cut short, except for a single long braid draped down her left side, reaching her hips. She wore fitted black clothing that hugged her frame, and her purple eyes angled slightly at the corners, exuding an unsettling calmness. A small beauty mark beneath her left eye only made her stare more intense.

"And you're planning to… what exactly?" I asked, trying to gauge her intentions.

"My brother's up there in the chaos, and I figured he could use some backup," she said, flashing a smirk. "After all, it's a sister's job to protect her handsome twin, don't you think? Can't let him get hurt."

"Twin brother?" I asked, raising an eyebrow, the skepticism clear in my voice.

She nodded, her smirk lingering, confidence rolling off her in waves. "Oh, he's the most handsome man you'll ever lay eyes on. Only natural I'd look out for him."

"And do you mind sharing your name?" I pressed, watching her closely. "It'd be a little easier to trust someone if we at least knew what to call them."

She chuckled softly, clearly amused. "Suspicious, aren't we? Well, fair enough," she said before finally giving her name.

I nodded, still wary, but she didn't seem hostile. I could work with her.

"So, any ideas on how to push through this without a bloodbath?"

She cocked her head, frowning thoughtfully. "You mean… without killing anyone? That's a tall order. Anyone in our way has to be taken down, don't they? Aren't these people the enemy?"

"Didn't you see the Princess's stream earlier?" I said. "They're innocent, brainwashed into doing things they don't want to. Killing them isn't an option."

"I see," she said, nodding slowly, as if just realizing the complexity. "Alright, how about this?"

She reached between her breasts, retrieving something hidden there. Heat shot through my cheeks, and I quickly averted my gaze. My companions, some blushing, followed suit as I ordered them to do the same.

"How gentlemanly of you all," she teased, her voice dancing with mischief. "You can look now."

We turned to find her holding a small, round object, something unfamiliar and ominous glinting in her hand.

"If we use this, they might all fall asleep, right?" she said, a sly smile spreading across her lips.

"What... is that?" I asked, warily eyeing the device.

"It's a type of knockout gas. If they breathe it in, they'll be out cold. Of course, if any of us inhaled it, we'd be down too, so cover your noses tight when I toss it." Her tone dripped with confidence. "Lucky for us, this is a sewer system with barely any airflow, so the gas will hang around, filling every corner and knocking out anyone it touches," she explained, a twisted kind of pride coloring her words. "Well? Don't you think it's genius?"

We all stared at her, not quite knowing how to respond.

She rolled her eyes. "Really? No one's excited? What a dull bunch. Alright, just get as far back as you can and make sure your noses are covered."

Following her orders, we backed away, retreating until we were safely out of range. I clamped my hand over my nose.

"Come back in thirty minutes!" she called over her shoulder. "The gas should clear by then!"

"Are we really going to trust her?" one of my companions muttered, eyes narrowed.

"We don't have much of a choice," I replied. "If she can get us through without harming anyone, it's a risk we'll have to take."

Reaching the plaza and taking back the capital was our goal, and right now, trusting this mysterious woman seemed like our only shot at getting past the living blockade without unnecessary bloodshed.

Just as her silhouette faded, a thick cloud of smoke billowed out, swirling in heavy, ominous waves. She'd thrown it. We held our ground, waiting until the long thirty minutes had crawled by, then made our way back cautiously. The sight that greeted us was surreal. Every single person who'd been blocking the path had slumped to the ground, lying there in still, undisturbed silence, like dolls cast aside.

"What... did she do?" I whispered to myself, kneeling to check the pulse of one of them. They were alive, thankfully, and it seemed the woman's plan had worked without any casualties. But she was gone, vanished as if she'd never been there.

Not that it mattered. The path was open.

"Let's go," I said, my voice firm. "We have to reach the plaza and take back the capital!"