The respawn plaza of Ironmoss Citadel buzzed with furious energy.
Thousands of players crammed into the polished stone square, shouting, venting, pacing in circles. The usual lightness of the capital—the bright banners, the clean air, the sunlight dancing off marble—felt wrong. Discordant. Like laughter in a funeral hall.
Fairyblade stood among the crowd, her shield still strapped to her arm, her sword still bleeding illusionary gore. She turned slowly, her eyes wide, taking in the sea of anger and disbelief.
Zone chat screamed around her.
[Zone Chat] [Grimsteel]: "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?"
[Zone Chat] [Blazecast]: "Mid-fight! They yanked us MID-FIGHT!"
[Zone Chat] [VineWalker]: "IMMA ON ROLL IN A 10 KILLING STREAK!"
[Zone Chat] [Knightfall]: "Refund Throne War players or riot."
Zone Chat] [BoneCaller]: "We couldn't even summon! Half my skills are dead!"
[Zone Chat] [WildTamer]: "No beasts, no summons, just standing there swinging like idiots."
