“The Imperial Guards are throwing down their swords,” scowled Jackle. “Why have an army if they just give up so easily?”

“Why should they throw their lives away?” retorted Kenda. “There are thousands of invaders. Look, they are still coming ashore. There is no end to them.”

The boys watched the drama unfolding before their eyes. The Imperial Guards tossed their swords and knives into a large pile on the ground as the foreign invaders surrounded them. As soon as the last of the weapons were discarded, the foreign soldiers attacked the Imperial Guards.

“Treachery!” shouted Jackle. “They are killing unarmed men. What a despicable act! The Imperial Guards should have fought them.”

Kenda’s jaw dropped in disbelief as he stared in horror at the massacre below. Within seconds, the entire group of Imperial Guards was dead. The mayor, still holding his white flag was the last to die. Kenda shook his head and tears welled up in his eyes. His mouth opened to speak, but no words came out.

Jackle excitedly grabbed Kenda’s arm and pointed to a spot deeper into the city. His fingers dug into his friend’s arm as he cried. Kenda pried his gaze away from the Imperial Guards and looked to where Jackle was pointing. The red-clad soldiers where killing everyone they came across, man, woman, and child.

“No!” shouted Kenda, tears flowing freely down his cheeks. “Why?”

“It’s a massacre,” sobbed Jackle. “They are killing everyone.”

Kenda wanted to turn his eyes away from the destruction, but he could not. He watched as red soldiers invaded every part of the city. They instantly killed every person they came across. Some of the citizens tried to resist. Small groups of men raced down alleyways with old swords, shovels, and knives. They carried anything that could be used to kill a fellow human being, but it did not even slow down the invaders. The red-clad soldiers were trained warriors prepared for battle. The citizens were no match for them.