You closed your eyes.
She raised her foot one final time. The stiletto heel hovered directly over the back of your neck.
Valdris sat upon a throne of broken shields. You crawled the last few feet. Your voice was a rasp. Tower Of Trample
You drew your sword. It felt suddenly, absurdly heavy.
High above, in the Onyx Tower, Valdris the Imperious polished her shoes and smiled. Another soul, properly trampled. Another hero, properly flattened into something useful. You closed your eyes
She stood. Her shadow engulfed you.
It was a ladder made of degradation. The first rung: kiss the dust her shoe had touched. You did it. The taste was iron and ancient sweat. absurdly heavy. High above
You nodded.