Oh, they had it coming. Their pride as a collective city was growing too great. They thought themselves much tougher than they really were. And their arrogance proved altogether... irritating.

[He shrugged, relaxing in his chair.]

I wanted to illustrate a point: for all their vaunted faith in their walls, weapons, and guards? They never really escaped their real enemy: the fear in their hearts. They were just collectively hiding under the bed.

...So I became the monster under there with them.