"...Mark...?" Princess Janet folded her book across her stomach as she spoke to Mark, who was currently working on reports.
Mark hearing his wife, put down one of his news reports, as he looked to his wife, "Hmmm?"
"I was just thinking... What happens if the Skull of the Sun God is broken?"
"You mean where the Ape Mountain Hermit will knock it from its perch in Saigunrai?"
"Well... Yeah... I mean if he hits it, and he's as strong as you say he is... Wouldn't he break it, and ruin your plan?" Janet said in concern, unknowingly becoming more affectionate with Mark.
Mark chuckled, "The Skull of the Sun God has been around before the time of the Lich King... In fact, the Lich King used it to light his floating fortress of a Necropolis for more than several centuries... If a big ape from the mountains can break it, even if I have to blow it up it's not going to break apart. If it breaks, then I should look for a different piece of Glowstone."
"Th-The Lich King used it!? Then... Then how did it become the icon of Deagoth?!" Janet exclaimed!
"Interesting isn't it... Actually..." Mark looked up in thought for a few minutes, deciding if he should speak.
Mark looked back to his wife, "I've not spoken this to anyone before, but as my most trusted person... I can tell you."
Janet's pale blue skin blushed, as she heard this, but quickly leaned forward, as she wanted to know what he was going to say.
"Did you know that this land, or lands I should say, important?"
"Ummm... That's... We live here? I don't really find it all that important..." Janet wasn't prepared for this question.
"This land... The Ruined Continent is a very interesting piece. It is one of the few places that the Lich King stripped bare. Out of all the places, why was this place stripped?"
"It had resources?"
"Yes, and it continues to produce them, even now that it's been ruined. It's been fought on, and over for so many years, and it's still worth it! Think about Neolith... Below it lies a sleeping Goddess!"
"What?!"
"You don't think the Neolithians play house with their faith of the Spider Goddess... This land contains at least one Goddess We know of, and ruins from the Lich King... But most of all... And you dare not say a word about what I'm about to tell you."
Janet fiercely shut her mouth and nodded. This was the first time she had heard Mark speak harshly too her.
"My family... May they rest in peace... Were great mythologian, explorers, and archaeologist. The reason my family came to this forsaken spit of land was for the tomb of the Lich King."
"THE TOMB!?"
"Yes... This was the land the Lich King rose on, and through myths and scattered remains of his broken empire, my family theorized that his remains were returned to this land, after his fall." Mark spoke with a solemn tone.
"...Did you...? Did you find it...? I mean... Did you find evidence he was here?"
Mark leaned back in his seat, "That's hard to say. My grandfather had a strong lead and then went missing in this land before my father and I arrived."
"...Have I met your father?" Janet asked suddenly.
"No, he's passed on." Mark shook his head.
"Then... Are you still searching for the tomb?"
"Yes, and No."
"???" Janet looked puzzled.
"Let me clarify. I believe the tomb has already been found, and I believe it's in Deagoth."
"Deagoth?"
"I mean... they are using the Skull of the Sun God... That's been recorded as a piece of the Lich King's main necropolis."
"Does Deagoth know this?"
"No. Those fools have no idea the treasures they sit on. To be honest, it's been a long time since the Lich King, and longer still since the time of the Gods. So, I can't really blame the undead of Deagoth for being ignorant, the Holy Witch King though..." Mark's voice trailed off.
"Why does or did your family want with the tomb of the Lich King?" Janet probed.
In a rare occurrence, Mark searched the room again before replying, "The Mythologians believe that whoever can reclaim the bones of the Lich King can gain the powers of the Lich King himself... Though that might not be true, it should still be a Cultivation resource that is unparallel in the Underworld."
"So... Besides the Lich King's bones... You want this Skull of the Sun God because of the Lich King, as well?"
"No... I want the Skull so I can restore your lower body. Then it's back to what I promised you." Mark corrected.
A warm feeling was felt around Janet's dead heart, "What is it that you've promised me?"
"...The world. I promised you, the world."
*******
The King of Jakahn was resting within his inner sanctum accompanied by his most trusted advisor, Princess Violet.
"Violet... What're the most recent reports on the Vampire's movements?" The King leaned back at his desk, rubbing his forehead while listening to his daughter. His crown slide to one side of his head, while his mood was low.
"...The five galleons have already departed... They uh... They slaughtered half the docks and drained all of their blood. Eye-witness reports state they used the blood to power their ships faster up the coast to Deagoth to meet their deranged Princess." Violet reported dutifully.
The King looked up with bloodshot eyes... It would take years among years to recruit another court to his liking, even if the old officials he had were corrupt, they could run his kingdom without him having to delegate every task...
[I bet the Holy Witch King doesn't have to put up with this shit...] The King of Jakahn thought to himself, as he was about to open his mouth, a booming sound echoed throughout his palace.
The King sat up in his seat, as he looked to his daughter, in question.
Princess Violet was equally wondering what that was, as the King rose from his seat. He opened the door of his sanctum to hear a booming voice, "OO, OO, STUPID KING, GET OUT HERE!"
[What in the hell does the Ape Hermit want???] The King thought, as he looked to his daughter, "Stay here... I'll message you if need be."
The princess nodded, "Alright, daddy." She said with a smile in her voice. It was always her father that treated her best.
The King closed the door behind him, as he adjusted his crown, and neaten up his apparel as he heard another command from the damn ape, "Don't think Me don't know chou're in there, Stupid King, uh uh."
The King shouted, "Of course, I am! Please allow me a moment!" The King quickly made his way to his previously clean throne room, from the wake of the Vampires assault.
As the King entered, he saw the ceiling destroyed with debris scattered all over the floor, with a malevolent undead radiating power in the middle of it. The King hadn't seen this monster since one hundred years ago... Not since this monster won the bid for the Lavagrim Geoshark Fin...
The King weighed the appearance of the old hermit with that he had seen many years before... He still looked the same, as he stood at a height of almost two meters. He was shaped like a triangle with large overly developed shoulders and a tiny waist with funny short legs. His arms were thick as marble pillars that held his hall up and were covered in a thick black fur, as they were long enough to hang to his knees. The old hermits face reminded the king before and now of a Dark-face Gorilla that inhabited the forests of the deep south of Dragon's Jaw. The Hermit's gorilla-like face was completely intact, with the exception of both sides of his mouth rotted away exposing his teeth, but his mouth was intact, this might of led to his odd speech pattern, but the King wasn't sure.
The gorilla-like man lifted his massively thick arm with an accusing finger, as he spat his words, "Oo Oo, Stupid King! I left Me boy here, and he died for your Kingdom..."
[Shit... I thought it would be a while longer before he found out...] The King thought, while raising his hands in innocents, "My friend, It wasn't Us that got him killed. The Holy Witch King waged war in Our land. Deciple Russell died for his land and his honor!"
"Uh-Uh-Huh... Likely story. Me heard Stupid King sat back and did nothing while Sparkle King killed Me boy. Were you going to deliver his body one day, or is Me boy mulch for the fields of Jakhan?"
"I have my best warriors on their way to the battlefield to retrieve Our warriors for proper burial. The true death of Our warriors is Our Honor to side them on with the highest honors!"
[Violet, send warriors to recover the bodies of Our warriors near the ruins of Zitergall.] The King messaged his daughter, who in turn went to immediately carry out his will.
"Alright... Uh-Uh, Compensate Me five hundred pounds of Glowstone, two clusters of Verdant Geostones, and two hundred fresh recruits."
Anger flashed briefly through the eyes of the King of Jakahn, but he pushed it down before the old hermit looked up, "No problem. I'll have it delivered within the week."
"Take chour time. Me heading to Deagoth. Sparkle King must pay for Me disciple. Uh-Uh." The old hermit leaped to the side of the King of Jakahn, as he looked into the King's eyes. The King could see the Mountain Ape Hermit smile from his side, with his ragged jaws.
"Oo, Oo, It's good chou know chour place, Stupid King," as the old hermit lifted his large thick hand to roughly pat the King's shoulder, with loud thuds. With a smashing sound, the Mountain Ape Hermit crashed through the ceiling dome of the King's throne room, leaving the King of Jakhan alone within his throne room.