The atmosphere was terrible inside the meeting room. Diplomacy meant little to their pride as the representatives exchanged threatening glares, and it was getting worse by the minute.
"Well, well, well. The mongrels are here!"
One of the representatives from The High Realm of Yggdrasil, the arrogant and aged, pure-blood elven elder, Councillor Jeremiah 'Selthradir' Peridoth.
"I have to say, the Church has quite the commendable humour. To invite jokes like you lot. Hahaha!" the elf said, boisterously insulting those who've just arrived.
The old elf's long ears fluttered as he approached Phillis, looking down on him as he kept his point of view high.
"Age hasn't treated you well hasn't it, faggot?" Phillis responded, removing his glasses to reveal his demonic eyes. "You should get a better make-up artist really, the current one failed to patch a few wrinkles! Oh dear, such pity."
Jeremiah's face twitched, taking a deep breath to calm himself down.
"Ew!" Phillis added, dusting his furcoat as a sly smile crept to expose his jagged teeth. "Don't breath on that! It's expensive!"
"How dare—"
"Selthradir! What did I tell you about talking to those low-lives?" A female elf with white hair ending in a faint green called out to the old man.
The trio walked past the fuming-red elf before he could rebut, promptly bowing in apology to the female.
"Try harder, c*nt." Phillis whispered, putting his glasses back on.
The venue for the summit was the Daimyo no Yoka, which translates into the 'Great One's Leisure Place'.
The morning sun created a spectacular scene of the metropolis around the Institute, a soothing view for the guests at the open-air design of the meeting place. The high ceiling and spaciousness allowed for Nikolai to relax his cramping shoulders.
There were two long, wooden tables placed at the center of the Tatami-matted floor, the tables being exceptionally low as if intending for the guests to squat. Four, evenly spaced cards were sitting on top of each table, all of them bearing the different Insignia of the 6 remaining nations.
Orophrus's Insignia, the symbol of the swirling dragon with the world in it's jaws, was on the same side as The Zar Tribe and The Ellenoir Republic. On the other table was The High Realm of Yggdrasil, The Church of Totheph, and The United Nothern Coalitions.
Having fought in the War of Races which lasted 18 long years, it was needless to say that Nikolai's reputation as a notorious murderer whose kill count climbs up to the four-digits spoke volumes for Empire's presence. Past grudges and glares calling for petty vengeance were getting old by now, causing him to unconsciously yawn.
And just when the tension was about to peak.
"Welcome to my humble abode."
Professor Gregory stood on the edge of the wooden railings, nimble as he went. The lengthy blue sleeves of his kimono hid his hands as he crossed them, so gracefully swaying with the wind that it felt ethereal as he made his way to sit on the circular center table.
"Do pardon my tardiness, I'd to resolve an important matter see. Shall we proceed with the meeting?" he narrated, bowing his head lightly in apology.
Only the main representatives of each nation sat down, bringing out the Communication Devices the Church had distributed and placing them on the stools that were prepared beforehand while the others remained on standby behind them.
"Please take the cards placed respectively before you and do as I. We shall now activate the devices and connect the leaders of each monarchy." The Church's main representative was the same one who delivered the message to Amira.
The first step was to infuse the Device with mana, each of them having their own mana signatures flow into the object and thus activating the inscriptions within. The warm glow of the magic circles changed as the floating inscriptions rearranged themselves, a green vibrance emanating after it stopped.
A tiny compartment opened on the crystal ball's holder, where they inserted their cards. A beam of light shot up from them, phasing through the roof and establishing a connection with it's pair.
WHIRR
"I believe the leaders can hear my voice right now. Your pair of the Ricthel Orb should be blinking as we speak, please respond by touching the orb." the priest instructed, gesturing for the main representatives to join their peers.
Not long after, the pillars of light were extinguished and fibers of color began to shoot in rays around the Orb. Rapidly weaving into large patches that eventually began to resemble the leaders of each nation moving in real-time.
"What you see before you is an illusion that is currently broadcasting the Leaders as they are in photo-realistic quality. It's an honor to have you join us, your majesties."
The overlords sat before each other, high on their thrones pompously adorned with distinctive hallmarks of glory and might. Each of them gave off the feeling of royalty and grandeur, select individuals steeled by talent and experience to become rulers.
"With the leaders gathered, we shall begin the summit." the Professor announced. "As you all know, the recent incident that eliminated the Hovarin Kingdom out of the map has brought into our attention a very alarming threat.
Perhaps we can say that indeed, Hovarin had a considerably less effective military power to defend themselves and that was undeniably a relevant factor to their end. However this is not to say that if it befell on any other sovereignty, they would have, with utmost certainty, fared any better against such a crisis.
I've done my own bit of personal investigation on the matter and I'm confident to say that this was an act of terrorism due to the fact that it was a Category 6 Abyssal Fiend.
These high-ranked creatures, as we are all well-aware, do not appear randomly like some natural disaster. They are summoned from the 'Chaos Dimension' through taboo and ritualistic magic.
Therefore, I believe we must unite and prepare for the likely chance of another attack. At least until we exterminate the threat.
You're all free to speak your minds, my friends."
After Gregory explained their agenda there was cold long silence for a while, with only their eyes speaking as glares shifted between the rulers.
And finally, one of them spoke.
"Before any negotiations are done, I would like to state that The Ancient Order of the High Realm of Yggdrasil has decided upon to reject any affiliation with the Empire of Orophrus nor any of it's allies whomsoever."
All attention was brought towards the none other than the King of the Elves, Alfheim 'Ethraldir' Ulvos, himself. The declaration sparked animosity between every being present in the room, the cat was out of the bag.
"Oh? Is that your most modest attempt of calling for help? Hahaha! I mean, we DID subjugate the swarm so perhaps you should be groveling before us instead! Uncivilized swine." Phillis's eyes flickered red with indignation in his tone, stomping one foot up the table as he cracked his knuckles.
TING
Merely an inch from the bloodsucker's head, a shortsword was caught in between Nikolai's fingers, saving the vampire.
"HOW DARE YOU SPEAK IN SUCH A WAY TO HIS HIGHNESS, YOU INSUFFERABLE LEECH!! THIS IS EXACTLY WHY YOU PEOPLE SHOULDN'T BE ON THIS MEETING!" Jeremiah, the old elf from before, yelled at the top of his lungs as he wielded another shortsword.
SHING—TRR
The blade which nearly hit Phillis on headshot, flew back the other way and was now stuck on the wall with a long bloody ear in tow.
"!!!...Urrrgghhh!!" Jeremiah held on to what was left of his torn ear, profusely bleeding.
The representatives were in shock, slow to process what had just transcended. The leaders on the other hand were either indifferent to the incident, facepalming like Gregory, or smirking like Amira who wasn't tightening the dog's leash one bit.
"Imbecile! What have you done!?" The same female elf from before, her name is Renesta 'Pagadir' Tylif, assissted the old elf who was crumpling in pain. "ARE YOU TRYING TO START A WAR?!"
"WHAT IF...I AM?" Nikolai responded, his fingers cracking as he threateningly held out an open palm. A thin layer of black mist covered his silhouette as he released a fraction of killing intent.
Cold sweat ran down the spine of everyone in the room other than a select few who were able to withstand the pressure or weren't a target.
"Settle down, all of you. You there, the wounded elf, let me see your injury." Gregory announced, trying to ease the tension.
To an elf, their long ears were a sign of beauty, pride and superiority over the other races. Nikolai was aware that the act of attacking an elf by his ear was the worst disrespect that could be done by anyone, but he did not care.
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. In his philosophy, it was the elder's blunder that he couldn't protect himself from the retaliation nor that nobody saved him.
<'Not a good start at all.'> Gregory sighed as he healed Jeremiah's injury, replacing the ear he'd lost.
"Please gentlemen. There is little to gain from a contest of murder in my domain. I demand for you to show tact and respect to all of us present. You can resolve your personal quarrels by yourselves on a different occasion, this isn't a nursery."
At those words, both parties backed off and the atmosphere cooled off a little. The professor had his servants bring over some food to hopefully distract his guests and lighten the mood.
"Now then. Empress Amirabeth, with the fact that you were the ones to successfully subjugate the threat, I believe you've collected samples.
Would you be so kind to share with us any useful information?" he resumed on the topic.
"Mm~. You're a very handsome man, Professor. I'm very willing to share, however, nothing ever comes for free. That's the sad reality we're in. " Amira teased, parting the already scarce garments on her legs as she crossed them. "But since I like handsome, I'll indulge you a tiny bit so. It'd do you well to think of this as a favor."
"Well I'd be happy to oblige, so please." Gregory smiled in a professional manner.
"...we've uncovered the culprit behind this incident and I'm quite sure that you all know him."
A momentary silence as all eyes were drawn to her, trying to figure out for themselves who the mastermind might be.
"Ivan Adrenosk, more infamously known as 'Sylver-Tongue' from 18 years ago in The Underground Dungeon of Hamellin."
Their eyes widened at the mention of that name, dread and disgust burning the pits of their stomach. Old scars from the tragedy 18 years ago felt like fresh wounds they'd just gotten yesterday.
"Preposterous. I killed him myself! Along with that man, the leaders of the Coalition, of Yggdrasil, and that vampire." The leader of the Zar tribe declared, pointing to Nikolai and Phillis.
"How is he alive when Warrior Nikolai's Flames can burn even the soul? Adrenosk was dust when we left him!"
Abdulem Micah Zar was the name of the King of the Six-limbed Warriors.
They call him 'The Asura'.
The shiny red skin covering that extremely muscular bod, he doesn't carry that title just for show. Robust would be an understatement to the Asura's capabilities in strength. Even armor was useless for him as no weapon, other than Nikolai's gauntlet, has caused him any serious damage.
"I'm not stupid, Sultan Abdulem." Amira replied, her eyes reduced into fiery slits. "I never said he's alive. It could be one of his puppets like Agatha the Witch but without a doubt, that mark that we found on the Queen Ghoul's broken Nucleuon was the Sylver-Tongue's 'The Poltergeist; Haunt'."
.