After bowing their heads and saying their final goodbyes, Gil and Maria departed from the town square. The two took one last look at Alyyiah's remains and faced away. Maria swore to find Todo, the man who killed her and torment him for his misdeed. He would learn of the despair that can destroy a soul in its entirety and be drained of a reason to live. Gil wanted to destroy Vasea's military and plunge its economy into a deep recession. He intended to rid Vasea of the capacity to inflict suffering on anyone ever again.
For centuries, Vasea had been using its might to undermine nations in Tenbris for a profit and harassing demons with the Holy Sentinel Church. Enough was enough. It was apt to bring to them what they deserved: their downfall. Tempestas would take their place and become the new dominant trade center in Eastern Tenebris. With the inevitable growth and power conferred in such a position, other nations will undoubtedly seek ties with Tempestas. The Vasea Empire treated demons worse than dirt; however, Tempestas treated all races equally and much more fairly. Trust issues will not be a dilemma, and Tempestas can secure alliances and even friends on the international stage in Tenebris. This will boost Tempestas's renown and give it more opportunities to accomplish its goals. Other nations may be open to joining their efforts to end the war between sentinels and demons. Tempestas would develop a friendship with them, for their grand undertaking was not one that could be accomplished alone. Such alliances and backings would also further demonstrate Tempestas's legitimacy to all demons in Tenebris. As such, the ties would be invaluable to the cause.
That would come after the Vasea Empire had been dealt with. Gil and Maria headed toward the royal court. Everybody was waiting for them in the council room, and the two did not intend to disappoint. They would crush Vasea and do so swiftly. With Lyra's declaration of war and the appearance of Tressa, there were more worrying matters the two had to attend to. It seems as if chaos had ignited across Eastern Tenebris, for devastation had engulfed the land in multiple wars that may possibly destroy it in the future.
Gil felt something tug his pants and turned around, catching sight of Volpes, who woofed. "Is something wrong, Volpes?"
"Lord Gil, do you wish to save Lady Alyyiah and the others?"
"What do you mean, Volpes? Alyyiah is dead. There can be no saving her."
"No. It is, in fact, possible to bring the dead back to life." To this, Maria raised an eyebrow in skepticism. "What are you talking about? No such methods exist to revive the dead. If they did, everyone would know about them. After all, each individual has a list of others they would want to bring back to their life."
Volpes shook his head. "There is a legend passed down among kitsune: about a demon emperor who brought back the dead." Maria instinctively dismissed it as just a fairy tale but then revised her opinion. Many stories of past demon emperors have been orally taught to future generations of demons in their communities. Maria read about them often in books. She was able to verify them as having some basis in truth, as her mother was one of those demon emperors present in the myths. Maria viewed these "myths" as warped recounts of actual past events. However, even she was not aware of the myth Volpes was describing. She thought a tale with such a character would be among the most popular and remembered, yet it was as if it was buried under the sands of time. Either it was lost to history, or it was kept a secret. Either way, her curiosity was piqued, and she wondered how this supposed demon emperor accomplished such a godlike feat.
"Well, if those around you acted as if it were true, there must be something authentic about it. Why don't you narrate it for us, Volpes?"
"As you command, Lady Maria."
The tale began with a female demon, a Yukon whose pack had just come out of a war. She was the sole survivor, and she had absorbed the souls of all her enemies. Saddened by the loss of her kin, she retreated into a deep forest and wept underneath a cave. For two hundred years, this elusive fox was regarded as a savant in the kingdoms adjacent to the forest. Sometimes, the fox would take on a humanoid form and walk alongside other demons. It became interested in the art, literature, and technology in multiple kingdoms and accumulated a vast amount of knowledge. Kings and Queens always sought counsel from the wise fox. However, one greedy monarch wanted the fox as their property, for they feared such a creature. The Yukon is the kitsune equivalent of a demon lord, and as such, the fox was a creature bestowed with might. That and its extraordinary intelligence made it an intimidating being. This greedy monarch would not let such a threat dwell so close to home.
The Yukon had a fondness for a particular kingdom, for its library contained all the knowledge in the world. It turned out that it was the Kingdom of Alexandria. It was an advanced nation that was distinguished for its scholars and emphasis on knowledge. The Yukon had affiliated herself with a princess there, and the two shared a sibling-like bond. The princess even offered one of her brothers to be the Yukon's husband so she may be admitted as part of her family. The Yukon refused, citing she had no need for a husband. The library was her spouse, and she had no desire to leave it. The princess was disappointed, but she allowed the Yukon to be. However, the Queen herself intervened, asking if the Yukon had an interest in joining the royal family. After all, such an arrangement would allow her to stay close to her daughter. The Yukon, after much thought, declined. Joining the royal family would chain her to one country. Other nations would be wary of her entering their borders. They certainly wouldn't allow her access to their technology or libraries unless they wanted their knowledge used against them. The Queen laughed, saying the Yukon, with her thirst for knowledge, had the behavior of her citizens and therefore should become one. The Yukon chuckled, saying she'll remember the offer.
Indeed, The Yukon would love nothing more than to be a part of the Kingdom of Alexandria. She thought it a great honor the Queen herself wanted her to be a part of the royal family. It would permit her access to forbidden texts stored in the recesses of the library. However, she knew that the nations around Alexandria wanted her for themselves. If she accepted the Queen's invitation, war was likely to brew as people vied to have her power and intellect. Having lost her family, the Yukon did not want the people of Alexandria to lose those close to them.
However, the greedy monarch hated Alexandria with a passion, for they had all the things he wanted: a library of knowledge, competent scholars, monuments, and elaborate structures. Alexandria was also a wealthy nation, and the greedy king wanted all its treasures. The Yukon was aware of these malign intentions and warned her friend, the princess of Alexandria, of this. The princess relayed the information to the Queen, who asked the Yukon for advice. The Yukon offered to destroy the king's army or delegate with the greedy king, but the Queen rejected her. The Queen reminded her of why she refused to become a member of royalty. "If you actively help us in a war, you'll be trapped here. The other nations will view you as our ally, which alone is enough to make them suspect you. Don't you wish to be free?"
"Yes," the Yukon answered. "However, this nation has become a home to me and the people, my friends. I would never forgive myself if I let them both perish, nor would I allow them to suffer because of me. Please, let me fight with you."
The princess supported the Yukon, and the Queen was forced to agree. As such, the Queen once again asked if the fox would be willing to be a part of the royal family, and this time she accepted, and formed a bond with the Queen, gaining her last name. The princess hugged her friend, saying they're now a real family, and the Yukon nodded. Thus, the Yukon visited the greedy king, alarmed by the fox's willingness to be a part of Alexandria's royal family, and the two conversed. However, the king denied all peace offers and declared war.
The king allied himself with Gustave, a nation situated to the north of the forest the Yukon dwelled in. However, the Yukon had her friend, now her adoptive sister, barter with Gustave's king. Essentially, the Yukon had the princess of Alexandria bribe the King of Gustave and forced him to take a neutral stance. Additionally, if the King of Gustave kept his word and stayed out of the war, he would receive a sizable portion of the greedy king's territory to be his own. With the deal settled and the princess triumphant, the Yukon moved to invade the king's nation. Unbeknownst to her was that the greedy king was the puppet of a demon lord, who joined the war on his behalf with his own troops.
The fighting that ensued was brutal. Massive casualties amounted to both sides. The Yukon fought with the demon lord and narrowly won; however, the nation of Alexandria was burned to the ground. Even worse, the princess had thrown her life to save the Yukon, who despaired at her death. The greedy king declared a victory and demanded the fox bow to him. Enraged, the Yukon destroyed him and his whole nation and absorbed the souls of the fallen. It was then she awakened as a demon emperor. To keep the souls of those among the dead in Alexandria from drifting far away, she placed a magical barrier around the nation.
Then, for a thousand years, she reigned as the new Queen and founded a new Alexandria. She diligently spent her time experimenting and researching how to revive the dead, and she stumbled upon the answer. She discovered it was as simple as placing the soul back into the deceased's body. However, moving a soul required an unimaginable amount of quanta. The task of reviving millions of people would have been impossible had she not become a demon emperor. The Yukon revived her friend, the princess, and the Queen. Then, she used nearly all of her power to resurrect others who had laid down their life. To do this, she engineered a new spell, one that allowed her to drag large amounts of souls as she wished, similar to how a sentinel can manipulate quanta. The Yukon's efforts were ultimately successful. She became beloved to the people, who she ruled over wisely and well before suddenly disappearing.
Maria nodded. "I see. Thank you, Volpes. The new Alexandria you mentioned must be the one in Western Tenebris. It collapsed five hundred years ago in another war. The entire kingdom was decimated, and the people have been taken as slaves by multiple nations in Western Tenebris. The only thing still standing is its magnificent library, now owned by the vampiric government in Bloodbound. However, many books had vanished from the shelves. The ones that remained were redacted so radical ideas would not form in people's heads or restrict the information given to the public. As such, it would be unlikely to find such a story there. About the Yukon... I've never heard of one becoming a demon emperor. Did she have a name?"
"Yes," Volpes replied. "Her name was Veta, and she was the first demon to awaken into a demon emperor."
Gil and Maria eyed each other, both recognizing the name. It was the name of the person their master, Tempestas, told them to look for. The one who their master served and the one who had watched over them in Stella. Apparently, she was among the most powerful beings in Yggdrasil, and a mythical person to her kin, the kitsune.
"Well, it seems Volpes's story isn't as false as we believed," Gil said. "Maria, could the Yukon in the legend be the same Lady Veta we've heard of?"
Maria shrugged. "We know next to nothing about her, so I don't know. However, if the myth is correct, then we can revive everyone in the town square," she smiled.
"But how? Everyone's souls should have detached-" Gil looked upwards, realizing that the anti-quantum barrier around Tempestas was put in place before Alyyiah and the others died. As such, it could have been possible that the souls remained trapped. The dead could be given life. A grin broke on Gil's face once the possibility dawned on him.
Maria and Gil cuddled with Volpes and pecked him, thanking him for telling the story. Because of him, they knew it was achievable to revive the dead, and that made a big difference. All they needed was the power of a demon emperor to relocate the souls back to their bodies. They would gain that power the same way Veta had: by destroying a large army and consuming the souls of the slain. The two rolled on the ground with Volpes as he licked their faces and laughed, their gloom fleeting away with shedding tears.
A buzz resonated in their heads. Jaco had a message to deliver to them. "Lady Maria, I've spotted Vasea's main force. Thirty thousand soldiers from the Vasea Empire, and the same amount from the Holy Sentinel Church. It seems the Church added all their reserve units. In total, sixty thousand men have been sent, and they're camping on the road between Dirram and Tempestas."
"Understood," Maria responded. "How about the four camps around Tempestas? Have their numbers increased?"
"Yes, my Lady. The spies I sent to the King of Vasea's camp, where the main force is, have reported the hiring of mercenaries and assassins. I estimate their numbers to be ten thousand. Additionally, they are accompanied by soldiers from the Vargrave Empire."
"That makes sense. Vargrave has made their contempt for us quite clear. It's not surprising they would jump to an opportunity to weaken us. How many soldiers are from their empire?"
"They've sent their entire army - fifty thousand men. All in all, the enemy has one-hundred-thirty-two thousand men at their disposition. The King Of Vasea, Edward III, has also formed alliances with Roma, Hyria, and Meron, which have treaties with Vargrave."
"Which means they'd also love to see our demise. Have those nations deployed all their troops as well?"
"Yes. The joint force of eighty thousand soldiers from those nations will soon meet and merge with Vasea's army. That would bring the total to two-hundred-twelve thousand."
"Good work, Jaco. Continue your surveillance for just a bit longer. When will Vasea's main force start moving again?"
"By my estimate, at late noon of the next day."
"Then we'll launch a counterattack right before they get a chance to mobilize. Jaco, when I give the order to attack, you and your subordinates will be tasked with wiping out one of the camps. Be prepared for then."
"Understood, Lady Maria."
Maria licked her lips. It was as if the Vasea Empire wanted her and Gil to evolve. The more soldiers that joined the opposition meant more fodder to Maria, who would make sure to absorb the power of every individual opposing her in this war. It wouldn't be just her and Gil who would evolve - she planned to have the same happen to her most capable subordinates. She would have Volpes, the Onis, Alyyiah, and Sarah become more powerful. The chances of them dying would decrease that way.
Then, there was the matter of the Vargrave Empire. Their creeds were the opposite of the Holy Sentinel Church's - demons were the "good" race, and the sentinels were "barbarians whose only fate was destruction." The nations of Roma, Hyria, and Meron also advocated for the same worldview. With such conflicting beliefs, it was no surprise these four nations did not hold a favorable view of Tempestas. It was a nation that was their antithesis.
Maria knew the Vargrave Empire saw Tempestas as an offense, for it wanted to crush Stella, not make peace with them. Tempestas had made some demons see sentinels as equals and even comrades. The resentment held in their hearts towards them had faded, and now they too wished for peace. Vargrave and its cohorts had tried to undermine Tempestas ever since it became a nation. However, Maria and Alyyiah knew they were scared of Gil. He had single-handedly defeated a Goblin Lord on his own, and the two constantly reminded Vargrave's King of Gil's power. It was enough to demotivate Vargrave's King of any notions to undermine Tempestas, for he did not want to face the wrath of a pulsar. Even if Vargrave, Hyria, Roma, and Meron combined their military forces, their collective strength would only equal Dirram's. Dirram may possess a formidable military, but Gil could squash it on his own. As such, a rocky peace had developed between them, as Vargrave's King did not have the strength on his side to overcome Gil. However, that changed when the Vasea Empire declared war on Tempestas. Vargrave knew the power of the Holy Sentinel Church and believed they could kill Gil for them, thus allying with Vasea. Its most fervent allies, Roma, Hyria, and Meron, also jumped for an alliance.
And that was wonderful! If Maria's side decimated the enemy forces, then she could force Vargrave to submit to her. On top of that, she would demand heavy concessions from Vargrave's allies. She would ensure their economies plummeted and place the blame on the ruling elite, which would cause civil unrest. Then, she would lay the foundation for her underlings to become the heads of the governments there. Vargrave would be forced to accept Tempestas if they wanted to survive, and it would be stripped of its chief allies, isolating it. Hyria, Roma, and Meron would serve as puppet nations of Tempestas and change their stance on sentinels. They would also advocate for peace and equality between the races. With the war displaying Tempestas's military might and displacing Vasea as the major trade center, more nations will form alliances with Tempestas. To keep them, they would change their attitudes to something more compatible with Tempestas's paragons. A domino effect would take root in Tenebris, and soon many nations in the demon realm will call for an end to the war and for equality between the races. Tempestas would unify them and present a united front to Stella. An army of such a magnitude would force them to comply. The Stellan army gained many of its victories only by exploiting tense divisions in the demon realm. It would fare no chance of success against the bulk of the demon realm and give up on the war effort.
With that in mind, much was at stake in the war with Vasea. Maria could not afford to lose or even accept a draw, for nothing save peace with Vasea could be accomplished then, which in her eyes was worthless. She was prepared to do whatever it took to achieve an overwhelming victory. She mentioned her plan to Gil, who smiled. "A brilliant plan only befitting my Queen. Just give me the proper orders, and I'll see to it that everything goes as you envision."
Maria nodded. "I'll do that at Hagas's meeting. We should go see the others. It's already past midnight, and I don't want to keep them waiting."
"Agreed."
Maria and Gil were greeted with bows from those in the council room. "Welcome, my Lords." Hagas motioned for them to sit at the head of the table, which they did. "The two of you seem much happier. Did something happen?"
Gil nodded. "Yes. Volpes has informed us that it may be possible to revive Alyyiah and the others who have fallen, and the conditions are just right for it to happen." Everyone titled their heads in confusion. "My lord, I understand you are saddened by the deaths of your citizens, but it will not do to base our next course of action on a conspiracy. The dead cannot come back to life," Nova gently spoke.
"Deep down, a part of me agrees with you," Gil admitted. "It sounds crazy. Yet, Volpes shared with me a legend of a demon emperor who did exactly that." Gil repeated Veta's story and how he came to learn of her name. "It's nothing but speculation, but it may just be possible. Anti-quantum barriers suck out all the quanta in the area they're applied in. However, the quantum does not escape to the outside environment. It is trapped inside of the anti-quantum barrier itself. Since souls, like everything, are comprised of quanta, the same rules should apply."
"Indeed," Maria agreed. "To make sure the souls don't fly away, we'll create a new barrier to trap them after destroying the anti-quantum barrier." She turned to Andromeda. "You're the only one aside from me who has a deep knowledge of magic. The barrier I'm asking for you to make will require a lot of quanta, and you may end up creating a new spell. Naturally, I'll be helping out. There's no way I'm putting that much on your shoulders. Think you're up for it?"
"Absolutely," Andromeda bowed. "If your plan proves a success, Lady Alyyiah, and the others will be among us again. To that end, and to bring happiness to my Lords, I will live up to your expectations, Lady Maria."
"Good."
Tiffany raised her hand. "While I'm obviously happy to know I may reunite with my daughter again, your plan hinges on a premise: that you will obtain the power of a demon emperor. How will you make that happen?"
"Isn't it as clear as day?" Maria grinned. "In the legend, what did Veta do? How did she become a demon emperor?"
"She..." Tiffany's eyes opened wide as she reckoned with the truth, and she laughed. "I see. A power source has willingly made itself available, and you plan to take full advantage of it."
"Yes," Sarah wanly smiled. "But will it suffice? Veta absorbed the souls of millions. While large, our opposition is only a force of just over two-hundred thousand."
"I don't know," Maria sighed. " And I hate the fact that I don't. As Tiffany correctly pointed out, our entire plan hinges on this. Demon emperors are thought of as deities in Tenebris. They wield an unbelievable amount of quanta and can only be matched by a few in this world. It's understandable why Veta had to absorb the souls of millions to become one. However, we do not know how the minimum number of souls required to awaken as a demon emperor. Even if two-hundred-twelve thousand souls sufficed, I would only evolve into a Dracul. I may obtain comparable power to a demon emperor, but there is a difference. When a demon awakens into a demon emperor, they can use quanta much more efficiently than in any other stage of their evolution. They also lose their respective limit on how much quanta they can manipulate at once. This is crucial, as a lot of quanta is going to be used in the revival process. If I can't control the necessary amount of quanta, then everything will be for nothing. Thankfully, vampires are capable of manipulating more copious amounts of quanta than other races of demons. But I can't count on that fact."
"Does Lord Gil have a role to play in this?" Sarah asked. "As a sentinel, he is capable of manipulating quanta from the environment on his own, eliminating the need for a spell, and as the strongest one here, he can handle the most. He would have the best chance out of everyone here to revive the others."
Maria nodded. "Correct. However, I don't plan to leave such a task for Gil to complete alone. I will help him as much as I can, boosting our likelihood of succeeding. On top of that, I intend to have Gil become a magnetar."
"That makes sense. As a magnetar, Lord Gil's power would increase significantly. His ability to manipulate quanta would be enhanced, and he would be strong enough to fight demon emperors. The same will hold true for you after you evolve into a Dracul, Lady Maria."
"Precisely. Power is always an excellent negotiating tool. Other nations will think twice before messing with Tempestas, which brings us to our next topic. I have come up with long-term goals for the future, and I would like for you to evaluate them." After detailing her thoughts, everyone in the council room entered a heated debate. In the end, all decisively supported Maria's idea of a united front against Stella. Gil placed a hand on her shoulder, and she grabbed it, smiling. "Thank you, all of you. I'm grateful I met all of you and that we formed a nation. You've all become a family to me now, and I'm thankful for your continued support, despite the dangers you will face as a result."
"Nonsense," Andromeda beamed. "We are your loyal servants, and we shall carry out your will, Lady Maria. You've successfully convinced us to support the idea of reconciliation and peace between the races, and now we can't help but want it as much as you do."
Sarah turned to Gil and Maria. "The two of you offered my family a new home and a much better life. You've even given us government positions. Like my sister, I am willing to die for you and your ideals. I can never repay you fully for your kindness."
"You can," Maria disagreed. "Your loyalty to me is enough payment. The same goes for the rest of you. There is no need for any of you to believe that you must do something extraordinary to thank Gil or me for what we have given you."
"As she said," Gil smiled. "Your continued support is all we need. I hope this relationship between us can continue. Now, let us focus on the current war. To accomplish any of our goals, we must win an overwhelming victory. Are there any objections or concerns?" When nobody raised their hands, Gil continued. "Very well. With the barrier in place, I can only send some of our soldiers. As such, I will only send the most powerful in this nation. They will deal with the four camps surrounding the perimeter of Tempestas. The ones that will be ordered to exterminate them will be Nova, Volpes, Jaco, Euryale, Gabe, Sarah, Bleak, Tiffany, Conall, the Elven Riders, and Atticus. You will form into four groups, and each will command a unit of one hundred dragonoids and gargoyles. The enemy will make their move tomorrow afternoon. We'll hit them before then. Wake up early tomorrow and be prepared to move out. Maria and I will take on the main force and destroy them."
This prompted immediate concern. Nova, Hagas, Sarah, and Tiffany looked nervously at one another, trying to determine who would speak up. Gil addressed them. "Is there something you take issue with? If so, speak. I can't read your minds."
Hagas obliged and stood. "Lord Gil, the main army consists of over a hundred thousand men. While I do not doubt your power, it is still nonetheless a formidable army. It may be too dangerous for you and Lady Maria to attack by yourselves."
Gil looked to Maria, who resolved the matter. "I see. Well, I suppose this is a war. The Templars might ambush us. After all, that's what their leader did. In light of that, I'll have Euryale, Volpes, and one hundred troops to guard us. I'll also have Jaco monitor our situation as well. If he sees we are in trouble, he will contact the rest of you. Does that ease your worries, Hagas?"
"Yes, Lady Maria. Thank you for indulging in an old man."
"No problem. Know that if any of you have anything on your mind, please speak. Your words mean a lot to me, and I will consider them. If there is nothing else, know who you're forming a group with, and prepare yourselves for battle. I will not tolerate even a single death in this war!"
"Yes, Lady Maria!" The meeting was convened, and everyone filed out of the council room save for Gil and Maria, the former of whom asked for where Masamune was.
"I gave it to Klain," Maria answered. "Apparition equipment poses too big of a threat for us to ignore. I've requested for him and his brothers to find possible countermeasures or to create similar items for our army to use. He's even allowed to damage Tressa's blade if it helps him."
Gil nodded. "Despite the difference in numbers, our side is much more powerful. But the other side has apparition equipment, which may complicate things."
"True, but apparition equipment grows with its user. If the owner of the items is weak, then we won't have to worry. Since the Templars aren't here, I believe our chances for a crushing victory are high, but I'm not holding back. That's why we're sending our trump cards - to ensure our win."
"Despite how assured you make our victory seem, I can tell something is still troubling you. If it's possible, I'll try to deal with whatever else you think will come our way."
Maria opened her mouth, then paused. After some deliberation, did she choose to speak. "The first worry is our plan. I hope we'll gain the power to bring Alyyiah and the others back, but that will be impossible if we do not utilize enough souls. But there's something else. For a while, I've been thinking that this entire war has been prompted by a third party."
"You think there's someone pulling strings behind the scenes?"
"Yeah. Remember what we learned from Leonard after the incident with Scylla? Demon emperor Karem and his subjects both planned the Goblin Lord invasion and the revival of Scylla. I don't know whether he attacked us on purpose. But I've been told by Lord Sun that Karem is eager to acquire territory in Silverlake. The treaty between the demon emperors made it explicit that Lord Sun was the only one allowed to hold possessions in Silverlake. Karem, Lyra, and Sun cooperated on the Goblin Lord invasion, which gives some important insight. Sun has told me he planned to allot Karem some land in the forest if he gave him a powerful yet controllable weapon. According to the treaty, the only way to gain anything in Silverlake is to buy it from Lord Sun. I'm betting that was the reason why the Goblin Lord was born: to lend it to Sun in exchange for land. Scylla could have been for the same purpose, but it is a monster with enough power to fight with demon emperors. It was likely too powerful to control, and hence Sun himself destroyed it."
"Why would Sun make a deal with Karem for something like that?"
"His military is waning, that's why. With persistent economic issues, it's natural Sun would reduce funding and personnel to his army. However, the problems plaguing them concerning unemployment and little development, which were their most significant issues, have been resolved. Making Tempestas a province of theirs and tying our economies together was well planned. Many citizens from Aurora have come here to pursue economic opportunities, motivated by the low tax rates and booming industries. Since we're now one nation, we share any new technological advancements we have made. With Klain and his siblings on our side, manufacturing, in particular, has become much more efficient. As such, profits have soared, and Aurora now has a budget surplus."
"And that's why Sun proposed the idea of a parliament to us. He saw the economic potential in Tempestas, and he found it much more convenient to negotiate with us than with Karem. Since the treaty only allows Sun to have holdings in Silverlake, the demon emperors would take issue with Tempestas. Unless Lord Sun explicitly gave us the right to form a nation here, other demon emperors may violate the treaty. They'll cite us as those who had no rights to the forest and yet were allowed to own land in the forest. They'll dispute over what to do, and war between them could result."
"Correct, Gil. He framed the idea of making Tempestas a province as a way to protect us, which wasn't false. The real reason was that he was actually in desperate need of money. Of course, he doesn't want the demon emperors to fight among each other. But there's no reason to doubt him. Lord Sun may be crafty, but he has the heart of a kind merchant. He keeps his promises and repays his debts while still managing to find new ways to enrich himself with his clients. In fact, Lord Sun has offered to destroy Vasea personally, but I refused."
"I think I can figure that one out. If Sun attacked, it would be valuable media fodder for Vasea. They could cast Sun as a scared tyrant who's trying to hide what supposedly goes on in Stella. While nobody in Tenebris would believe a word from them, native Stellans will flock to Vasea. They will be galvanized by a desire to protect their territory and their people, as well as to expose how vile demons supposedly are."
"Indeed. I do not want the Holy Sentinel Church to send reinforcements, nor do I want the Stellan army to get involved in this. We would stand no chance of winning then. Besides, we can't always depend on Lord Sun. This is a golden opportunity to see how much everyone here has grown and what Tempestas can do on its own."
"What about Karem? Do you think he's behind all this?"
"As I said, Gil, it's just a theory, but it is conceivable. After all, you killed the Goblin Lord. Karem had nothing to offer to Sun, and as a result, Sun chose to support us. Karem tried to barter again with Scylla, but as I've said before, that went poorly. Tempestas, and more specifically, the two of us, have consistently stood in his way. We've stripped him of a chance to get territory in Silverlake. Karem also loathes sentinels as much as they hate demons. He would want to see this nation burn regardless of what happens between us. He advocates for the same thing as the Vargrave Empire and will be an enemy in the future."
Gil reflected on the conversation, thinking about everything that was mentioned. He felt something was missing. Even if Karem wanted territory in Silverlake, why would he have Vasea fight Tempestas? Even if the Vasea Empire won, they would be the ones to acquire land in Silverlake, not Karem. Since Vasea was a colony of Stella, it was unlikely they'd give Karem anything. Did Karem just want to destroy Tempestas in this war? Or did he not want to waste resources doing so? Either way, Gil thought both were too simple of an explanation. A premise emerged in his mind, and it led him to a worrying conclusion. "Maria, Karem hasn't awakened as a demon emperor yet, has he?"
"No, Gil. 'Demon emperor' is more a title for him than his actual status. He was accepted as one because of his power and him being the strongest demon lord at the moment."
"Then if Karem is the one who urged Vasea to attack us, then is his objective to collect the souls of those who die in the war so he can become a true demon emperor?"
Maria's eyes flung wide. Regardless of who wins, the war was sure to be a bloody one. There would be deaths, and the souls of the fallen would be up for grabs. Karem was thought of as a fraud, for he wasn't actually a demon emperor. In Nicea, the conference of demon emperors, it was due to this status that Karem was ignored or even attacked by others. Naturally, he would desire to awaken as a demon emperor. The war Tempestas was in was an apt chance to do so. "You have a point, Gil. However, I will not cede one inch of ground to Karem, and neither will you. The two of us will absorb the souls of all those who take arms against us, and we will be the ones to grow stronger, not Karem. As such, here are your orders, Gil. I command you to grow stronger, even as a magnetar, so that your strength will be too much for Karem to handle. When the time comes, it will be your duty to kill him for my sake and Tempestas's."
Gil nodded. "Yes. I will do so per the promise I made to you as your partner. As your king and as the strongest of your followers, I will mow down any who plan to stop you with force and deter those who wish to attack you and the nation you have built."
"Excellent. Well, then, it seems everything is accounted for. Shall we head to our room?"
"Yes."
Maria gripped Gil's arm. "Tomorrow, we'll get Alyyiah and everyone else who died back."
"Yeah," Gil nodded. "Let's hope we get that happy ending."