As Thomas patiently awaited his moment to take action, rumors spread like wildfire through the demon realm. The Sonad Family's demonic forces continued their relentless plan to attack the Earth's defenses, and unsettling whispers even suggested that they had garnered the support of influential figures from the top hundred demon clans.
Aware of these nefarious intentions, the Violet Moon Demons acted swiftly, dispatching their spies to gather intelligence. Every morsel of information was meticulously relayed to their empress, who in response, mobilized vast resources to forge weapons and armor for her dedicated soldiers.
Over the course of two intense weeks, Thomas covertly navigated the intricate passageways of the opulent Violet Moon Imperial Palace. His mission: to unearth details about the Sonad Empire's strategies and, more importantly, to glean insights into their formidable empress. Today, he strolled down the palace's ornate halls, blending seamlessly into the shadows, when the hushed voices of two guards caught his attention.
"Can you believe it? The empress is convening a war council," one guard whispered with a mixture of awe and disbelief.
"Indeed," his comrade replied, sounding equally astonished. "My girlfriend, who serves at her majesty's imperial abode, shared this news firsthand. It's not just the demon lords of our sector attending; experts from the innermost domains, such as the Whitemane Monarch, Granny Vesper, and the Sloth Princess, have been summoned as well."
"So, the empress is making a rare public appearance?" Thomas mused to himself. The prospect of the empress recruiting powerful allies against the Sonad Empire stirred hope within him, as this could potentially align with his own goals.
Extending his senses, Thomas perceived the distant presence of the empress in a secluded courtyard deep within the palace grounds. Surprisingly, there seemed to be minimal security in the area, perhaps because few threats in the mortal world posed any danger to a demon empress of her caliber. It was widely believed that not even the implosion of an entire planet could extinguish the life of a demon emperor.
Contemplating his next move, Thomas discreetly positioned himself behind a balcony when he felt a burning sensation in his pocked.
Moments later, a notification blinked on the Sin Shard's display, indicating a new message. Intrigued, Thomas accessed it, prompting the Shard to transmit a voice message directly into his mind.
Time passed in contemplative silence, and then a gleam of recognition sparkled in Thomas's eyes. The message was an invitation—for none other than the esteemed Demon Lord Erak'von and his trusted general.
....
The following day, Thomas and Lulu took great care in selecting appropriate attire before setting off for the Violet Imperial City. While on official business, Thomas opted for the convenience of the shuttle service rather than relying on shadowy stealth.
During the journey, Thomas observed more than fifty Demon Lords also en route to the city. A path naturally cleared as they approached, the common demons acknowledging their presence with deference. Thomas couldn't help but offer a wry smile.
Upon reaching the station, Thomas couldn't ignore the heightened security measures in place. It was evident that the impending war council had raised concerns.
A tall, one-horned demon approached Thomas and Lulu, bowing respectfully. "Milord, please present your credentials."
They nodded in response and raised their Sin Shard.
The demon glared the Shard closely. For a brief moment, his expression shifted to one of curiosity, but it swiftly returned to neutrality. "Demon Lord Erak'von and General Morak, the shuttle will depart in twenty minutes. Please proceed to the lounge, where you may await alongside the other lords."
The lounge, a resplendent chamber bathed in opulent hues of deep crimson and ebony, boasted a grand, vaulted ceiling intricately adorned with glistening golden filigree. Plush velvet couches and elaborately gilded chairs invited lords and ladies of the demonic court to recline in luxury, while crystal chandeliers diffused a warm, ambient glow across the expanse of polished marble floors.
Amid the luxurious confines of the lounge, casual conversations ebbed and flowed like the currents of a vast river. Two demons, their appearances as diverse as their respective clans, sat comfortably on a plush velvet sofa.
Dressed in ornate robes adorned with runes, Lord Drak'Tor leaned back, swirling a glass of crimson-hued elixir. His deep, rumbling voice carried a hint of amusement as he addressed his companion, Lady Seraphine, a demon of the bird clan who had feathers of iridescent black and violet and a long beak.
"Have you heard, Seraphine? The Whitemane Monarch is rumored to have brought an army of ice puppets with him," Lord Drak'Tor mused, a sly grin tugging at his lips.
Lady Seraphine laughed lightly, the tinkling sound like wind chimes in a gentle breeze. "Ah, yes, Ice Puppets. Well, it seems he's taken 'chilling presence' to a whole new level, hasn't he?"
Their laughter echoed in the opulent lounge, mingling with the ambient chatter of fellow demons who discussed alliances, strategies, and the unfolding intrigues of the demon realms.
Only Thomas seemed to desolate of his surroundings as he sat calmly and played an classic platform on his wrist computer while all the guests seemed to ignore him as if he didn't even existed.
Shortly after, Thomas and a total of a hundred and seven demon lords boarded the shuttle for the Imperial City.
Thomas who sat at the far back inconspicuously had been scanning the whole shuttle and storing the data of every passage on his wrist computer.
Once he and Lulu got to the city, the whole group was guided straight to the palace through a tunnel behind the station.
Arriving at a large room, the first thing Thomas caught sight of was the tall throne in at the end of the large square table.
The throne was purely silver with purple designs of a dozen crescent moons.
The empress sat upon her throne like an ethereal vision brought to life. Her presence commanded the room, radiating an aura of majestic authority that seemed to defy the mortal realm. She was an embodiment of elegance and power, her form draped in flowing robes of deepest violet, adorned with silver filigree that traced delicate patterns across the fabric.
Long, flowing locks of violet hair cascaded down her back, framing a face of otherworldly beauty. Her skin, porcelain pale, seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly luminescence, casting an enchanting glow that emphasized her high, regal cheekbones and the captivating depth of her violet eyes.
The empress's eyes held a profound wisdom, yet concealed mysteries that begged to be unraveled. Her lips, adorned with a subtle hue of amethyst, curved into a serene and enigmatic smile, betraying neither warmth nor malice.
Upon her head, she wore a diadem encrusted with amethyst gemstones that glittered like stars in the night sky. Her slender fingers, adorned with ornate silver rings, rested gracefully on the arms of her throne, exuding an air of serene confidence and subtle intrigue. She had a pair of short horns that were barely visible and long ears with violet hair at the tips.
Her presence was both enchanting and formidable, a living embodiment of the realm she ruled.
Thomas gasped as his eyes hovered over the person on that throne. For a moment it was like his heart stopped and he even forgot to breath.
[That's it! It's her. my sister... I'm so glad to see you once again.]
Without even asking, Kez screamed in confirmation to their guesses but that was not why Thomas got so shocked.
The reason behind his shock was not because of her being Ganak's sister nor her beauty while he still her one of greatest beauties. Amazingly enough the beauty didn't come from her body nor her facial features but from the majestic presence she exuded from her bones. And believe him, he who had been before some of the most otherworldly gorgeous men and women through his accumulated memories could confirm that.
Her facial features were nothing like any demon he had seen and were much closer to a human and the most surprising was the mysterious vibrations that didn't belong to a demon.
In truth, it was her demonic energy that surprised him, a colorless stream of water that shining with the moonlight and most impressive of all, devoid of sin. This is the first time Thomas has witnessed a demon that has suppressed it's demon nature and corruption of sin force to this point.
His eyes then went to her neck, to a diadem she wore. Others couldn't see it, but to Thomas, the sheer power of the laws it exuded was quite noticeable.