The guests of the palace bustled with movement making their way to the luxurious dining room. The room was decorated with magnificent designs carved into the wood walls. The chandeliers were gold and lit up with electric light. Guests chatted amongst themselves mingling in the middle of the room. Standing in the corner with his wife was the Chief of the Pride. He had a goblet of wine in his hands. He was dressed in a fine black silk robe. He had three guards standing behind him and his wife. She wore a matching black silk gown, her tail flicked back and forth behind her. "We should mingle?" She suggested. Chief scoffed, "Who would even speak to us? We are merely here to be seen and present my love" he said drinking from his goblet. "You're such a bore sometimes" she sighed.
Unlike the chief the Nobles used this opportunity to sew discontent and conniving plans to elevate them. They were seen spreading out talking to other leaders of rich towns. The other higher ups were politicians and people who held some form of public office with law, or industry. They were receptive, showing signs of support with a shake. They were all following the orders of their leader. The head of the nobles was a Bird Folk who resembled a woodpecker. His name was Baron Orion he was in the textile business making clothes for all in the realm. Had quite a slave farm doing most of the labor along with his loom business in town. He wasn't just known for his clothes, but his quick wit. He was very intelligent and lacked any filter. When he saw something he wanted he achieved it.
And right now he made a B-Line to Whistler who was sitting at a table with his men lining the wall behind him. He was alone and the table was set for only him. He saw Orion and rolled his eyes as he took a seat opposite him. "Whistler" he greeted, crossing a leg over his right knee. "Orion. What do you want?" Whistler asked. "Simple. To talk to an old friend" Orion lied. Whistler took a sip of wine. "We're not friends Orion never have been. Merely have an understanding when it comes to business. So again why grace me here at my table for all eyes to see?" Whistler asked. "Ah yes all eyes here can see us sitting together? You sure that's not what I wanted? Best we meet here as old friends and talk freely yes?" Orion snickered and took a sip of wine. "Your annoying me. What the fuck do you want?" Whistler was now losing patience. "Okay I'll stop messing with you" he chuckled. "Join the nobles in taking back the realm? You're the richest man in the Land of Winged Things. We could use your support" Orion explained. "No you couldn't use my support Orion? You need it! You damn nobles are the worst kind of sort. I wouldn't trust you all with my children. I will not support you. Things are fine for me business wise. I wouldn't like it being stalled under a new change of regime. So scurry along Orion and tell the rest of the snakes that you do not have support from the Divine City. I have no doubt those gossiping hens will be waiting to hear how this went" he waved him away. Orion stood up and before leaving felt like he had to say one last thing. "You know that arrogance of yours will be the death of you Whistler. Best pick a side!" He warned before walking away. 'I am and it's my side!' He thought, staring at Orion's backside as he walked away mingling into the crowd.
Old Lord sat with his sons not talking to anyone at the party. He scanned the room looking for anything out of the ordinary. He studied the nobles and who they were speaking to making mental notes. He pushed his chi senses out enhancing his hearing listening to a Noble named Orion. He chatted with two bird folk higher ups. "What do you say can we have your support?" Orion asked them. "You have to understand Baron Orion, we are worried of backlash from Chirp. We can't have him taking our business if word got out?" One said, making Orion nod. "No of course not. That is why you will be under our protection. We will make sure you do not suffer any loss. We want you to thrive, you see. But we can't have this king in power anymore you understand right?" They nodded. "Good I'll have someone meet you in two days time with further instructions'' he then left and walked away. 'So nobles weren't given the same courtesy from the Sword King. They will make their own opportunity it seems? They want power for themselves. And none will agree on who should take the crown. They will plunge the realm into civil war leading to truly nothing' the Old Lord thought. 'The realms are already at war and seek to bring more destruction with it' he stroked his beard. "We have snakes amongst us" he whispered out loud. The boys kept their eyes focused on just scanning the room careful not to react. "Who?" One son asked. "Orion. He and the nobles are putting together a coup. This will complicate things if the Sword King wants order here" he took a sip of his wine. "So at least we can prepare, '' the other son suggested. The Old Lord nodded, "Indeed. First thing we should do is make an alliance with Pride. They are the only ones I can believe would receive the same offer as us" he looked at the Chief.
"What makes you say that father?" The Old Lord nodded, "Simple military power. Me and the Old Chief have been adversaries for years but I respect him nonetheless. He and I could come to an agreement that benefits us both. And knowing him like I do. We can agree that the Nobles are not needed. Our combined forces we could take over the realm easily. Chirp would be another ally in this scheme he would have to be. The Sword King would want us to become allies that's why he would reach out to Pride" one son pondered these words. "With the Human Citadel and Pride we would actually bring peace?" The Old Lord nodded. "I will make the arrangements for a sit down. Doing it here would draw suspicion all know our pasts" he sipped his win scanning the room again to eavesdrop.
The room became a cacophony of voices all chatting and laughing. Soon the King walked in, blanketing the room in silence. All bowed as he passed. He took a seat at a long but very large table filled with succulent meats of his people and races of the realm. Among them were specially cooked Soul Cores. He had pitchers of wine next to his bulbous chair. He gestured for all to sit. Guards closed the doors gently so as to not raise any suspicions as all eyes were focused on him now.
"Thank you all for coming. We have had a rich year haven't we. Our alliance stands and we all remain true friends under one crown. I know some of you haven't had the best of times. I have seen it in your dreams. In your thoughts some have doubts on my rule here. But remember that we are heading to a better tomorrow under my guidance. This war with the realms will soon end. We have fought against realm incursions from the Dreaded Faction. Our fight with them have been fierce. Thanks to the Pride and the Human Citadel. Along with my own Brigade have shed blood for this alliance. We are all doing our part and I see nothing but a bright future under the Void Factions guidance. He then held out his arms as the people then clapped without any enthusiasm keeping up pretenses. "Now I have had our chef prepare something amazing so please enjoy. Chef what have you made for us this evening?" He said, as a chicken in an apron walked into the room from a hall leading to the kitchen. "We have prepared something rustic this evening. Tonight the appetizer is a nice garden salad with a balsamic and lemon vinaigrette mixed with different greens and radishes. Entree is sautéed beef tips with caramelized onions, roasted asparagus, and wild rice. For dessert a nice chocolate mousse" he bowed and the waiters began to bring in the salads first. Everyone dug into the appetizer thus beginning the feast.
The appetizer went well and all ate with delight and sipping wine. Soon the second course came in. All ate talking to their table mates none the wiser that the food they were eating was laced with something. The Emerald king seemed to be in no hurry as he ate meat after meat and even ate the bones crunching down on them sucking out the marrow. He gobbled down a Soul Core as it burst in his mouth sending a surge of chi. He kept his eyes fixed on his guests waiting to see the first domino to fall.
It didn't take long during dessert when a noble slumped forward grabbing his neck. His body became engulfed in energy. An aura of chi that was being sucked from his body rising to the chandelier that began to glow green. Not long after him more and more guests fell forward with the same symptoms. The Chief, the Old Lord and his sons all fell victim but were able to repress their chi to remain in their bodies. They fumbled to take an elixir of some kind from their belts being seasoned cultivators they were always ready for poison. Chief gave one to his wife before she too fell victim.
Sadly neither had helped the victims fully. Whatever they suffered from the effects did not wear off. Orion fell victim and hunched forward gasping for air as his body shriveled into a mummified woodpecker. The room was then surrounded with plates of thick metal that jutted out of the ground lining the walls. Closing them off from the palace. Guards of the Chief and Old Lord jumped forward to protect their leaders. Only guest unaffected was Whistler Chirp. He had not eaten anything. He was warned of this plot and planned accordingly. He stood behind his mercenary men calm and composed as chaos erupted and the panic started. The floor then lit up into a magic circle the chi from the chandeliers shot towards the king enveloping his body in a green aura. His eyes started to glow as he kept on eating and eating feeling the chi overflow inside him. His heart pumped and he was filled with excitement. 'My time has come!' He said eating faster and faster. All the energy he was collecting all went to a shattered soul core that he was focusing on rebuilding bigger and better. 'MUST EAT!' his mind kept saying to him. Con Man showed up from the shadows on the balcony slowly walking and was met by Dexter.
The two stared at one another watching the sight below them. The fat king enveloped in light brightening the room in a green hue. "Are you going to do your duty or not? Get down there and kill them like my King commanded!" He shouted over the loud screams of panic. Con Man stared at him and then drove a saber into his gut. He fell to his knees and stared at Con Man, "why?" He asked. Con Man grabbed his head, "Cause your king is wrong about one thing? He will not be ascending tonight!" Dexter, bleeding out, looked over as the room became engulfed in green light. Then it started to dim as the circle failed and the mechanism stopped taking peoples chi. All who suffered the poison and were still endangered to die from losing their life force.
King stopped eating, his eyes bulging out under his mask. He blankly stared at everyone. He looked up at the chandeliers and saw them not working; the security systems were completely gone. From outside the door screams could be heard. A fight was taking place and the guards were losing. The room then became engulfed in darkness creeping over the walls. From the shadows stepped out a man in full Green Brigade armor. Guests all stared at him as he was front and center for all to see. Under his visor was glowing crimson eyes. "You are fatter than I imagined" he said staring at the king who looked dumbfounded. "Who the fuck are you?" The king asked. Red Demon removed his helmet, throwing it down revealing a young man wearing an Oni half mask. "I'm the real King Slayer! You can call me the Red Demon!" He manifested two red katanas and shot forward at the king. The last thing Dexter saw was the king under attack. And he was powerless to stop it. "Good…" was his last words.