"YOU FAILED!!?!?"
The Skinwalkers shivered in fear at the sight of magic flaring furiously from the Masked One's body. His icy blue eyes pierced their souls, freezing the frightened creatures in place.
"It's not our fault, O Great Masked One!" one creature tried to explain. "Those cursed Spirits got in our way!"
"And yet you ran away, like cowards!" The Masked One yelled. "How can I call you beasts my minions?!"
"We apologize, Masked One!" Another Skinwalker bowed down to him. The others followed his lead.
This wasn't enough to make the Masked One forgive his minions.
"All of you..." he muttered. "GET OUT!" His magical aura intensified, sending chills up the spines of the Skinwalkers.
The Skinwalkers, wanting to avoid suffering a severe punishment for their failures, quickly scampered out of the chamber.
The Masked One heaved and huffed, his chest sizzling with frustration and anger. His teeth clenched with frustration.
"My Lord, may I offer some assistance in planning out next attack?" King Muzen, the only other Skinwalker in the room remaining offered.
The Masked one quickly composed himself. "Leave me, King Muzen. I've other...important matters to attend to." He motioned his hand to signal the Skinwalker's dismissal.
King Muzen bowed and exited the room.
The Masked One closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths. When he was calm again, he proceeded to enter another passage leading to an old, slightly rotted bridge made of rope and wood. Crossing it, he entered a dark cave illuminated by a crater of light in the center. Small, slippery snakes moved out of his path as he approached
"O Sultan of Serpents..." he bowed respectfully. "I bring to you bad news of our progress."
A horde of snakes slithered towards the crater and came together to form an undefined, piled mass of slippery, scaly reptiles.
"Hit a bump in the road, have you?" the mass spoke. "Explain."
"The raid..." the Masked One hesitated briefly. "It has failed. The Spirits have interfered. I now fear they have learned of our plans and might prepare a counterattack to foil our conquest."
"And why have you come to me, bearing this bad news?" The Sultan asked.
"I have come seeking advice for my next step." The Masked One answered. "O Sultan of Serpents, please lend me your guiding words so that you may be revived into this world once again." He recounted the events of the raid, with the Sutan listening carefully.
"Masked One, you have many, many flaws," the Sultan said. "How many times have I told you not to rush things?"
"Many many times, Sultan."
"And that, is exactly why your plans fall apart," the Sultan concluded. "You are more focused on getting what you want right away and not considering the steps you need to take. In short..." the Sultan paused, took a breath and then continued, "You lack foresight and strategic skills."
The Masked One felt a nerve get struck. "Do not criticize me for such theoretical flaws, Sultan. I took your advice and forged this plan with foresight and strategy this time!" He drew his scythe, it's sharp blade glistening against the pale orange light. "Why must you constantly-naagh!"
The Masked One felt an invisible power force him to his knees. He fight back against the force, but it was too strong. He gritted his teeth painfully, tried to stand himself up with his scythe. It was nothing but useless.
"Do not forget who is your master, Masked One," the Sultan growled. "I was the one who brought your bisected corpse back to life that night. I was the one who gave you everything you have now, when all of it was taken away from you in a fleeting moment."
"Great...Sultan..." the Masked One spoke through gritted teeth. "I apologize...for my...arrogance and...my defiance...!"
The Sultan released his hold on the Masked One. The Masked One stayed on his knees for a few more moments to catch his breath.
"Find another way to capture that woman and kill those farmers..." the Sultan ordered. "...Or else I'll take everything away from you all over again. And do not come back to me until you acquire success!"
The Masked One stood up. "Yes, Sultan."
The Masked One Quickly walked out. He was startled and scared. But he couldn't continue to fail the Sultan. He had to figure something out.
But, what should he do?