All I could perceive was one of Commander Timo's assistants sprawled on the floor, after her body was hurled against the wall with such might that it left an indentation. Her form was lifeless and blood streamed from her mouth. Despite not succumbing to death, she had lapsed into unconsciousness. The other assistant was not faring any better. Her diminutive frame was pinned beneath the colossal foot of a giant, gushing blood and struggling to draw breath. The colossal figure who had dropped her to the ground and launched the other against the wall with such power was none other than me.
The sole reason Commander Timo didn't sever my head was because he was preoccupied with safeguarding his own. The Commander of the Fourth Division, my father, stood up, his normally composed and dispassionate expression morphing into fury as he unleashed a colossal white snake that spewed fiery flames towards Commander Timo.
In mere seconds, as Commander Timo mentioned my mother in an unfavorable light, my eyes flashed emerald green, and before I knew it, I had effortlessly crushed his two assistants who had dared to block my way to him.
I raised my feet to stomp and conclude the life of the pathetic human woman beneath me, but then I sensed a touch on my cheek before my entire being was hurled to the other side of the room, smashing through the wall into the adjacent room. Upon reopening my eyes, preparing to resume my course of action, I beheld Commander Khato's fist that had thrown me. Once more, I catapulted through the air, but this time, I did not merely breach the wall of the building, that punch sent me outside the entire edifice and plunging into the ornate fountain in the courtyard.
"I comprehend the reason behind your actions and respect you for it, smudged man," Commander Khato stated. "However, humanity now faces challenging circumstances, and we cannot afford to lose additional soldiers, nor can we allow a Berserker to appear."
These were the final words I heard before Commander Khato's punch rendered me unconscious.
When Commander Khato finally re-entered the room from the breach created by the smudged man's body in the wall, the colossal snake had already vanished, and Commander Chestar was examining the condition of the two injured girls. Evidence of the fire persisted at the rear of the hall, where Commander Timo sat, though the flames had dissipated, the room's temperature still remained elevated. Meanwhile, Commander Arkan sat in his seat, acting as if nothing had occurred.
"What do you think you are doing in the presence of the Emperor?" the voice emanated from the man stationed to the right of the Emperor, clad in military attire unlike the Ten Divisions. This was Talosh, Commander of the Imperial Inner Guard.
His hand rested upon the hilt of his sword, preparing to draw it at any moment. What initially was a gathering aimed at discussing latest developments metamorphosed into a battle, albeit brief, remained an insult to the Emperor.
In sync with Commander Khato's return to the room, a group of men dressed in black with rifles burst into the council chamber. These were the Imperial Outer Guards. The moment they heard the sound of the wall breaking, they hastened to the room in which the Emperor was situated. They did not need to await instructions from their superior, as they had a single, unequivocal duty: to protect the Emperor.
The Imperial Outer Guards encircled the Emperor on all sides. At the fore of the guard stood Commander Talosh and Baltho, the Emperor's sons and leaders of the Imperial Inner and Outer Guards. The two brothers stationed their hands on their weapons, and their penetrating gazes fixated on the division commanders.
"Calm down, everyone. There is no need to escalate," the Emperor's voice resounded from behind the shield of guards. The commanders could not even catch a glimpse of him, obscured by the barrier of men.
"Commander Khato, what is the situation with Jrandreys? Please assure me you haven't vanquished one of our most pivotal war assets," he inquired. There were only three individuals of his sort in the whole world, one of whom was incapacitated, while the other was missing. Such a loss was not something they could afford to suffer.
"The smudged man is still breathing; he's simply unconscious," Commander Khato responded calmly, taking his seat.
"That's relieving to know," the Emperor sighed, before sternly bellowing, "Move aside. I can't see the division commanders due to your obstruction." The guards who had been obstructing the Emperor's line of sight shuffled, giving him a clear view as his anger became palpable.
"Both of you, elucidate your actions," he demanded, his gaze piercingly fixed on the Second Division Commander and the Fourth Division Commander.
"The Commander of the Second Division insulted my wife; I had to defend her honor," Commander Arkan explained.
"Regardless of what he said, it is unforgivable to exhibit your imaginary weapon in the presence of the Emperor." Talosh was incredibly irate, prepared to leap upon Arkan at any moment.
"I am aware that my actions were incorrect, Your Majesty, but I will forever stand behind my responsibility to defend my wife's honor, and I will repeat it if needed." As he concluded his statement, his gaze drifted towards Commander Timo.
"Sigh, I comprehend. I recognize that I can't criticize your course of action, but I implore you to modify the intensity of your attacks going forward."
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but I can't pledge such," he responded honestly.
"Sigh, Commander Timo, do you have anything to say?" The Emperor's voice resounded as he directed his gaze at the blue-haired man standing at the rear of the council. He was checking on his two assistants with Commander Chestar. He only turned to the Emperor when he heard his name. His face flushed with anger and he asserted, "I did not do anything. all I did was a minor joke, when this man and his son attacked me. His savage son crushed the bones of both my assistants who had stood in front of me, trying to shield me from that monstrosity, and I was forced to remain helpless due to the barrage of fire from Commander Arkan's imaginary weapon."
"The smudged man is not my son," Commander Arkan boomed, resolute in making his point crystal clear to everyone present.
"Oh really?! Whose son is he, then? Considering I am aware that your wife gave birth to him, and that, prior to his transformation, he bore an uncanny resemblance to you. Even his fiery red hair mirrors yours," Commander Timo asserted, dripping with sarcasm.
"The smudged man is not my wife's son either," Commander Arkan stated calmly, disregarding Commander Timo's sarcasm and emphasizing that his bloodline had no connection to that being.
"Being his biological parents does not make us the parents of that creature. All smudged men are children of the mother tree."
"yet he still..."
"Commander Timo, desist. You have had your say." The Emperor's anger was unbridled, as he reprimanded his commanders for their childish behavior, arguing amongst themselves rather than concentrating on the true peril that could spring upon them at any given moment.
"If there is nothing more to discuss, this meeting is hereby adjourned. You are all free to leave now." Without providing the opportunity for further discourse, the Emperor departed from the podium and made his way out of the council chamber, effectively concluding the meeting amongst the Commanders.