"Your majesty! It is absolutely impossible to retrieve the territories of the Gojin Empire!"

"That's right that's right! It is absolutely impossible!"

"Yes! For the past eight years, the Grand Duke of Gojin has been organizing vast groups of malicious fables and has been dispatching them all around the empire's territories so as to prevent any invasions and defend against any intruders. Many assault troops who were stationed there by the other empires in the past few months were immediately wiped out. There isn't a single hole for us to sneak in through!"

"On top of that, a few of our scouts have reported that the younger brother of the Lazruche Empire's Emperor has been spotted going in and out of Gojin constantly with the potential accompaniment of soldiers and artillery. If our suspicions are true, and he is assisting in the Grand Duke's motives, then this plan to take over the Gojin Empire will definitely fall through. It's impossible! No! It's impossible beyond impossible!"

The two Celestial Advisors stumbled amongst their twisted feet as they scrambled to run after their Emperor who strode a few steps ahead down the wooden halls of the Celestial Palace. It was a sight completely unbefitting of the error-less reputation the people of the Aolan Empire retained. Known for their grace and seemingly unearthliness as well as their residence up in the sky, they had long been referred to as "celestials". Compared with such remarks, the huffing and puffing of the two brightly red-faced advisors were complete contradictions of said reputation.

"We will continue as planned," the emperor declared, still flowing down the palace corridors with strong purpose. A look of pure determination marred his face, blue flames dancing within his eyes. To the two advisors who had grown up alongside the emperor-- along with one other-- ever since they were children, such a look was entirely understandable. Even so, the two could not risk the possible damnation of their childhood friend and their home.

"Suwan, this is too risky. No matter how strong we-- the Aolan Empire-- may be, and you-- the child of the Yinjilang family-- may be, going against two whole empires will certainly bring us down. On top of that, it's the Gojin and Lazruche Empire we're talking about. Although the Gojin Empire is absent of a proper emperor, the Grand Duke is insanely strong, smart and let's not forget the part where he isn't even human in the first place. The Lazruche Empire is no different. Even if it's only the prince and his troops acting, that's a whole horde of monsters waiting to tear us apart at any moment. Think about all the people we'll lose, Suwan. Be a wise ruler. Please."

Without a moment of hesitation, the emperor sharply repeated, "We will continue."

Suwan Yinjilang was young. Unlike the other standing empires, he hadn't had an extra three years to refine his imperial skills and build up experience. Coronated as the Aolan Emperor overnight-- having abruptly been forced to succeed the throne after his father was killed eight years ago-- he was naive and clueless, so he had always taken the words of his advisors to heart, performed with utmost sincerity, and spent sleepless nights to formulate the most beneficial outcomes for the sake of his empire. 

This time, however, was different. There were talks of major mineral and magic crystal mines recently manifesting all over the lands of Gojin. Anyone who got their hands on these would inexplicably rise in both wealth and power which was why all the other empires were rushing to recklessly send in their personnel into the walls of Gojin, each trying to reach the mines before the other.

But, the two advisors were fully aware that, under the guise of taking over the mines, there was a totally different reason as to why their emperor was in such a hurry to capture Gojin. For the past three months, there had been countless rumors circulating across the continent, whispering of his return. If this were true, and the former emperor of the Gojin Empire whom the six other standing empires-- having united-- ruthlessly killed off had indeed returned, there was all the more reason for Suwan to personally travel down to the surface to make sure of this fact and take over Gojin so as to prevent him from coming back to power.

"Suwan... You... You don't actually think that Daewee's back do you?"

He immediately came to an abrupt stop in his graceful steps, long brown hair fluttering wistfully in the cold breeze. Slowly turning his head, Suwan growled, his composure cracking, "Nuanxin, there was no body."

"There may have been no body but considering all the wounds that were afflicted on him by you and the other five, there's no way he survived! Didn't you stab him through the heart? No human would be able to live with such fatal holes in each of his major organs," Nuanxin protested.

"It's been eight years. If his body wasn't found after all this time, it probably rotted and decomposed into dirt or was eaten up by the vultures," the other advisor chimed in.

"And besides, how can a dead person come back to life? There's no such thing. Not even Daewee himself could've done something like that."

"So there's absolutely no way he's back! Impossible!" the two shouted.

Suwan silently stared at his two advisors who patiently stood, expectantly waiting for him to call off the invasion. It seemed that his childhood friends still had the bad habit of insisting that anything outside of their comprehension was impossible.

Shattering their expectations, Suwan spun around with an air of dignity, flicking his long sleeves before commanding, "Quit being such babies and call in the troops".