The grand banquet hall was the epitome of light and luxury, and the celestials dressed in their finest apparel. At the far end of the hall, the Supreme Heavenly Lord, sat on a luxurious chair, staring emotionless at the celestials; his silver hair reflected the light of the many lanterns that were suspended from the roof. The mood was quite festive—indeed, everyone seemed to be having the time of their lives. Thana, hidden among the crowd, watched the female servant she had been tailing for the past few days.
As the Supreme Heavenly Lord rose from his throne, the entire hall fell silent. Everybody's eyes were on him when he was about to launch into his speech, which everyone was eager to hear.
"I'd like to extend my welcome to all of you tonight," he declared confidently, his speech clear and strong enough to carry across the huge hall. "We come together to honor the harmony and peace we have achieved in the heavenly world. What's more, we gather to reaffirm our connection to protect this world against any threats, whether internal or external."
The audience listened intently, nodding in agreement. Even Thana, who was primarily focused on the suspicious servant, felt the weight of his words.
Suddenly, a figure appeared through the crowd from the far side of the hall. Before anyone could react, the figure raised its hand and released a surge of dark energy targeted directly at the Supreme Heavenly Lord. The energy crackled with malevolent energy, hurtling toward him like a dark spear.
Everyone gasped and time stood still for a brief moment. Just as the attack was going to reach out to the Supreme Heavenly Lord a shining light exploded.
One of his most loyal aides, a celestial named Kaelen, sprang forward, raising his hand to intercept the dark energy. The force of the assault was repelled by an invisible wall that Kaelen had erected and the energy hit back and spilled out as sparks that disintegrated into the ether.
Confusion filled the room.
"Attack!" someone shouted.
The celestials in the hall began to panic, scrambling toward the exits. The serene banquet turned into a frantic mass of people trying to flee, their glittering robes swirling in the confusion.
However, before anyone could rush to the exits, the opposing block every possible escape. Armed with weapons imbued with dark magic, they surrounded the hall, trapping everyone within.
The celestial guards swiftly rushed to the side of the Supreme Heavenly Lord, forming a protective barrier around him. Their weapons raised, and they glared menacingly at the intruders, prepared to defend the Supreme Heavenly Lord at any cost.
From the ranks of the opposing army, a figure stepped forward—a tall man with piercing eyes and a smirk that distorted his face in an almost monstrous way. He advanced with confidence, each step measured as he approached the throne where the Supreme Heavenly Lord was stationed.
"Well, well," the man sneered, his voice oozing with scorn.
"The great Supreme Heavenly Lord, surrounded by his faithful servants. How quaint."
Not far from the throne, arms crossed over his chest. The atmosphere was filled with tension; their anxious breathing and shuffling feet were the only noise as everyone awaited the next development.
"You thought you could reign forever, did you?" the man continued, directly addressing the Supreme Heavenly Lord. "Sitting high on your throne, untouched by the suffering and struggles of those below you. But your time is over."
The Supreme Heavenly Lord met his gaze, his expression calm and unyielding, showing no trace of fear or disturbance. "You speak of suffering, yet your actions brought chaos upon this world," he replied, his voice unwavering. "You threaten peace for your gain, not for the good of others."
The man laughed, a harsh, grating sound. "Peace? Is that what you call it? Enforcing your will on the rest of us? I am here to show that you are not invincible."
The leader of the opposing army raised his hand, and with a single motion, his troops surged forward. The hall descended into turmoil as battle broke out, weapons clashing and forces colliding in flashes of light and darkness.
The celestial guards their weapons glinting in defense of the Supreme Heavenly Lord. The celestials who were unarmed tried to take cover, some using their own magic to create barriers, while others huddled together, terrified by the sudden violence.
Thana, still hidden in the crowd, quickly assessed the situation. She could see that the Supreme Heavenly Lord remained calm, his expression unchanged even as chaos erupted around him. Kaelen was by his side, deflecting any attacks that came too close, his skill evident in every move he made.
However, the enemies were well-prepared, and their numbers exceeded than anticipated. The celestial guards found themselves pushed back, and it became evident that this attack had been carefully coordinated.
Thana's gaze shifted to the female servant she had been following. The servant had slipped away during the commotion, disappearing into the crowd. Thana's suspicion was confirmed—this was the moment the traitors had been waiting for.
Determined not to let the servant get away, Thana began to weave her way through the panicked crowd, keeping low to avoid drawing attention. She had to find the servant and stop whatever she was planning next.
Meanwhile, the battle raged. The leader of the opposing army moved closer to the Supreme Heavenly Lord, his smirk growing wider as he watched his forces gain ground. "Your guards can't hold them off forever," he taunted. "Soon, you'll fall, just like all the others who stood in my way."
But the Supreme Heavenly Lord remained silent, his eyes calm, watching the battle unfold with a quiet intensity.
Thana finally spotted the female servant slipping through a side door, her movements quick and calculated. Without a second thought, Thana followed, slipping through the door just as it closed behind the servant. She stepped into a poorly lit hallway and the noise of the fight was gradually getting distant.
The servant advanced rapidly, her footsteps reflecting down the hallway. Thana followed at a distance, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew that this was a critical moment—whatever the servant was planning could tip the balance of the battle.
The hallway led to a secluded chamber deep within the palace. The servant entered, leaving the door slightly ajar. Thana crept closer, peering through the crack in the door. Inside, she saw the servant on his knees bowed in front of a mysterious shining item—a crystal glowing with sinister power.
Without hesitation, Thana entered the room and quickly reached for a small dagger she had placed under her robe. "You better stop there," she said, speaking in a low-pitched tone, yet it carried authority.
The servant whipped around, her eyes wide with shock. "You!" she hissed, her hand moving toward the crystal.
But Thana was faster. She charged forward, knocking the servant down and causing the crystal to skid across the floor. The servant quickly got back on her feet, her eyes filled with rage.
"You don't understand!" her voice trembling with anger. "He doesn't deserve to rule!"
Thana shook her head, her grip tightening on the dagger. "And you think this is the answer? Destroying everything? Hurting innocent people?"
The servant's face twisted with rage, but before she could respond, Thana moved swiftly, disarming her and pinning her to the ground. "It's over," Thana said, her voice cold and steady.
The servant struggled, but it was clear that she was no match for Thana's strength and skill. With the servant subdued Thana retrieved the crystal and quickly wrapped it in a cloth, neutralizing its dark energy.
Back in the banquet hall, the battle was reaching its peak. The enemy had driven the celestial guards around the throne and the rebellion's leader was standing at the foot of the Supreme Heavenly Lord's throne.
"It's over." The leader sneered the words, his eyes glinting with victory.