Thunder and lightning roared from the ceiling, occasionally coming down to strike a random spot on the ground. The entire citadel was under attack by a raging storm. The most dangerous one there was.
"The ships were destroyed and deported, all of them? What nonsense have you come to tell me!" Najeer yelled as he stormed back and forth on the highest place of the gold and white courtroom, lit with bright floating lights magnificently decorating the ceiling.
A mix of fear and arrogance covered the faces of the neatly dressed men and women clothed in black garments and silver armour as they stood at designated placements according to their respective rank. These, were the upper ranked generals, in charge of wars and invasion. The most powerful and high ranked of the Naqil army, you could say.
Right now their trained cold hearts were ramming through their chests as anyone who said or did the wrong thing, could lose their entire bloodline in the flash of an eye.
"I invested so much into this invasion. Can somebody tell me what the hell happened!" Emperor Najeer shouted, fury swirling in his crimson eyes. The black traditional head attire, which crowned his head flowed down to his lower back signify his authority as ruler.
Some bowed their heads in silence as response, while others turned their heads away unable look in the Emperor's direction. They had just lost a war to a World that had been flagged to be the weakest in the universe. A humiliation to an army that was supposed to be the mightiest in all the worlds.
Non dared to speak.
However from the burning furiosity in the Emperor's eyes. They knew better than to keep him waiting.
Vero Commander General of the Naqil army stepped forward from the line of armies. "There was dark magic-We had them, we were winning but—" Veros swallowed as his voice failed to carry the remaining sentences before biting his tongue and proceeding, "There was a strange force, it felt like I was being dragged away from the battleground. We didn't choose to abandon, we were forced out of Earth. Your majesty."
"Magic, Is that your excuse?" Emperor Najeer responded coldly as his eyes narrowed at Vero in a twisted cruel way. Disappointment.
It was as if an arrow struck Vero's chest shattering every armour from within. He had served at the Emperor's side for as long as he battled. And each time he witnessed how the Emperor led the legions to victory. He didn't waste time in his conquers too as he had never lost before. Not a world, not a realm.
Years ago, Emperor Najeer had set his mind to take total control of the Earth realm. Something even his great forefathers couldn't find a way to make possible, but somehow he did. The Emperor's magic was so powerful that he discovered how to manipulate portals to grow large enough to accomodate hundred of battleships, weapons and soldiers at a time. With the Empire's weapons and magical strength, Earth was expected to be an easy sweep. All Vero had to do was settle in every Earth world, kingdom, country, continent, and take over.
It went well at first, but then, Beastmen began to rebel, then the Mages. The last to rebel were Elves. The day the Fae rebelled was the day Qiras learnt that the three Earth worlds had found a sovereign leader for themselves. Something never seen before as Earthmen were very selfish creatures who fought for the most useless things. After the first Fae rebellion, Vero found himself fighting to take over earth, extending the invasion for five years. And just a week ago, he failed to capture earth. The very first time the Emperor trusted the commander General to lead an invasion independently, he failed.
"You know very well I do not take failure very well," Emperor Najeer said as he turned around to sit on his throne. "Matter of fact I detest it.".
"Your highness I take full responsibility. I deserve to be punished." Vero fell on one knee, bowing his head with a hand on his chest ready to accept his fate.
Najeer's dark red eyes intensified dangerously. "As if there's a chance you wouldn't. For now return back and finish the war. Anything is better than this ending."
Vero's spine tensed as the atmosphere in the hall stiffened
Najeer noticed the shift in the air and sighed. "What worse news is there other than your failure?"
"The Gates... It appears to not be responding to Earth's portal."
"It appears or, it does not ?" Emperor Najeer questioned as he bends his head to the side slighly in a mocking manner.
"It, does not," Veros corrects with a trembling voice. "Our soldiers can not return to Earth anymore."
Najeer only glared down at him in silence.
Tension in the entire citadel heightened hauntingly as the knowing scent of death hung in the air. The Emperor was a cold ruler, unforgiving and merciless. Him being relaxed was already a sign of an impending blood bath.The occupants of the room held their breaths. Silence was never a good thing.
Appearing before the Emperor himself was like a dance with fortune and danger. Please him and you would receive many riches and power, anger him and you would find yourself in a pit of horrible calamity. Everyone who had ambition battled to get close to him, but they also feared the thin line that separated them from ruin
To the surprise of everyone, the Emperor did not burst out in anger. He simply rested back in his chair and placed a hand on his forehead.
"Well, we are all in trouble." Said Najeer.