The candlelight flickered, casting eerie shadows along the aged stone walls of an underground sanctum. A dozen figures, clad in midnight robes, gathered around an obsidian table. Their faces, hidden beneath deep hoods, turned toward the central figure, whose golden mask gleamed under the dim light.
"The Hollow Emperor," the masked leader murmured, his voice deep, like distant thunder. "He walks the world once more."
A ripple of whispers passed through the gathered figures. Some in awe, others in fear.
One of them, a tall man with gaunt features, stepped forward. "For centuries, we have waited for the return of the true Hollow Emperor. But this… Shadow… He is an imposter."
Murmurs of agreement filled the chamber.
"If he is truly the Hollow Emperor, he must prove it," another voice, softer yet venomous, interjected. "If he is not… then we shall erase him."
The masked leader raised a gloved hand, silencing the room. "Then we shall summon him. If he does not answer… we will drag him from the darkness."
The air in the room grew heavier. The Forgotten Lords had made their move.