2256 - The Companion
Repeat
The door to the hall opened, and two people entered.
Step
Step
One of them was short, or rather, it could be said he was of average human height, wearing a black cloak that covered him from his shoulders to the ground. His skin wavered between white and blue, and the air around him was extremely cold. His face was smooth and handsome, appearing to be in his thirties, but his aura indicated he was no less powerful than the two people seated on the throne before him.
Beside him was a larger figure clad in black armor interlaced with blue Patterns, a wide smile on his face as he gazed at the swirling vortices and strange phenomena around the hall.
"Lord Glacion, welcome." At that moment, Omis chose to speak, though he did not rise from his seat. "I didn't expect that you would be the one to visit us during these pleasant military displays."
Clearly, the military displays were a cover to gather the army and intimidate the Endless Chaos Empire, as they were the only ones left in the sector posing any real threat anyway.
And Glacion's choice to come specifically today held no other significance than that he was arriving on behalf of the Grave Empire!
"...!" But Glacion did not speak; instead, a slight annoyance appeared on his face.
"Hmm? What offer did they send you with, Glacion, to keep you silent?" Omira showed a smile. "Don't tell me they want unconditional surrender or an attack on us, hehe."
"Heh..." Glacion sighed. "You two have chosen an extremely strange option, without a doubt. All you had to do was declare allegiance and ask for more benefits, or declare refusal and prepare for whatever was coming. Why did you decide to kidnap the messenger?"
"Haha, 'kidnap' is a strong word." Omis pointed toward one corner. "He's sitting there, sleeping, eating, training, listening, living like a king after admitting he's just a servant. So where's our reward for giving him this experience?"
"I don't understand you two..." Glacion furrowed his brows. "I know the Syndicate visited you just as it visited me, and I know they threatened, promised, and turned all problems into chaff in your eyes. But you're not children—not to the extent you appear to be, at any rate. You had time to weigh the consequences and benefits and choose a side."
Then he furrowed his brows even more. "So what exactly is happening here?"
On the thrones before him, two young men with smooth skin and curly black hair sat there, beginning to glare at him with anger. Clearly, those words had displeased neither of them.
"After weighing the consequences and benefits and thinking it over carefully, you decided to become a follower and take an oath, Glacion?" Omis looked down with pity.
"The great Glacion, who carved a place for himself beside us and resisted pressure from Zargul or any external force for millions of years... was sent to lead negotiations on behalf of a power that hasn't even lasted a thousand years." Omira shook his head.
"..." Glacion sighed as he saw the brothers' agitation, then shook his head. "I did not come here to lead any negotiations."
"Then what?" Omis showed a strange smile. "Did you come as a messenger of love and peace? Do you wish us well?"
"What I found from the Syndicate was nothing compared to what we witnessed, Glacion!" As for Omira, he rose from his seat. "Your surrender in such a humiliating manner placed immense pressure on us; it could be said that you are the cause of this situation."
Then he pointed toward the military parade.
A parade involving nearly four thousand fleets from the wings of the Grave Empire!
The Guardians are not fools, nor were they born yesterday.
The Endless Chaos Empire cannot gather more than a thousand fleets, so they are losing on this point.
Equipment and troop numbers? Losing.
The available quantity of Pearls and the use of The Gate to strike deep into enemy territory? Losing.
Intelligence and special forces? Losers.
The higher power? The Grave Empire can summon Glacion and Hedrick, and they have ties to the Six Greats in Sector 101, so they are losers too.
They didn't need Servon to tell them this, nor did they need Glacion to look at them with pity now.
The Grave Empire, backed by Lord Robin, who turned out to be backed by the Cosmic Elder… had become a force that could not be opposed.
But the Syndicate wanted them to stand against it!
The Grave Empire might surpass them in almost everything, but not in the way the Syndicate does.
The Syndicate's power is terrifying.
Their higher powers are immeasurable.
Marlik the Butcher alone could reap the necks of all the Guardians involved in this mess from both sides, even if they helped each other.
And the information they had…
Omis also stood up and shouted, "Damn you, Glacion, damn you! You chose the easy way and bowed your head. If you were still free, this kind of show and pressure wouldn't have been brought upon us, and we could have supported each other!"
“It’s about priorities.” Glacion shrugged slightly. “I built my empire to enjoy peace, resources, and tranquility later on, and I’ve chosen what will preserve these priorities for me now. If you two wish to remain in conflict and fall into the abyss of the Cosmic Elder and that person, then you have all my respect and esteem.”
“…” Omis gritted his teeth. “Did you come today to anger us even more, Glacion?”
Omira pointed at him. “Speak your mind, then!”
“I already did the moment I walked in.” Glacion shook his head. “I didn’t come to lead any negotiations. They paid me half a billion Pearl just to come here as an escort.”
“An escort?” Omis furrowed his brows deeply.
BOOOOOOOOOOM
At that moment, a massive explosion erupted from the side, sending thick dust flying everywhere.
“What in the hell is going on?!” Omis placed a hand over his nose and waved the other, causing the dust to vanish completely.
What appeared was something astonishing.
The wall next to Servon was no longer there; instead, the vast sky, purple clouds, and illusory moons stretched out behind it. As for Servon himself, he was cowering in his chair, staring at Holak in terror.
Under the surprised and questioning gazes of everyone, Holak turned toward Omis and Omira with very calm expressions, then pointed behind him and said:
"The place needed some ventilation."