89 The Danger Lurking Withou (1/2)
Turning the clock two years prior to Clay and Ryan's return…
In the Demon Realm, the Council Chamber of the Demon Emperor and his Generals.
On the exquisitely designed round table was a map of the whole Demon Realm and its Empire. Surrounding this table were people whose powers were not held back and emitted to the full.
”How fares the Human Empire threat's investigation?” Asked the Demon Emperor who sat at the center while two of the generals sat across each other on each side.
”The Swamplands still poses the greatest threat to any invasion by an army as we speak. With Hydra nesting there, even I cannot simply walk inside and get back out without worrying a bit. Seeing that the Empire has recently been taken over by the hero of Humanity, it should take years to stabilize every kingdom under it. We should take this opportunity to also summon our Hero and make him grow in power to support us.” Spoke the round-bodied demon that looked familiar. This one was Agamemkeru, Lord of the Swamps. He was the one who almost killed Clay when he was but a weakling.
”The Impassable Mountain Range still poses the greatest obstacle in any plan of invasion that the humans may crop up. However, just in case, we should also dispatch a good number of garrisoned soldiers there and create a fort to serve as eyes and first line of defense at the slim chance that they do invade using the Impassable Mountain Range.” The demon that emitted Sword Aura spoke and suggested as well.
”My territory will continue to watch out for the Dragonkin Empire's movements as well. To block and resist them if they try to enter our Realm.” The seductive woman emitting bloody aura reported.
”Castle security remains in tip-top shape and does not need any concern whatsoever. Even if we were invaded and they succeeded in breaching every layer of defense in each territory, they'll never succeed once they reach this Capital. I, Vulf, shall decimate them.” Vulf confidently said. This person was a werewolf, the most powerful in this Realm. He oversaw security inside the Imperial Capital of the Demon Realm.
”It's good that you are confident, however, our intelligence reports suggest that it is wise to summon our trump card in case the human's greed and cruelty rear its head again and point their spears to us. We don't want a repeat of history now do we?” Jacquelin, the Demon Emperor spoke. Her cold aura permeated the room and was in fact suppressing the auras the others were emitting.
It goes to show just how powerful this Vampire was, however, even with her strength, she understood that she could not defend the Demon Realm by herself. She needed the help of her people. Her and Vulf were the oldest of the demons in the Demon Realm and they experience history with the humans and other races firsthand. It was not a good experience.
”We cannot allow something like this to happen and so, as insurance, I have decided to heed the advice of our oracle to summon the Hero that our god has set for us.”
”!!!”
”What?!”
”Let me finish!” Jacquelin did not let them speak their minds and continued while her oppressive aura continued to suppress the rest. ”Once the hero is summoned, we will be able to focus solely on bolstering our defenses. We use the hero as a decoy and let him run amok everywhere to draw attention to him instead of us.
”This way, we will get more time to prepare for war. Once the war starts, the hero would come back and help us to defend after leveling up in his rampage. This is the most we can do for now.” She finished speaking and shut her mouth. That was signal for everyone else to post their questions or object if they really dared.
”How about we talk to the human emperor instead? Is it not possible that he'd be different? I her he's the hero?” The Bloody Witch, Tasha, suggested, however she felt that after she posted her question, the mood inside the room got worse that it already was. She asked, ”What?”
”That would have been possible. However, a certain someone once fought that very hero and killed him, or at least that's what he said, when in fact he survived. Now, he's powerful enough to threaten us and we can't come up to him and apologize for attempting to kill him. If we did that then that's just delivering the messenger to his death.
”If talking to him were possible, I'd also have done so myself. However, the chances are bigger that he'd lash out instead if he hears that we want to talk peace, when we did attempt to kill him long ago.” Jacquelin said. Her head hurt just from thinking of this problem that they could not resolve through diplomacy anymore. So, they had to resort to summoning a hero to defend themselves or at least to become a decoy until they were ready to defend themselves.
”Who was it?” Tasha continued to ask as her curiosity got the better of her. Her question gave Agamemkeru a headache as well as making him almost burst veins for continually reminding the Emperor of his errors. Giving up, he said, ”It was I, who did it. Long ago, he killed one of my pets and I killed him for it, or at least tried to, I failed and so we are at this predicament.”
Tasha wanted to laugh but she could not, after all, this was a serious issue with a serious consequence. She did her best to bottle it in.
With there no other questions and clarifications, Jacquelin decided. ”The summoning shall happen two days later. Tasha prepare every means of control magic that you can find, even if its enslavement magic.
”Ken, secure the perimeter of the summoning tower. As well as its entire structure. Put agents to monitor it at all times.
”Vulf, start reinforcing our defenses starting with the outer perimeter and expand it from there.
”I will go with Tasha and Ken to the summoning tower to meet with the hero that will be summoned. Let's pray that what we summon is someone we can control. Go!” Jacquelin finished giving commands and as soon as she did, everyone sprang into action.
Jacquelin stayed and continued to refine her plans for their welfare. If this goes south, they'll be facing not just the Human Realm but also the neighboring powers like the Dragonkin and even the Beastman Tribes. That would be something that's detrimental to the whole Demon race.
”We must succeed, for the survival of the outcasted races.” Jacquelin lamented. She recalled the history of the demon realm. In fact, the human realm was supposed to be one with the demon realm. The humans were part of them a time ago, when gods did not interfere with their lives. That's why, old entities like Jacquelin were apprehensive in trusting and relying on the gods' help.
The gods were merely immigrants. This world did not have gods some millennia ago. However, when they entered the fray, the dwarves got locked up in that forsaken continent, the elves distanced themselves from other races, and the dragons, the real dragons, disappeared.
The ”demons” were just one race, it was a collection of outcasts from various ancient and even hybrid of races that were not welcome in the traditional communities they came from.
The Vampires were ancient beings of immortality. They were not undead in this world; they were simply undying. However, they can still be killed. Their protectors, the werewolves, were once part of the Beastman tribes, the wolf tribe, however, they were outcasted for their aggressive and violent tendencies. When the vampires adopted them, somehow, they were granted the same undying trait through blood transfusions.