287 THE INVITATION TO DIPLOMACY
"Aaargh!" Argun screamed as his armor disintegrated, and his flesh burned. His charred form collapsed to the ground, seemingly lifeless, beneath the smoldering cage.
"Lord Argun! No…" Harith cried, horror-stricken.
As the smoke and ash cleared, a figure began to stir.
Argun's blackened form shifted and grew, his body regenerating before their eyes. Flesh knitted itself back together, and his aura flared with renewed vigor.
"Ahhh… Man Tier," Argun declared, his voice triumphant and resonant.
The demons fell to their knees, chanting in unison. "Long live King Argun!"
Upon achieving Man tier, Argun automatically ascends to the throne of the demon army, provided there was no demon stronger to challenge him.
Lord Argun managed a crooked smile. He had come a long way.
Argun had achieved what Lord Bael never could. Delivering his people from Sodom's ruins, conquering Debauchery City and ascending to divinity, a master of Man Tier Cakra magic.
Turning his gaze to Agathae, Argun's lips curled into a pleased smile. "Agathae, from this day forward, you shall be my advisor. Now go wash yourself and change to a fitting garb."
"But he's a human! How can he be responsible as your advisor?" Harith protested bitterly.
Argun silenced him with a commanding glare. "Agathae carries the soul of Lord Bael within him. He is one of us."
Harith paled and whispered, "That is precisely the reason he cannot be trusted! If Lord Bael revives, he could challenge your reign!"
Argun considered the advise thoughtfully as Agathae walked away.
Lord Argun wasn't the traitorous kind, and he never thought about betraying Lord Bael when he was alive. But fortune shone on him and has given him the position of King of the demons.
And Bael is dead and he's now king. That changes a lot.
Being King of the demons was something that he would not give up once he had tasted the power. Greed was a sin that he would willingly indulge.
"We will keep Agathae close," Argun said coldly making sure Agathae wasn't around to hear it. "Only by doing so can we ensure Bael's spirit remains under control inside his weak human's body. I will not allow anyone—man or demon—to threaten my rule."
"Yes, my king, if he tries anything funny, I'll crush him with my hands," Harith conceded, bowing low.
Argun's path to power was complete, but the shadow of the old king still lingers.
Somewhere the spirits of the dead demon king Bael stirs uneasily.
------
"Mother, the demons are everywhere! What should we do?" King Ramses asked, his voice trembling with urgency.
The emperor's army was losing the battle with the demon army once they entered the city. Without their powerful magic defense and formation, they were no match of the brutes of the demons.
Dassa remained calm, her piercing gaze scanning the horizon of the chaotic city as she paused in thought.
"The army is a pawn that can be easily sacrificed, as long as we keep the real power with us", Dassa replied.
"Yes, our strongest mages are still in the palace awaiting order and not mentioning your demons", the emperor added.
Despite the breach of the city's magical defense by the demon army, the emperor still kept the strongest of his forces in reserve. Those who were defeated by the demon army were the weak soldiers and citizenry.
"But we can stay in the palace indefinitely. Eventually the demon army will surround us", General Eoshomon advised.
"That is so true", the emperor said worriedly.
But Lady Dassa does not share their concern. She has a plan.
"We must lure the demons into your chessboard. It is only there, with the full advantage of its power and enhancements, that we can destroy them easily," she proposed.
"My Chessboard Realm?" Ramses asked, incredulously. "Can it truly contain an entire army of demons?"
Dassa's lips curled into a knowing smile. "We don't need to defeat every demon, my dear. Only their strongest leaders. Cut off the head, and the body will crumble."
Ramses furrowed his brow. "But how do we lure all their leaders into my palace? I can only summon the chessboard realm if they're within its boundaries."
His ability was extraordinary, a power possessed by only the most formidable mages. But there was limit to his power. He couldn't summon his domain freely—it required preparation and strategy.
His method relied on intricate spells placed in key locations, sigils that could ensnare his targets the moment his realm was invoked. Without them his chess domain would be ineffective.
"How can we get the demons into my range of spell formation without losing my palace?" Ramses asked.
Dassa's gaze remained steady.
"We use diplomacy," she said, her voice unwavering. "We invite them to the palace under the pretense of peace. Once inside, they will have no escape from your domain."
Ramses hesitated. "And you think they will come willingly to our territory?"
Dassa shook her head. It was a part of puzzle that she hasn't figured out.
"That I haven't figured out," she replied.
Suddenly Dassa's expression shifted. She tilted her head slightly, as if listening to something beyond his perception.
Then, after a moment of silence, she spoke.
"Wait, my dear. A demon spirit calls to me. Let me put you on hold."
The possessed Dassa has a rare gift, the remnant of her previous existence—the ability to draw demon spirits to her, to consume them. Not only that, she could sense their presence and communicate with them even from afar.
She did not need to absorb their spirits to hear their voices.
Ramses straightened. "Which demon is it?"
Dassa met his gaze, her voice soft yet certain.
"The strongest of them all."
-----
[At the camp of the demon army]
"What do you mean by the emperor is inviting us to the palace for a summit of negotiation?" King Argun asked, his gaze fixed on the courtier who had delivered the message.
The courtier bowed slightly before answering. "Yes, my lord. The enemy claims they wish to surrender and discuss the terms with us. They have invited us to the palace for negotiations."