288 LET THE GAME BEGIN
Harith scoffed. "This is a damn trap. The Koresh scum are deceitful. We're already winning this war, there's no need to talk to them. They have no cards."
King Argun remained silent, weighing the situation.
The Koresh emperor's invitation was suspicious, but it could also be an opportunity. If there was even a slight chance of ending the war without further fighting, it was worth considering. The Koresh army still possesses a powerful reserve army defending their palace.
"My Lord, if there is a way to end this war without further fighting, it may be advantageous to us. You have just achieved Man-Tier and would need time to consolidate your strength. Our army is also exhausted by the heavy fighting. We can regain our strength to fight again", Agathae spoke.
"Shut up you moron", Harith scolded him, and he lowered his head in fear.
King Argun's eyes shifted to Agathae, his newly promoted advisor. "What do you think, advisor? Please elaborate,"
Harith sneered. "Hmph."
Ignoring him, Agathae spoke calmly. "My lord, this invitation is likely a trap. It would be unwise to go... but,"
"See? Even the pig agrees with me," Harith interjected, but King Argun silenced him with a dismissive wave.
"Continue, Agathae."
Agathae nodded. "We can agree to a summit, but not in their palace. If the Koresh emperor is sincere about surrendering, let him come to us.. to our camp. We hold the negotiations at a location of our choosing—our camp, perhaps. That way, we control the field and eliminate the risk of an ambush in the palace."
"The emperor will be stupid to come here", Harith said.
"There is no harm in proposing. If they would really come here, then we have nothing to worry about meeting them", Agathae added.
Lord Argun considered the suggestion, then gave a small, approving smile. "A sound plan. We will hold the summit in our camp… if they will come."
Agathae inclined his head. "A wise decision, my lord."
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A small procession of palace eunuchs and maids escorted a grand, gilded moving pavilion, its silken curtains billowing in the wind.
Unlike what one might expect for such an esteemed guest, there were no powerful guards accompanying it. Yet within the lavish pavilion rode none other than the Emperor of Koresh and his Godmother.
The pavilion passed through rows of demons lined on either side, their voices rising in a cacophony of jeers, curses, and cheers.
The emperor was their sworn enemy—and now, he had surrendered.
Some demons roared in triumph, convinced this marked the end of the war. Others seethed, their claws itching for blood and vengeance.
At the heart of the demon camp, where the grandest of pavilions stood, King Argun sat in grim anticipation. His pavilion, unlike the Koresh emperor's, was no display of wealth and opulence. It was a monument of conquest—constructed from the bones of the vanquished, radiating an air of menace and authority.
As the two pavilions came to a halt, a heavy silence fell over the camp.
From his throne, King Argun's voice rang out. "Emperor of Koresh, why do you seek an audience with me?"
The curtains of the lavish pavilion parted, and a man and a woman stepped forward. The woman's sharp eyes swept across the camp, studying every detail. The emperor, however, took his time, moving forward with measured steps as if waiting for something unseen.
"We came here as promised to end this war", the emperor said.
"You came to surrender to us?" Lord Harith asked.
"Surrender!! Hahaha…," the emperor replied and laughed.
"What do you mean? Didn't you come here to surrender?" Harith asked again.
Lord Argun suddenly felt a tinge of worry. This wasn't what he expected. The emperor's confidence in coming here wasn't the behavior of an army about to surrender.
"What trickery is behind your back?" Lord Argun asked the emperor.
"Trickery? What trickery?" the emperor replied and asked.
Then, at last, the woman spoke. "It is ready. I've connected all the magic beacons around the camp."
The emperor of Koresh nodded and met the Demon King's gaze. "There is no trickery. I have come to challenge you to death by combat."
A murmur of disbelief rippled through the demon ranks. Lord Argun's eyes narrowed. He had expected surrender, not defiance.
Harith, the demon lord at his side, let out a sharp, mocking laugh. "Hah! You dare challenge us in our own camp, with just the two of you?"
Ramses remained unshaken. "Two is more than enough."
At that moment, the very air within the camp shifted. A pulse of dark energy rippled through the ground. Suddenly, glowing sigils ignited in all directions, forming a vast, arcane circle that encased the entire camp in a field of malevolent magic.
King Argun shot to his feet. "What is this sorcery?" he bellowed.
Harith's grin vanished. "This is really a trick?" he snarled at the emperor.
Ramses's expression remained unreadable. "Do you truly believe we would step into the heart of your camp without preparation?"
Lord Harith clenched his fists. "Impossible. These sigils weren't here before—we scoured this ground for magic before we set camp!"
King Argun's mind raced as he scanned the area. His generals stood at his side, every key figure of his command present—except for one.
A crucial absence sent a chill down his spine.
His voice turned to a growl. "Where is Agathae?"
A hush spread through the demons. No one had seen him.
Harith cursed. "That pig he's missing? Where the hell did the coward go? Did he run away before the battle."
A voice, rich with malice, rang out from Dassa's lips.
"Forget the traitor," she declared, her eyes glinting with unnatural light. "He will not be here to die with you."
Lord Harith's rage boiled over. "That bastard Agathe betrayed us!"
But it was too late. Magical sigils flared from around the camp casting a spell over them, sealing the fate of the demon lords. The demon camp was transformed.
"Huh, this is perfect", the emperor said as he looked into the sky before adding, "Let the game begin."
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