The fragile truce held, but the global battlefield had descended into incomprehensible chaos. As Umbria tried to process the arrival of Insectoids, Greys, and Anunnaki/Reptilians fighting against the hordes of Cthulhu, two key figures from the latter faction decided to make an appearance, choosing opposing sides in the earthly conflict.
In Umbria:
Merlin, Aria, and the Council were gathered in the training yard, watching the students practice defensive spells with a new, grim urgency, when the air in front of them distorted. A portal—not of chaotic or ordered magic, but of a strange, light-bending technology—opened, and from it emerged an imposing figure.
He was tall, powerfully built, but with an air of erudition. His skin was a pale golden hue, and although his features were vaguely humanoid, his eyes were large, liquid gold, and disturbingly intelligent, with barely perceptible vertical pupils. He wore robes that seemed woven from liquid metal and gems that pulsed with their own light. He radiated a profound antiquity and knowledge.
"Greetings, mages of Terra," the figure said, his voice resonant and melodic, though with an almost imperceptible underlying hiss. "I am Enki, of the Anunnaki. I have observed your world... and your current crisis."
Merlin stepped forward, his hand near his staff, the Ancient Magi and Dracula tense around him. "What do you want here, Anunnaki?"
"The same as you, it seems," Enki replied with a slight bow. "The survival of this planet from the incursion of the Great Old Ones of the Void. My brothers and I have returned from our long exile, or emerged from our hiding, to confront our ancient enemy."
Enki briefly explained his history, confirming Merlin's suspicions. He spoke of his origin on a distant world, his arrival on Earth eons ago, his role in overseeing (and perhaps manipulating) early humanity, and of the devastating Lyran Wars against Cthulhu and other factions.
"We have been hidden on this planet for millennia," Enki continued, "watching, waiting. The activity of primordial Chaos and the awakening of Gaia have hastened the arrival of the Great Old Ones, and have also forced our hand."
He offered crucial information. "Cthulhu beings are vulnerable to certain sonic frequencies and highly focused psionic energies, something your 'magic' can emulate with the proper rituals. Their lesser servants can be banished with specific geometries and properly energized metals like gold and iridium." He also warned about the Netlin: "The Fallen Watchers are dangerous. Their concept of 'order' is absolute and brooks no deviation. They are not your friends."
Finally, he spoke of his own race. "But you should know that not all Anunnaki share the same vision. My half-brother, Enlil, is... more direct. More militaristic. He believes that brute force and dominance are the only answers. I believe in wisdom, in strategy, in preservation, even if it's for self-interest."
"Why are you helping us?" Aria asked, suspicious but intrigued.
"Because a planet consumed by Cthulhu or purged by the Netlin serves no one's interests," Enki replied. "And because I see in your magic, especially in that 'Emerald Tablet' and the 'Claws' I sense in your aura, a unique potential to balance the energies needed to repel the Great Old Ones. I offer you my knowledge, in exchange for cooperation."
Merlin exchanged a glance with Alatar and the others. The offer was tempting, the information vital. But trusting an Anunnaki, a being from a race with such an ambiguous and powerful history, was an enormous risk. "We will listen," Merlin said finally, "but we promise nothing. Trust must be earned."
In the Underrealm:
Meanwhile, in the dark majesty of the subterranean throne room, Nyx and Morgana reveled in their newfound power and planned their next moves. The arrival of the other alien races worried them less; They saw them as mere obstacles or, potentially, as future conquests once Umbria fell.
It was then that a second portal, similar to Enki's but more abrupt, more harrowing, opened in the middle of the room. From it emerged a figure even more imposing than Enki, clad in dark armor that seemed to absorb the light, engraved with angular and aggressive symbols. His face was more severe, his golden eyes glowed with a cold, authoritarian light, and his reptilian features were more pronounced, almost draconic.
"Queen of the Night. Dark Faerie Goddess," boomed the figure's voice, a voice accustomed to commanding and being obeyed. "I am Enlil, Supreme Commander of the Anunnaki Legions. I have come to offer my services."
Nyx and Morgana sat up, interested. Poimandres grunted
low, a mixture of curiosity and defiance.
"And what services can an Anunnaki Commander offer us?" Nyx asked, with a predatory smile.
"Victory," Enlil replied bluntly. "My brother Enki plays diplomat with the surface worms. I offer military strategy. War-tested tactics that would make your petty battles look like child's play."
Enlil unfurled a holographic tactical map, showing not only Umbria, but global strategic positions. "The Great Old Ones are a threat, yes, but also an opportunity. Their arrival creates chaos, weakens our common enemies. I will teach you how to use that chaos. How to sacrifice the unnecessary to ensure total victory."
He spoke of battle formations, of weak points in Umbria's defenses that only a military strategist could see, of how to use the corrupted elves as effective cannon fodder, of how to exploit the fear and madness generated by the Cthulhu to demoralize his enemies. He even suggested the use of forgotten Anunnaki weapons, artifacts of terrible power that could level entire cities.
"With my strategy and your power," Enlil concluded, "we will not only crush Merlin and his pathetic school. We will crush the Netlin if they stand in the way. We will hold off the Great Old Ones long enough to secure our dominance over this planet. And then, we will deal with the other... insects."
Nyx and Morgana exchanged a look of dark satisfaction. Enlil's ruthlessness and efficiency resonated perfectly with their own ambitions.
"We accept your offer, Commander Enlil," Nyx said. "Prepare your armies... and ours. Total war is about to begin."
The fracture within the Anunnaki had manifested. Enki offered knowledge to the Light, while Enlil offered military power to the Darkness. The already complex web of alliances and enmities had grown even more intricate and dangerous. Earth was quickly becoming the epicenter of multiple conflicts, both magical and cosmic, and each side desperately sought any advantage in the gathering storm.