Hades felt the tiny, skittering presence the moment it crossed the invisible border of Yggdrasil. A faint shimmer of [Presence Concealment] and [Information Erasure], skilled work for a human. A spy.
He didn't crush it. Instead, a wide, predatory grin spread across his face. 'Perfect.'
With a thought, he accessed [Arkhē]. It was child's play to subtly override the local systems, to gently guide the spy's path. A patrol of Wardens shifted their route a second before they would have been seen. A perfect, clear line of sight opened up to where a group of Ursine were training, their new massive muscles rippling as they lifted boulders for fun. 'Go on, little mouse,' Hades thought, his mind cool and amused. 'See everything. Report it all back.'
He wanted Elmeria to know exactly what they were dealing with.
At the main entrance to the territory, where the green grass met the barren lands, a different scene unfolded. A delegation of five humans in the fine, practical robes of Elmerian officials stood nervously. They held a banner of peace and the sigil of their king. At their head was an envoy named Roclus, trying to project a confidence he did not feel.
They were stopped by two guards. Not just any guards. These were members of the newly formed Yggdrasil Guard.
On the left was Mstislav, an Ursine whose new evolution had made him a mountain of fur and muscle, his eyes sharp under a heavy brow. On the right was Thorvald, a Shungmo whose stocky form seemed as immovable as a mountain root, his calm gaze unnerving.
"Halt," Mstislav's voice was a low rumble, like stones grinding together. "State your purpose."
Roclus the envoy bowed slightly. "We come in peace from the Kingdom of Elmeria. We seek an audience with the master of this land."
The two guards exchanged a look. Thorvald gave a slight nod, and Mstislav turned to send a runner.
But before he could, a voice echoed directly in their minds, calm and absolute. "Let them in."
The two guards didn't even flinch. They simply stepped aside in perfect unison. "You may pass," Thorvald said. "You will be escorted. Do not stray."
The Elmerians were led through the paradise Hades had built. Their eyes widened at the immense trees, the serene bamboo grove, the crystal lake. Their fear grew with every step. This was not the work of a mere monster.
They were led to the manor, its dark stone seeming to drink the sunlight. The doors opened on their own.
Inside the grand hall, the aura was suffocating. The air itself felt heavy with power. Bogdan and Bjorn stood flanking Hades's throne, having taken their places as the first and greatest of the Kingsguard. They were enormous, their evolved forms radiating barely restrained power. Bogdan's claws seemed to gleam with a deadly light; Bjorn's stance was that of an unbreakable fortress.
And on the throne sat Hades. He wasn't radiating anger. He was radiating something far worse: an absolute, chilling despair. A dark, silent pressure that promised oblivion without anger, without hate. It was the aura of something that could unmake you without a second thought.
The envoys froze, their blood turning to ice.
"Kneel," Bogdan's voice boomed in the oppressive silence, leaving no room for debate. "You are in the presence of Lord Hades."
The five men dropped to their knees instantly, their heads bowed.
Hades let the silence stretch, letting the weight of his presence crush their composure completely.
"Why are you here?" he asked. His voice was quiet, but it cut through the heavy air like a knife.
Roclus, the head envoy, trembled. "W-We are from the neighboring Kingdom of Elmeria, my Lord! We are sent by His Majesty, King Elmer III himself, to... to open communications!"
"Hmmm..." Hades made a show of sounding bored. "Then why do you have a spy here?"
The envoy's face went white with shock. "A-A spy? My Lord, we do not—!"
Hades snapped his fingers.
A mirror made of pure shadow and light formed in the air to their left. It showed a clear image of their top agent, the Whisper, currently hiding in the branches of a tree, observing a Ursine hunting party.
The envoys' eyes bulged. How?!
Hades snapped his fingers again.
A second mirror formed on the right. This one showed a bird's-eye view of the Elmerian border. They could see the Fourth and Fifth Legions, encamped and waiting. Every tent, every soldier, was visible.
"Care to explain?" Hades asked, his tone dangerously soft.
Roclus was speechless, his mouth opening and closing like a fish.
"I see four thousand, seven hundred and twenty-three soldiers," Hades said, his voice dropping to a whisper that echoed in their souls. "I see twelve siege engines. I see every captain, every sword, every arrow. I could turn them all to dust with a single thought. A single snap of my fingers."
He leaned forward slightly, the motion causing the envoys to flinch back.
"So. I will ask you one more time. Tell me the truth. Why. Are. You. Here?"
The head envoy collapsed forward, pressing his forehead to the cold floor.
"T-To understand!" he wept, his voice cracking with pure terror. "My King seeks only to understand! To see if you are a threat or... or a potential ally! The spy was for information! The army is only a precaution! We meant no offense, Great Lord! We swear it!"
The hall fell silent again, save for the terrified gasps of the diplomats. Hades leaned back on his throne, the oppressive aura receding just a fraction.
"Good," he said. "You've finally decided to be honest. Now we can have a real conversation."