The Red Hand

Chapter 361.5 – Steering Fate.

"I must admit, Father, that for you to willingly meet with representatives from Northwind in such a... diplomatic manner is surprising." Rebeckah said to her father as a group of maids dressed him in formal wear. "I could've sworn you hated Chancellor Gildra's guts."

{If I recall correctly you called her something akin to a stray dog that can do little more than rut, bark, and contaminate this world with her mange.} (Rebeckah)

"That wolf woman and her fostering of rebellion in our eastern provinces does boil my blood, but I'm sure that you understand the gravity of the situation." Hadrus said as his cloak was placed around his neck. "Working together with those greedy merchants in Northwind makes my stomach churn, but it will be necessary if we are to stand against both this new foe and the Demon Kingdom." He said as he flicked his cloak dramatically before turning to the Princess. "The Gods have proven... inadequate allies in this situation, so we've no choice but to take things into our own hands. Even if that means working with the enemy."

"So you still think the Demon Kingdom is a foe we must be wary of?" Rebeckah asked as the two exited her Father's room and began walking toward the conference hall. The Empire had long feuded with the Demon Kingdom to the South, and the Imperial Family swore to crush their nation as part of their desire to reunite their former Empire. “I'm surprised.”

"Wary of? No." Hadrus replied curtly. "The Demons are simply an obstacle in our way. They must be removed so that our Empire may again span the entire continent. I am not wary of them, rather I seem them as an irritant. One that must be removed sooner rather than later."

"Hence why you moved forces away from the coastline so that the Demons could send more forces to their expedition against the Cult." Rebeckah nodded along recalling his orders to the coastal Nobles to withdraw their troops to inland forts and settlements. "You wish for them to march to their deaths and enable our eventual conquest of the South."

{Though, while I believe that while your estimation that the Demon Army will be crushed is correct, your understanding of the foe they face is egregiously wrong, Father. The Demon Lord is not a force we should be fighting, but you are unable to see any other path due to your pride. I suppose that runs in the family...} (Rebeckah)

"The Demons are a timid bunch. Had we not done so, then those forces would've remained there rather than heading into the lion's den." Hadrus said as the two stopped in front of a lage set of double doors which were opened by guards. Inside was a large conference room and a few familiar faces were already sat at the table.

"You sure took your time, Hadrus." Gildra said from her seat, a smug look on her face as she rocked back in her chair. "I suppose it does take a bit of time to make sure each individual hair on your head is perfectly trimmed and groomed." She laughed. “A wonder there is enough oil in this world to keep it perfectly straight.”

"Good to see you're just as detestable a woman as always, Gildra." Hadrus didn't even flinch at her comment, used to such jabs by this point. "I hope you didn't bring any of the diseases you mutts are known for. It would be a shame if I had to put you down like the vermin you are." He said as he walked over and sat across from her, followed by Rebeckh who took her place on his right. "But 'pleasantries' out of the way, why is he here?" He said as he glanced at Jacabey. “I do not recall inviting anyone other than you to this meeting.”

"It always a pleasure, your Majesty." Jacabey said as he took his hat off out of respect for the Emperor. "Do pardon my unexpected appearance, but I insisted on joining Chancellor Gildra during this most important meeting. I ask for your leniency."

{Showing up unaccounted to a meeting with Imperial Royalty is typically a way to find yourself in not so pleasant of circumstances. Jacabey is lucky that he holds such an important position that my Father couldn't dispose of him without issue.} (Rebecha)

"Now, hear me out, I think it best if he joins us, Hadrus." Gildra said, her gaze growing sharp as she stopped messing around in her seat. "He is the leader of one of the largest coalitions within the Assembly, and it's important that what we decide on here is approved of by the rest of the members. Best to have him here for negotiations so that I don't have to convince him later."

"Politics is always such a pain." Hadrus grumbled, knowing that such things was rife within the Empire as well. "But fine. The Halfling has been beneficial to the Empire on many occasions, so I will allow him to remain. But in the future you will inform me of such things before you're arrival."

"Thank you, your Majesty. I am in your debt." Jacabey bowed his head respectfully, his eyes seeming to glint for a moment.

"Well, with that out of the way, let's get right to the point..." Gildra said as she shifted her jaw in thought. "You want our cooperation to deal with this so-called Demon Lord Akagi, right? Some sort of united front to defeat her?"

"Yes. As much as both of us detest the idea of working with the other, I have determined that it will be necessary if we are to win." Hadrus replied with a stern expression. "The Gods have already proven themselves weak and feckless. Thus far two have been killed and the Holy City is in chaos due to the battle. The Church's assurances that everything is under control have wrung hollow since Riftwood was sacked and the new Queen installed as a puppet of the Demon Lord."

"Ugh... Don't even get me started on thati. Feline was definitely the least suited for the throne, and her ascension is clearly nothing more than a front for this Demon Lord to establish a foothold in the South." Gildra said with a grimace. The Alliance was one of their best allies and losing them meant taking a serious blow to their military and economic strength. "My agents tell me that the Spirits in captivity within the Alliance have been moved to the Demon Lord's camp in Simoea.”

"And I've got reliable sources telling me that she's been striking out at those who have them enslaved within both Northwind and the Empire." Jacabey spoke up. "It would seem that this Demon Lord is serious about their liberation, and it also proves that her servants are equally as dangerous as she is. I've lost a few of my best men trying to keep their shadow warriors at bay and I fear they may start striking at members of the Assembly if this keeps up." He said, feigning worry.

{They are terrifying indeed. Their ability to get in or out of anywhere is already enough to make one shudder, and its a frightening prospect to think what they could do if their master gave them the order and it begs the question as to why she hasn't done that already.} (Rebeckah)

"Yeah, we've been trying to root them out, but pinning them down has proved all but impossible." Gildra said as she folded her hands on the table. "They're slippery bastards, I'll give them that. On one hand, I should be proud that beast-kin do such things, but on the other, I feel sick to my stomach that some of my kind have sided with this monster."

"Well, we can both agree that having such forces slipping in and out of highly defended areas isn't ideal." Hadrus replied. "My Nobles have been begging me to provide some kind of extra security, but alas we've been equally made fools of by them."

{Yeah, one was in the Imperial Palace not long ago and she even laughed at how bad our defenses are.} (Rebeckah)

"It does not help that the Heroes of, Northwind, the Alliance, and the Empire have gone missing." Jacabey noted that the three had not been seen in some time. "That alone has been cause for concern, and there are many who believe them to have already been lost."

"Were they not sent to destroy the Spirits before they could complete their plans to destroy this world?" Rebeckah asked, knowing full well what had happened to them but wanting to play along. "I presume that is what they're still doing, no?"

"Perhaps, but if everything we know is true, then this Demon Lord came from the very world they were sent to." Hadrus answered. "And I can assure you that they would not have survived an encounter with her. That woman's power was far beyond any of them. I know that for a fact. Not to mention that Lady Hitomi was reportedly in the Holy City, meaning that at least one of them returned."

{Though any attempt at finding out what happened in that world is being blocked by the Gods. Every messenger I've sent to contact her was turned away which leads me to assume the worst.} (Hadrus)

“Yes, Lady Hitomi did return but sadly I've not been able to find out much beyond that. The Church is keeping a tight lid on things at the moment and the current chaos may make things more difficult for now.” Jacabey said.

"The Church's Hero aside... So the rumor that you drove off the Demon Lord was true?" Gildra asked the Emperor with a raised brow and a scowl. "If you defeated her once then why are you so worried? Sure this can be handled rather swiftly if that was the case."

{Hadrus is likely as or more powerful than those Heroes. The man hides it well but what lies below is something that likely hasn't existed in this world since the time of the Heroes of Legend. His power alone was the primary reason the former Beast Kingdoms were crushed.} (Gildra)

"As much as I wish it to be so, I did not defeat her." Hadrus replied without a hint of embarrassment or self-pity. "That woman toyed with me and then left when she was done having her fun. It's doubtful that she ever saw me as a threat at all."

"So how do you propose we fight back then?" Gildra asked with an exasperated expression. "Don't get me wrong, the idea of rolling over and awaiting our enslavement isn't exactly a pleasant thought but it should be obvious that if you can't beat her head on and the Heroes couldn't then nobody sans the Gods could do it."

"And we've already seen two of said Gods get killed." Rebeckah chimed in unconsciously, immediately regretting her words a moment later.

"Naturally, we will not be doing as those idiotic Demons are and marching an army to its death." Hadrus said with a deep grumble. "No, we will need something to put us on the same level as that monster."

"I understand wanting to form a united front with Northwind and even the other nations, but would it not be better to work with the Gods too?" Rebeckah asked. "Surely there is nothing we can do that they cannot, and it took the Gods intervening to defeat the last Demon Lord that attacked this world."

"You'd think so, but their cooperation is flimsy at best." Gildra rolled her eyes. "However, I think you're right to think that at least some cooperation will be needed here, Princess." She said before turning to Hadrus. "We're going to need to have a discussion that includes them if we want any hope of victory, Hadrus. I'm sure even you understand that the most powerful of mortal weapons and spells are nothing to a God, and if this Demon Lord is as powerful as we fear I doubt there's anything we can do to stop her on our own."

{Perhaps we could defeat her other forces with some of the experimental weapons we've developed. That may leave the Gods enough of an opening to deal with her, but its going to be a gamble.} (Gildra)

"I suppose it may be possible to recruit some of the Demi-Gods to aid us." Jacabey noted that they tended to move more to protect the world than their parents. “If nothing else, having them will be better than not.”

"We would still need the Gods' permission for that and the release of Divine Weapons." Rebeckah said. “Demi-Gods are powerful but they need a Divine Weapon to truly bring out their strength. At the end of the day they're still mortal.”

"Ah yes, Divine Weapons..." Jacabey nodded in understanding. "It is really too bad that the Empire no longer has the Divine Blade Halifax in its armory. I'm sure that the blade said to have killed the Demon Lord Vikes would've proved useful here." He said with a barely noticeable smirk.

"Recovering that blade would prove to be a boon." Hadrus said offhandedly. "But I do not think that is possible at this point. Trying to do so would likely only make things worse." Naturally, he was aware of who and what Halifax was, and he had no doubts that she'd never allow herself to be used by him or anyone else, even in such a dire situation.

{If my Grandmother were still alive I have no doubt Halifax would work with us, but there is no point lamenting what we don't have. We shall slay the Demon Lord with weapons forged by mortal hands if we have to, and I've been preparing for the day we must confront creatures far beyond mortal power.} (Hadrus)

"Then it would seem we've got nothing." Gildra threw up her hands. "We've got a Demon Lord on the rampage, Gods to inept or indifferent to help, and a bunch of armies that would simply be chewed apart if they marched to fight such a creature." She gave a defeated laugh. "It's a new feeling... Feeling helpless like this... And I don't like it."

{Helplessness... It really has gotten to that point, hasn't it? I suppose that's what Akagi wanted, but I fail to see how her plan is going to-} (Rebeckah)

"Well..." Jacabey's lips curved into a nasty smirk. "I wouldn't say things are hopeless just yet." He chuckled.

"Oh?" Gildra raised an eyebrow at his comment. "That look on your face is one that I've seen every time you get a brilliant business idea. So pray tell what plan you've concocted to get us out of this mess, Jacabey? I'm all ears."

"Its not much, and I can't guarantee it's going to work but..." Jacabey said as he pushed his glasses up, causing them to shine for a moment. "How do you feel about working with the Dark Elves?"

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<Akagi POV>

“Mama!” Alice yelled happily as she ran up to Akagi, who picked her up and swung her around. “Mama! I missed you so much.” She smiled as she hugged Akagi and gave her a squeeze.

“I missed you too, little one.” Akagi smiled as she rubbed her nose against Alice's. “Were you a good girl while I was gone?”

“Nope!” Alice snickered. “I was a very bad girl! Miji and I ate all the cookies!”

“Good!” Akagi laughed as she spun her around some more. “Being good is boring! Evil is the only true way to live!”

“And while you were gone, Imp help me to make something!” Alice said wiggled in the Demon's arms until Akagi let her go. “Now I can help you fight!”

“Help?” Akagi asked, confused and concerned. “You're already helping me by lending me some of your summons. What more could you want to help me with?” She'd had Alice create and send over some for a special project, but had forbidden the summoner from coming over herself since that would be far too dangerous.

{And what's this about Imp? What did you help her with you idiot?!?} (Akagi)

“Sitting here while Mama fights those mean Gods isn't fair!” Alice pouted as she was pat on the head. “I want to help Mama! Staying here and waiting for you to get back isn't fun...”

“Now, now. While I appreciate the sentiment I told you before that it was too dangerous to come with.” Akagi sighed, understanding her wish but not wanting to cave. “The Gods are far more dangerous than anything you fought before. Its better for you to remotely issue orders or act through the Clansmen, and besides I've been told your summons have already done a great job tearing through three whole cities!”

{The Dwarves are in full retreat, so you've done more than enough my little conqueror!} (Akagi)

“Yeah, but that's why I had Imp help me!” Alice said as she spun backwards and opened a summoning portal between her and Akagi. “With this I don't need to wait here while you do all the hard work!”

“What is that?!?” Akagi yelped in surprise as Alice's newest summon rose from the portal. It was a white haired girl that looked like an Avatar from FWO. It was clothed in a white hood with a dash of green on parts of the tunic, and wore something that looked like gym shorts. Physically it looked like a teenage girl and was around three to four inches taller than the loli that was Alice.

“This one will let me help you!” Alice said as she sat on the ground before fainting, her eyes glossing over.

“Alice?!?” Akagi screamed as her daughter passed out, zipping to her in a flash.

{She's in a coma?!? Her vitals have slowed down to almost a complete halt but she's still alive! What the hell is going on?!?} (Akagi)

“I'm fine, Mama.” The summon turned and spoke to Akagi, its voice much more mature and clear than Alice's. “See!” It smiled in a way that instantly told Akagi that it was Alice within it. “With this body I can go with and you don't have to worry about me!”

“W-What the hell did Imp help you make?” Akagi asked, completely flabbergasted by this unexpected turn of events.