2 The Empress of the Underworld

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Even from inside the metallic room, one could easily hear the heavy footsteps of the incoming guest. Inside it, only one person could be seen or not, considering the shadows surrounding it. Inside the quite huge room, with a ceiling 5 meters away from the ground, the already small silhouette was made even smaller. Nonetheless, that wasn't bothering the figure at all, even when its head was barely high enough to let it see through the windows.

Toc Toc Toc

Comparing it to the loud entrance, the guest was quite quiet at knocking on the door. After waiting for a few seconds but receiving nothing except silence, he began to open the door. His massive hand touched the pad near it, prompting the metallic door to open. The red demon then lightly bowed his head, barely passing the door. After that, when he finally arrived in the middle of the room, he violently slammed his two right hands on his chest. This gest provoked numerous noises coming from his armor. From his toes to his neck, a dark material was covering him and a blue halo was concentrated where his right fist hit it. The only unprotected areas were his arms and head, two massive red trunks and a hideous face. Well, maybe it could be considered as just ugly on some planets, but he looked like a boar without a nose. And with very, very sharp teeth. As for his arms, he had two of them on each side, massives and bigger than the person in the shadows.

"Empress of the Underworld. The fight is going well on the sector 2-A and 3-C but we have already lost some of our newly founded bases in the sector 1. The different legions are ready for the incoming assault. Everything is as ready as it can be."

After saying those words, the demon, from the race of the Akûl, could be seen smiling, something that would send shivers to anyone seeing this. While the inside of this room was cold, the heat and thirst for blood were beginning to enter. The door was not closed, and the outside ruckus was easily heard by the small silhouette.

"Someone finally learned what is happening to the enemy or is it still a mystery?"

Coming from the shadows, a young female voice, infantile even. Of course, everyone on this planet knew about the current condition of their commander. And while at first many were unconvinced, everyone soon began to learn the hard way how terrifying that child was. As for the term child, for someone with soon 873 years, it was not really the exact word to use. But that sentence made the huge demon frown.

"No, that is the only problem. Nobody understands why the Lanfos decided to retreat and let their slaves fight for them. All we know is the fact that those planets are truly without spatial defenses, meaning that an invasion will be quick and without any problem for us. Even if it is a trap, we sending mainly some cannon fodders, not a lot of troops will be lost on the several fortified planets."

"Hum"

That noise was the only answer from the small girl. She kept looking through the glass, searching for something that could have escaped the eyes of the demonic army. But no matter what happened, the only fact that they could confirm was the retreat of the Lanfos spaceships above numerous planets. They are still monitoring all of them and right now, they were nowhere close enough to harm the planned invasion. But it has been 50 years now that they were fighting in this part of the galaxy, in a stalemate. But tomorrow, if the operation was really a success, it will be a huge victory and the deepest in the enemy lines that they have ever been. But that didn't appease the child.

"Any news from the side of Candaith? Do any of his harmless mages managed to learn something?"

"Negative, they are preparing for their assault too, but they are as surprised as us. And I heard that he wants something from you. But he doesn't have the guts to ask you that directly."

This time, his smile turned into something far more sinister. While his commandant was someone no one could face in combat, Candaith was a cute little bunny compared to her. Even when he looked like a normal adult human, with even some muscle. While she looked like a young girl less than 10 years old.

"I know that, you're dismissed. But if you find any of his rodents lurking here, make them go back to their planet, by force if it is necessary."

"Yes, Empress."

The demon bowed once again and closed the door after leaving. The once calm shadows were now shaking and spreading to every corner of the room. She knew already what that weakling was asking her. Just by using this excuse, he already tried to grab it. Of course, he will say that he needs more power and only that thing could grant him enough mana. However, this time, it will probably be justified, considering the numerous portals that will have to be open during the conjoint invasion. Because of that, Candaith and his skills in spatial magic won't be ignored. And that's what was making her angry.

Toc Toc Toc

After waiting for a short time, like the demon that was here did, the human that knocked entered. He was looking like a very old man, with a white beard clearly clean and properly shaved and dressed in a black robe. He was a little short, barely above a third of the door in height. And a little scared, seeing the entire room in darkness, with only a small path untouched, leading to the center of the room. After a few seconds, the human began to walk this path. Arrived at his destination, he swallowed his saliva, before speaking.

"Empress of the Underworld. I am here because of Candaith and …"

He stopped talking when he saw the previously untouched path get filled with shadows. Because he was a mage, even without natural light, he should be able to see the entire place. But not anymore, he couldn't even see the door that was opened. He knew that she wouldn't hurt him. He really hoped so. He was her subordinate, it's just that he was returning from Arsene, the planet where Candaith was located. And this bastard made him his scapegoat.

"I know it already. Just take it already and come back right after that. I still need you for the incoming invasion."

She said that with her anger clearly perceptible in her voice. Soon after that, the man could see something right in front of him. An orb, as black as the shadows surrounding him. Only a few of those were available in the entire Demonic Empire. A device created by a race so intelligent and powerful that even creating gods could be made on a whim. However, nothing was eternal, and like many that race fell was supposedly extinct. The magician could see his path being cleared and the light shining on his white beard. But he was absolutely not happy at all.

"There is … Gulp … Something else …"

"Akama, you have served for a very long time. You know very well that there are two things that I hate, no, that I despise above everything. One, this arrogant and weak Candaith. Two, learning a bad surprise. You already got the first one, be careful"

In the mind of the magician, he knew that if he wasn't her direct subordinate, he wouldn't have left this place intact. While they were all part of the same army, politics and factions were still created. She was greatly appreciated by everyone fighting in the frontline because of her strength and abilities. While Candaith got lucky and barely fought in his entire life. But he still had to say what he was tasked to do. Before he began to speak, he casted some preemptive defenses.

"He said … that it was an order from above … he begged the emperor and … the Death Corps will be under him during the invasion!"

He immediately activated every magic shields that he knew. He couldn't see anything, but he could hear and feel that all his protections were destroyed layer by layer. The light was long gone in the kingdom of darkness. Akama knew that giving away the Orb was already a big loss for his commander, but that request was overbearing. The Death Corps, the battalion that he was in charge, was her personal army of magicians. All trained in necromancy and dark arts. They were personally picked and groomed by her and the best in that domain. Even some elder lich were weaker than them. But they were also one of the biggest reserves of mana in this part of the universe, after the Orb.

"Fine, when you will see him just tell him that I await the moment where he will make a mistake. One just big enough to let me take back my Orb. Because this time, I will personally search it myself."