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The meeting chamber of the Jack Kingdom in the Areala Universe buzzed with a tense energy as the conversation had shifted to strategy. Captain Arcturus Valen stood at the center, his voice clear and authoritative as he addressed the rulers and their most trusted personnel.
“We have personnel from every universe except the Areala Universe. Elara is missing, but that doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be some representative here,” Arcturus said, looking around the room.
Queen Nia furrowed her brow, her eyes narrowing. “That is odd. Thorne was on the last call, but he’s not here either.”
Queen Lila glanced at her fellow rulers, worry creeping into her voice. “We all rushed to get here so quickly, I guess we didn’t pay attention to the conditions of the Areala Universe.”
The door to the chamber creaked open, and a figure entered. Dressed in a simple yet commanding manner, the man who walked in exuded quiet confidence. His presence filled the room.
“I’ll be stepping in for Elara while she’s gone,” he announced.
Every head in the room turned toward the newcomer. He was Tenzin “The Infinite Fist,” a figure of legend.
Captain Daichi, ever the skeptic, immediately rose and approached him. “Prove yourself,” Daichi demanded, his voice steady but sharp.
Tenzin walked past him without missing a beat. “We don’t have time for this,” he replied coolly. “Thorne disappeared into a shadow as well. Chaos has consumed the Areala Universe.”
His words cut through the air like a blade. “You haven’t sensed it, have you? The Areala Universe is crumbling, and your senses are too dull to notice.”
Queen Lila and King Kael exchanged troubled glances. Tenzin continued, “Deadshot is currently surveying the universe from his tower on the Sensory Planet, making sure things are as stable as possible.”
Captain Alaric Voss stiffened slightly at the mention of Deadshot, his mind racing. Deadshot? He never gets involved in anything... What’s changed? he thought to himself.
Tenzin settled into a seat, his eyes sharp and calculating as he took in the room. “I assume Queen Seraphina grew impatient and went off to the Land of Spade to take matters into her own hands.”
Everyone turned to look at the empty chair beside Zephyros Vaal and Morrigan Umbra.
Zephyros cleared his throat. “King Arion will be here shortly. He got tied up with something in the Azure Universe.”
As if on cue, the chamber doors opened once again, but this time the atmosphere shifted dramatically. A dark, suffocating energy filled the room, causing everyone to sit up straighter, their breaths catching in their throats.
The figure that entered radiated power so intense it was palpable, pressing down on every soul present. It was King Arion.
“Apologies for my absence,” Arion said, his voice calm but dripping with authority as he made his way to his seat. The silence that followed his entrance was deafening.
It was Captain Zarius Blacktide who finally broke the tension, his voice cutting through the stillness. “Let’s get to the point. Now that all five rulers are present, what’s the plan for dealing with the Eclipse Sovereignty?”
Queen Nia took a breath before speaking. “Captain Solari is currently building a base in the Land of Spade. Once that’s complete, we’ll have a foothold in the region. From there, we can start planning a deeper advance into the Land of Spade to search for the Eclipse Sovereignty.”
Her words were measured, calm, but they were abruptly cut off.
“Enough.”
King Arion’s voice rang out like a thunderclap, sending a shiver down the spines of everyone present. The oppressive weight of his presence grew even heavier, his unknown Magic pulsating with each word.
“For far too long, we have allowed chaos to reign under the pretense of balance. The Eclipse Sovereignty festers in the shadows, growing stronger with each passing moment, while we sit here… debating.”
Arion stepped forward, his eyes blazing with a dark, unnatural intensity as he addressed Queen Nia, Lila, King Kael, and Tenzin. “You rule your universes with weak hands, hiding behind treaties and fragile alliances. That weakness breeds destruction. The Eclipse Sovereignty will not be defeated with words, nor will they cower before your attempts at diplomacy.”
His aura darkened, his magic swirling ominously around him as he continued. “What we need is power. Absolute power. A new kingdom must rise—one that unites the strongest mages from all five universes. One that will crush any who stand in our way.”
Arion paused, his voice growing even colder. “And I will lead it.”
The room grew deathly still as his words hung in the air like a dark cloud.
“We will bring peace through control, not compromise. Either you stand with me, or you stand against me. Refuse to join me, and I will take your universes by force. Your crowns, your legacies, none of it will matter. I will enforce order through strength, and I will not stop until the Eclipse Sovereignty is wiped from existence, and peace is carved into the bones of all who dare oppose me.”
His ultimatum was delivered with a finality that shook the room to its core.
“So, tell me… will you stand beside me and build this new kingdom? Or will you fall before me?”
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