The swamp that covered the center of the Dark Jade Forest was considered by many to be the most hostile area of the Nexian Empire, along with the orc wasteland. The Grayblood Swamp—so nicknamed for the grayish color of its water—was inhabited by one of the most numerous demi-human races in the entire forest: the lizardmen. Unlike goblins, who lived in many small, autonomous villages, and the Oni, who lived in a single town, the lizardmen were divided into numerous small settlements and tribes, but unified under a single ruler.

  The lizardmen were an interesting species. They possessed amphibious characteristics, making the swamp the perfect place for their natural habitat. Their webbed feet allowed for great agility, despite their large size. Objectively speaking, lizardmen were on average taller than humans and possessed slightly greater strength. Their appearance was deduced from the species' name: they were truly humanoid lizards on two legs, with gray or brown scales. They possessed a long tail—of which they were very proud about—and an elongated snout. However, they should not be confused with the lucertoid or the dragonmen, their subspecies.

  The former lacked elongated snouts and tended to be more human-like in appearance. They retained tails and webbed feet, but their size was smaller. Their physical strength was similar, but not their agility, which had instead increased. As for the latter—the dragonmen— they were essentially an evolved form of lizardmen. They possessed two dragon wings and the ability to breathe fire. They could be mistaken for fully humanoid half-dragons, as some possessed the ability to assume a fully humanoid form. It is still unclear why some dragonmen have the ability to shift between the two forms and others do not; it remains a scientific mystery.

  The lizardmen of the Dark Jade Forest had always been proud and valiant, considered great warriors. Their history was filled with wars against the serpent tribe and internal battles for power. These struggles for the crown ended when Lizard Magnus, a valiant general of a small tribe, founded a great army led by the Six Great Heroes, legendary warriors that every lizardman aspired to become. The Six Heroes had always refrained from fighting wars for power, so the news that the strongest warriors of their kind had sworn loyalty to a single lord caused quite a stir at the time, earning Lizard Magnus and his ascension to the throne a large following.

  Twenty years later, though advanced in age, Lizard Magnus still sat on the throne, beloved by all his subjects. He had only one goal in mind: ensure that his species lived in peace and harmony. During his long life, Lizard fathered two children, a son named Abiru Gabiru Magnus and a daughter named Tokka Shoka Magnus. The former followed in his father's footsteps and became a soldier in the army. The latter, instead, became captain of the royal guard, ready to serve and protect her father until her death.

  As for the Six Great Heroes, after the war, they returned to their home villages, retiring to private life, leaving room for new generations of heroes. Although they were all considered the best of their kind, if asked which was the strongest, two names would undoubtedly emerge: Tiberio Senshi and Druso Senshi.

  As their surname suggests, the two were brothers: Tiberio the elder and Druso the younger. They were also the youngest members of the Great Heroes, but unquestionably the most powerful. Tiberio was a mix between a warrior and a druid—one might dare to call him a paladin—but the lack of a protective or venerated deity would make that term incorrect. Druso, on the other hand, was a 100% pure warrior, famous throughout the kingdom for being the owner of the infamous Lich Bane, a powerful magical sword obtained during one of his wanderings. It was considered on par with the relics possessed by the other members of the Great Heroes. Like their companions, Tiberio and Druso also returned to their home village after the war: the elder became the leader of the tribe—succeeding his father—while the younger left to discover the world beyond the Dark Jade Forest, returning periodically to tell his brother about his adventures.

  Unlike goblin villages, lizardmen’s ones were walled, not only because of their history of battle and warfare, but also because of wild magical beasts such as giant basilisks and thousand-bladed bears. One of the most famous villages was Tob, birthplace of Lizard Magnus, as well as Tiberio and Druso Senshi.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  1st of the month of the gray dragon (March) 15:58 PM

  "Good morning, chieftain!"

  One of the village guards declared proudly, raising his mace in respect before his leader.

  "Good morning!"

  Tiberio retorted, waving his hand and looking toward some children playing in the mud. It was a source of great satisfaction for him to see his home village so calm and at peace. He felt proud of himself for how he had handled everything after the Great War. He himself had no problem admitting that he would never have been able to achieve such a level of serenity without his younger brother. He had always considered him superior to himself, despite the repeated refusals to acknowledge this belief as true from the latter.

  After a few minutes, Tiberio reached a small pond just outside the village and immediately approached the wooden hut nearby, the residence of his younger brother Druso.

  "Brother! Are you home?"

  The reptile rumbled, pounding on the door of the small hut with particular insistence, aware of the other's heavy sleep. Memories from when they were still under the strict training of their elder came to mind. The number of times Druso had woken from bed without needing a beating could be counted on one hand.

  "Druso! Wake up!"

  He knocked again, after getting no answer the first time.

  "What are you shouting for? I'm here!"

  A voice answered from behind him. Tiberio whirled around, noticing another lizardman approaching him with a small sack under his arm.

  "There you are, brother. I thought you were still in bed!"

  Tiberio jokingly declared, smiling at Druso, who merely shrugged. Seen side by side, one would have immediately appointed them as brothers, despite the elder being taller and more robust, and with many more battle scars than the younger.

  "Can I ask what you need? Did you come to steal food?"

  Druso made no effort to hide the jabs in his ironic question. His brother would never have stolen from the fish farm, but the tribal chief's gluttony was well known throughout the village.

  "What?! No! Of course not!"

  Tiberio approached the nearby pond and began slapping his sturdy tail on the ground, watching the fish his brother was training. He was getting hungry.

  They're nice and fat...and succulent.

  "Your tail gives you away, as your wife always says."

  Druso taunted him cheerfully, taking a few steps toward the elder brother.

  "Huh? That hag dares talk like that about her husband? She'll hear me when I get home!"

  "We both know which one of you two is in charge inside that cabin, or am I wrong?"

  "Umpf!"

  "Don't take it personally! You told me you'd only marry a woman who could make you bleed in bed. When I came back a few months ago and found you with a pregnant wife, you have no idea how surprised I was!"

  Tiberio laughed at the memory of that moment. It was one of the funniest moments of his life, and he still couldn't help but laugh mockingly at himself. He'd always been somewhat proud of his physical strength and stamina in bed; who would have expected he'd find a woman capable of subduing him under the covers?

  "Yeah...I can't get mad at you for that, little bro."

  “I know I'm going to sound repetitive, but why are you here, brother? I'm sure you didn't just come to say hello.”

  Tiberio nodded at the question. There was no reason to hide the fact that his visit was more than a simple polite greeting.

  "I came to talk to you about some things that are troubling me, brother. You always know how to give me good advice..."

  Druso opened his eyes in surprise at that admission. What could disturb so much a veteran soldier like his older brother? They have literally faced death more than once, and have always survived it all.

  "Tell me, I'm listening."

  "His Majesty left this morning with his personal guard to meet the Troll King."

  "Are you serious? It's not a lie, is it?"

  "Do you think I could get lied to?"

  "No, brother..."

  Druso was certain his brother wasn't joking. Tiberio was fiercely loyal to Lizard Magnus; he would never even joke about anything involving the King.

  "Why does His Majesty want to meet the Troll King?"

  "It seems that the orcs have attacked some border villages of ours."

  He began to explain, keeping his gaze fixed on the body of water in front of them.

  “His Majesty thinks that if those pigs have the courage to attack us so brazenly that even the trolls are worried, then they have a secret weapon.”

  "It's possible. They must be truly desperate! Their area is arid and starved of food, after all. How a race as numerous as theirs could survive there amazes even me, and I'm one who's seen the world from all sides."

  Druso placed his hand on his right shoulder, where there was a mark resembling the letter W. It had been made when he first left the journey some twenty years earlier. To the lizardmen, wanderers were considered honorless warriors who had deserted their homeland and abandoned their duties—along with their pride as a member of the glorious race to which they belonged. For this reason, he lived outside the village walls, and almost no one visited him, except his older brother.

  "Don't look like that, brother. If it weren't for you, we would never have strengthened our walls or learned some of your cultivation techniques. Our tribe owes you a great deal."

  "Thank you for the kind words, dear brother."

  Tiberio- although he had resented his brother for his choice- could not help but be proud of him, but he would never admit it out loud to avoid being accused of favoritism by the village elders.

  Those old men would do anything to discredit my brother, even taking it out on those close to him.

  Just thinking about the village elders made Tiberio furious. They only looked to tradition and were unhappy with the changes, even the necessary ones. Some time ago, Druso had proposed adopting a new structural method to strengthen the walls. The elders were obviously opposed, declaring that improving the defenses during peacetime would be pointless. When asked, "Why not?" they simply replied "Because it's always been done that way, and we know better."

  Very mature and logical...

  "Returning to His Majesty's, do you think an alliance between us and the trolls is possible?"

  "I don't know. The only thing that's certain is that I will follow my King, whatever choice he makes..."

  "And I will be with you, my brother."

  Tiberio crossed his arms and stared into space. He wished that his younger brother had become chieftain instead of him. It was clear that he was superior to him in many ways, and even now he firmly believed that if Druso were in charge instead, the village would surely be in good hands. The lizard's eye then shifted to his brother's side, where the famous Lich Bane was tied, a white-hilted, seemingly bladeless sword. This was merely a deception, as the blade could generate a bundle of mana to be used as such.

  Druso always proudly recounted how he had obtained it by defeating its previous owner, a powerful wizard named Higva. He had impaled him in the right eye with his own magical sword, then claimed it as his own. As one of the Six Great Heroes, Tiberio also possessed an enchanted weapon, but not on the caliber of the infamous Lich Bane. His sword was called the MC Sword, a blue-handled weapon capable of increasing its wielder's physical strength. It wasn't an uncommon effect, but the enhancement was significant.

  "You know, without your support as chieftain, this wouldn't have been possible."

  Druso commented, pointing to his farm.

  "I did it for the good of our community. I want to avoid starvation if another power struggle ever breaks out."

  "You're too pessimistic, Tiberio..."

  "And you're too optimistic!"

  The two brothers burst into laughter. They were so similar and yet so different, yet there was a strong, undeniable bond between them. They had fought for so many years that they knew each other better than anyone else. The moment's stillness was shattered, however, by purple clouds that suddenly appeared above the entire village.

  "What?!"

  Tiberio and Druso opened their eyes in shock; they had never seen anything like it. The elder immediately began running toward the village, followed closely by the younger. Once they reached the square, the situation had completely changed from before: the children were crying in fear instead of playing happily; the bright sky was now covered with purple clouds that emitted lightning bolts of the same color. It was total chaos.

  All the armed males advanced to protect their families. They raised their rudimentary clubs, ready to fight to the death; it was what they were born to do.

  "Hide the children! Anyone who isn't a warrior, go to your home! Now!"

  The chieftain roared, advancing toward the center of the village, rejoining the warriors. They were visibly frightened, but Tiberio's presence gave them confidence. If he was there with them, nothing could harm him.

  Someone can tell me what the hell is going on?

  He had never seen anything like it. His warrior instincts immediately told him it wasn't a natural phenomenon. Tiberio quickly turned to his brother, hoping that the wisdom of someone who had seen the world as he had could offer some explanation. But as soon as he saw the look of amazement and confusion on Druso's face, he immediately understood that not even a wise man like him knew what was happening. This alone was enough to increase the tribal leader's anxiety. Something was coming; something extremely powerful and dangerous.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  "Brother! Look!"

  Druso shouted at him, pointing to a purple lightning bolt about to strike the center of the village. Tiberio thought it was a bolt like the others, but when he saw a figure rising from the impact point, he realized he was greatly mistaken.

  "What it that?"

  "I don’t know..."

  The two brothers watched as a large presence emerged from the darkness: a pale-skinned woman, over 10 feet tall, with purple eyes and white hair so long that it reached well past her back- despite being tied up. She wore black pants, a dark purple jacket and a light purple top with a small belt below her chest. The woman’s dark aura, combined with her powerful physique, made everyone in the village suspect she was a formidable opponent.

  "Have you ever seen such a creature, brother?"

  "Never! In all my travels I have never encountered anything like that!"

  "Is she a Yuki-Onna?"

  Snow women, or Yuki-Onna, were considered a sort of minor deity, present only in areas outside the forest. Normally encountered in mountainous landscapes. It would have been extremely rare to encounter them in the swamp.

  “No, she is too big! Besides, I've met snow women before, and I can assure you that they're much warmer than she is."

  The two brothers studied the figure for a few minutes before moving in unison toward the woman, approaching her cautiously. Some of the city soldiers formed a semi-circle around the pale woman, who simply placed her hand on her right thigh, as if waiting for something.

  "May I know who you are and what you came to do here?"

  Tiberio asked in an authoritative tone. Though those were mere words, seeing their leader so confident in the face of such a colossal creature boosted the courage of the nearby warriors, who attempted a slight step forward, clutching their weapons as if they were lifesavers.

  "Sorry for the sudden intrusion, lizardmen."

  The pale woman replied, her tone cold and devoid of any feeling.

  "My name is Hirashi, and I am here as a messenger of my lord."

  "I am Tiberio Senshi, chief of this village! You can deliver your message to me!"

  The chieftain declared, drawing the white giantess's attention to himself.

  "I understand. I apologize further for the surprise arrival, Sir Tiberio."

  The fact that this mysterious creature had just used an honorific surprised the tribal chief quite a bit, but he nevertheless kept his guard up and signaled his soldiers to lower their weapons. Aside from the dramatic entrance, Hirashi hadn't done anything threatening or overtly aggressive, so it would have been disrespectful to show hostility to a messenger.

  “No problem, Lady Hirashi.”

  Tiberio declared aloud, sheathing his sword. It was clear that this was all a way to avoid needless bloodshed. Fighting and dying in battle was an unparalleled honor for the lizardmen, but that didn't mean that it was honorable committing suicide against an unknown enemy.

  “Now, can you tell us your message and who sent it?”

  "Certainly. The message comes from the Absolute Almodeus, Demon of Fear-"

  "A demon?! Are you kidding?!"

  One of the soldiers behind her interrupted, stunned. He'd expected anything but a demon as the instigator. Usually, it was the demons who served, not the other way around.

  "Do I look like I'm joking to you?"

  "Please, forgive him, Lady Hirashi! I humbly ask you to understand that demons are not a common sight in these parts."

  Some of the soldiers seemed surprised by the proud tribal chief's respectful, almost submissive tone. They began to wonder why he was using an honorific with someone who, in their eyes, was an invader. It was obvious that only Tiberio—along with his brother—had understood how powerful the woman before them was. It wasn't just her physique beneath her clothes, but also her dark aura and total lack of emotion that made her so incredibly dangerous.

  "There's no need to apologize. I can understand your reaction; it's completely normal. Sir Tiberio...may I continue?"

  "Sure, go ahead."

  "As I was saying, the Absolute has sent me to report the following: We are conquering the entire Dark Jade Forest and offering every people a choice."

  "A choice?"

  Hirashi nodded and raised both her arms, symbolizing the plates of a scale.

  "Exactly. You can submit or die."

  "Are you kidding!?"

  Tiberio was about to reply, but one of the soldiers behind Hirashi beat him to it. His words betrayed his indignation. How could anyone ask them, the proud lizardmen, to submit?

  "I repeat...Do I look like I'm joking?"

  "How can you think we will submit to your master!? We are a warrior race! We will never submit without a fight!"

  "Be quiet, Ruje!"

  The chief's words silenced the soldier, drawing all eyes back to Hirashi, who stood stoically in the center of them. She wasn't the least bit worried, despite being alone against an entire village of strong lizardmen.

  We must avoid fighting. It doesn't look like she’s so stupid to underestimate her enemies.

  "I beg you again to forgive him..."

  "I don't get upset about anything so easily, don't worry."

  Hirashi declared, adjusting her jacket collar with an almost eerie calm. That simple movement was enough to put all the soldiers on guard. They were putting on tough faces, but everyone was intimidated by the giantess. She wasn't as big as a troll, but her aura of power was almost suffocating.

  “Anyway…what’s your answer?”

  Tiberio's blood ran cold at that question. How could he make such a decision on the spur of the moment? He couldn't; he didn't have the authority.

  "I cannot accept this. It would go against everything we believe in! Please understand, Lady Hirashi."

  The pale woman's face remained stoic, and she simply sighed.

  "Master Tiberio, may I be honest with you? Please forgive me if I say something that offends you in any way, but I want to play my cards on the table..."

  The warrior was shocked by her request. It was completely unheard of, especially for a messenger, but he couldn't refuse. They didn't have the military strength to silence her. Only he and Druso had realized the reality of the situation. Even though they were the ones who had surrounded Hirashi, she wasn't the one in danger.

  "Speak on, Lady Hirashi."

  The woman took a deep breath and let her arms fall to her sides.

  "In my opinion, you'd better accept. Those who submit are led to greatness..."

  "I can't-"

  "My master is not one to joke."

  Hirashi interrupted him with a matter-of-fact tone. She kept her tone of voice respectful, but it sounded a little more emotional; more honestly brutal.

  “I'm not saying this for myself, but for you. If you don't accept, you will all die. Not just soldiers and villagers, but also the elderly, women, and children. No atrocity is too great for him.”

  Those last words chilled the blood of every lizardman in the vicinity. Tiberio clenched his fists, thinking of his wife and unborn child; the soldiers did the same. This veiled threat had come from who knows where, and from someone they couldn't trust. Who could guarantee they wouldn't die anyway if they laid down their arms?

  This Almodeus guy again. I've never heard of this demon before, but if he has someone like her in his employ, he must be powerful... We need to be cautious. I doubt this Hirashi's strength lies solely in her aura.

  "How dare you threaten us!!!!"

  One of the lizardmen on either side of Hirashi raised his club in anger and lunged at the woman in a desperate rage. It was a stupid move- even idiotic at best. That single act could have sparked an unprecedented war. It was immediately clear that the messenger was extremely powerful; harming her would surely provoke an aggressive response.

  I have to keep her from getting hurt! If all of this Almodeus's minions are as powerful as she is, then we have no hope of winning in an all-out war.

  Tiberio moved to stop the soldier, but before he could take a second step, a shower of blood obscured his vision. In less than a second, the attacker's corpse fell to the ground like a garbage bag. The only movement was the dead lizardman's blood, which gushed out from the gash in his chest like a fountain.

  "B-But how...?"

  None of those present understood what had happened. Their comrade had been cut in half in the blink of an eye. The strangest thing? Hirashi hadn't even moved an inch during all of this; some even doubted that she had killed him in the first place, and that someone was lurking from a distance. However, they still couldn't explain how a sturdy lizardman had been cut in two so easily, not to mention the unknown weapon used in the murder. The wound separating the deceased soldier's body couldn't have been the work of a simple bow or spell.

  "I apologize for the accident, I acted on impulse."

  Hirashi said, breaking the silence. There was no real regret in her words; her apology was based solely on formal etiquette. However, the mere fact that she was apologizing implied that she had committed the murder. It was still possible that someone else had committed that atrocity, but they had no proof of that. The question remained: how she had managed to eliminate a lizardman without even moving or getting blood on her hand?

  "You don't have to apologize. It was his mistake..."

  Tiberio commented, resuming his authoritative stance. His companions gaped in astonishment at this latest sign of indirect submission. One of them had just died, and Tiberio was still trying to maintain control of the situation instead of avenging his comrade? Only Druso understood that this was the right choice.

  "B-But...tribal chief!"

  "No buts! Attacking a messenger is unforgivable, regardless of the message they’re carrying!"

  Tiberio's words made everyone present nod: they couldn't deny that it was their comrade who had attacked first. Nevertheless, they would be ready to avenge him, even if it meant starting a war. Dying in war was a great honor, after all.

  "Nevertheless, I cannot accept your offer, Lady Hirashi. I do not have the authority."

  “True, you lizardmen are under the dominion of your King...”

  The woman stated, sounding understanding.

  “So I can't convince you? Is there nothing your heart desires?”

  That last statement was taken as an insult by many of those present. Did this woman truly believe that their loyalty could be bought like fish at the market?

  "My answer is the same. I'm sorry."

  "I understand..."

  Hirashi raised her right hand to the chin and seemed to consider her next move. It was clear she hadn't expected such a fierce resistance. Fortunately, Almodea hadn't come in her place, otherwise it would have all ended in a bloodbath.

  "Listen, Sir Tiberio...may I ask you a question?"

  "Agreed."

  "If your King decided to submit, would everyone else follow him?"

  The question made the lizardman open his mouth in dismay. For a proud species like theirs, that was an insult above all others. Had that woman really proposed asking their King to subjugate their entire race? She should have been put to death for even thinking it, let alone saying it aloud!

  "I thought so, but there are many factors to consider."

  Druso spoke up, stepping forward to support his brother. His response was taken even more harshly than Hirashi's question. The mere fact that one of them—a member of the Six Heroes above all—had even considered the idea was pure blasphemy.

  "True. Rebellions, dissensions..."

  Hirashi fell silent and looked around the village, then returned her gaze to Tiberio.

  "Can you take me to your King? I have orders to deliver my message to him as well. I had hoped to subdue the individual villages first, starting with this one. But if I encounter such stiff resistance in each of your settlements, I have no hope of escaping this without a bloodshed. It was a mistake on my part not to go to your leader immediately."

  The two brothers looked at each other, seeking mutual support. They couldn't refuse to take Hirashi to their sovereign, otherwise there would be a risk of a battle in the city. If they had had time to evacuate the civilians, perhaps they could have sacrificed themselves to discover the pale giantess's true strength, but since that wasn't the case, it would have been too risky to face her head on with the children and the women still in the village.

  She's got us cornered. Damn bastard!

  "Yes, but it will take about five days of travel, not counting any magical beasts on the road and bad weather."

  "I have a solution for that. Just tell me where the royal palace is."

  Reluctantly, Tiberio and Druso gave Hirashi the directions, knowing that denying them could lead to a battle in their village, and as tribal chief, the eldest had a duty to protect his home. In his heart, he doubted the pale woman would use the opportunity to assassinate the sovereign, given that he was absent and had left the throne manned by the first Prince—killing him would be the indelible mark on a war treaty.

  “Understood. Thank you so much for your help. I'll have to bring you two with me to avoid being seen as an enemy. Do you suffer from transport sickness?”

  “Huh? What do you mean—“

  Without waiting for a response, Hirashi snapped her fingers. That was enough to teleport her and the two lizardmen to the throne room of the royal palace. They were immediately greeted with raised spears by the guards, who were as surprised as everyone else in the room—except Hirashi herself, of course.

  "Can I know what's going on?! Who are you and what do you want?!"

  Prince Gabiru thundered, rising from his throne and pointing his trident at the intruders, while also ordering his armed guards to surround them and barricade the exits. Tiberio and Druso immediately bowed before the sovereign. They were confused, but not so much as to forget their hierarchy.

  "My name is Hirashi."

  The woman introduced herself coldly, bowing slightly.

  “I apologize for my sudden arrival, but I bring a message from my master.”

  "A message?"

  The Prince observed the woman for a few minutes, then shifted his gaze to the two lizard men he had brought with him.

  "You two instead? Who are you?"

  Gabiru asked, looking at them quite irritably.

  "I am Tiberio Senshi and this is my brother, Druso Senshi!"

  "Senshi? Those Senshi?! You're part of the 6 great heroes?! What are you doing here?!"

  The Prince had never met the two legendary warriors in person, but he knew his father held them in enormous respect. In the name of that respect, he lowered his weapon, realizing that at least they posed no threat. They would never betray the throne.

  "Lady Hirashi speaks the truth, sire! She has come to deliver a message. I was the one who asked her to pass it on to you, as our guide!"

  The vicar sovereign nodded and shifted his gaze to the woman, observing her briefly. He was surprised, and even a little intimidated by her size. He had never seen such a large and beautiful woman in his life.

  "I am Abiru Gabiru Magnus! Prince of the mighty lizardmen! I grant you the power to speak, messenger!"

  Hirashi nodded at the introduction. She didn't question why the official King wasn't present- she didn't care; it would have been a waste of time asking. In her opinion, it would have been better to get everything done now and close the matter once and for all.

  "My lord, the Absolute Almodeus, is conquering the entire Dark Jade Forest. The goblin tribes have already fallen, and you are next. I am here to offer the lizardmen a prominent position in the new organization of the world to come."

  She declared aloud.

  “Simply put, I ask you to submit to avoid extermination.”

  The woman's cold words struck Gabiru like a bolt from the blue. It was inconceivable to him that anyone would be so brazen as to suggest that the glorious lizardmen submit so quickly, without even a battle.

  "Is this a joke?!!"

  Gabiru roared, completely disparaging the etiquette lessons and shouting at a messenger, ignoring the common saying “Don't shoot the messenger". Hirashi was there to deliver a message, and it would be wrong to blame her for the words she had been ordered to say. But the Prince seemed to care little about the circumstances, too concerned with maintaining his honor.

  "Why does everyone think I'm joking today?"

  Gabiru's anger intensified at that ironic question. He was so furious that black smoke was coming out of his ears. If he hadn't had gray scales, he would probably have turned red with rage.

  "Because your message is idiotic! We are the lizardmen, not mere goblins! We will never submit without a fight! Especially not to monstrosities like you!"

  "Your Majesty!"

  Tiberio interrupted him, approaching him. He was committing a crime of high treason by interrupting the sovereign, but he could not allow the Prince to mistreat a messenger: it went against their principles, which were the same ones decreed by the King to whom he had given his loyalty.

  "Forgive me for interrupting, sire. It would be better to discuss this..."

  He declared, supported by his brother Druso.

  "Exactly, the best idea would be to gather the tribal leaders and elders, and then decide together and-"

  "No! There's no way we are submitting!"

  The Prince roared, silencing his subordinate with a flick of his tail. For him, listening to all this was an affront to his pride and the crown he metaphorically wore on his head.

  "Is that your final answer?"

  Hirashi's question brought his attention back to her. Despite the disrespect she'd suffered, she didn't seem offended, much less irritated. She remained stoic, as if she didn't care at all. This unnerved Tiberio quite a bit. If a woman was so cold when talking about extermination, he couldn't imagine how many lives she herself had taken.

  No…I can't abandon them.

  The image of his pregnant wife became ever clearer in his mind. Tiberio couldn't allow a war to break out, even at the risk of submitting without a fight.

  "Lady Hirashi, could you give us some time to discuss this?"

  Druso implored, approaching the giant woman. In his heart, Tiberio was thanking him for taking his place. Of the two, he was undoubtedly the wiser and more experienced in the art of rhetoric.

  "I'll give you one day at most."

  “Can I ask you three? We have to give everyone time to arrive and to discuss this, or we won't get any support!”

  “Okay, let it be three days. By then, you should have a definitive answer.”

  She replied, holding up three of her sturdy fingers.

  “I hope to get a response. Thank you for your time.”

  With that, Hirashi vanished into thin air, leaving no trace of her presence. The general shock was short-lived, as a furious scream echoed throughout the throne room. More than a scream, it sounded like a child's wail.

  "How dare you?! You're a member of the Six Great Heroes, but you can't make decisions for the King!"

  The Prince rebuked Druso, striking his trident on the ground.

  "Your Majesty, I'm sure my brother had a good reason!"

  Tiberio declared, giving the other time to approach the sovereign, bowing his head in a sign of respect. He had committed an unforgivable act; he could easily have been considered a traitor! But none of the guards attempted to chain him, as was normally the protocol. They didn't have the courage without a direct order from the King.

  "I know I acted impulsively and will accept any punishment! However, I believe it is right that we hold a meeting with the veterans, the elders, and the druids! Even if we respond negatively to their requests, we may still have time to prepare for the invasion!"

  "What do you mean?"

  "Sire, if that woman's master is so sure of defeating us, it is because he surely has information about our military strength and will have already prepared armies!"

  Druso declared himself confident, thanks to his experience in military matters.

  “By delaying the response, we have more time to level the playing field, at least in the information one.”

  The Prince, still irritated at being passed over, nodded in agreement, amazed at the vagabond's quick thinking.

  "Okay, let's do as you say. Call all the members of the various political factions present in the palace and in the nearby villages! They must be here by this evening!"

  Gabiru thundered, making the soldiers spring like puppets. Once alone in the room, he fell heavily onto the throne, as if fainting. He raised his right hand to his face and sighed heavily, still frightened by the dark aura emitted by the woman who introduced herself as Hirashi. He had never been so afraid in his life.

  “I have to fix this problem, and fast! I sit on the throne for a minute and there's trouble, damn it!”