The massive, torch-lit chamber of wood and sandstone echoed with the countless murmurs and whispers of those who conversed within it, as the baffled voices continued to speak of the utter impossibility that their ears had all just recently laid witness to.

"Is this really true?"

"... How did they manage to defeat our long-lived enemy so quickly?"

"Madness, this is madness! This couldn't have happened in the span of mere days!"

The defeat of the Empire at the hands of its newly-surfaced enemies had already sent tremors into the hearts and minds of those who served as its greatest enemies: in a massive chamber that lied faraway from even the furthest of Xathra's outskirts, a meeting was being held between 2 nations, both of which had long been one of the Neugomian Empire's greatest enemies that hailed from another continent entirely...

And that was why the Tikonglomeran Tribes, for the very first time in their internal conflicts that had raged on for centuries, had finally managed to unite their 3 tribes under a cause that would serve to deter the newly-emerged threat that transpired in the north, and it was also the reason why they had chosen to hold a diplomatic meeting with their other rival nation, the Mizraea Dynastium, a bountiful country situated beside the lush, life-giving waters of the Naelah River. "Indeed, it is true, and for you Mizraean lot to deny it would be utterly foolish!" an old woman bearing the clothes of a shaman argued. "If we do not unite our forces this instant, we will all fall prey to the monsters who have managed to defeat of our great enemy!"

Unity against a common, greater enemy... A cause that had once worked in the past amongst the nations of Nifarusca. Unfortunately however, the hostilities amongst the men of this continent had grown to become extreme, and it was rare to ever see one nation being willing to conduct even the basest of diplomacies with its other neighbors.

In short, trust and friendship was almost nonexistent in the desert-ridden lands of Nifarusca, and it would be a point quickly proven by one of the figures who would reply to the shaman's proclamation...

"... It appears that I wasted my time coming here... A powerful enemy, you say? What makes you think that me and my people won't be able to handle their power by ourselves?"

From the far corner of the room, a hazel-haired, white robed woman with a fairly brown skin tone would stand up from her seat, her piercing golden eyes staring haughtily into the gaze of the shaman in an arrogant manner: of course, many of the other figures knew of the lady's identity as well as the authority she held, as all of their murmuring voices immediately came to a halt upon hearing her speak her words.

"... You are strong, Empress Amenophis... However, make no mistake..." the old shaman uttered sternly. "The ones who subjugated the empire may likely possess a strength that matches even yours... And it would be better for us to form an alliance so that both of our nations will survive whatever action they may take next..."

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"Haah... Such foolishness... No human in this world can ever hope to surpass my might, not even your paltry magick tricks, you old hag."

Almost immediately, her arrogant expression would quickly be met with a myriad of negative responses from the other side of the assembly.

"You royal cur! How dare you disrespect Elder Honerva with your vile insults!"

"Just because you're the empress of Mizraea, doesn't mean you can act all high and mighty!"

The Mizraean Empress simply laughed at their angered voices, refusing to take their frustrations seriously for even a second.

"Hahaha... Unfortunately for you water-deprived sand nomads, the power I wield can allow me to enforce my will upon you monkeys whenever I want~"

A dark smile then formed on Amenophis' face, with a radiant glint seemingly emerging from the golden irises of her tall, proud gaze.

"... In fact, why don't we make a short demonstration today?"

[Oh Time... Cease your movements this instant...]

"???"

"!!!"

Panic... Surprise... Shock... And eventually... Silence...

The world immediately froze over without resistance, as the golden staff wielded by Amenophis, a product of the combined properties of magick and technology, immediately began enforcing her will upon the very environment that surrounded her.

Time itself had ground to a halt, as the movements and expressions of every single living and non-living thing within the room, except her's of course, had instantly ceased: in truth, this display of might was only a portion of the true strength that Amenophis had always kept hidden, and such was the immense power that the Empress held, that stopping the entire flow of time within the world was nothing more than child's play to her...

Eventually however, the twist upon the folds of reality would be undone, as the world would eventually come to normal with but a single command she made through the golden staff she always held with her left hand...

[May the flow of time return to its proper state...]

Of course though, as everything eventually returned to normal, the other schemes that Amenophis had enacted amidst the short halting of time she caused, would immediately surface into reality through a cascading series of small calamities.

SPLAT! SPLAT! SPLAT! SPLAT!

"H-HOW THE HELL?!"

"T-THAT DAMN WOMAN!!!"

The ones who previously shouted at the Mizraean Empress after she insulted the shaman... In only a few seconds, their once normal, unharmed bodies had all suddenly exploded into a collective of fine, red mist, leaving only their gaseous ichor as their bodies were mercilessly vaporized by an unknown force, and this horrific violence immediately set all the others into a state of fear and panic.

"I'm ashamed that it took a reminder for you savages to realize just how powerful I truly am." the expression on Amenophis uttered, her face suddenly turning into that of a cold one. "Do you now realize how easily I can deal with these so-called 'enemies' that you all fear so much?"

Seeing her arrogance, the old shaman simply sighed in defeat, kneeling down without a word as she quickly realized that everything they had done was ultimately pointless.

"... I-I suppose then, Your Majesty. We'll be taking our leave then... However, let me remind you..." the shaman stated. "You have been warned beforehand... Whatever tragedy will happen to you that will involve our newly-risen adversaries..."

"Let me remind you that you only have yourself to blame for your arrogance..."

"Hah... Your words mean nothing, you old hag. My power will let me handle whatever incursion that these interlopers might attempt in the future." the empress responded with a heavy sense of pride. "And I firmly believe that I won't be needing any of your help in this matter, so please leave my lands as quickly as you can... This entire meeting has been nothing more than a waste of my time..."