“Lost,” I said calmly even as I raged inside. “We have lost an entire city,” I replied as my Castellan kow-towed before me. “I told the Lord to not engage with the UCS. What does he do? Answer me!”
“He disobeyed your will, Divine Empress,” my Castellan said. There was a quiver in his voice. Pathetic weakness. Both for his failure and his lack of ability to answer for it.
“And who is in charge of the city Lords? So that they may know of my great mercy and kindness while I am busy with other affairs?” I asked.
“I am, Divine Empress,” my Castellan answered.
“And what have we learned?” I asked.
“Nothing, Divine Empress.”
“Incorrect,” my Envoy stepped into the throne room. I turned my attention to him. It was a brazen move to speak up so in my throne room, but my Envoy knew his place. He would not speak unless it was important.
“Speak, my Envoy, and share what we have learned,” I commanded him.
“Divine Empress, the test was the destruction of the store pillars. The fallout was not limited to the local area. I have managed to gather reports, that the entire leadership council of the UCS has perished. Things have fallen into disarray,” my Envoy said.
“Impressive. Most impressive. Who leads those headless chickens now?” I asked.
“Their strongest did not perish unfortunately. He has taken charge after the fall of the Council and has taken up the title of Astrologer,” my Envoy said.
“That man. He negotiated the treaty. Him and his harem,” I said with slight disgust. He had strength and a touch of divinity. He was qualified to speak to me on behalf of the UCS. I tapped my fingers against my throne and considered the implications of the power transition and the result of destroying the pillars.
“A taboo then. Heaven does not like people interfering with its workings. Even at a great distance, its power is absolute along with its knowledge,” I spoke my thoughts out loud to get them in order. I would not test the Heavens like that.
Those old men in charge of the UCS were conniving evil Yankees. They would never risk themselves if they could risk someone else instead. That meant proxies would not work. Tricking the Heavens was not possible.
But now, my only rival was gathering power. “Good job my Envoy. You are allocated another 1,000 stats for your hard work. Castellan, for your failure, motivate yourself to do better for ten days,” I said.
“Please, Divine Empress,” he begged.
“Please? What word is this? It pleases me for you to skin yourself and make a tapestry from your flesh. A reminder to hang in your room, to educate you going forward. Begone from my sight!” He scurried away. I knew he did not have the stomach to do it himself. That was why I gave him ten days.
His screaming and suffering would hopefully sink into that skull of his. “Can we take advantage of this transition of power?” I asked my Envoy.
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“I have already secured several important technical documents from one of their research facilities during the chaos. But the Astrologer managed to stabilize the situation along with his Valkyries quite quickly. If we are to face the UCS, we would need to mobilize and your presence to counter him,” my Envoy said.
“I agree. For too long have I been on the defensive. I do not like that situation. Envoy, you will be given the task of mobilizing a combat force. Let us begin preparations. Send probing forces, harass them. And locate the position of the Astrologer. It is time we had a conversation and to take their cities under my banner,” I commanded.
My strength was growing by leaps and bounds. The reason why I did not attack before, was the vast number of low-level people the UCS had and their technology. With their leadership decapitated, they would not be able to stand against me and the cracks would show.
I had spent years grinding down the cities under my control. Going through countless Lords until I got capable people who did not think to run them. To funnel me crystals, so I could continue to grow in power. It had been exhausting as the UCS kept funding and supporting various rebel groups.
But now they had made a critical mistake and angered the Heavens. It was time to mobilize and push against their clearing groups. To force their out their secret weapons and hidden combatants. I would crush them all. As the pressure mounted, their leader would be forced to confront me, and he would die.
Once the Astrologer was dead, there would be nothing standing in my way from seizing everything. The rebels would fragment and fade away without support. Ground down over time. I would only get stronger and stronger. I did not know what awaited me, but power and my Kung-fu were the only things that truly mattered.
Screams echoed from my palace as my Castellan was skinned. He would come out the experience wiser and more capable than before as the impurities of his thoughts were purged.
I considered the future fight I would be having. It would not be simple, and I would need to train even more. I rose and left my throne room. My Envoy kow-towed as I left. He was decent, but he had not truly impressed me yet. But I could live with decent when I was surrounded by so many failures.
I returned to my chambers and removed my crown. It was a bit garish, but I liked it for when I was on the throne. It conveyed a sense of power and dignity with its silver and gold coloration intertwined and gleaming.
I set my crown on my stand and then departed my capital city. I would need train even more to be ready. I would need to push deep into the level 4 zones, killing level 5 boss monsters and possibly level 5 zones.
It would not be easy, but nothing important ever was. As I sailed across the land with powerful kicks, I smiled a bit. Even now, my body was mine to command and it never got old. As I traveled, I recalled the reports I had about the Astrologer and my personal observations when he had visited to work out the treaty that one time.
Arrogant, was the first word to come to mind. Self-assured, was another word. Like he knew the universe revolved around him. His new title was an indication that he saw himself as more knowledgeable than everyone else.
While he had the right to call himself whatever he wanted, he was not a martial artist. He was a snake in human skin. A schemer and plotter. When I saw him again, I would not hesitate or let him speak. I would act instantly and strike him down before he could unveil his scheme.
I would have to be weary of his items and Valkyries. Their teamwork was quite impressive from the reports the Envoy had gathered. In addition, they were all body fighters from what we could tell. While they might use skills, it wasn’t their primary combat method.
I also had no idea what aspect his Divinity had taken. That was why I was hesitant and willing to discuss things before. My Empire had been unstable, but now the UCS had all but collapsed. The advantage was mine. There would be no out flanking me or avoiding me now.
They would be forced into a pitched battle, and I would win. Once the Astrologer was dead, there would be no one to stand in my way. Everything was lining up in my favor and there was nothing that could counter me. With the crystals I would soon earn and the improvements to Dragon’s Talon, I would cleave my way through them all.