( The Mercenary camp )
In the grand tent at the heart of the Mercenary camp, the elite members of Avan's council gathered.
Tension hung heavy in the air, the usual prideful chatter and reports were replaced by a stinging silence.
At the end of the room, atop a raised platform, sat Avan, the Mercenary King, the tier8 monarch, a great god amongst gods.
His eyes, dark as the night, scanned over the written report in his hand, the parchment visibly trembling.
"The Coalition forces led by Gurdan... obliterated?" Avan's voice echoed in the grand hall, a wave of dread washing over the council. "And the orbs... all six orbs destroyed?" His voice held no hint of disbelief, rather a cold acknowledgement of reality.
"Indeed, my lord," confirmed his councillor, a veteran warrior who had seen countless wars and skirmishes, but the weight of this particular loss was evident on his face.
"The Bloodfall clan, in cooperation with the True Elites guild, launched a strategic attack on our forces. In a separate mission, Jhonny English, a god from their guild, managed to infiltrate our camps and destroy all six orbs."
As the councillor relayed the events, Avan's eyes drifted down to one particular line in the report. The name of his beloved disciple, Gurdan, underlined in red. He had personally raised Gurdan from a young age, moulding him into a tier6 warrior, a god in his own right.
"Neatwit," Avan's voice was barely a whisper as he read out the name of the one responsible for Gurdan's death. A cruel decapitation... by the guildmaster of the True Elites himself.
The hall fell into a silence so profound that one could hear a pin drop. Avan's gaze hardened, a spark of deep-rooted anger flickering in his eyes. He crushed the report in his hand, the crumpling paper echoing like a storm in the silent room.
"Leave," Avan commanded, his voice ringing out with authority. The council members bowed their heads, shuffling out of the room. The Mercenary King was left alone, his aura enveloping the grand hall in a cloak of darkness and suppressed rage. The tier8 monarch was a god of war, but even gods had moments of pain.
But the storm had yet to come. The Mercenary King's response to this catastrophe would decide the course of the war. As the last councillor left the room, the door closed with a resounding thud, leaving the Mercenary King alone with his thoughts and his vengeance.
" The true elites and the Bloodfall clan, don't think for a second that the Mercenary King will ever forget this loss.
The day might be yours but eternal revenge shall be mine
Max Rajput
Ravan Bloodfall
Guildmaster Neatwit -
I vow to personally kill you by my own hands before this war is over" Avans said as he smashed the table in front of him with anger.
**********
( Meanwhile Lucifer )
In the heart of the demonic camp, sipping wine besides the disc he was meant to protect, Lucifer read the daily report presented to him.
"Bloodfall Clan... interesting," Lucifer murmured, his voice resonating with a power that sent shivers down the spine of his demon councillor.
The report was a testament to the Bloodfall clan's prowess. They had, in an unprecedented feat of strength and strategy, annihilated the Coalition forces led by Gurdan. But what intrigued Lucifer the most was the mention of a certain individual: Max Rajput.
" Shakuni's brother is making a name for himself, how nice- " Lucifer murmured as continued to read the report.
As per the report, this Max Rajput had managed to kill Trailblazer Tweety, a tier6 god and pushed back three other gods - Gurdan, Vas, and Donatella.
Onlookers describe the battle as extremely one sided as if it was a monarch suppressing three tier6 god's.
Lucifer's smirk widened at the news, the name 'Gurdan' piquing his interest. A direct disciple of the Mercenary King, defeated so easily. It seemed his fellow monarch had suffered quite a blow.
"Max Rajput," Lucifer mused aloud, leaning back into his throne. His fingers drummed on the armrest, a rhythmic sound that echoed in the room. "A warrior who managed to take down a god and push back three others... Certainly not a common feat."
He regarded the report once more, a slow smile curling up the corners of his lips. "Interesting, very interesting. Seems like we have a new player on the field."
Lucifer's interest was piqued. The game had changed, and with it, new players had emerged. It was a fascinating development that promised a riveting climax.
His flame-imbued eyes sparkled with intrigue, "Let's keep an eye on Rudra's brother. He may just prove to be quite... entertaining."
As the devil mulled over the turn of events, a new wave of anticipation washed over his evil mind.
The future seemed to be filled with endless possibilities for him.
**********
( Meanwhile somewhere near the central line dividing the light and dark faction )
Ferox Blackfang, a prime tier6 warrior and the leader of the Blackfang Berserkers stood overlooking a large battlefield map when a servant handed him an urgent battle report sent by the tier 8 Sovereign Kane.
Rising from the brutal streets of the dark faction to lead a fierce guild, Ferox had earned the moniker 'Ruthless Reaper' by crushing foes with frightening efficiency.
He held a reputation that made the bravest warriors in the faction pause.
His life had been a ruthless climb up the ladder of power. Growing up in the dark faction's ruthless backstreets, he had fought his way to the top with indomitable spirit and unyielding ambition. Now he sought to further his glory, to etch his name in the annals of the dark faction's history as its greatest warrior.
The vast map of the battlefield sprawled on his table bore testament to Ferox's strategic prowess. Three conspicuous 'X' marks on the map represented the orbs he had already annihilated. Each mark was a testimony to his tactical acumen and ruthless strength, a symbol of hard-won victories.
The news of the Bloodfall clan's achievement reached him in the midst of this strategic solitude. His eyes, usually cold and calculated, narrowed at the report. It was a tale of impressive victory - Max Rajput's exploits with the Bloodfall clan, decimation of three tier6 gods, and the downfall of 'Trailblazer Tweety.'
A spark of envy ignited within Ferox, the flame of rivalry burning brighter. "Max Rajput, Ravan Bloodfall" he murmured, the names bitter on his tongue.
The news was a testament to the rising star's brilliance, a brilliance that threatened to overshadow his achievements.
Flinging the report aside, his gaze returned to the map. "Max Rajput, isn't he the younger brother of Shakuni? " he muttered, the name a silent challenge echoing through the tent.
The gleam in his eyes hardened, reflecting a new determination, a resolution to outshine this particular rising star.
Thus, in the midst of war, a rival emerged from the shadows, his ambition as fierce as Ferox's namesake. As the drums of war reverberated across the battlefield, it was a question of when, not if, the paths of Ferox Blackfang and Max Rajput would cross.
—----
/// A/N - Chapter 12 of 20, that's it for the day! Hope you all enjoy ///