I looked around carefully, taking in the surroundings. From the rows of houses and the tall walls in the distance, I realized where I had arrived. The main palace of Peanu stood not too far away, its golden spires shining under the sky. I wasn’t just in the capital—I was standing inside the palace grounds itself.
Stepping out of the teleportation chamber, I kept low and quiet, slipping into the shadows.
Roland was ahead of me, moving quickly with heavy steps. His shoulders were tense, his pace urgent. I followed close behind, my perception wrapped tightly around him, making sure not to lose track even for a moment.
He rushed into another chamber, the doors swinging open with force. I didn’t enter with him; instead, I pressed myself against the cold stone pillar just outside, hiding in the dim light.
Inside, two elderly men were already seated, deep in conversation. Their faces were lined with age and experience, their voices low but calm. When Roland burst in, they both stopped mid-sentence, surprise flashing across their wrinkled faces.
The man sitting on the left , Malcolm turned first. His sharp eyes locked onto Roland, and his voice carried a tone of command.
"What happened?"
Roland straightened his back and forced the words out, his voice trembling but eager.
"Finally... I found a way to deal with that man."
The other elder leaned forward slightly. His name was Theodore, and his eyes narrowed with interest. He tapped the table gently with his finger before he spoke,"Explain".
Malcolm leaned back in his chair, folding his thin arms. "Yeah, you look like hell, Roland. Speak clearly. What happened?"
Roland swallowed, then took a step closer to the table. "I went inside the castle on the island. The one sealed behind the flame wall. We thought it was just a test site, some ancient ruin. But I was wrong. It’s worse."
Theodore, the quieter of the two, tilted his head. His hair was white as snow, his eyes dull but steady. "Worse how?"
Roland clenched his fists. His voice dropped lower, almost a whisper. "We lost them. Horun, Sakar, Shinjo, Gloria, Brutus. All five of them are dead."
For a moment, the chamber fell silent.
Malcolm’s face froze. "All five? Dead? Don’t joke with us, Roland. They were grandmasters."
Roland shook his head, his lips curling into something between a grimace and a laugh.
"I saw it with my own eyes. They were crushed like ants. The two things guarding that castle... they’re not human. One was a giant with force laws. The other... a monster covered in shadows. They killed the five of them as if it was nothing."
Theodore leaned forward, his hands tightening on the table. "Then how are you alive?"
Roland’s jaw tensed. "Because I ran. I ran like a coward and locked myself in my room. That’s the truth."
Malcolm exhaled slowly. "Then what makes you think this is an opportunity?"
Roland’s eyes lit up with a dangerous gleam. "Because I know their weakness. Or rather, their nature. They don’t leave the flame wall. They guard that place like loyal hounds. If we can tempt someone stronger than me... someone who thinks himself untouchable... to go inside, then those creatures will do our work for us."
Theodore frowned. "And who exactly do you think is ’stronger than you’?"
Roland’s lips stretched into a smile that made him look half mad. "Our Emperor."
The room went dead quiet again.
Malcolm narrowed his eyes. "Careful with your tongue, Roland. That man isn’t just our leader. He’s... everything that holds the Max family together. You’re talking treason."
Roland slammed his hand against the table, startling them both.
"Do you think I don’t know that? Do you think I want to die as a traitor? Listen to me—he’s not human anymore. He’s a monster hiding behind a crown. Every step he takes twists the world around him. And if we let him keep growing, one day he’ll devour even us."
Theodore didn’t argue. He simply asked, "And you think luring him to that castle will kill him?"
Roland nodded, eyes shining. "Yes. I saw enough to know. The giant crushed Horun like he was a child. And the shadow beast sliced Gloria’s head away before she could even scream. Those two together... even the Emperor can’t shrug them off. If we play this right, they’ll destroy him. And we won’t have to lift a finger."
Malcolm steepled his fingers. "Explain. How do you plan to make the Emperor walk into his own grave?"
Roland straightened, finally regaining some of his composure. "He values strength. He values loyalty. And he values treasure. We tell him the truth—half the truth. That inside that castle lies the inheritance of an ancient Prime galaxy organisation.
That five of our comrades entered but never returned. That I barely escaped alive. He will see it as a challenge, as a chance to seize power greater than his own. His pride won’t allow him to ignore it."
Theodore nodded slowly, his eyes glinting. "And you think he won’t suspect your cowardice?"
Roland smirked. "That’s the beauty of it. I’ll play the survivor. The weakling who begs him for justice. I’ll tell him the monsters inside insulted his name, mocked his rule. He’ll go not only for power, greed, but for pride. And once he steps through those flames, the hounds will close the gate."
Malcolm drummed his fingers, silent for a long time. Finally, he said, "You’re bold, Roland. Bold enough to get us all executed. If this fails—"
"If this fails," Roland interrupted, "then we’re dead anyway. Do you really think we can keep serving under him forever? How long before he decides we’re no longer useful? He has received deals from the Ferans."
Theodore gave a dry laugh. "You sound like a desperate man."
"I am," Roland admitted. His voice cracked, but his eyes stayed sharp. "Desperate men live longer than loyal fools."
Malcolm sighed. "So let’s say we do this. We tempt him, he goes, and maybe—just maybe—he dies. Then what? The Empire without its Emperor will tear itself apart."
Roland shook his head. "Not if we guide it. The three of us, united, can control the chaos. Maybe even collaborate with the other three factions. We’ll say the Emperor fell defending us against an ancient weapon. The people will grieve, but they’ll rally under a new banner. Ours."
The two old men exchanged a long look. No words, only the kind of silent conversation men share after decades of knowing each other.
Finally, Malcolm spoke. "If we agree to this, Roland, then we’re bound together. No turning back. No regrets."
Roland spread his hands. "No regrets."
Theodore’s lips twisted into a thin smile.
"Then we’ll need more than just words to tempt him. We’ll need proof. Bring back one of the tokens from the castle, something that reeks of ancient power. That will bait his curiosity. And we’ll need to stage it so that the story sounds true, even to his paranoid mind."
Roland nodded quickly. "It will be difficult but I can try something. The ruins are filled with broken relics. I can slip in, grab one, and bring it back. When he sees it, he’ll believe."