Empire Of Souls - Chapter 183

Lenia frowned in annoyance. To be summoned by such pathetic sc.u.m was not something she felt comfortable about. She knew that there would be such an event, but it didn’t make her feel any better at having to partake in it. She could just order her army to attack or ignore the Dark Elves who were approaching a central position between the two armies. However, this would be going against military protocols which were common in that world and while she didn’t care for such rules, she didn’t like the idea of bringing any disgrace to her master. It wasn’t that big of a deal just to go and see what the Dark Elves had to say. She just didn’t like it, but even more so than that was disappointing her master who she knew might be looking through her eyes even now.

“I will not disappoint you master.” She mumbled to herself and grit her teeth with reluctance.

Lenia looked to her sides where some of her subordinates and guards were waiting for her orders. These were some of the most powerful officers and soldiers under her command and all had a fearsome aura. Her officers were each equipped with Adamantite Steel armor and weapons with powerful enchantments. This allowed them to be much more maneuverable despite the heavy size and also added other bonuses.

The others were soldiers who were part of her own personal guard and while they weren’t equipped in Adamantite Steel, they had a much more form fitting type of armor which was made from Llerithium. It was a unique type of ore with high magical resistance. Although it wasn’t quite as durable as Adamantite, it wasn’t far off. It’s strength was in its ability to repel most spells. Only the most powerful of magic could penetrate its natural resistance. Of course, this was on the level of mortals. Legendary beings and those of a higher level wouldn’t have much difficulty dealing with them.

She motioned to them and they immediately moved out, heading towards the central position between the two armies. Each was mounted on powerful horses not of a normal breed. These were horses with special attributes and were much larger than the more normal breeds. They moved swiftly across the Plains with a long trail of dust kicked up from their passing. Lenia was giving off a powerful aura as she rode with a look of extreme intensity. She was no longer that awkward girl who allowed her emotions to run wild as she was when she was first created. No one who saw her would ever equate those two as the same person. They would only see in her now a warrior of vast strength and a powerful presence.

It wasn’t long before the couple dozen officers and guards arrived near where the Dark Elves were waiting patiently. They had even set up a canopy with luxurious rugs placed beneath it. There was a scantily clad Dark Elven female seated under the canopy enjoying a cup of tea while male slaves of a variety of races were at her beck and call. She seemed to be on a picnic, enjoying the scenery. Nearby were her own guards, Dark Elven soldiers and their enormous scarab mounts. These were giant scarabs with huge pinchers and thick shells that were difficult to penetrate with normal weapons. The Dark Elven male soldiers each had a collar around their neck, but otherwise were each equipped with a light dark armor that gleamed with a violet, ominous glow.

“Royal Scarab cuirassiers. Formidable. There are also those strange deer like mounts, but these are definitely much more powerful. They appear to lack speed however. I have heard a few things about the Dark Elves. Their rangers use those large oversized deer when not in their forests and they work in concert with the Royal Scarab cuirassiers. They are a deadly combination. One has speed and maneuverability with rangers who can strike their enemies at a distance with extreme precision. The other has a strong defense and cuirassiers with deadly agility in their attacks when in close combat.”

Lenia took note and observed the entire scene in front of her before dismounting. Each of the officers accompanying her dismounted with practiced ease and formed up behind her with timely discipline. They followed closely behind Lenia as she approached the canopy. They eyed the Dark Elves viciously who returned the looks with equal severity.

“So, you have finally arrived. I thought you might make us wait until sunset. No need to glare at me. Have a seat and try some of this delicious tea from the leaves of the Orobus tree. It is a delicacy in the Evergloom and you won’t be able to find these leaves anywhere else!” the Dark Elven women said without any hostility.

She seemed to be acting very welcoming, as if they were long lost friends. She crossed one leg over the other as she sat, and smiled as she sipped the tea and breathed in the aroma. Her appearance was very attractive, as most of Elven descent were. The only physical difference between Dark Elves and their Elven cousins being the color of their skin.

There were plenty of other differences as well, but most of those were their mental characteristics. Elves tended to be aloof, arrogant, but generally upright in their conduct. Dark Elves were quite different and much more chaotic in their character. Of course, this didn’t mean that all were this way and there was plenty of diversity among them.

“Is this why you called me out here? To drink tea? Wouldn’t our time be better used on the battlefield?” replied Lenia in a cold voice.

The Dark Elven woman chuckled, “Come, we are both women here. Leave your slaves there and enjoy a cup of tea with me. When I see such a powerful woman like you serving underneath a Human male, I can’t help but feel that you are pitiable. Why serve a man when you can rule as a queen? With your power and strength, you could easily carve a place for yourself!”

Lenia’s face darkened the more the woman spoke. Each word of hers only made her anger rise, but she kept it in check. It wouldn’t be wise to explode here.

“Is that all you have to say?”

The Dark Elven woman smiled once more and placed her cup of tea down on the table. One of her male slaves gently took her hand and she stood up elegantly with her chest practically bursting at the seams. Her clothing barely held in her explosive curves.

“Our goddess has taken a liking to you. If you join us, she will give you everything you desire. What can that inferior Human you serve now do for you that our goddess can not? We seek to create a kingdom where men are put in their rightful place. Beneath our heels! You have no hope of defeating us here and we do not wish to see you die for a man. Your talents have truly been wasted serving that disgusting thing!”

Lenia closed her eyes and bowed her head, but it was not out of any kind of reverence. She was just barely containing her rage which wished to break free and tear this woman apart. She didn’t want the Dark Elf to see the extreme killing intent in her eyes and so she blocked out the sound of the woman’s voice mentally and calmed herself. Inwardly, she prayed to her master to give her strength to control her emotions.

“I still need more tempering.” She muttered under her breath while the Dark Elf woman continued her nonsense.

She finally raised her head and said calmly, “Stop wasting my time with this nonsense. Do you even have the right to speak to me as such? You, a lowly matron, not even a matriarch! Where is your so-called goddess? Bring her here and have her say these things to my face!”

The Dark Elven woman, who was most likely the General Akosha that the Dark Elven man had mentioned, finally stopped speaking and dropped her friendly expression.

“You dare speak of our goddess in such a way! I should kill you where you stand!”

Akosha reached for a whip that was at her side, but she suddenly stopped and her eyes glazed over. There was now a different look. It was clear that someone else was now looking out from those eyes.

Akosha chuckled, but it was no longer the same person.

“You wished to speak with me directly? Do you have any idea of what kind of honor that is? To speak with a goddess? Such audacity, but I have taken a liking to you at first sight. Don’t worry, I meant no disrespect in having you meet with my precious Akosha. Matriarchs are clans leaders and they are not allowed to hold the position of general as they have their own clan forces. If they were generals too, they would hold too much power and the balance between the clans would be broken. Akosha may only be a matron, but she is of equal status to a Matriarch and is one of my personal servants. Seeing her is like seeing me. It is a high honor. I even sent my own Royal Scarab Cuirassiers to accompany her. This is my sincerity. Does it not please you?”

Lenia scoffed, “This is your sincerity? And so what? Should I bend my knees to you now because you deign us with your presence?”

The Spider Queen sighed and made an expression of pity. She shook her head and said, “Such a waste. You would have looked beautiful as part of my collection. It would be too pitiful to kill you. This is your last chance to reconsider, otherwise you and all of your soldiers will die a needless death. Your master won’t live for long either, why throw your life away like this?”

Lenia had just about had enough of this nonsensical discussion. She gripped the pommel of her blade firmly, but she did not unsheathe her sword.

“You have wasted enough of my time. Your insults and your derision will be answered with my blade. There is nothing left to say, prepare yourself Spider Queen. I am coming for you, and I will tear your palace down and remind you of where you come from. The dirt beneath my boots.”

Lenia turned around and with heavy steps returned to her mount. The Spider Queen silently watched her leave through Akosha’s eyes with a strange smile of anticipation on the corner of her lips. She took note of the soldiers and officers who followed Lenia with interest. Only after they left did she once more speak.

“I wonder.. With what assurance does she dare to speak with me in such a way? The Dragon King lies dormant, he no longer has the strength to fight. So what if your master is a Demigod? My pet and I are more than enough, and I also have those toys that were given to me by that strange one. My army outnumbers hers and my pet’s children are in a frenzy. Perhaps she is underestimating us. Does she not know our power? No, she does not seem foolish.”

“You should be cautious.” A strange voice suddenly whispered to her.

She looked to her side but saw nothing, “Don’t worry, I have always been cautious.”

The mysterious voice laughed, “Is that so? If you can accomplish this task successfully, you will receive what I promised.”

“Hmph.” The Spider Queen scoffed.

The eyes of Akosha glazed over once more and then returned to their normal color as the Spider Queen’s presence left her body.

Lenia pushed her mount hard as she rode back to her army. She was enraged at the audacity of the Dark Elves and the arrogance of the Spider Queen. This fueled her determination to crush them.

“I will kill every last one of them!” She said venomously.

She needed to vent her anger somewhere and the next day she would make sure to do much venting on the battlefield. Whoever dared get in her way would soon discover the terror that her fury could bring. Lenia had no intention of allowing any of them to escape her wrath.

Not far from where this took place, a lone figure watched what unfolded with a wry smile. This was a being which had the shape of a Human, but was in fact not a living being. There was no life in this body, but something was observing from behind its hollow eyes.

“I hope you can provide me with some amus.e.m.e.nt before the end, An-Namrud.”