“I apologize, my lord,” Tess replied, sinking into a deep bow, “but it’s been very difficult. The more troops that leave Nocturia to join the occupation of Element City, the longer work will be delayed. I’ve even forced the new recruits to mine for Nether quartz, rather than training them, so that I would have more soldiers available for construction of the highway.”
“Do not expect any lenience from me, Tess. It’s been over a month now!” Lord Tenebris said, not raising his voice, but still commanding enough power to echo throughout the council room. “Either force your people to work faster or I will make an example of you to inspire their work ethic.”
Tess gulped in fear, but still managed to get out, “I understand, my lord. Thank you for your mercy.”
“You, Spyro,” Lord Tenebris continued, glaring down at Spyro, who shuddered as he forced himself to look up.
“I am extremely disappointed in you. The fact that four prisoners escaped from Fungarus and you were not able to stop them is unforgivable. I would think that after I gave Drake what he deserved for allowing the escape, you would do all in your power to ensure that they were captured.”
Drake’s face returned to a grotesque wince as he remembered the sheer agony that Lord Tenebris had put him through as punishment for his mistake.
“My lord … I apologize most dearly. I did send many of my forces out into the ocean to search for them … I would have sent all that I could, if I weren’t preoccupied with the revolution on the Lesser Mushroom Island—”
“That is no excuse!” Lord Tenebris replied, glaring down at Spyro. “Your army should have no difficulty in subduing the ruffians of that island, especially after the Great Purge.”
“Well, there was no trouble at first!” Spyro replied, his eyes wide with fear. “We kept the republic citizens as hostages, as you requested, while we hunted through the remains of the city for those Lesser Tribesmen who had escaped the Purge. But now, the republic citizens and the surviving Tribesmen have begun to fight back! They’ve rallied around a leader who calls herself Goddess Olea, and even though we’ve done all we—”
Spyro cut off in midsentence, and his hands flew to his throat. A small choking sound escaped his mouth, and Drake and Tess, who were watching him in horror, whipped around to face Lord Tenebris, who was leaning forwards and glaring intently at Spyro. The white-eyed demon surveyed his prey with emotionless eyes as Spyro began to levitate into the air, his eyes bulging and his legs flailing.
“Perhaps you don’t understand me,” Lord Tenebris said in a deadpan as Spyro continued to struggle. “The rebellion in the Mushroom Islands will be eradicated in a timely manner. Do you understand, General?”
There was a moment of tense silence, broken only by the continued coughing and sputtering of Spyro. Then, a raspy “yes” managed to escape his throat, and Lord Tenebris relaxed his gaze, leaning back in his throne. The Noctem general crashed to the ground, lying still for a moment before finally raising himself onto shaking hands and knees, coughing and taking in deep breaths.
“Thank you … my lord …,” Spyro croaked, “for your … forgiveness …”
“Enough of your grovelling, Spyro,” Lord Tenebris replied lazily. Then, Lord Tenebris turned his head very slowly, until finally, his vacant white eyes landed on Drake, who cowered in dread.
“General Drake,” Lord Tenebris said slowly. “I’m sure that you remember what I said, regarding what I would do to you if Stan2012 was not in my custody by the next time we met.”
“My lord,” Drake stammered, “I can explain—”
“Tread carefully, Drake,” Lord Tenebris said, in a voice that was nearly a whisper, which was somehow ten times more terrifying than if he were yelling. “You’re one wrong step away from feeling the full extent of my wrath.”
“My lord, I beg you to hear me out,” Drake pleaded, looking up at Lord Tenebris, forcing himself to look into his eyes, only to glance away a moment later before continuing. “I’ve been leading your invasion force during the entire campaign against Element City. I’ve graciously accepted the task of being your eyes and ears on the battlefield, and as a result, the entirety of Elementia is now under your command.”
“That does not change the fact that Stan2012 is still at large,” Lord Tenebris replied, a slight taunting sound in his voice.
“Please, my lord,” Drake simpered on. “I’ve hired the most renowned assassin team in Elementia to hunt Stan2012 for me. If they’ve been unable to apprehend him … well, then I’m not sure what we’re to do.”
Lord Tenebris gave a slow nod and looked down at the floor, as if he were debating something in his mind. The entire room, especially Drake, waited with bated breath for him to speak. Finally, Lord Tenebris raised his head.
“You five, back there … come forward, please.”
The three generals spun around to face the back of the room, and their eyes fell on the five mobhunters of ELM. The jaws of Arachnia, Enderchick and Creeper Khan dropped to the floor. Lord Marrow’s eyebrows raised slightly, while Zomboy’s face lit up, like a teacher’s pet who had just been called on in school. However, none of them hesitated in walking forwards, around the council table, and standing in a line behind the three Noctem generals.
“You are the assassins that General Drake has hired to capture Stan2012?”
“Yes, sir,” Arachnia replied, stepping forwards and keeping remarkably well poised given how terrified she was to be speaking to this monster. “My name is Arachnia, leader of the Elite Legion of Mobhunters, the most renowned bounty hunters in Elementia.”
“Indeed,” Lord Tenebris replied, nodding slowly. “And you have encountered Stan2012 multiple times since you have started hunting him, yes?”
“This … is true, sir,” Arachnia replied, recovering from her horror that Lord Tenebris knew this. “We have encountered Stan2012 twice since we started hunting him. Both times, he was joined by accomplices, and he managed to evade our grasp. As I’m sure you are well aware, sir, Stan and his friends are the highest-calibre fighters in all of Minecraft … regardless, we are still hot on the trail of—”
BOOOOM!
The massive explosion knocked Arachnia to the side and into Enderchick, while Creeper Khan tumbled to the ground. Lord Tenebris’s hand was still pointed towards the spot where, just seconds before, Zomboy had stood next to Arachnia; there was nothing but a cloud of black smoke there now. Slowly, the smoke wafted away, allowing the seven players on the floor to stare in blank shock at the body of Zomboy lying dead on the stone brick floor, his items in a ring around him.
There was a moment of silence as nobody moved a muscle. The four remaining were unable to process the fact that their team-mate, who had been modded to be twenty times as hardy as a normal player, had just been taken out in one shot. Lord Tenebris lowered his hand.
“Your services will no longer be required,” Lord Tenebris said coldly. “Leave my presence now if you know what’s good for you.”
There was no hesitation. Within seconds the room was cleared of the four mobhunters, all of whom glanced down in disbelief at Zomboy’s body before exiting through the door. Not a second after Creeper Khan left and closed the door behind him, the body of Zomboy vanished, leaving only his various items on the ground. However, even when the mobhunters were completely gone, the three generals still couldn’t help but stare at the ring of items, jaws dropped and traumatized looks on their faces. In front of them, Lord Tenebris gave a satisfied smile.
Perhaps now they will take their work a little bit more seriously, he thought to himself.
“We