King of Terror's request to General Strangulation:
Per my latest request, General, I am demanding your unconditional surrender. End this ploy, lower your shields. Doesn't the endless fighting tire you? Are you not exhausted? How often do you wish to watch your people die?
In addition to my previous request, which I know you will likely ignore. You always have, Strangulation. Why is that? I thought we were friends.
Regardless. I am politely requesting a meeting with Gwynevere Grim. I do not want you to alter any of my messages or lie to her directly. Your evil race will manipulate her to do what you wish. Bring whatever and whoever to the meeting. It does not matter.
There will be a reprieve on the battlefield until your arrival.
If you reject my proposal, there will be consequences.
That reminds me. Do you happen to like Red, General? I know your family seems to be obsessed with those colors. Oh! I know, you had a little discovery of late with some Red, didn't you, General? Wasn't it in a field outside of your Estate? Something you'd like to keep secret, I'm sure.
To conclude this letter to your wretched race. Tomorrow, I hope to see the most recent Chosen One. If not? Well. I hope your citizens like Red as much as your family, General.
Love,
King of Terror
(Penned by the loveable Whisperer Soulseverance)
Strangulation's Response:
She will be there.
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Nearly everyone was aghast the second they reached the battlefield.
For miles, they went through battle camps, both currently in use and abandoned. Trenches, blockades, discarded and mangled armor, catalysts, weapons, and corpses. Teleporting directly to the King of Terror was impossible.
They made camp at night, only to continue the following morning.
All of Gwyn's friends were present, as they insisted on being, except Teddy, who was dragged along. He was heavily encouraged by his mother to attend. And if Teddy discovered the King of Terror wasn't such a bad guy after all, maybe get his link.
Strangulation, Rodrick, Di 'Vinci, and Einstein were the most experienced ones present. This was nothing new to Artero, but he'd never set foot on the battlefield itself.
Di 'Vinci and Einstein are the only Chosen Ones who are constantly present on the frontlines, so this was no different for them.
Since Teddy was here, he figured he would make the most of it and keep everyone's spirits up. By the second day, he thoroughly got on Strangulation's nerves. She cast a silencing incantation on him so as not to speak anymore, to everyone's pleasure.
Conversations became less frequent when the once-peaceful areas began to show signs of their decline.
Gwyn noticed how the environment subtly changed, foreshadowing the inevitable destruction that was soon to fall upon them. Eventually, the ground beneath everyone became an endless expanse of carnage.
The twenty-fifth didn't know how to feel at the sight of these changes. She'd seen war movies, but seeing an honest-to-god battlefield in person was life-changing.
They finally reached the contested area after three days.
War-torn was an understatement.
Corpses of trees littered an expanse where nothing was alive anymore. There was clear evidence of where encampments used to lie. With the realization of how far back they've been pushed, bile crawled up Artero's throat.
The air felt stale. The normal grass that turned colors as one stepped upon it was blackened and dead. The stench of war permeated everyone's nostrils. Only a handful of those present were used to this foul stench.
Once on this dead land, Strangulation urgently encouraged everyone to follow her closely and quickly.
A giant cube, known to be within the King of Terror's domain, spun on its own. It was like a puzzle box being solved. The cube hung ominously in the distance, standing beside the Blackened Mountains. Spires held up his domain, towering high above it. They were jagged and misaligned, with no semblance of order.
The walk across this war-torn land would take forever. Strangulation always teleported wherever she went. Having to escort defenseless civilians was not only a chore but also dangerous.
They no longer stopped for breaks on this land. Rodrick had to carry Teddy so they could make it the rest of the way in one trip. Teddy's muffled voice endlessly thrummed in Rodrick's ears.
The ground beneath their feet grew soggy and muddy; occasionally, their bodies would get trapped in the sludge.
Gwyn wondered what the King of Terror's army might look like.
First in her mind, she envisioned knights in bulky, intimidating armor, like the kind Strangulation wore. She then thought maybe griffins or dragons were among his ranks, ready at any moment to destroy the Capital.
Yet, it was none of these things. Maybe at one point, but no longer.
As the party approached the gates of the King of Terror's territory, Gwyn thought hundreds of citizens were greeting them. They all appeared happy and healthy. The twenty-fifth wondered if this was a show of loyalty to their ruler.
This notion was false.
The citizens parted, and an open path led to the gate into the King of Terror's territory. Walls encompassed the settlement. Barriers prevented Strangulation, Archimedes, and King Vendrick from ever setting foot within. The same magic was used on the King of Terror to not be allowed in any established elven settlement.
"Careful," Strangulation said. "These aren't normal people."
"What do you mean?" Leo asked.
"These elves are abborations, falsified lives to serve the King of Terror."
The expression Gwyn made dictated her confusion.
"These are those who've died," Elise said in a low voice.
"They are docile for now, but do not let your guard down."
Everyone looked at the pleased and smiling faces of the formerly deceased.
Gwynevere Grim had been utterly convinced that these were just citizens. But they were not. They were the dead macinations, recreated by the King of Terror to endlessly fight the elves as a scourge of familiarity. His army was the deceased. Perfect recreations of their visage.
A scream caused everyone to take defensive positions.
The Bloody Princess recognized someone she hadn't seen for ninety years.
"Mom!" Elise ran up to a woman with short curly hair, dimples, and lavender eyes.
"Elise!" Artero ran up to her, holding her back. "That's not your mother!"
"It's her! I swear!"
Elise tried to free herself from his grasp.
The firm hand of Strangulation caused her desperation to cease, if only momentarily.
"These aren't real, Elise. He's done this to get to you. Why do you think she's by the entrance? He wanted you to see her."
"No, it's my Mom!"
Elise fell to her knees. She looked up at the figure.
Gwyn noticed how beautiful her mom was, but Elise didn't really look like her, except for the eyes. Gwyn tried to console the elf.
"Elise..."
"You don't know!" The princess shouted. "Every day, the only person who understood! The Only person who helped me with my curse!"
Even Strangulation appeared mournful. Artero had yet to witness such an event.
Gwyn knelt beside Elise, who was pleading before the aberration.
"Remember, Elise; together, we let go."
Elise was reminded of her promise to Gwyn as the Chosen One uttered the words softly to her.
"Gwyn... I..."
Whisperer Soulseverance suddenly appeared, eagerly awaiting their arrival. He had to stop himself from laughing at the sight of the Sylvian Princess.
"This is truly a sad sight. A family reuniting, and all you can do is despair. This was supposed to bring you joy. I'm so sorry for this misunderstanding."
His words were the opposite of the truth. A devilish smile painted his face.
Elise rose from the ground and pointed her dagger at Soulseverance. She shot vines in his direction.
"Fuck you!"
Yet, he swatted her attack away as if it were nothing at all.
"Perhaps later, darling. I feel we've been ever so accommodating in this situation."
Strangulation balled her fist.
"Enough of this! Let's form the contract and get this over with, filthy traitor."
"Yes, yes. No one will be harmed for the next full day. We will have them vacated from the King's domain by the end of the next three hours." He looked devilishly at Gwyn. "Unless our Chosen One wants to stay."
"Anyone present within that time frame can also not be harmed or have any magic cast upon them."
"Yes, yes. It's all included."
"There are no tricks. If you break this contract, Soulseverance, you will die."
"I don't intend on breaking the contract. As I said, if the Chosen One wants to stay, that's her prerogative."
A blue line formed between Strangulation and Soulseverance. It was loose at first, then it pulled taut.
"There she is! The special guest we requested."
Soulseverance now pushed past Strangulation and approached Gwynevere.
Artero stood between Gwyn and the Whisperer.
"So cute! Oh, you brought the Kosmairian, boy toy! Wait... who are the rest of these weirdos?" He asked, pointing to the rest of Gwyn's friends.
"We're moral support! If Gwyn dies, so do we!" Teddy shouted. It seemed Strangulation's silencing spell had faded.
"Let me clarify, we don't intend on dying," Leo said.
"Ah." Soulseverance looked troubled. "Well. The more, the merrier! You even brought the cat and squid." He said, referring to the ninth and twenty-third.
"Shut it, Severance," Di Vinci snapped. "You make me sick."
"Well, let me get you some medicine." He made an expression as if he had just realized something. "I know a good vet I can refer you to."
During all this idle chatter, Gwyn tried to look resolute, but standing before the mighty kingdom that always seemed so far away before made her confidence waver.
"Nothing to say?" Soulseverance shrugged. "Alright, well, let's get you, kids, inside." He waved his hand, and the towering doors slowly opened. "You stay here, General. As I'm sure you—"
"If you lay one finger on our Chosen Ones…" Strangulation's hair was aflame.
"I won't! We made the contract, remember? Unless they try something, then it will be your life that's on the line. Self-defense and whatnot." He waved his hand dismissively. "Come, come. Let's get this show on the road!"
The doors leading into the kingdom slowly opened, and a barrier made it impossible to see the inside without first stepping through.
"Actually..." Soulseverance turned around. "You, you, you and... you." The Whisperer pointed to Einstein, Rodrick, Astrin, and Leo. "You all stay behind."
Strangulation's hair turned a scarlet fire.
"That wasn't the deal."
"That's unfortunate. Because I've decided there are a few too many here." He pointed to Teddy. "I like this round, puggy freak, though. He can stay."
Artero placed a hand on his sister's armor.
"We will be fine, we will be out before you know it."
Rodrick's expression was unlike anything Gwyn's seen from him thus far.
"If you touch Madam, Soulseverance, I'll rip your spine out!"
The Whisperer blinked in response.
"Whatever, Kosmairian, you're no match for me, anyway. Now I've made my request. Are we going or not?"
Strangulation grumbled.
"Three hours, Soulseverance."
"They will be unharmed, I assure you."
Whisperer Soulseverance sauntered, being the first to enter the King of Terror's domain.
Gwyn was next, and what she saw bewildered her.