The Guardian gods

Ikenga, watching the demons continue their advance toward the Emperor's trap, couldn't contain his curiosity. "Why?" he asked, his voice echoing in the vast, abyssal chamber. "We both know demons do not truly die. Why were you so conflicted about losing a few battalions to draw the Empire into this fight? The casualties are a negligible price to pay for such a strategic victory."

Zarvok didn't elaborate. His only response was a simple, chilling truth. "You will understand when all this ends." With that, he immediately got to work.

Knowing the Empire's plan, Zarvok was ready to meet it head-on. Since both sides had decided that this conflict must end now, he intended to play his part well. The matchups had already been decided in their minds. The Emperor and Vellok for the gods, himself for the sixth-tier left in the empire. Zarvok's focus was now on how to ensure those matchups happened at the same time, all while preserving the integrity of this abyss layer so it didn't collapse on itself.

While the abyss itself wouldn't mind if eight sixth-tier beings were about to clash inside of it, leading to the collapse of this entire layer, Zarvok did. He was the only one who cared about its stability, so his planning included setting up a hidden magic circle and spell. This spell would randomize teleportation points, as long as they weren't this abyss layer or the world. His intent was to move the entire conflict away from his layer and the world he desired.

He shared this plan with Ikenga, who had no problem with it but instead added his own idea. According to Ikenga, Zarvok should make sure the spell or magic circle had two people in control of it: Zarvok. himself and Keles. Due to the spell using intention as its anchor, once the tthey were locked in on their target, they would be teleported together. This would ensure that the key players were removed from the battlefield at the same time.

As for Ikenga himself, he was certain he would be targeted by Vellok. He knew Vellok should have plans in place to deal with him, and he wasn't wrong. Vellok had every reason to attack him, and since Ikenga had already shown his capabilities, it was only right that Vellok, as a grand mage, would have a counter-plan ready for him. Ikenga was looking forward to this as he also has his own plans.

Even if Vellok never choose to engage him, Ikenga will force him to. He has to end this and make sure their goal was met for his unborn child. Ikenga won't like it if the child was born in a world that isn't theirs.

"It is a sound plan, Lord Zarvok," Ikenga began, his brow furrowed in thought. "But the probability of success is a thin line. You cannot forcefully teleport away beings of that stage if they are even remotely aware of your intention. Their auras, their very presence, can disrupt a spell of that magnitude before it even forms. How do we guarantee that the Emperor, Vellok, and the three other sixth-tier figures on their side are caught unaware?"

Zarvok showing his strategist side, gestured to a ghostly projection of the abyss layer before them. "You are correct. The spell must be a secondary action, hidden within a more obvious trap/spectacle. The mages will be focused on this trap and spectacle, not the subtle disruption in the background. My army will then launch a full-scale assault, a powerful, multi-directional attack that forces them to commit their magic and attention to a single purpose: defense."

"A distraction," Ikenga murmured, stroking his chin. "But a distraction of that scale will still raise an alarm."

"An alarm that will occur too late," Zarvok countered, "because by then, we will have them exactly where we need them. I have enough confidence that the appearance of my army will have all the sixth-tier mages frozen in horror once they recognize what they are looking at. That will be enough time for us to drive them away."

"Your army?" Ikenga asked, his confusion evident. "Do you have another army on your side that I don't know of?"

Zarvok shook his head slowly. "It's the same army you know, but one blessed with the law and blessing of my domain."

Ikenga's mouth opened to ask what Zarvok's domain was, but he held back. He knew Zarvok would never tell him, and Zarvok had every right not to. Still, his curiosity was a burning fire in his mind.

"I look forward to seeing your army's new sight once you are done," Ikenga said, but Zarvok shook his head again. "You won't be able to see any difference. They would look like the same demon army to you."

"But to the goblins, the ogres, and the ratfolk, my army will look terrifying," Zarvok said, his voice dropping to a deep, resonant tone as his eyes had a bright, molten-red glow.

Seeing Ikenga's burning curiosity, Zarvok finally gave a small concession. "All I can tell you is the name of the law which I command. It is the 'Law and Domain of the Infernal Crucible.'" With that, Zarvok turned and left, leaving Ikenga alone in the room with a deep thought of his own.

Ikenga was left alone, but his mind was anything but calm. Zarvok's domain "The Infernal Crucible" was a riddle he couldn't solve. His only clues were fire and forging, but since meeting the demon lord, he had never seen him in a forge or attempt to create anything. The name felt like a piece of a puzzle he didn't have all the parts for.

He moved to a sofa in his room and sat down, his gaze settling on Keles sleeping peacefully on a bed nearby. Since the invasion began, Ikenga had never stopped learning, constantly correcting his own thoughts. The more he learned, the more he began to detest the idea of invading a world. There was too much at play when an invasion happened, a reality far deeper than the simple clash of swords and magic shown on the surface.

Ikenga's detestation came from his own actions. His plannings, which had risked destabilizing a standing empire from within, was a cold, brutal thing. Something his own world is also suspictable of, he couldn't help but wonder if his own world, during a future invasion, would come across someone just like himself, but perhaps even more cunning and insidious in their planning. The thought was a cold dread that settled deep in his soul.

This was why Ikenga was so greedy for knowledge to know more than his enemies, to strip away the terrifying unknown. He was disturbed by not having an idea of what Zarvok was truly capable of, just as the thought of Vorenza's power had disturbed him long ago. And Ever since he knew what she was capable of, he had been subconsciously planning for a hypothetical encounter, always preparing for a confrontation he hoped would never come.

Still, amongst all these strategic thoughts, what Ikenga had learned the most was a profound lesson: never to engage with the abyss in an invasion. There was simply too much to lose and not enough to gain. Even the current empire, to win this war, had sacrificed its population and its people, leaving it vulnerable and open to threats for centuries to come. And that was assuming their sacrifice ever led them to a victory at all.

Keles's soothing voice broke his thoughts. "You are back," she said, rising from the bed. Ikenga stood up and walked toward her.

"Yes, I am," he replied, his gaze falling to her stomach with a worried look. "Now we wait for them to attack."

Keles placed both of her palms on his cheeks, her touch warm and reassuring. "You have nothing to worry about. Both me and the child will be okay."

"I know, but it's hard not to worry when you both are not in my sight," Ikenga said.

Keles gave him a deep kiss. "Then we should hurry and get this done so you can have us in your sight at all times."

Ikenga got into bed as he began to kiss Keles, but halfway through, he stopped with a weird look on his face, his gaze fixed on her stomach. "Do you think he knows what's happening when we get busy?"

Keles's cheeks flushed crimson. She let out a small gasp and pushed him off of her, a mix of embarrassment and laughter in her eyes.

Ikenga looked at her with an aggrieved expression, then pointed a finger at her stomach. "Hey, little man," he said in a playfully frustrated tone. "Hurry up and get out of there!"

Keles could hardly hold in her laughter as she felt a small, distinct flutter within her. It was a kick, a clear reaction from the child to its father's words. Ikenga's own eyes widened in surprise and wonder. He lowered his head and gently pressed his ear to her stomach, his anger and frustration completely replaced by a soft, loving smile.