บท 12: Ripples in the Dark
The news spread across Naaim like wildfire. With each retelling, the story got bigger and wilder.
Báthory, the scary Crimson Countess, had been beaten. And not by another Harbinger, but by a human - a guy named Atenzi who called himself a Messiah.
In the fancy palace of New Rome, the capital of Pyrrhia, Nero lounged on a golden throne. He looked bored as he listened to his court's daily shows. Nero's face, once handsome, now looked too pale, with eyes too bright and features too sharp to be fully human.
A messenger burst in, his phoenix-feather cloak smoking at the edges. "My Emperor! News from Bloodmire!"
Nero's eyes lit up with interest - the first real emotion he'd shown in days. "Speak," he ordered, his voice crackling like fire.
As the messenger told the story of Báthory's defeat, a slow, mean smile spread across Nero's face. He started to laugh, a sound like crackling fire that grew louder and louder.
"Oh, how delicious!" Nero exclaimed, clapping his hands in delight. "The great Báthory, beaten by a human upstart! Tell me, does this 'Atenzi' like music? Maybe he'd enjoy a concert while Rome burns around him."
The court laughed nervously, never sure if their emperor was joking or threatening.
Nero's advisor, an old phoenix in human form, stepped forward. "My lord, shouldn't we be worried? If a mere human could beat Báthory..."
Nero waved a dismissive hand, sparks trailing from his fingers. "Báthory was always too messy, too unrefined. All that blood-drinking messes with your head, you know. No, this Atenzi has done us a favor. Bloodmire is ripe for the taking."
His eyes gleamed with wicked joy. "Prepare a gift for our new neighbor. Something... fiery. Let's see if this messiah can walk on water when it's boiling."
As Nero's court bustled with activity, the news traveled on, carried by winds both natural and magical.
In the floating citadel of New Jerusalem, Jesus Christ, now called the Disillusioned Messiah, heard the news in gloomy silence. His once-kind eyes, now hard as stone, gazed out over the endless expanse of clouds, lost in thought.
"A new messiah," he mused, his voice heavy with years. "How... quaint."
Gabriel, his most loyal fallen angel, hovered nearby. "My lord, this Atenzi claims to be fulfilling a prophecy. He talks about restoring humanity to its former glory."
Christ turned, a bitter smile twisting his lips. "Prophecies. I remember when I believed in such things. When I thought humanity could be saved." He clenched his fist, and cracks appeared in the marble floor. "Look how well that turned out."
He paced the length of the grand hall, his footsteps echoing in the huge space. "And Báthory? What happened to her?"
"Retreated to Bloodmire, my lord. There are reports of... extreme measures being taken to keep control."
Christ nodded, unsurprised. "She always did lack subtlety. Her hunger makes her predictable." He paused, thinking. "This Atenzi, though. He's worth watching. A human clever enough to beat a Harbinger... he could be a threat. Or an opportunity."
Gabriel tilted his head, curious. "An opportunity, my lord?"
"To be disappointed again, most likely," Christ said with a humorless laugh. "But still... Send watchers to the Sovereign Lands. Let's see if this messiah can live up to his title. It's been a long time since I've seen a proper miracle."
As Christ's winged agents took flight, the news raced on, carried now by the thundering hoofbeats of ghost horses.
In the vast plains of the Endless Horde, Genghis Khan heard the news with a roar of fury that shook the very earth. His huge form, part man, part beast, towered over his cowering messenger.
"Báthory beaten? By a human pup?" Khan's voice rumbled like an avalanche. "Impossible!"
His general, a battle-scarred centaur, stamped his hooves nervously. "The reports all say the same thing, Great Khan. This Atenzi used some sort of trick with sunlight. Báthory's forces were destroyed."
Khan's eyes blazed with a mixture of rage and... was that excitement? "Trick? No. Strategy. This Atenzi... he thinks like a true conqueror." A fierce grin split his beastly features. "Finally, a worthy challenge!"
He turned to his war council, a mix of centaurs, were-beasts, and storm giants. "Prepare the Horde! Bloodmire has grown soft under Báthory's rule. It's time we reminded them what true conquest looks like."
As his commanders rushed to obey, Khan's mind raced with possibilities. "And this Atenzi... yes, we'll deal with him too. Let him taste victory for now. It will make his eventual defeat all the sweeter."
The great Khan threw back his head and laughed, a sound like rolling thunder. "At last! A hunt worthy of the Scourge of Civilizations!"
As Khan's horde began to mobilize, a vast dust cloud rising on the horizon, the news continued its relentless journey.
In palaces and war rooms across Naaim, the other Harbingers heard the shocking tale, each turning over what it meant in their minds.
In his marble-columned strategy room, Julius Caesar's cold eyes narrowed as he absorbed the report. The Roman emperor, his form a perfect blend of man and bull, stood motionless before a vast map of Naaim.
"Interesting," he murmured, his voice soft but carrying an undercurrent of deadly intent. "Very interesting indeed."
His advisors exchanged nervous glances. Caesar in this mood was unpredictable, his brilliant mind working in ways they could barely understand.
"My lord," one ventured, "what do you think about this... Atenzi?"
Caesar was silent for a long moment, his gaze fixed on the small territory marked 'Sovereign Lands'. Then, with careful precision, he placed a small figurine on the map - a chess piece, a knight.
"He's smarter than he looks, this so-called messiah," Caesar mused. "To beat Báthory with wit rather than brute force... yes, that takes a certain genius." A cold smile played at the corners of his mouth. "I approve."
He turned to his advisors, his eyes gleaming with calculated interest. "But genius untested is merely potential. Let's see how our new player handles a real challenge, shall we?"
With a sweep of his hand, Caesar set several other pieces in motion across the map. "Prepare diplomatic envoys to Bloodmire and the Sovereign Lands. Offer help to Báthory - just enough to keep her afloat. And to Atenzi... well, let's see how he handles a gift from Rome."
As his advisors hurried to obey, Caesar returned his gaze to the map. "Welcome to the game, Atenzi," he murmured. "Let's hope you're as good as you think you are. For your sake."
The news, now a tidal wave of rumor and speculation, rolled on.
In his mountain fortress, Alexander the Great heard the tale with unrestrained glee. The once-human conqueror, now a mix of man and eagle-lion, paced excitedly, his wings rustling with each step. "A new challenger!" he crowed, eyes bright with anticipation. "And one clever enough to beat old Báthory! Oh, this is wonderful!"
His advisors, a mix of eagle-lions and bird-women, watched their lord warily. Alexander's moods were as changeable as the mountain winds, and just as dangerous.
"My lord," one bird-woman ventured, "shouldn't we be worried? If this Atenzi could beat Báthory..."
Alexander waved a clawed hand dismissively. "Worried? Nonsense! This is the most exciting thing to happen in centuries!" He grinned, revealing razor-sharp teeth. "Báthory's always been too reliant on brute force. It was only a matter of time before someone outsmarted her."
He strode to a vast window, gazing out over his mountainous domain. "No, this Atenzi... he's interesting. A strategist. A leader." Alexander's eyes gleamed with fierce joy. "A worthy opponent at last!"
Turning back to his advisors, the Harbinger clapped his hands together, sending a small shockwave through the room. "Prepare our forces! Not for war - not yet. But I want eyes on both Bloodmire and these Sovereign Lands. Every detail, every whisper, I want to know it all."
As his minions rushed to obey, Alexander allowed himself a moment of thought. "Atenzi, Atenzi," he mused, tasting the name. "I wonder... do you know what you've started, little messiah? Do you have any idea of the forces you've set in motion?"
The eagle-lion king threw back his head and laughed, a sound that echoed across the mountaintops. "Oh, I do hope you're ready, Atenzi. The game is on, and I intend to enjoy every moment of it!"
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