Victor’s withered fingers unconsciously rubbed the textured steel throne, the cold touch unable to suppress the simmering rage.

The council chamber was suffused with the stench of fear and decay, the air stagnant. Under the dome, the hanging torture stakes swayed with the light like flickering specters.

"...three more outer node ports were seized by those apes," the messenger’s metallic scratching voice sliced through the silence, his hunched figure wrapped in a black cloak, "’Dusk Fang’ clan’s beast master team barely held for two days before being completely annihilated...average casualty ratio...ninety-seven to one." That final number was like a drop of concentrated acid splattering into a pan.

"Ninety-seven to one?!" A sharp roar pierced the stillness, Maraki, governor of the Shadow-eating Clan, leapt up, "Comoros has never suffered such disgrace! That throng of ’Dusk Fang’ incompetents should be fed to the low-level Demon! Victor! How long do you expect us to hide like frightened burrow creatures? Let them in! Drown them with the labyrinth! Tear them apart with numbers! My rats are more than willing to take on this task!"

"Let them in?" A colder sneer echoed from the other side.

Isara, governor of the ’Dusk Fang’ clan, who had been cursed as ’should be fed to low-level Demon’, sneered coldly and said, "Maraki, your fear has eroded what little pathetic sanity you had. Have you stayed with your rats too long, becoming this stupid? Look at the data, the ape army is still growing exponentially! Rely on your ’labyrinth’ to delay them? Your rats are fragile and incompetent, merely wasting resources and handing over our precious land!"

Before her opponent could respond, Isara’s pale, slender fingers traced through the void, bringing up a relentlessly shrinking crimson marker, "Our outpost in the real universe is being systematically dismantled, the offensive of those primitive creatures isn’t limited to Comoros. Each disappearance of a post means a severed plunder route, means one less agony and soul brought back to Comoros! Continuing this bloodshed in the swamp, we are not fighting, but engaging in chronic collective suicide!"

The governors of the two families argued fiercely, while the others in the council chamber, considered conspirators within Comoros, remained silent, watching them dispute.

These two families have been long-standing rivals for the past three centuries. Every meeting sparks conflict, if either can find fault with the other, they will seize every opportunity to attack.

But now...

Previously, arguments were merely arguments.

At present?

For thousands of years, Comoros has never faced such tremendous crisis, and it’s a direct invasion by the current cosmic hegemon against Comoros.

How has this come about?

The direct cause was the Black Witch King’s ’ingenious’ plan, ’inviting’ Robert in.

There was no choice but to come.

Along with him came the Alliance.

Immediately after, the situation spiraled out of control, escalating into the current form.

Indeed, to be frank, Victor’s plan was not executed unilaterally; it went through deliberation among high-ranking leaders and was collectively decided.

But, speaking of collective decision-making, it sounds nice described as collective effort, yet when plans fail, especially in such colossal failure as now, can one hope everyone will shoulder the responsibility together?

That’s too idealistic. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Blame-shifting is more in tune with human nature.

The Dark Spirit Race may not be human, but they excel at such things even more.

The one who proposed the plan was Victor, the one who organized the meeting was Victor, the one who mobilized forces for execution was Victor.

Victor, the Black Witch King, wields power in Comoros that surpasses all clans, associations, mercantile groups, and organizations, recognized as the leader and king of Comoros. He relies on the fear instilled by force and reputation that brings benefits to everyone.

But now, these two points are hugely challenged due to the present catastrophe.

According to human time, it’s been six months. Yet the crisis of invasion faced by Comoros has not only not been resolved but has festered even more.

The original intent was to address a prophecy. Consensus had largely been reached, believing the prophecy concerning the Spirit Race’s future was genuine. But frankly, if ignored, even if doomsday was real, it should occur far into the future.

Now, attending to this prophecy has instead brought impending doom.

Due to this, Victor has neither resolved the prophecy’s issue nor crushed the human invasion with force, resulting in Comoros’s forces suffering losses, dragging his prestige to rock bottom...

Under such circumstances, can the Black Witch King, an ’Alliance Hierarch’ whose legitimacy is completely reliant on personal prestige and not through bloodline or election, still suppress the ambitious, divergent factions?

The two old rivals seem to have agreed to engage in deliberate squabbles at meetings again, even quarreling over significant issues as if testing something.

The other spectators in the council, gauging the thoughts of the Black Witch King seated on the steel throne, try to discern if this ruler still has the strength to maintain control.

And reality proves the Black Witch King’s prestige still retains some existence.