In the Throne Hall of the Ogres' Nation, the air was not just hot; it was thick with the Ogre King Chad's volatile rage. His huge, green-skinned form dwarfed the ornate, bone-and-iron throne behind him.

​"What?!!" Chad roared, the sound shaking the very banners on the wall. The unfortunate Ogre guard before him seemed to shrink under the force of the king's fury.

​"I am truly sorry, my King! The shipment failed... We investigated, but only found a flag. With the look of it, it belongs to Eldoria."

​Chad's crimson face paled slightly, a frightening sight on a creature of his magnitude. "Huh? God Wolf? Why was he in such a place? And at the worst time ever!" He sank heavily onto his throne.

"What about the Wendigos?"

​"They were completely wiped out, my King. No survivors."

​Chad slammed his fist onto the armrest, the aged bone cracking. "This is bad. God Wolf knows about our cooperation with the Wendigos. He will surely attack us and use this as an excuse... That's why I made sure these operations should be absolutely secretive!" He glared at the guard, the anger fading into a desperate exhaustion.

"The first outpost was destroyed, and we lost our most valuable captive... that little girl. And now, this... Go! Get ready to defend. God Wolf will attack any moment from now. And distribute the blood taken from that kid to every soldier! Now!"

​"Yes! Yes, my King!" The Ogre guard, relieved to escape, scrambled out of the hall.

​Chad leaned his head back, his mind racing. 'God Wolf... I am curious about your limit. I will be waiting, but my curiosity might kill us all.'

​"Report!"

​Chad's eyes snapped up as his Advisor, a lean, scarred Ogre, rushed inside, unrolling a scroll with frantic hands. Behind him were two figures who instantly drew the king's attention and suspicion.

​"...?!"

Chad surged to his feet, his massive frame regaining its intimidating posture. "Who are these two?"

​"My King, this is Sir Xanor," the Advisor stammered, pointing to a man with an unnervingly calm demeanor. "And the lady beside him is known as Shadow Eyes."

​Shadow Eyes, clad in long, tight black pants and a startlingly white blouse, was an immediate anomaly. She was all sharp edges and seductive danger, tucking a strand of black hair behind a pointed ear. A slender, pointy tail twitched slightly behind her, complemented by two delicate, succubus wings. She offered the Ogre King a smile that did not reach her eyes.

​"A succubus?" The King's shock was evident in his voice.

​"Yep. I was also shocked when she finally revealed herself," Xanor said, walking casually towards the throne.

"So, King Chad... You have a gift from God Wolf." He gestured to Chad's Advisor, who stepped forward and quickly read the scroll's contents aloud:

​"To the Kingdom of the Ogres: This is a Submission letter from Eldoria, asking your kingdom to unleash a missile on your nation and wipe yourselves out. You have two days to comply. If not, Eldoria will lead its forces and personally wipe out your nation. From God Wolf."

"....?!?"

​Chad grimaced, the insult and the impossible ultimatum stinging.

"This? This means..."

​Xanor smoothly took a seat without being offered one, the very picture of confident disrespect. "This means God Wolf wants you dead. You can't escape that. Your best chance of surviving this is coming with us."

​"Coming with you? Why?" Chad asked, a heavy frown creasing his brow.

​"It's nothing difficult to understand," Shadow Eyes purred, her smile widening. "We both have seen God Wolf's strength. Fighting him head-on is more than stupid. You won't survive his weakest attack." She tilted her head, her gaze drifting toward the heavy, iron-bound door.

​"You have one day to decide. All you have to do is bring all your soldiers with us. You can leave your people behind."

​"And why would I do that?" Chad challenged, recoiling at the suggestion.

​Shadow Eyes flicked her fingers. A sharp, invisible force seized Chad, pulling him off his feet and dragging him violently towards her. He instinctively struggled against the suffocating grip.

​"Don't pretend to be a saint, Chad," she said, her voice dropping to a silken, dangerous whisper. Her gaze, fixed and unyielding, bored into his.

"You have killed more of your own people—the weak, the unprofitable, the dissidents—than any other race." She released the force, letting him drop heavily to the cold stone floor.

​"Remember, you have one day to decide. If you want to continue our cooperation, you know what to decide." She turned and walked towards the door, her hips swaying slightly.

​"Let's leave for now. We will be back tomorrow." She paused at the threshold, looking at Chad over her shoulder, her voice cold and absolute. "Remember, 100% of your troops." With that, she vanished.

​"Why does she need all my troops?" Chad asked Xanor, still struggling to his feet.

​Xanor simply shrugged, his expression unreadable. "You will find out tomorrow, depending on your decision." He gave a curt nod and followed the succubus.

​"My King. What should we do?" The Advisor rushed to Chad's side, his face pale with panic.

​Chad was silent, his massive hands clenched into fists: 'The Wendigos weren't to be trusted; I know that. But the gain made me cooperate with them. Now, these allies are giving me options instead of helping me with my current disaster... I am madder at myself than I am at God Wolf.'

​He took a slow, rattling breath. "I can't just leave all my people. And my soldiers won't leave their families here and follow me. Do you have any idea how to manage this?"

​The Advisor shook his head, wringing his hands. "I am also confused, my King. This is very tricky. If we stay back and fight, we will suffer utter defeat; if those two can't stop God Wolf, we have zero chance. But if we follow them, we'll lose the trust of our people, and the soldiers' spirit will be greatly reduced... Some might even rebel."

​Chad ran a hand over his thick, spiky hair, the weight of his crown suddenly crushing.

"I must find a way out of this, that doesn't brand me a coward and a traitor to my own blood." He turned to his Advisor, desperation hardening his voice.

"Send an urgent, coded message to my brother. I need his advice here. He is the only one who might understand the true threat of Eldoria."

​"As the King wishes." The Advisor bowed deeply and rushed out, leaving King Chad alone.

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