8 The Kings Arrive

UGF-P02

The Hall of Blessings and Gratitude wasn't the most conspicuous building on the planet. But its location was one of the easiest for anyone to find out.

Planet UGF-P02 had a radius of 15000 km and the highest point on the planet wasn't its mountains but four colossal statues. At North Pole-The statue of Emperor Divine Beast, at South Pole-The statue of Emperor Swordless, at Equator-The statue of Empress Life-Authority, and the statue of Emperor Eternal Servant opposite to the Empress' statue.

And the Hall of Blessings and Gratitude was under the statue of Emperor Eternal Servant. Or one could say, the hall itself was a part of the foundation.

Boudicca craned her neck up to look at the astronomical size of the statue. It was at least 100 km tall, and one could only see up to the Emperor's hands. The left hand was gripping the hilt of the sword at his waist and in his right hand was an open book. Clouds were trying their best to blurry the rest. But, across the clouds, the majesty of the statue was still drizzling on the people like drops of soft rain.

For it was the statue of the last Emperor whom the Galaxy had seen, Emperor Phoebus Melanthios–The Eternal Servant.

All the generals with their armies were on both sides of the path, lined with carpet and leading to the main archway of the Hall. Boudicca observed the vast back of the General of 1st Quad and thought, 'How can he be so calm? Isn't he aware of the pressure he would soon face?'

As the strident military music poured out by a pair of bugles, a  huge blue-green portal opened up at the far end of the carpet-lined path. The swirling rays of condensed mana were like scintillating rivers of stardust.

A man in flaring red armor and a red cape stepped out from the portal. The vertical golden-red pupil of his eyes was gleaming in the dark through the gap of his helm. But the most eye-catching was the helm's red plume. If one were to look closely, one would have found out that it wasn't red at all. And then, that person would die right after this startling discovery.

Everyone, from beggars to nobles, knew never to look at the helm's plume of the King of 1st Quad. For it wasn't an ordinary plume, but a plume made of a Phoenix's heart.

'Look at the Phoenix's heart for a second and burn for eternity.'

Ancient sayings were the most powerful skills. And this saying had also forced the brave warriors to subdue their courageous nature.

And the one who had donned it like some jewelry was the one who was ruling over the Kingdom of Divine Beast, King Alvis Hildingr - The Red Dragon.

5 men in a stark red greatcoat followed the King. The entourage didn't end here. At least 100 more nobles, in one or other form of red uniform, were also a part of this delegation. The King led the men on the carpeted path. As he passed by the armies of 3rd and 4th Quad on his either side, the Generals bowed their heads to show their respect. Yet the rest of the soldiers had still their chin up. There was a throne placed at one side of the path before the archway. The King elegantly sat on the throne, and the remaining entourage of nobles had lined themselves up behind him.

But it was a mere start, and the portal was now at its maximum output. A wave of refreshing air blew out from the portal. And the air brought a woman with it.

If the morning dew could have a face, even then it wouldn't be as beautiful as hers. The blues of the ocean had dyed her hair and her dark black eyes were like the bottom of the deep sea. The smile on her face was like a crescent moon. A golden fibula had held together her long skirt, with the wonderful colors of summer, with the gold-embroidered outer layer. At her slender waist was a belt of wisteria. And a purple-green tiara embedded with the brightest jewels dictated her title.

One could only compare the entire experience of seeing her with a field of Baby Blue Eyes at their full bloom in spring.

Her entourage wasn't lacking compared to the already seated King. 3 women and 2 men, followed by 100 nobles, were all in yellowish-green robes. She passed by the Generals with their heads still bowed. Every step could have either been on the far clouds or in the hearts of staring men. She sat on the throne at the far right of King of 1st Quad. With a comfortable posture, she finally glanced at the King and gave a courtesy nod.

The King nodded without even looking at her. But that was enough. She wanted a nod in return and she got it. If she needed something, no one could stop her from getting it.

For she was the one who was ruling over the Kingdom of Life-Authority, Queen Eluned Rhiannon–The Daughter of Mana.

The clouds that curtained the sky had gone. And the eternally opened eyes of the Emperor's statue finally reflected the bright rays of suns.

Bright golden rays were pouring out of the portal too when a man in Alb (a plain white garment that reaches to the ankles) stepped out of it. He was wearing a Papal Tiara, and the crown beamed with many jewels. The man, in all the serene atmosphere, was also holding a Papal Ferula–short goldenrod with a jet-black globe attached to its end.

Everybody got to know how the stubborn clouds had given away an unobstructed view of the ever reticent sky.

5 Bishops and a hundred other priests followed this man. The pride of ever-loyal soldiers couldn't have kept their chin raised anymore, and they had bowed their head a little, in that man's direction. This man looked at the Emperor's statue for a while and took his throne opposite to the Queen. The Queen didn't nod this time, for she didn't want him to nod. The man before her only bowed to his 'God' and he would do the same for none other.

For he was the one who was ruling over the Kingdom of Eternal Servant, King Antiochus Theotimus–The Last Saint.

The sudden rain, long winters, and uninvited guests all bring tremendous pressure with them.

But the man who had come out from the portal was the "pressure" himself. There was no jewelry on him, there were no armors, and neither there was a crown nor flashy clothes. This man wore a common black greatcoat, black pants, and plain black shoes. He was being followed by only 2 men and 1 woman, all in even simpler black garments.

The pressure that had flooded the grounds was already bearing down on every being that was present there. Everyone found themselves at the sea-bed. The dense water was compressing every muscle from all around, and even their breath was leaden under the man's dreadful presence.

The man stopped himself in the middle of the Kings and the Queen. But what he did next left all the nobles flabbergasted.

The man turned towards the south and kneeled, with his head almost touching the carpet. And then he slammed his head so hard that every soul from ground to sky shook. The veins of soldiers were already popping out all over the body. All thought that they would lose their consciousness if that man were to slam his head one more time. But the man just stood up and went to his throne. Nobody had wanted to confront him for his odd behavior, and nobody could have asked him for his disregard for human lives.

For he was the one who was ruling over the Kingdom of Swordless, King Hagen Bergman–The Impenetrable Shield.

King of 1st Quad, Alvis, was aware that his subjects had borne most of the pressure. Almost all the faces behind him had turned purple.

A snake's tail and a Dragon's pride were not to be trodden upon. The helm's plume fluttered, and the King stood up. He took a step towards Hagen, who was also glaring at him. A fiery wave of scorching heat spread out and collided with waves of tremendous pressure. Gentle rays of light enveloped all the priests and bellows of fragrant air surrounded the Queen's entourage.

All pretenses were on the brink of getting dropped and the Generals' faces were already pale.

"Haha! Young blood boils the most on hearing the battle-cry of enemies."

With those words the heat subsided, the pressure went poof in the air, the curtain of light vanished and bellows lost themselves in the void. And all beings under the sky found themselves in an illusion of a flowery meadow. The Kings and the Queen vacantly stared at the man who had shown up and mouthed.

"Old Monster."

All the soldiers, including Generals, kneeled and shouted in unison, "LONG LIVE HIS MAJESTY, THE KING."

The sound was so deafening that even the sound of the bugles would have to recede in front of it. And he was the only man who deserved the title of a King on planet UGF-P02.

For he was the one who ruled over nothing, the Supreme Commander of the United Galactic Front, King Imhotep Paphnutius–The Judge of Calamity.