Retirement Ceremony (2)

Even if Imhotep was not using his Perception, this was UGF-P02, the one place where even the other Kings hesitated to come. Here, he was unbeatable, unconquerable, and unperishable. Here he was equal to a God. Yet, there was someone in this galaxy who could hide from the king's senses and was so confident to even call out his name.

Imhotep wetted his dry throat with a noisy gulp. And at some point, a huge wooden hammer had materialized in his hands.

"All things in the universe…"

A ghastly voice cut off his Skill and gently said, "Haha, Imhotep, calm down. Why are you being so jumpy?"

Imhotep saw shadows had gathered in the corner of his office on his left. All the light felt to Imhotep like being cut off from the outside world. It would not be wrong to say that somehow the dark shadows had suppressed the existence of light. None could tell if the man had come out of the shadows or the shadows had come out of him. The left-out part of the shadows weaved around his body and became his robe.

"You… You…," Imhotep stuttered.

What in the world could make him stutter? But the undeniable thing was that Imhotep had never been so happy since his last judgment. A judgment that had robbed a King of his life. His face was beaming with a gigantic smile and the hammer had vanished like it wasn't there to begin with. Imhotep bent his knees to kneel, but the Shadow-Wearer stopped him.

"I had a hunch you would come. I had been waiting for a long time. Long enough that even I forgot about it."

"Haha Imhotep, I've brought you good news. Where are your manners? At least offer me your best wine."

Imhotep reached out his hand in the void and took out a jar of purplish-gold color wine.

"Tch-Tch, Phoenix Blood wine. Who would've thought? Pour me a glass."

Imhotep, like a professional sommelier, served him the wine, full to the brim. And the Shadow-Wearer gulped the entire drink in one go. There was no need for him to nerve himself for a shock. Soon, white fumes rose out of his body and an ethereal white fog followed the fumes. Both fumes and the fog turned into a blazing white flame that enveloped the Shadow-Wearer. But all three lost themselves in the shadows.

"Hah. Good stuff."

The Shadow-Wearer slammed the cup on the table and took a seat. But the Supreme Commander wouldn't dare to look at his 'throne'.

"3 years. It would only take three more years, Imhotep."

Imhotep listened to this proclamation and heard his shoulder joints popping in relaxation. He leaned on the table and let out a deep bellow of laughter.

"Haha-Haha…" Nothing seemed to get in his way today. No one could stop him.

Even the other person stayed silent and let the walls of the office take care of the echoes of the hearty laugh.

"You have done well, awarding promotion to that little girl. It would likely keep the Kingdom of Swordless in check for some time."

"Yes, even if they were to create some problem, the Kingdom of Divine Beast would have to come forward. They wouldn't let their princess get bullied."

The Shadow-Wearer nodded at Imhotep's explanation.

"Wait!. Were you already here when they came?"

"Haha, little Imhotep, I was hiding in the shadow of that Healer. Pretty legs, if I say so myself. What is her relationship with the Kingdom of Life-Authority?"

"She is 'Her' niece."

"Is that why you put those two together? Hmm, clever indeed."

"I will declare my retirement, otherwise those greedy bastards won't be able to endure any longer. I have an incredible idea to delay the next assuming office for 3 years. What would change even if I held on to the rank for a few extra years when I have already served here for the last 195 years."

Imhotep then whispered his brilliant plan in the ears of the Shadow-Wearer.

"Haha, Imhotep1, who would believe what a sly little bastard you are?"

Imhotep couldn't be any happier after receiving his praises. But there was still one problem that was eating its way into his stomach.

"What to do with the Kingdom of Eternal Servant? They are odd, quiet, and often decisive. It would be very hard to convince them of this plan to work."

"You seem to forget about something, Imhotep. Where do you think we are?"

No one knew the location of the HQ of the United Galactic Front. And to access it, one needed many inter-planetary teleportation from certain UGF bases. Only the Supreme Commander could have access to this classified information.

"You mean to say…," Imhotep's eyes shone with realization.

"Yes, UGF-P02 got named so because of its predecessor's destruction in the last Galactic War. Do you think it was a coincidence?"

Their faces darkened at the mention of the Galactic War. But one could see a hint of anticipation on their faces. And both of them thought in conjunction, 'It would be different this time.'

*

3 hours later, DTC

Huff!!! Huff!!!

Low panting sounds were resonating with the heavy steps in a dark corridor. One could see a silhouette of a 'kid' engulfed in the darkness coming out in the light. Eydis dragged herself out of the Hell Tunnel and called out to the soldiers on duty at the Duke Training Center (DTC).

"Go… Go bring a Healer. Hurry!"

A boom rang out in the distance and before the shock waves subsided, Boudicca had already arrived at the scene.

Boudicca gasped in shock and only hoped that she wasn't too late. She examined Lt. General Eydis and took out a potion. Eydis's singlet was shredded from all over and blood was pouring from the deep cuts. A thick piece of her right thigh had become mangled flesh. It looked like someone in leisure had tried to take a bite of her thigh.

But the title of the most gruesome scene belonged to her left arm. Well, there was no left arm. Eydis in her blood-soaked blond hair seemed no different from a tired soldier at his last breath. Boudicca emptied the potion that looked like melted metal on Eydis's thigh.

"Sigh, this is too much, even for me. It would take at least an hour to regrow that arm."

Eydis only let out grunts of pain through her clenched teeth as the potion drilled its way into her body. Boudicca took the DTC's Trial Report and took a glance at the data.

…

Trial Time: 16:40:34 hrs

Trial Completion: 14.3%

Trial Status: Pass

…

She gave the half-dead midget a surprised look and muttered, "She is truly lucky."

In the Medical Hall, Eydis struggled with the grogginess and her blurred vision gained a hint of clarity. She looked around and before her eyes moved towards her left arm; she had already been gripping it.

"I have sent the report to the Supreme Commander, and the time is nigh. You should also get ready for their arrival."

A familiar sweet voice resounded to her right and Eydis realized she had survived. A proud smile crept its way over her puerile face.

"Boudicca, thank you."

These sudden and honest words took aback Boudicca. Her blushed peachy cheeks were ripening by seconds and were almost ready to get plucked. Her eyes wandered in the dull room to avoid the gaze of Lt. General. But the next words from Eydis washed away all the tension.

"Anyway, it was your duty."

'This… damn midget! I should have let you suffer a bit more,' Boudicca cursed Eydis and regained the pale white look on her face.

"You must have used the Volcanic-Blood Amplifier potion. Don't worry, as the new General I'll award you another one for this meritorious service."

'Me… Meritorious service? How important do you think you are?' Boudicca glared at her superior, who was stretching her left arm.

"With you being out of the way... I... I mean, with you getting promoted to the rank of General, I am also getting considered for the rank of Lt. General."

"Yes, that's true. You are already qualified if one looks at your strength and merits. But if you could get your hands on one more potion, that shouldn't pose any problem, right?" Eydis winked.

Boudicca didn't let the season of peaches return and said, "I'll let you familiarize yourself with your arm. We are to report at the Hall of Blessings and Gratitude." She saluted and almost skipped her way out of the room like a little girl after getting candy.

*

Supreme Commander's Office

"I must go now. The next time we meet, you must bring out a much better wine. Haha."

With the laugh echoing in Imhotep's head, the Shadow-Wearer melted down in the shadows. Imhotep went to the window and looked out at the binary stars. And then his gaze gradually moved down to his military boots.

A sinister smile crawled up his face ever so slowly.