Unital Ring III: Rebellion In the Underworld

The Abyssal Empress

Obsidia Palace

"There's been news of an uprising."

The throne room of Obsidia Palace is so quiet that the tiniest movement could be heard echoing off the wall. But not a soul moves an inch. Most of the room's inhabitants don't move because the words are unbelievable. An uprising, here, in the Dark Realm? Who would dare?

Ever since the Crimson Emperor's reign began, the Dark Territory changed much from its "strong rules the weak" mantra, but it still has a place in society. After the emperor's disappearance, some challenged for the right to rule. Some were the leaders of the respective civilizations of the realm. Some were upstarts with no actual claim to their name. Some of those people are present as members of the Dark Council. All were following the rules of the Law of Power to challenge the one in power and dethrone them. If the challenger wins, they ascend; if they lose, at least they get to live.

And for the most part, those challengers are biding their time until power changes hands again.

But a rebellion goes against that rule and directly affronts the Dark Council and the Imperial throne. Such a thing is punishable by death. The Law of Power was kept to prevent rebellions and allow those who had an issue with power to try to gain it for themselves. And the idea of open rebellion should be impossible.

The few that aren't stunned by the idea of a rebelling forming have more grave thoughts on their mind. They've been waiting for something to happen since the Abyssal Horror attack and defeat. Three Integrity Pilots were surprisingly attacked for a month. It shouldn't have happened based on the reported movements from Admina, so there's only one conclusion from the lie: Admina, or someone using Admina, is rebelling against the Star Empire.

While Star Law equates the Unification Council and the Dark Council, the ruling body of the Dark Realm has the right not to get involved in the matter. The foil to the Integrity Pilothood, the Imperial Knighthood, was not involved nor has been asked to help in the investigation. In light of that, the Dark Council decided to see what would happen.

And the result leads the Dark Council to this very moment. Slowly and in unison, the representatives of the four demihuman races (the orcs, the giants, the mountain goblins, and the flatland goblins), two of the three wings of the Imperial Army (the Dark Mages, the Pugulist Guild, and the Dark Knights) and other human leaders of lesser groups such as the merchants' guild turn their heads from the messenger to the seat at the head of the obsidian table. Only one seat is empty, that of the overseer of the Dark Territory's Outer Continent colony beyond the Walls at the End of the World.

Seated at the head of the table is a bronzed man with short, dark blonde hair and burning brown eyes. Besides a red cape held over his shoulders and a pin attached to it, his upper body is bare for all to see and marvel at his muscles. His right hand strokes the stubble of hair on his chin as he frowns himself and turns in his seat. His first glance is to his right, where a man stands erect fully in black and purple armor from head to toe. The human underneath is the strongest man in the Dark Realm and the leader of the Imperial Dark Knights and the Special Forces, also known as the Kureha. He, too, is looking back at the seated man.

If Supreme Commander Sikhan Auratum and Knight Commander Acras Zancale know each other well, they both think this is the moment the Council has been waiting for -- and so they look to the seated figure behind them on the throne of Obsidia Palace.

A fair-skinned woman whose youthful looks don't match her centuries-old age. Long grey-brown hair stems straight down from her head, topped by a headband made to look like a crown. All her garments are black with gold and red accents: the armor that covers her upper torso and waist, the skirt, leggings, and boots down her legs, and the unconnected sleeves down her arms. If anyone thought her to be some dancer, it would be an understandable mistake. However, it would be folly to express that assessment unless one believes it is right to offend the most powerful person in the Dark Territory and, with the Star rulers and the occupant of the seat to her right gone, the Underworld as a whole.