"Commander Jes! Lord Bas Mortis demands an audience with you! There's a conclave at the Abyss Palace; all the High Lords and even the Commander from the military base 'Pyrehold' are gathering there!"
A small creature with oversized ears and hideous teeth burst into Jes's dimly lit office. Jes—a tall, foreboding figure draped in pitch-black armor, with razor-sharp features and massive dark angel wings—turned his chair to face the frantic messenger.
"They can meet without me," he replied, his voice a low rumble, tinged with indifference.
"B-but, Commander Jes... they insisted I bring you personally! They said if you didn't come, they'd strip you of your title and—"
"ENOUGH!" Jes snapped, his tone slicing through the air. "Those ungrateful idiots—wannabe lords—have nothing better to do than waste time with their endless nonsense!"
"Sir... Commander..." the messenger squeaked, trembling.
"Silence," Jes commanded with a growl. "Fine. I'll go."
He rose from his chair, irritation radiating from him as he prepared to leave. He found these "urgent" gatherings tiresome; too often, their plans to destroy the heavenly realm crumbled to nothing. Muttering under his breath, he added, "They should be thanking me for aiding them, those foolish Lords."
And with a resigned sigh, he set off toward the palace, preparing himself for yet another insufferable conclave.
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In the palace, there was already a loud commotion; the lords were nearly arguing with one another. As Jes walked in, they turned their heads and fell silent. Hypocrites, he thought, striding in with the messenger and some of his assistants in tow.
Jes was a highly esteemed Commander and led the army known as Dreadspire, which defended the gate between the heavenly realm and the underworld.
This border region was like a customs zone, with a towering wall separating heaven and hell. A grand staircase led the deceased to a tribunal, where their fates were decided—whether they would ascend to heaven or descend into hell.
Constant conflict brewed in this area, often sparking into war, and Jes was well-known as the "Angel of Death." He was legendary not only in heaven but also on earth, where stories spoke of the Dark-Winged Man who brought destruction.
"Commander Jes." Lord Bas sat on his throne, dressed in a flowing black gown with a dark red mantle draped over his shoulders. Jes hated that color—it was far too ostentatious for his taste. He wasn't particularly fond of Lord Bas, either; the man thought too highly of himself and enjoyed belittling others for his own amusement.
