Chapter 23: The Five Monster Lords

Shortly after, they arrive at an immense chamber. The throne room is colossal, its ceiling stretching so high that it seems to touch the heavens. Massive, intricate pillars carved with scenes of dragons and battles line the hall, their designs glowing faintly with a magical light.

At the far end, a grand throne catches Nyssara's eye—a masterpiece wrought in black stone and gold, its design shaped like a dragon coiled protectively around the seat. The dragon's eyes, set with fiery red gemstones, almost seem alive, radiating an intimidating aura.

Seated on the throne is Alix, his piercing gaze locked onto her as if he's been waiting for her all along. His presence is overwhelming, and though he doesn't move, she feels the weight of his power pressing down on her.

Nyssara slows her steps, her earlier pride and defiance nowhere to be found. She kneels before him as soon as she is close enough, lowering her head. The resentment and arrogance she once felt toward him have been completely stripped away. In this moment, she only wants to earn his favor.

"Your Majesty," she begins, her voice steady but laced with deference. She unfastens the silk pack from her back and places it before her.

"This is all the minerals we mined. I offer them to you as promised."

She doesn't dare call him "Master" now. The enormity of his presence and the grandeur of his domain make her hesitate to address him with anything but the utmost formality.

Alix's expression doesn't change, though his lips curl slightly at her change in tone. He leans forward slightly, resting his chin on his hand as he surveys the offering before him.

"Uhm," he says, his voice calm but carrying an edge of amusement.

"That's quite a lot, considering how little time has passed. You've exceeded my expectations, Nyssara."

Nyssara glances up briefly, her crimson eyes flicking to his face before lowering again.

"I… I only did what you asked, Your Majesty. It is an honor to serve you."

Alix studies her for a moment, his gaze sharp enough to cut through steel. He's not surprised by her shift in attitude—he expected it. The power and order of his city, along with the sheer disparity in strength, were enough to break even the most stubborn hearts.

"Very well," Alix says, leaning back in his throne.

Alix taps a finger on the armrest of his throne. "This is not the only reason I summoned you here," he says, his tone steady but laced with intrigue.

Nyssara straightens slightly, curiosity flickering in her crimson eyes.

"What is it, Your Majesty? It will be my pleasure to be of use," she replies earnestly, her voice unwavering.

Alix narrows his gaze slightly. "I've heard you mention there are other monsters like you in the forest. Tell me about them."

Nyssara nods, folding her claws neatly in front of her. "Yes, Your Majesty. There are five in total, including myself. Each of them claims a portion of the forest as their territory."

Alix leans forward slightly, his interest piqued. "Oh? That's interesting," he muses. "Are they as strong as you?"

Nyssara hesitates, her mandibles twitching faintly as she thinks.

"I only know for certain that at least three of them are as strong as me. But the other two…" She pauses, her brow furrowing. "I don't have much of a clue about their strength."

"And what about the strongest?" Alix asks, his voice calm but probing. "Surely, you must know who stands above the rest."

Nyssara's expression darkens slightly, a hint of unease creeping into her voice.

"There is one. His name is Tolga. He is the strongest among us—or so I've heard. But I don't know much about him."

Alix raises an eyebrow. "Why not? Does he not have a territory like the others?"

Nyssara shakes her head. "No, Your Majesty. Unlike the rest of us, who have subordinates and fixed territories, Tolga's location is always unknown. He moves through the forest like a shadow, and no one dares to challenge him."

Alix leans back in his throne, he raises his right hand into the air. A faint shimmer ripples through the space above his palm, and a small rift opens, glowing with an eerie, otherworldly light. From it, he pulls out a rolled map and an elegant pen.

"I want you to mark the locations of these monsters," he says.

He unfurls the map, revealing a detailed layout of the forest. He tosses it toward Nyssara, and it lands lightly on the ground in front of her.

Nyssara's eyes widen as she watches the rift vanish as quickly as it appeared. Her gaze flickers to the map and pen now lying before her, then back to Alix. She doesn't dare ask how he did it, though the question burns in her mind. Instead, she swallows her surprise and nods.

"Of course, Your Majesty," she says, her voice steady despite her curiosity.

Carefully, she picks up the map and the pen, unrolling the parchment to reveal its intricate details. The forest is laid out with precision, every river, clearing, and dense thicket marked.

"This is my territory," she begins, drawing a small circle with the pen. "To the northwest, near the cliffs, is another monster's domain. His name is Dargan. He's as strong as me and commands a swarm of rock monster."

She marks the spot, then moves her finger slightly east. "Here, in the marshlands, is Veltha. She's a water serpent and controls the creatures of the swamp. She's strong, but I believe I could match her if needed."

Alix watches her closely, his expression unreadable as she continues.

"To the south, in the ash plains, is Groth. He's good at fire magic, unpredictable and aggressive. I've clashed with him before—he's slightly stronger than me."

Her claw tracing the map to the eastern forest. "And here... this is where Thurn resides. He's a venomous beast, spider-like in appearance, and his webbing stretches across the dense trees. He's cunning, and his strength is much stronger than mine, and he relies more on ambush tactics."