Floating in an ocean of endless darkness, with the only source of illumination being the geothermal vents that provided warmth and strange, almost alien sea beasts that glowed with light, was a strange floating fortress that was as big as the entirety of Blessed Willow Island. The foundations for this fortress was a massive scallop shell that was covered entirely in strange, ancient runes, and carved in such a manner to suggest that it had been modified to act as a naval vessel.
This place was known as the [Dark Shell Citadel], a mobile fortress that could channel the power of an ancient scallop-like beast in order to move and defend its inhabitants.
Once upon a time, this fortress belonged to a top tier Aether Saint known as Black Shell, it was said that not even eighth tiered aether beasts would be able to penetrate its walls. A good thing too, since the Abyssal Lands were full of such beasts.
It was said that Black Shell would roam about the Abyssal Lands with the [Dark Shell Citadel], and use its power in conjunction with his own to launch surprise attacks on the world above, and plunder resources ripe for the taking.
Alas, time and fate were cruel mistresses, and Black Shell would fall before the might of a knightly queen and her entourage of demons, leaving [Dark Shell Citadel] to be abandoned for years and years. That was until the Fallen clan had stumbled upon the place right when they were escaping into the Abyssal Lands in the first place.
They had considered their finding of the citadel a blessing, and a sign that the heavens had not yet forsaken them.
Ever since that day, the Fallen had made it one of their top priorities to restore this strange floating fortress to its former glory, in the hopes of either weaponizing it against their enemies. So far, the results have been mixed.
<> Matriarch Gao Shen Yuan cursed as she heard the latest report. <>
The Fallen Clan’s attack on Willow Scale wasn’t a complete loss, but it wasn’t a grand success either.
They had managed to give the Zhen Clan a major black eye by not only kidnapping a whole host of young scions from all over the world, but they also managed to gain some crucial manpower in the form of the criminals and captured warriors the Zhen Clan had detained over the years, including their lost War Elder. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to increase the casualty count or destroy the Zhen Clan’s arena due to some unforeseen circumstances.
Making matters worst, this also came at the cost of several dozen of their trained warriors and now, one of their biggest spies/resources.
Matriarch Gao Shen Yuan was deep in thought, trying to figure out what the course of action their clan should take, when an unannounced but not unwelcome visitor entered her chambers. It was none other than the War Elder, Gao Ao Long.
Gone was the emaciated and bedraggled old man with an oversized arm, replaced by a distinguished looking gentleman with a manicured beard and a fuller form. The demonic looking arm he had, that was once exposed to the elements, was now wrapped in fine bandages that were imbued with a runic power. Granted, those bandages didn’t do much in terms of suppressing the sheer fury and power that naturally radiated from Gao Ao Long’s stolen arm.
<> the matriarch readily agreed. <>
Matriarch Gao Shen Yuan could only grimace and nod in response to the War Elder’s assessment.
<> the War Elder mused while lifting his demonic arm to gaze at it.
An unusual smile then formed on the Elder’s face as he stared at his arm further, a wicked idea beginning to form.
<> Gao Shen Yuan replied while readjusting her seat. >
At this response, Gao Shen Yuan paused her movement before her diverting all of her attention to the War Elder. A look of sheer disbelief was plain on her face.
<> the War Elder nodded. <>
<> Gao Ao Long trailed off as he lifted his wrapped up arm, moments before flexing it and releasing the dormant [Chaos] that composed its malformed structure.
Gao Shen Yuan was silent as she mulled over the War Elder’s question, but only for a second. After this second was up, she asked only one question.
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=I...wait, we didn’t remind our lord about that?=
<=Three, two, one, not it! Dammit! Fine, we’ll do it together.=>