Rise Online: Return of the Legendary Player

The fall of the Fountain of Protection's defensive barrier was like a silent rumble that echoed throughout the palace, announcing Og'tharoz's triumph over the ancient artifact.

At the same time, inside the palace, the Emperor of the Mist, an elf with piercing eyes and an imposing posture, was in his chamber, absorbed in deep thought. He was tall but thin, had a look full of energy, but was so old that his hair was gray, and apparently the fall of the barrier didn't alarm or even surprise him; he had foreknowledge of this imminent event.

However, his reaction was not one of alarm, but of calculated calm.

The palace guards, alerted by the sudden drop in defensive magic, rushed to inform the Emperor of the fall of the barrier and the possibility of an invasion. They found him in his private chamber, surrounded by piles of gold and books on magic.

"Emperor, the protective barrier has fallen! An invader has somehow managed to sneak through the walls and reach the protective crystal!" exclaimed one of the guards, panting and visibly upset.

The Emperor, however, raised his hand in a gesture of calm. His eyes, which had previously been focused on some distant point, now turned to the guards with an expression of deep knowledge.

"I know," he replied softly, as if he were speaking more to himself than to the guards. "I've been waiting for this."

The guards, perplexed by the Emperor's reaction, hesitated before continuing.

"Your Majesty, we must mobilize the security forces immediately. The invader may be trying to get here!" warned one of the guards, his face marked with tension.

The Emperor nodded, silencing the guards' concern. His mind seemed to be elsewhere, connected to something beyond the immediate reality of the palace.

"I know this must worry you very much..." he said softly, although his voice echoed with authority. "But don't worry, we're just in the middle of a war that isn't necessarily important to us. So let the invaders in."

The guards, perplexed by the Emperor's lack of action in the face of the imminent invasion, exchanged worried glances with each other. Their hearts beat fast, the fear of uncertainty echoing in every word they uttered.

One of the guards, braver than the others, decided to address the Emperor again.

"Your Majesty, with all due respect, we cannot simply allow the invaders to enter our lands without resistance. According to the information that came from the prison, they are not dark elves." said the guard, his voice laden with tension and urgency.

The Emperor slowly turned his golden gaze towards the guard, his expression calm but charged with undeniable authority. "I understand your concerns, my loyal guards," he began, his voice echoing in the hall like an ethereal whisper. "But there are bigger things at stake here, things that YOU cannot fully comprehend."

The guards looked at each other again, confused and uneasy.

What could be more important than the security of the palace itself?

They knew of the Emperor's reputation and respected him, but still, his actions seemed beyond comprehension.

The Emperor took a deep breath, his thin, wrinkled body seeming to carry the weight of centuries of knowledge and responsibility. He rose from his frozen throne, his golden eyes shining, and said:

"Without further questions, prepare to receive the invaders, but offer no direct resistance," he ordered the guards, his voice sounding like a divine decree. "Let them in, for the time has come for a new era for us dark elves."

The guards looked at each other once again, but this time, a quiet determination settled in their hearts. They trusted the Emperor, even without fully understanding his reasons, because it was he who had brought glory to the dark elves for the first time in the entire history of the race.

And so they set off to carry out his orders, preparing to receive the invaders who were approaching the palace walls.

"The artifact has fallen into unwanted hands, is everything all right?" muttered the Emperor to himself as the guards left the hall, as if talking to someone invisible next to him.

"Ah, Emperor... are you still unsure about what I'm telling you to do?" murmured the voice, enveloping the Emperor's mind in a subtle haze of influence.

The Emperor shook his head in denial, as if talking to an imaginary friend.

"No, of course not. It's just that..."

"There's nothing to worry about. You're the Emperor of the Mist, the supreme lord who will soon have the whole of the Kingdom of Niflheim under your thumb. And I'm just your faithful advisor. I offered you the glory of being the great savior of your race and you accepted, didn't you? We have a promise between us and I never break my promises."

"Yes, I know."

"It's all planned, my Emperor. Soon, your power will be undisputed. Nothing will be able to stop you on your way to supremacy," whispered the voice, fueling the Emperor's ambition.

"But what about the consequences of all this?" asked the Emperor, his voice laden with doubt and fear.

"True greatness lies in the courage to face the unknown, my Emperor. You are not just the leader of the dark elves; you are the one chosen to bring a new era of glory and power to the lower worlds. Trust me, and everything will go according to plan. Now stop, he's here..." murmured the voice.

At that moment, Kaizen entered the room, closely followed not only by Xisrith, Alina, Andrew and Jayaa, but also by another two dozen guards.

The expression on Kaizen's face was serious and his fists were clenched as he analyzed every part of the Mist Emperor's body. Obviously, he was the most suspicious of all the twists and turns the mission had taken; he hadn't expected even in his best dreams to enter the palace without resistance and not be able to find the emperor so easily.

"Are you the Emperor of the Mist?" Kaizen asked, looking at the old elf sitting on the throne at the back of the room.

"Answer him courteously," whispered the voice in the emperor's right ear.

"Yes, that is my title. And you are the Psyker." The emperor replied.