CHAPTER 218: GATHERING OF THE STRONGEST (2)

An oppressive silence filled the Grand Hall with the weight of Adrian’s presence. The bickering and shouting had died in the throats of the assembled leaders, replaced by absolute attention.

King Alaric of Lorvain, who had been puffing his chest out moments before, couldn’t help but gulp, a bead of sweat tracing a path down his temple.

Adrian could see the fear in their eyes, and he did not let the moment go to waste.

"I heard everything that was said," he began with a calm voice that still made their bones vibrate. "And I shall not tolerate such remarks in my Alliance. The age of petty arrogance is over."

He walked slowly towards the head of the table, his gaze falling upon the two former kings.

"Alaric. Modrich. Welcome to our Alliance. It is with immense pleasure that I hear you have chosen to join us." His voice was polite, but his eyes were like chips of ice. "But let me be clear. This is not an alliance for only humans. It is the reunification of all the peoples of Thanad as one. You will support that dream, you will contribute to it, or you will be considered an enemy of it."

He leaned closer, his gaze staring dead into the eyes of the Transcendent King Alaric. "Are we all in agreement?"

Alaric, a Transcendent in his own right, felt his own considerable power shrink and cower before the sheer, absolute will of the boy in front of him. His mind was racing. ’Why is this happening to me? I am a Transcendent! How can a mere child intimidate me like this?!’

But the pressure on his soul was undeniable. He managed a short nod, allowing Adrian to take a step back, the intense pressure receding slightly, allowing the room to breathe again.

"Don’t get me wrong," he said with a softened tone. "I am not trying to scare you or force you into anything you wouldn’t want to do. I believe you to be decent enough leaders to have been considered worthy of being Kings. But the matter at hand is far more crucial than any petty scheme or prejudice, and that is why I have gathered all of you here. So that we, as a planetary family, can come together to combat the future."

Aside from the members of his own council, no one understood what Adrian was talking about. And Adrian was in no haste to clarify. He took his seat at the head of the great rectangular table, his presence commanding.

Charles immediately took the seat to his right, and Mara to his left.

Everyone was still silent, waiting for him to speak, to explain the meaning behind his cryptic words. But he never said anything.

The minutes stretched on and the silence stretched as well, forcing every leader present to mull over Adrian’s words, to reflect on their own behavior, and to wonder what could possibly be so important as to demand such a dramatic display.

The tense silence was finally interrupted when the great doors to the hall opened once more. A slender Elf with jade-like skin and long, flowing blonde hair stepped gracefully into the room.

Everyone looked up at the newcomer, who walked in with a confidence and a power that was captivating.

King Alaric’s eyes widened as he felt her aura, a power equal to his own. He muttered in disbelief,

"Another Transcendent?!" The rest of the council looked at her in surprise, wondering what the Elven princess was doing here.

Nyra found an empty seat before the table, her green eyes finding Adrian’s across the table. She gave him a slight, confident nod.

Nyra, Charles, Von, Eli, Mara, Melissa, Jeffery, Varyn, Damien, Vamir, Caelar, Loryn, Tharion, Alaric, Modrich.

The sheer concentration of power in this room was unprecedented. Sixteen of the most powerful and influential beings on the entire planet, all gathered at a single table, their combined auras creating a pressure that made the very air seem to shimmer. There had never been a more powerful gathering in the history of Thanad.

Adrian’s gaze swept across them all, taking in the finally assembled council.

"Now we’re complete," he said, his voice cutting through the silence. "It’s time we discuss the issue at hand."

With a mental command, all the mana lights in the room turned off and he used [Projection], to project a massive holographic display of the galaxy with its stars.

Everyone was captivated by the strange yet familiar sight, but Adrian didn’t give them time to ponder and began:

"You are all here because your world is in more danger than you can possibly imagine. For centuries, you have been living in a peaceful cage, and you have forgotten that the universe is full of wolves."

The galaxy faded, replaced by the holographic image of a young boy with black hair and solemn eyes. He looked like any average human. Some, like the former Duke, Varyn, recognized the face with a start, while most did not.

"This is Julian Borin," Adrian stated. "Son of the former Duke of Borin. You may not recognize him, but you will recognize his work. His body was possessed by an unknown entity. This entity," he continued, as images of the necromantic creatures flashed on the display, "was responsible for the assassination of Queen Gaya. It was responsible for the necromantic creatures that attacked Eldryth. And it was ultimately responsible for manipulating King Theron into starting the last war."

A wave of shock and horror passed through the room as the leaders began to understand the true, hidden source of all their recent conflicts.

"They are not our greatest threat," Adrian said with a grim expression. "They might be, but we have almost no information on them or their goals. We do, however, have intelligence on a more immediate and quantifiable threat. One whose intentions are very clear."

The hologram shifted again, replaced by a detailed, rotating image of a pale, greenish being with four arms, four eyes a stony body."

This is the Garog, and they are what is known as an alien race," Adrian explained as if teaching a class. "Beings from another world, born under another star. They are coming for us. And it is not for a chat." He let the image of the monstrous creature hang in the air.

"And they will arrive here at Thanad within ten years."

Cold existential terror washed over the leaders. All their pride and their history seemed like the petty squabbles of children in the face of absolute, cosmic annihilation.

"This is why I have brought you all together," Adrian said, his voice pulling them back from their despair as he replaced the terrifying image with a grand, ten-year strategic plan.

"The Alliance is not a matter of convenience; it is a matter of species survival. The old ways are a death sentence."

He laid out his vision: a unified Legion, the Great Academies, the industrialization of the continent, and the creation of a Planetary Defense System. He gave them not just the problem, but the only viable solution.

"You will put aside your grudges. You will contribute your people, your knowledge, and your resources to this single, unified purpose. The Elves will lead our magical research. The Dwarves will build our defenses. And the Humans will provide the industrial base to make it all possible. We will become one people, with one goal of survival."

He let the silence hang for a moment before delivering his final command.

"The work begins now. Let’s not keep our future waiting.