Black shadows mover through the foggy Boneplains. A cold breeze guided them. At the front fluttered a little bird, glancing back to see if the ghost general kept up with it.
The general gritted his non-existent teeth. How could it be that a little bird, an unintelligent minor ghost, managed to gain the queen's favor? He couldn't accept it. He was the queen's great general, he should be her right-hand man! No, wait, why was he so fixated on the queen? Shouldn't he be leading his army?
Such a thought only appeared for a moment before a mysterious will assaulted the general's mind, taking back control. Only the queen mattered.
"Don't you dare mess this up!"
The ghost general yelled a stern warning as he signaled his subordinates to swarm out. According to his estimates they were getting closer to the portal. Stupid little bird. It couldn't even communicate. If it weren't for his, the general's, intelligence, they would be completely unprepared once they reached the target.
Nearly a thousand ghosts spread over a vast area. However, with such numbers it was impossible to remain hidden. Soon reports of fog demon scouts reached the general. They had been spotted.
"Speed up! Rush ahead!"
A quick order spread. The general didn't want the fog demons to have any time to prepare. He was clear about his mission. Go in, confirm the rift, bring the information back. Even if everyone else died, as long as he could inform the queen everything was worth it.
A short while later the ghost general could feel a peculiar force in the air. They were getting close. There was a stir in the fog ahead and a row of fog demons blocked their way. A good sign.
"Halt! Ghost!"
"Make way for this general!"
There was nothing much to be said. Both sides knew the goal. The ghost general surged ahead, bringing down a massive black claw on the demons blocking his path. Next to him loyal subordinates rushed out. Instantly a brawl ensued. The fog demons had less numbers but could still hold the ghost army back for a bit. It could be seen that ghosts were not exactly great at frontal battles.
However, they had their elusive movement and shadowy bodies as an advantage and knew how to make use of it. While most ghosts were clashing with the demons, a few stayed back and waited for an opportunity to break through.
"Haha, you are no match for this general!"
The ghost general attacked furiously, pushing the demons in front of him back step by step. He noticed the fog around them thinning out. Soon, he would be able to lay his eyes on the portal. He would be able to accomplish the queen's mission. Her favor would be assured!
"Pathetic!"
Suddenly a deep, rolling voice spread through the entire area. The ghost general watched solemnly as a wall of black fog formed in front of him, blocking the way. A tall fog demon with a black body and horns on top of his cubic figure stepped out of the wall of fog, staring at the ghosts with a kingly pride.
"Damned ghosts! We grant you passage, and this is how you thank us? Do you take this king for a fool?"
The ghost general was not intimidated by the fog demon king. He floated a bit higher and snorted:
"Demon, don't play dumb. Do you think you can occupy a rift all by yourself? Might as well allow us to take a look. Others will come anyways."
The demon king fell silent. Originally the fog demons were prepared to defend the rift no matter who arrived. The small group of Feathered Blade, should they force their way in, would have been made to stay. But who could have expected that an entire army arrived? It was impossible to prevent the information from leaking now. And worst of all, the people of Feathered Blade had not even come.
The ghost general and the demon king were staring at each other, forming a stalemate. Even the battles around them slowed down as the subordinates waited for a decision. Slowly the fog demon king hardened his resolve. Although they couldn't prevent information about the rift from leaking, perhaps they could delay long enough to harvest enough benefits for themselves.
The black fog churned as the fog demon king slowly raised his hand. Tension filled the air. Just as he was about to give the signal…
Boom!
A massive rumble echoed through the Boneplains. The fog instantly became chaotic. The wall of black fog constructed by the fog demon king collapsed. A terrifying shockwave washed over everyone. Screams and wails could be heard as people were caught of guard, lunged through the air.
"What happened?!"
"The rift!"
The ghost general and fog demon king were both shocked. The latter didn't care for the battle anymore, turned around and instantly rushed towards the rift. The ghost general made use of the confusion and swiftly followed. His movements elusively the ghost general did his best to remain inconspicuous, which worked well as everything had been thrown into chaos.
A moment later the ghost general reached an area cleared of fog. He could see some strange constructs prepared by the fog demons, now broken and battered, parts scattered over the floor. However, this was of no importance to the ghost general right now. His gaze instantly fixed on the portal not far away. Black and eerie, like a wound of the world. The ghost general had seen rifts before, but this one gave him a strange feeling. It seemed to penetrate deeper.
The ghost general observed with a frown as the fog demons gathered around the rift and defended against the violent storm spreading from it. Everyone knew that this was the prelude of someone crossing the rift. Suddenly there was a change. Fumes of green smoke escaped the rift, drifting around the area. Staring at the smoke those with strong wills would feel dizzy while those with weak wills would start hallucinating.
The next moment a strange sound escaped the rift. It was like a trumpeting elephant, but deeper, dreadful. Finally, a foot could be seen. A leg like a black tree trunk stepped out of the rift, stomping the ground, seemingly causing time to freeze. The body swiftly followed. It was a strange demon with humanoid features, nothing like anything the ghost general had seen in the Boneplains before. Tall, with black skin, long limps, and bulky muscles. Strange, red bubbles were on the demon's cheeks, bulging with every breath, reminding one of a certain toad. With slick, red hair and round eyes the demon haughtily overlooked the scene.
"A new world deserving liberation…"
The fog demons all looked tense. There were many rifts existing all throughout the Boneplains. Usually, the forces of the Boneplains would invade these rifts, searching for resources, essentially plundering other plantes of the Black Galaxy. Sometimes the forces on the other side would struggle, reaching a stalemate, and a trade relationship would be born.
Yet, over the last few years, cases where others dared to invade the Boneplains had become more common. The fog demons themselves were such a case. But because of that they knew the difficulty. They knew how powerful those daring to invade would have to be. And looking at this unfamiliar demon, they felt… that he might really have the strength to do so.
"Demon! I will grant you passage! Leave our territory!"
The fog demon king puffed up his body, producing a threatening appearance. For some reason he felt an immense danger looking at the newcomer, unprecedented.
When the strange demon heard the fog demon king's words he turned his head, revealing an ugly smile.
"Grant passage? Wise choice, fog demon. You are… passable. I, Hallmaster Luver, the Ascended, will make you an offer. Join us and you shall welcome a new world when He descends!"
"His will shall be eternal!"
Suddenly a chorus of voices could be heard. Seven people came out of the rift behind the Hallmaster. They were of various races, their bodies clad in grey robes, their hands clasped in prayer in front of their chests.
Hallmaster Luver with his back straight began to walk forward and the fog demons didn't dare to block his way. He soon arrived in front of the king, followed by those in grey robes. His face wore a meaningful smile. And at that moment more people stepped out of the rift. Wearing black robes, about a hundred followers, each of them with a fierce expression emitting an aura of death. The fog demons felt their stomachs sink. Their instincts told them that they wouldn't win a battle.
Finally, the ghost general decided he had seen enough. Trying to remain as silent as possible he carefully retreated. After gaining some distance he turned around and suddenly dashed off. He only wanted to get away. Get back to his queen.
And throughout all of that the seemingly peaceful gaze of one of the grey-robed people never left his body.