Michael knew that he was not strong enough to deal with Tier-5 powerhouses. He was already lucky enough to defeat the Peak Tier-4 Commander with the Crysalis Deer. If the Crysalis Deer hadn't protected Michael, he would have been seriously injured or even killed.
He was also not sure if the other High Lionhearts and the remaining Commanders of the Heart of the Blazing Lion army died in the Chaos Inferno. It was likely that they died, but Michael couldn't be certain.
The Zentika Empire must have given the High Lionhearts special items to escape various traps. The Council of Xylon's Awakened had such items as well. It wasn't far-fetched to think that the Zentika Empire gave their armies similar items.
"At least, the Tier-2 and Tier-2 Natives should have been killed." Michael nodded to himself.
'I hope they'll report everything about the mystic serpent. If the mystic serpents react like this with the invasion of Commanders, it should be more violent and erratic if Tier-5 powerhouses managed to invade the middle area.'
Michael couldn't be certain that the mystic winged serpent would protect him and his people at all times, but he sincerely hoped that the Zentika Empire's higher-ups would be too scared to attack the Untamed Jungle.
His people were either dead or dead-exhausted. Nobody wanted to jump from one battle to the next. Even the Berserkers and Warlock Centaurs were on the brink of collapsing – if they didn't collapse already.
Michael knew that he and his people weren't weak. The problem was that their enemies were too powerful. It was a miracle that they survived this long without any major setbacks. He and his people were not yet strong enough to deal with the Zentika Empire…yet.
But soon… Soon that would change! Time was all he needed!
**
A heavy hand smashed down on the large onyx table, creating cobweb-like cracks all over the well-polished surface.
"The invasion failed?!? How can that be???" A Lionheart thundered, bright flames erupting from his mane.
The flames erupted and threatened to sweep through the humongous hall, but a Jeglaw raised his hand and released a burst of energy to restrain the flames.
"Calm down, Senator."
"You want me to stay calm after reading this ridiculous report?!" The Lionheart Senator retorted in fury.
The Jeglaw stared deep into the wrathful eyes of the Lionheart and nodded.
"What's the use of being angry? If you are that angry, how about you shut up and find a solution to our problems? The faster we find a solution the earlier you can plan your revenge to the Untamed Jungle and that Lord."
Even though the Lionheart Senator wanted to respond in anger once again, he kept his mouth shut. He growled deeply and sat down back on his little throne.
The Senators of the Zentika Empire gathered shortly after the Commanders used their Lifeline Charms to escape certain death.
The Commanders of the Heart of the Blazing Lion army were on the brink of death, infected by Chaos, and would have to spend months recuperating due to the detrimental effect of having used the Lifeline Charm, but they were still alive.
They managed to report what happened in the Untamed Jungle before falling into a coma.
"The Untamed Jungle seems off the limit for the time being. I don't think anyone can deal with this winged serpent, or am I mistaken?" The Jeglaw Senator, a rather young Native, who has gotten to power through his father and other connections in the Zentika Empire, asked.
"For the Commanders to feel the deep-rooted sensation of instant death…. It must have been a Peak Tier-5 High Beast, or maybe a Tier-6 High Beast?"
"It's the Azure Quetzalcoatl. I've encountered the Azure Quetzalcoatl once when I was young and ambitious. It was during the time we expanded the Zentika Empire…and it was also the reason why we had to stop our conquest into the True Untamed Jungle. The Azure Quetzalcoatl obliterated our armies. It killed millions and forced us to retreat," An old, hoarse voice reverberated through the chamber, "But I haven't heard about the Azure Quetzalcoatl for several centuries."
Silence filled the chamber.
"I thought I was mistaken when the reports stated the appearance of a winged serpent in the clouds above the Untamed Jungle. I never expected the Azure Quetzalcoatl to be this interested in such a small part of the Untamed Jungle. It was never bothered when our Adventurers entered this tiny abnormal portion of the jungle."
The abnormal portion of the Untamed Jungle was the protruding part of the Untamed Jungle that bordered the western part of the Zentika Empire and the eastern portion of the Savannah Region.
It was just a small part of the Primal Untamed Jungle that was also considered the real version of the Untamed Jungle, the True Untamed Jungle.
"The Azure Quetzalcoatl? I thought that this monster was a legend. A Divine Beast from fairytales…" The young Jeglaw Senator mumbled, but the old voice rang out again. A chuckle escaped the old head of the Senate.
"It would be great if it was a mere fairytale, but I witnessed its prowess."
"Even if it is the Azure Quetzalcoatl, why would such a beast be interested in the abomination of the Untamed Jungle? There is no reason–..."
The Senate's Head interrupted the youngsters again, "Maybe, there is a reason."
He sighed heavily, only to glance at a Zantur who raised his hand lightly.
"What is it, Senator Lirat?"
"The appearance of the Divine Beast was unexpected, but I'm not sure if the Heart of the Blazing Lion army would have won against the High Beast Horde and this Lord dwelling in the Untamed Jungle. From what I gathered, this Lord has at least six Soultraits. Each of them is very powerful with two of them being special Soultraits that can be utilized to strengthen the other Soultraits…and others. It was not a coincidence that they managed to kill one of the Commanders."
The Lionheart Senator jumped up again and was about to say something when Senator Keltos, growled quietly. The Lionheart Senator calmed down instantly and sat down, ignoring the gazes lingering on him and Senator Keltos.
"I think I'm one of the Senators who wants to get rid of the Lord in the Untamed Jungle the most. We can deploy some assassins to get rid of him, but that's it. We have other issues to solve first."
Senator Keltos hated that he had to divert his attention away from the Untamed Jungle once again. He thought that he could finally get rid of the Lord residing in the Untamed Jungle. However, the Lord's prowess surpassed their expectations. That wasn't the first time the Lord in the Untamed Jungle did this, but his reported combat prowess was several times higher than they had expected. Even his subordinates were incredibly powerful, most being Dual or Triple wielders, Awakened with two or three Soultraits!
That was totally beyond their expectations.
"That's right. We have other problems," The old Head of the Senate acknowledges, his voice heavy and weary, "We have debts to pay."
Being reminded about their debts, the Senators shuddered.
"What if they come?" One of them asked, his voice filled with fear.
The Zentika Empire's foundation was built upon debts. It was difficult for Natives to gain enough strength to contend against Awakened and other Lords. Natives didn't have the means to summon Summons or awaken Soultraits. They were not much different than Summons if one excluded the fact that Natives were born in the Origin Expanse. They hadn't been resurrected.
The greatest advantage of Natives was that they were exposed to origin energy from birth. Their control of origin energy was much higher than the norm. That made it easier for them to receive enlightenment and receive promotions to occupations with a higher star rating.
Nonetheless, acquiring power required time, but their enemies didn't wait for them. The Zentika Empire's enemies desired their lands. They lusted for the treasures hidden underneath the surface.
The Zentika Empire retaliated, but they couldn't do everything on their own. They required help…financial support as well as military support.
Most citizens of the Zentika Empire didn't know what happened in the initial years of the empire's founding. The truth had been erased from all historical records, leaving only faint memories of the truth everyone wanted to hide.
However, the oldest members of the Senate remembered. They had been alive at that time, and they knew what would happen if they couldn't pay their debts.
The Senate was afraid.
Their armies' state was a mess and no more Soldiers could be deployed to the Untamed Jungle. Their finances didn't look any better.
"How about we ask for another loan from the –..."
"ARE YOU INSANE?!?
The Senate of the Zentika Empire entered a verbal battle. They discussed their situation for a long time and it looked like they would never be able to conclude.
Their situation was desperate, and they didn't know how to solve all the issues at once.
Interestingly enough, the Heart of the Blazing Lion army wasn't referred again. Their conquer was treated like it never happened, and no one spoke about the Untamed Jungle again.
For the time being, they had other things to worry about. The resistance from the Untamed Jungle had been too strong, resulting in even more losses than they could accept. Invading the Untamed Jungle to claim riches and sufficient food to solve them.
But now they had to seek other solutions since they couldn't leave the capital to charge into the Untamed Jungle either.
First of all, the Azure Quetzalcoatl might kill them if they invaded the Untamed Jungle.
Second…the Untamed Jungle was not their only border.
They had far more enemies and far fewer resources to deal with all of them than they wanted to acknowledge.
The Zentika Empire's situation was far from good.
