A friendly greeting, relatively speaking

The walk to and into the tower at the center of the Hive took far too long for Aires’ liking. The entire place was simultaneously straightforward and needlessly complex, with black gunk everywhere impeding his progress. He could have cut or burned through it, but no sane person would start destroying something at the heart of another’s power. Instead, he continued through and rationalized that Mr. Emperor was just going to have to wait. He seemed to like doing so anyway.

The interior of the monolithic spire was better, if only because he could move more quickly. The intercrossing string latices had apparently been deemed for outside use only and so couldn’t get in Aires’ way inside. It was easy for him to step past every opening in the corridor and not think about what might be watching from just around the corner.

The throne room was worth pausing for though. The convoluted, abstract-ish art in the walls was easy for him to ignore, but the enormous mural where the throne should have been **** him to appreciate it. Three figures towered over the room, immortalized in the room’s decor. It was an impressive show, but inconsequential compared to the distinct lack of anyone or anything else in the room. There was also no throne, nonsensical for a throne room, which kept Aires on edge. It seemed these creatures, whatever they were, had a penchant for remaining unseen.

Unseen by Aires, a mouth curled into a smirk, and the owner debated keeping him waiting even longer, but decided that this meeting had been prolonged long enough already as it was. There was unsettling and putting your opponent off guard, and then there was causing needless agitation, with a fine line between the two.

“Well, well, well, a winged god walks brazenly into my nest, and finds himself at the seat of my power, a power he never knew existed until mere hours ago. And what’s this? No guards? Are you so assured of your power that you believe yourself to be invincible even here? There must be a spider/fly joke in here somewhere, but I sense it would not be appreciated at this time, and I’m afraid that for all I learned about you, I was unaware of your flight capabilities, so I didn’t prepare one in advance to begin with. However, unlike yourself, I consider myself a more diplomatic individual, so I shall first and foremost extend my greetings to you.

“Welcome, Lord Aires, to my humble nest, merely the first in my Hive. I hope we can come to a… mutually beneficial arrangement.”

A voice, tinged with an amused hissing undercurrent, echoed out from everywhere and nowhere, filling the room, alerting Aires to a presence in the large room, but not to its owner's location.

Unphased by the mysteriously emanating voice, the crimson-maned man glanced around, not expecting to find anyone in the first place. ‘He didn’t know I could fly…he’s well informed but only to a point. Best to try and not give everything away…’ Aires thought, apprehensive about negotiating a so-called ‘arrangement’. He hadn’t needed to use much conniving in the past and wasn’t looking forward to getting the runaround. He carefully measured his words before speaking to the seemingly empty room.

“Forgive me for the intrusion, I didn’t see a bell to ring and your people seem to care for stealth over all else. As for my lack of company, you’ll once again have to forgive me. I’m not inclined to put those I care about in the line of fire, especially against someone who would threaten them so openly.” The room remained empty as Aires paused. “Nonetheless, thank you for the invitation, Emperor Wey’land. At the very least, you’ve made this a deeply interesting experience.”

The rightmost figure in the mural suddenly came to life, sitting up and peering intently at the man in front of him. “Oh, no need to worry about any inconvenience, I have been well aware of your location since you left your city. Appearances can be quite deceiving, don’t you know? What you’ve seen is merely what I want outsiders to see, perhaps, one day, you’ll be graced with a personal tour?” The last words were said with a mocking tone, but the threat of **** was neatly conveyed.

“I’m flattered. I’d offer the same, but I’m afraid I’d only bore you. No one needs a tour to a place they’re already familiar with.” Aires struggled not to spit the words out, feeling a churning in his gut at the implication he wasn’t safe from this shadowy monster even in his own city. The fact that it was hidden in plain sight said plenty as well. He made sure to school his features though. If this Wey’land wanted to duel words, he’d do his best to at least be able to parry.

“Oh, I don’t know. It’s one thing to see certain sections as my messenger made his way to you, but quite another to see the things that most intrigued me in person. For example, you have quite the nest yourself, I would assume that the lovely spider woman I noticed is responsible?”

“Just so.”

“A woman after my own heart, it would seem. I might even be jealous, but I find that I already have enough to satisfy me, in terms of female company, at least. It is for what I find myself unsatisfied with that I have extended this invitation to you. Well, there are other things, but they can wait until later, as I find we have overlooked something rather crucial. After all, despite our changes, we are both still gentlemen, are we not?”

“I’m surprised the noble owner of such an…intricately sprawling place could find themselves at a loss for information. Though I suppose you’ve already made that evident. What could one such as I assist you with, o great emperor?” Aires had to try very, very hard to not let the smirk in his tone appear on his face, a task that he very, very nearly accomplished. Even then, he couldn’t bring himself to care for the miniscule sneer that graced his face for a moment. He’d been humiliated in his own Citadel, damn if he wouldn’t try to get the very slightest amount of recompense.

Wey’land laughed; it was a cruel sound, inhuman. “Come now, come now, Lord Aires, do not be so fast to flatter me, nor to humble yourself. Despite everything, I neither can nor will I deny that you have achieved much, in fact, I laud your efforts. After all, were it not for your actions, I would still be a simple student, worrying about exams and pleasing my girlfriend. Now,” he laughed again, the sound seeming to poison the very air for a moment, before he continued, his voice getting louder with every word he spoke, “Now, I am an Emperor, a being mighty enough to fell armies on my own, to darken entire countries with my children and my presence! And it’s all! Thanks! To! You! So, Thank You, Lord Aires, for this wonderful gift you have given me!”

The sound of his voice had grown so loud, so deafening, that Aires was sure that it could be heard for miles around. It was so loud that he himself was starting to feel as if the sound itself was applying more and more pressure to him, to the point where it was becoming uncomfortable, even for his enhanced body. ‘So that’s what that feels like,’ he thought, wincing just a little.

“Let me shake the hand of the man who made this all possible!” Wey’land proclaimed, putting action to word and standing up, revealing for the first time his towering height, before walking down and towards the still reeling god.

Pushing some of his own power into himself, Aires did his best to push off the oppressive aura the towering creature tried to press him with. He was towering too, standing well above Aires’ own massive six and a half feet. The monstrous emperor had at least two heads over the god in height and was just as broad. Surreptitiously adding a few extra inches to his own height, Aires extended a thick, draconically gauntleted hand to meet the carapace-covered one extended towards him, keeping his grip firm but not crushing. He certainly didn’t want to enter a test of strength against a creature he knew so little about at this point.

Grabbing the gauntleted hand, Wey’land gripped it and shook, before suddenly applying his full might, shattering the armor and giving a cruel smirk at the loud and sharp snaps, before he pulled the off-guard man in front of him close, and whipped his tail up and rested it with clear intention at Aires’ exposed throat.

“So cordial,” Aires said with a feral smile, rapidly regenerating his mangled hand. The multiplying flesh couldn’t gain much ground against the prohibitive **** of Wey’land’s grip, but the bones at least reformed and continued the malicious handshake, reinforced and too tough to break again.

“Yes, well, I’m afraid my calmer half is…not available at the moment,” Wey’land replied, his face and form becoming more monstrous as he spoke, gaining an extra foot in height and his shell darkening even further. Aires’ body began the same trend, tan skin gaining a reflective, grey tint that reflected what little light reached the emperor’s inner sanctum.

“What a shame, perhaps you’re not as diplomatic as I thought. Though I’ll admit this form of negotiations is much more to my liking.” Aires’ free hand came up, thick with more grey, metallic armor and illuminated from within by volcanic, red luminance. Seizing the barbed tail leveled at his larynx, he gripped it tightly and **** it away, heinous grinding coming from the two linked limbs while his innate, titanium armor crawled over the rest of his body, more red light running along the lines of his muscles. “Still, if you want to do this, I’ll accommodate my gracious host. I just hope your tower can take it.”

Wey’land laughed, somehow more demonic and cruel than his others, and a familiar grin sliced his face open, “You misunderstand. William, my host, preferred the diplomatic route, you speak now, however, with Wey’land, Emperor of the Hive, I prefer a much more… assured method of negotiation. For example, to answer your question, my house is in order, can you say the same of yours?”

Aires’ fist on the tail tightened, small cracking sounds coming from within. He was having fun, he realized, with a real challenge for once. Trading barbs was a reward all it’s own. But before he could respond with his next retort, a distant voice whispered in his head.

‘Don’t freak out, Aiden. Please. Please don’t be stupid. It was a trap, they got in behind you. We’re all okay. Listen to what he has to say.’ Julia’s voice pierced his very being. The words were serene, their meaning chilling. The cold contained in them spread through every bit of him, until his blood and bones felt as if they were made of liquid nitrogen.

“You hurt them, I’ll crush you. You kill them, I’ll annihilate everything, everyone you hold dear. Down to their soul,” the numb god said, slowly and factually.

“Release me.” Was all the monstrous creature said. Aires said nothing in return, eyes only burning with cold enmity. His fist opened, shards of carapace and metal skin floating to the floor. His other hand was slower to release, courtesy of it’s skeletal state, but he ripped it out with chilling precision, wounds almost instantly healed.

“As I said,” Wey’land spoke, any geniality having vanished, replaced with a voice as cold as **** itself, “I prefer to be assured in my negotiating.

“Oh, and before you get any ideas about killing me before I can order my Drones to attack, you should know that I am mated, and she will know instantly of my ****, and both our peoples will be plunged into a bloody war, your women among the first casualties, second only to me.”

“Do you think so little of me?” the god said, full of wrathful indignance. “I know how this goes, and better than you do as well. Or don’t you know I’m the conqueror in the room? I know a beaten foe when I see them, and I know it’s me. I will listen to what you have to say, so long as you remember what I have already said. Your posturing doesn’t change my statement in the slightest. State your terms.”

A cold, humorless laugh came from the creature, “Truly? No blustering, no other threats, no bluff of superior strength in an effort to **** me to release you? Where is this so-called grand conqueror? Where is the king of Othrys? WHERE IS THE VIRAL GOD?!”

“I’ve made no threats to you. Only promises.” Aires remained calm, as his love had asked. “Being a conqueror is what I love. Spreading my…our…Contagion is what I find joy in. If you make me fulfill my promise, there will be no joy in it. There is no love or pleasure to be found in annihilation. Only an end. State your terms.”

Wey’land stared at the being in front of him for a long few moments, before snarling and turning his back to him. ‘Pah!’ he spat, the globule of virulent green fluid splattering on the floor and audibly sizzling. “Big words from a small man,” he growled. “You are no more a conqueror than I am a king.” He stared up at the mural for a moment, before whirling around and glaring at his guest. Gesturing at the mural behind him, he snarled again, “That is strength! That is royalty!” Gesturing outward from him, he indicated the surrounding area. “This is conquest!”

Turning his back once again, he spoke in a lower voice. “You, you are none of these. How you purport to be the apex of this virus… how you seem to be it…” He whirled around, stalking towards the man, “I do not accept it! I will not accept it! YOU ARE NOT MY ALPHA! I DO NOT AND WILL NOT BEND THE KNEE TO YOU!!” Having made his way right to Aires’ face, he was now shouting directly at him. Body visibly thrumming and heaving with energy and rage, he stared for a moment at the straightfaced man, he gave an incoherent scream of primal rage and backhanded him, “SAY SOMETHING, DAMNIT! SAY SOMETHING!” His chest heaved and he simply stared at Aires.

Aires’ being refined itself as he pulled his full, monolithic power to himself. So far detached from his source, his innumerable servants and slaves, he couldn’t truly dominate the room, but it was enough to make his point. Muscle formed to perfection, lean and wrought with strength, he turned his face back to Wey’land, eyes overflowing with light and brilliant power.

“THEN WHAT ARE YOU?”

For the briefest of moments, Aires saw the last thing he would have expected to see in the creature’s eyes: fear, before it suddenly erupted in height and build, losing all semblance of humanity and becoming solely based on nightmares and demonic visions. So fast even Aires couldn’t follow it, the creature’s tail whipped around and slammed into his shoulder, carving through and forcing him to the ground, where he found himself pinned.

“I AM WEY’LAND THE EMPEROR! I AM THE FATHER OF ALL YOU SEE HERE, I AM FEARED AND RESPECTED BY ALL WHO KNOW ME!! I AM THE APEX! I AM THE ALPHA! YOU DARE TO PRESUME TO QUESTION ME?! YOU ARE NOT EVEN CLOSE TO ME! YOU ASK WHAT I AM? I! AM! THE! EMPEROR!”

Unlike previously when the creature had been loud, this time Aires could feel the very tower they were in shake, and saw flecks of the material used to construct it break loose and fall to the floor. The creature in front of him was practically frothing at the mouth, and for the first time since he had become infected, Aires felt true, all encompassing fear.

“Hahahaha, HAHAHAHAHAAH!” Aires’ laughter, practically insane and nonsensical, filled the quaking room. Despite being pinned to the floor, despite the threat to him and the women he loved, despite the overwhelming show of power and strength above him, he laughed. He couldn’t help it. Hideous grinding was audible beneath his mirth as he crossed his arms, not flinching in the slightest at the agony the movement brought.

“We’re the same,” he said through his manic amusement as it slowly died down. “You are just the same as I am. I am no mere Alpha. I am a Divine, a TITAN, towering above everything else. And so are you, EMPEROR. You may have me on the floor, but I’m not bowing. You can’t make me. Just as I cannot make you. We’re both too powerful for our own good and the world isn’t big enough for the both of us, and yet here we both are.

“So what are we to do?”

Mouth still frothing and leaking specks of acidic saliva onto the pinned god, Wey’land slowly began to compose himself, but decided to leave his tail where it was. It felt good, in a cathartic kind of way, to know he was causing the bastard pain, even if he refused to show it.

Growling low in thought, Wey’land considered his opposite’s words. They felt as close to an olive branch as he figured he was going to get, so he offered the slightest in return.

With a quick mental command, Praetorians entered the room with a folding chair. Despite the seeming, at least temporary, truce, he was not above petty shows of power. Pulling his tail loose, and making sure to cause as much pain as he could while doing so, he gestured imperiously to the laughably out of place seat, before retaking his own seat in his throne.

“Sit, we must discuss my terms both for the removal of my Drones from your throne room, and in the longer term as well.”

Pushing himself to his feet with a wince as his wounds disappeared, Aires composed himself quickly. He couldn’t deny that he felt relieved. Wey’land had seen the evident futility of the two of them clashing, their equal status the epitome of the unstoppable object and immovable wall. It irked him to have to acknowledge something so incredibly different from himself as an equal, but that seemed preferable to blood and war.

“Gladly,” he said, grabbing the flimsy folding chair and magically twisting the metal into something actually resembling a chair. Or at least one with armrests. Purposefully placing it on one side of the room so it didn’t point directly at the throne, he got himself as comfortable as he could. “What is it you want in return for the herculean task of not threatening what I love for more than twenty minutes?”