Chapter One: Preparation for War
Within the confines of the Middle East, the Kingdom of Kahndaq prospered. Magic was interwoven into the very culture of the Kingdom, from the Kahndaq forest that sprouted in the desert sands, to the purified water that flowed seemingly without end through the country. The Kingdom had been peaceful for decades, having waged war with no one. But now, the era of peace was coming to an end, as it often did. Within the council chambers of his royal palace, Black Adam, the King of Kahndaq, addressed his council with what he had learned.
"Zehuti, our God of Wisdom, has delivered to me new knowledge during my meditation. Old, divine forces move against Kahndaq. They seek to come to Shiruta to force open the door to the Rock of Eternity and claim the magic there for themselves," Black Adam spoke to the variety of people assembled before him. Whether it be his commander's, grand priests, advisors or archmages, they all listened to him when he spoke.
"But attacking the capital is suicide," Tomaz, the lead commander of Kahndaq, spoke up rather promptly, "nobody on earth possesses the forces to match our army," Tomaz spoke the truth. The soldiers of Kahndaq went through rigorous physical and mystical training. Most soldiers wore enchanted full plate armour, with their helmets fashioned to have the visor cover the face and be shaped akin to a falcon in Ra's honour. Then there were other contingents of the Kahndaq Military as well. The Beastmaster Regiment, Special Forces, Battlemages, sorcerers and regular infantry and archers.
"It is not just our physical might," Amense, the female archmage of Kahndaq, spoke up, "breaching Shiruta's magical defences is next to impossible by conventional military weapons. Missiles, bullets, they are not sufficient to pierce our sorcerer's barriers," she claimed.
"Indeed, you are correct. But the threat we are soon to face will be no mere mortal army. Invaders will not come from any country enlisted with the United Nations," Black Adam informed his council, "but rather from the sea."
This declaration caused the council to begin murmuring amongst themselves, but they immediately fell silent when their King began to speak again, "the invasion force will come from Themyscira and Atlantis. Hippolyta will lead the Amazons to war under Zeus' banner and Atlantis will fight for Poseidon. For it is the Greek Gods who seek to gain total divine dominance by absorbing the magical might of the Rock of Eternity."
Shortly after the revelation that they were going to war with those affiliated with the Greek Gods and the deities themselves, the members of the council began immediate preparations. As many civilians as possible from towns and villages would be evacuated to the capital or other heavily fortified and defensible cities. The walls of each city would be manned by soldiers and mages alike. Once each of the cities were at peak capacity for defence, the remainder of Kahndaq's forces would march south towards the sea in preparation for the Atlantean invasion. The passive magic of each Kahndaq warrior gave each soldier enhanced stamina and a limited degree of self sustenance, as well as mildly enhanced physical strength and speed. Though nothing to any degree as major as Black Adam. Their weapons and armour were laced with enchantments to make their defence stronger and their offence more deadly. Despite the desert sun, the armour kept the wearer cool underneath and had its weight mystically altered to make the burden of wearing the full plate armour practically none existent. The King of Kahndaq flew overhead, leading the assigned contingents of his military southward towards the Red Sea.
The hand of the king suddenly rose, signalling for his forces to halt their advance. They were in a fairly large town close to the Red Sea, evacuated now away from the Indian Ocean so the civilians may remain safe. Still, it would make a good encampment for his forces.
"Set up camp in the town," he ordered Tomaz, who gave a nod and began organising the Kahndaq forces. Black Adam knew it would not be long until the King of Atlantis made an appearance. He was a reasonable man, at heart. Arthur Curry would at least extend a hand of diplomatic surrender to avoid bloodshed. But the king was not one for mercy, especially toward those who threatened his home and his people. Black Adam headed away from the town, flying down directly to the edge of the Red Sea so his soldiers would not attack the King of Atlantis on sight.
At it turned out, Adam did not have to wait long at all. The ocean waves soon parted and two figures walked up the beach from beneath the waves. Aquaman, a Justice League member and a king, with Mera, his queen, at his side. Aquaman was in his classic orange and green suit and had his trident grasped firmly in his hand. Mera was wearing her emerald green outfit.
"Arthur Curry," Black Adam greeted the fellow king respectfully.
"Black Adam," Aquaman responded, "nobody has to die today."
"You are correct," Black Adam swiftly chimed in, "if you leave now and do not become a threat to my people, I will forget you ever planned to invade Kahndaq."
"I will leave only if you return what you stole from Olympus!" Aquaman practically demanded.
"You think I have stolen from the Greek Gods? I have done no such thing," Black Adam raised an eyebrow, chuckling as he came to the realisation of the manipulations that were at work.
"You think this is a laughing matter?"
"I think you and Hippolyta being played for fools by your Gods is indeed amusing."
"Be careful, Adam. You're walking a dangerous path."
This threat caused Black Adam to fold his arms across his chest in a defiant manner, "if you wish to be but a chess piece to your Gods, so be it."
"We know you have taken artefacts of great power and importance from the Vaults of Olympus. Denying it does you no credit," Aquaman retorted.
"So that is what they told you, is it? That I stole artefacts? They did not even bother to be specific in their accusation? It is a lie, conjured by your pantheon so they can wage war under false premise and claim the power of the Rock of Eternity for themselves," Black Adam tried to reason with Aquaman, but he seemed to be on Poseidon's side.
"I will hear no more of these lies!" Aquaman shouted, slamming the bottom of his trident into the sand. The ocean seemed to respond to his anger, the waves rising up and crashing down against one another as if they were aggressively wrestling, "I offered you peace. A way to avoid the clashing of our armies. Yet you stand here and lie to me. If invading Kahndaq is the only way to retake what belongs to the Gods, then it shall be so."
Black Adam angrily growled a response, "Kahndaq will never fall to the likes of you or Atlantis. After I decimate your army I will find Poseidon. I will bring him before you," Black Adam took a step forward, his rage fuelled eyes staring down at Aquaman without fear nor remorse, "and I will have him admit to the deceit he was apart of. Only then will you realise that your wife died at your feet for nothing," Black Adam's gaze shot to Mera so quickly and with such hatred she flinched under his stare. The bloodthirst in his voice caused even Aquaman to take pause, "I will never forgive those who threaten Kahndaq or her people," Black Adam spoke in a low tone to convey the point, "you and Hippolyta started this war. You will pay for it in the only currency you hold of value to me. Your blood. I let you leave here now out of restraint and respect for a fellow king. Now go. Before I change my mind."
"Tomorrow, Kahndaq falls," Aquaman spoke after a few moments. Recollecting himself after the violent change in mood of the King of Kahndaq.
Black Adam watched them leave, only lifting into the air and flying back to his soldiers once he was certain they were definitely gone. If they had a day to prepare, it was not time he intended to waste. When the forces of the sea came, they would be ready.
