For days, the greatest forge masters of four different races worked in tandem to do what had never been done before, until, at last, the impossible was achieved. And Zephyr was presented with the first set of fully upgraded Black Durium, forged in the likeness of both a dragon and the overlord. It was indeed an intimidating sight.
"Behold, master. The new face of your evil empire! A truly fitting image, is it not?" Gnarl said, his face curled in a wicked grin.
"How many minion sacrifices can it hold?"
More than normal Durium, but not as much as Arcainium. A mighty suit of armor master, but not equal to yours by any means."
"How soon can we have the entire army in Black Durium?"
"That may take some time, my lord. Especially considering that we have just added quite a significant amount of warriors to our forces from Ruboria."
"Make it so. What else do you have to report?"
"Well, the troll tamers have successfully tamed seven of the brutes, and we should be able to incorporate them into our army s-" It was then that an elf popped out of the tower portal, moving to bow before Zephyr.
"My, lord. Her majesty, queen Luna, requests to speak with you on an important matter."
"Have her come to my court, and I will judge the level of import her request is worth." The elf nodded and ran off. Gnarl spat on the ground in disgust at the whole situation.
"What could that arrogant little snip possibly want?"
"Hell if I know, Gnarl. But I am looking forward to finding out." It was then that the throne room was grassed by the presence of the elven queen herself, flanked by six elven rangers. She glowed with a gentle but somehow melancholy light. Her silvery-blue dress was long enough to make it look like she glided across the floor to Zephyr, kneeling before him.
"My lord, Zephyr. I have come with a request."
"Speak." Zephyr waved his hand up, signaling that Luna could stand before him. She got to her feet before continuing.
"It has come to my attention that you are at war with the rest of the dwarven under-empire. I would ask that we be involved when your forces attack clan Mecha, and that the lands of Illirium be returned to the elves when they are defeated."
"You wish to rule two kingdoms, do you?"
"I wish for elven lands to belong to the elves." Zephyr considered this for a few moments. He didn't want to give favoritism to the elves. But he knew what his old friend Oberon would have wanted, while he did not have nice things to say about his Illirian cousins, but he still considered them his kin.
"When clan Mecha falls, the realms of Illirium will be given to Evernight. And any citizen of that realm will then be yours."
"Thank you, my lord." The moment Luna's request was granted, she got up and left. Gnarl was disgusted by the entire thing.
"Vile, wench! Why did you give that pathetic thing what she wanted, master? It's not like she could do anything useful with the land."
"Just paying respect to an old friend Gnarl. Now, as for those trolls, I want Black Durium as well." Gnarl simply sighed and rubbed his eyes.
"As you wish, sire. Trade prince Amir has informed us that he has done his part to ensure Gilded Bay's conquest. And if I may say so sire, the idea of having him construct a tower gate in the garden of his personal palace as a decorative piece was a cunning plan indeed!"
"I thought so ya, while my knights siege the city from the south, I will teleport into the city and make my way to the sultan's palace and force him to surrender and give his throne to Amir."
"A prosperous trade city will make a fine addition to your dark domain, sire!"
"Indeed it will, now. How's the dwarven situation playing out?"
"Beautifully, sire! With the majority of their united armies now your undead slaves, the runty hairballs and spitting up their beer in terror! And the enemy had not made any advancement into our territory."
"Excellent news, Gnarl. Have the girls infiltrated the city's their army is to attack yet?"
"Indeed they have, sire. No dought sowing discontent and rebellious thoughts, as well as sabotaging defenses. The dwarven empire will be just another province of your dark domain soon enough, master!" Gnarl said, laughing his wicked little ass off. Zephyr did his best not to get up and kick the shit-eating grin off of his face. Still being made abought the little fuck betraying him.
"Anything else I should know about?"
"Just one more thing, sire. Mistress Rose has a report on her special project, but she wants to show you privately for some reason."
"Odd, but I will play along. Where is she?"
"In your private library, sire." Zephyr then went upstairs. Finding rose just where Gnarl said he would, tinkering with a staff of some sorts. Along with a minion and a sheep.
"Ok, I'll bite. What are you doing?"
"Ah, there you are, love. I have been working on a new weapon for you and your forces to use in battle; watch this." Rose then activated the staff. A blue spotlight came out of it, doing nothing when it passes over the sheep, but making the brown minion glow blue when under it.
"Forgive my lack of understanding, but what is it exactly your staff does?"
"It can detect magical energy, even the minimal amount in brown minions. And when I do this." Rose then shifted her pose slightly. The spotlight turned from blue to red, killing the minion in the most agonizing way possible.
"That is impressive. It would certainly help with identifying magical recruits, but I don't know about its military applications."
"I will have the schematics if you change your mind. There's also one more thing I wanted to mention..." Rose suddenly became very quiet, a little fidgety even.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing... Maybe... Depends..."
"Depends on what exactly?"
"On... If your ready to be a father." Zephyr was in shock. He couldn't process what he had heard for a moment or two. And then it hit him like a tone of bricks.
"You're pregnant!? We've only done it like... What... Six maybe seven times?"
"Thirty-two actually, but who's counting... Are you pleased, sire? If not, I'm sure Gnarl could help me get-"
"No, I want us to keep it. What's the point of building a dark domain if it's only going to crumble to ash the moment I'm gone." Zephyr pulled Rose in for a kiss, not a wild passionate one, but gentle and loving.
"I suppose we should work on names then?"
"Did you have some in mind?" The two then sat down and discussed the matter in more detail. Both nervous as hell, but also excited.