As they entered, the statues' eyes lit up with magic, and, slowly but surely, with rumbling groans and creaks, the statues began to move.

First, the golden-bodied Zhuque unfurled it's wings, and, raising it's head. let out a sharp screech. As it did so, a gate appeared directly behind it, the marble cracking apart to reveal a door made of mahogany and gold. A vast engraving of a phoenix was inscribed on the door, and below it was a name - Lord of the Sun Sect, Sun Ruan, 行走的地獄 (The Walking Inferno)

Then, the platinum-teethed Baihu raised it's head, and released a low growl, that seemed to echo off the marble walls, sounding over and over again. With a sound like drumbeats, the marble behind it opened up with a hiss, revealing a door made of ebony and inlaid with silver. A vast tiger-head was inscribed on the door, with a name below it - Lord of India, Bagha Singh, स्वर्णराजा (The Golden King)

The jade Qinglong's eyes began to glow a bright green as it's roaring mouth unhinged even further and released a spout of bright green fire. A deep, thunderous roar seemed to come from his maw. The marble behind him seemed to glow white-hot before seemingly collapsing inward, revealing a door made of oak and inlaid with jade. A vast dragon was inscribed on the door (a Japanese tatsu instead of the Chinese long) and a name beneath it - Great Lord of Japan, Kyofuha (Galeblade), 嵐の素早い戦士
( the storm-swift warrior)

The onyx Xuanwu raised it's head, it's eyes glowing with pure power and the marble behind it seemed to crack and wither away as a door appeared in it's face. Made of polished alder wood, and inlaid with polished black crystal, a vast raven was inscribed on the door, and a name was written below it - Great Scion of the Lestrange family, Corvus Lestrange le corbeau des ténèbres (the raven of darkness)

Corvus snorted, "Well, that was pointless"
The Wolf smirked, "It's tradition"

The Taotie opened it's gaping mouth, letting out a loud bellow of rage and hunger. A door opened behind, the marble seeming to fall away as it did. The door was made of something that resembled human bone, and was inlaid with emerald. Two vast corpse-like figures adorned the doors, with two names benath it - The Beggar Lord and Lady, Belua and Daemon, excrucior regibus (the tortured rulers)

The Qiongqi snorted in rage, releasing wild bursts of flame as he did so, stomping and growling. The wall behind glowed red-hot for a moment, before melting away into nothingness. A door emerged in it's place, made of birch wood, and inlaid with citrine. A vast lion was inscribed on the door, flames clearly dancing in the background. A name was inscribed beneath it - the Great German Lord, Ignis Le Fay, der feurige Löwe (the fiery lion)

The Taotie stamped it's feet and hissed in anger, releasing a cloud of silver smoke. The wall behind seemed to simply... fade out of existence, as a door took it's place. Made of holly and inlaid with quartz, the door sported the image of a vast serpent, with a pattern of snowflakes as a background. A name was inscribed below it - Great Khal Sekhem of Norway, Serpens Emrys, den frosne slangen ( the Frozen Serpent)

Serpens snorted, slightly irritated, "Associating me with stubbornness, and my boyfriend with wrath ? Really ?"
the Wolf simply shrugged in response

Finally, the Hundun began to shake, letting out screams and growls as it did so. A strange, shrill, human-like scream filled the air

A look of fear filled Serpens' face, and he turned to Corvus, "No.. No.. you didn't invite him, did you ? Why.. "
Corvus, looking similarly terrified, responded in a low, solemn voice, "How do you think he would have responded to being excluded, Emrys ? Trust me, this is the safest way."
Looking very skeptical, Serpens nodded

The wall behind the Hundun began to shake and crack, as more screams came from it. Finally, the marble shards fell away, revealing a vast door, made of a strange, red, gooey substance that seemed to shine like metal, and inlaid with what was clearly human bone. The vast figure of a hanged man adorned the door, and a name was inscribed beneath it- King of Torment, the Black Reaper, Uragirimono, 破壊者 (the Destroyer)

With that, the statues stopped moving. Serpens gulped slightly, looking at the final door with a terrified expression on his face. The Wolf cleared his throat and began speaking,

"We got your summons, Corvus. And have come to a decision. The entire Council is unable to attend this meeting, due to.. space constraints, but the most powerful among them, those known as the Nine Heads of the Hydra, great Lords of various countries, have all assembled here. The meeting will begin..."

The room began to shake again, as the doors began to open, with someone clearly opening them

"...now"

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