With the middle finger atop the index, a downwards flick. Clack. A white piece colliding with a section of the wood. The king sat cross-legged on one side of a Go board, on the other side, an unwitting thing known as a human.
I've noticed that the king has been experimenting with methods of curing his boredom. Imhokepri furrowed his brows. He seems to love this game in particular.
A knight's move there? "Human, are you taking this game seriously?" Clatter. He'd slammed his fist onto the board, sending the pieces scattering off in all directions. "This can't be the apex of humanity's skill, surely?" A pause ensued, then his lips creased on both sides as he conjured up an amusing scheme.
"I will reconfigure the board, feel free to speak up if it is not to your liking." The king placed the pieces back onto the board in their original positions. The game continued.
For his next move, he intentionally made a misstep, killing a group of his stones. I have Komi and more territory than he could hope to gain, so regardless, I will win. The human on the other side appeared to be pleased, a reaction opposite to the sweat gushing from their pores.
Next to the king, on his right, Imhokepri stood idly. The king called for his attention by beckoning his gaze to the board with his tail's stinger. "Imhokepri, what are your thoughts on this move?"
Imhokepri's eyes briefly scanned the board which represented a sorry state of affairs. "A horrible move, your majesty." I can't help but feel he is testing me. Someone as self-assured as him does not require the input of an underling.
The king's body shuddered mirthfully. This one expresses himself so bluntly, in my presence no less. In a strange turn of events, it became Imhokepri who had a deepening relationship with the king rather than Shaiapouf. This was for a simple reason; he had never been wholly devoted to the king.
But I cannot allow him free reign. Smack. The king's tail collided with Imhokepri's cheek. "An incorrect observation, it was a sacrificial move, Imhokepri." He turned back to him with a steely look. "However, you must mind your tone." One of his less severe reproaches. The human had already hastily leveraged the misstep before hearing the king's audacious claim.
Imhokepri's head was forcibly tilted to one side by the impact. I was incorrect. He scanned the board further. I see, capture there was actually disadvantageous. He was a witness to many of the king's games, and thus picked up an observer's knowledge.
A sacrificial move? He's bluffing. The human scanned the frantically board with the stones he collected still clutched by his hand. What? Their eyes bulged in disbelief. The move was a setup. I've lost the initiative. They had wasted a move by capturing when on the other side of the board there was an opportunity to disrupt the king's territory. How could I not have seen that?
A-after only ten games... The human bowed their head in resignation. I made a beginner's mistake; no, he was just that good. "I resign." The stones in his hand slipped out, clattering against the ground to finalise his crushing defeat.
The king pointed to his head before tapping it with his index, smiling a crooked smile. "One must sacrifice to gain, Imhokepri." His tail undulated as rhythmic waves ran through it from stem to tip. "That is a hard and fast rule of this world." His tail pointed toward Shaiapouf who stood adjacent to Imhokepri, on his left. "Take this one," The professional Go player sitting in front of him. "And feed him to the others, he is of no use to me."
"I see, your majesty." Imhokepri was left in deep contemplation as he scanned the board.
Shaiapouf moved over to the human, grabbing his collar without sparing them a glance. I should not be called on for menial duties such as this, this is most befitting of Imhokepri. His wings fluttered as he dragged the human into the air, flying off into the distance without a word.
"Wait, no! Please. I'm just tired!" They flailed about frantically, their words being faint as they were already a dot in the distance, but the king heard them clearly.
The king's face hardened further. "Defeat means death, do not sully your dignity with these pathetic death throes." He then laughed. "And do not mock me. As if you'd suggest that a fatigued human could push me so far." Crack. His tail smacked the ground, he had passed his verdict.
"Imhokepri, I've grown bored of this. We shall go scouting, gather the others."
Does the king see me as a guard or a flight service? Imhokepri nodded. Well, I'm also intrigued by what the world has to offer. The king had been seemingly dissatisfied with his current territory, dubbing it the 'meat factory'.
Imhokepri headed to the balcony, the place where Neferpitou would spend most of her time precariously sitting on the railings overlooking the palace's sprawling grounds of perfectly trimmed grassed with an alternating striped pattern of dark and light grass alongside the labyrinthine walls surrounding it all.
"Neferpitou." Her back faced him.
"Don't you find it funny?" Another of the whimsical Neferpitou's musings. "The palace is lush, but everything outside its walls is barren." She ran one of her claws across her lips.
Beyond the walls, what could be considered a desert with smatterings of greenery.
"That is simply the human's way, Neferpitou." He paused. "Anyways, we must go. The king wishes to go scouting."
After Shaiapouf had disposed of the human, the four set off in search of territory. This trip was only one of many that had occurred during the weeks after their takeover of the palace.
After hours of flight, night fell. The moon slotted itself into position, casting light over the four who whizzed through the air. Eventually, the sight of lights came into view.
"Another human territory. This one seems to be well developed, your majesty."
"Imhokepri, the name of this place."
With his enhanced vision, he scanned the city's billboards, stopping on a digital one which read 'Welcome to Yorknew City'.
"I believe the humans refer to it as 'Yorknew City.'"
With the king clinging to Imhokepri with his tail wrapped around his leg, the pair flew towards the city's jagged skyline like moths to flame. As they entered deeper, an aural, visual, and olfactory assault. The garish neon lights of digital billboards blinded them while the stench of vehicle emissions disgusted them. Overlapping chatter below amalgamated into an incomprehensible mass among the near synchronous footsteps.
"Look at them, Imhokepri." The corners of the king's lips turned downwards. "This excess, the lack of regard for anything beyond themselves. Pigs revelling in their own scum."
"Are you thinking of establishing this as your territory?"
In his usual low tone. "What do you think, Imhokepri?" The king's gaze remained firmly fixed on the mundane happenings in the city below whilst he crossed his arms.
"A suici-" I won't be too hasty this time. He held his tongue, remembering the earlier events. "Our territory isn't as developed here as it is at the palace, we're disadvantaged."
Trailing behind them, Shaiapouf, whose narrowed eyes flitted between the two as they flew. He always asks for Imhokepri's input, why?
"Pouf, go faster, they're beating us." Neferpitou's voice with a slight current of urgency, she was hanging from his leg with one arm.
He learns quickly. "There are alive shapes, and shapes which appear to be alive." It seemed the king could not get the taste of Go out of his mouth. "This is the latter. Land."
In the middle of their territory? He knew to not make the king repeat himself, so he promptly complied. They descended upon the city, the intensity of the lights becoming harsher. On the densely populated pavement, they made their landing, the people below gave a wide berth.
The people's gazes followed them down.
Towering buildings panelled with glass crowded around the road on either side, making the world feel cramped.
"Hey, those guys' cosplays are amazing! They look so real!" A pedestrian pointing with their phone in hand. "Could I take a photo with you?" Another pedestrian of the many to come.
Imhokepri stepped forward with his hand wound back, talons glinting. "Shall I?" Neferpitou and Shaiapouf also made a move. Neferpitou, like Imhokepri, bared her claws whereas Shaiapouf emitted his aura.
The back of the king's hand met his chest with a light thud, barring his movement. "No, I permit it." He did the same with the others, but with his other hand and tail.
The king seems amused by this development. Imhokepri observed the king who stood silently, observing the humans. Regarding them as if they were an alien species.
I pity these creatures, to not know who you are in the presence of. "Hmph, I shall entertain this." It is not the time to make waves in the human territory. His violet eyes made contact with the person. "What is this cosplay you speak of?"
"'I shall entertain this?' This guy's totally into his cosplay!" A random man's voice. "'What is this cosplay you speak of?', you're really selling it dude." The crowd of pedestrians seemed to be growing denser as they clamoured over this thing known as 'cosplay'.
They are mere cattle; they do not know of their trespasses. The king's posture stiffened as his tail began to whirl, but it came to halt when he had been asked "Smile for the camera!" He saw himself and the person in a strange rectangular object, pondering for a moment before making his decision.
I can see myself in it. It must be like a mirror. What use is there in asking one to smile for a mirror? That is temporary. Unless this thing is a sort of permanent mirror. Hmph. I see, they wish for a foolish keepsake.
"What is that device called? Neferpitou." Her ears perked up. Neferpitou had vast knowledge on human matters since she spent most of her time studying them.
"It is knyown as a camera. It captures on-" Crack. The king's tail was too fast to be perceived by the humans, let alone the royal guard. All they noticed was an abrupt and startling sound.
"I only asked for the device's name." His voice bordered on a growl.
Oh, I will smile alright. A crooked grin full of malice. And I shall smile more when this Earth is rid of you parasites. Unexpectedly, he complied, moving closer to the person standing next to him in order to fit into the frame.
"Uwah! So scary!" Flash! The camera produced a clunky shutter sound. A jarring image. The picture was spat out of the camera, one of a smiling human and the king flashing his maws.
Playing with his food. Neferpitou caught on to the king's intention and was equally amused.
"Imhokepri, Neferpitou, Shaiapouf." He couldn't contain his menacing laughter. "Come, join us. Smile for this... 'camera' object." This will be an amusing memento of the conquest. The camera shutters clicked again. Flash! This time spitting out the image of the four of them.
Neferpitou looked excited, waving at the camera. Shaiapouf appeared serene and reserved, looking off into the distance somewhere with his arms folded as his blonde locks fluttered to cover his profile. Imhokepri stared directly into the camera with a stern look. And infront of them, the king with an unprecedented look of contentment shown through an unsightly toothy grin.
The king held the photo, looking down at it thoroughly. A memento? He handed it to Imhokepri over his shoulder, not turning back. "I have no use for this, do with it what you will." Imhokepri took the photo, having a vague feeling of tenderness manifest in some corner of himself.
Perhaps an instinctual devotion to his colony, or something more.
It was somewhat akin to a family photo, that is if the family's structure was monarchical. An almost warm moment if weren't for the fact that it was merely a product of the king's wicked contemplation.
Shaiapouf's turmoil brewed beneath. I can't believe the king is being distracted by this folly. I cannot allow him to become familiar with these human things. Shaiapouf snatched the photo from Imhokepri, crumpling it into a ball before tossing it into a nearby bin.
Neferpitou stood with her arms behind her head with flared elbows as she discretely caught the crumpled photo with her tail. If it pleases the king. She stuffed it into one of her pockets.
"Let us move onward, and by air. I'm afraid I will slaughter these things if I'm in their presence any longer." His tail clung onto Imhokepri's leg. Neferpitou grabbed onto Shaiapouf's. The convoy took off once more, to the amazement of those below.
Somewhere in the nearby area, a young boy stood frozen.
"Oi, Gon. Did you feel that?" His white hairs stood on end. Twitching feet, legs bent, and muscles coiled ready to burst into a leap. That aura, surely, it's not of a human? I thought I was going to be killed just then! He frantically scanned the crowd, finding none who'd fit the bill as the bearer of such monstrous Nen.
"Yeah, Killua." He spoke as if his throat were being crushed by the aura. Meanwhile, those around them continued to walk on oblivious to the wave of death washing over them.
In the spacious backseat of a limousine. "Emperor Time." A reflexive response to the immense display of aura. Scarlet eyes stared back at him in the reflection of the window. If anyone this powerful was in the troupe, I'd be dead. What is emitting such aura?
Next to him, a man bound by chains attached to the scarlet eyed boy's fingers. He looked tilted his head to look through the window then shuddered, making the chains rattle. He was laughing.
He's laughing? He tugged on the chains. It can't be more than a shameless bluff. "Silence, Chrollo. Even if I'm being pursued, I hold all the cards."
What they all felt were merely the remnants of Shaiapouf's hostility.
Mid-flight, Shaiapouf's eyes widened. That's it. He's grooming Imhokepri. All those questions about strategy. He wants him to be
My squadron leader. The king stroked his chin. He has the potential to entertain me. "I declare Yorknew a new point of food production. We shall mobilise the colony once preparations have been made." A casual declaration of war.
