Ultimate Traitor

The Moment of Decision in the Realm of Shadows

The hidden meeting hall in the Realm of Shadows was shrouded in a heavy silence. Around the black stone table in the center, the leaders of five great nations had gathered. The magical lights hanging from the ceiling cast a dim glow, creating an eerie atmosphere as the shadows seemed to shift constantly. Even being here was unsettling.

Gareth Silhou, the leader of the Realm of Shadows, sat silently in his black cloak. His shadowy mask hid his face, though it couldn’t completely conceal the faint purple glow that reflected in his eyes. He was the type to wait for others to speak before offering his own thoughts. Patience was his greatest weapon.

The first to speak was King Daeghar of the Fire Realm. He was a tall man clad in crimson armor, and the two guards standing behind him wore cloaks embroidered with flames. Daeghar slammed his fist on the table and spoke harshly:

“The Iron Kingdom no longer sells weapons or technology. They have isolated themselves from the rest of the world. We all know why they’re doing this. They want to preserve their own power and weaken the rest of us. If this isn’t an open threat, what is?”

King Cypron of the Crystal Kingdom responded with a wise smile on his face. He was a more graceful figure compared to the others. His crystal-engraved armor refracted the light, casting faint reflections throughout the room.

“Perhaps they are trying to force us into war, King Daeghar. Could the Iron Kingdom be seeking conflict? If they believe their strength has grown enough, they could crush us one by one. First, they cut off trade, then they strengthened their defenses. What comes next?”

King Varyn of the North Kingdom threw his long white hair back and lightly tapped his magical staff against the floor. He wore a heavy fur adorned with ancient gods' symbols. The North Kingdom was a land deeply tied to its traditions, and their declaration of war could change the fate of the entire world.

“They are our enemies. We’ve known for years they’ve been trying to weaken us. If we don’t act now, in a few years it will be too late. The Crystal Kingdom and the Fire Realm might fall at some point, but the North Kingdom will never bow down. I personally support going to war.”

The atmosphere around the table grew tense after these words. Lady Aria, leader of the Lakes, sat in stark silence, dressed in a robe of black and blue tones. Yet when she spoke, her voice left a cold effect on everyone.

“War is always the last resort. But if we must fight, we need to be well-prepared. The North Kingdom breeds warriors, the Crystal Kingdom strategizes, and the Fire Realm is at the frontlines... But to go to war without intelligence is like blindly plunging a knife into the dark.”

All eyes turned again to Gareth Silhou. The leader of the Realm of Shadows leaned slightly back in his chair and took a deep breath.

“You called me here and you are curious about my proposals. We have been monitoring the movements of the Iron Kingdom for a long time. Their halt in technology sales is only the beginning. As of now, there’s no sign of an impending attack, but the Iron Kingdom always makes its first move in secret. If they intend to destroy us, we will only know when we are attacked. Therefore… we must find a way to make them speak.”

King Cypron furrowed his brow. “What kind of plan do you have?”

The Shadow of Mythos

A deep silence fell upon the meeting in the Realm of Shadows. The leaders’ eyes were fixed on Gareth Silhou, the lord of the Realm of Shadows.

“We must find a way to make them speak,” Gareth said, his eyes glinting faintly behind his shadowy mask in the dim light.

King Cypron clasped his hands together and asked, “How do you intend to do that?”

Gareth narrowed his eyes and leaned back. “There is a name in the past of the Iron King. A name you all thought was forgotten, but one that still leaves deep marks…”

King Daeghar of the Fire Realm furrowed his brows. “Who are you talking about?”

Gareth spoke slowly, “Mythos.”

An immediate hum filled the room. The name of a man who had rebelled years ago echoed in the minds of all the leaders present.

Mythos had once been one of the Iron Kingdom’s greatest generals. He had been one of Iron King Jorah Iron's most trusted men, but years ago, he had rebelled and left the Iron Kingdom. According to rumors, Mythos had opposed Jorah’s authoritarian rule, sparking a great uprising, but had been defeated and forced to flee. He had not been heard from since.

Gareth’s voice hardened.

“If anyone knows the true intentions of Jorah Iron, it is Mythos. He is one of Jorah’s greatest fears. If we can find him, we may uncover the Iron Kingdom’s plans.”

The council members exchanged glances and began to ponder. Everyone knew who Mythos was and why he had rebelled. However, where he was and whether he still held a grudge against Jorah Iron was unclear.

“Let’s say we find Mythos,” said Cypron. “How will we convince him to fight against Jorah?”

Varyn slammed his hands on the table as he responded in a heavy tone, “We don’t need to convince him. We’ll just offer him an opportunity. If he still hates Jorah, he’ll join us. If not… then he is no longer a threat to us.”

Daeghar struck the table hard. “The only person who knows how the Iron Kingdom can be torn from within is Mythos. With his knowledge, we can start an internal rebellion. Their dependence on technology makes them weak. If we bring down their systems, even their own people will turn against them.”

Varyn stood up, stretching his shoulders tensely. “Then let’s waste no time. Let’s find Mythos and take the first step toward the Iron Kingdom’s downfall.”

After that, there was no turning back.

King Varyn of the North tapped his magical staff lightly and muttered, “Do you think he’s still alive? If he is, where could he be?”

Gareth tilted his head slightly.

“Our shadow agents have been tracking his movements. Mythos is not dead. He’s been hiding for years. And interestingly, the place where he’s hiding is on the border of a kingdom that was once our ally…”

Cypron leaned in, his attention peaked. “Where?”

Gareth narrowed his eyes.

“At the Frozen Ruins.”

The Frozen Ruins were a lost settlement at the farthest borders of the North Kingdom, hidden between frozen valleys. It had once been the site of ancient wars, where many warriors and wizards had died. Now, it seemed, it was where Mythos had taken refuge.

Varyn shook his head. “If he’s there, I can find him. But we don’t know what condition Mythos is in. Does he still hate Jorah for his rebellion, or after all these years, does he have a different purpose? Can we trust him?”

Daeghar chuckled darkly. “We don’t have to trust him. If he knows anything, we’ll force him to speak.”

King Cypron was cautious. “We don’t even know if he’s still a warrior. His being alive is already a significant possibility.”

Gareth had made his decision. “No matter what, we must find him. If we want to understand what the Iron Kingdom is planning, Mythos could be the key.”

Varyn slowly rose. “Then I’ll go to the Frozen Ruins. My wizards and I will search for Mythos.”

Daeghar stood up. “And us? Will we just wait?”

Gareth smiled faintly. “You’ll be coming to the Realm of Shadows as well. The Iron Kingdom might be watching us. If there’s a trap, we will face it together. But first, we will find an old shadow.”

The council began to disband. King Varyn went off to gather his wizards, while the other kings prepared to head toward the Realm of Shadows.

And far away, in the heart of the frozen valleys, deep inside a dark cave, a man was waking from his deep slumber.

Mythos was returning.

At the most heated moments of the meeting, there was one more person silently waiting in the shadows: Nash. Dressed in the heavy soldier armor unique to the Realm of Shadows, his face was hidden beneath the shadow of his helmet. No one noticed he was there—not yet.

As he silently listened to all the discussions, he tried to suppress the growing anxiety in his heart. When the name Mythos was mentioned, his fingers involuntarily clenched. Having trained in the Iron Kingdom for years and accessed its greatest secrets, he knew exactly what knowledge Mythos might possess. If this man were found, Jorah Iron's greatest secret could be revealed—and Nash had to prevent that from happening.

“The only person who knows how the Iron Kingdom can be torn from within is Mythos.”

These words from King Daeghar echoed in Nash’s mind. He thought to himself: If Mythos is found, this won’t just be a civil war—it could be the end of the Iron Kingdom.

Nash glanced around at the kings in the council. King Varyn of the North remained calm, but there was a glint of a harsh plan in his eyes. Cypron was listening carefully, and the representative from the Realm of Shadows seemed to have already begun searching for Mythos. If this man was found, everything would accelerate after this meeting.

Nash slowly backed away. It had to deliver the information, but how? They could spot him the moment he left the shadowland and come after him. I have to do this cleverly, he thought. He had two options: either he could stay here and sabotage the process from within, or he could go undetected and relay this information directly to Jorah Iron.

He had to make a decision and time was running out.