When an explorer unexpectedly arrived at the palace… The explorer was in terrible shape, unable to stand, and was clearly very distraught.
He said he had seen something he had never seen before: a terrible army of monsters had set up camp in our kingdom. As they listened to his tale, the old sages of the palace nodded silently, admitting with worried expressions that I had heard of a similar event that had occurred many years before in other kingdoms, even though some of the sages considered these tales merely legends without any basis in truth.
Meanwhile, to recover from his fright and refresh himself, the explorer had devoured Frasteus's breakfast, as well as that of the kitten, who was watching him with his back hunched and his ears drooping, ready to take revenge at the first favorable opportunity.
https://imgur.com/a/t9EwzJf
Frasteus did not lose heart and immediately ordered spies to report on the threat the empire would soon face. Shortly thereafter, the spies returned and reported that the monster leader, an (archimage), was stationed nearby, leading a horde of despicable monsters arrayed and ready for battle.
Frasteus then summoned one of his most trusted commanders. The court magicians then armed Commander-in-Chief STEO with the deadliest weapons and the most powerful magic spells, and thus the entire empire was made operational and ready for the journey to battle, just a few hours' journey from that beautiful kingdom.
https://imgur.com/a/1ufOnw7
Before sending the heroic warlord away, Queen Frasteo told him:
"During the plunder, you will personally supervise the transport of the black pearls. I will ask you for a report as soon as you return."
Then she added: "Oh, I forgot... bring me all the pearls you collect, and don't even think about buying something nice from the shopkeeper! As a reward, buy yourself a coffee on the way back—it's on me!"
The warlord searched for a service station on Google Maps, but there weren't any, so he set off a little perplexed, unsure what he would gain from this. Especially since he didn't drink coffee!
King Frasteo shouted, as he was already far away: "From the seers' tower I will watch your path... You don't need Google Maps!"
Then the leader set off at the head of the army.
https://imgur.com/a/NXYQZbq
The brave dark elves fought the monster horde for a long time, from the moment the battle broke out. Then it became increasingly clear that the undead horde, driven by their hatred of the monsters, was nearing glorious victory. In the end, every monster that failed to escape was mercilessly pierced by the swords.
The first to arrive were the archers, who immediately began decimating the monsters with repeated arrows.
The flying machines descended from the sky and struck areas where the archers couldn't reach...
Soon after, a dull noise stopped the battle; it sounded like an approaching storm, but it was the cavalry, rushing out of the fog, striking the still-standing monsters...
There was little glory left for the soldiers who had rushed to finish the battle, and the bearers were able to do their work undisturbed...
From then on, the land belonged to the healers. Some wounded had to be treated there on the battlefield, then finally everyone made their way to their homes and families.
It was a battle filled with blood and terror, swords and arrows, fire and flames, horror, screams and groans, until, in silence, the hero Steo, looking around, could not believe his feat; he had succeeded in destroying the most fearsome of ruins.
https://imgur.com/a/AH8PvXK
Frasteo thus captured the well-deserved spoils of war as a reward for the victorious battle!
35,262 black pearls and crystals… hurrah
So, after many, many years of rule, King Phrasteus also fought against the legendary ruins and was able to usefully spend the rich spoils of war to make his empire flourish.
