WAR OF EMPİRES: ANCİENT REQUİEM

Caesar's voice was so powerful it shook the stone walls of the palace. He leapt to his feet, his eyes sweeping over the room, but he did not make true eye contact with anyone. His gaze was far beyond them, fixed on the dark recesses of the past and the approaching storms.

"So, you're challenging me too, huh?!"

His voice thundered like a storm.

And then... his lips parted in a devilish grin, a laugh teetering on the edge of madness echoed through the middle of the room.

"Come then!"

"Come at me, all of you! Even if two empires stand against me, the world itself, nothing will change!"

Aurelius bowed his head, and the other soldiers held their breath. None of them wanted to meet the darkness in Caesar's eyes. Caesar sat back down on his throne—but this was no ordinary sitting. It was the stance of a ruler who had decided on war, the calm before the storm.

At that very moment, the great doors creaked open. The man who entered stepped with purpose, his shoulders straight, his face as hard as granite. His hands were folded respectfully in front of him, but his posture radiated the resolve of someone who could stop an entire army alone.

Belisarius. The Empire's supreme commander. Caesar's sword.

Belisarius walked up to the throne, knelt, and bowed his head.

"Hail to Caesar, born under the shadow of the god Mania."

Caesar gave a brief but sharp gesture, granting him permission to speak.

"Speak."

Belisarius's voice was cold but clear.

"Military preparations have begun. The legions are being deployed. The navy awaits orders. Preparations for war proceed without delay."

Caesar's lips slowly curled into a smile. The face that had been clenched with rage moments ago was now lit by the grim satisfaction of impending victory. He paused briefly, then leaned back slightly on his throne.

"Summon the council,"

This time, his voice carried not anger, but the weight of absolute resolve.

"From now on, we write destiny."

After offering one more salute, Belisarius stood and swiftly exited the chamber. The echo of his footsteps trailed behind him, as if merging with the march of an empire preparing for war.

Two hours later, the heavy oak doors of the council chamber closed with a solemn thud. The room, draped in deep crimson carpets, echoed with the sound of rain striking the dome above. Torches burned in iron sconces along the walls, casting shadows that climbed the ceiling—silent companions to the quiet before the storm.

A long, massive table carved from dark walnut stood at the center.

Around it, exactly ten figures had taken their seats.

At the head of the table sat Sezar, the emperor of emperors. To his left, Aurelius stood tall with eyes as sharp as an eagle's, hidden beneath his purple cloak; to his right stood Belisarius—cold as a sword and silent as a shield. Both spoke not with words, but with their very presence.

The other chairs were filled with the backbone of the state rising from the depths of Alphamos. Masters of diplomacy, seasoned war veterans, shadowy lords of intelligence, and a few shadowy advisors who reported only to Sezar. For a while, only the crackling of the bronze map and the flickering oil lamps broke the silence. Then Sezar clasped his fingers together and leaned over the table. His face was resolute, and his voice carried the echo of an ancient decree.

The silence in the room hung thick between the faint crackling of the torches. Those gathered around the table awaited the words that would fall from Sezar's lips. But he kept his eyes fixed on the map, slowly running his fingers over the emblem of Gorman.

At that moment, Aurelius, seated to Sezar's left, raised his hand with a slow, controlled motion.

"With your permission, Your Majesty…"

Sezar inclined his head, granting him leave to speak.

Aurelius stood up and pressed his long fingers firmly on the very center of the map.

"Right now, the three great empires of the continent stand on the brink of conflict. And we..."

He lifted his head slightly, letting his gaze sweep over everyone in the room.

"...may be the only army caught between two enemies."

The tension in the room tightened. Some advisors shifted slightly, but no one spoke. Aurelius continued.

"The Gorman Empire… Among the three great empires, it possesses the widest borders, the largest army, and the most robust logistics network. The messages we've received also indicate that Gorman has directly taken a stance against us."

His voice struck the armor hanging on the walls, echoing back like a ghostly resonance.

"The letter from Gılgamısh is not just a challenge; it is also a threat. Not only we, but the Tengritugen Empire could also be a target of this threat."

Aurelius sat back down. Silence once again settled over the room.

Caesar's eyes didn't flicker. It was as if he was weighing the words not in the air, but deep within his heart.

Advisor Samius raised his hand and began to speak slowly.

"My lord, if it were only the Tengritugen Empire, we could have overcome it. But Gorman is an entirely different matter. They not only have a powerful army but are also masters of diplomacy. Therefore, it would be unwise to face Gorman head-on. Gılgamısh's wrath and plans run far deeper than we thought. Taking a direct stance against him would affect not only us but the fate of the entire continent. That's why we must determine our strategy very carefully."

There was a brief silence around the table, then another commander raised his hand and spoke.

"I agree with Advisor Samius. Challenging Gılgamısh is not the work of a wise man. This war is not just a show of strength; it is a war of intellect and strategy."

After this, a deep silence fell over the room. Everyone awaited Caesar's response.

Caesar slammed his hand on the table and shouted angrily.

"My council is surrounded by nothing but cowardly chickens! We are the lions of a thousand years, descendants of the noble Alphamos! Pull yourselves together!"

A brief silence filled the room. Then Aurelius responded calmly and respectfully.

"You are right, my lord. However, it is also true that Gilgamesh is called the 'Eye of God.' No one knows where or when he will appear, and it is said he has agents everywhere, aware of everything on the continent. Among the stones, he is the most sacred and powerful. We must not fear his power, but we must take him seriously."

As Caesar listened to Aurelius, the anger on his face gave way to deep determination.

Caesar took a deep breath, looked around the table with determined eyes, and spoke slowly.

"There are things you are right about, of course. Still, he does not frighten me. He may possess the most sacred and powerful of the stones, but if he underestimates me, the consequences will be severe. For my power is not one to be taken lightly."

The atmosphere in the room tightened for a moment, as everyone felt the unshakable confidence in Caesar's words.

Belisarius raised his hand and began to speak in a calm yet confident tone.

"I agree with you, my lord. Also, the stone I possess is no ordinary one, as you know. It's just… I haven't been able to fully wield its power yet. But if I reach its true potential, I could even defeat Gilgamesh alone."

As Belisarius's words echoed through the room, Caesar's face suddenly tightened. His eyes locked onto Belisarius with a hard, sharp, piercing gaze. Then, without warning, he stood up and slammed his fist into Belisarius's face.

"You can't even beat a mere jester, and you're talking about defeating Gilgamesh?"

"You will not speak unless I tell you to. Understood?"

Belisarius turned his face to the side, knelt down on his knees, and bowed his head.

"Understood, my lord," he said quietly and shamefully.

Silence once again enveloped the room. When Caesar sat back down, no one dared utter a single word. The meeting continued under Caesar's authoritative gaze. The commanders and advisors around the table took turns presenting military operation plans, logistical needs, the deployment status of troops at the border regions, and especially the weak points in intelligence. Aurelius provided information about Gorman's spy networks, while Samius listed one by one the precautions necessary to prevent Alphamos from falling into internal chaos. Other advisors offered suggestions to anticipate enemy movements. Although reprimanded, Belisarius continued contributing to the strategic defense plans. Caesar listened carefully to the discussions, occasionally taking notes or giving brief approvals. At the slightest sign of weakness, his gaze silenced others, asserting his authority without uttering a single word.

After about three intense hours, Caesar stood up.

"Each of you return to your duties. A difficult time lies ahead. Everyone knows what they must do."

One by one, those present rose, saluted Caesar, bowed, and left the hall. The council chamber slowly emptied. Alone, Caesar closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. Outside, a storm was about to break—but it wouldn't be the storm fearing him; it was he who would make the storm afraid.