The Secret Police force of the Quetzal was running around like chickens with their heads cut off building hasty barricades and defenses in the Temple Complex, they could have done better if they used the workers in the under-city but they were hiding the fact that they were under siege.

  I had a distinct feeling that the need for absolute control was the crutch of the Scalefolk's military. It allowed them to quickly conquer and then enslave the other species but now when met with an equal or greater force they were substantially weaker than they should have been. However it was also possible that the soldiers that had conquered the other cities were already old and/or retired; hence, their successors hadn’t had the challenge to grow stronger.

  It would be easy to simply march through with my army but that would cause chaos in the Under City and subsequently a lot of unneeded death. So I was going to cut the head off the snake or scalefolk in this case. I figured, considering the size of the city and the paranoia of a dictator, that most of the city’s essential functions were centered around the Quetzal.

  First off I would have my army concentrate into one position, opposite of the location I was going to enter. Forcing the guards to recenter and leave blind spots so I could creep in. It would be blatantly obvious what I was going to do but the actions of the commanders hadn’t inspired any confidence in their tactical reasoning. It was always a gamble to underestimate your opponents but one I was willing to take.

  The Scalefolk defenders were scrambling to readjust as my army focused into one central camp. Surprisingly, they didn't leave the rest of the wall completely undefended, instead they had solitary guards spaced out. It would have allowed them to detect a larger force but as a single person all it took was going through one of the small gaps in the guards surveillance, and I was in. Honestly I felt like I was in a cross-over between a spy movie and an Illinois Jones movie, as I stepped into an opulent city of vaguely Aztec or Mayan design. I could see the Pyramid at the center from my position in an alleyway. The whole city had a thick air of suspense and it was quiet, and the whole place was clean. Like eerily clean as if it was a sterilized environment not a city that people lived in. My ears twitched as I heard the voices of what I assumed were guards patrolling the city. I began to walk through the maze of the streets using the pyramid as a landmark to navigate. Occasionally I saw guards dropping off and collecting stuff from the mansions although the inhabitants of the said mansions seemed afraid. Eventually I made it to one of the four stairways up the Pyramid, a guard outpost was right next to it but the guard was passed out. The Guard probably saved his life with his negligence of duty.

  Springing into action, I cleared the steps up the mayanesque pyramid and I heard far-off voices of shock as my sprinting figure was no doubt noticed by those below. As I reached a balcony area at the top, I saw two [Elite Scalefolk Guards] flanking each other, protecting the entrance into the pyramid. They seemed to be shocked but well trained with their long pole arms trying to stop me but were ineffective as I redirected one pole arm and ran through its wielder with my longsword before liberating the other one's head from their shoulders. Elite my ass, was my first thought but I realised I was being a tad unfair but they were still weak. Before me was a stone door emblazoned with a motif of a feathered serpent.

  Kicking the stone door its hinges groaned before giving way as the door burst open into a grand hall.

  All four entrances to the pyramid led to a central dias made of gold although the throne itself was designed for lounging in with thick cushions. Although the entrance behind the dais was blocked off for some reason.

  "Who dares enter the hall of the Divine-Blooded Quetzal!" A voice decried off to the side. A figure hunched and draped in cloth. [Scalefolk Cultist].

  "I do" I said simply approaching the dais which was empty. The figure moved in front of the dais, I saw twin orbs burning with zealotry under the dark ratty hood covering his features.

  "Your height, you must be a runt of a Turtenani, what is one of you heathens doing upon this sacred ground!" The figure's nagging voice fell upon deaf ears. Stepping forward towards the dais the Cultist brandished his hands and a glow of red crimson permeated the air around him. I simply backhanded the cultist sending him flying as whatever he was doing fell apart, and I stepped up the dais. The sound caused the guards at the other two entrances to rush in and to see me sit down on the dais.

  "Go fetch this Quetzal, Now" I stated and the guards stood frozen for a moment before one of them broke away and sprinted out of the pyramid.

  "THERE'S AN INTRUDER IN THE QUETZALS HALL!" The guard’s voice carried from outside, soon more guards poured in, they held their pole arms in front of them.

  "Turtenani Scum! Step down from the Holy Dais!" A guard in silver trimmed armour stated his eyes betrayed his fear. I figured that in my armor my proportions fit closest with a small Turtenani.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  I was unafraid of the guards, if those on the city's wall rushed here my army would attack. So they only had the guards here who were more for intimidation than being actual threats.

  "Bring forth the Quetzal, I will not ask again" I demanded, and honestly it kinda made me feel like a toddler having a tantrum. Although to be fair to myself it was getting awkward just standing here waiting. I had to repress the urge to start tapping my foot as the social awkwardness started getting to me.

  "WHAT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT YOU HAD TO WAKE ME FROM MY FIRE-STONE Naaap-oh, yes wait one second" I watched in confusion as a part of the floor moved and a stairway appeared. Climbing up from it was a Scalefolk with a mixture of serpentine and reptilian traits however they also had a feathered crest. At first I was caught off guard by the fact I hadn't noticed the stairway right there with my magic, that while limited still let me sense passages. Secondly I was caught off guard by the flippant attitude of what I assumed was the Quetzal in a bathrobe.

  I decided to offer some courtesy, primarily by the fact that the Quetzal was probably changing out of his bathrobe-if he was smart. It wasn't out of the goodness of my heart, rather I just didn't want to be fighting a half dressed lizard dude.

  Mercifully the Quetzal emerged after a brief change from bathrobe to adorned armor. While somewhat gaudy was at least practical, large tracts of the armor was covered in gold which made it seem like a purely ceremonial piece. On the contrary as I could tell the armor was designed to look that way, the armor was gilded but made of gold and was otherwise serviceable in battle.

  "I thank you for giving me time to change, however I must ask you to get the fuck off my dais before I rain heavenly wrath upon you and smite you to the final depths" The Quetzal said, his voice full of conviction and zeal and yet his eyes were cunning analyzing my form.

  "No, I don't think I will, rather I have come here for your unconditional surrender" I stated simply not moving a muscle as my eyes peeled at my enemy through my visor. The Guards looked more offended then the Quetzal did.

  "You have come here to ask for my surrender so boldly and expect to survive?" The Quetzal demanded.

  "Yes" I said exasperated, I was not really in the mood for conversation. I spent my whole time in these caves feeling like I was in full body cast, unable to use magic. It felt strange to say since it was not too long ago that I hadn't had to begin with. Now though? It was torture. Well that was being dramatic but still it infuriated me and this scaled prick was about to get it.

  "Hmm, alright, guards leave me, I will deal with this interloper and then his army, for they fall flat in the face of divine providence" the Quetzal stated grandly as he waved his guards away who didn't need to tell twice.

  "Now be ready to face my divine nature-!" I interrupted him by surging to my feet and punching the Quetzal in the face. It wasn't as powerful a hit as I could give as I didn't have a weapon, but nothing beats hitting a jackass with your fist. The Quetzal's head snapped back and he pushed back a few paces. The air created a strong gust around me that told the actual strength of my punch, and the durability of the Quetzal.

  "You merely play at Divinity I am Divine!" I said and my opponent responded by rushing back although it wasn't in cowardice. It was calculated, his power set probably relied on some distance.

  Then the Quetzal began to shine in divine light, to me it felt airy compared to my divinity but it was still impressive. So the fucker wasn't lying after all he had some divine power.

  He encased his fists in divine energy and he came in close, I tried to put my sword between us but he was agile and out maneuvered me. I was struck by a fist of divine energy and I saw a small system prompt.

  [Alert!]

  You have gained the affliction [Envenomed] that has been boosted by Divinity to an effective rank of 2?.

  [Envenomed]

  Effective Rank: Rank 2?

  Regeneration Debuff: -15%

  Stamina Debuff: [N/A]

  Necrotic Damage: -10 HP per Minute

  Strength & Agility Debuff: -10%

  …

  [Alert!]

  Due to your own innate divinity the divinity empowering the affliction [Envenomed] has been negated lowering the effective rank to Rank Two.

  …

  [Bloodline Trait Activated]

  Your Bloodline Trait [Gorgan’s Blood] has been activated negating effects of the affliction [Envenomed].

  …

  “Tsk, I see how you beat Ohagai and Velouse” The Quetzal muttered to himself as he no doubt realized that his venom afflicting ability hadn’t worked. However the force behind his fist was still strong so my armor ended up dinged up. I tried to use my sword and shield to combat the Quetzal but his agility removed the advantage of having the reach of my sword.

  The Quetzal moved in close, his smaller frame ducked under my sword slash and I felt his punch into my abdomen, my armor absorbed the majority of the blow.

  Hesitantly, I stored my sword and pulled out [Daemonic Goblin-Bane] the wicked looking dagger of cursed energy that had fallen to the wayside due to its strength against stronger singular opponents but wasn't as useful for crowd control. As my opponent moved in again I blocked his blow with my shield and struck out with the dagger.

  “Foul Cursed object!” the Quetzal cried and moved backwards covering his retreat with blasts of magical energy.