The Naga Warlord's eyes widened, his hood trembling, his massive body shuddering as though struck by a thunderclap.
His voice broke from fury into disbelief, words tumbling like fragments of stone, "I… i–is it true!? My tribe… truly gone!?"
His voice, usually a chilling tide of authority, now sounded hollow, raw with disbelief and dread. His gaze burned with blinding hatred as if he wanted to swallow the Lamia Queen whole.
But Autarch's reply came with indifferent cruelty, sharp as ice, "Why would I need to lie… to someone like you?"
The words cut deeper than a thousand blades, and before the venom of silence could settle, Autarch tilted his chin ever so slightly toward the Viper Matriarch, his gaze empty and merciless.
"Oh… and my people are already moving toward your tribe. With you gone, your bloodline's legacy will be buried… just like all the others here today."
