Just as the Rat King was lost in a bed of tenderness, enjoying endless comfort, a burst of hurried, chaotic footsteps suddenly came from outside the palace. The harsh scrape of armor shattered the tranquility within the hall.
The dancers faltered mid-step, panic appearing on their faces. The musicians also stopped playing and turned toward the palace gates.
The Rat King frowned slightly, displeasure flashing through his eyes. Who was so bold as to disturb him while he was enjoying himself?
Before he could fly into a rage, the palace's crystal doors burst open with a bang, and a blood-covered figure rolled and crawled inside.
It was a rat general. His armor had been shattered beyond recognition and was stained with dark-red blood. Some parts had even been cleaved open by sharp weapons, exposing the hideous wounds beneath.
His fur was in complete disarray, caked with mud and dried blood. One eye was tightly shut, blood streaming from its corner, while the other was filled with terror and despair. The muscles on his face were twisted by overwhelming horror.
The rat general crawled all the way forward, his knees and palms leaving long trails of blood across the smooth crystal floor. He let out hoarse, frantic cries that carried a sobbing tremor and were nearly out of tune.
"Report! Disaster! Your Majesty the Rat King! Disaster has struck!"
At the sight, the Rat King's displeasure was instantly replaced by intense unease. He abruptly sat upright, a fierce glint flashing through his amber eyes.
He said in a deep voice, "What are you panicking for? With this king here, even if the sky falls, this king will hold it up! What exactly happened for you to be so flustered?"
The rat general crawled beneath the jade platform and dropped to his