"This is madness!" Thor barked, his face turning red from fury. His remaining fist clenched so hard that lightning cracked between his fingers.

That only made Max’s mood brighten even more.

"If you don’t want to negotiate, then take your army and scram back to your empire. I’ll see how long you survive with only warriors and no women. They will run to me on their own."

Flickers of green finally returned to the exhausted Wind Emperor’s eyes. His wrath cooled just enough for reason to return as he narrowed his gaze at Max, then toward the far horizon, where he spotted his sister Gertrud and his other siblings alive and well among Max’s people.

Their eyes met for a moment.

For a brief breath, the madness in Oswald’s face cracked, replaced by something rawer than rage.

Relief.

His grip tightened around his cracked spear.

"I’ll give you twenty percent of my army for eighty percent of my people," he barked at Max, barely able to keep himself standing straight.

That drew a laugh from Max.

"Fifty-fifty, or the two of you can scram. The next time you say something I don’t like, I’ll change the odds to fifty-forty in my favor."

"Don’t test my patience, human!" Oswald roared, stepping forward, but his weakened body betrayed him. He tripped over his own feet, his knees almost striking the ground before he caught himself with his spear.

"You can kneel as well. Then we won’t even need to negotiate. But since you refuse, and you didn’t respect my words, now I want sixty percent of your army for forty percent of your people."

"You!" the Wind Emperor barked, his blood boiling so hot that he tasted it in his mouth.

Max was about to speak and raise the odds again, but Thor intervened first.

"We agree!" he barked loudly, shocking the entire crowd. Even Oswald looked at him with wide eyes.

Thor understood that Max was a madman who had once almost died trying to protect a few Ice Dragons. He would not back down, and he would definitely kill a few to teach them a lesson. Max felt like a starving predator to him, greedy and dangerous to the point where even stepping on his tail would invite catastrophe.

"I will give you what you ask, but I must ask a favor from you." Thor struck his trident against the ground, sparks flying in all directions. "Let me see my wife and make sure she is okay."

Thor’s sky-blue eyes dug into Max. It amused Max, seeing the old man care so much for his family after all the bloodshed. A few soldiers in the army stirred when they heard Thor’s words, their faces tightening with worry. Max’s eyes settled on them, noticing the similarities between them, Thor, and Freya. He understood they had to be their sons.

"Fine, but not for too long." Max signaled with his hand. "Marcus, bring the Thunder Empress here for me, please," he roared.

Then his eyes slowly returned to Oswald.

"While we wait, how about we continue haggling, Wind Emperor Oswald?" Max licked his lips. "Seventy percent of your army for thirty percent of your people, since you seem a little heated right now."

Oswald wanted to puke. This humiliation was something he had never been prepared to face in his life. He wished to rip Max to pieces, to tear apart that smug face with his own hands, but he knew he could not do that. Max was too strong, to the point where Oswald had no choice but to respect his power.

"Fine... Can I also request to see my siblings for a short moment? And my father?" he said through gritted teeth.

"No, and yes," Max spat out, making Oswald’s face twist with rage. "I can’t let you see your siblings, but I can let you see your father."

He grinned.

"You’re testing my patience..." Winds began to gather around Oswald, but the faces of his soldiers paled, and several of the generals rushed forward in alarm.

"Emperor, calm your wrath. We can’t afford for him to taunt you more!" They were afraid that their foolish young emperor would lose the entire empire to that demon fox standing before them.

"Fine!" Oswald barked, his fingers tightening around his spear until the shaft creaked. "Where is my father? I want to see him!"

While Max prepared to shatter him with the truth, Marcus brought Freya to Thor. She did not say anything, simply looking at his lost arm with worry.

"So, even you have given up?" Thor asked, his eyes revealing the pain in his soul.

Freya shook her head. "We can’t win against him, he—"

"Silence. Do not dare to say another word."

Marcus intervened, his power now that of an emperor. His eyes were cold, and his aura pressed forward without hesitation. He was not afraid to face Thor if that was what it took to protect Max’s secrets.

But then, a wild wave of crimson winds crashed against everybody, sending countless warriors flying into the distance.

"You killed my father!?" Oswald roared, his eyes turning red once more.

"Not only did I kill him, I also buried him under the ground. Isn’t that fitting for an old dog who barked at the wrong person? Or do you also want to meet the same fate as him?!"

Max countered, void winds crashing against the crimson. Their attacks were no longer on the same level as before, but it was still enough to shake every dragon watching. That power was far beyond a simple emperor.

Max’s power pushed against Oswald’s, crashing into him from every direction. Oswald tried to resist, his legs trembling and his spear biting into the ground, but the void winds kept pressing down until his body was forced into a kneeling position.

"I will say this once more. I have already won this battle, and you must submit to my demands or die and lose it all!"

Max was putting on a show. His entire body hurt as if millions of needles were piercing him all at once, but his face remained cruel and confident.

"So what will it be, Wind Emperor... Eighty percent of your army, or certain doom today?!"

It was his last chance at intimidation. If he could not crack the stubborn ruler, he would likely have to reveal that his strength and consciousness were fading. But at least he was ready to claim Oswald’s life today.