The fondest of greetings to you all! To summarize, this is a thoroughly revised version of a much longer, yet low quality work I composed many, many years ago when I had not yet even reached my teenage years. I just couldn't let it rot away without doing a rewrite, so here it is!

In here you will see established cannon characters, as well as a slew of OC's that I created for "Dreamer's Oath", my other, longer cyborg-Grievous fic. In case you don't know anything about our dear tyrant's backstory, I strongly suggest you read up on it, lest you be confused or anything. I intend for this to be somewhat to very AU, following the same roundabout plotline as the official stuff, but still my own dark twists and so on. THE CHAPTERS ARE INTENDED TO BE SHORT! Just a little fyi for ya :) So without further or do...my newest piece.

Chapter 1 - The Hunter

Crouched, silent, the hunter waited, eyes narrowed, breaths quieted and even. The animal in the clearing was unaware of its noiseless watcher, and was upwind - an easy kill. Animals of all sorts were, in a word, foolish. The hunter's hand curled firmly around the large spear in their possession, readying itself for a strike.

A moment later, out from the trees came a male humanoid, built of muscle, sheathed in bronze, scaly skin. The animal stood no chance, soon after lying dead at the hunter's feet with a spear embedded through its side, the precision of the hit unmistakably perceptible. Its killer removed the weapon from its deceased body, triumphant. It was then that a second male of the same race emerged from the undergrowth, going to the hunter. He was visibly older, and more orderly as opposed to the wild one before him.

"You have done well, young one. Your skills serve our people well..."

He nodded. "Anything to provide for the hungry, sir."

A hand was placed on his arm. "Soon, everyone will come to call you a god."

"I am only a man. I am unworthy of such...formalities." The hunter stared at the other man with intent. "And I wish for it to stay this way, General Dau-Maz."

The military leader, Dau-Maz, removed his hand. "Your father was a illustrious commander. He would want you to be great. He would pray to our holy deities every sunrise and sunset to grant his lastborn son a rise to power. Why have you no wishes for this?"

Freed of the contact holding him back, he wrapped his arms around the carcass and lifted it upon one, broad shoulder. "My father," he began, "would want me to follow my convictions, and..." He shifted under the sudden weight. "...that is what I shall do."

As he took his spear in hand, steadying the animal's body with the other, Dau-Maz looked at him long and hard, disapproval in his gaze. "This will change, young Sheelal, as all things do."

Qymaen jai Sheelal exhaled disdainfully. "You are not one to say what will and will not be, General." He went to take his leave, but added for good measure, "And neither am I."

Just to note: all this is before he becomes famous and all that jazz. Reviews are most welcome! I shall update if such happens! Thanks for reading!