Well I am back from New Orleans. It wasn't too much of a vacation because I was walking the whole time and there was just a lot of stress going on. But, I did manage to get some writing in. But those were for other stories. I intend to finish up my marching band story and start a new one on New Years Eve. Anyways, enjoy the chapter.
Adrianople, the Fortress
While Crocus tore itself apart and unlikely alliances were made in Dew Town, the consuls and the king made plans for the upcoming war. A tribe in the Southern Continent had risen to challenge the empire and Cyrus deemed it necessary to exterminate every single one of the rebels. He stood in his private room, with the consuls. Ortega however, was missing, attending to a small uprising in Dew Town.
Cyrus and the consuls stood around the huge wooden table that stood next to the window in his room. It showed Asarabia, several white dots shifting places. Cyrus pointed to the port city of Balsia.
"Load up the Dark Water Fleet immediately with every soldier we have. Crack has told me that he has developed a mechanism that can end this war as quickly as possible." Cyrus said as he looked up at the 2 consuls that were with him.
Tate frowned. Her blonde hair out of place among brown haired individuals. She didn't believe this plan would be a good one.
"My lord, I do not think this will be a good idea. Every soldier? I believe the Blue Army will be enough to bring down this group of barbarians." Tate said as she looked into Cyrus's storm grey eyes.
'Just what is he planning? Every soldier? That's overkill!' she thought as Cyrus pointed to the capital of Asarabia, Tara.
"This is what I want. Give me Tara and I control all of the southern continent. I also intend to cleanse the entire continent of the native population. The Garlan Empire is too small for Seria and Fiore. Its time I expanded the empire like my father and my ancestors before me." Cyrus said firmly as he stepped back from the huge map and looked up at the huge painting that showed his proud father.
Livia and Tate were shocked. Cleanse the native population? That was genocide! It would take years to hunt down every single Asarabian and it would drain the treasury of every penny! Just what had gotten into Cyrus's mind! Livia decided to take a stand. She firmly planted her feet on the floor and glared at her father.
"I refuse to fight." She said firmly.
Cyrus turned from the painting and chuckled a little bit. This was not a good sign.
"Oh don't worry about that. Livia, you will stay here with Tate. I am sending someone else to fight. I knew both of you would refuse to kill innocent civilians." Cyrus said as he smiled.
Tate and Livia were shocked. He had predicted their moves! But how had he known exactly what would happen? Tate decided to bring up a more pressing issue.
"But what about Crocus? As we speak, a rebellion tears the city apart! Your own sons are fighting there!" Tate said, trying to reason.
Cyrus slammed his fist on the wooden table, making everyone jump. He looked angry as he looked up, a fierce glare on his face.
"Crocus is nothing! Little more than a slum for the natives of Fiore! My sons are taking care of the situation. Do you doubt their ability? Leave me at once. The die is cast!" Cyrus shouted at Tate and Livia.
The 2 consuls bowed, tight lipped and left Cyrus's chamber. Once the 2 consuls were gone, Cyrus turned to the table. The image had shifted and it showed the continent of Fiore. A huge red dot was appearing in Crocus. Cyrus's face twisted into a demonic smile.
"Crocus, you have avoided imperial wrath since Sara the Great. Now, you face the wrath of Cyrus the Ironfisted!"
Office of Allison Doma
A shot of flame smashed into her body, sending her crashing through her office window. Her senses were scrambled. They were fast! As she fell, she could see the flashes of light from the battle down below. A sense of pride gripped her and her body burst into flame into the form of a Phoenix. Her fellow mages were risking their lives! She must set an example! She blasted back up towards her office and landed, brilliant flame blowing off her body. Bartholomew was standing there, Otto nowhere to be found.
Allison glared at Bartholomew and concentrated her power. She was going to destroy this royal brat with a single attack! A move her father used to eat the power of the almighty Etherion! Rage filled her body as she spat at Bartholomew.
"Phoenix Slayer! Eternal Flame!" she screamed at Bartholomew as hundreds of flames rushed towards the smiling blonde haired man, burning everything in the office.
There was a solid hit and Bartholomew screamed as he smashed against a wall, the flames burning into him. He struggled to grab the flame in his hands. He was a dragon slayer and he could do this! With trembling hands he grabbed a single flicker of flame and slammed it into his mouth. He coughed and spit blood. Allison was upon him now, eyes blazing with dark heat. She grabbed Bartholomew's throat with such force Bartholomew gasped and tried to cry out.
"You will regret you were ever born. You will regret that you were ever the child of Cyrus the Ironfisted! Phoenix Slayer! Claw of the Phoenix!" she shouted as a huge claw made of flames grabbed Bartholomew's neck and threw him straight out of the broken window Bartholomew had just sent Allison flying from.
The wind screamed as Bartholomew fell from the high tower to the ground. He screamed as he grabbed the flaming claw and bit into it. The fire broke off and Bartholomew felt something enter his stomach. Warmth surrounded him and he started to feel stronger! Bartholomew let out a short laugh but stopped once he saw how close the ground was.
"Brother! Where are you!" Bartholomew screamed as the wind blasted through his hair.
Bartholomew saw a flash of green from a nearby battle and suddenly a huge pillar of stone burst from the ground towards Bartholomew. The pillar would have killed Bartholomew but the top of the pillar turned out to be made from soft mud. He splashed into the pillar and quickly stood, wiping the mud off of his armor. He grinned as he saw Otto emerge from the pillar, also grinning.
"Looks like we know what to do now. Devour everything. Nothing can stop us! Whether or not Crocus falls is up to us." Otto said as the pillar grew and grew until they were level with the window to Allison's office.
Bartholomew hopped off of the pillar and found Allison waiting for him, a fist full of flames. The fist swung and Bartholomew found himself chewing on the flames! Allison took a step back in surprise. Was he eating the flames? That could only mean!
"Y-you are the fire dragon slayer?" she shouted at him, surprised.
Bartholomew grinned and knew he had the advantage. He moved around Allison so that her back faced the broken window. The plan was perfect. Bartholomew nodded slightly and decided to finish this battle.
"Yep, but im also the Earth Dragon Slayer! Earth Dragon's Roar!" Bartholomew cackled as a hail of storms blasted straight from Bartholomew's mouth and slammed into Allison.
She was blasted back to the edge of the window but managed to catch herself. She grit her teeth and glared as Bartholomew smiled and started to walk towards her.
"You really think you can defeat a Phoenix?" she challenged as Bartholomew stopped and nodded.
"And do you think you can defeat a god?"
Allison gasped in surprise as stone cold hands grabbed her ankles. She looked down to see 2 hands made of stones grabbing her ankles. Slowly but surely, a wall of stone started to rise up behind her. 2 huge arms grabbed her and she felt herself merging with the stone wall! A man who looked slightly like Bartholomew only with brown hair emerged from the wall, grinning crazily. As Allison's body started to merge with the stone wall, Otto cocked his head to the side.
"Don't try to struggle. I don't want you to die tired. You are a Phoenix, my brother a dragon. I, am a GOD. Fear my godly powers and know that you are an insignificant worm in the workings of life. A Phoenix, no matter how strong can never defeat a God and a Dragon!" Otto shouted as Allison was completely merged with the wall with a final scream.
Otto kicked the stone wall out the window and it fell, a heavy slab of stone falling to the ground by the force of gravity where it smashed into several thousands of pieces. Bartholomew and Otto grinned victoriously and turned away from the broken window and the sounds of battle. Let Crocus fall, it would be more interesting….
Portman's grill and bar
A trap. That was the first thing that went through Hyde's mind. Everyone else must have been thinking the same thing as they all glared and started to reach for their weapons. Ortega saw this and held up his hand. A least 9 soldiers armed with rifles and autobows stormed into the restaurant. They stacked up, one row of 3 laying on the ground, the middle row of 3 crouching and the last row standing. Everyone put away their weapons. Even with magic, the numbers were too great and the civilian casualties would be high. Even now, screaming citizens ran from the restaurant. Ortega turned to Hyde.
"I swear on my honor that this is not a trap." He said calmly.
Nobody trusted him. Not even the king trusted him. But still, everyone was interested with this "deal" Ortega wanted to make.
"…what kind of deal are you trying to make…" Lidia said suspiciously.
Ortega smiled and everyone shuddered.
"Quite simple. I want to overthrow the king. One of you must have heard that the war in the south has effectively left Adrianople lightly guarded. I am letting you enter Adrianople and I will turn a blind eye." Ortega said to the group.
Unbelievable. Was this truth? Ortega wanted to overthrow the king. But why? His motives were unknown and he must have some plan in mind. Lidia spoke, trying to gauge Ortega's response.
"Fine, but what do YOU want. There must be some reason you wish to overthrow Cyrus." She said, their eyes meeting.
Ortega nodded. There was always a condition.
"What I want, is money. I care not for the crown, too much responsibility. There, I answered your question. Now, do you accept?" he asked, looking at everyone in the group.
Lidia stood and a plan was forming in her mind. Ortega had something in mind, but so did Lidia. She nodded.
"We accept."
And there you go. I hope you enjoyed this chapter! FF