News of Roman defeats by this point was often hailed as good news for all outside of Rome, it spread like wildfire, traveling far into the realms of the Norse as the Viking tribes were seen discussing the Roman defeat and their ejection from Hellas by the mighty Jackal Guards and the restoration of various Greek cities and their sovereignties in the region. Viking traders returning from the Mediterranean came bearing Greek potteries and various goods from the exotic Near East of the Known World were seen chatting with the local merchants and various Viking people about the recent events in the Balkans with Roman forces fortifying their lines and prepare for an invasion of Italian peninsula.

Ratatoskr himself was seen hopping on what appeared to be a Pogo stick in the halls of Asgard towards Thor's room as he happily whistling tunes of his favorite Norse minstrel songs. As he reached the massive oval shaped wooden door fitting the stature of the god of thunder, the rodent with drill teeth stopped mid way as he hopped down from the stick and pulled out a rather long wooden pole from his magical pouch, at the end of the pole, it had a white glove tied into a clenched fist. The roden then utilized the stick in a knocking motion on the wooden door and waited for Thor to open it for him knowing that the locks on the door were immensely difficult to open perhaps to prevent Ratatoskr from playing pranks in Thor's room.

As the hectic rodent saw however was the fact that Thor was not currently in the room despite it being locked. Ratatoskr had found however was free range to pull any type of prank on Thor while he was gone. A book shelf just above a wooden desk. Easily to be forged to fall down on a timer to annoy Thor. Or more maliciously he could use the pen ink on Thor's desk to place under his chair so it would slip into a possible bed of spikes. Perhaps wait longer, and simplify it by just putting spike under thor's mattress. He had all the opportunities.

This of course made Ratatoskr grinned deviously, for he had a nasty, awful idea in mind. He first pulled out a saw from his pouch before bringing out a drill along with some construction tools that he probably stole from the dwarves as he began to work on Thor's wooden door. He first began to saw out a portion of the door to create a squirrel size door with door knob and various hinges on it including a new lock made for his own key.

Ratatoskr casually enter Thor's room quite easily without any resistance troubling him. He saw the inside of the room was rife for pranks with Thor's various treasures and spoils from his adventures throughout the Norse's 9 realms from Jotunheim realm of Ice to Niflheim Realm of Mist.

He first grabbed the drinking horn of Thor and poured some soap and bubbles into it before blowing it up from the other end like a regular battle horn. This made bubbles churning and the room was filled with pink bathing bubbles that left the room filled to the brim with salty bubbles ready to pop. "Time to leave! Hehehehehehehe!" The devious squirrel giggled as he leaped off to the ground and scurry out of the room.

He strolled along innocently whistling to himself as he came up towards the doorway down to the basements of Asgard, what peaked his interest was the fact the door was unlocked and someone was clearly going down there judging by the sound of footsteps. He scrambled into the basement and tip toeing down towards the dungeons where Fenrir was being imprisoned. The rodent peek around the stone corner of the twisting cylindrical staircase and saw Hel, the Goddess of the Underworld with her split personalities talking to Fenrir. Much to his horror, she was holding a magic staff in her hand, this one was no ordinary magic staff, it was Sun Wukong's magic staff, and he knew she was going to use it to break Fenrir free.

It seemed the two faced Goddess of the dead had known how to use the staff as well. Fenrir as he looked remained a stoic pose while watching Hel begin to free him. His arms and legs both stretched out, and wrapped in a heavy intwine of hardened chains. Hell however free had all the ways to tell of her intentions with just a single look. She smirked looking towards the indestructible chains around Fenrir. "I heard this thing could break mountains. Crush them into rocks and dust. And seeing as part of these chains is made up of mountain. Thought it might work." Hel said with a devous tone.

She waved the staff in the air flinging it around and twisting it in blurry spins. She then spun in a semi circle and planted the top of the staff onto the chains. Her mana traveled down the rod of the staff and caused it to glow a white color. The mana traveled into the chains being transferred from the staff, and caused the chains to begin jingling and jangling in loud rumbling high pitched rings. It sounds as a million high pitch noises happened at once as the vibration traveled up the chain surrounding Fenrir in the ringing noises.

His canine ears caught the harsh sounds anad sung in pain causing him to growl. The chains all shook his body in painful tremors. He grit his teeth together as his glare at Hel increased thinking he was being constricted. But they all saw the chains ahd snapped and severed perfectly into pieces before raining down metal pieces down onto each of them. However, Fenrir as this happened growled and began swinging his head around enraged. He flexed his stiff muscles making them ache from somany years without movement. He flexed his arm pulling the chains dowardns and close to his body.

More of the chains landed on the ground as he then twisted his entire body spinning in a small circle. His feet stomping on the ground in a foreboding boom. His snarl exposed shi teeth and let hi create a fierce gurgling growl. He then lowered himself down to his four paws and arched his back inwards pointing his chest towards the floor. His head rose up and at that moment allowed a victorious howl travel out of his mouth. Much lower and booming in pitch than a normal wolf as Ratatoskr heard. Much more monstrous, and feral.

"Oh no…" Ratatoskr let out a squeaky high pitched eep as he ran out of the basement zipping with lighting fast speed out towards the open ground to call for help knowing that with Fenrir unleashed, Ragnarok was about to begin. "Help! Everybody run for your lives! Ragnarok has begun!" He cried out to the populace of Asgards as everyone ran for their lives screaming and holding their younglings in their arms as they saw the palace of Odin being ripped apart with Fenrir emerging as a gigantic wolf ravaging the capital city of the Norse bringing down stone structures and statues while rampaging on various shrines and granaries. "Must get to the front! Must get to the front! Must get to front!" Screamed Ratatoskr as he ran out towards the frontier of the Norse world where the Viking warriors were fighting the Romans.

Fenrir however continued his angered awaken march down towards the frontline. At first he started to walk towards his desired path on only his hind digitigrade legs, but then he lowered his back towards the ground in a hunch. He roared then in a loud howl.

"I have not felt this much power in decades! I can feel hunger! I must grow! I must feed!" Fenrir bellowed out. He looked down and saw Ratatoskr scurrying in a flee as he dashed away. "A prey god. That will sustain Fenrir for now." Fenrir said opening his gaping maw. He caught leaved trees and oassacila logs in his mouth as he dashed through the forest. His size now much larger allowing him to grab, chew, and devour trees.

As Ratatoskr ran out to the frontline, the Vikings there were laying siege to a Roman fort along the Rhine with their onagers and ballistas firing fiery projectiles at the fort's wooden wall and watchtowers with the intent to burn down the structure once and for all. The Viking warriors were seen disembarking from their small wooden canoes and charged at the fort with their axes, round shields and swords ready.

The archers stood at a stand off range with their arrows dark as the night, they let loose their hail of dark arrows at the Roman legion manning the scorpion ballistas on the wall, some arrows got caught on the wooden walls, other landed on Roman Legion's neck knocking them down one at a time.

Various Viking warriors were seen pushing ladders and even shield walls of hides soaked in water to protect themselves from Roman ballistas and fire arrows. "Push forward men, reclaim your forefathers homeland!" Odin shouted out, leading his men as he leaped into the air and landed on the ground slamming the tip of his spear on the Roman Legions protecting the courtyard as his Viking warriors charged into the fort from the cracks on the wall. In the midst of battle like this, as the smoke rises from the distant horizon and fire silhouetted the Allfather, has Fenrir found his prey occupied with fighting Roman aggressors.

Fenrir spotting his desired target howled into the air as he dashed forwards. Around him trees and whole structures fell beneath him. As the thunder of the battle continued shaking the groudn beanethesalll of the soldierfeet their war was soon defeated by a monstrous roar created by Fenrir. His galop on the ground left indents of his claws and his paws. Startled vikings shouted and yelled in horror as they quickly saw their fears of the ends of times come. Fenrir held his massive maw open as he leapt into the air. As he soared through the air he held his mouth wide open and targeted for his grandfather Odin.

Odin turned around as the flame burned down the Roman fort, he saw before his remaining eye the Monument of his Sins, Fenrir. He who devours the Allfather and by extension the universe of the Norse pantheon. He stood ready for battle with Fenrir as he gripped his spear in hands, the grey and white beards were tied into knots according to Norse fashion, the Allfather himself was ready to severe ties and the knots in battle to face up to the inevitable, the prophesied Ragnarok. "Fenrir, Son of Loki. Demigod Wolf of the Norse, let us settle this for good as this old man has been waiting too long." Said Odin in a solemn tone while facing Fenrir in the face.

Fenrir bounded around Odin on all 4 of his clawed paws. He circled around the Allfather with raised lips and a fierce growl. His face pointed directly Odin's body as he ran achieving perfect balance with his muscles and achieving a perfectly leveled head. He however stomped his paws into the ground and skidded to a halt while eyeing Odin. "You placed me into prison for many years on a supposed prophecy. And for all of my youth I was tormented by you and your vikings. And only for a prophecy. Something I'm sure you hold close to your heart, but you forgot me, and my siblings… For that. I come to feast on you. God of these soon to be desolate lands." Fenrir said to Odin in a booming voice.

"Then let us end this prophecy Fenrir. Grandson…" The Allfather then leapt into the air with his spear twirling in his hands, he slammed the blade into Fenrir's back from on top of him before being thrown back down into the ground by the massive wolf. Not willing to go out like a coward, Odin then dashed forward at Fenrir's forelegs and swung his spear around to deal out damage at Fenrir as best as he could all the while his warriors struggled to contain Fenrir's fury and wrath with their meager weapons fired at Fenrir's massive body.

"Retreat! Retreat! Run for your lives!" Shinji shouted out from amongst the panicking warriors as they ran back to their staging points to, the Japanese boy ran through the forest like a complete wimpy coward as he tossed down his battle axe next to Gunter the Geats. Even the Danes and Jutes warriors were retreating in drove away from the battleground of the Gods.

Gunter himself looked down at the axe and shook his head while viewing the battle. "Yeah I'm not too keen on being devoured in that mutt's fiery gullet. Men fall back! Oh my great gods!" Gunter shouted as he moved back.

Fenrir however paid no attention to the battle happening just to the side of him, or the fleeing soldiers. His blood lust only craved the flesh of deities. Powerful in it properties. "Grandfather you will nourish me for many years to come. Your flesh fill me with blood lust. This though. Is revenge…" Fenrir rose himself up to both feet and inhaled a deep breath of air. His throat inhaled a massive portion of air while his chest puffed outwards showing his muscular wolf body.

He then breathed out and unleashed a scalding spit of flame that incinerated the stray soldiers closest to him and soaked the ground in a sea of flame that spread out. His neck and head swiveled as the flames flew over Odin's amro and his body. Being a god though it only weakened him. As fenrir lowered himself back towards the ground his hind legs sprung inward, sn leaped outward sending Ferir over to Odin again. This time however as he leaped over to Odin he lashed his claw outwards, and swiped at Odin's spear knocking it out of his way. His other clawed paw swung inwards and dug into Odin's flesh and teared into his armor.

Odin let out a yelp in pain as he he felt Fenrir's teeth dug into his flesh and pierced his body, blood began to drip out from his body as he struggle to break free, only to be gnawed by Fenrir with greater ferocity whose aggression has now reached its zenith as he was able to enjoy himself with a meal of Odin. Before all mortals and deities, Fenrir torn apart Odin, spilling his blood across the land with his bone exposed from their sockets still soaked in blood.

Before Tyr's traumatized eyes, he saw the fearsome wolf that devoured his right arm even as a pup now fulfilling the Ragnarok prophecy to bring forth the end of times. "Nooooo! Ye take me right arm Fenrir! But ye won't take Odin!" Tyr shouted out as he dashed towards Fenrir pushed the wolf away with his sword before flinging the beast into the air and slash the wolf with his blade. But Fenrir was not pleased to see interlopers, his claws seathing with fire and furry as he pounced on Tyr slashing and hacking the Lawgiver and War god of the Norse apart before pouncing away to finish up his meal of Odin.

Fenrir glared at Odin who still alive, but clearly torn to literal shreds. As he made a final approach his head lowered to the ground while his ears pointed backwards each. He stopped for a brief moment before looking at Odin for a brief moment. Seemingly torturing him just by teasing his inevitable fate. Fenrir's lips then all rose up in another snarling scowl before his entire jaw opened up and then climbed over Odin's entire body. His bones cracked and flesh pulverised to mush and Fenrir consumed him. Vengeance fulfilled. And yet his hunger unquenched.

Watching this unfold from afar, Hades, lord of Tartarus, the Greek underworld materialized next to Loki with his scepter of skulls and bones in hands. His hood, shrouded the entirety of his face in the shadow for none would want to see what lies underneath the garment. "And so the prophecy is fulfilled. Partly. At this rate Fenrir will reduce the world to nothing but a wasted rock in the celestial body of the universe." Said Hades as he stroke his chin contemplating the consequences of Fenrir's inevitable rampage that was about to happen sooner than later.

Loki himself however made a sinister grin, and giggles to himself. He rubbed his hands together and bent his back down. "Oh how devilishly devious! That's from my loins! He could do so much more! Which would be bad, but it would be cool to witness before it hits us. I think he could consume the whole universe if his hunger isn't contained!" Loki said as he clapped his hands together. Though a sigh came to him. "Well the biggest news is dad is finally dead. That's for calling my loins and my sperm crazed and insane!"

Hades stroke his chin as he dived into the shadow of the Underworld before slithering towards Fenrir knowing that this was becoming increasingly out of hands. "This must end!" Said Hades as he appeared in front of Fenrir with a black hole summoned, it dragged Fenrir in closer and closer with a grip as powerful as gravity of the Earth itself. Fenrir could see that Hades himself was going to stop the wolf from further rampage as the deity detonated the black hole's epicenter, this threw Fenrir flying over to the edge of the forest, collapsing trees and pines along the way. "It's time for me to end this rampage." The lord of the Underworld declared as he levitated towards Fenrir.

Fenrir however got up onto his feet. As Hades saw hi stand up he could clearly see Fenrir's eyes burning orange with rage. Literal fire came out of Fenrir eyes while he turned around to face Hades. He rested the palms of his hands on the forest floor below him. Of which also slowly burned and formed smoke and raised into the air. He could at least see that Fenrir's pupils moved over to look at him. "You! Who are you who dares face me!? I am Fenrir! Bringer of Ragnarok! And consumer of All!" Fenrir boasted while gazing towards Hades.

"The Lord of Tartarus beckons, time to end your rampage, mutt." Said Hades in a sinister tone as he approached Fenrir with his staff in hand. Fenrir could see Hades's wrist to be rather bony and was covered by a talon like bronze gauntlet to his perhaps hideous deformity. Hades first let out a ghastly ghoulish breath from his mouth with a purple misty cloud dazzled Fenrir's senses, making him holding his nose while his mind scattered by the dangerous stun attack.

Hades then threw an orb of light at Fenrir's chest throwing him away without breaking a sweat, slamming the wolf into the mountains nearby as Hades gripped the chain on Fenrir's chest and yanked it in his bronze gauntlet.

"You have had your walk, now I shall seal your power o bringer of Ragnarok." The God of the Dead uttered ominously as he wielded the chain in his hand sending a series of stinging shocks into Fenrir's body as the Nordic runes on his body glew dimmer as the spell Hades was casting affect him even more adversely.

Fenrir growled and grunted as he felt painful twinges that stung his body. As hades continued to electrocute and suck the energy from Fenrir's body. Fenrir's mouth began to foam and create a bublin foam as if he were rabid. Of course due to how high his body temperature was his foam also boiled and bubbled more. Orange flashes of energy came from his throat as he struggled to break free. His claws swiped outwards and attempting to claw at and into Hades as puffs of smoke began to puff out of his mouth furiously.

Soon, Fenrir was reduced in size from a massive towering monster to a mere werewolf like creature no taller than a grown Viking warrior lying on the ground unconscious with his the chains that bound him now flashing bright again apparently it had imprisoned his strength and his Ragnarok power to prevent him from rising again. "The deed is done Loki. Now, take this boy far away as you please I still have some duties left to attend to. Meet me with the others in the Po Valley when you're ready with Hel, we will have to tie up some loose ends in Rome." Said Hades as he melted away deep into the Underworld once again, like a shadow, he slither away into the dark forest leaving Loki to deal with the unconscious Fenrir.

While Loki was busy with Fenrir, Ratatoskr himself was observing the situation, frightened and horrified by the fact that he didn't warn Odin and Thor in time of the danger of Ragnarok, he craved for evidence and even glory of intercepting it himself behind the scenes, and now he paid for it. Odin was dead, Fenrir contained and Ragnarok's eventuality in question. What was happening? He couldn't answer right away but it was clear to the squirrel that his role in the Norse Pantheon was no longer necessary.

As Ratatoskr saw though Loki rose over the much more weaker Fenrir and grinned with a sinister smile on his face. He placed his hands onto his hips and sighed. "Well well. Well. I think it's time I fixed this now, and make sure I'm not the one to blame for your damned prophecy. I think i know how to fix this part myself." Loki said as he motioned his hands around Fenrir creating a cyan colored energy below the massive sized wolf. Fenrir then spun through the portal while howling in a terrified a way. High pitched agonizing screeches and his arms flailing around. "Go now into your time out forest. For eternity!" Loki commanded while Fenrir slipped away.

"Oh no…" Ratatoskr uttered in dismay seeing his friend in Asgard being thrown into exile in Heimdal knows where, he scurried away from the forest trying to find some place for himself to contemplate his actions and his decisions seeing that he had failed the Norse pantheons greatly now.

[hr]

They marched not with pride but with contempt and hatred for the state, for the neglect of the Plebs and the mud slinging that defiled Roman dignity. They marched, not for victory but vengeance and honour. Their Legion's standards stood high in the middle of the Legionnaires as they traveled North from the Italian Peninsula towards the Heart of the Republic itself, Rome, the Eternal City. The Legion was still strong enough to take on the Praetorians in number but it was not with strength of arms that will yield the city and arrest the Senate's fate, it would be that of the lowest farmers and workers.

Plebs were up in arms in Rome, they marched with pitch forks and torches across the city, from Circus Maximus to the prison of Rome followed by the Legion of Legatus Marcus Lenox. Crowds hurled rotten fruits and slogans at the gates of the Senate, demanding their voices to be heard as the Praetorians stood together, forming a blockade around the senate to keep the angry mobs out.

"The people of Rome demands answer from you all! End the war and end our suffering, release the falsely accused and jail the thieves who took our lands!" One of the men in the crowd cried out towards the Senate building as Senators of the Julii, Brutii and Scipii inside were cowering by the floor of the Senate.

They huddled themselves like sheeps to prepare themselves for the fate that was coming to get them very soon. The Praetorians though they were elite Guards of Rome, their number and ranks were two thin to deter the angry mobs of Rome. Back at the prison, Lenox himself could see through the cell bars the crowds of Roman Plebs banging at the doors while the Praetorians were barricading themselves inside the place to hold back the mobs.

Lenox looked down at the angry mob and sighed. "So much discord in this city now. I don't think any of you are to blame though." Lenox said as he sat down on his bench. He tapped his foot on the ground and frowned. "You had this coming you know Rome. I was the only one keeping you in check, and leading your armies. The voice of the people I wanted to stand for. But then you had to imprison me. I'm enjoying seeing this as much as you enjoy to be lynched shortly." Lenox said in a colder voice.

As Lenox commented the fate of Rome in his cell wearing nothing but a brown tunic for the imprisoned, he heard the banging on the door by the Plebs as they finally broken down the barricades and storm the prison. The mobs overran the guards inside the prison, overtaking one wing at a time as they converged on the holding cell of Lenox and open his cell doors.

Much to his expectations, the crowds were carrying him on their hands out of the prison and towards the Pro-Consul Palace of Rome, along the way he saw his personal Legion guarding the people of Rome and hailing his return from unfair trial. He was soon placed on the grand staircase leading up to the marble stone palace with the Roman Republic flag adorned the front of the palace. His right hand man, Acmeus put a wreath on his head and held up his right arm triumphantly in front of the Roman people.

"Rome! Hear us! We are in crisis!" Acmeus shouted out, boasting with a melodramatic voice that orators were known to have. "To the North, Barbarians marched at our gates seeking to infect Roman culture with their heinous backwardness! To the East and West, pretenders of the Brutii and Scipii seeks to erode the People's power and sabotage the State's bureaucracy! And at our very gates, invaders from Egypt and Carthage, swarm our lands with their elephant riders and their vicious scythed chariots! Give us a true leader! Give us Imperator Marcus Lenox!" The Militarius Laticlavius announced to the Roman population as they cheered him on, apparently approving Lenox himself as the new Emperor of Rome, ending the Republic that had failed them with Oligarchy and the partisan deadlocks in the Senate.

Seeing himself praised almost as a god, and hero of the people he smiled a bit, but not in a smug glorified way. Rather more of a proud way, and a satisfied feeling came over him. He placed his hand behind his back and wrap the fingers of his right hand around his wrist. "That's better then. Now. I think our first order of business is a simple one. Stop the expanse of our territory while we can." Lenox said. It was a shock to many. For many years now Rome's doctrine was focus on expanding and expanding outwards while focusing less on the internal issues. Though by his confident prowess and his solid face he seemed to have a reason for his planning.

The Plebs of Rome were shocked to hear it coming from their newly crowned emperor, they had hoped he was going to turn the tide and reclaim the lost lands of Rome for the glory of the Empire and yet they were being told to cease their expansions in a sudden. The stunned crowds turned to one another muttering and murmuring in fear that their pride had been smashed in a sudden.

"Hear us! Endless wars had plagued our people! Your noble Legionnaires come home from ferocious battles abroad against numerous barbarians, penniless, landless. Wealthy Villa owners took your lands, forced you into slums and put slaves to work on your crops!" Acmeus reminded the people of Rome the source of their miseries as they looked around for a moment before back at their emperor.

"Oh Great Bellona and crafty Vulcan, even with your strengths and divine power, we are on the verge of collapse! Our enemies are numerous and surround us on all sides, they will not negotiate, they will enter our city and burn it to the ground! Prepare yourselves for the siege that will come! Stock up your provisions, get working on the fields and stock up bread loathes! Lands will be redistributed to the peasants and subsidies for workers in the city!" Joe declared proudly to the Public as they cheered their Emperor's decisions despite Lenox didn't make the policies yet, though it was a quick save on Acmeus part to prevent the possible collapse of Imperator Lenox before it even begun.

Lenox himself nodded to Acmeus and sighed out. "Of course. Stock up and fortify whatever remains of this empire still. Hmm." Lenox said while turning back to his Acmeus. "This takes time to think. First the people need to learn how to defend themselves. If and when were invaded we need to focus on the Kemet forces first. You saw how they fought as well. Have our forces gathered to the south where they will enter. Next we need to align our empire and the families. I don't think our supposed brothers are going to enjoy seeing me in power. They will send an executioner for me. Possibly an assassin so my blood won't appear on their hands. Send less forces for the Germanic tribes. Tell them to fall back, and fortify behind the lines we have pushed. It's time to stop expanding, and prepare ourselves for total war. A defensive strategy is needed now, and for us to unify this empire as one whole." Lenox declared.

"Yes Ceaser. At once!" Said Acmeus as he extend his Roman salute with his right hand crossed over his heart and extend outward over Lenox before scrambling to his horse and rode off to send the message to the various Roman Legions remaining in the area as well as Praetorians Cohorts to defend Rome from the incoming invasion of the Germanic tribes in Germania and the invasion from the south by Egypt.

[hr]

Summer was coming to a close, glorious victories have been achieved but not the satisfaction of peace. The Gods cried to men who must fight on. For the Greeks, their war was over with their homeland liberated in one go during the Summer, they felt the time was ripe to go back to harvest in their home cities. But for Anubis, the war was far from over, he sat on a hill top of Apollonia, overwatching the harbor where ships of the Egyptian Navy were assembling to haul his army across the body of water.

Over the Adriatic, he saw the sight of Tarentum, the land of Tarantines on the Italian Peninsula. Once known as Magna Graecia, an extension of Greek colonies in the Central Mediterranean, now a Roman city belongs to the Brutii as they watched out for invasion forces. He sat there and observe the preparations, for Aphrodite, to see Anubis continue fighting despite the liberation of Hellas was disheartening, but strangely enough, for her, the Goddess of Love, she had always been attracted to warlike deities. Ares himself was once her prize lover, now Anubis was no differences. At the beaches where the ships were being assembled, Makedonians were seen camping preparing to embark on expeditions, no doubt to reclaim the title Hegemon of Hellas.

Thessalonian horsemen went about tending to their rides and Sarissa spears while Phalangites such as the elite Silver Shield, Pezhetairoi and conventional Phalangites were seen taking turns with guarding the camps of both the Jackal Guards and Makedonians. Behind Anubis was Ramiel, resting on the hill with his master, neither of them knew who was going to meet them next in their moment of thoughts and tranquility.

As the two were resting as master and steed on the hill Anubis smelled oddly sweet aroma behind him. Like fragrant perfume, or flowers. That and a brisk warm wind wafted over him like an odd comforting gesture to him. He then felt his ears pick up the sound of gentle and musical humming behind himself. It led him to the conclusion his lover was there to meet him. Looking behind him he saw Aphrodite in an elaborate gown of a brilliante white coloration. After the liberation of Hellas she looked to be in good shape again. Despite the death of Zeus she carried herself in a proud stride walking slowly towards Anubis. "Noobi! Hey! Yoo-Hoo!" Aphrodite chimed calling to him.

Anubis turned his head around to see her with a slight smile on his muzzle as he stood up from where he was sitting and held her arms in his. "Aphrodite, it's good to see you again. I did what I promised, liberate Hellas and your home with it." Said Anubis as he hugged her in making a soft canine whimper as he held her close and tightly. His horse Ramiel however was less than amused by this as it let out disgusted whirring sounds. Despite the expression less face, the twitching of its ears could tell observant eyes the horse's opinions.

Aphrodite however could tell Ramiel was looking and eyeing her in a less than pleased way. She opened one eye and glared at the horse while hugging Anubis, and huffed out. Her right eye flashed a pink color that seemed to make Ramiel more confused than before, and shortly after that made him more fond of her outfit. It suddenly seems more appealing. Just another trick the goddess had. "Hm. So you have. It's good to have home back. And you as well. You made sure to beat Ares right? I Really hope so since I want him to know I and the rest of Greece aren't up for the taking. Me since I'm already taken with you dear." Aphrodite spoke.

Anubis made a chuckle at her before licking her cheek with his canine tongue before slipping the tongue into her mouth making a French kiss with her as he hugged her in tightly. Aroused by the Goddess charms befitting the Goddess of love, lust and womanhood. "I'll make sure that when Ares returns, he'll have to answer for his aggressions." Said Anubis as he continued kissing Aphrodite's lips before letting her go. A short bliss even for their standards but enough to let her know he was busy with finishing the war in mind. "It's not over yet, not by a long shot. I still have to yield Rome so it won't invade Hellas again." Said Anubis to Aphrodite as he held her face by her cheeks with both paws.

She smiled, and made a lustful sigh hearing Anubis's determination to do some good for the better of the Mediterranean region. As he held her cheeks she rubbed his hands with her smooth and soft hands in slow gentle strokes. "Please. But not so aggressive. Or else you might end up like him. Addicted to war and causing a fight. I know. I know. I have so far only dated war lord, but you guys are awfully handsome. Before you turn bitter. Plus." She leaned in to Anubis's ear and smirked. "You might be edgy, and war like as the rest, but you're at least doing us all a favor and ending the wars. Plus I haven't seen many Gods actually start their own army before. Even if you are a god for the dead creepy guys." Aphrodite said.

"I guess dead creepy is the new trend for the fall." Anubis jokingly stated before kissing her lips again. He mounted on Ramiel's back and began to rode down the hill towards the encampment of the Jackal Guards, he saw Horus and Sekhmet were practicing their swords with Horus holding a short stabbing sword of Egypt, a blade made of gold with a hilt sporting his head effigy. Sekhmet herself was using her a fan like cleaver halberd which had the blade and hilt made of gold with sapphire emeralds decorating the blade's holder.

She swung the blade side to side like a horizontal pendulum to slash Horus as the prince himself made hopping maneuvers back away from Sekhmet to avoid her blade as he held his sword in hand waiting for her to make her last swing before jumping up and landing a talon kick on her chest.

This knock Sekhmet back away from Horus as the falcon deity landed on the ground holding his sword as if to tease her. "Not even needing this! Impress yet o She who mauls?" Horus taunted her name as he stood cockily in place. "You let yourself expose to a cat, bird boy." Said Sekhmet as she pounced on Horus holding him down by his neck with her cleaver's hilt pinning him to the ground. "It's a good thing that I have no intentions of making you my dinner, let alone lunch bird boy." Said Sekhmet in a threatening tone as she then stood up to let him go after their sparring match. "Officer meeting, the invasion of Italy needs some planning and logistics." Said Anubis to them as he entered the command tent of the camp.

Inside of the command tent Thoth was at the table reading his book and surveying any new events that would have popped up in the realm. However, his attention was brought ot Anubis first as he saw the commander of the newer grave made army walk into the tent. Thoth closed his book and sat at attention. "So we are one step closer to Rome's heart. This is both good, and yet troublesome news. A conflict bound for a major trial we need to face." Thoth said.

"True. Not to mention how we'll handle the fallout of the situation. So there won't be any new wars coming from the Romans." Said Anubis as he stretched his arms out and cracked his bones, popping his spines as Horus and Sekhmet enter the tent before finally the Pharaoh himself, Ra to attend Anubis's battle plan as the situation was branching off into multiple directions at the same time. "Alright then, the Greeks are becoming lazy this time of year, Autumn is coming so they will be leaving for the harvest of the crops at home. Summer, harvest, war. So we'll have to fight with our own Egyptian Army and Navy against the Romans." Said Anubis as he pointed to the map detailing the invasion plan that was about to take place.

It was table containing landmass references to the Italian Peninsula and the Adriatic Sea and to the Northern edge, the Po Valley where Celtic tribes once inhabited the place before being conquered and some displaced by Roman conquests of the Julii. "This will be a two prongs invasion of both land and sea. The land forces under my command will land at Tarentum to take the city there, the other contingent, the Carthaginian will be leading an invasion from Sicily Island to take Croton before we'll rendezvous to take Capua. The Naval forces consisting of Egyptian Marines and Egyptian Army the Navy transport will land behind Capua to cut the city off from reinforcements and we'll box them in before recover for an attack on Rome." Anubis placed various army and navy pieces on the boards show casing his attack plan to Ra and Thoth for the invasion of Roman's heartland of Latinum. The attack prong by Anubis on the ground apparently was going to ride along with Carthage to take Capua, Neapolis and the Southern areas of Magna Graecia to cut Rome off of the bread basket.

"Okay so we starve the bastards first. No breads for their circuses I'm afraid. Oh no wait no I'm not. If this works then I'll be pleased thrilled to starve each family they have." Ra said with a biased for each of the families of Rome. he looked to the plan made by Anubis feeling so far it was solid. Even clever despite the lack of the Greek support. Though Ra thought there was someone else to support them as he looked up to the Viking territory. "So I take it they might act as a third prong for us? I'm anxious to see if these Norse are really as bear hearted as people say. I haven't had much glimpse of their people aside from Thor. Who owes me a sum for the broken ceilings he's caused." Ra stated.

"Yes your excellency, the Norse will be our third prong from the North. During the invasion of Hellas they raided Roman forts along the Rhine to probe their defenses. I believe they will be driving the Romans out of Magnus Germania down into the Po Valley. However I have yet to receive words from them. We'll have to launch our invasion soon however to give the Romans no time to reinforce." Said Anubis as he placed the army under his command on the Tarentum region of the map to denote his invasion's objectives and the place an arrow up towards Neapolis, the vine garden of Roman wines that Bacchus love so much.

However the plan's tactical situation was a different story altogether as Anhur stepped up and observe the Roman cities listed by Anubis to be quite heavily fortified, the lion knew that the Romans were skilled engineers and had no doubt fortified the city with epic stone walls and ballista towers to cut down the invasion force.

"Anubis, the plan is solid but we'll need to make sure that we can take the cities in time. Speed is of the essence as our armies are much slower and less flexible than Roman Legions. Laying siege and simply starve the enemies out will take months all the while they could amass reinforcements to counter attack." Said Anhur with a concerned tone as he pointed Anubis to the stone walls of the cities on the map, all of them had high ballista towers to fire large arrows and fire arrows that can tear through formations and inflict massive casualties, both direct and indirect.

"We could try constructing large magnifying glass to counter these. Thoth do we have such technologies?" Ra asked. Thoth himself shook his head slowly, but found the plan to be less practical than Ra would have planned. "Uh. No. I see what you mean, but that would require a numerous amount of glass, and be only practical to amplify your own attacks. Which I can do with the glyph. We would need some way to concentrate a massive amount of sunlight into the direction of the ballistas anyways." Thoth stayed causing Ra to nod his head and squint his eyes in thought. "What about… No that don't work. We should have rally beefed our military beforehand." Ra said.

Thoth sighed and looked back to Anubis. "As an Archer i think if we plan ahead and somehow sneak a team of highly trained archers to somehow destroy the ballasts using flame arrows. That or simply take out the soldiers who are operating the Ballasts. Without trained forces behind those massive weapons they would be useless." Thoth said.

"Or a great trick of theatrical display." Said Anubis in a surprisingly witty tone as he garnered the attention of Sekhmet who raised her eyebrow at him in a skeptical manner hearing his apparent idea to be unorthodox. "What kind of magic show are you planning to show them? Surely you can't be that ludicrous?" The lioness scorned him for his notion before Anubis held up his paw to stay her tongue before clearing his throat and rolled out what appeared to be design plans for a weapon, a siege engine so massive and incomprehensibly complex it would be impossible to construct and use as a practical siege engine against enemy cities.

Its base was like that of a pyramid with sloping front made from woods and coated in wet hides to protect it from fire arrows. The base structure had four wheels to move the engine forward and back. Around it were wooden frames that held a massive battering ram with its tip shaped in a ram head made from iron to punch through stone walls. At the top it appeared it had an observation tower to coordinate the engine while the middle part was the control room to use the battering ram with ropes tied to various wooden cranks to control the ram charging. Not only that, but the control room had a trio of ballistas to fire arrows at the defenders, acting as a defense turret for the siege engine. "The Tortoise Ram of Hegetor." Said Anubis as he presented to them the siege engine design.

"ITS BRILLIANT!" Ra shouted abruptly viewing the massive battering ram. It wasn't quite something he had seen before, but the design of it showed Anubis had some respect for his heritage, and pride for his own empire. Pride that Ra showed seeing the pyramid design matched with a solid forceful object that would smash his enemies to pieces. "Look at it! It's so simple yet so rigid! We have been designing pyramids for many years! When they see this they'll immediately think of us. They may laugh, but when it crashes their wall into pieces they will soon forget." Ra said in a preach while Thoth looked to him more concerned. "Yes it's quite magnificent of home, but you seems to be over excited since its one function is to"; "cripple their foundations with the style we came up with!" Ra said interrupting Thoth's cautionary voice.

"Transporting this by boat won't be possible though. I might need Khepri to ferry it over the sea for us since we can't dismantle it and reassemble it in time let alone keep the boats float while we ferry the weapon." Said Anubis while Horus himself rub his eyes out of astonishment seeing his brother had come up with something so deadly in so little time. It was incredible, but one look at the name, Hegetor, Horus knew full well where did Anubis get the design and perhaps some engines still intact to use. Horus nodded to Anubis and gave his brother a thumbs up at the idea finding that indeed a trick like this would be more than sufficient to rattle Roman defenders out of their stone walls.

[hr]

Settling in as emperor would have to wait for Lenox, for the time being, his palace was absence of festivities and musics, instead, the palace was busy with various statesmen, senators and various generals going back and forth fetching military planning and other state matters that need urgent attention to. Lenox himself was now in a war room where a massive map of the world was presented to him with various regions marked in Roman names and the territories under Roman control had shrunk greatly.

The Gauls remain in firm Julii control, acting as a buffer zone between Rome and Magnus Germania, the fertile land there would also act as Rome's secondary bread basket, a strategic target it can't afford to lose. But Germania itself was falling from Roman's hands as legions abandon their forts to regroup in the Gauls and the Italian Peninsula. The province of Illyria over the Adriatic Sea was still in the Brutii's hands along with their strongholds of Tarentum and Croton while the Brutii now hold Rome along with their other cities to the North.

Acmeus was drawing up battle plans with a board like table showing a series of defensive lines from Capua back to Rome showing that it was going to be a tactical retreat plan. "Ave Caesar. We do not have the proper forces to fight a determine pitch battle against the enemies. We will have to fight a series of retreating battles to conserve our forces and buy time for our armies to regroup in Rome and fight off the enemies in a determined pitch battle." Said Acmeus as he pointed to Lenox the troops disposition they had which were mainly battered and destroyed Legions haphazardly reassembled and salvaged into a new Legion named Legio XIX Italia.

"Understandable. Our gracious emperor's truly have bitten more than they can possibly chew. I hope the people are aware we still are fighting, and we are not truly defeated." Lenox said as he leaned back in his chair. He crossed his arms over his chest though and looked over to the German territory. "I'm concerned for that though. The land is fertile, and I know just how much our empire uses it. I doubt we will hold the primary resources, but its a loss until we can push our rivals back into their own territory. I hope you know i have no intention of reclaiming anything i will deem unnecessary land." Lenox said in stern voice. Another thought came to his mind however as he looked back up to Acmeus. "And what of the families? We won't be able to hold much if they are still in personal feuds. And I know a major one biting them is me in power." Lenox said.

"For now the families we'll hold in Rome and standard protections. The Julii, ours, have pledged full support for you and help with Civic policies and defend the Gauls with superior Administration. The Scipii and Brutii however are adamant with getting rid of you. So we have them imprisoned before they can hatch any conspiracies. Crassus is missing however, I believe he's gathering support and probably found common cause with the Scipii. Swing voters they're not anymore." Said Acmeus with a sigh knowing that their No.1 rival was missing from Rome and he could be anywhere right now, anywhere outside of Italia.

Lenox raised himself up, and felt a serious weight fall onto his shoulders. He looked down with more anxious frown now as he thought heavily. "So he abandoned his post when his empire and his regime needed him the most? Then is there anything stopping us from swinging the Scipii and Brutii followers to our favors? This would appear to be a more optimal time for us to unify once again." Lenox said.

"Yes your majesty. You see the followers of the Brutii, demographic wise, are wealthy landowners with large stretches of land under their grips worked by slave labors. The Scipii are mostly Veteran Legionaries and some segments of the urban workers. Hence we will need to optimize appealing first to the Plebeian peasants and the Urban workers. I suggest we first expand subsidize for the Urban dwellers, provide free housing for the populace with various reform apartment blocks. As for peasants, we'll have to take away lands from the landowners and redistribute them to the peasants to work on. We'll also need to make sure the landowners are not displeased too much by enacting some laws to limit the amount of lands they can have." Said Acmeus as he drew up a hastily concocted social plan to appeal to as many groups as possible.

Seeing the hastily drawn plan he frowned again viewing the chances of a total unification slim due to the many factors surrounding the many lands and families of Rome. The one thing he could easily work with however were both the veterans and the plebeians. "Well the Scipii may enjoy some form of support for their service. I'm not sure quite yet to repay them. Land would be an empty promise. If we lose our first resource pool then food would be another issue. For now those who are already working classes with something. The infrastructure of this empire is poor. We can supply them job for producing housing. Of which will create more work flow. High density residential homes. It won't be much land, but they will have a place over their heads to rest. Landowners though will keep the land they have gathered. Future land owners will have to be limited however if we could take an average estimate on how much land the average owner owns we can use that as our base once laws are enacted." Lenox said with careful planning. He looked back to Acmeus, and smirked. "Oh. and one more change. I recommend people stop addressing me as majesty. It sounds too tyrannical, and its sounds off. maybe? Something easier." Lenox said.

Perplexed by the new address manner Lenox suggested, Acmeus stroke his chin finding it odd for a title such as President, which came out of nowhere might come off as strange to most Romans even Bellona herself. Alas, as loyal right hand man of Lenox the newly appointed Legatus nodded to the Emperor. "Of course Mr...uh...President. I'll see to enacting the most critical changes first in our legal works." Said Acmeus as he then scramble off to relay the various directives regarding the legal framework of Rome. The stage was set but how will a plan hold true to expectations remains to be seen.