-ON THE BACKS OF DRAGONS-

-Walls of Rome-

Even with the loss of their super weapon and economy, despite the thousands of warriors and dragons amassed beyond their walls, the remains of the Roman Empire refused to surrender.

The invasion force met little resistance through the actual land, as many subjects and abandoned slaves raced to welcome their heroes. The last remains of the Legion and high class having fled to safety of grand walled cities. Inside they continued to enjoy the luxury they were used to, wine, art, and the like as they continued to work the servant and slave population already in the city to the bone.

Thankfully, such strongholds were short-lived, as walls and undermanned defenses posed no challenge to the Corps. After all, what good is a wall if you can fly right over it, especially if they were more decorative then practical?

Region by region, the Iron Fist rusted into dust as the Corps advanced, squeezing out and destroying all trace of oppression and injustice. Statues of the Emperor and some buildings like the slave markets were destroyed upon their arrival, but the warriors otherwise left the cities and villages they passed unharmed. After all, they came to save the majority of the population, not make them homeless.

And yet, the Romans managed to defend a city from the Corps, actually repel any attempt to enter by land, sea, and sky. A final holdout, a last defiant stand, and a refusal to admit defeat.

Rome itself.

From a distance, the home of the Emperor was indeed awe inspiring. Made of marble, concrete, and a distinct style of architecture, the buildings definitely showed Roman pride. The city looked like a nice place to live, clean streets, fresh water, and all the wine one could wish for.

But anyone worth their three meals knew, all the pretty streets and walls did was hiding the truth. The pain, the suffering, the horrors of the untold numbers of people force to create such a flawless illusion screamed from the stone, but silent.

It was time to let those voices know that they had been heard after all.

Eighteen hundred and ninety four warriors waited to land in the port and take the city. They came from all over and from all walks of life to make this stand, to write this page in history.

The Two Alphas stood at the head of the warriors, looking upon the city that had oppressed so many lives. When the time finally came, the Human Alpha turned around and faced his forces before speaking.

"Here I stand, at the opening moments of the end of war generations in the making. A war that has brought many pains, misery, and unbearable loss, but a conflict that has united us as warriors, allies, family."

"United, we leaned how to survive the impossible, how to prosper together, and how to work together to free our children from our own bonds. But today, we don't just fight for the future of our children, but everyone's'. Every mother's, every father's, and all that have yet to come."

"They're pleading to you, begging for you to end the threat of tyranny and bring hope to where there is none. I can not think of a greater challenge, a higher risk that anyone here has ever faced alone. But stand strong and look around you, none of you are alone in this task. Every man, woman, and dragon who battled in this and the Drago War has earned their place in legend."

"We are the ones that swore the oath, we are the soldiers who faced death, we are the champions who freed a continent, and we are the heroes who ended this oppression."

The warriors cheered and roared at the speech, inspired and ready to do their duty. But one warrior, a Battlemage raised his hand and soon the force fell silent. One by one every warrior raised their hand as they stood; the Human Alpha stood, almost in shock from witnessing the event, but soon nodded and raised his own hand and began to recite the oath they all took.

"In the name of Freedom and Liberty,"

"I take up arms,"

"To defend my family, I go where need be,"

"I wield the power of a Titan,"

"I move through the mud, but proud and with dignity,"

"For honor, for justice, for all else"

"I stand with you."

It was an amazing sight.

-On the Backs of Dragons-

The siege on Rome's outer walls was loud and chaotic, the sounds of clashing steel, crushing stone, and mighty roars dominated the city. The last remains of the Legion fought valiantly, having scraped together whatever sort of armor and weapons they could find. But in the end even the most fortified defenses gave way to the constant bombardment from the sky.

Once they breached the defensive wall, the warriors moved into the city streets. The first invaders to have ever stormed Rome in the history of the Empire. The highest classes fled to their homes or deeper into the city, leaving their servants and slaves behind to slow down the invaders. Such oppressed subjects were spared however, and were even escorted out of the city and to safe houses outside the city for their own protection.

Looting was, nonexistent, the warriors may have broken into people's houses but it was solely to rescue servants or slaves and confiscate any sort of intelligence possible. Not a single gold coin was taken.

Collateral damage however, was definitely present. Quite a few statures and other monuments were destroyed where possible and certain buildings like the slave barracks were demolished once evacuated. Other then that, not a single civilian structure was damaged.

But the battle wasn't over yet, the warriors had only managed to take the outermost parts of the city so far, mostly the port and commercial areas with a few estate scattered about. They still had to get into the wealthy marble interior of the city; they still had to take the pinnacle of Roman pride, the heart of the Empire, and the Emperor who ruled it. . .

What? Did you really think the Empire would admit defeat to a bunch of barbarians even if they did get their butts blown off? I know that Rome as it's depicted here is very historically inaccurate, but I haven't found Berk on a map IRL yet so creative liberties are taken.