In the top of the manor with the view of the ocean, Marius took a break there as he admired the view. He then heard footstep coming from his side.

"Sir Marius." said Fohl.

"Fohl." said Marius.

"Master Naofumi requested everyone to gather at the dining hall."

"What for?"

"He said he has a special announcement to make."

"Very well."

The two then made their way to the dining hall.

"About that thing you told me back in Cal Mira?"

"Yes?"

"I'm already doing it since before we met."

"I know. But I noticed how Atla would always try to get away from your sight."

"Well... Yes, she tends to do that."

"Then try harder but not too much. She'll resent you if you do. You do not want that."

"Right."

After they reached the dining hall, both of them entered and Marius saw Naofumi, Raphtalia, the other heroes and all the other slave have gathered.

"Fashionably late as ever!" said Naofumi.

Marius noticed how strange the way Naofumi talked, "Should have told me sooner."

"Now then." Naofumi started speaking to everyone in the hall, "There as been a changed in plans in fighting the wave. A solution that will benefit us and the future."

Marius stood next to Raphtalia and crossed his arms.

"Marius. Have you noticed anything strange with Naofumi?" said Raphtalia.

"He talks in a strange manner. Did something happened to him?" said Marius.

"The royals, the nobles, the merchants and all the masses have become rotten since the beginning. Thus, they will perished during the wave and will be a burden for the strong ones!" said Naofumi.

Naofumi's speech shook everyone in the hall.

"So I have come to a conclusion... That we will be getting rid of all the rotten trash that lingered in this world! And have only the chosen people to fight the wave!"

"Master Naofumi!" Raphtalia exclaimed.

"Naofumi, this is not the way! We cannot betray those who have helped us!" Marius protested.

"Yes, we got help from outside source. But that doesn't mean they are worthy to me. So we must get rid of them."

"We cannot do this, Naofumi! The people depend on us!"

"You know what? I'm done talking to you." Naofumi held out his hand towards Raphtalia, "This world is now on my hands, and I will give half of it to you. Whattaya say? Wanna rule this world together?"

Raphtalia drew her sword out and pointed the blade at Naofumi, "This is not the Naofumi I know! Who are you and what have you done to him!"

"What? What are you saying, my favourite slave?"

"The Naofumi I know would never do such thing! Tell me, who are you!"

Marius drew his gladius at Naofumi's throat, "Answer her!"

"Why are you two doubting me?" said Naofumi.

"Atla!" Raphtalia called out for the slave, "Check this imposter!"

Atla walked towards Naofumi and looked at him with her blinded eyes.

"He's not the imposter. This is the real Naofumi." said Atla.

"What?!" Raphtalia exclaimed.

"He does not speak like he used to! Are you sure it's him!" said Marius.

"I am sure." said Atla.

"Hey, Marius. Maybe Apollyon was right all along. Weed out the weak, so only the strongest survive. The wolves among them-"

Marius grabbed hold of Naofumi's neck then pushed him against the wall before lifting him off the ground, "Remove this thought in your head! Or I will!"

Motoyasu charged in then pointed his spearhead at Marius, "Let go of father-in-law!"

"You stay out of this!" Marius pointed his gladius at Motoyasu.

"See, father-in-law! I told you he's not fit to marry Filo-chan!"

"Keep her out of this!"

"Marius!" Filo yelled, "Please! Don't hurt master!"

Marius turned her head and saw the worried Filo. He then put Naofumi down on his feet and let go of his neck.

"You're right, Motoyasu." Naofumi rubbed his neck, "Marius, I'm calling your engagement to Filo off."

"What?" said Marius.

"You no longer have my blessings. And I also forbid you from seeing Filo forever."

"Does this mean father-in-land will give Filo to me?" said Motoyasu.

"If it keeps Marius away, then why not? Motoyasu." Naofumi reached her hands at Filo, "You are now engaged to Filo!"

"You can't do this!" said Marius.

"Yes I can. Filo's my slave. I can do whatever I want with her. And if I say she'll be marry to Motoyasu, and it shall be."

"This is not over." Marius turned and stormed out of the hall.

Motoyasu ran towards Filo then he grabbed her hands, "The Ugly Bastard's gone now, Filo-chan. Now we can finally-"

Filo kicked Motoyasu's crotch and ran pass him, "Marius!"

But her slave crest zapped her and she fell on all four from the pain.

"Don't bother with him anymore, Filo." said Naofumi.

Filo' slave crest then stopped zapping her.

"My words my final."

Motoyasu came to Filo and helped her get up, "Please, listen to father-in-law my love."

Filo got up, looking at the door. Tears flowed from her eyes, knowing she can never be with her mate.

Raphtalia searched for Marius everywhere in the manor until she found the door to Filo's room opened. She entered and saw Marius sitting inside the nest with his unhatched child.

"Marius." said Raphtalia as he slowly approached Marius.

"He betrayed me..." said Marius.

"I... I don't know what came to him... Now he calls me fake..."

"That is not the man who brought us together. It can't be him."

Then, they felt a tremor that shook the entire building. Marius quickly grabbed hold of the egg to prevent it from falling off the nest. The tremor soon stopped, and Ren entered the room.

"You two have to see this!" said Ren.

The two of them leave the room and followed Ren to the roof top. Floating in the air was a large sky fortress made from the Bioplant.

"What is this?" said Marius.

"A sky fortress. Naofumi build it so he can go conquer the world!"

On the sky fortress, they saw Naofumi looking down at them like an evil villain. Beside him were Keel, Motoyasu and three of his filolials, Atla, Fohl and Filo, including all the slaves Naofumi have raised.

The three looked on as the sky fortress flew across the ocean, leaving Rock Valley behind.

"Master Naofumi!" Raphtalia scream out for his name before falling on her knees in despair.

And for Marius, the feeling of being betrayed have caused a rage inside him. He ripped out the gladius and the scabbard Naofumi gave him then threw it away in anger.

"I saw everything! What happened!" said Mercy who just reached the roof top.

Marius turned round and Mercy was taken aback after seeing the centurion. He walked passed them and went downstairs without a word.

"What happened?" said Mercy.

"Naofumi betrayed us." said Ren.

"How?"

"I don't know. But Naofumi doesn't seem like himself. He's like a completely different person."

Mercy turned her head to where Marius have been, "This can't be good."

Aquilla and the rest of the legionnaires have witnessed the sky fortress taking off to the ocean.

"Quite!" Aquilla called out to his comrades, "The centurion is here!"

The legionnaires quit their chattering as the Marius walked towards his men.

"Centurion father. What is happening?" said Aquilla.

"Prepare yourselves! We're going to war!" said Marius.

"Who dares to challenge the might of our legion, centurion father!"

"The shield hero!"

Marius's words shook the legionnaires.

"We're waging war against the Shield Hero? Why?" said one of the legionnaires.

"Lord Naofumi have decided to abandoned his old ways and have gone to prepare to wage war on the kingdoms!"

"But the Shield Hero couldn't do that." said another legionnaires who was a male demi-human.

"I have witnessed the Shield Hero became evil in my very eyes! He has abandoned his role as the shield for the weak! But we are the Shield Legion! We will be the shield to protect the weak from a hero who have betrayed our trust!"

Ready your shields and spears! Your swords and your armor! For we will set sail to his doorstep and show them the wrath of the legion! Legionaries! Prepare for war!"

Aquilla lifted his fist and roared, and the rest of the legion let out a deafening war cry.

"Marius!" Ren came running towards Marius with Raphtalia.

"Don't try to stop us, swordsman! If it's war Naofumi wanted then we shall deliver!" said Marius.

"Marius, listen! We don't know what plan Naofumi will have for us! We don't know what sort of defenses Naofumi have put on his fortress!"

"He's right." said Mercy who appeared beside Marius seemingly out of nowhere, "Beside, we don't even know where they are right now."

"Then what do you suggest?" said Marius.

"We'll ride Gaelion and go find Naofumi's fortress. Then we return and report back to you."

"Then go. I will ready my legion." Marius turned and faced Raphtalia, "How many boats do we have?"

"Only enough to bring a quarter of your soldiers."

"Then the rest will stay in land as reserves."

"When will we start?"

"Now."

While the legionnaires were preparing for war at the shore, Marius gazed at the ocean as he waited for the others to report their findings. On his hand was Filo's feather that he kept. After what felt like hours of waiting, the scouts returned while on Gaelion's back. The dragon landed on the ground then Ren and Raphtalia got down from Gaelion.

"Have you found them?" said Marius.

"We did." said Raphtalia.

"Good. We'll discuss it inside."

Marius led the two to his tent he set up near his troops. They got inside where a large table was in the center.

"Tell me everything." said Marius.

"Naofumi have landed his fortress on the ocean and have set up a barrier around it." said Ren, "Nothing can get through. We tried."

"And how do we get in?"

"He erected height towers surrounding the fortress. The towers weren't position like it would be used for defense. So if my hunch is correct, the tower may acted as a power source for the barrier. And destroying all of them might disable the barrier."

"Are you sure of this?"

"It's just a hunch but we could bring in more allies and test out my theory."

"Do what you must, swordsman."

"Right. I'll go gather more for the fight." Ren said, and he got out of the tent.

Raphtalia then noticed a white feather in Marius's hand, "Marius."

"I'm fine."

"... We'll try not to hurt her."

"But Naofumi will suffer for his betrayal."

"What if Naofumi doesn't know what he's doing? What if it's the shield influencing him?"

Marius glared at Raphtalia, "I saw what the Wrath Shield looked like. That was not the shield, it was his actions alone!"

"You don't know that! We still need to reach out to him!"

"Why are you still depending him!"

"Because if it wasn't for him we weren't be here together!"

"We trusted him, Raphtalia! But he dishonored our trust!"

Marius slammed the table with his hands. The two glared at each other, creating silent yet tensed atmosphere.

"If you care about him still, then get to him before I do!" said Marius.

Raphtalia turned and exited the tent.

Marius waited inside his tent as he waited for the scouting team led by Raphtalia. He sat by the table while he fiddled with Filo's feather in his hand.

Marius then brought the feather close to his mouth and prayed, "Please... Bring her back..."

Then he heard someone opening the tent flap. He turned his head then saw Ren, worn out after a battle, entering his tent.

"Good news, I was right." said Ren with full confidence, "The towers are the power source of the barrier. But I also got bad news."

"Tell me."

"After we destroyed the first tower it transferred it's energy to the next tower. And according to Naofumi, that will make the next tower more difficult to take down."

"Why would Naofumi told you that?"

"Well, Naofumi kinda acted like some sort of generic villain, spewing monologue and actually telling us how to destroy the barrier. But still, he sent in Motoyasu and the slaves at us. And with the towers growing increasingly difficult to destroyed we probably won't last long for the next fight."

Marius got up then walked towards the exit, walking pass Ren. He opened the tent flap and saw the scouting team resting from the previously battle. He looked the other way and saw his legions who were all prepared for battle just waiting for his orders.

"Aquila!" Marius called his trusted filolial warrior.

Aquila quickly marched towards Marius then saluted, "Centurion."

"Tell the men to get ready. We'll sail tomorrow."

"Yes, centurion!" Aquila turned around then issued the command to his comrades.

Marius turned his head and saw Raphtalia. The two stared at each other for a few seconds before Marius returned to his tent.

Raphtalia sighed and lowered her head, worrying what Marius will do with Naofumi if he got to him first.

Ten boats filled with legionnaires rowed towards Naofumi's fortress for another assault led by Marius in the front, while above them flew Gaelion with Raphtalia's group on his back. After the fortress was in clear view, a giant whirlpool started appearing below them, pulling three boats with all of Marius's legionnaires in them.

"Row faster!" Marius commanded his legions and all boats hasten their pace.

Suddenly, one of the boats behind them was destroyed, leaving their passenger at the mercy of the sea. Marius saw something big swimming away from the sinking boat as it swam towards another boat, destroying that one as well before swimming towards Marius's.

Without hesitation, Marius pull out his spear and threw it. The thing dodged the spear and jumped out of the water, revealing itself to be Sadina in her Orca form. She landed on the boat, almost capsizing it with her weight.

"I'm sorry about this, but I have to stop you!" said Sadina with her harpoon in hand.

"Aquila!" Marius commanded.

Sadina was suddenly tackled by Aquila off the boat and into the water.

"Row!" Marius commanded, and the praefectus relayed his command to all of the surviving legions.

Gaelion and the rest reached the second tower first and started preparing the ropes for the legions to climb. After they reached the island where the tower stood, the legions started to the climbed the tower with the ropes.

"Well well well. Looks like you managed to get pass Sadina." said Naofumi's voice, coming from a speaker from the fortress, "Although, it does cost you some of your men. But let's see if my army can take care of yours."

Then, an army of Naofumi's slave and the monsters he created teleported on the island and they all charged at Marius's legion. Marius commanded the reserves to formed phalanx around the remaining legion that were climbing up the tower.

Then, Marius saw Fohl jumping out from the rest of the slaves and launched himself at Marius with fist ready. His fist makes contact with Marius's shield, shattering the magical barrier and hit the shield's bronze body. The attack was powerful enough to pushed Marius afew metresback.

"I'm sorry about this, sir. But I have to do it." said Marius.

Marius fasten his shield on his back, "You rather follow Naofumi? Even when his intentions were clear?"

"I owe my sister's and my life to him. As do all of us... So should you."

"I owe him nothing."

"Then I have no choice. Naofumi tasked me to put you down and bring the legions to his command."

"Then go through me first!" Marius lifted his fist up.

Fohl closed in and threw his punch and Marius blocked it with his arm. Fohl chi attack went through Marius's forearm but the flames quickly repelled it back, burning Fohl's fist. Marius could feel the effect of the chi attack but the flames recovered it in an instant. Seeing an opening, Marius punched Fohl's abdomen as his attack ignored the young man's defenses.

Meanwhile, the bloodied Aquila emerged out of the sea after his fight with Sadina. He saw half of the legions fighting off the slave army and the rest climbing up the tower while Marius and Fohl fought each other with fist. He senses great fighting going on the top and walked towards the tower. Not wanting to slow down his fellow legionnaires, Aquila instead climbed the tower's wall by his barehand with the help of his strong grip.

After he reached the top of the tower, he saw Motoyasu, Keel and Atla fighting Raphtalia's group as they were protecting the legions. He then saw Motoyasu's three filolials attacking the legionnaires, disrupting them. Aquila charged the three filolials and overpowered them easily despite their agility before throwing all three of them off the tower. He then grabbed the ropes the legion tied to the core and started pulling it with along with the remaining legionnaires.

"I am Aquila!" the large filolial warrior pulled the core harder and a loud sound of the core disconnecting from it's body stopped the fighting on the tower.

They watched as the core was pulled down and the legions starting running away to save themselves except for Aquila. He caught the core before it could crush him, then he lifted it up and walked towards the edge before tossing it into the ocean.

Aquila turned around to face the legions, "Ad victoriam!"

Marius pinned Fohl to the ground and pointed his spear that he summoned back to Fohl's neck. Then they heard the core crashing to the ocean, which stopped the slaves from attacking. Marius pierced his spear into Fohl's clothes to the ground before joining his legions. They slowly advanced towards the slaves who were backing up slowly before they were quickly teleported away.

The legions let out their cheer after a victorious effort. But Marius saw some of his legions were injured, and some laid on the ground dead along with bodies of Naofumi's slaves.

The legions returned to the mainland while carrying their fallen with them. They managed to recover the other legions from the water, including the ones who drowned. However, they were unable to saved those who were lost to the bottom of the sea. Marius and his legions gathered their fallen brothers on the beaches to prepare for their burial.

Sadina emerged out of the water, bloodied and injured. Aquila was about to attack but Marius stopped him. Sadina approaches Marius with a regretful look.

"Marius... I know what Naofumi was up to. But I have no choice but to follow his orders so he won't be suspicious of me." said Sadina.

"You did not told us!" said Marius.

"I have to or else-"

Marius backhanded Sadina, which shook Raphtalia and her group.

"Go back to the ocean and bring my legions back!" Marius warned Sadina.

Raphtalia tried to ran towards Marius but was pulled back by Mercy by the arm.

"Don't." said Mercy.

"I can't let him do that!" said Raphtalia.

"And he's not in a mood to be lectured. We just lost too many soldiers. This is now war."

Raphtalia sighed, "I just want master Naofumi back."

"For now, let us rest." Mercy turn around and walked away with the rest.

Taken as Marius's prisoner, Fohl was caged with his hands tied to his back and tried to free himself by trying to break his bonds, not realizing Marius was walking towards him.

"You will not be able to free yourself, boy." said Marius, "But be glad I did not crucify you the moment we reached land."

"You! Your soldiers killed my friends!" said Fohl.

"This is war, boy. Both side dies. Blame your master, he wanted war."

"What do you want?"

"How many armies your master have? What other strength your forces posses? What else does your master planned?"

"Why should I tell you?"

"So I know what to expect next. The next wave is upon us soon. I do not want to prolong this useless war."

"If I tell you, will you let me go so I can return to my sister?"

"No."

"Then I'm not telling you everything until I get what I wanted."

"Fine. Stay in your prison."

"Centurion!" said a legionnaire running towards Marius, "All of the demi-human legionnaire have deserted out legion!"

Marius and the legionnaire ran back to the beach and saw all of the demi-human legions have stole the boats and sailed away.

"Where are they going!" Marius demanded answers.

"To the Shield Hero, centurion." said the legionnaires, "They rather joined him."

Marius look at his legions and find that he has less than half of his forces left.

"That was most of our armies." said Ren, "And now they abandoned us."

"The Shield Hero was always known to help and protect demi-humans." said Mercy, "With how much influence Naofumi has, all of the demi-humans here are loyal to him."

"Are all demi-humans known to betrayed their leaders?" said Marius.

"What's that suppose to mean?" said Raphtalia, ready to stab Marius for saying those words.

"All those deserter were demi-humans, Raphtalia. They're no longer legionnaires."

Raphtalia drew her sword and pointed at Marius, "Sadina was the most respected here! Maybe if you didn't hit her they would have stayed!"

"She killed my legions! I do not care who she is!"

"How about you two stop fighting and think about the current problem!" Rishia yelled.

Everyone in the tent looked at her, suprised by Rishia's sudden outburst before she reverted back to her shy self.

"She's right." Raphtalia sheathed her sword before storming out of the tent.

Marius returned to his desk. He sat down, looking at the drawn map of the fortress.

"The next tower will be to strong for us to take down. And who knows what else Naofumi have on his sleeves." said Ren, "If we keep this up, we won't manpower take out the defenses. Let alone fighting Naofumi's armies.

Marius's spear that was on top of the desk caught his attention. He took it then unwrapped the leather wrapping on the base of the spearhead, dropping the feathers to the ground and revealing the greek name of the king of the gods.

"I have a plan."