Disclaimer: I Own Nothing

Volume One: The Pecking Order

Chapter 8

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AN: Hey, because it had been so long since I've updated, I thought it'd be nice to put out a second one the day after. Also, thanks to Awareness Bringer for commenting on every chapter, I really do appreciate it. See y'all again soon. Hope you enjoy.

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Jircniv was deep in thought.

With the recent fall of E-Rantel to the undead, it had effectively spread the Katze plains from the Draconic Kingdom all the way to the Great forest of Tob. With this new development, the Empire had effectively been cut off from the Kingdom and Theocracy. Now, it's only neighbors are the City State Alliance, and the Draconic Kingdom.

"Dammit, dammit it all! I was so close. Everything was falling right into my lap, but now, I can't even reach the Kingdom with my armies safely." Jircniv slammed a well manicured hand into his exquisite desk as he gritted his teeth in frustration and anger.

Jircniv then took a few deep breaths before looking at the map in front of him. "I can't even reach the Kingdom anymore, so conquering them is quite impossible now. However, it's not like they will be able to ever rival the Empire. Not with the Eight Fingers and bandits running rampant, nor with the looming succession crisis. They're a failed state, so maybe it's better to leave them wallowing in their muck."

Jircniv then pulled himself from his musings and sat up, he then walked toward one of his windows that overlooked his capital city of Arwintar. It was bustling at this time in the afternoon, and it brought a tiny smile to Jircniv's face. "Hmm, well, I suppose there is something good that came out of this. At least those mongrels from Eight Fingers won't be able to sell their disgusting products here, at least not in anywhere near the same amount."

Jircniv's smile fell from his face as he once again adopted a thoughtful expression. He then marched back toward his desk and sat down. Viewing the map once more. "Just because I can't reach the kingdom, doesn't mean I'm going to sit here and do nothing for the rest of my days. Perhaps we should send a legion or two to clear out the demihumans to the West, in the Azerlisia Mountains and the Great Forest that is on our side of E-Rantel. Yes, if I can't expand the empire like I wanted to, the least I can do is strengthen our borders...In that realm of thought, would it be good to finally acquiesce to the Dragon Queen's pleadings? I truly don't need to keep the legions here on standby to invade the Kingdom anymore. Should I send a few legions then? Also, with the loss of E-Rantel, all of our trade to the Theocracy must go through the Draconic Kingdom, so it would be best to be in their good graces, and have our trade routes secured...Hmm, in exchange for a few legions being sent to assist them against the Beastmen, they would probably ceed some land to the Empre in return. Why wouldn't they? Their kingdom is on its last legs. I should probably request the area between the Empire and the Theocracy, along with some border regions. Yes, that should be good."

With a confident smile adorning his features, Jircniv stood up, and rang a bell resting on his desk. Within a few seconds a manservant entered the room.

He bowed his head before speaking, "Your majesty, what is it you require of this one?"

Jircniv then responded quickly, "Send word to my ministers and generals, I must meet with them soon."

The manservant then bowed once more and said, "It shall be done my emperor."

"See to it then." With those words from Jircniv, the manservant exited the room, leaving Jircniv to himself.

"Yes, I'll see to it that this Empire of mine will become stronger under my watch. I will not let it fall into the same muck that the Kingdom has."

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Raymond was calm as always.

The cardinal of earth had just returned from a meeting with all the top brass of the Slane Theocracy. The meeting had been about the fall of E-Rantel, the success of the Sunlight Scripture, and what they should do now.

The loss of E-Rantel wasn't a massive loss to the Theocracy, but to humanity as a whole? It's loss could potentially be devastating.

E-Rantel was probably the most strategically placed human city on the continent. It connected the three main human nations, and without it, humanity was now divided.

This was also pretty bad for their plans for the Kingdom and Empire.

The Kingdom was tearing itself apart, and while it was unfortunate, the Theocracy decided it was better this way. That's because they knew that if the Kingdom was weakened, the Bloody Emperor would surely invade. It was decided that it would be best for the empire to conquer the kingdom, and create a massive human country, one that would provide strong heroes for humanity for centuries to come.

However, with the fall of E-Rantel, that future wouldn't come into being.

Also, with its fall, the success of the Sunlight Scripture's mission was now moot. The whole point to killing the Warrior Captain was to weaken the Kingdom further in preparation for a Baharuth takeover. Which wouldn't happen now.

What were they to do about this situation though?

The idea of purifying the city and it's surrounded area was brought up, but, with their current war against the Elven Kingdom, they didn't have the forces to spare for such a large endeavor. So, it was decided that they wouldn't attempt to take back the city, but, they will be sending the Black Scripture out to reclaim the Crown of Wisdom and to hunt down the traitor.

Also, they had decided to send the Sunlight Scripture and some priests to assist the Draconic Kingdom against the vile Beastmen.

While the Theocracy saw the Queen of the Draconic Kingdom, Draudillon Ociculus, as an inferior half breed, but, the Draconic Kingdom's citizenry were all humans, the chosen people of the six, and whom the Theocracy has sworn to protect.

Finally, the Theocracy had come to the conclusion that they would need to finally end their war in the south, and had decided to deploy the holocaust scripture to assist their forces.

"I'm confident that we, Humanity's chosen protectors will prevail." Raymond then clasped his hands and bowed his head before speaking, "I ask for your blessings my lords, show us, your chosen people, the path to victory."

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Brain was a grieving man.

He wasn't grieving the death of Gazef Stronoff, but he was grieving what his death meant. For all of his hard work, to prove himself the strongest, was all for naught. He would never again face Gazef in battle, and he could never emerge victorious against him.

He had been grieving his loss of purpose and goals for the last few weeks, and, like many grieving men, he had thrown himself into his work. Unfortunately for many, his current line of work was banditry, and he was damn good at it.

Over the last few weeks he had been raiding towns, trade caravans, and even Eight Fingers shipments. Due to his raiding spree, people in the local area had taken to calling him the Blue Bandit, a reference to his blue hair and his line of work.

Brain began to sharpen his sword as he delved into his thoughts, "Has it all been for nothing? Have I wasted my life slaving away with nothing to show for it?...Pick yourself up together dammit! If that idiot Gazef kicked the bucket without facing me again then that means he wasn't strong enough anyways! Yes, I haven't wasted my life, I will find another to beat, to prove myself the strongest."

Brain stopped his sharpening and closed his fists tightly before relaxing them, "The question is who though? Really, the only viable options left are the Six Arms of the Eight Fingers. However, I'll really need to step up my raiding game if I want them to be dispatched against me. But, they're not all warriors anyways...Hmmm...What if, to be recognized as the strongest in the kingdom, all I have to do is to use my strength to take the kingdom? I mean it sounds ridiculous, but If I do that, even people in the surrounding nations will recognize me as the strongest in the Kingdom. I mean, I've already got a small army of bandits at my beck and call, and I could easily draft more from the surrounding towns in return for not raiding them. I've also got more money then I'll ever use in my lifetime. Finally, it's not like the Kingdom would be united against me anyways, not with the current succession crisis...Screw it, might as well have something to work towards."

Brain then resumed his sharpening as he smiled and spoke aloud, "Plus, I think the title of 'Warrior King' has a nice ring to it."

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The Conqueror smiled as he continued his march.

His army followed only a few yards behind him. They were a ragtag bunch, made up from outcasts from the different tribes of the Hills. However, they were united by their lust for violence and their even greater fear of him.

As was right, after all, it was natural for all beings, living and dead, to fear fire, and he was fire. Fire incarnate.

He couldn't wait to burn those foolish enough to run from him and his army. Didn't they know? Fire spreads quite quickly, and is very, very difficult to stop. It is futile to try to outrun fire, and he would make sure that they would learn of their follies as he burned them inside and out or from their toes to their neck.

Just imagining such scenes sent a warm heat through his body, and made him accidentally enlarge his form a little bit. He quickly regained control of his size, and adjusted himself back to normal.

While it was a little embarrassing to lose control of his size, it wasn't really that much, after all, what is fire but uncontrollable?

The Ashen King then quickened his pace slightly. Following suit, his army matched his pace, having grown used to their master's erratic changes of mannerisms.

As he marched, The Ashen King then had a flickering thought pass through him, "Just one more day before I arrive if we don't stop to rest. Fire is not patient, so neither shall I be. Besides, fire consumes all, so no matter my army's condition, my prey shall burn."