Can we all agree that all that hate towards MrBeast was just insane? Sure, he was getting views and making cash off paying for corrective eye surgeries for 1,000 people but he was still doing an objective good. It's not his fault that the US healthcare system is so bad that there were over 1,000 people in need of a simply life-changing surgery.

Chapter 5: White Prince's Ultimatum

'My Lord, are you sure that such a light security detail is wise?' Kanon asked for what must have been the tenth time, but Schneizel didn't feel annoyed by it, rather he was pleased that he had managed to acquire such a devoted subordinate and confidant. He was talking the call while he sat in his VIP transport, one being escorted by two Caerlon-class ships, a meager force for someone of his rank and position, made even worse by the fact that once they reached what was the old Japanese airspace boundary, the two ships will hold position, meaning he'll be heading to the UFN meeting with only the 8 guards he had onboard with him.

'This convention isn't meant to display strength, Kanon. It would defeat the purpose if I showed up with a small fleet.' The Prime Minister replied, his unusual calm smile in place as he placated his second.

'Still, it seems like a needless risk you're taking. I would have felt more comfortable if I had been able to join you, with some additional security.' It was even stranger that the Earl wasn't with his Lord, as he was often never far from him whether it be in the court or on the battlefield.

'I am sorry for that, but there are matters that I needed you to tend to, if all goes well, we can finally close the chapter on mankind's destructive tendencies.' Schneizel leaned back into his seat, pleased that years of planning were finally coming to a head. Kanon seemed to agree with him as he stopped his attempts to convince him to return for additional security.

'Yes, your highness.' With that, the call ended, matching how they reached the boundary line and continued the last leg of their journey without the protection of the two warships. But he was calm, he didn't fear this meeting as he asked that they play his favorite opera, letting the music wash over him as he closed his eyes and relaxed.

'We are coming to you live from Ashford Academy, the sight chosen by the UFN to host the peace talks with the representative of the Holy Britannian empire.' Milly stood outside the school that her family built, one where she had forged many happy, and sad memories. She was one of the lucky ones allowed on the campus as around it, additional walls had been erected to keep out the thousands that wanted it, walls guarded by dozens of local police and Black Knights.

Before she could continue her report, she noticed something in the distance approaching, and object the camera turned to focus on revealing it to be the Prime Minister's transport. 'As you can see, viewers, the Prime Minister has arrived, not abroad his ship, the Avalon but a much smaller VIP Transport.' Soon the transport touched down not too far from the gym which had been converted into the meeting hall, with the Prime Minister walking out to the cameras and lights of the masses, Milly and her crew were too far from them for the mics to pick up anything, but he must have heard something amusing as the Prime Minister laughed at something the Black Knight officer that met him at his landing said before he escorted him inside, the Prince's guards following along without a hint of conversation.

Watching this unfold, were two familiar faces. Rivalz and Nina were hunkering down in his family's basement, where they had been sheltering Nina for a while now. They would have happily let her take the guest bedroom but with the leak that she had been the lead developer behind the latest weapon of war, she was almost as hated as their old friend-turned-kingslayer and so, she spent as little time outside or even near windows as possible. Thankfully, there was no bounty or arrest warrant on her head, but she had nearly been killed by a passably who recognized her, he had been with her at the time and watched as the woman was dragged off kicking and screaming by the police, condemning her for killing her entire family.

She was a wreck before then, but being confronted like that left her a near shell, as she spent the following days barely eating or drinking, only doing so when he or Milly managed to coax her into doing it, the rest of the time she muttered apologies and pleas for forgiveness. Rivalz wished he never had to hear that ever again, he wished that his friends never got involved in wars as well but…he didn't need to look around to see how much their council had shrunk. 'Who would have thought that the Prime Minister would come to our school?' Rivalz tried to keep the mood up as the two watched the news and ate the pizza he had brought down with him, his parents out working and unable to question him about his unhealthy food choices.

'He's…rather eccentric like that.' Nina was quiet, like a church mouse as she replied, nibbling at her food.

'You would know, speaking of which, what do you think he's here for? Does Britannia want to join the UFN or something?' He asked, Milly and he had agreed that continued engagement helped Nina remember she wasn't alone, that they were here for her.

'I'm not too sure about that, politics isn't my thing, that's more…' Nina stopped, having lost whatever appetite she had, even Rivalz paused as he thought to their former VP.

'Yeah, it was right up his alley.' Rivalz frowned, recalling how he hated to discuss politics, but Lelouch had a penchant to give off useful and insightful pieces of commentary without really thinking about it.

'You mean is?' Nina asked, looking away as she thought about him, how little she knew about her friends, and how little she knew about herself.

'How should I know; he could be dead in a ditch somewhere right now and we would never know.' Rivalz threw his half-eaten pizza slice at the wall in frustration, he hated the fact his best friend kept so much from him, how he acted like he didn't have a care in the world while he plotted literal regicides and massacres. 'I just wish that…' He couldn't even finish the sentence, close to angry tears as he didn't know what to believe.

He wanted to give his friend the benefit of the doubt, that there was some kind of mistake about the charges laid against him, that he knew him better than the government did but every time he thought back on it, he couldn't ever focus on those group moments without a mild headache, when he thought about how he dotted on Rolo, tended to him when he was sick, or helped him with his homework, there was always this nagging sense of wrong smacking the back of mind, he didn't know what to make of it. When he tried to think harder, those headaches only grew worse, as if he's already accepted those memories were fake, that Lelouch was always a monster and he was just too blind to notice.

Nina stood up and awkwardly placed a hand on his shoulder. 'It was a surprise to all of us, he was always distant but somehow engaged. Keeping Milly's craziest ideas in check while sneaking out to gamble with you.' Nina told him, she didn't know what to make of him, he was more confusing than Kallen was to her when she found out she was a half-blood. Despite that, she also recalled how he was so gentle with his sister, how he would smile and laugh with the rest of them, even when he was the butt of the joke, how he never cared that she liked girls and often came to her aid whenever he heard about others bullying her. She even bitterly recalled how he was the one that got her the cutting edge-computer set-up that she would spend her days working on and eventually first working on her theories for the F.L.E.I.J.A, she suspected that he got it through his gambling money whenever she brought it up, he would smile and change the subject or go back to his nap.

'Yeah, and he could be super scary whenever someone messed with Rolo, and now even he's gone too.' This was a point that she found off about Milly and Rivalz, how they didn't seem to remember Nunnally and instead, someone named Rolo. She would have asked, but once she saw how Nunna had been erased from all their pictures and yearbooks, she kept her tongue, she could tell a cover-up when she saw one and feared what would happen if she dare go against what had been decided is the fact.

'They sent people you know before you returned. They turned the place over looking through what's left of his room, you think he was involved with that crazy plot to kill the emperor, too?' Rivalz's voice knocked her out of her daydreams of interrogations and secret police.

'Maybe…' She relented. 'Why don't we focus on this right now, we can talk about…that later when Milly's off work.'

'Sure, you said that you don't think Britannia would join, what about Prince Schneizel? You know him better than me, what would he do here?' That was a good question on Rivalz's part, she wasn't the best at politics, but she had met with the Prime Minister many times, even attending the marriage reception with him for his brother, the new emperor, and the Chinese empress.

'He's gentle, and never raises his voice, I don't think he gets all that angry. But…' Rivalz rose an eyebrow here, fully invested in what she was saying over what was happening on the television.

'But?' He gestured for her to continue.

'He's always, it was like,' Nina didn't know how to put it into words, but then she recalled someone she could compare him to. 'He's like Angela.'

'You think he gets others to do work for him?' Rivalz asked, surprised that she would compare the Prime Minister to their old senior, a girl that was known to be a lazy person in sports and her studies, and rather used her charm and looks to get boys to do things for her. Honestly, Rivalz had no clue how she even passed her finals considering she barely did anything throughout the year and skipped classes more than he and Lelouch did.

'No, he's much more honest than she was, but he's always working an angle. His words, his demeanor, all of it is as real as I can tell, much more approachable than others in court,' That she was sure of as even when others approached her, it always felt like a snake was slithering up her body with them. 'But when I think back on it, they always seem…off, in a way? Like he's not expressing himself like Milly, it's like an actor.' She sighed to herself, having only realized recently that Schneizel was the worst of them all as with the others, you could tell they were snakes and to be weary of their venom bit with Schneizel, he didn't act like them, he got you to lower your guard, to approach him and not the other way around, and by the time you realized he's more like a boa constrictor, you're well and truly in his grasp.

'He doesn't need to ask you to do anything,' She hugged herself, thinking about how he never asked her to do anything, never ordered her, didn't even imply like some mob boss from those movies Rivalz liked to watch. 'You just end up doing what he wants.' Rather he fed into her worst tendencies, played you off against their best interest, and before she realized it, he had weaponized her hatred for Zero to the point she created the deadliest weapon in human history and was so far gone, she begged Suzaku to unleash it over Tokyo, and now, she could only think of the shame of how it took the lives of 35 million people for her to escape that madness.

She had fled Britannia after that, as she spoke with Schneizel in the aftermath and while he appeared remorseful so many had died, she had seen, just for a moment, how pleased he was with his new weapon. As she thought about it now, as he led Britannia in these rather unusual talks for peace, she recalled his words on why people fought, and how in the end, hope mattered more than reality to many and if they had hope, they'll continue to fight. At that moment, she had a revelation, and shot to her feet, terrified eyes turning to Rivalz.

'Oh no, Rivalz we need to-' She never got the chance to finish her sentence as the door to the basement they were in exploded, sending pieces of wood everywhere with a loud pop, the shock and blast sending the two to the ground screaming in panic, as they looked up in wonder at what must have happened, from the now opened doorway, a team of masked soldiers stormed down the stairs, rifles ready as they fell on the two, one grabbing her to her feet and another keeping Rivalz pressed to the ground, gagging the two when they continued to scream. In what have only been a minute or two, but felt like an hour, they had two subdued, with Nina's hands bound behind her back as one of the soldiers pressed on their radio. After a minute, another one walked in, this one having markings differing from the others.

'This is the place.' He asked, his voice altered to the point neither could tell if he was a she. One of the men nodded towards them before the leader turned to another, one still by the stairs.

'Good, inform command that we found the target.' They ordered their guy who started messing with their radio, but their leader didn't keep his attention on them long as he turned to Nina, the black lenses of their goggles giving nothing away and sending a shiver down her already terrified spine. 'Nina Einstein.'

'Who the hell are you guys!' Rivalz demanded from the floor, but all he got as a response was a rifle butt to the face, knocking out a tooth with a pained groan.

'Nina Einstein.' The leader didn't even react to the act of needless violence, but when she continued to stay silent out of fear, he finally turned to her friend and pulled out his pistol, pointing it right at the wide-eyed head. 'Do I need to repeat the question a third time?'

'N-no,' She finally found her voice, but rather than cry out like a lion, all she could muster was a soft mutter. 'I…I'm Nina Einstein.' She confirmed whatever criteria they had, sure that they merely wished t shame her more rather than confirm her identity. 'Are you…Are you here to kill me?'

'Negative. You are to come with us, it would be preferable if you didn't resist.' The leader told her, with the girl having no choice but to comply, cursing Schneizel in the safety of her mind the entire time they gagged her, placed a bag over her head, and carried her out. She could only wish that Rivalz would make it out of this, of whatever mess he had been dragged into for knowing her.

While his agents began to move, the man in question stood before the representatives of the UFN, calm and collected as always with his charming smile in place. 'Chairman Kaguya Sumeragi of the UFN Supreme Council, I would like to thank you on the behalf of the Holy Britannian Empire for agreeing to these peace talks. It's my wish that today will be able to finally escape the violence and death and our pasts and move towards a better future.' He even bowed to the body, as a sign of respect for them.

'Prime Minister Schneizel el Britannia, it wasn't my action alone that brought this conference to reality, but rather it was placed to the vote by this body and as such, it was chosen by the democratic process to allow Britannia time and space to speak.' Kaguya kept her reply short, but respectful. She didn't know what to suspect about him as it was his actions that nearly saw the Chinese Federation absorbed into the empire, and her dear friend made to marry a man she didn't even know.

'Though it is my personal opinion that it was the right decision as with your nearly crowned emperor and his words of peace, I feel that it prudent to accept the offered olive branch rather than continue to waste lives on the battlefield.' However, as he had helped them oust their former leader, and had no magic of his own, she felt that it was worth the risk to meet with him.

'An astute opinion, Chairman Sumeragi.' Schneizel replied with a chuckle before they got down to business. 'As all of you know, with how our two sides parted, and the death of my father, Emperor Charles zi Britannia, Britannia has found itself facing a new age, but one dogged by the issues of the old, namely, the continued and destructive acts of terrorist cells operating European and Chinese made equipment.'

'An issue which this body gives its sympathies to, and continued assurance that such groups have not received any aid from the UFN or its member nations except for food and medical aid on the grounds of humanitarianism.' Kagura repeated what they'd been telling Cornelia and every other representative of the empire that had asked. While there were members that wished to do just that, they didn't have the power to mount a meaningful offensive, more than that, they had nothing that could match or counter the .I.J.A though Rakshata did receive some information about it and claimed she'll be able to cook something up in at minimum, a year.

'Oh, I am not here to contest that point, there is after all, weak if any evidence to the contrary.' Some of the representatives present breathed a sigh of relief, happy that they weren't going to continue that song and dance. 'Rather, I am here with an offer.'

'Offer?' Kaguya caught his word choice, offer, not request. She didn't put much stock into the idea that he was here to ask that Britannia joined the UFN though it was still a possibility as with their massive population, they'll dominate any voting procedure and even if they managed to get them to agree to decrease that voting power, Xingke had been clear in his belief that something like that wouldn't stop Schneizel, not when he charmed the E.U. into division.

'An offer to join me.' Here, the representatives started to whisper to each other in surprise and suspicion as the Japanese princess narrowed her eyes at their guests. Raising her hand, she called for silence without a word and once she got her, she directed her full attention toward this ambitious Prime Minister.

'Elaborate, Prime Minister Schneizel. If I didn't know any better, I would suspect that you have approached this body in a bid to gain our support in an internal power struggle within the Britannian empire.' Did he think that his aid to the Black Knights would be enough to get them to aid him? She was still furious with the Black Knights over their foolishness, as she made it clear to Kaname when she nearly stripped him of his rank for his attempt to negotiate for Japan without the knowledge or approval of the UFN council he and the rest of the Black Knights served. She had to put a gag order on the true identity of Zero as if it ever got out that Schneizel managed to convince the Black Knight High command to turn on Zero, it wouldn't matter that he was a monster, it wasn't like they could prove that geass existed, or that he had it.

'Not at all, as I've said in the past, I have no desire to take the crown of Britannia, why would I desire such when it's proven to be an aging beast that has hurt and destroyed needlessly? That is why I favor the UFN.' He replied, his gaze on her and her alone, even as the rest of the council, and the world watched the proceedings through the numerous news station camera crews present. 'You may be a coalition of multiple nations, but you're chiefly made up of the countries that once made up the Chinese Federation, another old-world beast that has since met its end.' This was a fact many knew, as the old federation had been a collection of once separate countries almost as large as the E.U.

'The UFN didn't facilitate the destruction of the Chinese Federation as you are implying.' She kept her cards close to her chest, wanting to glean more information about her opponent.

'No, but you are the radical solution that picked the pieces and have steps in the right direction by many metrics of measurement, despite your relatively young age as an organization.' He replied, gesturing to the gathered representatives as he did so.

'What is he doing?' Odysseus slammed his hand on his throne in a rare act of anger, he had been watching the event when his brother pulled this stunt for all the world to see.

'Doesn't want the throne, what lies! He's trying to stage a coup.' Dorothea Ernst, the Knight of Four fumed in anger at this blatant act of treason. He, on a whim, had summoned the Knights of Round to view the event along with him, rather than separately in their villas, and while most had answered the call, there were still some absent.

'Bismarck, where is Sir Kururugi? I ordered every Knight of Round to the palace; does he think himself exempt?' The emperor turned to his strongest warrior, the silent but powerful Knight of One.

'Unlike the rest of the Knights, he requested some time off and isn't in the capital.' Bismarck had been keeping an eye on the newest member to the rounds for some time now, ever since his foolish attempt to slaw his former and true master, but recently, he had been acting off. He didn't know what it was about, but he had shaken off his tails days prior and vanished into Central Britannia, in a long-needed vacation as he claimed when he put in the request.

'He should still be contactable, as is the requirement of all Knights of Round. It's no excuse to not be present, even by video call after a summons from his majesty.' The Knight of Nine, Nonette Enneagram, interjected as she had been on the road when she received the summons, on her way to the airport to head north for a hunting trip and yet, she still managed to arrive, in a full uniform no less.

'I want him found and contacted immediately, we'll deal with his breach of protocol after we figure out what is going on with my brother,' Odysseus ordered as he now knew he needed to make it clear to his knights that he was emperor, that his word was law and that there would be consequences for such. 'And when will Sir Weinberg arrive?'

'He's been delayed, and should be here in a few minutes, your majesty, his residence is the furthest from the palace and without flying here via knightmare, it takes time to drive.' The Knight of Twelve, Monica Krushevsky, replied as she had been the one to call her fellow knight and he was extremely apologetic about his delayed arrival and she had made sure he knew that next time, he best just commandeer a VTOL if he had to.

'Your highness, we'll be at cruising altitude in a few minutes.' Cornelia paid little heed to the pilot as they spoke over the intercom, rather her attention was mainly on her knight.

'Will you finally inform me why it was s urgent to book this surprise getaway, Guilford?' Cornelia had been rudely woken the previous night by Guilford, who without giving anything away, pleaded that they get out of the capital as soon as they could. If he were anyone else, she wouldn't have moved an inch without a proper explanation but Gilbert wasn't just anyone else, so she did as he begged and packed a small bag, called for a private jet, and managed to board the thing in record time.

'I fear that it's a matter of life and death, your highness, all I know is that something terrible is going to happen.' Guilford was disturbed, so much so that he wasn't trying to hide it as he looked out the window, back towards Pendragon as they ascended higher into the air, the distance between their jet and the city growing ever larger.

'Worse than my brother requesting international aid to a civil war he's about to start?' She gestured towards the TV screen displaying the embarrassment that her brother was making of himself, and Britannia for all the world to see.

'I fear that they're uncomfortable related.' Guilford replied, hearing the events play out as he puts the pieces together. 'Regardless, it would be best if we put as much distance between you and Pendragon as we can.' He didn't know what was going to happen, but he had good reason to believe that something terrible was going to happen and he would sooner die than allow harm to come to his princess, he could only pray for those they left behind.

As the royal family struggled to understand what was going on, the meeting between Schneizel and the UFN was just as confusing as members started to demand that he stop making light of their process, that he be removed for his insolence, or everything in between. Tianzi was part of those scared for what this could mean as she didn't need to understand all his machinations to know that Schneizel never moved unless he was sure he would gain something.

'If nothing else, you're a bold man to appear before us and foolishly ask for our aid in an internal affair of Britannia, a nation not affiliated with the UFN, nor is a member nation of the UFN. Before you're dismissed, I want to ask a question: What did you hope to gain from this? What would drive you to think we're getting involved with a Britannian civil war?' Kaguya didn't ask, she demanded that he say what he wanted, and say it clearly.

'Chairman Sumeragi, what is it that people truly want? Starvation and poverty? Discrimination and corruption? War and terrorism? No, what they desire above all us is for such problems to disappear.' Schneizel didn't blink under the intense looks from those present, nor did he react to how they all assumed he was mocking them if not mad.

'All things that the UFN and its member nations have vowed to tackle through cooperation and negotiation; all things that you are guilty of unleashing across the world.' Kaguya replied, reminding him of the fact that he served as Prime Minister to his father, and did so for years. His people may not be guilty of their sins, but he was very much part of the reasons so much suffering occurred, why Japan even now was an area of Britannia.

'You are quite right in this regard, I am no less innocent that every other participant in this cycle of violence and death. However, it is because of that experience that I have come to learn something.' Schneizel responded, not giving away anything other than that look of slight regret that might appear real to their audience, and some of the members present, but was fake to her.

'That being that the current methods of humanity aren't sufficient to effectively combat these issues, you may claim that the UFN will do so, but how many leaders have done the same? How many nations have presented themselves as the bastion of civilized society, ready to venture into the world to better it?' He asked her a question that sounded dangerous, she could admit that such notions of civilization, peace, and progress were often used by countries throughout history, Japan was no exception, but Britannia had been using such defenses for their actions for years.

'And you think that Britannia, or whatever new nation born from it under your rule will be able to do what we can't? That you have found the solution?' She challenged him to try, to attempt to use such to paint his authoritarian empire as better than a democratic union.

'I have, but before I reveal what it is, I would wish for you to entertain me and answer a question.' The verbal battle between them kept the others silent, even if they had their concerns about this as some asked aides to make calls or even look towards the guards they had posted inside the hall.

'State your question, and I'll decide if I answer it.' Kaguya ordered, ready to have him escorted out, if not thrown out.

'What trait is most important for governing the world?' Schneizel asked, it was a simple question, one that anyone studying political science could answer, but one that also had many answers depending on the person asked, and the situation in which the question was posed.

'Pride, the pride of self-governance?' She replied, receiving the silent approval of those present as that was one of the UFN's core tenants, that no one nation shall ever impose its will on the world, that they'll never allow another empire to raise, the other being to help guide nations to a point where they wouldn't need something else to rule them, to give them the pride and skills to rule themselves.

'An exceptional answer, one of the best you could have given. But I would place forth a different answer.' Schneizel smiled a little bit wider, nodding his head as he did so.

'What would that be?' She didn't know what to expect from him, if he was his father or most of his siblings, she would have assumed his answer would be something akin to fear, or dominance of some lesser; but he wasn't them, he was an entirely different threat and because of that, she moved her hand to the button underneath her podium to call in additional soldiers to have him removed.

'The will to control, to exert control over everything and everyone.' Taking a page from his ever-dramatic younger brother, he rose his arms as a showman would as they turned to their audience. 'And to destroy all that will not bend to your will.' He finished, and at that same moment, the doors to the hall burst open and from them, over 2 dozen armed men and women stormed him, quickly killing the few Black Knights present.

'What?' Kaguya yelled as she pressed the bottom, multiple times but received no response, a chilling sign that there was simply no one there to answer.

'You…' She turned to the prince, wanting to smack that damned smile off his face as two of his men moved to flank him, a subtle threat towards her. 'You smuggled your men in? But how?' She asked, they had gone through all the possible entry points, planned for any kind of assault, and even triple-screened anyone that would be anywhere on the grounds during the conference. Was it the men he brought with him? Not possible, he only had 8 with him and 6 of which had remained outside, were there more in the transport he arrived him? Even if that was the case, surely they would have been a firefight, some sign of them forcing their way into the conference hall.

'Is that something that needs to be answered at present?' Schneizel's chuckle only scared the now hostages even more as he continued to speak as if he hadn't just taken them all hostage on international television. 'But does need to be answered is if you're all willing to let go of your pride and surrender to the Rule of Damocles?'

'Was this all a joke, a ploy by Britannia to take over the UFN?' Someone screamed at him, and Kaguya made sure to remember that word: Damocles. It didn't sound like any weapons program she knew of, but it must have been powerful if Schneizel was banking on it, she just prayed that Tohdoh and Xingke also picked up on that.

'I can assure you that my brother knew nothing of this, nor will he ever be a factor again. No, all this was to show my resolve to the world, and to make amends for the sins of my homeland as by now, Pendragon should be nothing but a crater in the desert.' Some didn't know what he meant by that, but the others, all immediately knew and in knowing, they paled as they realized what must have just happened.

As the situation occurred, the remaining Black Knights on site were rushing about, trying to get a plan going while others contacted both their garrison and the Britannians, hoping that Schneizel was acting without their knowledge and consent as they had much more resources to bring to bear. 'How did they get through our security?' The commander of the Garrison, a middle-ranked officer demanded as she watched her man race about.

'We don't know, ma'am, but they've incapacitated or killed everyone we have inside the conference hall!' She ticked her teeth, they had at least 80 men posted there, and with all of them dead, that left virtually no one to stop them as she and the others watched in anger as the representatives were herded into his transport craft by gunpoint, the cameras still rolling as they didn't have the means to cut the feed.

'Deploy our reserve to Ashford, we need to extract the representatives.' She ordered as this was close to the worst thing that could happen, she only prayed that the damned imperials could help. But it seems that their day was only getting worse as one of the others turned to her, their faces grim.

'Mam, we just got word that a small Britannian fleet has broken from international waters, and is on its way to Japan.' She paused, wondering just how in the hell they didn't pick up a fleet amassing, to begin with.

'But how-doesn't matter, contract Horai Island at once, we need reinforcements, the Japanese garrison isn't enough to fend against this' She knew that they must already jumping to action, but they needed to work together to better coordinate their response to this blatant act of war.

'Mam, we just got word…Pendragon, it's…it's gone.' Someone spoke up, and she turned to them and saw that their face was white as ash, all activity ceased with that, many didn't think it was possible, but they had all been present to see such a weapon capable of that go off, they had witnessed the power of God.

'What was that?'