AN: We're back again much sooner than expected. Everyone please give Story's Shadow a round of applause for his editing in this chapter. And I want to thank him in full for him writing multiple consecutive chapters when I was suffering from crippling writers block. Story's Shadow really deserves so much praise for him picking up my slack. I salute you my good friend, the Nobel Patriots salute you, and the fans salute you my friend.

Everyone please check out his stories here on FanFiction, and subscribe to his channel on YouTube: "Lost in the Story with Jeremy Mize" he's a rising YouTube movie reviewer.

Unto the show my friends:

-Meanwhile, Imperious' Domain-

A figure approached the obsidian throne of Imperious before kneeling.

"You have summoned me, my lord?"

Imperious tapped a few fingers on the arm of his throne, his piercing gaze fixed on the figure who had just risen to the rank of general.

"General, have the preparations been made?"

"The preparations for stages 1 and 2 have been completed in full my lord."

The news made Imperious smile a toothy grin, the whiteness of his fangs being the only visible part of him that his general could see in the dimly lit throne room other than the fierce gaze of the Dragon Emperor.

"Excellent news, I expected nothing less general."

The general couldn't help but smile upon hearing his emperors approval. Imperious felt he didn't need an answer to his next question, but felt he should ask regardless.

"And how goes the planning process for the final 3 stages?"

"On schedule, I dare say it's ahead of schedule."

Imperious once again couldn't hold back the satisfied grin that emerged on his normally stoic face.

"Excellent news. Your news is the best I have heard in over a month. It allows me to finally think clearly knowing that the plan is growing towards fruition."

His general now bowed his head once again in respect, smiling to himself at hearing the satisfied chuckle in his master's voice.

"Your gratitude is all the reward I'll ever need your eminence."

He kept his head low and his knee bent out of respect for the conqueror of multiple realities, his own included, while not attempting to hide his flattered tone.

"Thank you general. After Vulpine's betrayal, it is nice to see genuine loyalty and respect from one who I as well personally respect."

His general's response was to simply bow his head lower.

"You may rise."

The general proceeded to rise from his kneeling position and stand at full attention before the Dragon Emperor.

"For there is more work needed, as this task may look similar in nature, but there are glaring differences."

"Forgive me, but what are these 'glaring differences?'"

Imperious was about to respond, but hesitated upon remembering that his general was newly appointed, and had much more he could still be taught, and still had much more that he had to personally teach him.

"Allow me to explain."

The general nodded.

"Normally our routine would be the same it has always been, and in fairness there are parts of my plan that have remained unchanged: finding the infinite six, using their infinite power to mold and bend all of this reality to my will... I never get truly tired molding the cosmos to my desire."

Imperious paused briefly as he couldn't help but reminisce back to the first time he had completed this process. No matter how many times a universe had been forced into submission, he knew there was still work to do. And that his mission was far from over, borderline possibly never ending. And he was truly fine with that. For he knew empires had to expand, or die, something that he would never let happen to his.

Even Imperious' general couldn't help but smile, for he shared joy in his emperors ambitions. While he was truly satisfied with all the work he had done as a mere lieutenant, he knew he also shared a trait that his master had fully mastered: never getting complacent. He had been bestowed the rank and title of lead general, and he would rather die in combat before allowing another to take his place.

He knew though that he would most likely one day die in battle, and that another would inevitably assume his position. But to him there would be no higher honor than dying in service to his lord, for he would prove to be more effective than the sadistic Wraith ever could become. Wraith's bloodlust and cruelty was something even he feared during his time as a lieutenant, but he had fully embraced the training of his masters apprentice, and had developed something Wraith never mastered: a method to his madness, and precision chaos.

"But for this dimension to be molded to my will like so many before it, a new strategy must be adapted."

Imperious resumed his talk as he had broken free from the feelings of past glory.

"Earth is always a fun planet to conquer. Not necessarily a challenge by any mean. But rather fun in the way that it is openly mocking our greatest enemies' oath to protect these creatures." .

His general as well felt good knowing how much pain the suffering of humanity brought upon the Continuum race. Though their grin vanished once the rumble from the Dragon Emperor's next statement came forth.

"However this version of Earth has proven to be...'unique' I believe is the correct word to use. What started as a mission to use these young heroes to kill Wraith, has become a giant thorn in my armored side."

His general merely nodded his head in silent agreement. While he was one of the privileged few to now know that Imperious wanted to cast aside the genocidal and unfocused Wraith, he was also aware of how annoyed his emperor had become towards this planet. While he had fought on the front lines for countless battles across countless years, earth had always been one of the easier planets to destroy. Yet this one had proven to be different. And he fully knew the reason why, as did his lord.

"When I invaded the dreams of Vixen Starlight to initiate the process of assassinating Wraith, I knew she and the Secret Warriors would kill him, it was an absolute certainty. Everything that transpired between them and Wraith was perfectly planned out, for neither side knew that I had perfectly calculated every possible detail. And that I was the one actually, and personally pulling the strings. They had completed Wraith's assassination before they knew I deceived them into fulfilling my will."

The general continued to stand there in silence as he took in every single word in absolute contemplative silence.

"After Wraith's death, I freed the ensnared soul of Vulpine, and intended to use him as a way to seduce Vixen and turn her to my side. Her knowledge of the Continuum home world would have been invaluable."

Those words caused temporary confusion inside the mind of the general. But his emperor's next words clarified any questions he had.

"While I would have kept my word and not returned to the Continuum home world unless directly attacked... I knew that my old 'friend' Crusader would have responded with force over the corruption of his beloved adopted daughter. Blinded by arrogance and rage, he would have broken the treaty and declared war, it would have been his fatal mistake."

Imperious' tone was bitter as he knew those plan were now doomed to remain a failure, something even the Time Stone itself couldn't change.

Imperious' general couldn't help but feel the same anger that his lord felt. He knew just as well that while time did heal all wounds, for the most part, a lost battle or lost unfulfilled advance was something time would not fix. It was doomed to remain in the past as a failure, seemingly a symbol of humiliation.

"But Wraith's pride and blinding jealousy caused him to unknowingly weaken the magic that created by seemingly perfect creation. The magic that created Vulpine was strong, yet small enough for him to pass as the original, the truth about his creation being a mystery to even him. However the magic in the sword... a sword I personally bestowed upon Wraith, held even stronger magic. I had forgotten how powerful that dark magic truly was, and it proved to be Vulpine's undoing."

Imperious paused momentarily to take a breath before continuing.

"The magic within his blade weakened the magic that had created my clone. It allowed hidden feelings from the original Vulpine to return from their previously dormant state, and cause my creation to unfortunately remember who he once was. Combined with the feelings of guilt and remorse his former surviving enemies caused him to feel, I shouldn't have ignored his pending betrayal. By showing mercy for too long, I allowed him to now become an enemy... an enemy who will have to be killed. The same goes for all of them..."

Imperious concluded as he rose from his obsidian throne and stood before it. His general had to arch his head backwards to see Imperious, for his emperor was taller than he was in his natural form. The emperor's tone didn't hide his boiling anger.

"Because of this worlds insubordination to my empire...it must be...purified...Go forth my general, began phase 1. Let them get a sample of my hellish wrath. Let the fear of their impending damnation consume them and reduce them to nothing. For when we are done, and the infinite six are within my ruling fist once again. I'm going to destroy every semblance of life that resides upon this insignificant rock. Let my fire baptize this world, and through it be reborn again."

The general himself felt fear for what this world was going to endure, and that made him happy. Imperious then looked at his general.

"Begin their downfall."

His general responded by bowing to his lord, and leaving the throne room.

Imperious couldn't help but smile, but he knew there was still work to do, a lot more work to do. While his general would lead the troops from the front line, he knew he would also need to break the Secret Warriors from within, for they had to personally suffer, possibly more so then their world.

Imperious opened the palm of his right hand and an apparition formed in his hand, showing someone what could seemingly be described as human, or at least once was, until Imperious perfected him, and fully perfected his flaws unlike Vulpine.

"Imperious?"

The emperor held up one hand, a spiral of vibrant energy started to form in the throne room as he spoke.

"Stand by for transportation to my domain. I have work that requires your personal skills."

Despite the man wearing a hooded jacket, Imperious could see the look of amusement and duty upon his face. The emperor smiled.

"I believe you will personally enjoy this one, and who your targets are, my assassin."

To Be Continued...

AN: Please let me know how I did writing this one. I probably didn't do as good as Shadow, but I'm cleaning off the rust. So Imperious seemingly has an assassin, thoughts? Who is he, what is he, and what can he do?