Chapter 2: Gate of Peking

The Greater Russian Empire (La: Velikaya Rossiyskaya Imperiya), a caesaropapist semi-constitutional monarchy, covers a third of the planet. The most powerful sovereign state in the modern world and the largest contiguous state in history, Konstantinopol controls land on three continent. This modern dynasty of China and Russia encompasses the entirety of Asia, with the exceptions of South and South East Asia.

No country in history compares to the modern Russian Empire. It has control over land, air and space that is unmatched by states on this Earth or nearly any alternate Earth. The Tsar's domain encompasses a third of the planet's surface, and a third of the human race. Since 1937, the Chinese have granted the Tsar their Mandate of Heaven, conferring legitimacy to his rule over China. In 1955, Tsar Nicholas II reportedly told a Franco-British Union ambassador, "I am called the most powerful monarch in the world. The sun never sets in my dominion."

Put simply, the economy of the Greater Russian Empire was monstrous. With a GDP of 900 Trillion Imperial Russian ruble, or 180 Trillion USD, the Russian Empire possess roughly 50% of the world's nominal GDP. This total stranglehold on the world economy would essentially make the entire world, aside from other superpowers such as the United States and the Franco-British Union or extremely isolated rogue states such as the Islamic State of Indonesia, vassals of Russian capital interests. A vast portion of the world's agricultural land were owned by Russian agricultural companies, and churn out crops and meat to feed the Russian populace. This would lead to 35% of the working urban population of the world outside of the Russian Empire working, directly or indirectly, for an Russian company or foreign subsidiary of an Russian company, and around 15% of the working rural population of the world doing the same.

With a population of 828,000,000, an annual GDP of 88,9 trillionUSD, roughly 7 times that of the entire Dominion of South China, and 17 times that of Japan in real life, the Grand Principality of China was an enormous power, projecting Russian influence and economic might onto Asia and Oceania and holding the most active ports and largest cities on the entire Pacific Ocean. The Port of Shanghai was the busiest in the world by far, shipping 94,600,000 TEUs annually. The second would be New Tokyo in the Japanese Shōgunate, with 80,900,000. Manufacturing across much of the world would be considerably kneecapped, as cheap, high quality goods from the Greater Russian Empire would be readily available, due much in part to the Grand Principality of China.

In the heart of the Greater Russian Empire, Peking, once the capital of Qing China, now stands as a testament to Russian power and authority. The city is a dazzling amalgamation of traditional Chinese architecture and imposing Russian fortresses. Russian nobles, draped in opulent robes, maintain an iron grip on the city, ruling over its inhabitants with an iron fist. The citizens had grown accustomed to their new rulers, although murmurs of dissent still lingered beneath the surface.

But today, the tranquility of this imperial stronghold was shattered in an instant. In the midst of a bright sunny day, the sky turned dark with an eerie, foreboding power. The air crackled with anticipation as an otherworldly energy burst into existence. The people of Peking, going about their daily lives, suddenly found themselves thrust into a fantastical scenario straight out of a manga.

A swirling portal materialized in the heart of the city, emanating a sinister purple glow. The portal's arrival was accompanied by a colossal roar, shaking the very foundations of Peking. From within this gateway, two magnificent and formidable beings emerged, their appearance striking fear into the hearts of all who bore witness.

First came the ancient dragon, its scales shimmering with a luminescent glow. This majestic creature towered over the city, its immense wings casting a shadow that stretched far and wide. Its eyes glowed with an intense fire, reflecting an intelligence beyond mortal comprehension. Next to arrive was the giant alien insect, exoskeleton glistening ominously under the darkened sky. Sharp pincers and menacing mandibles exuded an aura of primal savagery, a potent force to be reckoned with.

Without hesitation, the dragon and the giant insect engaged in a fearsome battle, their clash shaking the earth beneath them. They moved with blinding speed, the dragon unleashing devastating elemental magic from its jaws, while the alien insect retaliated with a torrent of acid and plasma cannon fire. Their raw power rent the air, tearing through buildings and infrastructure, reducing the ancient city to rubble.

With each thrust, slash, and blast, the dragon and insect devastated everything in their path. Buildings crumbled under the weight of their mighty clashes, and the ground trembled beneath their immense power. The dragon's presence was akin to a flying natural disaster, conjuring bolt after bolt of elemental magic. Lightning crackled through the air, setting ablaze anything it touched. Gusts of wind tore through the streets, uprooting trees and sending debris hurtling through the air.

The alien insect, not to be outdone, unleashed its own arsenal of devastation. It spewed forth torrents of acidic venom, corroding the very foundations of the city. Plasma cannons mounted on its massive, insect-like appendages fired beams of searing energy, melting through structures like they were mere playthings.

As the battle raged on, the people of Peking watched in awe and terror. Fear gripped their hearts as their once-great city was reduced to ruins before their very eyes. Panic spread like wildfire, prompting desperate attempts to evacuate and seek shelter from the cataclysmic clash between these two colossal creatures.

Amongst the chaos ran a young man named Youji Itami, the lazy Otaku and son of Shogun Tenji Itami, General Youji Itami from the Shogunate of Japan, a vassal state to the Greater Russian Empire. Despite his seemingly carefree nature, Itami possessed a keen sense of duty and responsibility. He knew he had to do something to help the innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.

Desperate to save as many civilians as possible, he sprinted towards the nearest underground nuclear bunker, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Seek shelter! Seek shelter! Stay calm and make your way to the bunkers!"

Guiding the terrified populace towards the underground nuclear bunkers, Itami's heart raced with adrenaline. He had witnessed countless battles and imagined many fantastical scenarios in his otaku-filled mind, but nothing compared to the sheer horror of this moment. The destruction unfolding before his eyes reminded him of a scene from a horror movie or a battle manga, but this was all too real.

Inside the Russian underground command bunker, General Itami, covered in sweat and dirt, watched the destruction unfold on the real-time satellite video feed. The city he once called home was being torn apart by these extraordinary creatures. The scene resembled a horror movie or a battle manga, and Itami was determined to put an end to this catastrophe.

Commander General Alexander Von Orenburg, a stoic and battle-hardened veteran, devised a plan to eliminate the threat. His intention was to deploy the Crimson Lotus, a superheavy gunship armed with an array of devastating weaponry, in a desperate attempt to bring down the creatures. But General Itami had a different strategy in mind.

With an air of noble upbringing, he spoke with eloquence and urgency, trying to sway the commander to consider his plan. "Commander, the destruction caused by these mighty creatures is catastrophic. If we bring the Crimson Lotus superheavy gunship into play, the collateral damage to the city and its people will be immeasurable. Instead, I propose utilizing the Heaven Fist anti-satellite railgun. Its precise targeting capabilities will allow us to neutralize the threats with minimal damage to the surroundings."

Commander Orenburg, a man of unwavering resolve, glared at Itami with steely determination. "General Itami, the Crimson Lotus is a proven asset, capable of untold destruction. We do not have time for your sentimental concerns. Our priority is to eliminate the threat swiftly and decisively."

Itami's voice remained resolute as he countered, "Commander Orenburg, I understand the power and effectiveness of the Crimson Lotus. However, we must not forget that our duty is not only to protect, but also to preserve the sovereignty and heritage of this great city. Using the Heaven Fist railgun will enable us to maintain the integrity of Peking, minimizing the destruction wrought upon it."

Silence enveloped the command bunker as the two men locked eyes, the weight of their decisions heavy upon their shoulders. Itami's heart pounded heavily within his chest. The fate of Peking, and the lives of its inhabitants, rested upon their shoulders.

After a tense moment, Orenburg's stern expression softened, and he nodded slowly. "You make a valid point, General Itami. We shall proceed with your plan," he conceded, his voice filled with a mix of determination and wisdom. "Prepare the Heaven Fist railgun immediately. Time is of the essence."

Itami's face lit up with a mix of relief and gratitude. "Thank you, Commander. I won't let you down," he vowed, his voice filled with determination.

As the preparations for the deployment of the Heaven Fist railgun began, General Itami couldn't help but feel a mixture of fear and excitement. The battle against these extraordinary creatures would serve as a testament to their resilience and ingenuity.

The weapon's colossal barrel, adorned with intricate circuitry, seemed to crackle with a mysterious force. A network of cables and conduits connected the railgun to an advanced targeting system, its interface resembling the cockpit of a futuristic spacecraft.

The hours ticked away, and finally, the railgun was ready. General Itami took a deep breath and stepped into the control room, his eyes fixed on the monstrous creatures still wreaking havoc outside the boundaries of the city. The countdown began, and the Heaven Fist railgun hummed to life. Itami, Orenburg, and a team of skilled technicians monitored the weapon's charging process, their eyes fixed on the screen displaying the creatures' location.

With a determined flick of a switch, the Heaven Fist railgun was activated. The ground trembled beneath their feet as the colossal weapon aimed directly at the two creatures locked in combat.

A moment of perfect silence settled over the command bunker before a blinding flash of light erupted in the distance. The Heaven Fist railgun had fired with precision an intense beam of blue energy at blinding speed, piercing through the night sky like a celestial arrow towards its intended targets.

The moment of impact was catastrophic. The Heaven Fist struck the dragon directly, piercing its flesh with an explosive force. The creature howled in agony as its body was torn asunder, its mighty form crashing into the ground with an earth-shattering impact.

The alien insect, witnessing the demise of its adversary, unleashed a final assault of acid and plasma. It aimed its plasma cannons towards the railgun, hoping to destroy it before succumbing to its injuries. But fate had a different plan.

The Heaven Fist's munition had ignited a powerful conflagration within the dragon's body. As it crashed towards the ground, its life force erupted in a violent tempest of elemental energies. A blazing inferno engulfed the area, consuming everything in its path, including the alien insect.

Itami watched with bated breath as their movements faltered, providing a momentary respite for the devastated

As the dust settled and the echoes of battle faded, Peking stood battered but intact. The work of General Itami and the decision to use the Heaven Fist railgun had paid off.

General Itami and Commander Orenburg stepped out of the command bunker, their eyes surveying the aftermath of the battle. Peking's brave citizens emerged from their hiding places, their faces etched with both relief and gratitude.

Orenburg turned to Itami, a glimmer of admiration in his eyes. "General Itami, you have proven your prowess in leadership today," he commended, his voice filled with respect. "Your strategy and conviction have saved the lives of countless citizens."

Itami smiled, a mixture of relief and contentment washing over him. "Thank you, Commander," he replied humbly.

Little did they know, this battle was merely the beginning of a much larger conflict. As the world teetered on the brink of war and ancient forces stirred in distant lands, the fate of the superpowers hung in the balance. Itami, the lazy Otaku turned reluctant hero, would soon find himself drawn deep into a larger tapestry of destiny, where his unique skills and unwavering spirit would be put to the ultimate test.

Thus began Itami's journey through a world of fantasy and power, where the boundaries between reality and imagination blurred, and the choices made by individuals held the key to shaping the course of history.