7th Noble Lion Moon, 908 – Telo Martius, Present Day

Nero, Lord Martius, and Terminus glared down at the two invading Foresters, one bowing to the emperor and the other forced onto her knees with her hands bound together. She snarled up at the emperor, eyes brimming with a cold, merciless fury.

"…What is this?"

Jason lifted his head. "Yes?"

Nero crossed his arms and scoffed. "You bring your little disagreement into our great city of Telo Martius, and you offer up this feeble woman as a tribute to the Centum Death Ring? Have you a lapse in your senses?"

Jason shook his head. "I can assure you, Skill Hunter Harlow is far more than your average Buneary. I'm sure you've heard the stories of her exploits in the west and the great boons she offered us since her rise to infamy…at least before she turned traitor on us."

The rogue thief rolled her eyes. "Oh, I turned traitor? That's rich coming from you—AGH!" His hand squeezed around her wrists.

"Silence! You are to keep your head down in front of the emperor!" Jason bowed his head to Nero once more. "A thousand pardons for her rudeness. She has been most…uncooperative as of late."

Terminus glanced at Nero warily. "What do you make of all of this, my liege?"

Nero hissed. "I see nothing more than desperate fools trying to bargain for a degree of power. A wise move to come to us as the clear choice, but…" He knelt down and cupped his hand under Melissa's chin. "Someone like her is better suited as a member of my harem than a sacrifice to the colosseum."

Melissa's fur bristled in fury. "Harem?! I'd sooner dunk my head into your city's sewage system than be one of your dumb bim—" Jason immediately covered her mouth.

"Uh, before we make any hasty decisions, I do not recommend having her within your company, or anyone else that isn't another of your prisoners. She's a crafty fighter who can adapt to virtually any technique she lays eyes upon. She's not someone who can be easily…persuaded into such a role as a harem girl, much less a slave girl. I promise you, she is without a doubt one of the strongest fighters in the west. She earned the rank of the tenth most wanted for her victory against the Lord of Shadow, a feat most cannot claim so easily."

Lord Martius nodded. "I have kept up to date on the actions of the Foresters before my son made his move on the west. If what you say is true, she could prove to be a valuable addition to the colosseum. Almost like a special match."

Nero raised his brow. "What are you on about?"

Lord Martius placed his only hand on the young croc's shoulder. "Son, we stand before a golden opportunity to expand the power of New Chariot's influence. It'd be best to at least keep the Foresters within our sight rather than in the shadows. They earned their reputation well."

"Hmm…"

"And besides, you're always looking to spice up the colosseum fights. Why not add a wild card into the pile? She could prove to be an interesting addition to shake up the audience. Besides, Buckshot Vilde is getting high up on the scoreboards as of late…"

"…" Nero closed his eyes and sighed. "I suppose we can't have a potential threat slipping between our fingers." He glared at Jason. "You wish to align yourselves with New Chariot without question?"

Jason bowed. "Yes, Emperor Nero. It would be a great honor to the Foresters."

"I hope you understand I can't trust your ilk running about in my city. They will have to be monitored from somewhere else."

"Of course, I understand. Is there anywhere they can stay where they can be put to use? We do wish to earn your utmost trust, and it would be a great honor to assist you in your conquest of Virdis."

Nero scratched his chin. "Let's see, where to put a whole bunch of unruly thieves for the time being…"

"Anywhere would suit us. A forest would be wonderful, but we can adapt to anywhere. Any mountain, cave, fort, abandoned campsite you can think of, we shall gladly make our home there."

"…Fort, huh?" Nero glanced toward the southeast. "Well, if work is what you're after, we can have you stationed up at Fort Gladius. We can put the Foresters to work tending to the soldiers stationed up there. A couple miles from here, but close enough to keep a close eye on your ilk."

Jason bowed once more. "If that is your decree, we would be humbled to stay at Fort Gladius."

Lord Martius nodded sagely. "Fort Gladius has been in need of some repairs as of late. We had a rather nasty encounter with Subterrans a few months prior. The Foresters will be put to work rebuilding our defenses and ensuring the dam is secured."

Jason raised his brow. "Dam?"

Lord Martius. "Ah yes, Fort Gladius serves as a wellspring of freshwater that is funneled through our aqueducts into the city. There is no greater honor than overseeing the lifeblood of the earth that nourishes us."

"Truly spectacular."

Nero scoffed. "You can grovel later. You've interrupted my fun for the afternoon, so I might as well show you to your new accommodations and responsibilities." He snapped his fingers. "Terminus, have Skill Hunter Harlow stripped of her weapons and gear. Have her fitted with new prison rags and a collar. If she is to be our new entertainment for future battles, we can't have her running off anytime soon."

Terminus bowed. "At once, Emperor Nero."

Melissa scowled. "If you think I'm just going to let you take me prisoner without a fight, you've got another thing coming!" She tried to jump him, but Jason kept a tight hold of her arms.

"This is for your own good, Harlow," he said. "You'll thank me for this one day."

She turned and growled at him. "Oh, don't think I'm leaving you out of this!" She lunged and delivered a swift headbutt to his skull.

"AGH!" He let her go and covered his forehead.

She tried to attack Nero again, but Terminus stepped in and caught her in his arms. She snapped her teeth at the unfazed emperor who merely smirked at her struggling. "I take back my earlier reluctance. You may prove to be the right spice for the colosseum." He waved Terminus along, who bowed and carried the snarling Buneary off.

Lord Martius placed his hand atop Jason. "Are you alright, Fairy Knight?"

"Agh. I'll live…" he grumbled.

He nodded. "You made the right decision. You will see that swearing allegiance to New Chariot shall mark a new age throughout Virdis."

"…Yes, it shall indeed."

Two invading Foresters. One swearing allegiance, and the other swearing vengeance. Two polarizing personalities in face of the emperor.

On the outside, at least.

On the inside, Jason and Melissa were smirking. Devious smirks of two master thieves who managed to get past the first big hurdle in their plan.

Phase One: Complete.

Umbra Forest Council Meeting: Infiltration

"So, you want us to sneak into Telo Martius under the cover of an alliance?"

Tadhg smirked confidently. "It's quite a bold plan. Emperor Nero is a proud man, but he's also not so easily fooled by deception. Fortunately, he does still require the council of his father who would see the potential of the Foresters joining their ranks. If we can convince Lord Martius, he may be able to sway his son's opinion to the idea."

Blackwood nodded. "Trust won't be earned immediately, but that's also by design. We don't want the Foresters stationed in the city specifically. You need to make it so that they place your team at a special location. We're thinking Fort Gladius."

Jason raised his brow. "Fort Gladius? What's that?"

"It's a base set up atop a mountain with running freshwater," Moira explained. "It's where all the city's water supply comes from. It's held back by a large dam built into the side."

Tadhg nodded. "The key will be to convince Nero into thinking it's his idea. If you ask him to set them up on Fort Gladius, he'll immediately realize something's amiss. You have to lead him into thinking about the fort. Fortunately, that may not be so hard."

Moira nodded. "Last month, they had a nasty encounter with the Subterra Kingdom. From what we heard along the grape vine, their king apparently wanted to test out a new weapon he acquired recently. It was surprisingly effective, so Fort Gladius is in need of repairs."

Melissa glared. "So, we trick Nero into setting the Foresters up in Fort Gladius and have them do some manual labor—"

"All in an effort to carry out the next step of my plan," Tadhg finished. "We'll send three spies into Telo Martius. One goes undercover, one carries out the alliance with Nero, and the other…will be placed in the colosseum as a bargaining chip."

Jason crossed his arms. "I don't like the idea of groveling to Nero, but I suppose I'm the best choice to act as the spokesman for the Foresters."

Melissa giggled and nudged his side. "Maybe you can play the part of a villain from Journey of the Storm Breaker."

"That would allow me to stomach the mission better." Jason glared. "But who's going to be used as the bargaining chip?"

Blackwood glared back. "Not an easy decision using one of your own men and placing them into the Centum Death Ring. They'll have to be someone strong, but also someone worthy. You can't just send one of your rookies. It'd have to be someone will enough renown worthy of being a peace offering."

"…" Melissa raised her head. "Well, in that case, who better than the first female combatant of the colosseum AND the most dangerous criminal to spawn out of the criminal underworld?"

Jason's eyes widened. "What?!"

"I'll offer myself up for the colosseum."

"Send this letter to Centurion Decimus. He is to send out a welcoming party to the Foresters waiting within our territory." After handing the letter off to the messenger Pidgeot, who took off into the air immediately, Nero turned back to Jason who stood at attention by the palace entrance. "I must admit, I'm surprised someone of your renown would come to us in your time of need. I expected the Foresters to be a prouder bunch."

Jason leveled his glare. "With the recent transgressions and conspiracies committed against us, we couldn't uphold our status in the west for much longer. We were in desperate need of food and supplies. It was only logical to come to New Chariot given your reputation as conquerors."

Nero chuckled. "Well, you made a wise decision, but flattery will not earn my favor so easily. You are still a wild card in my eyes." He glared down at the Pikachu, eyes sparking with black crackles of energy. "One step out of line, and you'll see that my luxurious position as emperor hasn't dulled my skill in battle."

"…Of course, Emperor Nero."

"…" The brief show of malice faded as soon as it formed, and the emperor burst into laughter. "However, prove your loyalty to me, and you'll be showered in the same luxury I grant my people. Telo Martius may be the capital of wealth where all are equal and luxurious, but I grant that same fortune to all under the banner of New Chariot. Even western thieves like you aren't exempt by my charity."

Jason withheld the urge to roll his eyes. "Your generosity knows no bounds, does it?"

"I know no such limits." Hands tucked behind his waist, the croc made his way down the grand hall. "Come, allow me to show you to your newfound responsibilities. Once Terminus gets back from putting your former ally in the colosseum, you'll be working closely by him as my bodyguard."

"A lofty position to give to a potential threat," Jason remarked.

"Yes, well…you haven't seen what Terminus is capable of, so let's not test the waters yet. Ah! First things first…" He stopped and pointed at the Pikachu. "I'm gonna need you to strip out of your uniform."

"…Eh?!"

Not sure if I should feel relieved or mortified.

Jason followed Nero to the upper level of the palace that served as the croc's bedroom. Before they did, however, Nero instructed the Forester leader to change into a new uniform to better reflect his position. Gone was his Forester jacket and pants, he sported a red robe that went down to his ankles, a chest plate, a harness that wrapped from his left shoulder to his right hip, golden pauldrons on both shoulders, and a golden helmet with a plume of red feathers sprouting from the top. He was allowed his sword and a new circular shield.

Jason withheld his annoyance. I should've expected I'd be wearing their armor. Just keep playing the villain, Jason. You've done this before when you and Melissa were acting in private…emphasis on WERE. Good grief, now I'm thinking about it again! Ugh, so embarrassing!

"Here we are, Stormbreaker!"

Jason snapped out of his internal distress and gazed upon the open bedroom of the emperor. Despite the circumstances, it felt strange being in such a luxurious room and not aiming to steal everything in sight. He admitted to himself it was a nice room, though not anything he'd personally have.

He noted the lack of a wall leading to the outside. "Uh, is that…dangerous?" he asked.

Nero chuckled. "I like the fresh air. Besides, if anyone had the guts to get this close to the palace, they're more than welcome to try and assassinate me. What little good that'll do them, but why live my life in fear?"

"Hmph. Well, it's certainly unique, I'll give it that." Jason looked around at the wall of weapons displayed through the grand room. "What's all this?"

"Hmm?" Nero glanced over his shoulder and smirked. "Ah, those are just weapons from my ancestors. Proud warriors they were. Though, some of these actually belong to other soldiers within our armies, and I figured I would honor their service by mounting their treasured weapons on my wall."

"I suppose there's no greater honor than that," Jason mumbled. His roaming eyes soon landed on a peculiar weapon, one that didn't look like it belonged in New Chariot. In fact, it seemed…strange to him.

It was a red three-sectioned staff marked with golden serpent dragons coiling around the individual staves. Unlike most of the other weapons, this one seemed fairly new despite the battle scars it wore. It was a weapon that clearly saw a lot of action before it was displayed.

"Ah, that one." Noticing the Pikachu's staring, Nero approached him. "I must admit, I'm something of a weapon collector. We regularly send out scouts to monitor our neighbors up north. They found this beauty at the base of Mt. Algus months ago. Don't know who it belonged to, but it looks nicer on my wall than on the ground."

"Huh."

"You can't have it, if that's what you're thinking."

"No, nothing like that. It…just looked familiar, that's all."

"NERO!" Jason jolted as several women came rushing up into the grand bedroom. Almost immediately, they rushed past the Pikachu and jumped the emperor, shoving him to the ground.

"Oh Nero, thank goodness you're alright!" the Pachirisu, Fortuna, squealed. "Don't go running off like that again!"

The Blaziken placed her hand over her chest. "Oh, I'd be devastated if anything happened to you."

The Bayleef shot her a glare. "Only because you wouldn't be living it up in the palace—"

"Hush~."

Nero sat up and wrapped his arms around his girls. "Ah, sorry I worried you all. Got caught up in a little something~."

Jason immediately took note that all the women wore rather revealing clothing and turned his eyes away from them. "Ahem, uh…so, this isn't an assassination, I'm guessing?"

Nero picked himself back up and dusted his clothes off. "Stormbreaker, these are the members of my harem: Fortuna, Ceres, Maia, Concordia, Invidia, Juno, and Salacia. In addition to protecting me, you'll also be serving to protect them. Girls, this is Jason Stormbreaker, our newest ally."

The Ampharos, Salacia, hugged Nero's arm. "Isn't he the one that was causing trouble an hour ago?"

"No, that would be the other one. Stormbreaker and the Foresters will be our new allies serving directly under New Chariot."

Fortuna let go of Nero and marched up to Jason, giving him a critical glare. "The Foresters are allying with you? Nero, doesn't this seem a tad strange to you?"

Jason withheld a grimace. Don't tell me she's already seeing through the ruse?

Nero laughed. "Oh, believe me, they're not off the hook yet. We'll be keeping a very close eye on them to make sure they aren't up to anything devious. Rest assured, my dear Fortuna, I have everything under control."

"…" The Pachirisu shot one last stink eye at Jason before bouncing back over to Nero, lunging into his awaiting arms and peppering his face with kisses. "Alright, I'll trust you, my liege~."

Nero stroked her back before smirking at Jason. "These are the kind of luxuries one expects in Telo Martius, Stormbreaker. Riches, stability, and entertainment. I could lend one of my girls to you to give you an idea of what loyalty brings under my banner."

The Greendent, Invidia, giggled feverishly. "I wouldn't mind having a round with the Fairy Knight. He's pretty cute~."

Jason's face heated up as he immediately raised his hands in defense. "Uh, no thank you. I'm…kind of, sort of already seeing someone, and I don't think she would take too kindly with me participating in…any of that."

Nero shrugged. "I can't fault a man for staying loyal. Fair enough." He kissed Fortuna one last time on the forehead before setting her down. "Even so, you and the Foresters will soon see the benefits of working alongside New Chariot. We are a proud people, and we will not let anyone stand before our rightful glory. This is the way of the world. We are the kings of Virdis, and I am its god leading them to salvation."

Jason calmed down and glared at the emperor. "Your culture is very different to where I come from. I've never heard of a king being held in such high regards. Comparing oneself to a god would be considered blasphemous."

Nero smirked. "New Chariot doesn't have time for theory. Whether or not gods exist, they don't serve any purpose out here. We lead by fact and example, thus the title of emperor is tantamount to the status of a god. It is my duty to uphold the strength of my people, but I prefer to uphold a far greater duty to my empire."

"How so?"

"Come. Let me show you something." He waved the Pikachu along as he stepped out onto the balcony. "I'll be back soon, girls. Once I'm finished showing the mouse around, I'm treating you all to dinner."

"Thank you, Nero~!" they exclaimed, waving to him seductively.

Jason breathed in deeply and pinched between his eyes. Yep, Melissa would definitely rather be fighting grown men in a death match than being stuck up here.

Nero led Jason up a set of winding stairs built into the side of the palace, taking them up to the rooftop. The wind was much stronger from the roof, blowing back Jason's fur as he kept pace with the emperor.

Once they reached the middle of the roof's edge, Nero spread his arms out and let the wind blow across his robes. "Look upon this city, Stormbreaker! What do you see?"

Jason jumped onto the ledge and peered down. He saw civilians going about their usual day, soldiers patrolling the streets, and kids playing around a fountain in the distance. Aside from that, not much else of note.

"I'm…not entirely sure," he admitted.

Nero laughed. "Then perhaps you can tell me what you don't see? Coming from the squaller of the west, do you see anything amiss? Do you see strife? Do you see the souls of the mistreated wasting away in my city?"

"I don't see anything like that."

"Precisely. This is what I protect, Stormbreaker. My people. Under the reign of New Chariot, all who bow before me are showered in the luxury I bathe in. No one may go hungry, may sleep on the streets on a cold winter's night, may live with ragged clothes, may be denied health and care, and more! You won't find a single trace of poverty in New Chariot, for I pioneered the complete extinction of the concept within my territory."

Jason's eyes widened. "There…isn't a single person in your empire who's poor?"

"So long as they remain loyal and worship the banner of New Chariot, I will always protect my subjects' right to live." Nero chuckled. "I'm no fool to the ways of the west and the way they've maintained their lands. Foolish kings, loss of control over one's territory, crime rampant in the streets…such concepts are unworthy to coexist with the Martius family."

Jason glared. "But how can you guarantee such total peace in your empire?"

"Why do you think we are the prime source of slave trade in Virdis? Defiant souls who refuse to bow before the empire will never run short. Slaves who hold onto hope, believing they will be free one day, stay strong under the reign of their captors. The men who fight in my colosseum hold onto hope that they will earn their freedom one day by becoming the strongest. And as long as a foreign land or kingdom defies us…"

"…You can plunder their resources and manpower to grow your strength," Jason mumbled. "You use war as a means to destroy everything around you and push defiant soldiers to keep fighting under the belief they'll defeat you, thus meaning they'll keep adapting and creating new resources for you to take."

Nero smirked. "Once I conquer Virdis, we'll expand our conquest to other lands. I cannot control the world, but I don't need to. As long as war exists, New Chariot will keep fighting and fighting, adapting and adapting to guarantee our place in the war. A thousand-year war where my people will live in luxury and free from the burdens of selfish rulers. Every action we take is done solely to keep this war going as long as possible. Sometimes we lose battles, but the war will never cease."

"…That is truly devious," Jason admitted. "You must have a lot of faith in your soldiers."

"We only train the best. It's an honor to serve in the New Chariot military." He pointed across the city. "I personally see to their training conducted near Telo Martius. There's a training grounds where we train thousands of new soldiers a year. Our current batch are still fresh recruits, but they'll soon become an unstoppable unit of power that'll defend the empire like their predecessors."

"How strong would you say they are?"

"Heh. They're not suited for wartime yet, but they should be strong enough to defend the city should the need arise. We only expect the best out of our military."

"Hmm." Jason hid the small smirk forming over his lips. "That…is truly fascinating."

Telo Martius Training Hall

"Agh, my back's killing me!"

"Oh, like you have room to complain! I nearly sprained my leg during that last run through the obstacle course!"

"I am not suited to be working in this heat…"

After a long and exhausting afternoon of intense training, the new trainees for the New Chariot military gathered into the mess hall for their scheduled meals. Many were drenched in sweat, littered with cuts and bruises, and struggled to stay awake as their lungs caught fire from all their heavy breathing.

The young Weavile soldier slammed his head down on the table. "Wake me up when it's winter again…"

A fellow Sandslash soldier grabbed the ferret-like Pokémon by his feathers and pulled him up. "We just have to get through another few hours, and we'll be free to sleep."

A Quaxwell soldier sitting across from them ran his wing through his messy hair. "It will all be worth it. Once we've been officially made into infantrymen, we'll be able to serve the empire." He placed his fist over his heart. "I'll be celebrated back home in Corduba as a war hero!"

Weavile smirked. "Oh, don't go acting so high and mighty. You just want to impress that girl you've been fancying back home~."

Quaxwell blushed, nervously twirling his hair around his index feather. "Um, well…she said she liked men in uniform, so…"

Sandslash groaned. "You're so pathetic."

"Oh hush! You just wanted an excuse to come to the capital!"

He smirked. "Duh! The rest of the empire is nice, but there's nothing nearly as luxurious as the capital. The food here is even more exquisite than in Istropolis."

Weavile laughed. "At least you guys have reasons." He sighed sadly. "My dad made me join. I wanted to become a painter, not get yelled at by another angry veteran."

Quaxwell shuddered. "Ugh, I almost forgot. Our unit is being instructed personally by Commander Nemesis tomorrow."

The revelation of that made all of them groan in anguish. "Not Nemesis!" Sandslash cried. "He's the most violent of the commanders! And he scares the shit out of me!"

Weavile winced. "No kidding. I still can't believe he was the one who decapitated the king of Umbra Clock last year. I heard he carried the king's head on his beltloop like a trophy."

Quaxwell covered his beak. "Good grief. I love the empire and all, but there are just some things that seem uncalled for."

"Imagine if he was put in charge of our unit after we complete our training."

"Ugh, don't say shit like that! It freaks me out!" Sandslash cried.

"Aww, you boys getting restless~?"

The soldiers perked up to the sound of an angelic voice dancing across their ears. Almost immediately, they turned with bright pink blushes across their faces as a servant girl walked up to them with hot meals balanced atop her arms and head. They waved at her meekly as she set the meals down in front of them.

"Hi, Vibiana~," they greeted shyly.

There were plenty of servant girls, some slaves and some hired, who served the training hall and tended to the needs of the soldiers while they were in training. Among them was a personal favorite of the trio, and practically all the new recruits. She moved with such grace, spoke with such sincerity, and had an eye that sparkled like the stars on a clear night sky.

Dressed in a black servant uniform and wearing an eyepatch over her left eye, the mysterious Meowstic giggled at their awestruck expressions. "Well, don't you worry. I'll happily tend to your woes. Now, how may I best serve you today?"

Umbra Forest Council Meeting: The Third Spy

"So, what's the deal with a third spy?" Jason asked.

Tadhg glared. "If we plan to launch an attack on Telo Martius, we need to cripple as much of their manpower as possible. Telo Martius is where they train the new recruits, and even fresh faces can still prove dangerous during an invasion. They'll serve as an extra line of defense alongside their veteran brothers."

Moira glared. "However, that's the advantage we'll capitalize on. The recruits will be refreshed and ready for battle while the veterans will be exhausted from performing their normal duties. We'll take advantage of the summer weather and strike them at their weakest."

"The plan is to remove the recruits from the equation and lessen their overall power," Tadhg finished.

Melissa nodded. "I see. So, you want to send someone in to destabilize them before the invasion."

"We can't take any chances. Everything has to go down perfectly."

Blackwood folded his hands together and leaned his chin atop them. "The next question naturally becomes WHO we send as the spy? They will have to infiltrate Telo Martius in advance before we said you two in."

Moira nodded. "It would have to be someone who can easily blend in with the servants who cater to the recruits. Someone who could easily cause trouble and not draw suspicion onto herself."

Jason glared. "We could send Marie. She's good at manipulating people."

"…" Melissa raised her hand. "Actually, may I suggest sending Lillia?"

Tadhg raised his brow. "Lillia? Explain."

"Lillia is one of the kindest people I know, and you said so yourself that these recruits are inexperienced with warfare. If there's anyone who wouldn't draw negative attention onto herself, why not one of the kindest souls in the Foresters? She can scout out the soldiers and get to know them, finding the most effective way to take them out while earning their trust."

"…" Blackwood smirked. "That's not a bad idea."

Jason nodded. "Lillia did help with negotiating with our supporters, so she knows a thing or two about earning trust. Hmph, alright. We'll go over this with Lillia later."

Tadhg smiled. "Alright. In that case, let's discuss how to best get her into the capital undetected…"

Fort Gladius

After receiving the emperor's letter, a squadron of soldiers were deployed to greet the thieves at the meeting spot arranged by Jason. Once arrangements were set, the Foresters were escorted to the mountain base and led up the winding path to the top.

Representing the Foresters was Eadwulf, who did most of the talking for their group. Unbeknownst to the soldiers, despite their sizable group, they weren't fully accounted for. The other Nature Spirits, the co-leaders, Petra, Lambert, Godfrey, and Pandora were left behind in the Umbra Clock Kingdom. Though they hated to cooperate with their enemy, they understood the weight of their mission.

Leading the return party was Centurion Decimus, a proud Turtonator dressed in golden armor. He glared over his shoulder, peering down at Eadwulf. "I hope you understand the conditions placed upon your group during your stay here."

Eadwulf bowed his head. "We will gladly assist in any way we can in honor of the emperor. You have my word."

"Hmph." Decimus glared ahead at the winding path. "I find it foolish to place any trust in you thieves, but I trust the word of the emperor. You will not do anything without our say. I hope that is made clear."

Eadwulf nodded. "Of course."

Deep in the back of their group, Ragger bore holes into the back of the centurion's head with his glare. His body itched for action, and to finally break down the walls of the city. He only had one thing on his mind, and he despised having to play the subservient underling to claim his reward. Still, if all went well…

Hold on a little longer, Freya. Big Bro's coming to rescue you.

Leon noticed the Hakomo-o's shaking and glared. "Anxious?"

"What gave it away?" he whispered.

Felix hastened his pace and grinned. "Do not worry, Ragger. Have heart in Master Harlow's plan."

"We'll take down Telo Martius before you know it," Victoria quietly cheered.

"…" Ragger groaned. "I hope so…"

As they reached halfway up the mountain, the Foresters took notice of an unusual scar across the earth. Blackened mounds of earth resembling a mudslide lay still with trees sunken, toppled over, or incinerated to twigs. It was cooled lava.

Glancing higher up the mountain, they barely saw where the lava had originated from, noting the breaches in the earth and the impact crater where the lava first formed. Something powerful had struck the earth and triggered a molten avalanche that cleaved through the earth in what looked to be a devastating ambush.

"Sheesh, that doesn't look pretty," Sadie mumbled.

"What the hell happened here?" Enora asked.

Decimus grimaced. "If you think that's bad, wait until you see the damage done to Fort Gladius. That, my newfound underlings, was a sampling of our enemy, the Subterra Kingdom. Their king graced us with his presence months ago. He brought a small army, but it wasn't an attack on us. It was a demonstration."

"A demonstration?" Ursula asked.

Decimus nodded solemnly. "He wielded a mighty hammer that glowed in a most unusual manner. The second he struck the land, lava erupted out from the ground and swallowed everything in its path. A monstrous display of power I dare not witness again. It was a warning for what was to come."

Eadwulf glared. "Something spurred the Subterra Kingdom into declaring war?"

"Bold savages, they are. Still, they make the mistake of crossing New Chariot. They shall be dealt with soon enough." Decimus glared back at the thieves. "Perhaps then you will show the depths of your loyalty by slaughtering the wretched savages."

The Foresters made no comment as they continued up the mountain with the soldiers. They held back their disgruntled attitudes toward the centurion, knowing full well what was to come should they stick to their plan. Eadwulf steadied his own breathing and kept his head held high.

Remember the plan, Eadwulf. Trust in Jason and Melissa.

Umbra Forest Council Meeting: Fort Gladius

"Fort Gladius will be our target of interest," Tadhg said as he unfurled a map across the war table. "That will be the key to the invasion."

Moira scoffed. "Your plan is to cut off their water supply? Wow, I didn't think you'd stoop to forced dehydration."

Tadhg chuckled. "Oh, my plan is a bit more devious than that." He glared over at Jason and Melissa. "Of course, you two may have some reservations about this."

Jason glared. "What are you talking about? Why are we setting up the Foresters on this mountain in the first place?"

"We need to guarantee without a shadow of a doubt that the entire city is weakened to the next extreme. If you wish to have a bloodless invasion, this will be the first step to victory." He tapped down on the marker representing Telo Martius. "We can't storm the capital and just kill Nero. We'd end up turning him into a martyr instead. His death would only inspire further rebellion and war against Virdis. No, we need to take a different approach."

Melissa glared. "Force him into a treaty he can't refuse."

"Exactly. Nero is a man of war, thus even he knows when it is the time to surrender. New Chariot may be our enemy, but the knowledge it holds could prove beneficial to the rest of Virdis. You said it yourself that you want to unify the ten kingdoms. Putting New Chariot in its place and establishing negotiations with Nero will allow us to undo the evil web of torment done under their rule. We could even earn a fateful ally in him."

Jason grunted. "I'm not sure I like the idea of a treaty with a man who propagates slave trade."

Tadhg glared. "Nothing happens without small sacrifices. You want to avoid as much bloodshed as possible? This is the best way to do so. If we can take Nero hostage, we can force him into negotiations with a treaty. And we'll make sure he has no incentive to break the terms of the treaty."

"…Very well."

Melissa raised her brow. "But what does this have to do with Fort Gladius? How does taking control of that help us in the battle?"

Blackwood smirked. "Because Fort Gladius will be the key to debilitating their army. Remember, there's a dam that keeps back all the freshwater, but the reconstruction done to that mountain over the decades made it so that dam protects Telo Martius from any…less-than-welcomed surprises."

Melissa and Jason's eyes widened in horror. "Wait, are you suggesting we…?!"

Tadhg nodded solemnly. "We're going to shatter the dam and manipulate the flowing water to flood Telo Martius."