EPISODE 203: CLANG! 1

— GREAT EDRYAN, YEAR: 7292. SEASON: NEW BEGINNING.

Days passed, and the three armies of Queen Titiana converged toward the forest's center. The creatures of Wyvern's Roost fell in droves as what seemed like every beast in the forest ran to delay the converging armies. The sky above was clear, with little to no clouds present, as the sunshine of spring let itself be known to all. It was a joyous day, one where the citizens of Edryan would spend their time outside enjoying the vast sky and freshness of the air. Children would run around with wooden swords and armor in mock battle, their laughter bringing smiles to the older grandparents who watched from a distance.

Edryan was beautiful. It's green pastures and forest sprouting with new life. The capital buzzed with activity as, for the first year… there was no court session to get things running. The [Prime Overseer] stuck to her duties as head of the people, and her initiatives were widespread and impactful. This, of course, was through the initial guidance of the [Chosen of Madris]—his foresight and wisdom in connecting the country brought far too much vigor. Even those in the remote villages and the Wild Magi who stuck to their traditional tribal ways felt the impact. This New Beginning surged with a vitality rarely seen, and this was only the start of the season.

Birthdays passed, with many of the Little Greats turning seventeen and soon eighteen now that the new year arrived. Nearly two full years under the Prime System and their levels had surged—they were faster than their elders, with better classes and dynamic skills, but… strangely… many felt it wasn't enough.

…

He stood at the forefront.

…

He stood at the edge of Imperius Army, his red-golden eyes watching the battle against Calamity. This time, it was a bit different; this time Lawruthian Imperius Koltius Edryani — Holy Son of Edryan, would battle with the Imperius Army. They deserved it— NO —they earned it through the bloodshed of peers just for a chance to cling to his shadow.

…

He was strong.

…

Stronger than anyone near him, and with each level, that difference only grew.

…

So they fought, fought to get closer, fought to have a chance to rise into glory. To have their names carved into the foundation of the Promised Land—their deeds immortalized, and their names sang through the tales of [Bards].

The ground trembled, and hands clutching weapons tightened their grips. The clear sky grew dim.

…

Wyverns had come.

…

Thousands—tens of thousands of creatures littered the air like birds in flight. The once clear and bright sky was now dimmed as the wyverns replaced the clouds—emerging from the inner region of the forest in which they roost.

Lawruthian's red-gold eyes reflected the hundreds of wyverns, but his mind was unfocused—still present days ago around that campfire as Carno Axius Karl Edryani told his story.

… ‎ Carno smiled, a small thing that erupted into laughter. "You want to know my story, Lawruthian Imperius Koltius Edryani—the Weak? Then, You Shall Have It. "

He took a seat across from Lawruthian, staring at him over the campfire. "I was born in the year 2340 to a young magi-human named Tenten Edryani in a time when the magi had no clear leadership and remained partially split. I was born in a period of strife left behind by my predecessor who was unable to finish a simple job because of her weakness and lacking desire to finish off her lover," Carno sneered.

The morning sun continued in its rise; the black smog of burning campfires and bodies filled the air. The day grew brighter, but the fire before the lone [Chosen] grew darker. His peers retired to catch whatever rest they could before the army moved or a new attack occurred. Lawruthian listened, quietly stoking the fire as Carno voiced his story.

"Back then, there were many Edryani offshoots and descendants of Alidra who managed to worm their way to the top of Edryan society," Carno spoke; his eyes weren't on his peer but seemed to be gazing elsewhere during that period. "We lived as separate tribes who held a collation of magi tribes underneath us. We stayed as far as what you call the Warring Beastman Plains, with millions of magi occupying that land."

"My mother was the Grand Princess who ruled over seven cities—those you call your Six Great Houses were among them while your now destroyed Grand Houses, the Ahuum, Maar, and Enlar each held their respective Edryani leaders. The magi land was a collation of territories, each under an Edryani ruler. Thirty-three clans…? There used to be hundreds," he laughed, but his gold-red eyes remained cruel and focused. "Unlike you, I wasn't handed the position of [Chosen of Madris]—no, I had to fight for it."

Lawruthian raised an eyebrow, surprised at Carno's last words. He had to fight for it? Lawruthian grabbed another log and tossed it into the flames, watching their sparks jump from the movement. Carno continued to speak, his gaze on the flames as he told his story. His fist quietly clenched and unclenched as if he was currently present in the story he told.

"Back then, the Goddess issued a proclamation—one born in that year to an Edryani would become her next [Chosen of Madris] and lead Her armies to conquer the world," Carno chuckled—it was a hollow, mocking thing. "Oh, you should have seen the bloodshed, clandestine assassinations, and more that took place. Thrice they tried to end me—once in the womb and several times as a child. It was a wonder the system didn't activate itself early for me."

Lawruthian's eyes refocused on the present, but his thoughts still retraced the story of Carno—a large Calamity that blotted out a large section of the sky demanded his attention. The wyvern was a Queen among its kin, and the crown on her head established that dominance. This was Calamity Frigid Lady , while elsewhere, the second most known Calamity of Wyvern's Roost, Calamity Stormlord , would fight against a different Gate Protector Army.

Around him, the men and women of the Imperius Army shifted. Some out of nervousness, others out of excitement. This was the stuff of legends, and they served as the soldiers who would bring forth the Legends of Lawruthian Edryani to light. Many understood that they were literally writing history, and the honor and glory afforded to them would be unmatched once they completed His Highness's objective.

General Ameri clashed her gauntlets together. The clang of steel on steel brought a surge of excitement from her soldiers. She took a deep breath before glancing at her brooding cousin. "Stay sharp, and… once we take off… stay close."

"I don't need your warning, I'm a warrior of the Oni, too," Ade Oni responded—seemingly adding the last word as if he were trying to convince himself. He'd been gloomy these past few days, and the General didn't fully understand why. She simply shook her head and returned her attention to the sky while giving her cousin one more word of warning.

"This isn't a ground-based battle, Ade—it will be chaotic and jarring for one who isn't used to aerial combat. Heed my warning —if you perish, then what would your mother think? How would your little sister react—hmph," she snorted, gesturing to the surrounding soldiers. "He is not the only one they look up to—do not compare marble and jade… they are two different materials with different values and uses."

Ade Oni kept quiet. It was unknown if the words of his cousin had any effect on him. However, his droopy posture shifted until his back was straight and upright—the blue flames that seemed to be deep in his eyes reignited. He took a long, deep breath—then, he put all thoughts outside of victory away.

In the center of the Imperius Army, General Alexandria unclenched and re-clenched her fist. This would be their biggest and most critical battle to date. It wasn't against men but beast—yet the feeling of excitement and ecstasy was unmatched.

THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!

Her heart beat with excitement; the blood of her body crashed through her veins. General Alexandria felt like a young child again, with her father present, telling her the tales of her ancestors and other great figures of Edryan as they sat before a campfire. Only this time… she was that figure. She was the one who was carving a legend alongside Lawruthian Edryani. She closed her eyes, blotting out the sky; then, she blotted out the rest of her senses.

THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

That was the only thing that made it through. The beat of her heart—slowly, surely… she opened her mouth and activated a skill. "(Imperius Mandate)."

(Imperius Mandate)

Rarity: Mythical

Category: Class Skill

Functions:

1. Create a direct link with one or more targets. Control their movements, skills, and actions in perfect synchronization under your command.

— Targets maintain individuality but must follow the directives issued through the bond.

— The link enables enhanced team coordination, improving collective efficiency in battle.

2. Allows the caster to override the target's natural actions for precision in tactical execution.

— Enhances skill usage synergy, reducing overall skill cooldown by {10%} when linked individuals act in coordination.

— Provides {Reaction Boost} to all connected targets for faster response to battlefield changes.

Cost:

50 MP. Each recipient pays 50 MP to sustain the link.

Description:

To be a good leader in battle, you need to control everything that's happening. The Imperius Mandate helps with this by letting the user directly control other people's actions, giving them full control of the fight.

She should not— could not— be the only one to experience this radical state of mind. General Alexandria connected to her army—connected to Lawruthian and the Little Greats.

THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!

Her heartbeat was like a drum of celebration—a drum of challenge that stoked the flames in the hearts of her magi. Regardless of whether they held nervousness, excitement, expectations, or hope—regardless of what they felt, all of it went away and merged into something different, something new.

The Imperius Army backs straightened, their unclasping and clasping grasp on their weapons halted; the swords and spears were held firmly. Their necks slightly craned up, iron gazes on the wyverns that flew above.

Together, their hearts beat as one—their blades moved as one—their skills activated… as one . "Imperius Army… take flight."

Lawruthian steadily rose into the air, an absent gaze drew to his mother—Queen Titiana and her lovers were before their army, ready to confront the incoming Calamity. While he watched and prepared himself to fight, Lawruthian continued to go over the story Carno told him.

Carno's callous gaze removed itself from the flames. He frowned as it settled on Lawruthian, but his words never halted. "Several children were born to the split Edryani—all claimed their child to be the next [Chosen of Madris]—my mother no different. In the morning, under the gaze of the people, my life was one any would desire—any would kill for. I possessed who I wanted, was given what I needed, and could take what others held. And, in the night…?"

Carno chuckled. "There was nothing but struggle. Each Edryani knew whose child won the Goddess's little competition would become the one to recombine the separate territories under one. This land, Edryan… it was our home—your city, Edrya, it was my capital," Carno turned away, his vicious gaze on the surrounding soldiers. "My mother would train me in the cruelest of manners. You say you are just now coming to understand the elements? I was forced to bathe in their raw fury. Should we not possess a natural area, then [Mages] simulating the effects would do. The scorching embrace of the desert's midday sun would sear my skin as I dragged weights through burning sands, my shoulders raw and blistered. In the depths of winter, I stood waist-deep in an icy river, my nails blue and trembling as she demanded I strike my blade until my arms gave out—or until I could no longer feel them."

Lawruthian stayed silent, but there wasn't an ounce of pity in his eyes. He listened to the words of Carno through a far-removed perspective. He could imagine the young child, no older than six or seven, forced into a secret life of training. In a world where the [Chosen of Madris] wasn't guaranteed, it seems Carno's mother did whatever was necessary to ensure her son would come out dominant.

"My mother used to whisper into my ears the glory that would come once I became the [Chosen of Madris]—she trained me to ensure I would have the most elite class selection come my system day—should I survive the competition against my cousins."

Carno laughed, looking at the cloudy blue sky filled with the black smog of death. "Goddess Madris held other plans—on my fifteenth birthday, and around the same of many others… we were forced to combat—to fight until none but one remained. That's how I became the [Chosen of Madris]… but you, Lawruthian Edryani…, do… not… care."

Lawruthian didn't respond, but that was a response within itself.

The Imperius Army rose, Lawruthian at the front, leading them. He looked to his left and right, at the young men and women—soldiers—who followed him. Some… would have their journey cut short today. Their expectant mothers and fathers would not see that smile, not hear that laugh, or their special inside jokes. That burden weighed on him… and it was why he fought. To preserve just one more life .

…

Perhaps that was why he gained his [Heroic] class.

…

Perhaps that's what it meant to be a [Hero].

…

Even… if they were fighting for his ambitions of grandeur—if they suffered now, then the payoff would return a hundredfold. That's what he believed. His golem took position before him, its movement through the sky unmarred from the wind and seemingly gravity itself.

They rose… one meter… two… then three …

Fast and faster they rose, the sky chaotic as the Central Gate Army began battle. The air grew cold and the flash of magic—fireballs and wind blades destroying anything in their path—their magic flashed above them, painting a horrifying picture as bodies fell like raindrops.

This was a fight between beast… and man. And… man held the desire to conquer—an age-old tale.

Lawruthian's blade sliced into the neck of a wyvern as the Imperius Army finally joined the fray. They delayed themselves to give time for the Central Gate Army to attract the strongest of the beast—leaving the weaker stars, three and below, outside the main battlefield. The Central Gate Army rode on Draconian steeds, with a mix of scales that gave them the appearance of sleek black fur. Flames spewed from their jaws and smoke from their nostrils as the cavalry-based army did what they did best.

…

The art of killing was like a story.

…

There was the exposition or introduction—where the characters were introduced. Lawruthian spotted a large wyvern, its scales black like the night and eyes bright like the moons—one red, the other blue. A tale of fire and ice. This creature was four stars, one that seemed relatively young and new, judging from its appearance and the general feel of Lawruthian's Intent in interacting with it.

They seemed to take a measure of one another before stepping out to do battle. The clear sky was their battlefield, and a mix of colorful scales and black armor became their backdrop. There seemed to be a moment of silence as Lawruthian and the wyvern spotted their next target. Then, like the bang of a referee's gun, both shot forward as a fireball exploded between them.

That was the inciting incident, although it could be argued the inciting incident happened long ago.

"You do not care, Lawruthian. What you care for is what made Carno Edryani turn into this—and, what I did to the continent," Carno's gaze refocused on Lawruthian. "You care for what occurred between me and Rasheed then and why I did my best to Eradicate Knowledge."

The blood of magi fell, the ground their backdrop while the sky remained their canvas. A picture of war was painted, a smile on their faces as they fell dying. Their Goddess would be pleased… and… their land above… Promised .

AN: Sorry no chapter Wednesday, school just restarted and I have six classes. (I'm ensuring I graduate this year). Also, I really want to take my time with the season finale of this book to ensure I'm satisfied and my promise, my pledge is fulfilled.

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