“Why do you not show that handsome face of yours, sir?” Veda entered the room where Jinn would often sightsee the stars. A splendid room for the ruler of Soa, the pinnacle of luxury and opulence.

Chuckle. Jinn laughed slightly, “You used to say that I should hide this face.” Ahem. The butler cleared his throat, “Entirely so. It’s just…” Veda’s words darted off. Hmm? Jinn understood his butler’s feelings, “Is there something that troubles you?”

The old butler found it surprising for Jinn to care that much about the feelings of his servants, after all, the man that Veda serves is The Angel of Death. “Well, I just thought it would be nice for this new world to see that face of yours.”

Jinn walked closer to the crystal-clear glass and removed the hood that covered much of his face, “I am beginning to feel this odd sensation whenever I don’t cover myself.”

Could it be? The butler thought instantly. “You were ashamed?” Jinn looked back at the butler with a subtle smile with those cold eyes and turned his gaze back to the stars. “I am delighted, sir,” this news was something to be celebrated, but, Veda did not see it as appropriate. For emotion to exist, a sense of shame is inevitable. The butler remembered what Jinn had done in the past by spilling oceans of blood on Earth. Even though this moment signifies the theory that Quantum Nanomachines can create emotions, it was the first time Jinn had felt shame for what he had done in the past. And now, it is hard for Jinn to see his own face.

Veda was enlightened with this newfound knowledge. It was a joyous occasion that has to be celebrated, yet, this moment required a solitary celebration. “I will leave you to it, sir.” The butler in the refined suit left the room and focused his interest on the Lord Disciple.

***

Fortress City, Gaspless, is an impregnable fortress on the border of Lindblum and Hollow World. It is a massive fort that grew to become a city and is founded between a mountain pass, and the only path to enter the Empire, the Imperial Ranpossa.

A single vassal manages such a fortress and a skilled one at that, Count Hugo, a noble who was once on King Albion’s side of the Civil War. Under his command, several Master Class Knights, a circle of Mages, Heavy Infantrymen, Heavy Mounted Bannermen, Heavy Longbowman, and the special unit, Aura Champions, sustain the border in anticipation that the Omen Nation would return.

Dario, King Albion, and the Undead were spread in perfect rows ready to besiege the “Absolute Fortress,” Gaspless. The ground beneath them was sand and earth, a place of humidity where the sun shines brightly from morning to sunset.

The King of Serdio spoke, “Must I hide my identity when we're about to slaughter everyone?” A dark-green hooded figure riding atop a horse was the figure of King Albion.

Dario came to the scene riding atop an Undead horse, Soul Eater, “We can’t risk breaking the Armistice Agreement. Worry not, Your Majesty, the time will come soon enough. And when that comes, we will intensify the world with war.” Unlike King Albion, Dario’s face with his platinum hair, silver eyes, and glowing tattoo was bare for all to see.

“I will lead the vanguard, you will give me that, at the very least?” King Albion said as if the statement was set in stone. Dario smirked, “I would have you in no other place than the front, and I, to your right.” King Albion grew curious, “Indeed? I was not expecting that answer at all.”

“How sharp of you, Your Majesty. Truthfully, I wish to learn from the ‘Javelin Saint,’ possessor of a Dragon Heart.” King Albion chuckled. Chuckle. “You’re too greedy, Lord Disciple. However, I suppose it would be right to teach a fellow Dragon Heart user.”

This was the sole reason why Lord Gloriano, 10,000 years ago, commanded King Thranduil and the Drows to remain secret until the chosen King of Serdio would appear. At the time, King Thranduil and his people were perfect for the role of cultivating and restraining the tremendous power of a Dragon Heart, yet, they did not know the purpose of their long mission until now. It was all so that King Albion would be guided on how to Master the Dragon Heart.

(Author’s note: Drows is interchangeable with Dark Elves.)

Since the founding of the Omen Nation 10,000 years ago, a single man from the Albion Family was chosen to become a Duke who would rule the Duchy of Basilisk, the Capital City of the Continent of Serdio. From amongst the kin of the Noble Family, a person would be born and ascend the Duchy to a Kingdom. He has come and his name is Tenebrae Vi Albion.

His Royal Highness of the Duchy of Basilisk is a martial king and GrandMaster of the Javelin. He is from a noble line of fighting kings and is fearless to take up arms for the sake of his subjects. Tenebrae would be the King of the Continent of Serdio but a royal dispute was decreed by his Lord Uncle, Asmodel Fon Doel, over the ascension to the throne.

Tenebrae Vi Albion Lvl. 130

Class: Mystic Realm

8th Circle Archmage

Species: Human

Main Job: Javelin Saint

Sub job: Jade Dragon Knight

Titles: Chosen Ruler of Serdio (passive)

Ethereal King (equipped)

Wind Dragon Javelin Saint (equipped)

Wyrm Slayer (passive)

Master of Paradigm (passive)

At this moment, King Albion’s long-awaited ambition could no longer be contained as his attractive face hardened, ready for war. In front of them were the forces of Count Hugo, King Albion’s former vassal. There was the Heavy Infratrymen at the Center while the Heavy Mounted Bannermen were stationed on each side. The Aura Champions and Heavy Longbowmen were in the back. Furthermore, there were Aura Champions placed on the castle palisades alongside the Mages. Ultimately, their numbers were exactly 30,000.

On the other side, 20,000 Undead forces were presently composed mirroring the forces of Count Hugo. Fully armored Death Knights with shields and swords at the center and Mounted Skeleton Knights on each side. Death Archers, Skeleton Apprentices, and Liches were at the back. In this operation, siege weapons or catapults were not necessary and a few Officers were present. A subjugation force of this size was more than sufficient to conquer the impregnable fortress. Dario did not place too much worry in this battle due to there being 2 GrandMasters present. Those two alone could easily destroy Gaspless, but, it was more expedient to keep the city.

“I’m uncertain that your Undead will match up to those numbers,” King Albion critiqued Dario’s forces for not matching up to the same amount as the enemy. “It’s a deceptive number and adding more Undead forces will only spook them. We have to make them think this way before reaching Arcadia,” Dario replied confidently.

“Still, Emperor Doel had placed people who could use Aura like them. For once, his paranoia had served him well.” King Albion had analyzed the enemy troops and saw that all of them could use Aura at the Expert level, especially the Aura Champions.

A grin donned upon Dario’s face, “I forget that Your Majesty has not witnessed my Undead fight as of yet? Watch as they display the difference.”

Tenebrae wholeheartedly understood the meaning behind Dario’s words, “Kukuku! If you say it that way, then this will be an all-out war!” The talk of strategy had ended and the time for battle was next.

“Marquis Saix,” Dario said. The Officers standing guard behind Dario and King Albion stepped forward and bowed. A tall figure with ebony plated leg armor and a long black coat with silver leaf-like patterns made his introduction. With long frayed cerulean hair with an X-shaped scar between his shining azul eyes, his voice was rough and rugged like a soldier returning from war, “Master.”

“Ptolemaeus,” the Elder Lich adorned in a gilded robe bowed as well. “This servant heeds the call.” Ptolemy’s eyes glowed crimson. These were the few Officers present that would fight at the front. “I leave this in your hands now.” Saix and Ptolemy both replied, “Yes, Master.”

The four went their way as Dario and Tenebrae led their groups of 5000 each, they would combine their numbers equaling 10,000 and break through the middle.

DUDUDUDUDUDU!!!

Sounds of rumbling as the horde of Undead mounted on skeletal horses led by Dario and Tenebrae traversed their way to the Fortress City. The war with the Imperial Ranpossa has finally started. “Advance!” King Albion lead the charge.

“Raise Shields!” The enemy Officer commanded the Heavy Infantrymen.

THUD! THUD! THUD! Sounds of shields planted on the ground formed a sturdy shield wall. “Spears up!!” SHWA! SHWA! SHWA! SHWA! Spears in unison pointed toward Dario and Tenebrae’s cavalry.

“They’re coming!”

“Hold the line!!”

Imperial Officers screamed their orders as the hooded King Albion initiated his first attack. “Hmph!!” Thrusting his Legendary Rated lance, King’s Honor, the technique King’s Charge is a Royal Exclusive skill that raises piercing attacks by 100%. Not only that, but it is also given to allies who are in the same charging formation. Therefore, Dario and the Undead cavalry were granted that same boon.

Name: King’s Honor Grade: Legendary -Cavalry Lance that was used by the Duke of the Duchy of Basilisk, Augustus Vi Albion, Tenebrae’s late father. Royal Exclusive Techniques: [Skill - King’s Charge] Rank: EX Proficiency: 120% -A unified charge that increases piercing damage by 100%.

TING! TING!!

“AIEE!”

“KHEK!”

“UAGH!”

CRASH! CRASH!! CRASH!!!

The Undead horde was equipped with ebony armor and weapons with light, medium, and heavy variations that made them look like swarms of ants covering the battlefield. Their superior weapons technology easily broke down the enemy's armor over time. Plated steel could do very little in the face of ebony.

Those that were defending and the ones attempting to pierce through made the battle fierce as the Stalemate was gradually going in the Omen Sect’s favor.

“Hold!!”

“Block them!”

Yet, the battle raged on fiercely as there were remaining soldiers that survived the King’s Charge. While Dario and King Albion create a diversion at the front, Marquis Saix arrived with the fully armored Death Knights and began the slaughter of the remaining soldiers on foot or horseback.

“Strip their defenses!” Marquis Saix's orders were heard loud to the Death Knights behind him and they displayed one-third of the full potential of Dario’s martial arts.

(Author’s note: a reminder, the Undead mimics the Sith Lord’s physical and magical abilities, skills, spells, and techniques by fractions.)

The Undead may perform a quarter or one-third of the Heavenly Demon Martial Arts, yet, most of the enemy cavalry and soldiers were having an extremely tough time catching up to the formless stance and blindingly quick slashes.

“Maintain formation!”

“We’ll lose if we don’t hold out!”

Heavy Infantry and Heavy Mounted Cavalry are the main tactics of the Imperial Strategies. And, all of them are Peak Realm Experts. They lived up to their name of being hard to kill with all that steel armor. The Officer who leads them was named Gorgus, a large brute that wears a full suit of intricate red and black armor with a metallic brown cape. On the battlefield, he is easily seen as the big red figure holding a large rectangular shield the same as the Heavy Infantry and two-handed Warhammer wielded on the right hand.

How foolish to induce chaos at the center! Our Heavy Shieldsmen can hold out at this rate. These were the thoughts of Gorgus who reveres his Heavy Infantry as the best of the best. It was a sentiment that proved true compared to other countries' troops. However, Gorgus began to doubt as he saw Dario and Tenebrae cutting through his soldiers like paper.

The Demonic people! Was Lord Hugo aware of such monsters in the Omen Nation?

It was an old reference to the Omen people being described as Demonic for living so close to Hollow World which people call the Demonic Lands. Over time, that reference came to be the primary insult towards the Omen people.

Gorgus saw the side as the Master Knight, Seymour, leading the Heavy Cavalry began their charge. He exclaimed, “Today is the day we destroy those filthy monsters!”

Noticing the oncoming wave of cavalry, Dario organized his troops with his thoughts to mitigate the coming onslaught. The strategy in which the cavalry on each side charges the enemy while the Heavy Infantry engages with Marquis Saix and the Death Knights.

Line up! A Sith Lord can organize his troops by mere thoughts that are sent out through telepathy. It made moving troops simple, fast, and effective, especially, when the enemy is well-versed in tactics and strategies.

Gorgus also ordered his troops to line up. The Master Knight almost made their way to the dark Undead horde, “Charge! Strike the enemy before they complete their formation!” Just like Gorgus’ Heavy Infantry, their Cavalry were elites as well.

However, the Omen Sect was also the best of the best. The Undead that was brought were the ones that had been around the longest as could be seen as they rotated to meet the Cavalry. Their experience showed as they moved fast, a contrast to most Undead that typically reacts slow.

CLASH! CLASH!

Swords clashing together and lances piercing amidst the screaming roared across the flat, barren land. “Strike the center!” Marquis Saix gave the order and delved into the madness of the battlefield.

In this madness that is a war between humans and the Undead, Count Hugo was watching atop the palisades with a sweaty face. He patted the sweat with a handkerchief, “Call for him! Quickly!” The Count ordered his subordinates around him to find a certain someone. Scurrying off, Count Hugo continued to pat the sweat from his forehead, then, a disembodied voice went off, “You were looking for me?”

Count Hugo and his bald head jumped in surprise as he fell to his bottom, “L-Lord Tasman! Oh, thank the heavens. Look!” The noble fumbling about pointed his finger towards the battlefield, “Your former country, the Omen Nation has returned!”

Entering the scene, the former 6th Demonic Master hailed as “The Swordmaster” across the world, Master Tasman. An ascetic that wears heavy armor and carries a greatsword made of Demonic Black Steel, he was the one who taught Dario how to wield the sword. The core reason why the Omen Nation lost the Omen Campaign was that six Demonic Masters turned rogue and sided with the enemy.

And now, the traitor showed himself after hearing about the Omen Nation conquering neighboring lands. He was in seclusion to ascend to the next level and left Count Hugo as a puppet leader to manage Gaspless. In truth, Master Tasman had chosen to align with Emperor Doel and was commanded to guard the border. It was a place where The Swordmaster could focus on training but was cut short and stopped at the precipice of the second Awakening.

Tasman Lvl. 99 Class: Peak of Transcendence Realm Species: Human

Main Job: Sword Saint

Sub job: Legendary Soul Reaver

Titles: Blossom Sword Saint (passive)

6th Demonic Master (formerly)

The Swordmaster (passive)