Ogre Tyrant: Chapter 78 - Violence and Vengeance - Part Two

Using my authority so we wouldn’t disturb the others, I left the cave with Suzy and made a spiralling waterslide for her to play with. Thankfully, Suzy appeared more than satisfied with riding the slide on her own, so long as I was actively watching and praising her bravery.

Kwan, roughly twice the size he had been before I last went to sleep, refused to approach the water. However, he did make a few attempts at entertaining Suzy by controlling the water from a distance. Forming translucent copies of himself and having them dance and fly for her amusement.

Cycling my breathing Technique throughout, I was relieved to find my migraine’s intensity was lessened by minor degrees. Which was something else I hadn’t fully appreciated until I had time to consider things.

The severity of my migraine and the lingering ache in my bones had been reduced somewhat considerably while I had slept. My internal energy had regenerated somewhat as well. So I couldn’t help but think my unwell state was related to overtaxing myself when hatching Kwan.

My thoughts turned to Pete and Momoko’s exhausted state.

Was I responsible?

Seeking answers, I was stunned to find that they had both learned several Techniques and progressed their respective Cultivation far higher than my own. One of the Techniques all but spelled out their actions, cementing my guilt.

I couldn’t, wouldn’t, make excuses. I was doing what needed to be done to keep them safe, and I hadn’t asked them to involve themselves. However, I hadn’t forbidden them either.

Sending Suzy back to bed, I resolved to take more active steps to rejuvenate myself.

Donning my stone armour, I exercised my authority and locked onto Gric’s position. Going through the motions to teleport myself to his general vicinity, I became aware of what I assumed was the Vassalized Monarch’s native authority.

I arrived in a dark smokey chamber.

Closing my inner eyelids against the smoke and dismissing several notifications that marked my successful resistance to a host of Conditions. I found Gric standing beside a cloaked figure my authority immediately identified as the native ruler of the realm, Thirteen.

“My Tyrant,” Gric bowed his head respectfully. “I must apologise! I have been trying to locate the reservoir that feeds the braziers but have met with little success...”

“It’s fine,” I replied somewhat dismissively, devoting the majority of my attention to the unexpectedly weak Cultivator cowering at his back. “You are Thirteen, the designated heir of the former Monarch.”

Seemingly uncertain how they should behave, the cloaked figure attempted to shy away and bow at the same time. However, they tripped on the edge of their cloak and tumbled forward onto the stone floor.

With my vision somewhat distorted by the smoke, it took me a few moments to be certain of what I was seeing.

Rather than trying to rise, Thirteen curled herself tight into a foetal position and grew deathly still, cradling her pale emaciated body with a scaly arm that was several sizes too large for her frail frame. The tension made the scars on her sallow flesh stand out like bloody crescents on a field of fresh snow.

Without saying a word, Gric knelt beside Thirteen and gave me a helpless and somewhat frustrated shrug. He asked, uncertain but also giving off the impression that he might challenge my answer if he deemed it unsatisfactory.

I slowly shook my head and reevaluated my position. If I had seen someone in that state, I doubt I would have had the heart to act any differently.

Gric commented darkly, his thoughts rumbling like distant storm clouds. He looked pointedly at Thirteen.

I replied distractedly, imagining what had been done to the young woman cowering on the floor but on a far larger scale. Struggling to process the horror such images invoked in my mind.

Locking onto Sebet’s position, I felt the same resistance to my authority as before. As I pushed through the resistance, Thirteen released a faint whimper. Whether it was out of pain or fear was unclear.

Appearing a short distance from Sebet, I had just a handful of seconds to recognise that I was surrounded by hundreds of people. Then, the screaming started.

Men, women and children, many of them bearing ugly surgical scars and monstrous limbs, began fleeing in all directions. Whether they lacked the strength of the will, some of them simply collapsed to the floor and narrowly avoided being trampled.

Wraithe demanded angrily.

Sebet agreed, activating her limited authority and attempting to send me elsewhere.

Realising I was only going to cause more harm, I used my authority to return to the other room.

I sat in silence for the better part of an hour, processing what I had seen in the other chamber. Cages stacked high to the ceiling, caked with grime and excrement, saturated in misery. Tables scattered with axes, knives and coarse thread. All were stained with blood so old it permeated their very being.

As horrific as those particular details were, the stark utility of the drainage system chilled me to the bone.

There were no visible attempts to mitigate the suffering of those being operated upon. Yet the operating tables had deliberate grooves cut into their surface to direct bodily fluids toward the drains beneath the tables. Similarly, the cages were positioned above massive grates that would serve as their only means of expelling waste. Requiring as little interaction with the prisoners as possible.

The Monarch responsible was dead, but it did little to stem the rising tide of revulsion and anger inside of me.

Someone needed to pay for this.

Gric apologised and made a point of looking at several of the larger bloodstains on the floor.

I briefly considered leaving my realm and chasing down the Beetlemen, but just as quickly dismissed the idea. I wasn’t nearly ready to face them on even ground again.

All the same, I couldn’t shake the increasing need to do something...Anything...

[ {Baldr Vragison ~ 6521} has issued a {Supremacy Challenge} against your Vassal {Thirteen ~ 3623}. {Thirteen} lacks explicit permission and cannot engage in the {Supremacy Challenge}. The Monarch will take the Vassal’s place and has ( 23h 59m 47s ) to dictate the terms of the conflict. ]

[ The penalty for refusing the {Supremacy Challenge} has been escalated due to {Vassal Inactivity} and is temporarily set at ( 50% ) of {Thirteen’s} {Dimensional Assets and Territories}. ]

The notification took me by surprise and only further stoked my anger.

Why couldn’t they just leave us alone?!

“Single combat!” I snarled viciously. “Just me and him! For everything he has!”

[ The monarch has chosen a duel between Monarchs. The Stakes have been set at ( 38 ) Standard Territories. ]

“NO!” Gric cried out in alarm rising and leaping toward me with arms open wide, as if believing he could stop what was to come by tackling me to the floor.

The smoky stone chamber disappeared and was replaced with a bleak expanse of rugged scrubland.

A tall broad-shouldered man with long blond thickly braided hair and wearing a burnished chain hauberk stared back at me from a few dozen feet away. The look in his slate-grey eyes made it clear that I was not who he had been expecting.

“Greetings! I am Baldr Vragison! High King of the shattered isles and the frozen sea!” Baldr’s voice was rough but held an unmistakable singsong quality my brain subconsciously associated with the northern European countries from Earth. Although I had no way of knowing which one specifically. “I have given my name, so it is only fair you give yours!” He demanded with an air of amusement.

Gathering my MP, I made a point of staring Baldr dead in the eyes. “It doesn’t matter.”

Despite the distance between us, Baldr seemed to have heard what I said. “Stranger, you do not wish for the Skalds to honour your legacy?!” He sounded genuinely concerned. “Felling one of your size and strength will guarantee my story is told for hundreds of generations to come! It is not right that your memory would be tarnished in this way!”

“It doesn’t matter,” I repeated darkly, forming a large hammer from the stone beneath my feet.

“Earth-shaper?” Baldr’s words were carried with unexpected clarity despite the distance between us. “It is another witch then?” He pulled his spear free of the earth at his side and bright runes blazed along the length of the shaft, radiating a powerful aura of Chi.

Concentrating my MP into the head of the hammer, I cast the Thundering Strikes Spell and charged.

“Thurr! Bless me with your might!” Baldr raised the leaf-bladed head of his spear to the sky, seemingly ignoring my advance.

Thunder roared overhead and lightning saturated with Chi forked from the sky, striking Baldr’s spear and arcing over his armour. A cyclone of runes flashed to life around him and Baldr’s body began to swell in size.

Conjuring a shield out of thin air at the last possible moment, Baldr deflected the blow I had intended for his skull. However, he had not expected what would follow and was sent flying backwards across the scrublands as the pressure from the explosion threw him off his feet.

Digging the butt of his spear into the ground, Baldr abruptly terminated his impromptu flight across the scrublands and regained his footing. Still surrounded by the floating runes, his increase in size was dramatic and in other circumstances may have been a cause for concern. However, he was still less than half my height, now twelve or fourteen feet tall at the most.

“By Wodin! That was a mighty blow!” Baldr roared vigorously, casting down his shield, now splintered and mangled, conjuring a replacement in its stead. “Stranger! Why not give your name?!”

Casting the Thundering Strikes Spell again, I hurled the stone shaft of the hammer in his general direction. We were close enough that I was confident I could hit him, provided he didn’t move, but beyond that, I had little confidence.

The improvised projectile sailed a foot wide of Baldr’s head and struck the ground a short distance beyond. While unphased by the stone spear flying past his head, Baldr made a point of crouching low and taking cover behind his shield from the accompanying shrapnel that flew back in his direction.

Casting the Shape Stone Spell, I raised five massive pillars from the earth and formed a temporary Chi Gathering Formation. Combined with the Formation already inscribed into my armour, most of my MP could be recovered by cycling my breathing Technique to restore my Chi.

I didn’t expect the fight to drag on, but I wanted to be prepared if it did.

Baldr eyed the pillars with concern for a few moments before shaking his head and striking the stave of his spear against the flat of his shield. “Stranger! Will you not fight me as a man?!”

Ignoring the pain from my migraine, I began stalking toward my enemy.

“Yes!” Baldr struck his shield thrice more in rapid succession and broke into a purposeful jog.

Just moments from coming within striking distance of one another, the runes on Baldr’s spear flared to life and the shaft extended several feet. Driving the spear forward with a mighty roar, Baldr’s savage grin turned to surprise as the head of the spear skittered harmlessly off my plate armour and off to my left side.

Despite his surprise, Baldr managed to catch my backhand against the rim of his shield, turning my strike aside and leaving me open for a retaliatory strike of his own. Or would have, if his shield and spear were not equally out of position.

Before I could drive my knee into his chest, Baldr leapt forward and to the side, placing him at my back.

I felt another light impact against my back, accompanied by a metallic clanging sound.

Rolling forward because of my established momentum, I scrambled at the dirt and redirected myself toward where I expected Baldr to be. Only to find that he wasn’t there.

Hearing a throaty roar coming from above, I resisted the urge to look up. Instead, I surrounded myself with Death-Affinity enriched Chi.

The roar turned to a pained yelp of surprise and the shaft of Baldr’s spear clattered harmlessly off my right pauldron. Baldr himself landed two dozen feet away, his right arm hanging limply at his side. “Hel! You have the cutting winds of Helheim at your call?!” He dropped his shield and slowly backed away. “Stranger! I seek no further conflict with you! There is no honour in falling to such sorcery!”

Taken aback, I stared at the cowering Monarch in surprise.

“I yield!” Baldr called out, raising his left arm and showing his open palm as proof of his intentions. “Stranger! Name your price! There is no glory to be found here!”

Anger swelled inside of me and for a moment, overwhelmed me. Seizing control over myself once more, I took several deep breaths and realised Baldr might provide the solution I was looking for. “Submit!” I demanded bluntly.

Baldr stared back at me in surprise.

“Submit!” I repeated, taking several steps closer to intimidate him further. “Swear fealty to me and I will let you live!” I expanded my aura and a large swathe of plant life between us withered and died.

If Baldr chose to Forfeit, I would gain half his territories. However, I didn’t want his territories, I wanted the Monarch himself.

I already had hundreds of thousands of subjects who could be drafted to wage war against my enemies. However, the majority were nowhere near strong enough to survive the opening engagements, let alone a protracted war. Which was why I needed subordinates who could take the fight to my enemies NOW. Subordinates who were already equipped to face higher stakes.

I needed more Vassals.

Irritated by Baldr’s indecision, I ramped up the theatrics by adding Thunder Chi to my aura, causing the air to crackle and hum with electricity.

“Allfather preserve me...” Baldr retreated several more steps and then fell to one knee. “I...I cannot blindly pledge servitude to one who wields the power of Hel...”

“Fealty!” I snarled. “NOT SLAVERY!”

Baldr flinched but didn’t look away. “You would swear upon your name?” He asked tentatively.

“On my name, I keep no Slaves!” I swore grimly. “I free them!”

Instead of relieving his concerns, Baldr became increasingly nervous.

“If you or your people have Slaves, they will be taken from you and given their freedom,” I stated bluntly, leaving no room for interpretation. “Rapists and murderers will be punished per my laws! And those with lesser sins will be given the opportunity to reform...”

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Baldr grimly considered his options for the better part of a minute before removing his helmet and laying it on the ground before him. “As ruler of my people, I, Baldr Vragison, High King of the shattered isles and the frozen sea, swear my fealty! Should I break my oath, may my soul be damned to the wastes of Helheim for eternity!”

After Baldr’s Oath, the Supremacy Challenge was concluded and I was returned to the stone chamber. Thirteen was gone but Gric remained.

“You are well?” Gric asked earnestly, looking me up and down with evident concern in his eyes.

Lying would be pointless, so I didn’t bother trying to do so. “I’m not...” I admitted bluntly but didn’t back down. “I can’t afford to just wait around, I need to act!”

Gric didn’t disagree, but I could tell by the unchanged look in his eyes that he did not approve.

“Those Beetlemen and whoever sent them need to be put down,” I insisted. “And I am not going to throw men and women into a battle which they are not prepared for.”

“So you will send these subjugated Monarchs in their place?” Gric guessed, proving he was more than capable of reading my actions to determine my intentions.

“Exactly,” I agreed. “They would just be fighting amongst themselves anyway, so why not put their aggression and experience toward a good cause?” Even I couldn’t help but notice the defensive tone in my voice as I said the last.

“Confronting rival Monarchs is inevitable,” Gric commented neutrally. “I only fear that you are placing yourself in too much danger! Why not take me with you?” He pleaded.

There was little reason why I shouldn’t. I knew that. But the part of my brain making the decisions wasn’t making it a priority. More than that, I had become too complacent. Allowing Gric, Sebet, and others to fight my battles for me.

I had nearly died because I allowed panic to dictate my actions, and the only way I could see to change that was by exposing myself to danger and acclimating myself to it. Just as I had learned to kill when needed, I needed to learn how to keep a level head in battle.

My agitated state wouldn’t make things any easier, but I didn’t have the time to wait for things to sort themselves out either.

“When I can, I need to do things on my own,” I knelt on one knee to bring us closer to eye level with one another. “If I don’t do this, everything we have fought for, everything we have built, could be destroyed...I know you don’t want that...”

Gric balled his fists so tight that his blood began spattering the floor beneath our feet. “I. Can’t. Accept. That!” He growled, baring his teeth and accentuating each word with a tense flutter of his wings.

“You have to,” I replied firmly. “This is something I need to do.”

Gric scowled and his right eye began to twitch. Then, without warning, he disappeared.

Despite being resolved to my new course of action, I felt a momentary crisis of confidence as I reconciled the fact that I would need to discuss the matter with Lash. While I had been able to stand my ground against Gric, it was largely due to the dominant position in our relationship. With Lash, it was different.

All things considered, someone could probably make the argument that I held the dominant position in our relationship. But only because I was something approximating a nascent Emperor on top of everything else. When it came to matters regarding our relationship and dynamics, Lash was the one who took the lead in almost every instance.

It wasn’t in a domineering or oppressive manner, and I certainly didn’t have a fetish for such things. She was just far more confident and acclimated to our relationship.

In the simplest of terms, Lash didn’t have the neurosis and fears of rejection that made me second guess and overanalyse the simplest of requests. At any given moment, she knew who she was, what she wanted and what she would do to get it. I didn’t.

I was growing more assertive and pushing myself to be less passive, but it was an ongoing process and Lash had a hell of a head start.

In many ways, Lash and I were fundamentally different people. Our lives before meeting one another were utterly alien to the others' experiences with very little common ground to speak of. Even now, if we set aside our mutual attraction and infatuation with one another, our children would be considered the greatest bond between us.

Most likely because of my life on Earth and a host of neurosis, I still had to work through, I considered our children to be more hers than mine. Defaulting the prime position of advocacy for their wellbeing in the process.

If Lash argued against what I intended to do...What I had already begun to do...I wasn’t sure I could continue.

Returning to The Grove, I stripped my armour and settled down beside the lake so I could prepare and gather my thoughts.

Suzy was still shooting headfirst down the slide I had made for her and was joined by a handful of the Lizardmen’ children as well. Although strangely uniform in how they descended the slide, the Lizardmen were no less animated than Suzy in expressing their enjoyment while scrambling to take their place back at the top.

Toying with the idea of Summoning a projection of Lash so I could talk to her without disturbing her sleep, I ultimately abandoned the idea when I saw her leaving our cave and headed my way.

Without saying a word, she sat down beside me in the mud and waited.

I told Lash everything. What I had done. What I intended to do and why.

A long silence passed between us and as it dragged on, I became increasingly certain that Lash would call me an idiot or a fool. That I was taking too many risks for little gain and should just stay within Sanctuary.

“I understand...” Lash said quietly, breaking the silence. She was staring at Suzy just the same as I was with a hard calculating look in her faintly glowing eyes. Lash took hold of my arm and drew it around her shoulders, resting her head against my chest. “All I ask...” Lash stared determinedly up into my eyes, her jaw and brow set to let me know that her condition would not be up for negotiation. “Return to us...” She demanded bluntly.

There were different ways to interpret her demand. However, I knew Lash well enough to know that she likely meant as many interpretations as I could think of. Lash was strange like that sometimes.

“Always,” I promised solemnly.

Searching my eyes for a few moments, Lash slowly nodded in satisfaction. Looking back toward Suzy and the increasingly long line of Lizardmen children, Lash pointed to the slide and then nodded toward Eg who was awkwardly watching from the entrance to our cave. “She cannot swim,” Lash commented. “She wants to join, but cannot. She is afraid. Afraid of the water. Afraid of being alone...”

I hadn’t considered Eg’s limitations and how that would affect her socially when I was making the slide. I hadn’t been thinking of Pete or Momoko either. I was just trying to make Suzy happy by giving her a piece of play equipment.

Of course, it wasn’t difficult to provide an alternative.

Exercising my authority, I raised an embankment around a small section of the lake for safety. I laid out the smooth recessed stone path down a mild incline to encourage an even distribution of water and to somewhat compensate for certain children's timorousness or inexperience. With the water supplied through stone pipes buried beneath the path, I hoped they would avoid the abuses hoses suffered on Earth.

All told, the effort only took a couple of minutes.

I had barely finished when Suzy noticed the latest addition to the small waterpark.

Inspecting the path closely, Suzy slapped at the running water and inquisitively followed its progress down the path. Uncertain whether she would understand its intended purpose, my doubts were banished when Suzy looked pointedly back toward the slide and moved back several long paces.

Taking a short run up to gain momentum, she threw herself onto the makeshift slip and slide, sending sheets of water spraying out either side of the path before ploughing face-first into a patch of comparatively shallow mud. Cackling like a demon, Suzy ran back to the top of the slip-and-slide to go again.

“Despite appearances, it should be quite safe,” I explained and then nodded toward Eg. “It looks a lot scarier than it is. So you might need to go with her the first couple of times.”

Lash nodded in understanding but didn’t get up right away. “Are there others?” She asked uncertainly, struggling to find the right words. “Other, large toys?”

“Play equipment?” I qualified, reasonably certain that Lash could guess at the meaning from context.

Lash nodded.

“Well...Yeah, I could make more...but not all of it would be well suited for bigger children...” I cautioned, earning a confused but curious look in return. “All of the play equipment I know of was designed for human children,” I wavered my hand a few feet above the mud. “And some things are more complicated than just making them larger.”

I got to my feet and conjured a long thick length of rope. After tying the rope between two large trees, I spent roughly ten minutes making a crude pulley from magically shaped stone and wood which formed the foundation for the zipline mechanism.

“This isn’t an ideal representation,” I cautioned, wanting to bring Lash’s expectations more in line with the primitive hack job I had put together. “But the idea is that you hold onto these handles and sort of fly from one end to the other. Where I am from, we called them flying foxes, but I think the proper name is zipline or something like that...”

“Fly?” Lash asked curiously, eyeing the handles with increased interest.

“More or less,” I shrugged. “You’ll understand after trying it.”

Lash nodded and after listening to my instructions raced down the length of the rope. Very nearly being thrown off as she reached the far end.

I had never built a zipline before and the angle had proven far more aggressive than I intended. Not that Lash seemed to mind.

“How to go again?!” Lash asked excitedly, still hanging from the handles a good ten feet off the ground.

I tied a length of rope to the handle and made a platform Lash could drop onto without risking bruising her tailbone. “The few I had seen used a rope or length of cord to drag it back to the start,” I explained and pointed to the rope I had just attached to the handle. “The Dwergi could almost certainly make something more durable. If you think the kids would like it-”

“They will love it!” Lash declared emphatically, clearly quite taken with the flying fox herself.

“I’ll have one of their engineers take a look then,” I promised, making a point of enjoying the moment.

Aware that my resolve was faltering, I said my goodbyes and left.

Before seeking out another target, I had to settle things with Baldr and lay the groundwork for those who would come after.

Isolating a single territory, I made a Teleportation Array and relocated my faux throne room to the centre of the territory.

Borrowing the expertise of two Semenovian and Asrusian diplomats, I redecorated the throne room to repurpose it into something more closely approximating a meeting hall that would host councils of war.

The meeting table was made of stone, allowing me, or others, to shape its surface and provide visual references.

After compensating the diplomats for their expertise and time, I dismissed their projections and used my authority to Summon Baldr to the meeting hall.

Dressed in a pale blue tunic tied at the waist with a thick leather belt and wearing green pants, Baldr’s feet were bare and he appeared to be unarmed. However, the copper raven amulet hanging from his neck gave off a faint trace of Spatial Affinity. Making it quite likely that he was less than a second away from being combat-ready at any given moment.

My suspicions quickly proved true as a familiar spear suddenly appeared in Baldr’s left hand. However, it was his blackened right hand that held my attention.

“I intend you no harm,” I cautioned while making it clear that I would punish any attempt at violence in kind.

Baldr was my Vassal but was not fully bound by the Oaths extracted from my other subjects. At least, not yet.

Recognition warred with surprise in Baldr’s slate-grey eyes as he saw my true form for the first time. “So you are a giant...” He muttered, becoming noticeably more ill at ease.

Extending my senses, I locked onto the Death Chi still contained within his right hand.

As if he could feel my eyes beneath his skin, Baldr jerked his right hand backward and retreated several steps.

Focusing on the Death Chi, I began cycling my breathing Technique and slowly drawing out the Chi I had embedded in his hand.

Despite his obvious reservations, Baldr surprised me when he set down his spear and assumed what I could only assume was a cycling stance of his own.

After ten minutes of concentrated effort, I was finally able to draw the last of the Death Chi from Baldr’s hand and forearm.

Without saying a word, Baldr withdrew a waterskin from his pack and tore free the plug with his teeth. A faint scent of fermented berries and raw honey wafted from the waterskin as he tilted his head back and began downing the contents.

Little by little, the colour returned to his hand and Baldr was able to begin stiffly moving his wrist and fingers. Which was just as well. While I could have used Baldr as a cautionary tale to cow future Vassals into line, I doubted he would have been able to maintain primacy within his own Realm without direct support.

It was far better for my plans if Baldr could be returned to prime fighting condition.

Unsurprisingly, Baldr became markedly less skittish with the initial restoration of his hand. Whether that was because I had demonstrated a more reasonable side of myself, or he no longer had to worry about the loss of his dominant hand, was anyone's guess. Likely, it was a combination of the two and a dozen other factors besides.

“I don’t want there to be bad blood between us,” I explained bluntly. “If you need anything else to assure your recovery, I will make sure you get it.”

Baldr brusquely shook his head. “My thanks, Lord, but I have restorative draughts in abundance.” He raised his right arm and flexed his fingers. “Already I feel the Vanirs’ magic returning life to what was nearly lost.” Baldr shifted uncomfortably. “I do not intend disrespect, Lord. Yet, I do not know the title or name to give what is due.”

That was a fair point. I had been far from forthcoming during our last meeting. However, it was also curious that Notifications hadn’t provided some of the answers.

“My title is Tyrant, but Lord or Majesty will suffice if you have a personal preference,” I replied amiably, uncertain whether my title would even translate meaningfully into the northern European lexicon.

Baldr nodded in understanding and patiently waited for me to continue.

“As for my name? You may call me Tim.” Despite myself, I was still surprised when my name didn’t elicit a noteworthy reaction. I kept forgetting that my name wasn’t that weird in a wider context. Or rather, it was just as weird as something like Tyranox or Glunt. Even the handful of Ogres that had learned my name didn’t bat an eye over it.

“Lord, if I can ask another question?” Baldr asked somewhat uncertaintly.

I motioned for him to proceed, curious to see what was foremost on his mind.

“Lord, you said my people would be bound to your laws...” Baldr explained carefully. “I was holding council when delivered to this place...Spreading word of my defeat and conditions of surrender.” He shifted somewhat uncomfortably. “Slaves tend the fields of many battle-hardened warriors, Lord...So I ask only if loyal men are required to see the law fulfilled?”

“It will not be necessary,” I replied confidently. “However, as a gesture of goodwill and transparency, I will allow you to assign a small contingent of observers so you and your people might better understand the new way.”

Baldr bobbed his head in acknowledgment and seemed somewhat mollified. No doubt glad that he and his confidantes wouldn’t be excessively implicated in what would certainly cause a tremendous uproar.

Gathering a measure of MP, I Summoned Gric and Sebet to my side.

Gric appeared just as sullen as when I had left him last, but Sebet looked particularly eager to get started.

“This is Gric and Sebet,” I motioned to each of them in turn. “They are the second highest authorities and enforcers of my laws and speak with my voice in almost all things.”

Sebet, wearing her true form, grinned at Baldr with barely restrained anticipation. “Attempting to impede our duties would be most unwise,” she added cheerily, morphing her body and taking on the form of a tall northern European woman with long blonde hair and piercing sky-blue eyes.

[ {Heaven’s Fury ~ 3352} has issued a {Supremacy Challenge} against your Vassal {Baldr Vragison ~ 6521}. {Baldr Vragison} lacks explicit permission and cannot engage in the {Supremacy Challenge}. The Monarch will take the Vassal’s place and has ( 23h 59m 47s ) to dictate the terms of the conflict. ]

[ The penalty for refusing the {Supremacy Challenge} has been escalated due to {Vassal Inactivity} and is temporarily set at ( 50% ) of {Baldr Vragison’s} {Dimensional Assets and Territories}. ]

Baldr gave a start, confirming that he had no doubt just received the same notifications I had.

“A rival of yours?” I asked, somewhat surprised by how profoundly unsettled Baldr had become after receiving the notifications.

“N-No...Ah, I mean, yes, Lord...” Baldr stammered, appearing more than a little uncertain of his own words. “I slew Heaven’s Fury in battle not three days ago...”

“This would be their heir then,” I guessed.

Baldr nodded. “It would be my guess, Lord.”

“Which would make it unlikely that they would be stronger than you,” I reasoned aloud. However, it was important to note that I had scared Baldr into surrendering rather than fighting him in a true contest of arms.

Baldr shrugged. Either uncertain of the answer, or unwilling to give voice to what might be an unwelcome truth.

Sebet commented hesitantly.

I asked. I was already committed to facing the new Heaven’s Fury, but I wouldn’t ignore any potential advice that could make a difference.

Sebet agreed cagily before rallying abruptly.

That was a fair point, but I wouldn’t use any Summons unless I absolutely had to. Otherwise, it would defy the point of fighting these battles in person in the first place.

Sebet stroked her chin thoughtfully. She suggested helpfully. Sebet suppressed an amused smirk, evidently not afraid of showing she was entertained by her own joke.

It wasn’t a terrible idea.

Conjuring my second, smaller, set of plate armour, I dismissed Gric’s projection and set about donning my armour.

While I was otherwise occupied, I gave Sebet instructions to begin coaching Baldr on our laws in preparation for inducting his subjects.

After a few moments, I made a stone mace with the Empowered Shape Stone Spell. So long as past experience held true, the magically reinforced stone could deliver a Thundering Strike without blowing itself apart in the process.

Resisting the temptation to take additional support, I confirmed my selection and initiated the Supremacy Challenge.

In stark contrast to the bleak scrublands where I had fought Baldr, I was now surrounded by rolling green hills with scattered gatherings of bushes and trees. A squat stone tower stood atop the tallest hill and probably afforded an expansive view of the immediate surroundings.

Taking a few experimental steps across the grass, I became increasingly nervous as my boots sank deep into the dirt and I struggled to gain proper traction.

“HEATHEN!!!” The roar of anger and indignation immediately drew my attention southward and toward a figure that looked oddly similar to the man whose company I had just left. The new arrival’s shield was oval-shaped rather than circular, and his hair was considerably darker. “YOU WILL RETURN GOD’S FAITHFUL OR FACE HIS WRATH!!!” A corona of pale golden light gathered above his head and a dark chorus of voices singing in near perfect harmony washed down the hillside.

Recognising some of the words as Latin, I found myself grinning like an idiot. Simply too overwhelmed by the absurdity of it all.

The enemy had his own theme song. Or was it boss music?

Seeking more favourable terrain, I strode toward the closest trees and began using my MP to encourage the growth of their root network underfoot. It didn’t have as great of an effect as I had been hoping for, but it was certainly better than nothing.

“HAVE YOU NOTHING TO SAY?!!!” Heaven’s Fury demanded, incidentally causing the voices of his supporting chorus to rise in both volume and intensity.

I was tempted to Summon Orphiel or Ophelia, just to see how he would react, but resisted the urge.

Instead, I raised the visor of my helmet so he could see my face and recognise I was not the person he thought I was.

“SO BE IT!!!” Heaven’s Fury cried.

A sudden surge in his Chi was all the warning I received before being blinded by golden light.

...

In so much pain I couldn’t breathe, I had collapsed to the ground, barely regaining my senses in time to watch as Heaven’s Fury began charging to close the final distance between us.

Having difficulty gathering my thoughts, I grit my teeth and forced myself to my feet.

Heaven’s Fury’s spear narrowly missed my exposed face and was driven wide by my gorget.

Lashing out more out of a primal desire for retribution rather than recognising the opportunity for a counterattack, I thrust my mace square into his sternum and knocked him off his feet.

Pausing only long enough to paw my visor down, I kicked at Heaven’s Fury’s shield, refusing to let up the pressure and allow him to regain the initiative.

Abandoning his spear, Heaven’s Fury rolled to one side and tried to rise while protecting himself with his shield. However, a second kick knocked him back down before he could even get his feet beneath him.

Having lost my mace, I seized him by the collar of his gambeson with my left hand and delivered a Thundering Strike to his face with my right.

Heaven’s Fury bucked from the impact, but I refused to let go, delivering several more blows in rapid succession.

“FAITH IS MY SHIELD!!!” Heaven’s Fury roared, his teeth stained crimson with his own blood.

Just as my fist was about to connect for what may have been the ninth or even tenth time, there was another bright flash of golden light. I reeled backwards as pain erupted from the left side of my face and the vision in my left eye was briefly turned into a kaleidoscope of broken colours.

Snarling in anger, I cast Barrier and bodily threw Heaven's Fury back to the ground.

The halo above his head wavered for a moment and then winked out entirely as his head struck the earth. The invisible choir grew silent.

I seized Heaven's Fury by the throat and began to squeeze. “Yield!” I growled menacingly, struggling to suppress the urge to just continue tightening my grip.

“Never!” Heaven’s Fury hissed, sending traces of bloody spittle through my visor and into my eyes. A half second later, he struck the side of my helmet with the rim of his shield but failed to accomplish much of anything.

Unable to maintain the Barrier much longer without depleting my MP, I was forced to end the Spell.

Heaven’s Fury grinned savagely. “GOD IS WITH ME!!!” He struck me again with his shield, only this time it hit with the force of a speeding truck.

Losing my grip on the collar of his gambeson, I was knocked backwards and tumbled to the ground.

The invisible choir began chanting again and I became vaguely aware of the golden light steadily building in my peripheral vision.

Suppressing my anger, I forced myself to my feet.

“DIE HEATHEN!!!” Heaven’s Fury howled with fanatical fervour and drove a spear made from golden light at my chest.

It struck the crimson plates, wavered, then shattered, disintegrating into a thousand tiny pieces and evaporating into nothingness.

Heaven’s Fury stared at his empty right hand in stunned silence.

Before he could recover, I created a lance of fire in my right hand and returned the blow in kind. Despite lacking a physical presence I could apply direct pressure to and increase the force of the blow, I was still able to exert my Fire Affinity to roughly approximate the same general effect.

Hauberk glowing cherry red and gambeson smouldering beneath, Heaven’s Fury staggered backward, barely managing to keep his feet as he grimaced in pain.

“Submit!” I commanded, raising my fiery spear for another blow.

“NEVER!!!” Heaven’s Fury roared and a second smaller carona joined the first. Blood began trailing down his face and from beneath the sleeves of his hauberk and gambeson. “MARTYRDOM BEFORE APOSTASY!!!” A sword made from golden flames appeared in his right hand, except I couldn’t sense any flames within it.

There was a terrifyingly large amount of Chi, but no fire.

Given the almost liquid nature of the blade, I wasn’t confident that armour would stop it.

Carefully backing up several steps to give myself some options, I decided on a new strategy and began investing my Chi into the ground beneath us.

As Heaven’s Fury began his advance, I drew his legs into the earth, burying him to his knees. Struggling in vain to free himself, the fanatic glared at me with absolute hatred in his eyes. “COWARD!!!”

“No.” I drew him deeper, burying him just shy of his waist. No matter how much he struggled, I continued drawing him deeper. Once I was confident he couldn’t break himself free, I dismissed my sword. “I won’t kill you, not unless I have to.”

Heaven’s Fury glowered back at me in hateful silence.

“Before you attacked me, you said something about returning your people?” I prompted.

“If you have harmed them-” Heaven’s Fury began to hiss.

“I'm not the one who took them,” I interjected firmly.

Heaven’s Fury stared blankly at me for a few moments before slowly shaking his head. “No, this is some sort of trick...”

“I defeated the man who took them,” I countered. “I am the one who is seeing to their freedom even as we speak.” There were no guarantees that Baldr or his people had mistreated those they gained through Conquest and other means, but I wasn’t so optimistic as to blindly believe everything had been sunshine and roses either.

“No...You lie! It is not possible!” Heaven’s Fury spat bitterly.

“What would it take for you to believe me?” I asked, prepared to Summon one of the missing people by name.

Heaven’s Fury glared at me with naked disdain. “The word of a heathen means less than nothing! Only divine revelation from almighty God would convince me otherwise!”

For obvious reasons, that wouldn’t work. So, I decided it would be worth trying the next best thing.

I just had to hope Orphiel was better at diplomacy and improv than he was at fighting.