In the military zone of Astra Bastion, four commanders from different factions gathered in a dimly lit strategy room. The air was tense, with maps and reports scattered across the table.
"The threat from Zhyrak is escalating. Just last week, our underground base near Exorath was sabotaged," said Commander Jarek Volaris, his voice firm as he pointed to a map.
"Indeed," Commander Lysandra Drakaris replied, her gaze sharp. "And let’s not forget the rebellion in the capital two months ago. Our forces are stretched too thin."
Commander Alaric Drayven leaned back in his chair, his expression weary. "The rising crime rate within our borders isn't helping either. My detectives are overworked and quitting in droves."
Thorne Valrick, Commander of the Aegis Reserve, interjected, "Perhaps we should deploy reserve squads to patrol the cities. It could ease the pressure on Domtive and bolster security."
"No," Jarek snapped. "The reserves must remain ready for a larger assault. We can't risk depleting our defenses for mere patrols."
Lysandra crossed her arms. "And what of the king's plans? I've heard whispers of alliances with Glacivarn and Sylvarin."
The discussion continued, with each commander debating strategies for Dominion Altare's survival amidst mounting threats.
A few days later, Kyle, Rylan, and Lira returned to Domtive headquarters. They stood before Commander Alaric Drayven, ready to report.
"Haha, sorry about that," Alaric chuckled. "Turns out the Valdoria team had already wrapped up the investigation. Think of it as a little vacation."
"Commander, we—" Kyle began, but a deafening explosion cut him off.
Chaos erupted outside. Flames engulfed the streets as terrified civilians fled. Kyle and the commander rushed out, their hearts pounding.
"Zhyrak," Alaric muttered grimly, watching as cannonballs rained down on the border post.
"To arms!" he barked, retreating to summon the Vanguardus faction. Kyle, Rylan, and Lira armed themselves alongside other Domtive detectives.
As the Zhyrak soldiers advanced, the Domtive faction held their ground, exchanging gunfire. Kyle's pulse raced as he crouched behind debris, firing back.
"Damn it, how did they get so close?" Rylan shouted over the chaos.
"An underground route, maybe," Lira speculated, reloading her weapon.
The Vanguardus faction arrived, their heavy artillery shaking the ground. But Kyle noticed something odd—they were escorting Commander Alaric instead of focusing on the enemy.
Before Kyle could process this, a massive explosion erupted near Lira.
"Lira!" Kyle shouted, his voice breaking.
Rylan scrambled to her side, his hands trembling. "She's not going to make it," he whispered, panic in his eyes.
Explosions intensified, forcing Kyle and Rylan to retreat into a nearby basement. Kyle’s heart sank as he realized they had no choice but to leave Lira behind.
Minutes passed in suffocating silence. When they emerged, the city was unrecognizable—buildings reduced to rubble, smoke choking the air.
"She's gone," Rylan said hoarsely, his voice cracking. Kyle clenched his fists, grief and fury swirling within him.
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"Hey, Rylan, why did the Vanguardus faction only help Commander Alaric? And after helping him, they fired high-explosive rounds," Kyle's voice trembled as he fought back tears.
"Bastard! What is the point of all this? Why are we being attacked? Why aren't we being evacuated? Why high-explosive shells?!" Rylan's anger flared, his hands shaking.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
"Rylan, this is intentional. They don't care about us," Kyle said, his voice full of bitterness. "I want revenge."
"Kyle, this is evil. The evil of our race—the Altharion race. Our sins keep growing. The book is right, we are the great sinners!" Rylan shouted in frustration. "They don't care about anyone but themselves!"
"I know this, Rylan! They only care about the top brass!" Kyle snapped, his fists clenched in fury.
Kyle stared at Lira's lifeless body, tears streaming down his face. "Rylan, I have a plan," he said, his voice steady despite the pain. "I'm going to be a rebel."
Rylan looked at him, nervous. "Are you sure about this? Our country is vast. There have been hundreds of rebellions, and none have succeeded!" he said, uncertainty clouding his thoughts.
"IT'S THEM, RYLAN! I will succeed. I swear, I will destroy this race. I will erase the sins of our people," Kyle said, determination burning in his eyes.
"If that's what you want, I'll follow you, until the end," Rylan replied, his voice resolute.
Kyle nodded, his gaze unwavering. "Rylan, go back to your hometown. Find as many followers as you can. I'll return to Valdoria. Six months, Rylan. Six months. I'll need you."
Rylan nodded. "I trust you, Kyle. I won’t ask what you’ll do during those six months. I’ll find people to help."
They parted ways, their trust in each other solidified. This was the beginning of their revenge.
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Two months later, Rylan, with his childhood friends and a small group of 150 soldiers, formed a new faction: Altharion’s Dusk. Their goal was clear: to bring down the Altharion regime.
"Rylan, what do you think of this weapon I made? It's a sniper-type," Arden said, presenting his creation.
"Very good. This will be extremely useful. I hope you can mass-produce it soon," Rylan replied.
"Relax, boss. I’ve got it covered," Arden said with a grin.
Rylan's rebellion began to grow. With Arden (weapons expert), Celia (medic), Thalric (former spy), and Lyrica (information gatherer), they became a formidable team.
"Rylan, I've prepared 50 troops to scout the capital and other key cities," Lyrica said, her voice filled with urgency.
"Good. We have four months until we meet Kyle," Rylan replied, his thoughts always on their next move.
"I'm curious about Kyle. I hope we meet him soon," Celia added.
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One week before the reunion with Kyle, Rylan stood before his 1600 troops, shouting, "ALL FORCES, WE WILL DESTROY THE ALTHARION RACE! WE ARE ONE OF THEM, BUT WE ARE DIFFERENT. TODAY, WE WILL DESTROY THIS COUNTRY!"
"YAAAAAHHHH!" his troops roared in unison, their voices full of fervor.
"Haha, this is crazy!" Arden said, laughing despite the grim situation.
"Thanks, Arden. Without your help, we wouldn't have all these weapons," Rylan replied.
Altharion's Dusk headquarters was hidden on the outskirts of the Altare Dominion, an undisclosed location, far from the prying eyes of the enemy.
A call came through from one of their spies. "Rylan, I'm back," the voice said.
"Hello, what did you find out?" Rylan asked.
"We've uncovered some troubling news. The Domtive faction and the Aegis Reserve faction are merging into Vanguardus by the king's decree. Several cities have been captured by Zhyrak, and we couldn't find any info about the attack on your base five months ago!" the spy reported.
"What do you mean there's no information about the attack? Didn’t the next town know anything?" Rylan asked, frustration rising in his voice.
"No, it seems the next town has no knowledge of it. The area you were attacked in has now become a restricted military zone," the spy replied.
"Damn it!" Rylan cursed under his breath.
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Twelve hours before the meeting with Kyle, Rylan gave his orders. "We’ll send 600 troops to Valdoria. The rest will destroy the base. Get the logistics carrier ready to transport all the weapons. In one hour, our operation begins."
"Ready to go," Arden, Celia, Lyrica, and Thalric responded.
The mission was underway. The base was destroyed, and the remaining troops moved toward Valdoria.
"We'll divide the 600 troops. 200 will secure an old house in Valdoria, 350 will patrol the city borders, and the rest will stay with me to guard our rendezvous with Kyle," Rylan commanded.
"Yes, sir. I’ll announce it to the troops," General Veran said.
One hour later, Altharion’s Dusk headquarters was bombed, and the rest of the troops moved into Valdoria.
"We've destroyed the headquarters. Now we move to the capital and other major cities. Each city must be surveyed, and the plans memorized. Divide into groups of 100 per city. Logistics team, deliver all the weapons to the base on the east coast," Arden ordered.
"Only 11 hours left until we meet Kyle," he added.
Suddenly, a call came in. "Report from the capital! There was a massive explosion in the palace!" the spy said urgently.
Arden understood immediately. "So it’s true... Kyle is a dangerous man, just as Rylan said," he muttered with a dark laugh.
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In the capital, a massive explosion erupted from the palace kitchen, sending shockwaves through the city. The Royal Aegis faction quickly deployed, sealing off the area.
Suddenly, a large red flag appeared atop the palace, and a voice echoed across the city.
"TO THE ALTHARION RACE, THIS IS THE REVENGE OF THE PAST! THE BEGINNING OF THE END! WE, ALTHARION’S DUSK, WILL ANNIHILATE EVERYTHING IN THIS COUNTRY!"
The mysterious figure, masked and holding the flag, stood defiant. Panic swept through the citizens, and many fled in terror.
Moments later, massive explosions rocked five other major cities across the world. The news spread like wildfire. The military scrambled to capture the masked figure, but all they found was the red flag, flapping in the wind, as if mocking them.