Nero stood at the top of Liberty Memorial’s overlook alongside General Mattison. Nero looked to the East with his arms crossed as Mattison said, “Expecting an attack from the East, Nero?”
Nero grunted before answering, “I expect an attack. That is all.”
Mattison smiled, “I see you have the experience of war to draw on. An attack will come soon. I have no doubt, but as you say… from which direction we cannot know.”
Nero curtly asked, “Has it been 24 hours since Xenia broadcast her public service announcement?”
Mattison nodded, “Yes, she has announced on all platforms to include radio, TV, social media, and more that the time to pick a side has come. Those who support the United States are welcome to stay and defend their homeland as she would do in her own empire. However, she has also offered asylum with no questions asked to anyone with desire to relocate to the Holy Light Empire permanently or temporarily.”
Nero grinned, “Good.” He walked around the perimeter of the lookout to find Constance on the other side meditating as she concentrated with all of her might to sustain the illusion ki hiding their activities for miles. He knelt down and softly touched her to gain her attention and said, “Rest. I am about to announce our presence by razing the surrounding lands in preparation for an attack on our position.”
Constance let out a sigh of relief and looked to Nero, “Do we have intel of an imminent attack?”
Nero shook his head, “No. We don’t. But we will be ready when there is one.”
He closed his mouth and drew a deep breath in from his nose as he gathered a massive amount of dense ki around his body. He stood in silence and meditation for several minutes until the gathered ki was calm and completely docile under his control, a necessary requisite for his next action.
He held his hand in a fist down to his side and extended his pointer and middle fingers. He then abruptly raised his hand bending it at the elbow as he yelled a mighty cry. The lands encompassing the fortress suddenly exploded with his ki forming a ring which exploded and rushed outwards for a mile clearing all buildings, trees, structures, and life completely away.
The maneuver was an impressive one and both Mattison and Constance looked on in awe at his raw strength. However, their time spent admiring his strength was cut short as Nero’s razing of the surrounding lands including most of downtown revealed an enemy in waiting.
To the Northwest across the river, a quiet standing army of 10,000 Sage Empire soldiers had been hiding in the shadows of the downtown buildings could now be seen.
Nero was the first to see them as he stared in their direction. Constance was stunned she hadn’t detected them; however, on further inspection, she acknowledged to herself that all of her concentration was spent on masking their presence.
Mattison grinned, “A cunning foe we have on our hands. A good thing the veteran of war is always prepared. I am off to lead my army now.”
Nero stepped in front of him, “I will come with you if you permit.”
Mattison looked upped at the hulking and towering Nero, “You know as well as I that our forces can take a group of 10,000. We even have the defensive position should we need it. Is there something I should know?”
Nero grunted, “Take my word when I say I am very attuned to war. For me to not notice the movements of 10,000 soldiers, no matter how quiet they are, is odd. They likely have a powerful ki user concealing their movements as we have ours.” He motioned to Constance to make his point.
Mattison laughed, “Very well. You are permitted to join my forces for this confrontation. Try to focus your efforts on eliminating the most imminent threats on the battlefield.”
Nero turned to Constance, “Leave this to me. You need rest.”
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Constance shook her head, “I may need rest, but I am not a weakling by any means. I can and will help.”
Nero shouted, “No!” His sharp, raised voice stunned Constance. He turned back towards her, “Stay! You can serve as the last line of defense should it be needed. This may not be the entire enemy force. Survey from above for us.”
Constance nodded, “I will continue to survey the battlefield then.”
Mattison reached the ground level first as Nero stayed behind to discuss the situation with Constance. He had the soldiers standing in columns armed to the teeth with various divisions equipped with specific weapon sets ranging from Holy Knights with full armor and swords to BloodStar Empire soldiers armed with their ki to mercenaries armed with traditional guns and explosives.
He announced to his soldiers, “Men and women! This is what we have trained for! The enemy has come upon us quickly and quietly; however, we are not fooled! Let us show them our strength!”
He rode his horse to the gate as it opened, and he yelled, “To war!”
Nero watched him rally his troops and ride at the front of the formation earning his respect as he did. Nero hadn’t noticed it previously; however, as Mattison rode off, he picked up a trace of suppressed ki as he thought to himself, “Mattison, you are a man of many mysteries. What power are you hiding?”
Nero slowly followed after the last of the soldiers exited the fortress. He slow walked out of the gates as the two armies began to clash on the grounds razed by him only minutes ago.
He tightened his sword strapped diagonally across his chest and back and pounded his chest as he gave a battle cry. He then sprinted to war with the remainder of his allies. Nero firmly believed sharing a battlefield with comrades was of the highest callings in life. To put one’s life on the line and have faith with brothers and sisters in arms around you was the peak of war.
He rushed into the swarms of soldiers clearing out lowly soldiers armed with guns by the tens as he stomped forward swinging his huge fists covered in ki. He then volleyed several balls of ki at nearby mobile missile launchers destroying them instantly in a mighty explosion.
He was a menace on a rampage. A machine of destruction. He was leagues above every enemy he had encountered on the field, and the men fighting alongside him awed at his power.
However, his rampage quickly came to a stop as a powerful ki blast hit him from behind knocking him face first into the ground leaving a gaping wound on his upper left back. He picked himself up as he felt the tinge of pain and blood on his back.
He grimaced and said aloud as he faced his attacker, “Finally, the battle begins! You have earned my attention, warrior. I am Gladiator Champion Nero! Who stands to fight me?”
Standing across from him was a beautiful woman with platinum blonde hair equipped in full-body armor plated with silver and gold. She carried an equally beautiful longsword glistening with the blood of her slain enemies.
She maintained her attacking position as she said, “I know the great Gladiator Champion Nero. I am ashamed you do not know me. Katya Nova, First Seat of the Karasu Clan!”
Nero pounded his fist into his palm, “Ahh the illustrious Katya Nova! I might have recognized you had you been wearing your formal ninja robes.”
She grit her teeth, “This armor was insisted upon by my master. You best draw your sword if you wish to crack it.”
Nero smiled in full enjoyment as he pointed to the sword on his back, “This sword?” He shook his head, “It’s power would be wasted on you. It is meant to protect the heir of my empire. She is not here. So I do not need my sword.”
Nero then began to chuckle as he said, “You should know. I have killed your Ninth Seat, Corvus.”
Katya grinned, “Corvus was a weakling. I am not! Let’s see if I can change your mind about using that sword of yours by the end of this battle. Come! Let us fight!”
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As the battle on the Northwest aspect of the fortress waged on, Natalya Belova, Second Seat of the Karasu Clan, observed with a small force from the Southeast side of the fortress.
She stood with her second in command and said, “Nero has been engaged. We have the green light to move forward.”
Her commander said, “Who could hold Nero at bay?”
Natalya drew in a deep, annoyed breath, “The dreadful Katya Nova.”
The commander instantly regretted asking, “I see. Nero should be taken care of then.”
Natalya wasn’t done just yet though, “That fucking bitch! She holds no more power than I do, yet she has curried herself to favor with Karasu to get the first seat. That seat should be mine!”
She stood stewing in her own personal rage as the commander bowed, “I will commence our attack, Second Seat.”
Natalya stood fuming as she yelled, “And remember! I want Constance Khan captured alive!”
The commander turned to face her, “Second Seat, our orders from Karasu are to kill Constance Khan.”
Natalya smiled, “I know commander. But I have my own aspirations to gain favor and take the first seat. Your new orders are to take her alive.” She began to walk towards him, “Will that be a problem?” She unsheathed her longsword with a matte black blade and admired it in front of his face.
The commander shook his head in fear, “That is absolutely no problem, Second Seat. I will inform the forces of our new orders at once.”
She re-sheathed her sword and said, “Good, commander. I will be doing the brunt of this work anyways. Just make sure no one gets in my way.”
She smiled as she looked to the fortress. Her plans were falling right into place.