Morning had risen on Houston, Texas, and with it came the army of the Holy Light Empire. Columns of soldiers stood just outside the city limits. They had marched along the interstate killing anyone in their path.
They smashed cars asunder and beheaded individuals carelessly leaving a wake of blood and destruction in their path as they marched onwards.
Pope Gregory, Pope Peter, and Archbishop Michael were all carried in separate large palanquins. The palanquin bearers were hulking, muscular men each standing at 7-feet tall.
The army had halted its progress along the interstate just outside of Houston and set up a camp. Within the large tent, the leadership council discussed their next steps.
Archbishop Michael stood before the Popes, his brother and father, and reported, “The United States army has its usual weaponry at the ready including vehicles, projectiles, soldiers, and the likes. None of which concerns us for our safety. Furthermore, they seem to have acquired a ki shield barrier to encompass the city. This barrier will withstand up to nuclear weapons; however, a focused Lightbringer attack would topple it with ease. I would estimate an attack of 10% would take it down.”
Pope Peter sat beside his father and asked, “And what of their negotiator that they sent?”
Michael nodded, “We have collected his head as requested by Pope Gregory. The Americans are none too pleased. The international community has also frowned at the killing of a peaceful envoy.”
Peter scoffed, “The international community is bursting at the seams with sinners themselves. After we cleanse the United States, it will be time to look elsewhere to carry out God’s mission.”
Michael nodded and cut to the point, “How should we proceed with our attack?”
Pope Gregory spoke for the first time, “That depends. Is the Blood Demon present in the city?”
Michael replied, “Her fighter jet was spotted atop a skyscraper. We are all but certain she is present within the city.”
Gregory smiled, “Then I shall have Peter start off our initial attack. Although I must admit. There may be nothing left after his attack.”
Michael frowned, “We are here to capture the city I thought. Not destroy it. Do we not seek to maintain the existing infrastructure, especially for the shipping and oil and gas industries?”
Peter scoffed at his brother once more, “Do you not realized the opportunity at hand? Although we would normally preserve the city for our own use, we have been presented with the opportunity to draw one of the world’s biggest sinners into war. The international community has given us a green light to rid the world of the Blood Demon. And if we are lucky, we can eventually draw in her mother the Blood Devil too. God would smile upon us for such deeds. It would be blasphemy to forego the opportunity He has so carefully presented to us.”
Pope Gregory smiled at the words of his son, Peter. He said, “Peter sees the light. It is your duty to follow the light Archbishop Michael.”
Michael nodded, “Very well. In God I trust. I have stationed my 30,000 men in positions just outside the city ready to move in after Pope Peter serves as our shining light and tip of the spear.”
Gregory stood and announced, “I see no reason to keep our Holy One waiting. Let us cleanse the twelve million sinners of this wretched city as soon as we can. We will build a magnificent basilica dedicated to Pope Peter where the city once stood. It will be even more grand than the historical St. Peter’s Basilica that was sadly destroyed in the Great War.”
Pope Gregory walked outside of the tent and smiled as he held his arms out, “Ahh the golden sun smiles upon us and bathes us in warmth. God’s gift is wonderful.”
St. Michael shouted to his men, “Ready for battle men! Swords! Swords! Swords!”
The sound of 30,000 swords unsheathing sent out a soundwave heard for miles as the Americans were alerted to the activity.
Pope Peter then summoned the choir. A choir of over one hundred of the country’s finest performers began a holy hymn creating the perfect ambience for the holy men.
Archbishop Michael stood behind his brother and father as they walked to the front of the formation. Pope Gregory then stopped and said to Peter, “We are not here to forgive. Do not worry about leaving yourself open to attacks. I am here to protect you should you fall weak after starting this battle. I give you the holy right to use 100%.”
Pope Peter kissed his father’s hand and shed a tear as he said, “Through you I hear God’s voice. Through you I have power.”
Peter then stepped forward at the front of the army taking his rightful place. He began to pray quietly to himself. After several minutes, he then began to gather an enormous amount of ki energy. More than any soldier in the army had ever seen before.
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Murmurs quickly spread through the army as soldiers commented, “This is the might of God. We cannot lose. The Holy War is our own to win.”
Pope Peter then focused his energy to a calm storm around him. After a few moments of silence, he yelled, “Lightbringer! 100%!”
The massive amounts of ki energy surrounding his body suddenly vanished. The soldiers looked to the sky above Houston. The clouds in the sky thundered as they began to glow a bright yellow. Then without warning, a giant pillar of light as wide as a skyscraper shot down from the sky hitting downtown Houston directly.
The energy barrier of the city shattered as the column of light made impact and continued downward. A bright light exploded forth as the column made impact with the ground. Everyone looking on shielded their eyes as an earth-shattering rumble could be heard in the distance followed by a blast of air from the explosion shockwave many miles away.
It took several minutes for the dust to clear just enough to make out the post-attack carnage. As the soldiers looked on they were in awe of Pope Peter’s might. The city had been completely leveled. Where the building once stood, not even rubble remained. The entire city of Houston including the citizens, buildings, cars, highways, and all had been instantly annihilated into nothing but the remaining sand.
The Holy Light Empire looked on to a desert of sand. Pope Peter looked on pleased with himself. It had been a very long time since he utilized Lightbringer at 100%, and he was happy to see how far his strength had come.
He thought to himself, “This war will be completely one-sided. I will forever be remembered in the history books as the Pope who rid the world of the Blood Demon by use of God’s might.”
However, just as everyone was marveling at the aftermath, a loud battle cry emanated from the city center where skyscrapers once stood proudly.
“AAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!” A muscular man and a fit, slender woman stood at the city center prepared for battle.
________________________________________________________________
Moments earlier…
Xenia stood in her meticulously cleaned black leather military outfit. Not an iota of evidence existed on it of the blood bath endured from the night before at both the rave and her bedroom.
She stood examining Nero’s blade as he calmly sat in the chair across from her. He wore black pants and combat boots with no shirt. A sword sheath rest upon his back with the strap running diagonal across his front.
“This blade. Amazing. How did she do it? It’s been many years, hasn’t it? Nearly a decade since it was imbued, and yet the ki sits in it patiently without dissipating as it waits to be called upon.” Xenia handed the sacred blade back to Nero.
Nero said, “Imbuing ki is an art which requires patience. Empress Victoria was sure to take her time with this blade. It is her masterpiece in the imbuing arts. She felt anything less may mean your life.”
Xenia laughed, “Always so cautious, my mother.”
Suddenly, the doors into the room burst open with frantic energy. Arthur looked around frantically, “Why did you not wake me up! We have so much to cover! Turn on the news, listen to the radio, look at your phone… the Holy Light Empire is at the city walls! I should’ve been awakened immediately this morning.”
Nero stood with a grimace on his face, and Arthur immediately apologized, “I am sorry for the interruption. But I must insist that I brief you immediately, so that I can be on my way. I am not fit for war as you two are.”
Nero nodded at his words acknowledging that he was not fit for war, and they all three sat down.
Arthur began, “As we speak, 30,000 soldiers strong stand at the city borders using the interstates to travel and position their forces. We have not ruled out the possibility of Pope Gregory, Pope Peter, or Archbishop Michael using their family technique, Lightbringer, to spearhead the battle. However, that would leave the city in shambles. Our intel suggests they want to preserve the lands they conquer. However-“
Xenia raised her hand for him to stop, “If it is as you say, and war is imminent. You need to leave at once.” She stood up and took his arm walking him to the door, “I can’t afford to have my favorite political chess piece and my favorite torture toy perish in battle.”
She stopped at the door and kissed him. “Take my fighter jet. It is the fastest way to safety.”
Arthur shook his head, “I can’t fly.”
Xenia smiled at him, “There is a large red button for instances such as these. Press it, and the autopilot will take you to safety before landing. In this case, the nearest marked safe place is Washington D.C. I trust you can find your way from there after landing.”
Arthur stood in silence and shock. He couldn’t believe he was evacuating from a state-side city in a time of war. It was unprecedented. However, he snapped out of it and nodded, “I will see you when you return then.”
He then climbed the stairwell until reaching the rooftop helipad and made his escape.
Xenia then turned to Nero and said, “Now. I will thin them out. You keep an eye out for any of the big three as I isolate them. They may very well try to run. Let’s not let them get away so easily.”
Nero agreed, “We will test their mettle as warriors today. True warriors will not run away from but towards a strong opponent. I have craved this opport-“
Xenia raised her hand and said, “Shhh!” She looked around and said, “Do you feel it?”
Nero shook his head, “No. Feel what?”
Xenia had a hint of anxiety in her voice as she rapidly yelled, “Blood-6 formation. Now!”
Nero was unsure as to what could be so dangerous to merit a Blood-6, but he knew her ki senses were much more sensitive than his own both naturally and by training as a 10th degree black belt.
He and Xenia both formed spheres of impenetrable ki force fields around the both of them. The double layered force field of ki was the strongest two-person defensive formation in their arsenal, and it was not used lightly.
The two stood exerting significant power to maintain the shields. A minute went by and then suddenly… Nero felt a chill down his spine. He thought to himself, “Is this what she felt? What power?!”
Only seconds later, a loud noise could be heard from above. A blinding light surrounded them, and the room and building melted away into nothing. The two fell over 60 stories to the ground encapsulated by their shields.
The attack of blinding light persisted for nearly ten seconds. In the last half second, the force field even melted away exposing them both to the full power of blinding light.
After the attack subsided, Nero stood up and brushed the sand off of him. He looked around to see the city completely flattened. He then noticed Xenia already standing ahead of him looking West. He noted her uniform to be tattered from the attack, and her body was busy healing various gashes and broken bones.
He looked down to see his own body being mended by her ki as well. He looked West with her to see the Holy Light Empire. His battle spirit boiled over, and he called to his enemy with a frightening and thunderous roar, ““AAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!”
The battle had begun.