EPISODE 56: IMPERIUS GENERALS
— Edryan Queendom, Year 7291. Season: Central.
I find myself drawing deeper into who I am and who I need to be for Edryan. Their culture, their way of life, it is something that has woven itself deeper into me throughout the years. Yet, there is still that spark of Lawrence Brown left. A seed that guides my hand and challenges my decisions.
I am no longer Lawrence Brown, but the memories have shaped me as I grew into Lawruthian Edryani. They have formed a seed of inspiration that guides my actions. Every day, the strength of this seed dwindles as I fall more in line with the expectations placed upon my shoulders. There is magic affecting me. Divine in its nature. If I had the opportunity to change that fateful day… I don’t believe I would have. Leveling, influencing society on such a massive scale… it’s a daunting task, but I love it! I love the Edryans, my tsundere mother, the authority, and power I wield, and the leveling .
It is such a profound feeling to level. To this day, I still find it difficult to express it in words. It brings you the greatest pleasure and joy you can imagine. I see why some do whatever it takes to achieve that next level. I wonder what Celina would think of it… and Brock. If they were put in my shoes, would they have made the same choices?
I can no longer clearly picture their faces or the sound of their voices. Only the memory and thought remain. Planted within, the seed of a friendship that shaped and molded the man I once was. I am thankful for this life, and I hope my old friends, family, I hope they are safe.
— Excerpt from the private Journal of His Highness Lawruthian.
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Alexandria looked up at her counterpart. The two women practiced their family's martial kata while learning to integrate the actionable style of (Imperius Combat Arts). They observed one another as they moved. Each judged the strengths, but more importantly, the weaknesses they could exploit from one another.
Alexandria's style of commanding was direct and effective. She enjoyed great control over the precise movements of her men, and thus she allocated plenty of points to her Intent. In her opinion, it was by far the most important attribute for a General to train.
Ameri was the opposite. She chose to specialize in making her army as individually effective as possible. She was a purebred fighter, with skills that would boost her and the combat effectiveness of her men as she led from the front.
Alexandria found it unfortunate that Lily was currently doing fieldwork. If she was here, perhaps Alexandria could bribe her to curse Ameri. The first general of Lawruthian was still new to her position and her power had barely been secured when others began to hop on the bandwagon. Alexandria would have loved more time to establish herself as the head general of Lawruthian’s growing forces, but that opportunity was dwindling fast.
“These are the two brats who are responsible for your armies?”
The voice called out with a startling fierceness. Breaking both women from their makeshift staring contest and drawing their attention away from each other and to the figures who only just arrived. So focused were they on one another that they hadn’t heard the heavy footsteps until it was too late.
“Laura, this is Alexandria Indrian, the First General of the Imperius Army. Next to her is Ameri Oni, the Second General of the Imperius Army.”
Alexandria and Ameri both straightened as they recognized the legendary figure before them. How could they not recognize Laura Lance [West Gate Protector] and titled as the [Mad Dogg] of the Queen? She was the general that took the biggest active effort in slaying the corrupt nobility as Queen Titiana secured herself on the throne. Thousands died by her hands alone, and great bloodlines that existed for thousands of years became extinguished.
The women grew taut like a pulled bow string as Laura approached. Both saluted like they were back in the Royal Academy. Similar to the sign of worship the priestess of Goddess Madris did, members of the military removed their left hand and allowed the right to remain over their chest. The standard salute for the military of Edryans.
Laura walked around the pair. The red-gold eyes of Lawruthian followed her as she did so. Alexandria immediately noticed their change. The young woman spent a considerable amount of time with her lord and although short, that time allowed her to take his measure. There was a quality in his gaze that only the greatest of Edryani rulers possessed. The current queen, King Darius, Princess Carina, and now Lawruthian Imperius Koltius Edryani too possessed that trait.
Alexandria nearly shuttered at the thought of the glory to come. Her lord's quest and mission to their Goddess was one of the main reasons Alexandria strived to become his first general. Demanding to her father that he release her from her duties to the Indrian family and use their political might and relationships to get her to where she is now. Her father responded accordingly, and an invaluable favor with Liana Drumian was used up. Now, Lawruthian finally possessed the quality of eyes she expected of one who would wage war against the Elrunian continent.
Excitement and lust for battle began to build within Alexandria. A feeling that she quickly tried to suppress.
“Oh, this one has spunk,” Laura said as she finished her circling and gestured to Alexandria. “She is a good fit for your first general. Collected, but bloodthirsty enough to get what needs to be done… done. At ease Generals.”
The eyes of her Lawruthian met her own as Alexandria received a nod of approval from her lord.
“This one has character! A battle maniac who leads from the front, I’ve read her records, she will do for charging and breaking enemy formations,” Laura said. She gestured to Ameri as she spoke, causing the previous general under the Oni family to straighten up even more.
“A child born during the height of the internal war and a child born during the ending. Not bad, we will see how they perform.”
“Prince Lawruthian, have you ever been on the battlefield,” Laura asked.
“No,” the prince responded.
“It is far different than those who fight single combat. Large-scale combat is won by one thing and one thing alone.”
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“FIRE!”
I watched the mock battle next to Laura. Before we set off for the Convocation, Laura wanted to get an accurate measure of the capabilities of my troops. Of the two thousand soldiers, five hundred were Chi users like Ameri and were part of her specialized shock troops. The other fifteen hundred were integrated under General Alexandria. Each of the five divisions now held three hundred soldiers instead of two.
Ameri was powerful, but it was clear she held back, as the quality of her troops did not match the power she possessed. Yet, they held an advantage over other classes, especially those who used magic. Chi was well known to produce the {Attribute Limiter} de-buff. This de-buff would greatly outclass many of the races we’d war against in our contest of taking the Elrunian Continent.
(Mage Lights), colored red to symbolize fire, flew through the air and toward the shock troops of General Ameri. The older woman stomped, as did the force behind her, and the earth moved and shifted. Building walls and shields from the ground for the men to hide behind as the volley of ‘fireballs’ impacted the area. Those same shields were then tossed at the men under Alexandria. From the 1,200-strong troop, three hundred steps forward. These men were covered in large heavy armor with great shields and maces in hand. As one, they raised their shields as a blue construct formed on each of the shields interlocking them while the great shields took on the blue glow of unattributed mana. The shielding extended past their great shields, nearly doubling the area covered by each soldier. The large slabs of rocks that were tossed impacted against the men, who immediately lowered their shielding the moment the attack halted. Arrows enchanted with explosive runes fired the same moment the shields came down, lest they impact into the barriers provided for them.
As Ameri men tossed the large slabs of earth, they were already on the move, quickly covering over half the distance between the two forces at the moment Alexandria’s men defended from the tossed projectiles. The arrows came as one final ring of surprise before the two armies impacted against one another. A thunderclap rang out as the forces met. Ameri, cutting through the front line like a hot knife through butter.
Those who ‘died’ simply lay down or sat on the ground. I observed from a distance. One thousand golems would be under my command. As my golems did not have a training mode, they would not be a part of this mock battle between the two forces.
Ameri tore deep into Alexandria’s forces, but from my vantage point, I could easily spot a problem. Ameri was strong, she was a gold rank knight. That meant her level ranged in the late 125s-200s. I suspected she was on the closer side to 125. A level 200 asset was not something you gave up easily .
The men behind her hadn’t passed level thirty. They were quickly exhausted as they attempted to keep up with the tall woman. Not even the strength of her buffs could keep them going, as one after another, they fell. Leaving only their general to battle alone.
“Enough,” Laura’s voice rang over the battlefield. The magi-human's voice is projected by magic and might.
Ameri immediately stopped her advance. For a short demonstration, I found myself impressed by both women. I already knew of Alexandria’s combat style to a degree, but seeing it displayed on such a bigger scale truly opened me up more to her effectiveness as a general. She is good.
Alexandria, as Laura Lance said earlier, was collected. She knew what resources she possessed, how to use them, and more importantly, how to use them efficiently and effectively . The trick with the arrows right before Ameri and her troops impacted was brilliant. Of course, an actual battle would not take place like such. Both armies would not start in such a close vicinity, especially knowing that one specialized in shock troops.
The women commanded their men to clean up the battlefield before both made their way toward us. We sat under a giant umbrella that offered us shade from the scorching heat of Central. The season was beginning its final and hottest month. Currently, we were stationed in the barracks of the [West Army]. In the distance, a group of men under Gate Protector Laura observed us. They were the lieutenants under her who were curious about the young army marching with them.
Tomorrow the armies would set off and begin the quick march to Starglow Valley. A journey that would take less than a week for the general’s army. The skills and abilities they held allowed them to march for days without rest. Something my army was far too low-leveled to achieve. They would be transported by other means.
“Alexandria, you did well. You know your resources, and it is clear you gain an understanding of your opponent’s quickly. However, you lack centralized figures of strength and authority,” Laura began. Alexandria nodded as she listened to the older general speak.
“Upon our return, send your best lieutenants to me. Of course, if that is agreeable, Your Highness. I will train them for one month before returning them.”
“That is agreeable,” I responded. Although I knew Laura wasn’t really asking. This is part of the reason I didn’t want any [Gate Protectors] under me. Hardheaded and stubborn, the lot of them. She would drag the Imperius lieutenants to her by force if she had to. As a general under my mother, Laura held a lot more authority than the average general of a family. In times of conflict, her word could even outrank mine. The trouble with the Spatial Convocation was a time of conflict. My mother chose the [Mad Dogg] because of her effectiveness. I was sure of it.
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“Ameri, you are wonderful as a Shock Troop General. You were able to close the distance between both groups in a remarkable time. Your problem, however, is your lack of forethought once both parties are engaged. That will not do. Did you notice the state of your men?”
“Yes, Gate Protector, Laura,” Ameri responded. She stood before us, 200 cm in height, with packed muscles and large thighs that could crush a grown man's head with ease. Like most Onis, she fought with oversized gauntlets. Unlike Ade Oni, Ameri Oni also held a large pair to cover her feet and shins. The woman was a weapon.
“They were in shambles, struggling to keep up with you. They are far under-leveled for your abilities, and you must understand that. Least they all die and leave you surrounded by nothing but dead men and enemies.”
“Do you have anything to add, Prince Lawruthian?”
All the ladies turned to me as I sipped on my honey-sweetened lemonade. I put the cup down and cleared my throat. No, I wasn’t embarrassed, I was indifferent to that now.
“Alexandria, as Gate Protector Laura stated, you lack strong lieutenants that can be deterrents and halt the advancement of enemy troops, I will get your men access to the [Halls of Valor – ★★★★ ] if that is agreeable with you.”
Her eyes widen in surprise and excitement. “Do you mean…?”
“Yes, the true dungeon that my family trained its scions at. It hasn’t seen much use for a few decades now.”
The [Halls of Valor – ★★★★ ] was a true dungeon that my family strictly controlled the entrance within and out. It was on my list of training spots. The dungeon held an intense focus on single combat. Allowing only one individual to enter. A certain amount of time would have to pass before the next was allowed in. The individual would fight their way through one hall after another until they defeated all the dungeon challenges or were defeated by the dungeon. The [Halls of Valor – ★★★★ ] was guarded closely, for it was one of the few dungeons that allowed those who entered its halls to face defeat without death. A quality that not many true dungeons held.
“Good, that will certainly help her men rise to comfortable levels. Given a few years, they can quickly grow to level 150 plus,” Laura stated.
“As for you, Ameri,” I began carefully, racking my brain for what would be a suitable option for her.
‘ How about you send her men to the Underneath? ’ A little bird chirped in my ear.
I glanced at Minerva on my shoulder. You must be insane if you think I’m sending her on an expedition to this world's equivalent of Hell.
‘ Boo! You’re no fun! ’
“I believe your lieutenants will greatly rise in battle prowess through the [Halls of Valor – ★★★★ ] yet I think [Stormforge Battlefield – ★★★★ ] will do your men wonders in leveling them. It will do all the men of the Imperius Army wonders. Once your training with Laura is concluded, the two of you will be sent into the artificial dungeon.”
It was time I started to use the various resources of my royal family. Before its nearly complete demise at the hands of my mother, the Edryani clan controlled and still do control several dungeons. Dungeons were one of the most efficient ways to level in a reasonable amount of time. That’s why they were usually controlled by the noble family in charge of the territory. Most were used as profit generators. The families, in charge, charged a small fee to enter the dungeon on their territory. Dungeons were strategic assets that could offer advanced and unique classes beyond the scope of what was normal. It was the easiest and most dangerous way to change your status. Raising your bloodline and the quality of your race from common to higher.
If there was anything, my family specialized in. War was surely one of them. Slowly, my plans for Edryan were coming together. My forces were gaining strength. I believe it was time I visited NARC to see what progress they made on the various projects undergoing research. From there, I could intercept the armies before they arrived at Starglow Valley.
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Amaya swallowed nervously. Next to her, Madria did the same. The two young ladies looked at Lawruthian in a new light as he arrived in front of them.
“Your Highness,” Madria curtsied. Her actions brought Amaya out of her stupor, and she immediately followed suit. Albeit hers was less graceful in her rush to perform the greeting.
‘His eyes, they’re exactly like the queens! ’ Amaya thought. Making certain to keep her respectfulness up to the max.
Lawruthian’s gaze softened, and the young man opened his mouth to speak. “Aren’t we friends, do I look that big and bad to you now?”
He let out a light laugh that defused the tension in the room. Amaya sighed in relief and a twinkle appeared in her best friend's eyes.
“You’re different,” Madria commented. Golden eyes watched her prince as her head tilted to the side. Her bob swayed with it.
“I am,” he responded.
“Very different, for a second there I was scared that we were in trouble. What’s all this about you summoning us? Rumors have been spreading about the Convocation. Does my sister really visit NARC? You still haven’t allowed me to visit this mysterious organization. While we’re here, can we get some LSG sweets? I hadn’t had the chance to have a proper breakfast,” Amaya gushed out at once.
The laugh from Law grew lighter and the trio took a seat as the prince called for the food and snacks Amaya wanted to be delivered. “That is why I called you both over today. Well, mainly you Amaya, Madria is just a bonus, but I do have questions for her,” Law said with a smile at the young lady.
“That’s aside the point right now. Let's catch up,” Law began. “What did you guys think of the first train ride?”
“Madris’s Grace! It was remarkable. It was something I’d never experienced before. Do you know how much that is going to change the economy? The prices of everything will go down! My sister is excited about the installment of the train toward the Musa clan. She can easily visit home once that train is complete. You should see the floating isles I grew up in. I think you'll love it-”
Law and Madria listened as Amaya spoke. Commenting here and there on certain things. Law smiled as he heard the experiences of both ladies. Amaya let her excitement show and she felt her fading bond with the prince tighten, then strengthen as the time passed by.
It was only after the trio finished off a ton of LSG sweets and finished telling their experiences of the first train ride that Law informed them of what he called them here for.
“I will be taking a journey to New America Research Center and was wondering if you’d be interested in accompanying me. If you so choose to join me after you finish graduating, then this is the most likely place your talents would shine,” Law spoke to Amaya. The young woman remained silent as she pondered his offer.
This was her chance to not only grow even closer to Law, but to finally uncover more of his special advancements and changes that he introduced to the Edryan society over the years.
“Will I get to play with and understand the internals of your MGB?”
“Not only will you get to play with the Military Grade Batteries, but have you seen my Hero Golems?
Amaya nodded in wonder and curiosity.
“I’ll show you how I built them.”
“Deal!”
Amaya rubbed her hands together, a devious grin on her face. She’d always been interested in all forms of magic. Whether they come in the forms of technology or spells. Regardless, she could spend days exploring their components, breaking them down before building them better .
Law then turned his attention to Madria. Their eyes locked as the young woman held his gaze. Her aura felt of divinity and life, as his felt of much of the same. If Madria didn’t know better, she’d believe Law to have taken a priest class under the Goddess.
“Do you know why the [Templars of Madris] showed up when I left [Tiger Den – ★★ ].”
‘ Ahh, so that’s it! Did you even want to see me? ’ Madria pouted internally. Her expression remained neutral for several moments before she finally opened her mouth to speak.
“Yes, I know why.”
“Can you tell me?”
Amaya was paying attention now, and Madria knew if she asked her to leave, the girl would pester her until her ears fell off.
“Amaya… whatever I say in this room must always stay in this room.”
“Don’t worry Madria. It is quite all right,” Law said.
“I wouldn’t have asked you if I didn’t trust Amaya.”
Amaya smiled at the words of Law and the pair turned their attention to Madria. The woman seemed to be contemplating. It took her several moments to gather herself, and the [Priestess of Madris] fiddled with her clothing before she spoke.
“What do you know of the history of the Elrunian Continent? What records have the royal family kept of the Greater Wars ?”
Madria began by asking a question. Intently observing Law as she finished. The prince put a hand to his chin and stroked it. The rough stages of a developing beard were on full display. It gave him a unique charm that Madria quite enjoyed.
“Twice, Goddess Madris has tasked Edryanis to wage war on the world. Twice, we’ve been defeated and pushed back. However, Goddess Madris is the only god with three domains in the realm. The forces of the world cannot eradicate magi-humans, as we are the only countering force that holds her back.
Rules and Regulations.
Although it is difficult, a God can still cause destruction in the Mortal Realm. Thus, here is Edryan, trapped at the bottom of the continent as the rest of the world remains weary of us. And here I am…
I am the Edryani who will start the third and final Greater War. ”
Amaya sucked in a hiss of air at the words of Law. The revelation of his words ran a gauntlet in her head. She knew of the forbidden history of Edryan, not the full details, but Amaya was not a dumb child. Her family knew of this and nurtured her talents. Her sister, Marquess of the Musa clan, knew this and allowed her to know a small bit of information.
Yet, this was the first time she was hearing more about the story. This was the first time she was hearing more of the missing history the Edryans of the Elrunian Continent held.
For the first time, I spoke of my deepest secret. When I first came to this world, history was the first subject I studied. History is a vast and profound subject, it allows you to begin understanding a people, their culture, achievements, defeats, victories, everything. The Edryans held a long and rich history. Waging war was the proudest achievement of the Edryans. To war was nearly the purest form of worship they could offer our Goddess. It meant exercising her domain. Not to mention the race-wide buff it provided. Edryan held a history of war, and I uncovered it all.
At first, parts of the history were hidden from me. It was two stretches of significant time that I noticed something was improper. So, I began digging, uncovering, and piecing things together. Until the hidden history was finally revealed to me.
“ The Gods are playing a game of chess… ”