Joshua was present, he was sitting with Bileygr who was showing the state of affairs. The Drusken Empire underwent a massive industrial revolution that was unprecedented. Soldiers armed with assault rifles similar to that of M16s of the past, tanks and helicopters. Artillery cannons, missile launchers and Anti-Air weaponry. They even had metal ships that were far superior than what the Lunarians had. This was very concerning. Now there was even the sight of the Beauties who were equipped with special machines. Even cyborg soldiers, now that was an even bigger alarm for Joshua.

Iacus, King Maximilian and Aurelia were trying to process what they've seen.

"It's no wonder why they've been able to take over places so fast. They were using guns when we were still using arrows. Lord, do you want to begin an assault?"

"That's one thing, the other that concerns me is the fact of this Outsider... We don't have much to work with. Lopt is on recon with Vingthor. Bayran, Asim, Barakas and Cinders are telling me that new things have been developing. They're mobilizing armies on their way to the capital. I've gotten most of my Familiars back except for the ones from the Entente's Aliens, the Goliaths and most of the Horsemen and Suicide Division that are with Commander 151 on another mission. Krieg, Alec and Mitchell won't be free either. I need them to take care of demons and vampires. I've got left over points but so far I don't think I want to spend them on anything yet." Joshua said as he scratched the back of his head. Thinking about what he was going to be doing next.

"Lord... Do you wish to intercept the army?" Joshua nodded to Iacus.

"Yes. Iacus, I entrust command to you. The army that's coming to the capital, it's roughly 25 thousand strong. I'll head to cut them off." Joshua vanished from sight.

"Is that wise of your lord to do that, Iacus?" Maximilian's question was understandable, a lone man fighting an entire army? It was unheard of but the Familiars gave a nod.

"If we his Familiars can fight armies, our Lord alone should be suffice." Iacus answered.

Joshua was now standing in front of the army, he was holding Brilliant Ash in his hand.

"Blade Shift." Where the katana transfigured into Ashen Sirius,Joshua took a deep breath as he took his stance. Then running into the fray, leaping upwards as he looked at the soldiers and tanks.A draw of his blade where the entire formation was wiped out. Landing on his feet, Joshua continued his onslaught. Fading from their senses, cutting a soldier down. Holding a card to his left hand.

"Ace of Diamonds. Form the barrier behind me." The card shattered where a large barrier of ice was made behind him. Solid ice that would cool the people within the capital from the scorching heat. The Drusken Empire's soldiers fired, seeing how the attacks were negated. Joshua's eyes were glowing, leaving behind crimson streaks. Slashing through the soldiers, as a 40mm round struck him. Joshua placed the blade in front of him, slashing the large round in half.

Joshua took a deep breath, leaping up into the air. Where he drew Ashen Phoenix,taking his time to coat in a variety of elements. A single swing should do the trick, where he swung the sword. As the technique was one he managed to learn from one of the Avatar of Destruction's many lives. The 7th Tide of Judgement. Raising the sword above his head, followed by a downward swing which unleashed the myriad of elements that was coating Ashen Phoenix. The elements began to take form of falcons, flying through the battlefield. Leaving feathers behind that ended up causing the army to be struck by the elements. Burning them, freezing and shattering their bodies. The wind slashed through the gaps within their armors, the element of earth began to pull them to the ground. Light blinding them as their flesh melted away from its brilliance and the darkness began to consume them from within, exploding outwards to turn them all into spheres of darkness that began to pull other enemies into it.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Voices of horror was heard, as the soldiers pleaded for mercy but the darkness brought them elsewhere. The spheres of darkness soon transformed into spears where Joshua pointed his hands forward as a rose appeared by his blade.

"Turn my enemies to ash." The rose exploded, leaving petals of ash by the battlefield. Contact with these petals turned the flesh of the one who held it into ash.

Joshua was not leaving remains of the soldiers. He held a rose in his hand, eating it as he let out a sigh. Landing to his feet, Joshua sheathed his weapon and looked at the remains. A few tanks had been left behind, majority was their equipment left unused and untouched. There has to be more to this.

Thoughts lingering in his mind, if he had this power. Maybe things in Mulligan would have changed, maybe Mulligan wouldn't have happened at all. Maybe he could have rescued a lot of people. Maybe the district where he watched people die wouldn't have happened. Perhaps his anti social nature stemmed from the violence that he had seen. The horrors, seeing the Entente Banshees eating humans, the orcs that eat humans. It was easier to be alone with his Familiars. His family, Joshua remembered the sight of his familiars when they had been beaten. He was far too weak, even now?

Standing on the battlefield alone, taking in the sight of what he had done. Just destroying things all according to what he has seen, taking a seat where Joshua did not have much to say.

"So.. This was done by you eh?" Joshua turned to see Kael who had a cigarette to his lips. Joshua snapped his fingers to light the cigarette for Kael.

"Thanks." Kael said, taking a seat a bit further from Joshua.

"Feeling lost in what you've done?" A weak nod by the Lord of Thorns where the Avatar of Destruction gave a weak smile of empathy.

"Do you ever feel remorse for what you do?"

"No. I stopped feeling those emotions a long time ago. When you bear witness to the destruction all around you. It just makes you wonder about a lot of things. Whether people truly understand the horrors of war." Kael said to Joshua, a relatable thing.

"You do not need to pray, You do not need to beg. You just do. That is what I am as a Lord of Thorns. I guess I am finally understanding such words." Joshua said, looking at his hands. Things were a bit different back then and they were different now. His body had changed a lot but time flew by so fast that he was unable to experience what life was as a teenager. Then again, his weak heart made living difficult but at least he was surviving. Perhaps when this is over, he could go enjoy something normal. Maybe just go out for some food?

"Try not to lose that side of you that's human. Keep it close to you. Remember you're still a human with all those powers. Don't lose track of it. Well. I'm bored as shit. So Maybe I'll help you out here." Kael said as he helped Joshua on his feet.

"But why are you here, Avatar?"

"Please, just call me Kael. We don't need formalities.I came cause Lucius wanted me to see this Outsider of yours. Might be something other than a demon. Could be another rogue God trying to take over another world." Kael said as he continued to smoke his cigarette, where Joshua offered him a rose which transformed into a pack of cigarettes.

"Don't mind if I do." Kael doused his earlier cigarette then taking one of the cigarettes, lighting it up. Taking a deep whiff, the look on Kael's face showed how much he liked it.

"Now that's beautiful. A nice smell to it, no tobacco.. Tea cigarettes normally taste rougher than my usual pack but I guess it's been blessed by the Lord of Thorns. Makes this pack a whole lot more interesting." Kael said.

"Thanks for helping me."

"No thanks needed. Besides, training you might be more fun than just lazing around in my own world. I've done too much shit to it anyway." Kael chuckled to Joshua who chuckled as well.

"Mood kindred... Is that the word for it?" Over the distance another regiment of the Drusken Empire came to view. Kael tapped his cigarette, spreading the ash away as he pulled out a card.

"Leo of Flames. Burn this army before me." Kael said as the card shattered from his hands, where the Drusken Empire's regiments were immediately taken away by the flames. Even their ashes had been blown away by the wind.

"Not bad on the control part, I saw a bit of your fight. You don't look like a lost lamb to me. More like a... A lost alpha wolf that's leading a pack to battle. It's a good look on you than the lamb when we first met." Kael said.

"I had a good teacher." Kael laughed at that statement.

"Heh, beating Master of Cards gives you that right." Kael said as the two of them walked back to the capital.