The sound of footsteps echoed throughout the old run down factory, The men inside had their guns drawn and pointed towards the hallway the footsteps were coming from. There were six of them: Rupert, Otto, Fritz, Hans, Paul and Gunther. They waited silently, eyes narrowed and fingers on the trigger until suddenly the footsteps stopped.
Rupert signaled for Otto and Paul to advance towards the hallway and look inside which they nodded to and began slowly creeping towards the hallway.
“GRUAAAAAAH!” A sudden guttural cry came from the hallway and a massive monster of a man exploded from the darkness smacking Otto through the air and into a wall which he smashed into and then fell limp to the floor. Paul and the rest of the men opened fire on the monster but their bullets bounced off as if his skin was made of reinforced steel. The monster turned around grabbing Paul's rifle end and effortlessly bent it upwards and pointed the rifle back around at him.
“Don't hurt him.” A deep voice called from the hallway, The men stopped firing knowing the owner of the voice and dropped their firearms. From the darkness emerged their Emperor, Randolph Sisyphus Freyr.
“Randolph…” The men muttered as a shutter ran up all their spines.
“Sorry but Titan insisted on making a show of power.” Randolph sighed, putting his hand on the monstrous man's arm. This monster of a man Titan had to be around nine tall and was extremely muscular with a blueish stone like skin that had cracks running down it. “Now, What are you men doing here?” Randolph asked with a smile.
“We’re making explosives…” Hans said immediately.
Learn to keep your mouth shut… Rupert Thought with a scowl.
“You, what's your name?” Randolph asked, pointing to Rupert.
“Rupert Hoffman.”
“Are you making Explosives Mr. Rupert?” Randolph asked.
“We are...”
“Why?”
“To sell...”
“To Who?”
“To some robb-”
“Don't lie.” Randolph said cutting off Rupert, his eyes were narrowed and full of animosity.
“We are planning on selling them to the Nationalist party.” Rupert replied with a bead of sweat dripping down his forehead.
“Those guys again..” Randolph sighed. “How many members do you have?”
“Twenty Two in total, We’re spread out in various locations.”
“When and where were you supposed to sell them?” Randolph asked with a frown.
“Our group right here is supposed to meet them in Northern Lazarus at the Luft Han Schnitzel diner next Thursday.” Rupert said.
“For how much?”
“Twelve thousand for 350 lbs.”
“I’ll double that.” Randolph said calmly.
“Huh?” Rupert croaked out jaw agape.
“I want you to work for me, I’ll buy your current supply for Twenty Four Thousand and then from now on I’ll pay fifteen thousand for every 250 lbs. you make for me.”
“Why do you want Explosives?” Gunther Asked.
Randolph looked over to Gunther with a smile, “There’s going to be a war soon and I need all the weapons I can possibly obtain. Groups like yours know how to make it cheap but still effective.”
“ If we Refuse?” Rupert asked, smiling nervously.
“You’re free to do that but I can't guarantee Titan will be too happy.” Randolph said, leaning his head towards Titan who smiled.
“We’ll do it.” Fritz said with a salute.
Randolph looked to Rupert who nodded in agreement.
“Perfect.” Randolph laughed with a clap.
“In three days I want you in Vulcon at the Luvence art gallery bring your supplies and all your other buddies including those not here right now and we’ll go from there.” Randolph said, turning around to leave.
“Why us?!” Rupert called out to Randolph as he walked away.
“Just a feeling.” Randolph said, waving for Titan to follow.
Titan looked over at the men and smiled demonically before turning around and catching up with Randolph. “Do you trust them?” He asked brushing back his Pink hair.
“Of course, They won't do anything stupid. Besides, I need scummy guys like them. Give them food and a place to sleep and they’ll jump when you say to.”
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“What do you want to do about the Nationalist party?”
“Well I’d like to have had them join me but I guess I went overboard with my speech. They think I’m trying to corrupt the people of the country by using overly Nationalist ideas to make the masses do as I please.”
“Can you convince them to Join us?”
“Maybe, But those kinds of people are dangerous. If their leader told them the planet was flat they’d kill you for saying it’s round even if they know what the truth is. They want to find a place to fit in, somewhere they’re able to follow someone blindly and not have to think for themselves. Just do as master says and everything will be alright. The worst kind of people.” Randolph said as the pair exited the factory into the open field outside full of overgrown bushes and abandoned windmills.
“That sounds perfect for us.” Titan said confused.
“If my speech didn't work, nothing will.”
“If you say so…” Titan muttered looking up at the black starry sky and 3 moons each a different color. “I truly appreciate the beauty of the stars, and moons.”
“It’s something you don't often see out in the city. Pollution masks the stars and moons.” Randolph said, focusing on the 3rd moon in the sky which shone a light green.
# # #
Inside the conference room was a long old wooden table with over a dozen people sitting at it, Each from a different country and background with a different reason to be there but they all served under the same man in the same group, The GötterWache or Royal Guards.
The room's wooden double doors swung open and everyone's eyes quickly darted to see Randolph, Dharma and Titan in the doorway.
“My apologies for being late.” Randolph said, taking his seat and the head of the table. To his right Titan took his seat and Dharma stood Behind Randolph silently but sternly watching the rest of the table.
Every person at the table looked at Randolph anxiously waiting for him to speak.
“I believe this is the first we’ve gathered in two years if I’m correct.” He said, In total there were twenty people, Six Composing the Überlegen and the other fourteen created the Untere, “Well there’s a good reason I’ve gathered you here. It’s to inform you of the current plans.”
“...”
“Now that I’m officially the Emperor, things are going to start progressing into the final stages and I’ll need you all more than ever. The first order of Business of course is to eliminate Jinen from our list of threats. Currently any world encompassing actions we take will be quickly snuffed out by that man. Second is to attack the Venator Society on the 6th of august which is fourteen weeks from today. Third is to gain control of the two million clay soldier golems under the Orochi Kingdom's Capital city of Heibi.”
One of the Royal Guards raised his hand, He was a young Asian man with large round eyes and spiky green hair. “I don't think Parliament will allow us to do that should we kill them first?”
“Good question Goken but I already took care of that a while ago, Parliament no longer exists.” Randolph said with a smile.
Another man raised his hand. This man was named Kaidou and he was dark skinned and had a very wide muscular frame topped with a overly thick neck and wild black hair. “How will this be split up among us and in what Order will these events take place?”
“On the 28th of July me and the Überlegen will travel to the Orochi Kingdom and meet with the Emperor Orochi, On the 4th of August all the Überlegen except Titan will ambush Jinen in his families property in Colick and seal his soul making him unable to use magic, On the 6th me and the Untere will invade the Venator Society through the sky and kill El-Saber along with the Division Captains present at the time. I’ll focus on El-Saber while you eliminate the rest of them. I’d also like to secure Oracle Delphi alive if at all possible.”
“How do you plan on sealing Jinen?” Rastafari asked, He had brown skin with straight black hair split down the middle and a short well groomed beard and stache.
“With this.” Randolph said, conjuring an arrow in his hand. It was odd shaped with a twisted rod which had dangling braided ropes tied around it and an open mouthed skull for a head. “I created this arrow for the singular purpose of sealing Jinens ability to manipulate his aura in any way. The Überlegen will restrict Jinen and pierce him with this arrow. Within five seconds his soul will be sealed completely, He won't be able to use any form of Magic.”
“Why no kill him?” Xing asked. He was another Asian man with a strong accent. His speech was broken and muffled because of the black face mask he had on under his sharp slit like eyes.
“If we kill him there’s a potential of him resurrecting himself if he has some sort of resurrection clause in the case of being killed when unable to use magic, If that’s the scenario then the seal will no longer be in effect since it would vanish after he dies the first time. Though I doubt this incarnation of him would have thought such a thing possible there’s a chance that one of his previous incarnations foresaw the potential of an event like that and create a safe fail in case.”
“What should we do until that time?” Goken asked.
“Maximize your strength as much as you can until then. It won't be an easy venture and half of you probably won't survive it but if you strengthen yourself you won't be part of the half that don't.”
“If you don't mind me asking Randolph how we will avoid a war with the rest of the world from our actions?” Dharma asked, peeking his head out from behind Randolph's chair.
“As long as Jinen is removed from play then I’ll be able to take care of the rest of the world. The only person Superior to me in power is him, Perhaps the Venator Society could pose a threat if they all attacked me at once but if we break them apart and remove them from the board as well then nothing can stand in my way, Not even the Pantheon could pose a threat to me in their current state. Jinen is the only thing in my way at this moment.” Randolph said with a frown.
“Does the Venator Society have the Spear Of Longinus in their fortress?” Rastafari asked.
“No, That’s in Edoland at this time. The Venator Society is planning on attacking Edoland and liberating them from the Orochi Kingdom. After the liberation we will call Jinen on the 4th of August to his family home and seal him. Not only will removing the Emperor Orochi give us the two million golems but then we can then take Edoland for ourselves and get the Spear Of Longinus. Then all I have to do is use the spear to pierce the Philosopher's stone and our wish will be granted.”
“How strong is this Jinen truly? someone asked in a nasally voice, the voice's owner was Peter Kopat, he was pink skinned with the general appearance of a naked mole rat.
“Hmmm.” Randolph hummed looking down at the floor, “If he went all out he could destroy about half the planet”
“If he’s so powerful, how are we going to seal him? I understand you have your plan with the arrow but what if he’s able to out maneuver us?” Joon-Park asked. He was a tall thin Asian man with very
defined cheekbones.
“Jinen being the strongest person on the planet is full of arrogance. He looks down on others as nothing more than toys in a toybox. Think of us as a snake in the bottom of the toy box waiting for him to stick his hand inside, we’ll need to follow his expectations and then suddenly break them, to do so we’ll use psychological warfare but I have a feeling that even if we burn down his entire home city he wouldn't care much. So we still need to iron that part out some more.”
“Ughhh this is too much!” Goken said leaning back in his chair, “I feel like everything has been set up to this point I just want to fight!”
“I understand how you feel Goken, but in a war while fighting is important, the mental warfare and politics is truly the most important part. If we rushed in blindly we’d be annihilated. Right now I have every single person capable of creating weapons doing such. When we do this the entire world will turn into a battlefield and you can fight as much as you please but until then please bear with me and enjoy the show.” Randolph said with a warm smile.
# # #
“Lord Randolph…” Dharma muttered as he sat next to the Emperor in his study.
“Hmm?” Randolph hummed looking over to Dharma.
“This Jinen man, can you tell me more about him?”
“What do you want to know?”
“What does he mean to you exactly?” Dharma asked, raising an eyebrow.
“What’re you jealous of him?” Randolph asked with a laugh.
“No, I’ve just never seen you so frustrated as when you speak of him.”
Randolph stopped laughing and puckered his lip as he looked to the ground in thought. “...Well there’s alot for me to be frustrated about with him. He’s someone who broke the scale, the balance of the universe. He’s not a Holy yet he’s still as strong as one. He’s only thirty four but has toppled my over two hundred and sixty years of preparation within two decades. I can’t say I hate him but I’m definitely envious of his power. He’s unnaturally strong. If I was that strong all my worries would go away.”
“Is he the strongest person you’ve ever met?”
“No, there was once someone stronger. I only saw him once and from a distance but even from there I could just tell he was different. Overwhelming power equal to a natural disaster trapped inside of a man's body, he was the exception.”
“Where is he now?”
“Dead, he died a fool's death long ago. Francisco would know of him better than I do. He’s the one who changed him after all.”
“The President of the Venator Society Francisco Ignius?”
“Yeah that one, I think he goes by El-Saber now but that doesn't matter. He was once a monster who roamed the continent of Iboria slaughtering all who walked in his path. Until he met the man I mentioned and was humbled.”
“Who was this man?” Dharma asked with Excitement, the Demon Of Iboria Francisco Gutierrez Ignius was humbled by a man who his master had seen!?
“...” Randolph bit his lips and his eyes glazed over as he spoke the name. “Osorei.” His name was “Osorei.”