General IronnHide sunk her battle-axe into a Demi-God’s left shoulder. She followed through and cleaved her opponent in two. Hilda spun on the balls of her Dragon bone boots and kicked up a sandy tornado. She spun, vanished appeared before a giant in cloth armour and split him in half as well.

The Bull Dragon spread her wings and the circle of Demi-Gods backed away. She scanned the battlefield and laughed. The Dragons had pushed their frontline too far and were surrounded.

General IronHide’s eyes glowed red. She inhaled deeply and vanished. Seven Bull Dragons appeared before seven giants in silver and gold armour. They swung their axes, beheaded their opponents, vanished and reappeared deeper behind enemy lines. Fourteen General IronHides appeared before fourteen Demi-Gods and a hail of golden arrows descended on her location.

“Impressive. Few possess such keen instincts.” The Bull Dragon rumbled happily. She vanished, dodged the arrows and appeared hundreds of kilometres in the air. “Do not let the enemy gain momentum! Surround them and halt their charge! Stay vigilant and cover each other’s blind spots! They are quick, but they are not invulnerable! Everything that lives die! That is one of the many laws of The Universe!” A Demi-God shouted.

General IronHide looked up at the clouds at the very back of the divine army. “Do you have a name archer?” she called out to the giant. “Survive the day and I may share it when we meet again!” the Demi-God bellowed confidently and he gripped his golden bow tightly. “Hmph. Cocky brat.” The Bull Dragon muttered, with a smirk. She flapped her bat-like wings and her Dragon bone armour shimmered.

General IronHide swallowed her head. Her snout grew longer, her limbs narrowed and her shoulders broadened. The Bull Dragon’s hooves printed Mana infused crystal horse shoes as she charged across the sky. General IronHide hopped to the side and vanished. She passed through the second volley of arrows, waited for a bit and then reappeared dozens of kilometres to her right.

Hilda darted from side to side and the clouds retreated. A bright white crystal wall shot upwards and the Demi-Gods took to the skies. They lined up on the crystal ramparts and she vanished again. The Bull Dragon stopped instantly, when thousands of spells were written on the wall. She appeared briefly, darted back and vanished. Apollo scoffed and thought hard, before he smiled madly.

“Hmm? What is he up to?” Hilda thought, when she spotted the Demi-God’s smile. “Ah! I understand now. We may survive this tragedy after all. I had feared you had not seen the same thing. This battle would not be taking place if you had, but I would not be here if you had not. He is not here. Yes, survive the day. And I will tell you more than my name.” Apollo rumbled to the Bull Dragon’s surprise.

“But first, like I said, you must survive the day.” The Greek Demi-God rumbled threateningly. He pointed at the sky and copied the spells written onto the crystal wall. Fiery arrows burst out of the magical circles and the flames sparkled. Apollo locked eyes with Hilda. He smiled confidently and snapped his fingers.

The Demi-Gods’ barrage of divine arrows split into many beams. They scattered and thousands of glittery orange strands pierced the Bull Dragon’s body. The Dragons stopped and stared, before they laughed. The strings became taut and General IronHide wrapped the glittery threads around her body.

“Impressive, but what was that supposed to do?” Hilda asked as she absorbed the cocoon of energy. “You are immune to fire? That is rather troublesome, if I am being honest.” Apollo said with a smile and the Bull Dragon scanned the battlefield. “Ha! Cunning bastard. Advance! Drive them to the east!” Hilda rumbled aggressively, when she noticed there were fewer energy signatures behind the wall.

“Are they hiding amongst the mortals? Do they abide by the same laws we do?” General IronHide wondered. “What are mortals to you?” she asked curiously and the Greek Demi-God laughed. He spread his arms and the clouds retreated. “Everything!” Apollo shouted proudly and he disappeared with a burst of fire.

General IronHide stood up right. Her shoulders became narrower and her legs grew longer. She opened her mouth and regurgitated her head. Hilda’s brown dreadlocks flowed out of the sides of her helmet. A strong gust blew past her and she watched the Dragons carefully.

“Sakamoto, Drakk’N. Report.” General IronHide ordered. “The south eastern foothold is secure. Awaiting your orders to continue east.” Duke replied and the ghostly Dragons glanced at him. They saw a desert littered with debris and the corpses of their enemies. “We have secured a foothold to the northeast. However, the enemy is still at our front door. Requesting reinforcements.” The Woodpecker Dragon replied with a hint of frustration and he shared his comrades’ failures with everyone.

*

“Push forward!” Sergeant Lewis roared. “Pull back and construct the fortress. I want a border and defensive installations built along it by mid-day.” Colonel Sakamoto ordered. “Why? We should be chasing after them.” The Pelican Dragon argued.

“One battle can decide everything. We do not want to be caught in a war of attrition with an enemy that is rumoured to have nigh infinite energy. Especially when we are so few and so spread out across the continent. No, we secure our position and chip away at their territory until we have taken everything. Bring the Whale Ships closer, I want the constant threat of bombardment to weigh heavily on their minds.” The Woodpecker Dragon explained and his calm demeanor put everyone at ease.

Suddenly, the Dragons looked down as a wave of fire swept across their forces. The divine armies charged across the savannah. They butchered and burned everyone in their path, without any signs of slowing down.

“Pull back your forces Lewis! Jin!” Colonel Sakamoto ordered before he called for his strongest warrior. “Sir!” A young man replied. He stared at the face on his holo-monitor, played with the red scarf around his neck and smiled from ear to ear.

“Stop the enemy from wiping out our forces. Unleash the shadows of death.” The Woodpecker Dragon rumbled stoically and black tattoos crept up the young man’s neck. His scarf became pitch black and his smile stretched even wider. The memory skipped forward several hours and Sergeant Drakk’N frowned.

*

“What just happened?” Dumas asked, with confusion. He stood in the middle of a sea of dead bodies, with grey skin. However, their corpses were unharmed. The Iron Army’s General glared at the young man. His pitch-black scarf fluttered in the wind and black crows circled the skies above the battlefield. “What can kill an entire army in mere hours and leave no trace?” Dumas asked and Jin turned around.

“My Lord. The effigies are the source of their strength. Destroy them and the armies will fall like any other.” The ninja reported, and Colonel Sakamoto breathed a sigh of relief. “Our left flank is ill suited for the task. We need to reassign the weaker forces to the east or they will break through.” He added, and Sergeant Lewis clenched his teeth.

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“Casualties?” Hilda asked softly. “Four hundred and eighty-two thousand, six hundred and fifty-nine.” The Woodpecker Dragon replied, and she sucked her teeth. “The Dragons they were working for will set aside a tenth of their earnings for their families. What a waste of life.” General IronHide rumbled angrily.

The General of the Iron Army stared at the memory of the north eastern battlefield. He waded through the dead and something caught his eye. Dumas knelt and scooped up the grey sand. He let it flow through his fingers and a chill ran down his spine.

“What is this?” the General of the Iron Army asked curiously. “A grave error. Black Magic. Remember this warning well. Do not dabble in the Dark Arts. It will only bring ruin.” Duke replied ominously. “At the Prince’s supper, I felt a similar chill. However, it was accompanied by a warm golden light.” Dumas remembered, and he studied the tree of light in the distance.

“Aye. My brother is more thoughtful than the Colonel though. Life, death and rebirth. The Void is a realm beyond mortal comprehension. To be honest, it is beyond most immortals as well. To have one so young steeped in such deep darkness…it is truly a magnificently terrifying idea.” Sergeant Drakk’N replied with surprise.

“You are impressed?” the General of the Iron Army asked quickly. “Aye. Like I said, the Dark Arts bring only ruin. It must have taken considerable resolve to throw everything away and become nothing. To forsake his humanity to grow closer to our kind.” Duke replied honestly.

“Is a mastery of the Dark Arts required to become a Dragon?” Dumas asked and Sergeant Drakk’N gave it some thought. “I do not know. I have never heard of a Dragon being made and I do think it possible. Would you consider a child born in a laboratory a human?” he asked. “Aye.” Dumas replied. “What if that child never heard their mother’s heartbeat nor their father’s voice in the womb? What if they were raised by animals?” Duke asked again.

“No. I have crossed swords with such beings. There is no love in their hearts. They may appear human, but they are nothing more than monsters. There is one problem with your analogy: you are not animals.” The General of the Iron Army replied and Sergeant Drakk’N nodded. He stared at the salt pans over the horizon and glanced over his right shoulder. The Dragons erected powerful barriers around the fortresses and towers. The Whale Ships circled the skies above the defensive installations and the settlements in the heart of the newly formed nations.

*

The sun scorched the back of their necks. Sweat rolled down their foreheads and stung their eyes. The divine warriors waited patiently for midday and their enemies’ arrival. However, hours passed by and no one came. The skies were empty and the horizon as barren as the salt pan around them.

“Well, Blacksmith. Where are they?” a tall and slender Demi-Goddess asked happily. “They are forces of nature. Storms, tsunamis and earthquakes that strike as suddenly as they retreat.” Ogun replied. “Hmph. You admire them.” Oya said with disgust. “I respect them. They have released those that have chosen to flee the captured cities without pursuit. They have come for our land and our titles as ruler. This is a contest between us, not our people.” The Demi-God of War replied, and he gripped his hammer tightly.

“This is not a contest. This is war. This Dragon will fall like every enemy before him and we will be victorious.” The Demi-Goddess declared and her red robes fluttered in the hot breeze. “And yet they have already won over so many hearts. Only a third of Shango’s people made it to my city and when they did, they were in high spirits.” Ogun said and he looked up at the clear blue sky.

“Ha! Spending time with Oshun has made you weak, and I grow tired of waiting. March!” Oya shouted impatiently. “What is that?” the Demi-God of War wondered and he squinted at the mountains to the north.

An eagle screeched, and the two giants made eye contact with it. Their pupils dilated, and they received the message the colossal bird was carrying. Ogun and Oya watched Duke’s Mother Ship lead a fleet towards the centre of the continent.

“Hmph. The Greeks have allowed the enemy to slip past them.” The enraged Demi-Goddess said snidely. “No, Oya. We have.” The Demi-God of War replied, when he recognized the ship. “Tsk! The coward has fled to the north. Retreat! Make haste! Before we are surrounded by the enemy.” Oya shouted, and she sucked her teeth again.

“Oh. I would have thought Olodumare’s errand girl would have known this would happen, or did our Lord deem it unnecessary to inform you?” Ogun asked confidently. “Careful, Blacksmith. If this is my failure, then it is yours as well. Would this not be your second defeat on top of that? Ha!” The Demi-Goddess of Storms replied with a sinister laugh.

“Do you see an army? I am here to prevent the enemy from taking the east. My work here is not done, and I have grown tired of speaking with you. Now leave or let the enemy do as they please. Messenger girl.” The Demi-God of War said shortly and Oya sucked her teeth.

*

“Will we make it in time?” Dumas asked nervously. “Unfortunately.” Duke replied angrily and the bald man looked up. He saw the neon orange in Sergeant Drakk’N’s enraged eyes and looked away. “My apologies, old friend. However, I cannot read minds and I do not wish to.” The General of the Iron Army said jokingly.

“This is beyond absurd.” Duke grumbled and Dumas laughed. “Is it? Your general’s reasoning is sound. The southeastern borders will not be broken. You have made certain of that.” He said happily. “Our gamble relies on the enemy taking the bait. We have left the east undefended if they do not pursue us. All so my brother and father can make a General out of me.” The Four-Armed dragon replied and the General of the Iron Army gave it some thought. “Are you certain it is their doing?” he asked curiously.

“You believe in destiny now?” Duke asked with a single chuckle. “I do not, but I also do not believe your family’s influence is as powerful as you claim. Seeing the future and living it are two different things. Our choices matter.” Dumas argued and Sergeant Drakk’N nodded. “Of course they do. However, it is those choices that the Dragon King sees. Every choice and the endless possibilities thereafter.” He replied and a strong breeze blew across the observation tower.

“You receive your visions from the Dragon King?” the General of the Iron Army asked and a cold shiver ran down his spine. “Should I know this?” he asked quickly. “No, but it does not matter if you do either. Count yourself amongst the lucky few.” Duke replied calmly. “Why?” Dumas asked angrily.

“In the event I die. I would like one person to know what I have rejected. In the event we fail. I think humanity deserves to know what guides them. You will carry the weight of this secret until the end of your days, or share its burden with another and trust they do not use it against your people.” The Four-Armed Dragon explain and he stared at the thunderstorm above the rocky canyon ahead.

The duo scanned the horizon, the dark grey clouds above it and the glittery lightning bolts between the sky and the canon’s mouth. A whirlwind kicked up a sandy cyclone and Mana infused electricity struck the dusty pillar of wind.

“It appears I have said too much.” Duke said somberly and the General of the Iron Army growled. “You are getting on my nerves. Since when were you so hopeless?” he spat. “Since I relinquished my birth right and obtained these eyes. Have you never found it strange? Why would one that loves magic as much as I do, sponsor mortals that hate the very idea of it?” Sergeant Drakk’N rumbled eagerly. Oya descended from the clouds slowly. The tornado expanded and her divine army was transported to the canyons mouth.

“To mock us as we struggle to grow stronger, or perhaps to experiment on mortals and see if we can develop an immunity to magic. How could I possibly know such a thing, if you have never mentioned it before?” Dumas asked impatiently. Duke laughed and scared his friend.

“Have you gone mad?” The General of the Iron Army asked with a raised brow. “Perhaps. I had no idea how little freedom I had before our paths crossed. I am not hopeless, old friend. Far from it. I chose you and your people because I saw something kingly in you and if I had my way you would be on your way to becoming one. Do you understand what that means?” Sergeant Drakk’N asked and Dumas frowned.

“After this war I will be joining the Dragon Guard. My path is set in stone and I take great pride in that. My sympathy lies with you free folk. So many choices and so many paths. How will you find your way without guidance? Listen to me Dumas. Do not let your mistrust of magic stifle your spirit.” The Four-Armed Dragon rumbled sympathetically.

“Now come. This enemy stands between us and our destinies.” Duke said and he burst into a cloud of smoke. The cloud churned and swelled, while lightning flashed and thunder boomed. “They will fall like any other.” The General of the Iron Army replied.

“Aye. For the sake of the Dragon King’s vision of the future and for all free people of this Universe. We, the destined ones, must fulfill our duties. If you do not believe in magic, old friend, believe in law and balance. Believe in order and peace. Believe in might and justice.” Duke boomed from the skies above the observation tower. He looked ahead and scanned the Iron Armies war ships along the coast.

Sergeant Drakk’N drifted over the coastal cities. He spread himself out and the war ships cast off from their respective naval bases. Families gathered on the beaches, piers and rooftops. They called out to the soldiers, psychics and civilian crew members and waved.

Dumas inhaled deeply. He took one last look at the cities and ships in the distance and glanced at the top right corner of his field of view. The General of the Iron Army activated his private teleporter. He was bathed in a pillar of light and transported to his private quarters.

“General on deck!” the bridge commander called out and everyone stood up. “As you were.” Dumas replied from the balcony overlooking the bridge. “Everyone is in position. Awaiting your signal.” Madeleine reported. “Captain Titan here. My team is ready to deploy.” Farah reported. “Ready when you are.” Aata added.

“Ours is a history written in blood. A tale that cannot be washed away. Our grandparents fought the elements and built settlements with their bare hands. Our parents battled the four bandit kings and their armies of thieves and mercenaries. But now our hearts and bellies are full. We do not fight for our survival. We fight for what we have lost. We fight for our people. We fight for our home. We fight for honour! For peace! We fight for the dead! For justice! For order! We fight for glory!” the General of the Iron Army roared and the fleet erupted with cheers and battle cries.

“To war!” Duke thundered from the clouds above. “We march!” the Iron Army replied in unison. The clouds sparkled and the war ships blew their horns. The air between the sky and the ocean vibrated. Sergeant Drakk’N’s Whale Ship opened her mouth and exhaled. The Iron Army’s fleet was ejected out and the divine warrior’s eyes bulged.

“Open fire!” the bridge officers ordered and the aerial bombardment began. Oya smirked and Duke swung his bell. The Demi-Goddess reached out and stopped the strange weapon with her bare hand. “Fool. Fool.” Sergeant Drakk’N rumbled and the stormed died immediately. “Am I now?” Oya asked and the vibrations stopped as well.