Chapter 14: Domination

The Hukku Clan have some of the most unique eyes upon the continent. Not much about their Star God is known outside of the Hukku clan or the deal they made with the God to receive their powers. Yet since before the Eradication era the Hukku Clan has existed. In fact, it is well documented that they were among the first people to free themselves from the servitude of the greenskin races. Whether this is due to the Star God’s interference or something else no one knows. What is known however is because of their strong connection to their god the Hukku Clan was not only one of the first to break free since the Eradication Era but thrive. So then why weren’t they the ones to take action to free the rest of humanity from the tyranny of the greenskin races. Why did it take until Empress Chiara for actions of rebellion to be raised?

Excerpt from A History of the Empire Start and Before.

Moriah was on the edge of her chair. Her noble manners and upbringing completely out of the window as she watched the battle rage on in fascination. The only other thing that brought her to this level of excitement was when her father was allowed to take her to the Colosseum of Rolavin. Back when she was a young magi human and thought she owned the world.

She shoveled more food into her mouth and Alexa looked away from her lady in embarrassment, but the rest of her inner circle seemed to not notice as their eyes were also glued onto the battle.

“Those blue hexagon shields are so interesting. Not quite like what is used to defend a city but not far in application. I think they could interlock with one another to create a wonderful effect,” Mariam said excitedly.

Moriah eyes however were focused on the battle that Aegis fought against the lieutenant of the count’s army. A wide circle of around 50ft had formed around the combatants as they moved faster than what any non-tiered would be able to track. Moriah wished she could see Aegis eyes, but his helmet completely covered them and only a crimson glow came from the sockets.

She wondered what information the armor was feeding him as the masterwork equipment gave off a soft red glow. Her attention returned to the fight as Aegis suddenly accelerated and bashed his shield into his opponent forcing him back and Moriah watched in her eyes giving out their own glow as Aegis chopped downwards with his ax. It would have been a devastating blow however his opponent was skilled enough to dash out the way in time. Only to quickly move forward as Aegis ax overswung and opened him up for a response.

A response that was never allowed to happen as a blue fireball was fired conjured and fired off in the same instant the opening appeared. The count’s lieutenant raised his shield, and a magical glow came from it as the explosion sent him and Aegis back. Aegis armor came out undamaged and pristine while his opponents was scorched with black marks all over it. Part of the armor had been completely blasted away revealing an older gentleman with a broad and hairy chest. Moriah could imagine the fear within his eyes, and she only grew ever excited.

“Domination.”

“Yes, my lady it should not be long before this lieutenant expires. Whatever magical thing Aegis has done to his army has clearly given them a large advantage.”

Moriah didn’t bother to respond to Alexa as her attention remained on the fight. It was at this point however that a thought came to her mind.

“Where is Count Caccula?”

The inner circle of Moriah all looked towards her as they too had lost sight of the count.

“After he removed himself from the initial exchange in the beginning, I haven’t seen him since,” Jason Diablo said.

“His second lieutenant has been occupied with those two fighters with the golden glow surrounding them. Similar to an aura…,” Mariam trailed off her thoughts unknown, but her eyes sparkled as she watched the battle.

Suddenly a powerful red glow came from the center of the Crimson Army and Moriah’s attention quickly shot there spotting the elusive count with his hands around Amaya’s throat.

Moriah, Alexa, Mariam, and Jason Diablo looked at one another in shock and immediately everything grew quiet until Moriah spoke once again.

“Oh, how I wish sound could be transmitted as well.”

***

A few moments before.

Gloria frown as she looked up to the evening sky with dark blood red clouds forming a few miles ahead of her and her band of troops.

“The Bloodied Sky. A battle is raging.”

This was not good, and Gloria urged her men to move faster. Cursing to herself the entire time as as they sped through the rough terrain. The count and his men had arrived a few days before her and had more than enough time to travel within the inner permitter of the Endless Mountains. The moment Gloria and her party arrive she had been rushing to catch up to the counts forces to deter him from traveling any farther.

Her niece may have found a way out for them, and this way may provide the Last Kingdom and opportunity to not only survive but thrive. It would not be due for Count Caccula to aggravate whatever help Arlo had sent.

“Shit…. Shit.” Gloria activated her power and swiftly pulled away from her troops just as a red light erupted from the mountain ahead. One moment she was moving ahead of the pack and the next she was gone flung forward as the ground seem to contract in front of her. Shortening the distance from one point to another. Gloria crested the ridge and stopped dead in her tracks. Her eyes quickly scanning over the situation. Two armies were battling against one another. One easily identified as Count Caccula’s while the other was unknown. Gloria studied the second army in interest as a portion of them seem to tower over not only some of their fellow troops but the troops of Count Caccula as well. Yet they looked human or at least was humanoid.

Her eyes landed on several key figures. One a heavily armored giant of a man that was bashing around Cale Dulin a lieutenant under the count. Next, was Karra Dulin his young but talented daughter battling against two people one also a giant and the other a regular sized human. Finally, her eyes landed on the position Count Caccula had landed himself in as she quickly deduced, he tried to capture the enemy commander. Based on what she knew of his affinity to dark magic the count had tried to cut the head off the snake, yet it seemed he failed as roiling magma forced the count away from his quarry.

Interesting but Gloria quickly focused. This must be the thing her niece powers pointed out and Gloria would need to put a stop to it. She could see the mages employed by the Count preparing a large spell that the enemy troops would be caught unaware by. The entire battlefield was chaotic but, in another moment, Gloria found herself between the count and the enemy command. Shock apparent in both of their stances as she appeared.

“Greeting Count Caccula. Under the orders of her majesty the Warrior Princess you are to stop all hostilities with…,” Gloria turned to the enemy commander taking this opportunity to study them in the same moment.

They were massive, no she was massive standing around 246cm in height. Her armor was crimson like the setting sun on a summer evening. With what appeared to be some sort of judging horned creatures on her shoulder pauldrons and kneecaps. She held a black staff with a sharp crimson gem pointing like a spearhead and a furry cape descended down her back. A crimson glow came from her helmet and Gloria felt her gaze focusing on her.

All around them the troops of the girl’s army held their weapons at the ready and pointed at her and the count.

“I am Amaya Kan, the Crimson General.”

“Well, you are to stop all hostilities with Amaya Kan, the Crimson General.”

This time her voice rang out over the entire battlefield and over the course of the next five minutes the fighting slowly stopped. Partly because of Gloria voice and partially because the aura of a Land God could not be denied.

The other crimson armored figure with a similar appearance to Amaya Kan appeared shortly within their detached group standing close to Amaya. Gloria squinted her eyes as both crimson figures had easily shrugged off the effects of her aura.

“Who are you?”

Gloria turned to the other crimson figure as he asked the question.

“It is only proper to introduce yourself first when asking a lady for her name.”

The armored figure removed his helmet and Gloria almost reacted but her quick senses and training stopped her from making the mistake of attacking him.

“I am Aegis Kan, Young Lord and leader of this army. Tell me why I should stop when my army is clearly winning. This… count of yours is… lacking.”

The man spoke but Gloria barely retained what he said as she gazed at his eyes that appeared like the night sky with gold and blue specs that Gloria was sure represented stars randomly spread throughout them.

In her close to seventy years of life Gloria had seen many things. Not once in her life could she claim to have seen eyes like Aegis Kan’s before.

The count eyes flamed in anger, and he opened his mouth to speak but a singled raised hand from Gloria was all it took to stop him.

“I apologize for any inconvenience a subject of the Last Kingdom has caused you Young Lord. I am Gloria my ladies… right hand. My lady has seen of your arrival and in his haste the count overstepped his station in searching you out.”

In most cases Gloria would look to the eyes to determine any sort of ticks she could use to her advantage when dealing with any party that did not favor the Last Kingdom. Little as they were they still existed. In combination with body language and other such things. Yet Gloria could not find it within herself to stare too long into the eyes of Aegis Kan. Not only had she never seen anything like it but the something just gave her a bad vibe about the entire army under the Young Lord. It was like they didn’t belong. Gloria shrugged that feeling away how could the spymaster properly report to her lady with any bias if she inserted her own feelings into the mix.

Gloria watched as the young man looked over his army thoughts unknown until he finally spoke again.

“MY SOLDIER’S YOU HAVE FOUGHT WELL AND PROVEN YOUR WORTH. TONIGHT, WE SHALL FEAST. WITHDRAW.”

It was simple but effective as the troops of the young man began to extricate themselves from the battle yet as the lieutenants of Count Caccula joined them Gloria could feel the moral of the count’s army drop. They hadn’t lost but because of her appearance and her words to stop the war it provided them the illusion of losing as she not only refute the count but was catering to their enemies. Something that Gloria would have to deal with later.

“I am very curious to know how your lady has seen my arrival.

Very curious indeed.”