Near the port of Yin, chaos reigned. The Imperial Army moved forward like an unrelenting tide under the command of Hela. She was a spectacle of dark majesty, her black and emerald armor catching the glow of fires that raged across the district. The streets near the docks had become a battlefield maze of smoke, blood, and magic. Buildings were crumbling, their wooden frames snapping under the weight of the destruction. The stench of burning wood mixed with the smell of blood in the air, and screams echoed alongside the clash of steel and sorcery.
At the heart of this battle stood Lord Jiang, wearing his long robes, once pristine and embroidered with sigils of power, now fluttered wildly in the wind conjured by his magic. His eyes burned with unnatural light. Around him was a storm of raw magical energy—tendrils lashing out sporadically and scorching the ground with every strike. To his men, he was both a source of awe and terror.
Hela advanced through the carnage, each step showing her unshakable confidence. Her presence was an undeniable force that demanded attention and submission. Her armor shined even through the haze, an emblem of power and authority. Soldiers on both sides paused momentarily at her arrival; even the bravest among Jiang's ranks faltered as her cold aura washed over them like a suffocating shroud.
"Hold your ground!" Jiang's voice sounded over the battlefield, filled with desperation as he noticed his men hesitate. He thrust his staff into the ground, sending a pulse of light through their ranks. "She bleeds like any other! Fight!"
But his words were uttered with ignorance as he looked down against Hela. She stopped a few paces away from him, her gaze locked onto his like a predator hunting their prey. With a flick of her wrist, blades of ethereal shadow appeared into existence around her, orbiting her like deadly satellites. They radiated danger, their edges jagged and sharp as if forged from nightmares themselves.
Jiang sneered at the display, though a drop of sweat ran down his face showing his unease. "Do you think parlor tricks will intimidate me?" he spat, raising his arms high. From his palms erupted tendrils of violet energy that snaked through the air toward Hela.
She did not flinch. With an almost dismissive wave of her hand, a translucent barrier materialized before her, absorbing the attack. The energy dissipated harmlessly into clouds of smoke.
Hela tilted her head slightly, her lips curling into a smirk. "Your tricks," she said, her voice cutting through the chaos, "are amusing at best." Her tone was filled with mockery as if she were addressing an unruly child rather than a powerful sorcerer. "But you face a true deity now." She took another step forward, her presence growing heavier with each word. "Kneel before me, Sorcerer," she commanded. "And I may grant you the mercy of a swift end."
Jiang erupted into laughter which spread across the battlefield. His eyes grew brighter as his hands began weaving intricate patterns in the air. "Kneel?" he roared, "I bow to no one—least of all to an overreaching tyrant playing at godhood!"
The ground beneath him split open as massive spectral serpents burst forth from the earth. Their translucent forms writhed with evil energy, their maws snapping hungrily as they lunged for Hela.
Her expression remained unchanged, cold and unimpressed. With a subtle gesture of her fingers, dark tendrils coiled up from the shadows around her feet. They met the spectral serpent's mid-air and wrapped around them with crushing force. The sound of shattering magic filled the air as Jiang's conjurations disintegrated into nothingness.
Hela stepped forward through the mist without hesitation, closing the distance between them in an instant. Jiang tried to react but barely managed to erect a shield as Hela sent her ethereal blades flying toward him in rapid succession.
Each impact against his barrier sent shockwaves through the air. Jiang gritted his teeth as sweat poured down his face, his knees buckling slightly under the strain of maintaining his defenses.
"Is this it?" Hela taunted, her voice echoing with cruel amusement as she continued her relentless assault. "The great Lord Jiang—the so-called scourge of Yin—reduced to cowering behind shields? Pitiful."
With a feral cry, Jiang shattered his own barrier in an explosive counterattack. Shards of magical energy erupted outward in all directions like razor-sharp shrapnel.
But Hela was already moving—her form dissolving into shadows that reappeared mere feet from him. As she emerged from the darkness, she summoned forth a colossal scythe forged entirely from dark energy.
Jiang barely had time to raise another shield before it struck—but this time there was no stopping it. The scythe cleaved through his defenses with ease, its dark edge slamming into him and sending him falling to the ground.
He gasped for breath as he lay there, his body trembling from exhaustion and pain. His hands clawed weakly at the dirt as he tried—and failed—to summon even an ounce of magic.
Hela stood over him like death incarnate, her scythe resting casually on one shoulder as she gazed down at him with cold disdain. "You mortals," she said softly, almost pityingly. "Always grasping for power, you cannot hope to wield." She raised her weapon high above her head as it glowed brighter.
Jiang's eyes widened in fear as he rasped out one final word: "Mercy…"
Hela laughed at his plea. "Mercy is for those who know their place," she said simply before bringing her scythe down in one swift motion.
As Jiang's lifeless body crumpled beneath her strike, his remaining soldiers froze where they stood. Their weapons falling to the ground one by one as they dropped to their knees in surrender.
Hela turned away from Jiang's corpse without another glance, addressing her troops. "Secure the port," she commanded. "I want no resistance left standing."
Her forces moved forward once more, emboldened by their leader's decisive victory. The battle for Yin was over; its streets fell silent save for the distant sounds of fleeing rebels and crackling flames.
Still a few rebels managed to get away. On the Sea, the thousands of men that Jiang had in reserve were still on ships. However, once the commanding General saw Lord Jiang's defeat, he ordered the retreat. Luckily, the dragons or Wyverns didn't venture out to the sea, allowing them to sail away to the region they controlled to muster up a new army.
A large contingent of Pol Qo's forces had also managed to retreat. Maximus didn't order a pursuit as he didn't want to win the war for them. He came to give them a chance at victory, and he had done just that. Now he was going to see the God-Emperor and his daughter.
Outside of the Golden Palace, Emperor Bu Gai stood in wait alongside his daughters Zhenyi and Xueying, and his sons Shenghao, Lianyu, and Hanxu. They were surrounded by the Royal Guards as there were still some dangers in the city. In the distance, they watched as Maximus walked through the palace gates and up to the God-Emperor.
"I'm sorry for greeting you this way, Emperor Maximus. If not for the current situation, you would have had a much warmer greeting followed by a ceremony." voiced Bu Gai.
"No worries, Emperor Gai, I would have it no other way nor am I a fanatic for ceremonies. I much prefer unofficial and simpler meetings like this than those filled with squabbling nobles." Emperor Gai chuckled at his words.
"I share that sentiment. Your timely assistance has saved my empire from falling into complete ruin. YiTi owes you a great debt, Emperor Maximus."
Maximus inclined his head respectfully. "Consider it the beginning of a lasting partnership, Emperor Gai. Stability and prosperity are goals we both strive for. Together, I believe we can ensure peace endures across both our realms."
The God-Emperor nodded solemnly, extending a hand. "Agreed. Let this moment mark the start of a new era for YiTi and the Imperial Union."
Maximus clasped his hand firmly, sealing the promise. "Indeed, let it be so."
For Maximus, this very short-lived campaign was simply to prevent a future conflict from happening. He didn't much care what happened to YiTi, as long as they weren't a threat then he would maintain a partnership with them.