Chapter 16: The Imperial Might in Full Display - Victory in the East
Year 0008, Month I-III: The Imperium
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The Pillars of the Empire Assembled
Standing in perfect formation within the grand command chamber of the Aegis Sovereign were the most trusted houses that supported the Empire through military conquests, economic prosperity, industrial innovation, scientific advancement, and unwavering security. The twenty Ducal Houses stood before His Imperial Majesty Janus Cornwall, their heads bowed in reverence to the man who was quite literally a sky above the sky to them. His will was absolute and binding, and they served as his limbs that struck down any enemies the Empire deemed a threat to its overall stability and peace.
Emperor Janus was no mere mortal, for he was born of divine blood—a half-deity carrying the lineage of the most powerful gods through his direct descent from the Heavenly God King. In his mortal veins also flowed the blood of royalty, as his father, Prince Tiberius, had been next in line to succeed Emperor Arkanus the Wise of the old Empire. Janus was profoundly skilled in all types of combat, earning him the title "Violence Reincarnate." He was called the God of War, for a single swing of his sword possessed the power to obliterate thousands. His mastery of both mortal magic and divine power exceeded that of his peers, whether they were mortal men or gods themselves.
While he had never fully accepted his godhood, he had embraced his humanity, dedicating himself to protecting the weak mortals from their various plights. He had successfully consolidated and restored the once mighty and prosperous Empire of Arkanus, now renamed the Empire of Elms-Arkanus. The name honored the Elms, the last pure-blooded noble household that had once answered directly to the emperor and had suffered enslavement for far too long.
When Janus first witnessed what the Elmisians had endured, he—though not yet aware of the three subdivided continents of Arkanus—had promised to restore them to their rightful status within the Empire. They would be freed from the shackles of those who had enslaved them, after the bitter and cowardly enemies who had waited centuries for the old Empire to crumble, finally struck when weakness showed. The House of Elms, being a living remnant of the old glory, had been a particular source of resentment to many neighboring powers. This animosity had led to the formation of the Fresco League of Kingdoms, which had united specifically to enslave the people of Elms, along with other malevolent forces that included the Great Evil and its Dark Forces that crept from the shadows.
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The Emperor's Origins and Ancient Burden
Emperor Janus possessed knowledge of the world's history that exceeded any mortal historian's understanding, for he had lived for millennia already. His true birth and nature had been revealed to him by Ignis Auralith Aetherion, the King of Dragons, who had served as both his grandfather's guardian beast and closest friend. He had been raised by a tribe called the Arkons within the Great Caldera that had once been the beating heart of the Empire—a place that could no longer be seen in its original glory.
The Arkons were descendants of nomads who had traveled to this devastated region after the Great Cooling of what had once been the Empire's mighty imperial capital. That magnificent city had been transformed into a sea of molten fire in a cataclysm that left no soul behind. After the great cooling, a vast lake and forest had taken its place, and surrounding the Great Caldera of Arkanus were what were now known as the Great Forests of Arkanus. Janus had also walked the Great Mountain Ridges of Arkanus that had split the once-whole central sub-continent into two distinct regions.
The reason for this great caldera's formation, and why the once-unified continent of Arkanus was now divided into three sub-continents—the west, the central, and the east—was a burden that weighed heavily upon Janus's soul. He himself had been the instrument of that ancient destruction, though he bore no fault for the circumstances that led to it. The catastrophe had resulted from a combination of human stupidity and his goddess mother's disobedience of the most sacred taboo: that no mortal and god should enter into matrimony.
In his rage over this forbidden union, Janus's grandfather, the Heavenly God King, had cast him down to the world beneath as divine punishment. The impact had destroyed the Empire of his mortal grandfather and killed their people directly, including his own father, Prince Tiberius. What fate had befallen his mother remained unknown, as even the Dragon King Ignis Auralith Aetherion had never learned what the Heavenly God King had done to her.
The Dragon King had been tasked by the Heavenly God King to watch over young Janus and guard the Great Caldera to ensure that no empire would ever again lay claim to these accursed lands. However, the dragon king had shown mercy by allowing the nomadic tribe—who now called themselves the Arkons—to enter the forbidden zone to raise Janus as a human. In return for this service, they were granted protection and prosperity within the hallowed caldera that had once been the beating heart of the Empire of Arkanus.
When Janus learned these truths in his youth, a hidden malice had taken root within him—a deep anger at understanding what both the gods and his parents had done. However, he had never shown open hostility toward the high heavens, keeping his rebellious thoughts carefully concealed within his own mind.
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Liberation and Brutal Justice
When the time came for action, Janus had freed the Elmisians who had lived in tyranny under the rule of the Fresco League of Kingdoms. To them, he was the prophesied savior they had awaited for generations, and they made him their emperor without hesitation. However, that conquest had not been merely bloody—it had been utterly brutal, with every member of the Fresco League killed to the last man, woman, and child as Janus had ordered. His reasoning was pragmatic: no resentment could be allowed to fester, and those who had laid down their lives for this bloody empire to rise would receive justice, including the ancestors who had lived and died in slavery.
While some allies had initially kept a blind eye to such extreme measures, allowing a few citizens of the former Fresco League kingdoms to survive by selling them into slavery, Janus had ultimately ensured that his vision of complete justice was achieved.
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The Final Campaign Reports
Now, all of the dukes and duchesses had given their greetings and warm welcomes to their emperor on the battlefield. Each provided earnest reports of their achievements, and with somber notes, detailed their losses in battle—both allied forces and Imperial troops. Although they had lost only five percent of their elite forces, this still represented a significant blow to the Empire's capabilities.
Of the two million elite soldiers and four million support units under the command of the Ducal Houses, combined with the Imperial Royal Marine Expeditionary Force numbering ten million, the Empire had raised these warriors not just as soldiers but treated them as heroes—the lifeline and foremost defenders of Imperial ideals. The major casualties had been sustained by the allied kings and regional vassals in the eastern-central region, the portion of the eastern sub-continent under direct Imperial rule that had stood firm against the growing tide of darkness. Of their combined fifty million troops, they had suffered casualties exceeding 65% of their field army.
This disparity could only be attributed to the type of training the Empire instilled in their forces and the higher value placed on Imperial soldiers compared to their allies or vassals.
**The Ducal Houses and Their Elite Forces:**
**The Four Archduchies** had performed with distinction:
- **Archduke Primos of House Panthera** commanded the Umbral Guard, whose shadow-walking assassins had eliminated key enemy leadership without detection
- **Archduke Rex of House Raptoria** led the Skyward Legion, whose eagle-mounted warriors had dominated the aerial battlefield
- **Archduchess Anna of House Viperion** directed the Coil Guard, whose adaptive toxins had proven devastating against enemy formations
- **Archduke Ritter of House Wolffang** coordinated the Howling Company, whose lycanthropic warriors had terrorized enemy forces with pack tactics
**The Eight Grand Duchies** had each contributed specialized capabilities:
- **Grand Duke Kaelnore of House Bloodhawke** and the Crimson Wing had provided unmatched reconnaissance and precision strikes
- **Grand Duchess Maria of House Komodra** with the Scale Guard had broken through enemy fortifications using draconic might
- **Grand Duke Alexander of House Whitebear** had deployed the Frost Guard to freeze entire battlefield sections, trapping enemy forces
- **Grand Duke Max of House Tigris** had sent the Prowling Guard on solo missions that crippled enemy supply lines
- **Grand Duchess Gloria of House Croco** commanded the River Fleet in amphibious assaults that flanked enemy positions
- **Grand Duke Ursus of House Kodiaks** led the Iron Claws in berserker charges that shattered enemy morale
- **Grand Duchess Rosie of House Spinneweb** used the Web Wardens to capture key enemy commanders alive for interrogation
- **Grand Duke Ash of House Wyrm** deployed the Stone Serpents in underground operations that emerged behind enemy lines
**The Eight Duchies** had proven their worth as the Empire's outer pillars:
- **Duke Maximilian of House Solmane** and the Solar Guard had purified corrupted battlefields with their light magic
- **Duke Grian of House Ravencrow** led the Storm Riders in weather-manipulation campaigns that devastated enemy morale
- **Duchess Romina of House Vulpes** commanded the Mirage Company in deception operations that confused enemy strategies
- **Duke Mohg of House Aurochs** directed the Mad Bull Runners in devastating cavalry charges
- **Duchess Lilibeth of House Tasmanian** unleashed the Wild Mystical Hunters, whose chaotic tactics proved impossible to counter
- **Duke Brutus of House Wolverine** positioned the Iron-Willed Heavy Infantry as unbreakable defensive anchors
- **Duchess Celeste of House Harpia** commanded the Storm Winged Riders in aerial supremacy operations
- **Duke Sterling of House Equus** led the Silver Stallion Heavy Cavalry in rapid deployment strikes
After hearing these reports of both triumph and loss, Emperor Janus could only sigh in disappointment at the meaningful deaths. He spoke with the authority that had shaped an empire: "Hear me, my dear companions. Send our soldiers home with the pride that they laid down their lives for a grander purpose. Spare no expense in telling their families of their heroism, and ensure that their families receive compensation for their loss, whether it be brother, sister, father, mother, son, or daughter. Tell them that their emperor sends his utmost thanks for their soldiers' service to the Empire."
Every single ducal lord and lady obeyed and replied in perfect unison: "By your will!"
"Now it is high time that we bring this war to its final close. Prepare your armies, for I will spearhead this final operation myself! We must move forward in unison to conquer and eradicate the remaining territory where our greatest enemy is trapped!"
With these words, all understood that their emperor would personally lead them in the final charge. They were filled with anticipation at the prospect of witnessing his might once more on the field of battle.
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The Final Assault
Within a couple of weeks after the emperor's arrival, they had compressed the enemy's territory even further. The Great Evil's forces now controlled only one percent of their original holdings—roughly 350,000 square kilometers of blighted land. Imperial soldiers no longer sustained casualties, as they were simply mopping up scattered remnants that had escaped the tightening net.
The Ducal Lords had positioned themselves for a grand encirclement that would lead them to a single convergence point where Emperor Janus would deliver the final blow.
During these two weeks, Emperor Janus had ordered the Capital Ship "Sovereign" to unleash its full arsenal in bombardment of enemy defenses. The Elite Imperial Royal Army of 100,000 strong had been deployed below to hack, slash, pierce, and rain arrows and magic upon these abominations. They had learned much about their enemies over the years of conflict—their weaknesses, their tactics, everything that could be exploited. The ground forces were supported by the Emperor's Dragoon Company, whose wyvern riders breathed different elemental attacks down upon the enemy formations.
Meanwhile, Emperor Janus faced hundreds of thousands of enemies alone. A man standing fifteen feet tall, he was a massive giant whose power and strength were such that attacks which would kill normal soldiers served only to annoy him. This truly signified his nature as both mortal and god, earning him recognition as the "God of War" by virtually everyone who witnessed his prowess.
Each swing of his sword produced a different slash accompanied by the splitting of mana and atoms, unleashing spectacles of powerful yet masterfully controlled magical skills. Destruction held no consequence for him—anyone not wearing the banners and sigils of the Imperial Army was slaughtered without mercy. It mattered not if they had once been humans transformed into abominations; their captains and generals of the dark forces felt true fear for the first time in their evil existence. Before them stood a divine being of light and a mortal incarnation of the God of War.
Even with their evil intentions, the enemy forces began to question why they were there, sent to die. But like a swarm commanded by a queen, they could not resist their compulsion and kept advancing toward his blade, trying desperately to kill or stop the Empire's advance.
Although the Great Evil and its Dark Forces had expected their defeat before this campaign began, they had not anticipated that the Empire would demonstrate such overwhelming speed in concluding the conflict. The allied forces were no longer permitted on the front lines to prevent further casualties in their ranks, which had been reduced to a pathetic state. They still needed to return and protect their borders after this conflict ended, and also suppress any civil rebellions that might arise due to their crumbling wartime economies.
Instead, they were tasked with forming a large containment net in case any evil beings managed to escape the final assault.
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Divine Warfare Unleashed
Emperor Janus had personally undertaken so much of the fighting that he seemed to appear on all battlefields simultaneously, no matter how distant. He was a walking disaster and a one-man army, wiping out enemies while saving his soldiers and commanders from the brink of defeat. At this point, effectively only the Ducal Lords and Ladies, their Emperor, the Emperor's Dragoon Company and the Elite Imperial Royal Army of 100,000 were actively engaged in combat operations.
The Sovereign had eliminated countless enemies through aerial bombardment using what appeared to be tactical nuclear payloads enhanced with explosion magic for maximum damage, along with various elemental magical attributes designed to ensure complete destruction of targets below. This prototype would serve as the major design template for future iterations that would likely be distributed to the Ducal Houses, while Emperor Janus would receive an even more powerful version.
The Emperor's Dragoon Company had also succeeded in their aerial bombardment campaigns to such an extent that the enemy could scarcely comprehend the true scope of the Empire's power.
Through the observation of their distant enemy watchers, who monitored events from far away, even they were shocked by the recent breakthrough that nothing could stop. It was like a tsunami, but this time the entire ocean was barreling down upon them with unstoppable force.
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The Final Stand and a Prophetic Warning
Now that the enemy had been surrounded within those final 350,000 square kilometers, there was nothing more they could accomplish. They could not meaningfully damage their opponents even if they utilized everything at their disposal. They could hardly believe how twenty-one individuals—the emperor and his limbs, the pillars of the Empire itself—had managed to overturn their entire grand strategy and make such a decisive difference in the war's final days.
Within a few days, the final bastions of the enemy had crumbled completely. The land that had once been filled with darkness and death was seeing the light of day for the first time in many years, even predating the Empire's intervention to help the Eastern Sub-continent reclaim what had been lost.
With victory achieved, Emperor Janus stood at the highest vantage point alongside his twenty loyal companions, whose ancient bloodlines had been with him since their great-great-great-great-grandfathers and grandmothers had joined him millennia ago. Now their descendants stood before him, bearing the spitting image of those who had served before them. It was as if time had rewound itself for Emperor Janus, and for the first time in many years, a small smile appeared on his face as he remembered his friends from the past—the original twenty lords and ladies of these ducal houses, long before they had been formally established.
With this victory, the threat of the Great Evil and its dark forces had been eradicated—at least for now. But unbeknownst to them, this entire conflict had been a deliberate component of a larger scheme playing out in the background. Far from the shores of the three sub-continents of Arkanus, on a different continent entirely, lay a place where the Great Evil and its dark forces had prevailed long ago against the defenders of those distant lands. It was likely that only Arkanus had stood firm in defense against such invasions, having now repelled them more than twice.
However, before the Great Evil's final general was defeated, it managed to deliver a dire revelation and warning to the enemies who had vanquished them. In a voice that could barely be understood, except through the mortal body that had hosted it, the entity spoke its ominous prophecy:
"You may have won for now, but ten to fifteen years hence, the entirety of this continent will burn to the ground! Each and every one of you will become one of us!"
As the creature's final laugh echoed across the battlefield, its head rolled to the ground, and the evil spirits that had occupied the bodies of mortal men were banished back to whence they came. This revealed that the commanders, captains, and generals had been former noble lords who had once ruled these very lands that the Empire now technically owned.
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Victory's Shadow and Future Resolve
With this final defeat, another chapter had been brought to its close. However, the prophetic threat would only serve to make the Empire grow stronger, and Emperor Janus would personally ensure that his realm would be prepared for whatever challenges lay ahead.
The victory in the Eastern Sub-continent represented more than military triumph—it was a demonstration of Imperial supremacy that would reshape the political landscape of the known world. The sight of the Sovereign dominating the battlefield, the coordinated might of the twenty Ducal Houses, and the divine power of Emperor Janus himself had created a spectacle of overwhelming force that would be remembered for generations.
Yet even as the Empire celebrated its greatest military victory in recent memory, the ominous warning of future catastrophe cast a shadow over their triumph. The mention of a ten-to-fifteen-year timeframe suggested that their enemies possessed longer-term strategic planning capabilities that extended far beyond the current conflict.
For Emperor Janus, this victory served as both vindication of his methods and a reminder that eternal vigilance would be required to protect what he had built. The Empire of Elms-Arkanus had proven its might against external threats, but the prophecy suggested that future challenges might test them in ways they had not yet imagined.
As the Imperial forces began the process of consolidating their gains and establishing permanent control over the reclaimed territories, Emperor Janus turned his attention to the long-term implications of both victory and warning. The Empire would need to be stronger, more prepared, and more unified than ever before to face whatever darkness might emerge from distant shores in the years to come.
The transformation of the Eastern Sub-continent from a realm of shadows into Imperial territory represented not just military conquest but the expansion of civilization itself into lands that had known only corruption and despair. The work of rebuilding, fortifying, and integrating these vast territories would require all the administrative skill and resources that the Empire could bring to bear.
Meanwhile, far from these grand campaigns and imperial declarations, the peaceful village of Maya continued its quiet development deep within the Forest of Lonelywood, its residents unaware that they lived in a world where such overwhelming forces shaped the fate of entire continents. The contrast between their community-building efforts and the continental-scale warfare that had just concluded highlighted both the vast scope of imperial power and the precious isolation that continued to protect their dreams of a better future.
As Emperor Janus prepared to return to the capital aboard the Sovereign, he carried with him both the satisfaction of decisive victory and the burden of knowing that greater challenges awaited in the not-so-distant future. The Empire had proven its strength, but the true test of its resilience would come when the prophesied darkness finally arrived to test everything they had built.