(Andraus)<br/><br/><i>~~~Two Day's Later...~~~</i><br/><br/>Zion would be walking on the road nearby. Zion would place a hand over his stomach, it giving an audible growl, before looking ahead at the vast farmland of<a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn8-blog.p2pfoundation.net%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fchinesevillage.jpg&amp;hash=c496ff54037537227165d2789f62f3a0" href="https://cdn8-blog.p2pfoundation.net/wp-content/uploads/chinesevillage.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">Temika Fields</a>. It was as beautiful as he remembered, but that beauty held an almost acidic burn to it, as it filled his mind with images of those he once trusted. Zion would then take a moment to think on why these memories brought such pain, such suffering, before he remembered their faces as they watched him burn. Placing his hand over his chest, feeling the brand there again, he'd remove his shirt, but would see it is not present, that the Goddess Neema had truly removed it.<br/><br/>He was filled with such vengeful hate, such anger....all he wanted to do, was see them go through the same pain.<br/><br/>As Zion approached, he saw the Lord Vitalus arguing with a group of soldiers. Zion saw what these were-<a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Fs-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com%2F564x%2F4d%2F55%2F13%2F4d551309e77eab09b7ba0ee47fa99c99.jpg&amp;hash=e1703c3d3cc89b84d498e33693e893fd" href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/4d/55/13/4d551309e77eab09b7ba0ee47fa99c99.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">Imperial Army Soldiers</a>, remnants from the Empire in Exile. They were being lead by someone Zion actually recognized-<a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.yuimen.net%2Fgalerie%2Falbums%2Fuserpics%2F11138%2FJohan.jpg&amp;hash=a05e6f2c4c3fd62d5cd42cd9ef70e40a" href="http://www.yuimen.net/galerie/albums/userpics/11138/Johan.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">Johan Millacus</a>, son of the former General Millacus. After Zion and his friends had killed them in Zion's village, Johan swore revenge against them. Zion had to admit, Johan ran a tight ship- He organized his forces into something that could be considered challenging, and given the time that Zion has been gone, it left little to wonder that Johan likely had them better trained.<br/><br/>Zion saw that Lord Vitalus had<a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Fs-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com%2F736x%2F7a%2Ffa%2F52%2F7afa5202efc9a585a554f22ab9930dd2.jpg&amp;hash=72aec1f2b4425cc10ae62ef25b31073a" href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/7a/fa/52/7afa5202efc9a585a554f22ab9930dd2.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">Town Guards</a>around him, a militia instead of the Royal Army. Zion wanted to walk over and see what was going on, But he knew revealing his face would lead to questions, ones he did not have the answers too. Then, Zion got the idea- What if.....What if he revealed themselves as their destined Emperor? Granted, Destiny may play a factor in this (He was resurrected by a fucking Goddess!), But if he played this right.....Zion would then pull his hood over his head, place on gloves, and place a mask over his face. In his new<a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Fs-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com%2Foriginals%2F71%2Fc2%2F9b%2F71c29b2d15510d72e2737e09ae7dce57.jpg&amp;hash=d8f38ec71a184375d083589718fdedc2" href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/71/c2/9b/71c29b2d15510d72e2737e09ae7dce57.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">persona</a>, he would finally walk over, listening into the conversation.<br/><br/>Johan would be arguing with the man. "<b>I would help you, Lord Vitalus, but not until you recognize the Authority of the Empire in this land. Do that, and I will have no issue dealing with these bandits."</b><br/><br/>"<b>I do not recognize your Authority because you have none! The Emperor is dead, his heirs are dead, you are effectively Leaderless!" </b>Vitalus said to them, the old warrior sighing, before speaking up. "<b>I don't fight for lost causes."<br/>
<br/>
"<b>Our Empress may not be Blood Descent, but she is still our Leader."</b><br/>
<br/>
<b>"My Family served the Imperial Family, not an Usurper." </b><br/>
<br/>
"<b>Then, would you serve me?"</b><br/>
<br/>
The two groups would look over as they saw Zion approach. They'd not be able to see his face or skin, but they could tell from his position he was a man of regality. He held himself with pride and honor, distinctions that set him apart from everyone else. He would approach the group, and they'd be able to see the rune enchanted blade, and the aura of strong magic swirling around him. "<b>Fret not, my dearest subjects.....You have been lost like lambs, for far too long. But take heart- out of your suffering, I was born.....Your Emperor." </b>Zion said, putting on his best impression of his fathers voice.<br/>
<br/>
Lord Vitalus was shocked, to say the least- Here was a man, claiming to be the Emperor, and they didn't even know what his face looked like! "<b>I am sorry sir, but how could we possibly know you're telling the truth?!" </b>Vitalus said. As far as he knew, the Emperor did not have anymore blood relatives.<br/>
<br/>
"<b>By the Ring I wear on my finger, I show that I am indeed of Blood with your Emperor." </b>Zion said, holding up the ring in front of them. Though Lord Vitalus did not recognize it immediately, the Imperial Soldiers did, and all of them knelt before Zion. Zion would then look, as he saw Bandits running towards the town, likely the source of the trouble for the Lord. Zion would pick up his sword, before speaking. "<b>Serve my army, Lord Vitalus, and I shall cleanse this blight from your lands."</b><br/>
<br/>
Johan would look towards the man, before standing. He never expected to serve an Emperor, like his father, but Johan tried to speak calmly and confidently. <b>"What can I do for you, my Lord?"</b><br/>
<br/>
"<b>No...Protect this village for me and serve my will, Johan- I shall show this scum who this land belongs too." </b>Zion said, before walking towards the fields, holding his arms out as he pulled Rebellion from his grasp.<br/>
<br/>
What happened next...was a sight to behold.<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
Zion moved through the field at the bandits with an almost perfect grace- He moved as if war was his life, his combat skills refined from years of training, giving all of his blood and sweat, before Zion would hold u his hand as lighting crackled around him, striking at those close by. "<i><b>This is only the beginning! I shall light a fire that shall be seen across the Entire Kingdom!" </b></i> Zion thought, before watching as the remaining bandits stood before him, surrounding him. Zion would just smile under the mask. He would then place his hand on the blade.....before dragging his palm across the edge.<br/>
<br/>
"<b>Blood Magic Sacred Art- Razor Edge." </b>Zion chanted, before using the black magic, to send out waves of solid blood, cutting the bandits to pieces in a few fatal swoops. As he stared at the corpses before him, Zion would look at his hand, feeling the intoxicating magical energy pulse through his body. This power.....this strength, granted to him by Neema......It felt so good. Zion knew that, with the goddess on his side, Revenge would be his for the taking. Zion would begin making his way back towards the village now, his blade dripping with the blood of the bandits, as he approached Lod Vitalus. <br/>
<br/>
He saw many things in the Lord's eye- Fear, Awe, and Disbelief.<br/>
<br/>
"<b>Do you see the power I possess, Lord Vitalus....With this strength, I can protect your village.....All I ask, is your fealty." </b> Zion said to him, placing a hand on the elderly knight's shoulder. He used his own magical presence to try and sway Vitalus's opinion.<br/>
<br/>
Vitalus knew that denying him what he asked for could very well result in the death and subjugation of him and his village, and if what Johan said about the ring was true, then it was clear that this man was of the Imperial Line. Not only that, but he had done more for him than the Kingdom had in the last two years. Even though the Empire could be controlling, at least he didn't have to fear for his life on an everyday basis! Lord Vitalus would kneel down on one knee, before speaking up. "<b>I, Lord Ashur Vitalus, am your servant. Whatever you choose, I shall stand beside you, My Emperor. </b><br/>
<br/>
Johan would kneel as well, but he would look towards one of the Soldiers. "<b>Send word to the Empress.....The Gods have granted us mercy- A successor to the Imperial Line has been found. "</b> The Soldier would nod, before running to find a messenger pigeon.<br/>
<br/>
Later that day, Two letters would be sent that day, both from varying sources-</b><br/><br/>One would fly to the Empresses Castle, Nestled deep within the Sun-Spire Mountains, where a servant would pick it up gingerly, before approaching the throne, head bowed, and hands raised up to hold the message out for the woman that was Empress. "<b>My Lady, a message for you, from General Millacus...." </b>The Servant said, not daring to risk raising his eyes, for fear that he'd be struck blind.<br/><br/>Inside the castle, Oscar would receive a note as well, coming from one of their scouts. He was currently trying to deal with the aftermath of the Dark Mage's summoning of several Dragon's, before looking over the report from Temika. His face losing color, he immediately stormed to find the Queen and the Dark mage, fear evident on his face. There was no possible way that an heir existed, all of them were<i>killed, </i>and the only one that wasn't killed.....Oscar and the rest had executed. Shaking his head, in fear that those thoughts would drive him to do something foolish, he'd approach the throne and hand the Queen and the Dark Mage the report, unknowingly confirming Azurine's suspicions from before.<br/><br/>"<b>This came in just today, Queen....look." </b>He said, tentatively.