Haki had fully buffed himself and had instructed that one of the Dragon Warriors throw him into the heart of Qaya where he planned to offer the people of the sovereign state a chance.

  He made his offer and stood in an open part of the city, taking care not to hurt anyone on the way down.

  [Name: Haki

  DPH: 3342]

  He tightly held his swords and patiently waited for a response.

  His ears then caught, amidst the panicked screams and cries, movement coming from the castle to the east.

  Emerging from its tall stone perimeter walls was a group of a hundred knights who marched protectively around three notable figures.

  Chief among them was a man who had dark, wrinkled skin and long, greying dreadlocks that were bound behind his back and a full beard. He wore dark and elegant clothing along with a thin crown of silver that sat on his temples.

  [Name: ???

  Race: Human

  Coalescence Level: 10

  Health Points: 240

  Willpower: 50

  DPH: 1

  Defence Rating: 5%

  Equipment: [Elegant Garbs] (+5% DR)

  Skills and Spells: [Healing Touch] (1W-, +10HP), [Gentle Water Stream]

  Artefacts: [Resin Relic] (+50HP)]

  Walking alongside him was a man in white uniform that was adorned with medals and patches. He had fiery red hair, sun-kissed skin and, like the man he walked behind, wore a grim expression. Hanging by a belt on his waist was a sword adorned with golden embellishments although it seemed more ceremonial than anything.

  [Name: ???

  Race: Human

  Coalescence Level: 40

  Health Points: 490

  Willpower: 200

  DPH: 10

  Defence Rating: 77%

  Equipment: [General’s Uniform] (+7% DR), [Ceremonial Sword] (10DMG), [Hidden Sunsteel Chest Plate] (+70% DR)

  Skills and Spells: [Healing Touch] (1W-, +10HP), [Vineal Snare] (-5W, 30HP (Snare health)), [Vitality Surge] (-15W, +50HP), [Renewal Blossom] (-50%W, +50%HP), [Breath of the World] (-90%W, +90%HP), [Ember Burst] (-1W, 10DMG), [Flame Whip] (-5W, 30DMG), [Infernal Arrow] (-15W, 55DMG)

  Artefacts: None]

  The last among them was a woman clad in heavy, dirtied and scarred steel. She wielded a great mace and a thick steel shield which bore the crest of house Ardi which Haki recognized all too well.

  [Name: ???

  Race: Human

  Coalescence Level: 78

  Health Points: 890

  Willpower: 390

  DPH: 1

  Defence Rating: 48%

  Equipment: [Steel Armor] (+48% DR), [Steel Mace] (80DPS), [Steel Great Shield] (92DMG (Shield health))

  Skills and Spells: [Healing Touch] (1W-, +10HP), [Vineal Snare] (-5W, 30HP (Snare health)), [Vitality Surge] (-15W, +50HP), [Renewal Blossom] (-50%W, +50%HP), [Breath of the World] (-90%W, +90%HP), [Gentle Rain] (5-,0DMG), [Water Jet] (-15W, 30DMG), [Leviathan's Roar] (-30W, 50DMG), [Oceanic Tempest] (-40W, 100DMG), [Ice Shard] (-1W, 10DMG), [Frost Wall] (-5W, 50DMG (Wall Health)), [Frost Call] (-15W, 55DMG)

  Artefacts: None]

  The group stopped and the first of the notable three stepped forward. His eyes soaked with fear but he stood regardless.

  “My name is Mashi, Lord of House Qaya and ruler of the sovereign domain and free state of Qaya! What is your name?”

  “My name is Haki, last son of Kutsunga and heir of House Ardi!”

  Everyone before Haki gasped as he grinned.

  Mashi gnashed his teeth.

  “S-surely you jest, sir Haki.” He nervously chuckled making Haki roll his eyes as he turned to the south.

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  [Oi! Throw my father too!] He roared, making the hundred knights stand closer to Mashi.

  A moment of silence then passed and in the following moment, Haki jumped almost twenty meters into the air and caught his father who had just been launched by a Dragon Warrior.

  The two landed with a thud and Haki placed a visibly shaken Kutsunga on the ground but it looked like he was getting used to all the craziness, so he quickly dusted himself off and stood upright.

  “Tunga?” Mashi exclaimed.

  “Greetings, Mashi.”

  “What is the meaning of all this? Have you turned against the Empire?”

  “No. This is all the result of several mistakes I made; that I am willing to admit. Surely you heard the rumours of the passing of my son?”

  “Yes, but you never said anything about it so I was not sure of the truth.” Mashi’s brows knotted.

  “Well, I sired a few other brats in my youth and thought to raise them to candidacy and while I was able to easily discard the first four failures…”

  Mashi’s face twitched violently at Kutsunga’s words.

  “This one proved quite the nuisance, being not only blessed by the goddess who swore service to our House, he is actively being supported by her.”

  Mashi’s eyes rattled in their sockets.

  “So… all this suffering, all this death is a result of the promiscuity that we all tirelessly warned you about?” He screamed and all Kutsunga could do was shrug.

  “Trust me, I am regretting it all even now.”

  “Your regret will not undo the damage that… thing has done!” Mashi’s voice strained at his anger but Haki and Kutsunga stood unmoved.

  Kutsunga knew that there was almost nothing that could stop his son at this point and there was little point in arguing so he remained silent.

  “So what? We should just fall to our faces and allow your bastard to trample all over us?” Mashi wheezed and again, received no response from Kutsunga.

  Haki, however, stepped forward and tapped the ground with his sword once, rattling the city.

  “Anyway, reunion aside, what did you come out to discuss because I have made my terms clear.”

  Mashi glared at Haki and it was here that the second man stepped forward.

  “My name is Jullian of Apollon. Pardon my rudeness but Qaya has existed as a free state since it was given its sovereignty by the sixth Emperor who was born in this place. If we submit, would you allow it to keep its right to self-rule?”

  Haki’s eyes narrowed.

  Kutsunga noticed that his son was thinking hard about what to do and so he leaned over.

  “Any answer that doesn’t involve more battles is a good one since it will cost you less in the long term. Let them keep their sovereignty but demand a tithe or something to bolster your strength.”

  Haki nodded before tapping his sword again, this time lightly.

  “I will accept your free rule but only if it's under my total rule. I also want most of your armed soldiers, at least for the duration of my conquest.”

  “Then how would we defend ourselves?” Mashi snapped.

  “I will defend you.” Haki warmly smiled but this only served to infuriate the lord further.

  “And again, it will only be temporary. Ardenia is far bigger than this place and I'll need to secure as much land as possible, lest gaps start to form in the territories I take.”

  Mashi wanted to say something but was interrupted by Jullian.

  “The problem is how will we protect ourselves from you should you decide to rule over us oppressively?”

  “You have my word. The citizens of my city can testify that I am a fair leader. And besides…” The city began to shake terribly as Haki’s eyes burnt brightly.

  “What difference would having those men make?” He growled, letting the entire city hear his words.

  “I have given you the grace of allowing you to govern yourselves under my flag. That is as much as I am willing.”

  Mashi and Jullian’s expressions stiffened.

  “So, ultimately nothing has changed. Bend the knee or die. This is the last time I will give you a choice.” The air heavied by several folds and the light of the sun was hidden behind thick clouds that screamed with terrible thunder.

  Mashi was the first to move, lowering himself to his knee.

  “Both knees.” Haki grinned, his voice echoing across the entire state of Qaya.

  Mashi fell to his knees along with everyone behind him.

  Haki was pleased although the smallest part of him had hoped he could rampage a little.

  “Good. Now, tell your men to stand down and allow my army in so that we me properly establish ourselves.” Haki said while walking towards the castle.

  “As you wish.” Mashi relented.

  Haki eventually made it to the humble throne room where he sat on the ornately carved wooden seat.

  He found it peculiar that Ardenia and Qaya, places that were lush, green and revered life, primarily worshipped the goddess of death.

  He wondered if there was ever a goddess of life and if so, he wondered what happened to her.

  He would have to ask Mara when she awoke.

  “What now, brat?” Kutsunga sneered as he stood at his son’s side.

  “Now we march for Ardenia, after some prep work, of course.”

  “You realize that over a million men fly my banner, right?”

  “I do.” Haki stretched his legs as he sat in the darkness of the chamber.

  “Mmm… what would it take for you to spare them?”

  “Submission.”

  Kutsunga gnashed his teeth.

  “I will not allow you to humiliate me as you did Mashi. My people will fight to the very last.”

  “That sounds like a sacrifice you’re willing to make on their behalf but I won't judge. I just want to see the look on your face when I burn it all to the ground and as I sit on your throne. The moment when me, your damned creation destroys everything you built and cared for.” Haki grinned making Kutsunga’s face twist with hatred.

  “Do you think your mother would have approved of this… this evil path you’ve chosen?”

  “Can’t say. She died in my arms on the cold streets that you left her in.” Haki shrugged earning him a slap in the face.

  A slap which he barely felt.

  A slap which made his grin widen.

  “Don’t fret too much, father. While I hate you for what you did, I cannot judge. You made your choices and now their consequences have matured to adolescence.”

  A Kudaman then entered the room and promptly knelt at Haki’s feet.

  “My lord, I have gathered reports from across the city.”

  “And?”

  “It seems as though the Qayans are sneakily trying to evacuate, making their way to Ardania and Apollon via the respective roads. We have since blocked both routes and are awaiting further instruction.”

  “Let them go. My hand will reach them eventually. The question is… are the local soldiers part of the fleeing?” Haki’s eyes narrowed.

  “No, Lord Massacre. The Qayan soldiers are still manning their posts although they fear for their lives.”

  “That’s good to hear because their leaving would have been a breach of our agreement but I'm confused. Why would Mashi want his people to leave? Who would he have to rule over if the city was empty?”

  “They would simply rather go homeless than live under one who butchers the dead and tosses their heads over city streets.” Kutsunga hissed making Haki nod.

  “Fair enough. Now, as for the next step, establish a camp just outside the western gate. That will be our launch point on our march with supplies coming from the south to be stored and distributed here. We will only march for Ardania when Mara wakes up so we still have time. The Crescent King also advised that we take control and keep the local mines running to help arm new recruits since Dragon Scales are obviously rare.” Haki detailed before waving his right hand once dismissively.

  “So, go. Let the fearful run, send several teams to all nearby mines and map all the routes for the Beetles!”

  “Yes, my Lord!” The Kudaman nodded before rushing out of the building, leaving Haki and Kutsunga in a dark silence.

  “This is what you get.” He muttered while resting his head on his hand and yawning all beneath hateful eyes.