— CONTESTED BORDER, NAAH’MI MOUNTAINS, YEAR: 7298. SEASON: NEW BEGINNING.

  “This… are you truly willing? I know how much you care for the Citizens of Edryan—for our soldiers, but... but this plan…”

  “This plan will work, General Alexandria. The Federation has no choice.”

  The Federation has no choice.

  Those five words tickled their way into General Alexandria’s ears as she watched the world before her burn. Her carefully braided strawberry-blonde hair was tucked beneath her matte-black helm while her matching eyes couldn’t be seen—blocked by the red crystal that ensured her vision remained clear.

  The Imperius Army marched.

  Not a traditional march, soldiers on foot, banners raised… no.

  That would not suit an army meant to be the stuff of legends. Meant to invoke a certain despair and fear into any enemy that faced it. Those things were present but not held by them.

  They marched through the air while tens of thousands marched beneath them.

  Was it a waste of resources?

  Yes.

  Were there alternative methods to strike and induce a certain fear?

  Of course.

  But that was not what Legendary armies did.

  Every step, every movement, had to be carefully calculated and crafted. It was for the Prime System, but more importantly, the eyes of those below and against.

  Their allies and enemies. Showcasing such might before both led to two different reactions.

  Hesitation and fear in the latter.

  Pride and resolution in the former.

  General Alexandria could hear it; she could see it. Nearly taste it.

  Her eyes burned with a desire unmatched, never before showcased in such a manner.

  Perhaps the opening act was not left to her, but she could understand—after all, Alexandria Indrius wasn’t the Chosen of Madris.

  But the rest? This was her orchestra, and she its conductor.

  Just below, her favorite song played.

  Thus, the Imperius Army marched through the air.

  The Song of War below tuned with their steps.

  Step.

  Step.

  Step.

  A thousand-thousand hearts beat in unison. The invasion of the Federation erupted today.

  What a way to celebrate their Chosen’s birthday.

  She would present the grandest gift.

  A flaming meteor flew overhead, its heat brushing against their army from its proximity.

  LRA.

  Long Range Artillery, weapons designed by the North American Research Center. One of their most hidden is now revealed to the world.

  Edryan would no longer be considered a Lower Kingdom.

  Such weapons and magical prowess dictated that they received the same respect as everyone else.

  And, if they didn’t give what was due…

  General Alexandria would march to their borders and burn .

  “Southern Border General,” a voice uttered through the microphone in her helm.

  That title gave her pride every time she heard it. She could recall the notification without even opening it.

  “Speak,” Alexandria commanded.

  “Our scouts report movement—an interception force of 200,000 soldiers is approaching us.”

  “What is their composition and ETA?”

  “Its estimated one-third are Energy-wielding soldiers. We have spotted a Mage Corps, but can’t confirm their exact numbers—we believe it’s upwards of twenty thousand but no more than thirty thousand. This number is likely mixed with the Clergy of the Mechanism Church. Their estimated time of arrival is two days, six hours at their current march.”

  “Who is their commander?”

  “Reporting, they fly the banners of Theater Commander Ai’esha and Vice Commander Dargg.”

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  General Alexandria paused for a beat. She suddenly asked, changing the topic. “What of Field Armies 3, 4, and 10 led by General Ameri?”

  The Southern Border General split the million-strong army of Great Edryan into ten Field Armies—each numbered in terms of strength. Ten was the highest, while one was the lowest.

  “Reporting to Southern Border General, General Ameri has begun a fierce assault on Isiro’s Hammer. The base’s shields suffered extensive damage from the launch of several LRA strikes.”

  “And Field Army 8?”

  “Reporting to Southern Border General, they are marching along the border to flank Isiro’s Hammer as ordered. Their estimated arrival time is 12 days.”

  “Tell General Nepos he must arrive in 9!”

  The Ten Field Armies were under the Southern Border General Alexandria and her vice commander General Ameri’s command. Three were directly underneath General Ameri, and she tasked herself with being the grinder that initially caught the Federation’s attention. That plan wasn’t what Alexandria, Ameri, and their lieutenants derived when they first sat to establish their war plans.

  That was what the Chosen of Madris dictated.

  A single fierce assault on the left border shared between the nations. Gather forces in Drumia, deploy what looks like reinforcing armies while the true threat lies at Forger’s Keep.

  This art showcased the Explicit War with hints of a Veiled War. The openly hidden dagger that stabbed into the Federation’s back was the Imperius Army.

  No one knew how strong they were. No one understood the extent to which Lawruthian poured resources into them. It took an astronomical cost to raise every soldier to Legendary and their leaders to Mythical. One that Lawruthian hosted without drawing funds from the Royal Treasury.

  In the beginning, as their levels were low, they could be challenged by regular, same-level forces. Yet, there was a single reason nobility and those stemming from it had held the reins of this country and world for so long.

  Class Rarity.

  If, at first, a Level 1 Swordsman of the Uncommon could compete with the same class but at a Rare level, then by the time they hit even Level 5, the Rare Swordsman would have a slight edge when facing him.

  Level 10?

  100?

  And if they possessed both Rare bloodline and Rare classes?

  The number of attributes would snowball until it became suicidal to challenge them.

  That’s what Lawruthian Imperius Koltius Edryani wanted.

  That’s what Lawruthian Imperius Koltius Edryani delivered.

  The Imperius Army would pay back every cent.

  Alexandria would ensure it.

  “Reporting to Southern Border General, enemy forces are 50 kilometers due Southeast.”

  “Reporting to Southern Border General, Field Army 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, are in accordance with the schedule. Estimate time of arrival, 6 days.”

  “Reporting to Southern Border General, the Federation has moved Tango 1, 7, 9, 4, 15, and 12 as interception forces!”

  General Alexandria closed her eyes, envisioning the rapid amount of information being delivered to her. Traditionally… she should be sitting in the far backlines, receiving this information and then delivering orders. But… her liege was no such man that felt the comfort and safety of the rear was the correct method of leadership.

  Lawruthian’s leadership had always been direct and upfront—his Generals could not misrepresent that characteristic. That’s why the Southern Border General led directly from the front.

  Was it foolish?

  Yes, of course.

  Would Alexandria change it?

  No, the thought hadn’t crossed her mind.

  Not since the accumulating power she was wielding continuously grew.

  Alexandria closed her eyes. A mental map of the situation opened. Ten Field Armies, forty divisions composed of 10,000 soldiers each. A supply train that extended over ten kilometers long to support just the two underneath her. She steadied herself, mentally tallying in what position each troop would be in.

  She covered everything, the distance between each division, the characteristics of the border, the average strength of each force… everything was covered while those eyes remained closed.

  And when they opened?

  Orders flowed.

  “Division 100, 94, 99, and 91 of Field Army 1 will march forth, first to engage the approaching force. Divisions 88, 87, and 82 will provide long-range support.

  “Field Army 6 and 7 will march on Fiya City, to the southwest—siege it, but do not hurry to take it down.”

  Fiya was a large supply depot that held a concentrated number of weapons and foodstuffs necessary for keeping the right front supplied. The city was the closest border city and home to the Yola Clan of Arbitrators. Once they left the northern border region, the armies would be on flatter ground and could press their advantage of speed.

  “Ensure…”

  The orders continued, and it took an hour for General Alexandria’s next set of plans to be put in motion. She wasn’t worried about a delay in messages. At most, it would take a total of thirty minutes since no receptors were set up in the Federation’s lands quite yet. Each army held a small Engineer Corps attached to it that would set up these relay stations and allow messages to arrive with no later than a five-to ten-minute delay.

  The Southern Army’s plan was an extensive siege on key points of the Federation’s frontline. They would seize territory while keeping key armies occupied through diversions, raw might, or systemic attrition designed to bleed them dry.

  The greatest part of this plan was the deployment of the Chosen of Madris. Such a figure would not be completely stationed in the Imperius Army, even if it were his personal force. He, General Ameri, and General Alexandria had discussed extensively how he could be most effective on the battlefield.

  Alexandria smirked. Good news will be arriving soon.

  She turned her attention completely to her approaching battle. Time passed as they marched, set up camp, and marched again. The Imperius Army was an elite force that could cross a hundred kilometers or more on a day’s march. That excluded flying but used their ground-based movement ability. Field Army 1 & 2 that accompanied them were the weakest forces in Edryan. Their soldiers were between level 50 and mid 100s, with the former being the greater amount. They were by far a standard force, and the majority were composed of Uncommon classes and bloodlines. Very few Commons were allowed in without an immediate transition to a higher rarity.

  The ground before the General was rocky, filled with sparse vegetation, and uneven gray-toned land—perfect for an ambush. After the initial march, she had the Imperius Army land—their senses and abilities could determine if an elite force was prepared underground.

  The armies traveled at a slight descent, and rough outcroppings were numerous, causing the traversing groups to split around them or demolish what they could. General Alexandria kept tight contact with the Engineer Corps, who flattened the land and made it as traversable for her marching soldiers and supply vehicles. The divisions she named earlier marched at the forefront, ready to battle against any approaching enemy forces.

  This was the most dangerous part of their travel, and if the Federation’s commanders were tacticians, now would be the place—

  “ENEMY ATTACK!”

  “Location,” Alexandria asked calmly.

  “Engineer Corps 386—Lieutenant General Selecus is responding.”

  “Hmmm,” Alexandria mused.

  She turned to her left, watching as a force of a thousand Imperius Soldiers took off into the sky. The response by Selecus was appropriate and immediate as planned. Now General Alexandria waited; everything next would depend on this initial contact. The young woman stood atop a large rocky hill; the soldiers of the Imperius Army surrounded her as they took a light rest.

  She drummed her right fingers slowly, a large tablet in her left hand. Her eyes traced the movement of the many divisions and their respective Field Armies. The screen showed a topographical view of the ground. A simple trace of her finger would move the map to another location. She typed in a few commands, ensured the message passed through the relay, before pausing. Alexandria looked up, but she could not see the devices that did the transmission—something the Spatial Mages of Starglow Valley put together in the last few years. Large machines supposedly capable of breaking through the lower atmosphere of their world and hovering just beyond.

  She didn’t know what magical means they used, or how Lawruthian even possessed the technology and magical prowess to pass along. What mattered to her was the results it provided—spyware that was incredibly hard to detect. It was spyware that covered nearly half of the Federation, and subsequent nodes could be deployed given time.

  General Alexandria looked down as a figure made its way through the camp. A messenger by their gray, stealth-like attire. The Illusion-net was fast, but for some things, mortal means were still better. It seems the results of the ambush would be made known to her shortly.

  “Southern Border General,” the youth saluted, slightly nervous about the armored soldiers. His eyes shone with reverence as he met the helmed figure of Alexandria.

  “Speak,” Alexandria commanded a bit impatiently. The actions of the ambushing force tell her everything she needed to know about her opponent. Alexandria would be lying if she weren’t excited for the information. She needed to build the legend of the Imperius Army.

  “Reporting—an enemy force of a thousand ambushed Engineer Corps 386. There were 67 casualties and 149 injured when Lieutenant General Selecus arrived. The enemy force immediately retreated underground, but Lieutenant General Selecus managed to bombard the area with a conjoined fireball. We estimate the enemy casualties to be only several dozen.”

  Alexandria frowned, silent as she analyzed. That was over half of the corps put out of operation. The primary healing group was still an hour behind, while only a small corps was present with each marching division. Should she deploy Moona Gamal and her people…? Alexandria’s silence didn’t last much longer as she questioned the messenger. “Why so little?”

  “Reporting, the enemy forces were quick, able to descend over a dozen meters within seconds. Those who were injured or killed are likely less proficient in using the Asigbonle Bloodline: Earth like Water . Lieutenant General Selecus believes he should stay near the Engineering Corps to prevent further ambushes—he requests another two Imperius Battalions in support.”

  Alexandria waved her hand, signaling the dismissal of the messenger and her men as she spoke. “Granted—tell Selecus to hurry the Corps. They must clear a path within two hours.”

  Two thousand men, in conjunction with the thousand already underneath Selecus command, would be enough to ensure the safety of the Engineer Corps.

  The messenger bowed and left alongside two battalion commanders. Alexandria was left to her thoughts, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

  “So… delay? You’re not confident then and want reinforcements—all the more reason to hurry.”

  All the more reason to hurry.