Retaliation

Derrick continued forward, while Julio and Moira remained dumbstruck.

Did this guy have no remorse? None whatsoever? Why were they spared?

Their brains couldn't process what was currently unfolding.

After walking past the gates, he turned his head towards them again.

"Lead the way please"

Julio snapped out and got up from his kneeling stance. To protect his daughter, he would do anything, even if it meant being someone else's dog.

"Yes... Sir Derrick right?"

Derrick didn't mind the lack of honorifics. All he was interested in was how he would be received by Yamato's population. These were people who had lost everything and had barely survived on scraps.

Now that they had found the strength to live again, he was confident that his offer would give them an even stronger resolve.

"Please gather everyone in the village. I'll be waiting"

With a wave of his hand, Derrick left. He hadn't even looked at Moira, who was still trembling in her position.

She had been the strongest warrior in the village ever since its foundation, only to end up being crushed in one bout before transforming into a trophy for the winner.

She hadn't cared about what he said. Who would believe a mass murderer anyway?

Her trembling, previously caused by fear, was now the result of rage. She didn't want to admit it, but she had been as complacent as the soldiers who had just perished.

She was now collecting what she sowed, which was the feeling of being miserable and powerless.

In a loud thump, she crumbled and started sobbing on the ground.

"I'm sorry Mother... I've failed you, but I promise I won't give up... Watch me from up there"

After a few minutes, she eventually stood up and marched inside the village, her fists clenched and her green eyes burning with newly found passion.

***

"Sir Derrick, they are all gathered"

"Good"

While dismissing the now ex-chief, Derrick appeared in front of the large gathering. He had also removed his cloak, thus exposing his armor.

When the villagers saw him appear on the small stage, they were shocked.

Was this the person who had spoken earlier? Why was he suddenly here?

"Citizens of Yamato... You've already heard me before, and you most-likely dismissed me as a lunatic, a rogue who didn't know his place. Well, your chief, Julio, thought so as well before sending the soldiers to deal with me. As such, I killed them all before they could take my life"

Unrest and panic ensued, with everyone realizing this meant that they were now defenseless.

The rare ones who still had families tried fleeing, hoping to live another day.

Derrick rapidly followed up to quell the movement of fear.

"You don't have to worry. I do not have any intentions of harming you if you follow me"

He threw the crowd a sharp gaze filled with killing intent, making them all stop moving and lowering their heads in fright.

He was the predator and they were the preys.

The necromancer didn't have the luxury of winning their hearts slowly, so the only thing he could do right now was wielding fear as effectively as possible.

Of course, he didn't plan on killing anyone anymore, since he needed the workforce for his future mining plans.

Like in the previous villages, this was a massive bluff to quickly subdue the population.

After achieving the effect he wanted, he continued.

"And before some decide to reject my plea, I already have a town under me, located 8 kilometers south of here. It currently has 1500 inhabitants, and it's a haven that we are currently developing and hoping to transform into a beacon of hope"

The majority of the panic-stricken folks somehow calmed down when they heard this.

However, there was still a voice in the back of their heads : What if this was a ploy? What if they were enslaved and couldn't live freely anymore?

Their minds imagined every worst-case scenario possible, and some couldn't help but feel even more motivated to flee.

In their eyes, even if they had a tiny chance of survival, it was still better than the worst possible outcomes.

Seeing that the fear effect had spectacularly backfired, Derrick decided to change strategies.

"I see some of you are still doubtful, and I can't say I blame you. You've been betrayed by an Empire once, so why would I be any different? Why would I be someone better when I just routed all your defenses? Well, it's impossible to know. But what if I could promise you I'll eliminate the Krakow Empire?"

Everyone's eyes almost popped out of their sockets, including Moira's.

What?

Was this person really talking about going from a small village to taking over an Empire? Bullshit!

When he saw that they were still not onboard, Derrick decided it was finally time to reveal some of his trump cards.

"Io, Drako and Cernunnos, show yourselves"

*SWOOSH-SWOOSH-SWOOSH*

Derrick's shadow expanded violently, and from it came three terrifying beasts that were facing the now petrified populace.

In front of them were a bat-eagle monster that had a wingspan of 10 meters and glowing red-eyes, a gigantic dragon-like monster with black scales and ruby eyes, and a half-deer, half-bear monster that was 18 meters tall and possessed shining green eyes.

Their auras of darkness were so stifling that everyone fell to the ground, trying not to soil themselves.

Even Moira and Julio couldn't resist, following shortly after everyone else.

How could someone wield such power? No, they already knew... These were the powers of a forbidden being, one whose tales were as dark as his power's origins.

This was a necromancer.

"As you can see, my shameless boasting isn't completely unfounded. The reason why I want you to follow and help me is because I believe we can create something better, an environment where persecution and injustice do not exist. I know you've all been exiled from the Empire, and I know you've all lost immeasurable things, be it your reputation, jobs or families. You were forced to survive, and you all regrouped, hoping to finally resume a life free of those shackles... But what if they come again? What if they covet the land you're currently living on? What would happen then? Will you lose everything and try to survive once more? OR DO YOU WANT TO FIGHT FOR MORE?! FOR A CHANCE TO CHANGE YOUR DESTINY?! I WAS ONCE WEAK, SO WEAK THAT I HAD TO LEAVE BEHIND MY ENTIRE LIFE... I'M GIVING YOU A CHANCE, A CHANCE TO RISE AND BECOME SOMETHING MORE, TO YEARN FOR MORE!"

His voice resonated with every broken soul in the audience.

They had indeed been treated as livestock, with no other value than generating profits and taxes. They were accused of crimes they had never committed, and were punished with the things they had held dearly.

They could still see the faces of the people they had lost, with the rage that was once deeply buried in their hearts resurfacing violently.

They had been running away for so long without a chance to strike back, and yet here was a man who said that he would.

He had just given them proof that maybe, just maybe, he could make a difference.

Some people touched their faces, surprised to see that tears were rapidly running down their cheeks. Their previously concealed emotions were now running amok, finally allowing them to grieve what and whom they had lost...

Moira had her fists clenched throughout the speech. She had witnessed Derrick's power, but she still didn't want to acknowledge him.

He was a murderer, absolute scum who didn't feel anything. And yet, what he had just said resonated with her very core. She had never told her father that she had sworn to take revenge, and now such an opportunity was presenting itself.

"I'm not a perfect man, and neither are my methods, but I swear to protect all your lives, no matter the cost. I also have grievances to settle in this world and until they are solved, I will not rest. We will change our fates, and we will be the victors!"

Every person who had been oppressed by the eerie pressure suddenly felt a surge of energy and rose, roaring to the sky.

It was time, finally time for a revolution!

[You have conquered the village of Yamato! You have gained 720 new residents]