5. The Archmen

A week after Samuel's escape. it was Coronation day for the new king "Our new King! Caesar Demesio" they shouted.

Caesar smirked "Citizens of Zalazar, be prepared for I shall change this kingdom to its finest! We will no longer be out shined by others, we will no longer lose to anyone! And I assure you that we will rise to the top again, if only we will work together. So arise and we'll make this country great again!"

"Horaah! All hail king Caesar!" the people chanted and cheered.

After the coronation, Caesar sat on his throne. He spoke to himself, "Oh Samuel, you should have seen the coronation! Yet you managed to escape... I care no longer about your life, where ever you are. All I had to do was say you went missing and poof! You're out of my concern."

Then suddenly, Yvan Loro entered the throne room and said to Caesar, "You're majesty, I will you're first order to this kingdom?"

Caesar smirked, "Well, I say we enter the first step of sweeping those fellows out!"

And so Caesar sent groups of disguised assassins to kill every Fellenberg citizens on Zalazar. But they also made sure that it would spread on the news, so they showed all their victims dead body to the public. But mostly they dump the body back to Fellenberg with a sign of warning.

Some were sent to sabotage Fellenberg's plans on Zalazar and especially on finding the treasure.

Then they rounded up at least five hundred or more Fellenberg citizens to a private base. And there, they mercilessly slaughteredge them all, children, elders, adults, they killed everyone of all ages. Some were tortured, sexually harassed, and abused by locals.

The King of Fellenberg had to do something. So he called his citizens back home. But that wasn't just it, he also planned to wage war to Zalazar for breaking the treaty.

Caesar knew this would happen, so he met up with Justine, one of the elite generals. They met up at the courtyard, and something went strange to Caesar.

"Your Majesty, It is an honor to meet you!" Justine greeted to Caesar.

Caesar replied, "I know you are."

But Justine noticed a noticeable difference, "Pardon me, your Majesty, but are you well today? Your skin is pale as snow, your eyes are red, and something vieny is showing down your eyes."

"I've been a little sick lately... It's good news to me. Now that I feel like it's affecting me."

"Oh, I see..."

"Now, can we talk about our objective?"

"Of course, your majesty!"

"Call out the other seven elite generals. Tell them that we're having a meeting at the palace."

"Right away!"

As he went away to call the others, he turned back and saw something. Red vines creeped out from Caesar's back, and it also looked like it was covered in blood. Justine, afraid to question about it, ignored this and head on his way.

He then called up the other seven greatest generals. General Hannah, Kia, Jandro, Yvonne, Miller, Bosko, Nazak. They held a meeting inside the palace just as what Caesar planned.

"Welcome my fine generals! Thank you for attending to my meeting" said Caesar.

Everyone noticed that Caesar was sick, and it worsened throughout this meeting. Justine asked "What is this about?"

"As you can see our guest has ran home, telling the leader of my slaughters, and anytime soon they'll wage war to us so I might get myself prepared."

"Oh they will" Bosko said "I've been at war for a total of sixty years, and breaking the treaty would start a war instantly! You might have gotten yourself in a pickle, your majesty."

"War is what I was aiming for. And war is what I'll get!"

"So you want us to attack the enemy?" Miller asked.

"No! There defenses are too strong for our men, but there attack is easy to take down. We keep them away from Zalazar, and when our forces are strengthend, we strike!"

Hannah interrupted "If you are talking about defense, you got me in the job! I can set up some heavy defenses in the shield port, but I might need some few men and weapons."

"No problem, I can give everything you need"

"I can help with Hannah!" said Nazak "I'll occupy Fort Sword to assist her, I would expect that my needs would be ready there."

"Done!"

Then Yvonne said "If we're talking about ports and forts, I might take control with Port Baha, and Jandro would assist me in the Northern Triangle."

"Agreed" Jandro replied.

"Kilnot port is too small for a whole wall of defense, so I might take Campus Delta and flank them from the sides!" said Kia.

"You all are focusing on the eastside of Zalazar, what if they attack at the west?" asked Bosko "I'll control Fort Scarlett if that ever happens"

"I agree with Bosko, I'll assist him on Bastard's land" said Miller.

"Where will you be Justine?" Caesar asked.

Justine replied "At Tetra, so I can support the rest of you. Since I can travel at any sides more quickly, and plus! I will be blocking Kazan bridge when ever they have an apportunity to advance. With me on the the bridge they'll never get through."

"I like it! Now with all this is settled down, I  suspect that all of you will be doing your jobs. The rise of Zalazar shall now comense. And the ones who'll start it will be us, the Archmen! This meeting is adjourned." After that they all started to strengthen their defenses, preparing for the war.

A few days later, the defenses on the ports and the soldiers in the forts were ready. Their weapons were altered and their artillery was upgraded, they've even used sorcery as a defense. Then suddenly a messenger arrived at the palace, sweating and trembling "Your majesty! Fellenberg has declared war on us!"

The news put upon a smile at his face, Caesar grinned "It's about time!"

—To Be Continued—