Archclasher

John, a 60 yr. old filipino general, a big nerd about gunsmithing and also a virgin whose only experience with romance are those dating simulator games found himself on the verge of death, thinking about what happened all throughout his life, looking at the void, thinking about what he could have done to improve the life of those around him and probably himself, he regrets not being able to speak up and do something about the corruption of his country's government despite his power, he could've done more yet he didn't, he thinks of himself as a failure, a hypocrite and a traitor to his own country, as he believes in the saying that "those who close their eyes to the injustices around them are also one of the perpetrators of said injustice"

He gave one last breath in his deathbed thinking about those things, yet what he doesn't know is he'll have a chance to be so much more, an opportunity none ever had.

The Oppression

Life is as fragile as a newborn infant in front of circumstances that overwhelms all. Juan knows this all too well as his life is marred by hardships and servitude yet his parents were still mercilessly raped and butchered in front of him while he is also being raped at the same time.


And right now, he is seeing another such case, with most of his men either dead or wounded, men whom he has bonded and trained with, men whom he has deemed as his brothers..


They are now either food for the carrions or missing a limb or two.


The kid is devastated by the rigours of war, as he hears the voices of his men, clanging and wailing for justice, clamoring for their unjustified deaths, they died because of their commander's ego, because Juan felt invincible over the revolutionary army's consecutive smashing of the Spanish Army, he had delusions of invincibility and domination. Which resulted in such unnecessary carnage, unnecessary deaths..


As Juan is crucifying himself, a man is seen getting inside his tent which alerted the child up, but as he saw the man's face, Juan immediately showed despair and shame, because standing in front of him is the most important person of his life right now, his master and his foster father, Renaldo.


Renaldo looked at Juan disappointingly, because the kid made him lose face, he touted this kid as a good seed and gave him a chance yet Juan squandered them because of his overconfidence and cockiness.


Renaldo: What's the feeling of having the blood of countless people in your hands Juan? Blood from enemies and brothers alike, is that what you want? Did I teach you and raised you up to be a butcher? To be a useless fart who can only kill? Did I raise you to be such a person?!


Juan looked up to me with snot in his nose and tears in his eyes, the look of agony clearly shown in how the kid gathered himself and kowtowed in front of me while saying;


"You didn't Father! It is my fault! EVERYTHING IS MY FAULT!!! THEY DIED BECAUSE OF ME! MY BROTHERS DIED BECAUSE OF MY INCOMPETENCE! OH FATHER, MY FATHER, HOW CAN I LIVE KNOWING THAT THOSE CLOSE TO ME ARE DEAD BECAUSE OF MY INCOMPETENCE?! HOW CAN I WASH MY SINS?! HOW CAN I CLEAN THIS FILTH RUNNING THROUGH MY VEINS?! THOSE PEOPLE GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR ME FATHER! YET I CANNOT EVEN GIVE THEM A PROPER BURIAL!!"


Renaldo looked him in the eye coldly, a hint of disappointment obvious upon them and left the child on his own devices, walking out of the dimly lit room to let the child contemplate on his mistakes.


While walking, Renaldo passed by one of the tents in the main battlecamp, this tent is filled with countless soldiers, from the volunteers to his own private army, they were listening to a guy preaching doctrines about how people should devote themselves to the head of state, this is obviously a ploy of Renaldo to instill seeds of reverence of his men towards him, for he has a goal once everything went through and religion is a big part of this.


Renaldo immediately walked past the tent and went to his study, as something urgent came up from one of his animal couriers, the report said that a large Spanish fleet is currently on the way to Guam, and is going to gather troops from there to launch a reclamation in the name of Spain, this fleet is led by Valeriano Weyler, and Renaldo knows this person as the future Minister of War of Spain, a brilliant tactician that is going to be one of the greatest generals in Spanish History, and Renaldo isn't confident about facing him on a battle of wits.


This is the reason why Renaldo didn't have the time to comfort his adopted son, because war is once again knocking at his doorstep.


~ I'm officially back boiiiiz!!!! finals has ended and I can now once again devote my time to the novel, I hope everyone is doing well and be extra careful! The delta variant is notoriously on the loose! ~
