C26 The Imperiums Legions Reborn

Their hesitation vanished instantly. A fraction of a second later. BANG. A single gunshot.

BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG.

Nine rounds slammed into Titus's chest, ripping through him mercilessly, his body jerking violently before crumpling lifelessly onto the dirt.

The men who shot him?

They immediately collapsed onto their knees, some retching, others sobbing violently.

The one who had cried for Titus's forgiveness?

He was screaming into the dirt, his body racked with uncontrollable sobs. I let the silence drag. Then, I spoke.

"Lesson learned?"

They didn't answer.

I tilted my head slightly, my tone cold and emotioneless.

"Do you understand now?"

The one who had led the execution the oldest forced himself to look at me. His face was a mess.

But there was something else in his expression now. Fear. But also… something deeper.

Something broken. He opened his mouth, voice raw.

"Yes… Imperator."

I nodded.

"Good."

I turned toward the rest of the army.

"This is the price of disobedience."

I pointed at the white stone holders, still kneeling, still shaken beyond belief.

"They learned it the hard way."

I met the eyes of every single soldier standing in that field.

"You will not."

Silence. Then, finally.

"YES, IMPERATOR!"

A chorus of terrified voices roared across the field.

The stench of blood and gunpowder still lingered, the corpse of the executed soldier lying motionless in the dirt, his lifeless eyes staring at nothing.

The soldiers who had pulled the trigger remained on their knees, some still sobbing, others silent, broken.

And then. A sound. A distant hum. No... not a hum. A chant.

A celestial, almost unreal melody that grew louder and louder, sending chills down the spines of every man present.

The sky darkened for a moment, the air crackling with a presence that no mortal could ignore. Then a burst of radiant golden light pierced through the clouds.

A figure descended from the heavens, wings of shimmering silver and gold stretching wide, her armor gleaming like polished steel, her long braided hair flowing behind her like strands of pure sunlight.

Her eyes, piercing blue radiated both an unforgiving power and a gentle mercy. A Valkyrie. The entire army gasped in sheer, unfiltered awe.

Even Praetor Varro, a man who had stood firm against warlords, politicians, and even emperors, stumbled back, his face pale with shock.

The mortal realm had been touched by the d*vine once again.

The Valkyrie hovered for a moment, her wings flapping once before she landed gracefully before me, the earth trembling beneath her presence.

Then, to the shock of thousands, she knelt. Her voice, both soft yet commanding, rang out through the silence.

"You called, Imperator?"

The weight of those words hit the soldiers like a hammer. I merely nodded, taking a slow drag from my cigarrette that I light up with my lighter, exhaling the smoke as if this was the most natural thing in the world. I gestured toward Titus's corpse.

"Take this man's soul. Let him meet his ancestors in Valhalla."

The Valkyrie's piercing gaze flickered toward the fallen soldier. She stood, her silver wings spreading slightly, before she strode forward with the grace of a true battle maiden.

The moment she reached the corpse, a faint blue mist began to rise from the lifeless body. And then, it happened. The mist solidified, taking shape. Titus's soul.

The soldiers stared in disbelief, some clutching their chests, others whispering silent prayers. Titus or rather, his spirit looked down at his own body, his hands trembling. Then, he looked up. The Valkyrie extended her hand.

"You have been chosen."

Her voice was gentle, yet carried the force of absolute authority. Titus's soul hesitated for a brief moment. Then, with a shaky breath, he took her hand. The instant their hands met, golden light engulfed them both.

With a powerful flap of her wings, the Valkyrie ascended into the sky, carrying his soul with her, disappearing into the heavens.

The light faded. The sky returned to normal. But the hearts of every man present would never be the same.

"You pathetic lot shame your ancestors."

I took a step forward, looking at the 18,000 soldiers, their faces still frozen in shock, their eyes still locked onto the empty space where the Valkyrie had stood.

Even Praetor Varro normally a man of stone cold composure looked like he was struggling to breathe.

I let the silence hang. Let the weight of what they just witnessed settle deep into their bones. Then, finally, I spoke again.

"Your ancestors were the greatest warriors this world had ever seen."

I let my crimson gaze scan the field.

"They were disciplined. Feared. Unstoppable."

I exhaled, shaking my head.

"And now?"

I gestured toward them all the undisciplined mess of a so called army, that could be wiped out by a single Guderian Empires armored division.

"Look at you."

Some men flinched. Others lowered their heads in shame.

"A bunch of lazy, undisciplined, unkempt, good for nothing s*its."

I could feel the insult sting deep. Some men clenched their fists. Others gritted their teeth, but no one dared to speak. I took another step forward.

"Do you think your ancestors would recognize you?"

Silence.

"Do you think they would be proud?"

More silence. I turned my back to them, facing the vast, open sky, the lingering traces of the divine presence still faintly visible.

"They watch you from the halls of Valhalla. And they weep."

I turned back, my expression unreadable.

"That ends today."

I let the words sink in. Then, I raised my voice, my tone carrying the weight of a ruler who would not accept anything less than absolute excellence.

"From this moment forward, this army will be reforged. Not as a collection of soft, undisciplined men."

I gestured toward Lupa, who still stood beside me, her golden eyes glowing, her presence radiating pure dominance.

"This army will become a force feared across the world. A legion of warriors unmatched in discipline, strength, and ruthlessness just like the symbol of the Imperium you serve"

I turned toward Praetor Varro. His expression had hardened, as if he knew what was coming.

"Effective immediately, every legioneer is stripped of their rank."

A wave of gasps rippled through the ranks. I ignored them.

"All of you are now privates. Your previous titles? Gone. Earn your ranks back, or stay at the bottom where you belong."

I took another step forward.

"Those who are truly warriors who have the will, the strength, the discipline to serve properly will be recognized."

I raised a single hand.

"Which is why all of my Paratroopers will now be embedded as your new NCOs and officers."

The men visibly stiffened.

"The whole army will be reformed Into eight half strength Infantry legions, five armored cohorts and 24 paratrooper cohorts"

I exhaled another cloud of smoke, letting the tension settle before speaking again.

"Two months later I want to see a 58 thousand strong army so from this moment on every able bodied man, and anyone who commits a crime, theft, murder, anything…"

I let the words linger.

"Service."

Some men stiffened.

"Anyone caught stealing?"

I gestured toward the army.

"They serve."

"Anyone caught killing?"

I gestured again.

"They serve."

"And those who are already rotting in prison?"

I turned toward Praetor Varro.

"They serve too."

I took a final step forward, standing at the very edge of the formation. I gazed at all of them, my face completely unreadable.

"So Ill ask you again sons of Ares the one who carry the blood of demig*d warriors Inside youre veins will you make youre ancestors proud and join them In valhala to drink endless mead next Odins feet himself or wil you remain as a bunch of useless sacks of s*it?"

A heavy silence settled over the airfield. The men of the old army undisciplined, slouched, unshaven, stared at me, wide eyed and breathless.

Their hearts pounded. Some of them were still pale from the execution they had just witnessed. Others had tears stained on their cheeks from watching their former comrade's soul be carried away to Valhalla.

But now, now it was time to decide. I let my words linger, my crimson gaze sweeping over them, measuring them, judging them. Then I roared.

"WILL YOU BE SPARTAN LEGIONNAIRES? OR WILL YOU REMAIN AS USELESS DOGS?"

My voice thundered across the field, carried by the howling winds, shaking them down to their very souls. The soldiers tensed, their breaths ragged, their minds overloaded. I took a slow, deliberate step forward, my shadow looming over them, my presence crushing.

"WILL YOU STAND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER AS WARRIORS? AS BATTLE BROTHERS? WILL YOU FORGE YOUR FATE WITH FIRE AND STEEL?"

Some of them clenched their fists. Others gritted their teeth. I could see it in their faces the hesitation, the fear, but also the spark. A hunger. A thirst. A dormant fire inside them waiting to be lit.

"WILL YOU BE THE IMPERIUM'S FENRIRS?"