Chapter 45: A Dragon's Wrath

As soon as my mother disappeared behind the palace's entrance, I turned to Horus and asked apathetically "Is Isaac back yet?"

"I believe he is, sire." Horus nodded.

"Perfect." I say in the same emotionless tone, as my eyes gleam in murderous insanity.

Immediately afterward I head to my office once again, and see not only Isaac there, but Darius as well, patiently waiting for me. I waste no further time as I take my seat facing him, and instantly order "Report."

Isaac nods as he begins "Yes, sire. As you might have expected your majesty, this attack was done by non other than the Noble Faction. And we have enough evidence to implicate nearly two dozen of their members."

"How did we not receive any warning from our spies before this happened?" Darius questions with narrowed eyes.

"According to those we captured, this operation was very sudden for them as well, and they were even ordered to do it without any prior planning or notice what so ever, and had to quickly scramble together a rushed plan, which is why they used Black Sand Bombs.

Many even claimed that they didn't even know who their targets were until they saw the royal insignia on the carriages, but by then it was too late for them to back out." Isaac replied.

"That explains it." Horus muttered, before swiftly clarifying "I thought the incident seemed slightly illogical since the first moment I heard of it.

Although Black Sand weaponry might be powerful and very destructive, it's completely useless on those who have reached the third rank of martial artist and above, and everyone knows that the Palace Guard only accepts those who have reached at least the fourth rank."

Darius nodded in approval as he sincerely praised, before further analyzing "An excellent observation young man.

And I also believe that the reason those assassins were so rushed by the nobles, was because they were fueled by their bruised egos after his majesty humiliated them in yesterday's celebration."

My madness filled eyes, which both Darius and Isaac noticed but decided not to comment on, began to swirl, like two black howling vortexes of depravity, as I roared ferociously "Abraham!"

Instantly a blur of gold appeared before my eyes, as Abraham seemed to materialize before me, while kneeling and respectfully saying "Your orders, sire."

"Command the Palace Guard, except those who are protecting my family, to immediately prepare to capture all the nobles in the capital!" I say as my carefully controlled bloodlust leaked through my words.

"Understood." Abraham replied, as he saluted by pounding his right hand on his left chest.

I then turn to Isaac and say "Order the Shade Corps to deploy over the entire capital, and make sure that no one escapes."

"Right away, your majesty." Isaac replied as he slightly bowed down.

I once again turn, this time toward Darius and say "Send a message to both Sodarus and Hasdrubal to prepare the Chimera and Diomedes Knights, along with twenty thousand of my personal soldiers to move at any moment.

While the command of the rest of my army is to be given to Hamilcar, who is to deploy them all in the streets of the capital!"

"Very well, sire." Darius acknowledged.

The prisoners flinched, as their hair stood up on end; decades of experience living amongst the most depraved murderers and psychopaths of mankind did nothing to aid them before the being currently staring at them, as one of them stutteringly bellowed in a panic "W-We sw-swear to you sire, that we didn't know who the targets were!

We j-just did as we were told!"

Hearing his words a few nobles, whose minds became muddled in anxiousness, cried out "He lies sire! We would never act against the royal family! We're innocent!!"

A large grin appears upon my lips, as I ask in pure murderous ecstasy "And how did you know what he was going to say?"

Their faces were suddenly plundered of all color, as they realized their momentous blunder, but before they could utter their pathetic excuses, the Guards acted and shattered their knees and arms, before ruthlessly slamming their writhing bodies in front of me.

Seeing this I pick up Dark Majesty, as Bellerophon jumped off of me, while I menacingly marched towards them.

"Please! Please, spare us sire! Please don't kill me! We beg of you!!!" They cried out with tear soaked faces, as they gazed at my approaching figure.

But their pleas fell on deaf ears, as I held Dark Majesty to one of their necks and demonically replied "Kill you? No, no, no. I'm afraid death is a luxury you can no longer afford for a very long time.

But please take comfort in the fact that you will eventually die an excruciating death, and that your families, friends and everyone you have ever met will be awaiting you on the other side."

Their mouths opened wide in disbelief at such cruelty, but before they could utter anymore worthless words, I sliced their jaws, splattering blood across half my face, leaving them barely hanging on their skulls, while members of the Shade Corps dragged them from the hall, as the rest of the nobles gazed at them in silent horror.

I sit back down on my throne, while starring back at the terrified nobles, as I say in inhuman apathy as I looked specifically at Zadkiel "I have no need for rebellious dogs. And today you shall all bear witness to the hellish fate of all those who forget who their master is."

All the nobles understood the implications behind my words and actions, as they could suddenly feel the same pressure they felt during yesterday's coronation, only this time it seemed a hundred times more intense, as they dropped to their knees, not in respect, but in untold fear!

Which filled me with a refreshing sense of nostalgia, as the monstrous voice in my head laughed maniacally!

While the more experienced and wise among them, suddenly cracked the mystery that had been haunting them since yesterday!

They finally understood the origin of this primal pressure they constantly suffered from, they finally understood the reason for the constant warnings their instincts screamed at them, as they all unanimously exclaimed in their minds 'Dragon!'

***Scene Change***

True to his words, Alexander unleashed hell upon the unsuspecting world, as the earth rumbled under the hooves of the Diomedes Warhorses, while the skies darkened before the wings of the Chimera Knights, as they departed to deliver their emperor's vengeance!

Over two dozen noble and powerful houses of the Eclipse Empire vanished over night, as their grand and luxurious castles and mansions were bathed under a torrent of crimson flame by the Chimera Knights, their loyal servants massacred, their helpless elderly thrown to endless work in the brutal and unforgiving conditions of the mines, their proud sons emasculated and sold to slavery, their beautiful wives and daughters dragged to the dirtiest brothels found in the empire, condemned to spend their lives in endless humiliation, even their infants weren't spared as they became the Diomedes horses feed!

They were absolutely and brutally exterminated, with only a few charred and broken ruins standing as the final proof of their long gone glory!

While the entire world learned two things that dreadful night, the first was that the seemingly invincible and perfect new emperor of the Eclipse Empire, did indeed have a reverse scale, which was his family.

The second thing was to never, ever touch this reverse scale of his, since if you did, then may the Gods have mercy upon your soul, because he won't!