Chapter 0.1 prologue - one last journey (1)

( author suggestion- i had forgotten to say this earlier because i was tired but, i suggest that you put on your head phones, and listen to vivaldi's, four seasons - winter, that will give you an insane backdrop and was what i was listening to when making all 4 prologue chapters)

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"Haaaaah." Standing atop the towering walls that guarded the once-majestic city, a weathered, white-haired old man adorned in gleaming golden armor gazed pensively at the tumult below. The sun dipped toward the horizon, casting an amber glow over the chaos that now befell the Eternal City.

"This is it, huh... the end," John remarked somberly, turning to survey the desolate wasteland that stretched before him. The once lush and bountiful lands of the empire now lay engulfed in ceaseless flames. The fields, once abundant and stretching beyond the horizon, were now reduced to charred remnants, and the verdant grass had transformed into nothing more than scorched leaves upon the barren soil.

"It appears to be that way, old friend," Geoffrey, an aged man draped in a wizard's garb, responded as he approached John, momentarily shielding his eyes from the light reflected by John's resplendent armor.

Seating himself on the city walls, John spoke with a heavy heart, "Is there no chance at all for them to sit at the negotiation table anymore?"

"We can try, my friend, but you know as well as I do that far too much blood has been spilled on both sides for there to be any hope of peace," Geoffrey replied, taking a seat beside John and placing a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder.

"One last shot... let's do it. Even if we miraculously survive this, the Eternium Empire... it is eternal no more, but the lives saved would be immeasurable," John murmured, a sad smile touching his once proud countenance as he turned to Geoffrey.

"call the others. It's time to make some final arrangements before we embark on one last journey," John declared, determination etched into his expression.

As Geoffrey produced a mass communication crystal from his robe and spoke into it, calling for the others, John's thoughts lingered on the gravity of their mission.

"Henry, William, Edward, come up here. Our foolish leader has one last mission for us," Geoffrey conveyed through the crystal, eliciting swift responses from the trio.

"Seriously? I was busy polishing Dragon Fang, you know. If we're gonna die, I want my partner to have at least a proper polish before that," grumbled a gruff voice, displaying a hint of annoyance.

"Oh, come on, Chief. I already have enough shit going on here with the evacuation and everything," chimed a cheerful voice, though its tone betrayed a hint of disgruntlement.

"Yes, sir. I'll be there in a minute," affirmed a stern voice, as all three cut the communication with Geoffrey.

"They'll be here shortly," Geoffrey said with a sigh, tucking the mass communication crystal back into his robe.

"That's good... ughh," John groaned softly as he straightened up, observing the chaotic evacuation process unfolding below.

*thump*

"What was so important that you had to bother me at this time?" inquired a tall, imposing figure as he leaped onto the wall where John and Geoffrey stood. Towering over John, he stood at an impressive 8 feet, his silver beard in stark contrast to his red armor.

"Let's wait for the others to arrive, Edward. I'll brief you on the mission afterward," John replied, unfazed by Edward's brusque manner.

"Yo yo, what's up, boss?" a silver-haired elf clad in gilded green plate armor greeted, ascending the stairs with a cheery smile.

"Henry, you know you look creepy with that smile, right?" Edward couldn't resist teasing the elf.

"Kindly fuck off, geezer," Henry retorted, shrugging off the remark. "Anyway, boss, what do you want to say?" he asked, ignoring Edward, who maintained a hint of a smile despite his annoyance.

"Enough bickering, gentlemen. The commander has a reason for summoning us," interjected a stern voice, silencing the impending argument between Edward and Henry.

"William's here too. Let's get to the point," John said, nodding at the golden-haired man in silver-gilded armor, who had just joined them.

"Fuuuuuh, as all of you probably expect, we won't be returning alive tomorrow, and the Eternal City will fall with us," John began with a grave expression. He paused to take a deep breath before continuing, "But, we can't give up like this, can we? So, I want to give it one last shot. I will go and talk to the Dragon Lord Pallas, and Geoffrey, you'll speak to the Titan Emperor. Edward, I want you to accompany Geoffrey. Henry and William, you're already working on the evacuation effort, so I won't ask much of you. I've already spoken with my brother and the Elf Queen; they've agreed to allow us to establish a government in exile within the Great Forest. Direct the citizens to the portal, where they will be evacuated by the elves."

"Wait, she agreed to help you despite how things ended?" Geoffrey interjected with a shocked expression, prompting a bitter response from John. "She may hate my guts now, but there's no way she'd let innocents die like this."

"Haaah, this bastard intends to work our old bones to the end, don't you, hahahah!" Edward chuckled before adding, "Geoffrey, I'll meet you here in 30 minutes. I've got some stuff to handle." With that, he leaped off the walls, leaving nothing but a gust of wind in his wake.

"Both of us better get going too. While there aren't many citizens left to evacuate, it's best if we get this shit done before midnight. I'd like at least a couple of hours of rest before facing those monsters," Henry declared, patting William on the back before rushing down the stairs.

"Well then, Commander, I shall meet you once I've finished my task," William said, following in Henry's footsteps.

"So, you contacted her, huh?" Geoffrey asked, giving John a pitiful look.

"I had no choice but to do so... at least I got to hear her voice one last time," John replied with a sad smile while gazing at the city.

"You know you could always choose to abandon all of this and run away, right? No one would blame you, and she would probably follow you wholeheartedly if you asked," Geoffrey suggested as he sat down next to John, who still had a melancholic expression.

"No... I can't do that. Even if no one would blame me. That's just not who I am... we were just never meant to be," John said, stepping away from the castle walls.

"If I were to run now, I'd have no face to show my mother in heaven... she didn't raise a coward," he added with a laugh, extending his hand.

"Hahaha, you stupid fool," Geoffrey laughed at his friend's quirky expression, stepping back as a spear materialized in John's hand from within the central palace.

"Well then, Geoffrey, let's meet here tonight, and if the gods will it, the war shall be prevented," John said, throwing his spear northeast and catching it mid-air.

"That fool... he's brave to the point of stupidity," Geoffrey mused, shaking his head before teleporting straight to Edward's room, where the old man was sharpening his colossal red greatsword. It bore teeth-like protrusions on its sides, but compared to his size, it still looked like a regular broadsword.

"You know there's no stopping this, right?" Edward said, not taking his attention off his weapon.

"I do, but why not give it a shot anyway, eh? We'll be dead anyway, so why not give it our best? At least that's what our fool of a leader thinks," Geoffrey replied with a small chuckle.

Edward stood up after wiping his sword and said, "Let's go," walking to Geoffrey's side.

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As Edward and Geoffrey readied themselves to meet the Titan Emperor, John had already arrived at the dragons' camp, determined to speak with Pallas, the Dragon Lord.

"I come in peace!" John's voice rang out as he raised his hand, signaling his intent. "As the Commander in Chief of the Imperial Army, I wish to have a talk with His Majesty, the Dragon Lord Pallas." The guards exchanged glances before granting him entry, as though they had been expecting his arrival.

As he traversed the dragon camp, observing the majestic creatures in their human forms to conserve energy, he finally stood before a colossal tent at the camp's heart. "Come in," boomed an oppressive voice, tinged with boredom, a voice all too familiar to John.

"We meet again, Your Majesty," John greeted as he entered, beholding a black-haired, young man with glorious black wings seated upon an obsidian throne.

"I had assumed you would come," Dragon Lord Pallas replied, raising a chair effortlessly from the ground. "Take a seat."

"Thank you," John acknowledged, settling into the proffered chair.

"Let me be frank. The answer is no. I don't wish to waste either of our time. That fucktard had the successor of the dragons, and if that wasn't enough, he blames me for the death of his son. The war has gone past the point of reconciliation. There shall be no further negotiation," Pallas declared, his face a picture of boredom.

"Your Majesty, please take a moment to think about this. This war will result in great casualties on your side, and who knows how much more damage it will cause to the already weeping continent," John said resolutely, trying to reason with the Dragon Lord.

"I have already given you my reply. I care not for the consequences mere ants have to face for my actions. As for my people, they would gladly die if it meant a death in the glory of war," Pallas retorted, leaning forward with annoyance etched on his face.

"Well then, my lord, you leave me no choice. The Empire will stand against you and your people. I shall end this myself tomorrow before things get any worse," John declared as he rose from his seat, preparing to leave the tent.

"Such a shame... had you been a dragon and not an inferior creature, we would have made good drinking partners," Pallas remarked dejectedly as he watched John walk out of the tent, his gaze lingering on the departing figure.

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As John's conversation with the Dragon Lord came to a close, Geoffrey and Edward teleported to the Titan's camp.

"We are emissaries of the Empire and wish to meet with the Titan Emperor, Kostas!" Geoffrey called out to the two towering guards at the camp's entrance.

The guards exchanged conflicted glances, and then one of them spoke, "Let them in."

"Well, I guess we'll get to talk to him at least," Edward remarked, observing the tense expression on Geoffrey's face.

"Let's go in," Geoffrey said, tightening his grip on his staff, and both of them ventured into the midst of the Titans' camp.

As they walked amidst the tents, surrounded by the colossal figures that would soon become their formidable foes in the upcoming battle, conflicting emotions swirled within them. Edward felt a mix of fear and excitement at the prospect of facing such monstrous beings in a full-scale war, while Geoffrey carried an ominous premonition that things might not go as planned.

"We greet the Titan Emperor," Geoffrey and Edward spoke in unison, bowing slightly to the towering figure who dwarfed even the other Titans in the camp.

"I suppose you are the second in command of the Imperial Army, Edward, and the Grand Wizard of the Empire, Geoffrey. I met your commander last time; quite the likable man he was," the Titan Emperor said with a slight chuckle.

"We are humbled that you know of us, Your Majesty," Geoffrey and Edward replied, showing respect with their gestures.

"I suppose your purpose is to offer an armistice... if so, please head back whence you came from. Too much Titan blood has been shed for there to be peace... and I assume you know that as well," the Titan Lord said, leaning forward slightly.

"We do, Your Highness, but is there no chance for you to come to some form of agreement?" Geoffrey inquired, nodding slightly.

"Even if I said there was, I know the nature of that damned lizard well enough that he would not agree to it. And that's if I agreed... which I have no intention to do so. The death of my only son and the future of the Titan race isn't forgiven so easily," Pallas declared, fury burning in his eyes.

"I see. Well, Your Majesty, it's unfortunate that things have boiled down to this. We shall meet at dawn tomorrow then," Edward said, bowing his head respectfully, and with that, both of them turned to leave, paying no heed to the amused look on the Titan Lord's face.