Age Of Heroes

Arial as he rides his horse, he could see rows of small huts and houses made with mud.

The people had settled in after a few days. Arial saw all of this and he believes that this place, the state of Balhae is a good place for him to stake his claim and as a base

It is to him perfectly situated if he could pacify the entire state. He only needs to have the fealty of the village chief all over the states and then he would begin the centralization of the state.

Arial at first wanted to quickly conquer the states but thinking about it again, it would be quite reckless to underestimate his enemies.

It is better for him to centralize the power and when he centralizes all the power he could direct the development of the state and with that reform he could quickly grow Balhae to become a powerful state. 

Balhae is a state that derived its name from its largest city, Balhae. 

  Most of the state of the Vernium kingdoms derived its name from its largest city where all of the administration is focused on.

Arial had the ambition to make Balhae the largest and most powerful city in Vernium. It would then be one of the provinces that would be incorporated in the Empire.

Of course, this is if he won the final battle.  Arial finally arrived at the gate. The gate was not closed. 

Instead it was open wide. And around the area of the gate, there is soldiers that is ready to become a shield wall if the old man really come in charging to the outer city

Arial did not climb to the walls and look down toward his enemy. He jumps down from his horse

Everyone behind him was shocked. 

And then he began walking to the gate. 

Even though from this distance it is almost impossible for anyone to send an arrow, the officers who is mostly Edenian would not underestimate the people of the Thirteen Tribes.

They have fought against the people of the New World, and they fought alongside them. And they know how these tribal people possess ungodly strength and abilities.

It is because of that they did not discount any possibility. Who knows that there might be someone who have the ability to shot an arrow even from such a vast distance

But Arial did not seem to care as he comes closer and closer to the gate. And then he smiles as he saw what he wanted to see

There is an old man sitting on the ground near a bridge. 

The bridge itself is not that long and the bridge could be called a decoration bridge instead of a bridge that is important. 

There is a large weapon on his side, that is pierced to the ground.  .

Around the old man, there is a sea of arrows, yet around him there is not even a trace of anything other than swaying grass and flowers.

With one look Arial could see that old man is not a normal old man. 

'Your Imperial Highness' Someone from behind shouted

Jumping down from their horses is Giovanni and Santiago. 

The rushed through the lines of soldiers as the soldiers parted away and give way to these two Great Generals.

Arial did not say anything to them. He did not order them to come but he understood why they have come.

Even though this is not Eden, these two people one day still have to return to Eden. 

There are already many voices that wanted to strip them from their honors in the court because of their reputation

It is not that Arial could not see that these two general wanted to gain merit and wash off the image of a butcher and murderer that have been put on them.

If anything happens to him, Arial knows that these two general would never be able to return back to Eden without any consequences.

Of course, there is things that these two generals did not know. That this fight that they are fighting is not a simple war of conquest.

This is a war that would determine the direction of the world until the next Age began. This is a war written in prophecy, wall paintings and old scriptures. 

But Arial did not want to share it with these two great generals. They might even think he had gone crazy.

To them, if Arial claim himself to be Asrana, these two people probably would thin k it is his ploy to gather the popular support of this land.

They would not believe that there is such a figure since these two are probably the least devout Lucellian among the Lucellian great generals. 

To them, the tales of gods and goddesses, of evil beings and righteous deities is simply a long tale, a tale of the faeries, meant to deceive and to obfuscate the mind.

So, they will always not understand certain decision he would take later on. They do not understand why Arial treated the Thirteen tribes very well.

It is because these are the people that have worshipped him, waiting for him, and the same people that would fight with him against the Darkness that is to come.

Amara had promised him this. That whether he wins or loses, in that process, he would still fight the Darkness.

And these people would fight alongside him, sacrificing their life. As such, Arial did not want to kill people.

He did not want to kill people that would one day fight alongside him. if he could stop bloodshed with one battle, he would not reject it.

Giovanni come with his cavalry corps while Santiago came with his spearman. Santiago spearman did not yet arrive in full strength.

Instead Santiago had reached the area first. He was anxious the whole time and rides his horses to catch up with the Emperor.

Giovanni walk toward him and ask him

'My lord, are you going to accept the invitation to a duel?' 

Great General is recused of many normal etiquettes toward the Emperor. Even though they usually still maintain such formality, by law, they are not required to.

And Giovanni was never a man that follows the formality. In the court, he is obliged by the laws to kneel and to follow the etiquette of interacting with one own liege

In the battlefield and outside of the court, his action is not considered rude as it is a privilege given to them by the Emperor.

Arial did not answer with words. Instead he just nodded

'My liege' Santiago chimed in from behind.

'Isn't this too dangerous? This humble servant begged my lord to reconsider'

Arial only chuckles.

Santiago then said again

'This here is not the Human Continent, my lord. If you die, then this ends here'

Some of the soldiers around the area gasped. 

To mention death to the Emperor is very disrespectful especially if that death statement is directed toward the Emperor.

Most soldiers rarely meet the Emperor other than the soldiers of the Imperial City.

There are things you could say to the Emperor and then there is thing you could not say to the Emperor. 

One of such things is mentioning the death of the Emperor

Of course, if Santiago is some normal soldier he would not dare to say such a thing. 

Arial did not feel uncomfortable with Santiago words.

When he first creates the twelve Great Generals system, he added such stipulation because he fears that one day, his influence grew so powerful that he would believe that he make no mistake.

If such day does come, it would be very dangerous for him