Sage World is an extremely huge world that's has one gigantic continent in the center of it. The continent is then divide into four huge domains. Each domain had a size that was immeasurable to mortal and divine alike!
This story takes place in the western domain. The western domain goes by many names, such as the barbarian west, the beast of the west, but no matter how you describe it, one could tell it's a place where danger comes from all eight directions.
Located southwest in the western domain, is two powers, the Barbarian Empire and the Tiger Kingdom. As a kingdom, the Tiger Kingdom has a total land of 5000 square kilometers, so one could tell how big an empire would be if even a kingdom is this huge.
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As the Capital of the Barbarian Empire, Wild City could be said to be huge. The entire city took up 100 kilometers of land as the capital.
Located in the center of the city, is the 'palace' of the current Emperor. Usually the place would be silent, but if one where to walk by, they could hear a heavy discussion commencing inside of the palace.
The reason for this, is that the Emperor had call all the 'nobles' back to the capital. Word spread that the emperor would be going to war with the Tiger Kingdom not long from now, bringing waves of excitement to the citizen's.
It's not that the citizens have a lot of bloodlust, it's that the barbarian race is a war like race to begin with. Some of them might even bloodlust withdrawal, if they don't fight a lot, which is in fact it's not rare at all.
As all the citizens are fantasying about how much blood to spill, the situation in the palace is turning for the worst.
"We could just surrender!" a voice suggested.
"You mongrel, how dare you suggest such a thing, in front of the emperor no less! don't you have no shame!" a voice countered.
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At the head of the great hall was a bronze throne, with dragon like reliefs on the armrest, and a blood red flag that had a life like divine wolf in the middle of it. The maws of the divine wolf were sit in a position that it seems that the wolf would howling to the heavens in defiance, bringing an awe aspiring presence feeling to whoever sits upon the bronze throne.
In front of the throne are many smaller seats, these seats are place in a very neat circular position so that the emperor can see all his vassals at a glance.
Upon the bronze throne, sat a 2-meter-tall bare chest barbarian. The chest of this barbarian was full of iron like muscles that worm around his upper body like snakes. His muscles made it seem like he could shatter sword and spears with his body alone!
With his flame like hair and greyish like eyes, he looks like savage that would eat humans alive!
The said barbarians' face was full of frowns as he watches his 'loyal' vassals coming up with ideas, that makes his heart twist with rage.
'How dare these fools want I, Wolfstein Ironback, to retreat in defeat. We are warriors, how could we retreat without a battle?!!' his rage was getting more and more intense as he listens, until it finally exploded. It was like a dam that had too much water.
"ENOUGH!!!" A thunderous voice echo with the halls silencing the 'nobles' as none of them dare to protest. The shout was so intense that it startled the birds outside, which could tell one how loud it was as there are multiples layers of walls between the outside and the hall.
"All of you disappoint me, even before the war, all of you are thinking of retreat? And all of you dare to call yourself warriors of the Empire? No, all of you are just cowards that are not needed!!" The emperors' face twisted with killing intent so intense that light in the hall was almost completely disappear.
His empire does not require useless people! Even the dead as use, and that was to remind the living what to look forward to!
The hall was shrouded in darkness, that it seems to be about to engulf everyone present in the hall, bringing them to their dooms. None of them knew that the emperor would react this way, after all, its normal for one to be indecisive when one's life is on the line.
"Your majesty, calm yourself!!" One of the nobles shouted, scaring the other 'nobles' who are at the edge.
All of them turn around looking for the fool who dares to shout at the emperor when he's angry, but what they saw made their scared expression turned to relief. Almost like seeing a light at the end of a dark tunnel or better yet, life in the face of death!
Seeing who it is, the emperors anger got reduced to half in an instant. "Hmm, Duke Bison, what is it? Don't tell me you are helping them." even though his anger was reduced, it's still there. Even if the man was his father, he would not hesitate to punish him if he dares to undermines his authority! An Emperors rule must not be threatened!!
"Your majesty, you are misunderstanding us, we all are warriors and would love to die on the battlefield if we have a chance, but you must know that we are seriously missing people to lead the war against the Tiger kingdom, if we still go now that we don't have a general or a proper commander, we will definitely die for nothing, it's not worth it." An elderly man with white hair and fragile size said with a calm voice, completely disregarding the emperors' intense gaze on him.
As all the 'nobles' listen to the duke's words and they could help but nod their heads in agreement. It's true, if they had no one to properly lead them on the battle field, they would be sending themselves to their deaths, especially since they would be fighting against the tiger troops!
In all the nations in the surrounding areas, Tiger troops could be considered one of the ten best, as all their soldiers are a Second Leaf Warriors, which is equal to a human Origin Expert!
One must know that an Origin Experts is a practitioner that can absorb the energy of the heaven and earth to improve their body fitness far above an ordinary human's body. Such an expert can live for 500 years and that's only a foot soldier! Above them still are commanders and generals! From this, one could tell how powerful the tigers troops are, even if only a commander is leader of it.
If that is not enough, the strongest soldier of the empire is at most a Second Leaf Expert, which numbers far less than tiger kingdoms! Of course, the empire would not be call an empire if they did not have hidden experts to hold the fort, if not, they would long ago be destroyed!
As one of the 'lower-class noble' heard the word of the Duke, he seemed to remember something, he hesitates for a minute but amusement flash across his blue eyes before he shouted excitedly.
"Your Majesty, I have a general!" His voice was full of passion. if one did not know what went through is mind earlier, one would wonder think he was a loyal vassal.
Hearing the noble words, the other nobles, who were compilating the duke words look over with shocked written all over their faces. The same thought went through their minds as if they were connected.
'Are generals so cheap nowadays!'
"Hmm, Baron Types was it? this is not the time for jokes, if what you said is a lie, then that will warrant a family execution do you understand." the Emperors' solemn voice resounds and awoke the Baron from his excitement.
In fact, the punishment was kind of severe, but who could he blame other than himself for speaking up when the emperor was angry?
"I understand, I swear to the Barbarian God, that all I have said is completely true, should I lie, let my soul be devour!" the oath echo in the hall, almost in a holy manner.
This one of the ways to see if a person is lying, because if they are, the gods that they made the oath to would devour one's soul as punishment. This is also use when one need to come to agreement as well.
After looking at the Baron after he said the oath and was still alive, they all relaxed. As for the Barons' name, they completely forgot about it. After all, a lower class noble, such as a baron is at most a Second Leaf Warrior, while they are at most a Third Leaf Warriors, so why would they need to remember such a useless person? It must be known that between a Second and Third Leaf Warriors, there is a huge barrier that can't be overcome, even if the Third Leaf Warriors was to face 20 Second Leaf Warriors!
"Good, where's this general? who is he? is he trust worthy?" The Emperor fired question after question, hoping to get some information. The Emperor was really surprised by this baron of his, as he almost changed his original plans, but this is good too. If the end results are the same, so what if it's not exactly as he plans it?
"He's at my residence in Silver City, I met him a couple years ago as I went out on a hunting trip on the plains, he was injured so I saved his life and he had been staying with me ever since in hopes of repaying me." The Baron said feeling quite good about the plan he had in mind. He wanted to see how that mysterious general of his would react.
The Empire is divide into 4 provinces, with the north governed by Duke Bison and Silver City is under the jurisdiction of the Duke, so the Emperor as to ask permission from the duke.
"If that's so, go get him." The Emperor got up and commands after getting permission from the duke.
"There might be some problems, your Majesty." The Baron said nervously, sweat dropping from his brow.
"What problems?" The emperor frowns his brow, making his visage ferocious.
"It's, like this…" The Baron hurriedly start to tell the story of how they met, it was so vividly described than one could see a clear picture in front of them.