Chereads / Ávyssos / Chapter 4 - General Douglas Stratenheid

Chapter 4 - General Douglas Stratenheid

Bullets rained and swords clashed. The Three Nations made it clear that they would not submit nor they would surrender. A bad decision, after all they were not only fighting against One Kingdom they were also fighting Three more Nations. These Nations were on the side of the Borin Kingdom, they were invited in the ceremony when King Gregory III became the new King. 

On that day, the borders of the Three Nations were dyed red. Blood flowed like rivers and corpses piled up like mountains. On that day, the inhabitants of Marya Continent were reminded why the Borin Kingdom was the strongest Nation. They had forgotten why this Kingdom was at the top while everyone was only below it. Because of King Gregory II, they had believed that the Borin Kingdom was a gentle giant. They had forgotten what it truly was...

They had forgotten that it was a savage beast! Able to reap lives if it desired it! Able to plunder lands if they wanted it! Able to destroy anyone who blocked their path...IF THEY WANTED TO!

Only the strong prevails while the weak perish.

The three opposing Nations fought to the last man. They were all valiant and courageous heroes. But courage did them no good for the more they fight the more of them were killed. The Borin Kingdom and its ally also suffered some casualties but it was minor compared to their opponents. After the Three Nations were vanquished, the remaining citizens were offered a choice. 

Submit or die! 

Most of them submitted but there were also some who were unwilling and made a last effort to resist. The ones who resisted thought that they would be able to move their fellow countrymen to join their cause and resist this tyrant Kingdom. Alas, the hearts of men cannot be easily swayed when in the face of despair. What good would defiance bring them? They would only die and worst of all even their family would suffer. 

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(Inside a military tent)

"Sir we have detained those who resisted"

A soldier reported to a middle aged man who was smoking tobacco while looking through the small square window of the tent.

"Very well, gather everyone outside including the civilians. I want them to witness this" General Douglas Stratenheid said as he puffs a smoke. 

"Yes Sir!" The soldier replied after saluting. 

After a couple of hours…

Every soldier and every civilian were gathered outside the General's personal tent. The civilians were all cowering in fear. Some were crying, some were dazed not believing what was happening while some were consoling and hugging those who were crying, trying their best to remain strong. 

Shouts of madness could be heard from time to time. While desperate voices could be heard everywhere. The people didn't only suffer physically they also suffered mentally. They lost their minds when they saw the carnage that was happening during the war. Not everyone who died was a soldier there were also civilians who were caught in the crossfire.  

The civilians were surrounded by the soldier. In front of them was a small stage. On top of the stage was a middle aged man with a tobacco in his mouth. And in front of him were a dozen kneeling people facing the crowd. Their hands and feet were all bound by chains. There was also a huge red flag on the right side on the stage, the flag's sides were golden in color. There was also a lion inside a sun sewed on it. It was the flag of the Borin Kingdom.

"SILENCE!!!" General Douglas shouted loudly. 

Silence ensued the moment his voice resounded on the open field. Everyone, no matter if they wanted to or not, all their attention was drawn to him. Everyone saw a towering man who was garbed in a black military uniform with a red cape. A sword was hanging on his waist. 

When General Douglas saw that everyone's attention was on him he threw away his tobacco and cleared his throat.

"People of the fallen Countries, there is nothing to be afraid of." He began.

"Our King had taken it upon himself to get rid of suffering and injustice on this continent and I, Douglas Barden Stratenheid, have been given the greatest honor to lead my people on a crusade to make it happen. Our King envisioned an Empire standing above all! An Empire so strong no one would be able to threaten us. An Empire so united, it could deter anyone. An Empire where our children could grow up in peace. But everything comes at a price. For every new beginning there has to be an end. And that beginning was the end of your Country"

He said to the crowd. 

"All of this could have been avoided if you had only submitted to us from the very start. His Majesty's orders were only to subdue you people and not slaughter you. Alas, your Leader's judgement was clouded by pride! He made you fight for something impossible. Resisting us was your biggest mistake. But since the one responsible for it was your leader, I will give you all a second chance." He calmly said, then he looked at the big red flag.

"Face the flag and swear allegiance to our Kingdom and you will all be spared!" He again looked at the crowd and saw that it only sacred them more. 

*sigh* he heaved a long sigh and shook his head. His eyes now looked more colder.

"Very well then, let this be a lesson to all of you. Only death awaits for those who resist us. We don't need useless people who can't even see beyond what the future holds!"

*shing* He unsheathed his sword that was hanging on his waist. It was a saber with a golden handle and a golden guard with the lion insignia carved on it. It was also paired with a shining silver blade. 

He swung his saber in a horizontal slash!

*Shliik*

Twelve heads fell off the stage.

The crowd couldn't believe what they had witnessed. This was a public execution! The heads still wore a disbelief and scared expression on their faces. Never in their wildest dream would they ever thought that they would die just like that.

"I'm gonna ask again! Submit or Die?!"

General Douglas exclaimed! He no longer looked calm. 

Everyone, no matter disabled or elderly, kneeled facing the flag of the Borin Kingdom and swore their allegiance.

"That's how it should have been from the start" General Douglas said as he shook his sword to remove the remaining blood on it.

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Time passed by...

The other Countries fell one by one. Some allied themselves to others while some smaller Countries submitted immediately.

The Borin Kingdom didn't have it easy taking over the Continent when the other Kingdoms were meddling in the war. After all nobody wants to see the strongest Kingdom become even stronger. But meddling openly was bound to have some consequences so they had to do it in secret. Of course King Gregory Borin III knew this all along but since he was still preoccupied with the war he doesn't have enough energy or time to spare with them. And confronting them without solid evidence would only backfire on them creating an opportunity for the other Kingdom to join the war openly...

He remained silent and just focused on the war. But one can see the fires of ambition burned ever so brightly in his eyes despite the predicament the Borin Kingdom was in...

The war had long reached its peak. The climax was near and victory was close at hand for the Borinians. They only needed to breach the last stronghold of their enemy and the Marya Continent would belong to them. 

Alas…

What welcomed them when they stormed the last stronghold were armies that numbered in billions! One can see eight colors of uniforms and eight kinds of flags for each group of army legion. Thousands of heavy armored tanks and floating ships blocked the sunlight causing darkness to shroud the battlefield.

The other Kingdoms made a bold move! They sent their troops openly and declared that in the name of 'Justice' they would not let this bloodshed go on much longer. They couldn't just watch anymore. They had to prevent this no matter what. Who knew that once the Borin Kingdom took over the whole Continent that they would stop there. Based on how King Gregory started the Majesty War the moment he ascended to power, it can be said that his ambition transcended even the Heaven itself. 

So they formed an Alliance.

The Borinians felt terror for the first time. Compared to the enemies they only numbered in less than Five Hundred Million. Such a disparity in number, they're loss was set in stone. 

The Borinians felt hopelessness and despair was evident in their expression.

Some soldiers fell to their rears and started breathing heavily. Some dropped their guns and just stared blankly at the opposing army.

Witnessing this sight General Douglas sighed and shook his head side to side. The soldiers clearly disappointed him. But he can't blame them. He looked at the enemy with calm eyes, their numbers seemed to be not enough to deter him. He walked in closer and faced the army alone. Such actions were easily noticed and all attention was drawn to him. 

He stopped and looked at the Generals of the opposing army. 

"You people truly are meddlesome and really have some guts for stepping in our territory. Return to your respective Kingdom now and we will forget that this never happened." General Douglas stated calmly.

"Your territory? Hmpf! Don't make us laugh. You haven't won yet." Stated a General with a violet colored uniform.

"Stop the war right now and we will not meddle anymore in the Borin Kingdoms affair." Said another General who was wearing a blue uniform.

"Ordering me around. Who do you think you are? You're just a mere dog of the Trifen Kingdom!" Said General Douglas.

The General wearing a blue uniform seemed to be offended and said to other Generals…

"It looks like a battle is inevitable." he said.

"It seems so." said the others.

"Fools." After saying this, General Douglas walked back to the Borinian army camp.

After coming in front of the army he suddenly kneeled down. The others seemed puzzled by his actions until they saw that the Borin soldiers were parting in the middle and making a way for 'someone'. It looks like a big shot was coming to the front. But for the General to kneel it can only mean that someone above him was coming. After the soldiers parted ways all of them kneeled down. Heavy footsteps can be heard, all stayed silent waiting to see who was coming. After a few breaths of time they finally saw who it was.

A man wearing golden armor came to their view. The armor has a lion head carved in the chest plate of the armor. A red gem that looks like a ruby was embedded on the eyes of the lion. He was also wearing a helmet that looks like the head of a lion with an open mouth. A mane was also present. A crimson cape was swaying in the wind behind his back. He looked like a majestic beast. Pride can be seen in the way he presented himself. He walked so dignified as if viewing the world with ridicule. The man stopped in front of General Douglas.

The General never looked up even once but reverence can be seen on his eyes.

He uttered..

"My King"