The ultimate day came. Compared to the somewhat tired Athánatos, Ortus found himself in top shape.
Both sides fell into brief silence. Soldiers prayed in their hearts to be able to survive, but none wished to retreat.
It would decide the future of their homeland. To Athánatos' surprise, Ortus didn't go all in at all.
A few hours passed by and the battle hadn't reached its climax at all. If this continued, the day would end and support would come soon.
Then, something changed. Athánatos' eyes widened as he yelled across the battlefield.
"Are you crazy?!" He said in astonishment. The trees surrounded them, and yet that madman employed hundreds of logs onto the battlefield.
Soon enough, a thick smoke came, creating an enormous problem. It wouldn't be too much of a problem. Except.
That the wind went to his side! Not long after, no one could see in the dark smoke as many soldiers began to choke.
Ortus' side, on the other hand, remained calm. They advanced under the cover of the thick smoke as they grew closer, step by step.
Athánatos ordered his soldiers to retreat further away as he waited for the smoke to be gone.
Although it forced him to retreat. It didn't mean he lost. On the contrary, the amount of time wasted benefited him more.
"Lord Athánatos! Hundreds of soldiers that were swept up in the smoke lost their eyesight and some show signs of poisoning!" A subordinate appeared and said.
"No way... Wait?! Brimstone!" He said in astonishment as a thought came that he never thought of.
Right now, they were not far away from a large deposit of sulfur! Such a crazy move impaired a quarter of his soldiers he had left and directly almost lost him the entire war.
Another soldier barged in.
"General! An enemy appeared in our back lines, setting everything on fire!" He said, out of breath.
Athánatos couldn't believe it. Such an oversight.
A well timed fire had blocked off their retreat route, forcing them either into a forest or into the sulfur infused fire ahead.
If he went into the forest. It would surely spend his end.
The enemy, in just one night... No, it began when Ortus sent out his elite troops.
Unbeknownst to his scouts, a part of the elite suicide squad must have split off to bring enough brimstone in time.
Although he intercepted the decoys. He let the true enemy off!
"Prepare! We are defending right here! No one shall stop us. Retreat will mean defeat!" He said as the entire camp went into the emergency mode.
Stray bullets kept flying out of the thick smoke as Athánatos' troops fired back.
An hour later, the fire on the frontlines dissipated. Still, Ortus' army didn't rush in.
Who knew how much of the sulfur remained in the air. Ortus didn't fear anything, though.
After all, it would be Athánatos who would be coming to him!
Another hour had passed and yet the fire in the back of Athánatos' army didn't weaken.
Some even thought it strengthened. Moreover, it began to expand and an hour later, the forest might not be an option anymore as well.
The wind changed its course once again. This time, thick smoke began to flow into the camp and it forced Athánatos out like a rat.
With no option left. They began their charge. His army, tired and in low morale, began their charge.
His speeches proved to be ineffective as he decided to charge in himself.
He couldn't retreat, anyway! With his troops, he charged into the hail of bullets as people began to drop like flies.
"Charge!" He said his final words as a bullet hit his leg, making him fall.
With moments of clarity, he realised. Not to mention immortal, he wasn't even invincible.
Moments later, he saw a blur as he saw an iron ball take a life of his own soldier. Were it not for the bullet, he'd be the one taking the shot himself.
He tried to stand up, nonetheless his leg totally gave up. The general barely kept together his soldiers.
That all crumbled half an hour later as Ortus went all in, destroying every semblance of their defence to shreds.
...
"Why did I send my useless general?!" He said to himself in delusion.
If he went there himself. Surely, he would have seen the entire scheme right away.
Now, everything's gone. His soldiers began to surrender, their fanaticism left in but a few struggling soldiers.
His own general had fell as well. Then, he saw a shadow covering his face, before a flash.
"The tyrant is dead!" A soldier said and began to yell more things out loud.
When he saw the half dead leader. A thought came to him. The best way to gain merits is to kill the leader himself!
His lack of presence had already frightened most of his soldiers, but those words sealed the deal.
In a few moments and a couple of shots later. The battle came to an end.
Ortus won!
...
"Good job I suppose." Morpheus said as he watched Ortus. Unless Ortus suddenly became a perfect liar that he could deceive even himself.
Morpheus had the confidence to pick up any lies with people he forged a sufficient bond with.
"Morpheus, I intend to cooperate with you. I will relocated the capital to this place and this area will be one of the palaces. How about it?" Ortus said as he waited for his response.
"Make it a park where anyone can visit and we have a deal." Morpheus said.
"Deal. The nature here is beautiful, anyway." Ortus said and broke into a slight smile.
Under the agreement of the two, they saw the changes in an instant. With the worshipers of the religion of life, being called a lunatic cult.
People began to despise them. To win the people of the former Life Dukedom.
Ortus granted them a certain amount of autonomy and reduced taxes to all citizens. Of course, the top positions would be his puppets.
People didn't complain at all, though. No one actually cared who ruled above them, they just wanted to have enough food for themselves.
After that? Not many had the luxury to think any further. He had met little to no resistance when conquering the rest of Life dukedom.
Much to his surprise, the life religion took quite a deep root near the Life's Wrath river.
They were like cockroaches. No matter how many times he squashed their meetings, one would pop up eventually.
Many happened without his knowledge, too. Still, this didn't sit too high on his agenda.
Explosive development was! With Morpheus' cooperation, they successfully created the steam engine.
Just like that. People returned to their simpler lives. Economy recovered and boomed even further.
While the Barford Family owned a most of the land. They gave some contributors their own land with limited autonomy.
One could now become a baron in Barford territory! The fancy title didn't mean much though, as any baron had to disclose most of his dealings, couldn't have a private army, etc.
But it guaranteed one thing. Stability. As long as the future generations do not screw up too hard or the Barford Dynasty falls, they would be able to exist.
It didn't thrill the young generation too much. Nonetheless, a lot of veterans gladly took up the posts as the management became much more efficient.
Ortus, no longer swamped with administrative work. Visited Morpheus regularly and often wished to learn from him.
Maybe not a logic shattering genius in science. He had the knack for picking things up well.
Sometimes, his input had helped Morpheus. Though he remained on the sidelines most of the time.
3 years flew by just like that. Ortus grew more mature and, under Morpheus' advice, grew to seem as a benevolent ruler by the public.
They no longer saw him as a general who created rivers of blood. Now, they saw him as a wise ruler.
Enough food and clothing. Winters were no longer feared and the economic business boomed.
After 3 years, the first railway tracks showed their usage. They had reduced the journey that would otherwise take an uncomfortable day to a few hours.
Tourism bloomed. Various aristocracies that grew famous in recent times visited the new capital.
Oneiros, the city of dreams. A place where anyone can achieve success and become someone famous.
For many talented youngsters, it became a land of opportunity. In the span of 2 years, since the capital began to bloom.
Many talents poured in from all across the known world. There, a legend and a myth sprouted.
The dream garden. A place available all year round. In that place, a myth circulated.
Those talented and chosen would sometimes receive a divine knowledge bestowment.
It had happened 3 times in 2 years, so not many believed it. However, Ortus himself swore the legitimacy of such a magical phenomenon.
And as the Barford family bloomed, they changed their title. A Barford kingdom, occupying the entire southern part of the Sea of Life.
A land of wonder. The technological marvel which seems to be hundreds of years ahead.