Level Up Legacy

"It reached this point because of the threat Ascent made to Runera," said the Commander of Geon, the same shady man who led the protests when Ai took her position. "Although we suffered the crimes of the previous emperor, you are not that different in that regard."

"It was not a threat," said Arthur before anyone could answer the commander. "I will seize Runera before the end of the year. You mistake this meeting for a cry for help, but this is a test."

"A test of what, exactly?" asked the Commander of Geon as he leaned back in his chair. His tall and pointy fingernails tapped the wooden table to produce a rhythm that bespoke his impatience.

"This is a test to see if Iliosians have any backbone," Julia answered his question before placing a piece of paper on the table face down. The table lit up, and after a few moments, the paper appeared in front of everyone. "This is a list of the artifacts we have at the moment and an estimate of how much we will have once this war starts."

"…these are in the thousands!" said a thin commander who wore thick round glasses. "If this estimate is accurate, could you produce a hundred artifacts daily? How is this even possible? Is Ascent a runic guild?"

Runic Guilds had only runemasters or runic fighters who depended on runic cards. Thus, their artifacts and abilities were versatile and numerous, but their preparations limited their fighting powers.

"We expect to produce more in the future, which does not include the artifact we supplied to your cities. As you can see, we have not been generous because you have yet to prove your usefulness to us."

Julia spoke the harsh truth quickly, but it cut through their hearts. Some of the younger commanders were offended, but the older and wiser knew this was true. Helios was the capital, but each city existed as separate entities in Ilios. The empire was vast, and these commanders governed many minor cities and towns.

The major nine cities usually gave some of their profits to the previous emperor. However, after Ai took her position, she asked the commanders to use the profits to construct new housing for the citizens and fortify the walls.

This made income to Helios minimal, and Julia used that opening to strike at their pride. Ascent gave them free artifacts and exempted them from taxes that used to cripple their growth. Most of that money went into the bases the emperor built for his diabolical plan.

"And we would prove ourselves useful by sending our soldiers in this war?" asked Barbora as she stared at the number of artifacts. "Looking at these numbers, it might not be a suicide mission."

"Runera has existed for hundreds of years without being touched, no matter how many coveted it. We must make amends with them, not send our soldiers to their land," said Duke Garret with a frown as he stared at Arthur. "This is the first time we meet, Guild Master. I fear that I do not flatter. This war is unnecessary."

Everyone agreed with the duke. No one had a reason to fight this war since the threat that Ascent made against Runera was the one to cause it. Everyone looked at Arthur, waiting for his response.

Some of these Astra-rankers were afraid. Even though none of them agreed to the methods and governance of the previous emperor, no one could defeat the Voldor Family. Osian was even a bigger monster than his son, so none wanted to anger the man who beat him.

"Runera came to us with demands, too," said Arthur with a smile. "It wanted us to stop producing these artifacts since we needed to run them by their Runes Association for approval. Even then, we cannot trade them among ourselves or internationally."

"These are similar to the rules you gave us when we received the artifacts," said one of the commanders. The rest nodded. "If negotiated properly, we could survive under their supervision."

"You want me to accept being supervised by a bunch of lousy runemasters?" asked Arthur with a chuckle. "In the world of runes, attainment is everything. Runera has forgotten that."

"Excuse us, Guild Master," said the glasses commander nervously. "Although you are an apprentice champion, how is it possible that you are the founder of Runera?"

"None of you would believe me even if I answered with the truth, so I will lie and say that my knowledge is what created Runera. I did not learn anything from them, and the knowledge I have is the basis of their existence."

"…but you are twenty…" the glasses-commander muttered.

"And yet I defeated an empyrean rank," said Arthur with confidence that made the commanders nervous. However, he turned toward his trusted vice-master and asked her a question. "Can you tell them how we fare compared to Runera?"

"As you commander, Guild Master," said Julia with a nod as she presented another paper to the crowd. Several copies appeared before them, making most gasp at the information in these papers. "We have found the lost method to create genuine artifacts, as powerful as abilities themselves. Runera has yet to accomplish this feat."

"This is impossible!" said the nervous commander. "I studied runes and genuine artifacts all my life. There is a reason these artifacts are called the miracle of gods! They encompass creation itself and mend the world. How can mere humans create them?!"

"I am creation," said Arthur with a voice that forced everyone quiet. "Genuine artifacts are the miracle of gods? How laughable it is to believe the gods even care about us. If there were gods out there pulling the strings, they would one day beg me for mercy for what they did to this world."

None of them could say a word. Nine commanders who reached the astra-rank, considered the second highest state of existence, were awe-struck at the words of a young man. His charisma made his confidence more than just vanity.

"Those who wish to provide men and resources for the upcoming war should raise their hands. As for those who do not, no punishment will be inflicted upon them from my empire. It would be different for Ascent, as I cannot control whether they would favor some over others in our future collaboration."

Seven out of nine commanders agreed to send most of their knights to aid in the war and provide enough rations to feed their men. As for the two who did not, they were the Commander of Geon and the Runemaster Commander.

As for the dukes, they were only asked to give out resources. Their houses did not have much military personnel, and most were mercenaries who would never sell their swords for a suicide mission. Thus, their contribution to the war was primarily financial.

"This brings us to the last topic," said Zonas Mantra as he spoke for the first time. "Nobles Commander, Duke Delano, and the previous crown prince fled the scene when the other nations sent their forces to Ilios. We suspect they are still in Ilios since most of their assets and connections are here."

"We swore an oath, so we should not be suspects of sheltering them," said the Commander of Geon with a frown. "It doesn't matter if we served them once or not. The fact that these men wanted to sacrifice a million people makes them worse than monsters."

"I am glad that we share that sentiment," said Zonas Mantra with a frown. "However, we have reasons to believe that some foolish attempts to reclaim the throne would be made when Ilios goes to war alongside Ascent. Please be warned that since your cities are liable to be seized."

The commanders and nobles were dismissed afterward, ending most of the war preparations that Ascent needed to do. Those remaining were Arthur, Ai, Julia, and Zonas.

"The commanders should be able to provide us with another twenty thousand knights. Although not on the same level as the guild members of Ascent, their numbers are reassuring," said Julia as she stared at the papers each commander wrote.

"Furthermore, these soldiers are coming with food," said Zonas with relief. Then, he turned toward Arthur, who remained silent once the commanders supported him. "Are you resentful of the two who refused to help?"

"I cannot force people to lend me their men and money," said Arthur with a smile. "However, those who do will be repaid a thousand folds."