Several weeks later, Dario stood in his training field with Lord Wilson. His firm and practiced hand gripping the hilt of his sword. He moved through his routine, each swing of the sword cutting through the air with a sharp, metallic hiss. Sweat trickled down his face from his brows with each strike. And rage fueled his focus, sharpening his reflexes and honing his combat skills to a razor’s edge. Dario’s movements now flowed with a fluid grace, a result of the countless hours he had spent perfecting his techniques. His muscles were tense and flexed with each strike, the rhythm of his breathing also steady and controlled. Everyday for the past weeks, Dario had invested most of himself in his journey of becoming a powerful god-of-war. He had read books, solved strategic and critical battle problems, practiced combat to the fullest and many more, with Lord Wilson by his side. Alongside, he had been brewing with rage ever since he found out about his father’s association with the Rav
Dario stopped in his path when he heard Lord Wilson and rolled his eyes. “Come and have a seat,” he offered to Dario who then walked to have his seat. “I know you know what I’m about to ask you, which is why you just tried to sneak out without saying a word,” Lord Wilson said, looking at Dario with a straight face.Dario avoided eye contact and looked down at his legs and just listened to Lord Wilson talk. “First off, I would like to commend your skills, strength and determination. How you’ve invested so much time and energy in building yourself these past weeks, I can say you’re now past halfway in your journey and I’m proud of you.”“Thank you, Lord Wilson.”“With that being said,” he paused and heaved a sigh, his expression a mix of concern and curiosity. “Your Majesty,” he began, his voice gentle yet firm, “it is glaring that you’ve been angry for weeks and I have tried to ask why, but you seem hell bent on not opening up…”Dario didn’t look Lord Wilson in the face and just look
When Dario left Lord Wilson’s house, he went straight to the palace. On his way, he ordered Bruce to inform the ministers, generals and other key advisors of the empire for an emergency council meeting. Before Dario left Lord Wilson, the latter had explained every detail about the war to Dario. Dario also met with the person who came as a representative from Armenia, who also enlightened Dario on everything he needed to know about the war. The grand hall of the palace was filled with soft murmurs of conversation as the council awaited the arrival of their emperor. They all wondered why an emergency meeting had been called for, as it was late in the evening. The large doors to the hall swung open, and the room fell silent as Dario walked in, his presence commanding immediate attention. Upon seeing their emperor, they all stood on their feet and bowed in reverence.Dario strode to the head of the long council table, his cloak billowing behind him. He nodded to the council members and
Dario stood in his father’s study properly kitted and ready for their journey to Armenia. It was time! He wore a well fitted shirt and a leather trouser for protection against potential hazards along with sturdy boots.‘It’s really happening,’ he thought, staring at Lord Wilson’s sword in his hands. Few months ago, if someone had told him that he would be on his way to join a battle at this time, he would have called the person a clown. But here he was. Dario took a deep breath, and looked around the study. There were only two outcomes; either he would be able to stand in this place again after the war or he wouldn't. His heart pounded at his reality but he summoned courage and maintained his composure.“Go with me and bring me back safely,” he said, his voice above a whisper as he closed his eyes. “You’re my guardian angel now and it’s the least you could do, father.” Dario said a little prayer to the spirit of his late father regardless of how upset he was with him at the moment.
“Ambush! Take cover!” They ground to a halt as the soldiers spilled out of the trucks and tanks and took up defensive positions behind the vehicles. Without hesitation, they began to fire back at the enemies. The air was filled with the sound of orders being shouted, weapons being readied like guns being cocked, and the thuds of boots on the ground. “From a defensive perimeter! Return fire!” Dario commanded, his voice steady and authoritative. He and his generals quickly dismounted, taking cover behind a jeep as they assessed the situation.The soldiers moved with practiced precision, some were setting up machine guns on tripods, others crouching behind the wheels of trucks to return fire. One of the soldiers shouted, “Reloading!” as he ducked behind a fallen log, rapidly firing. Another soldier launched and threw a grenade towards a cluster of the suspected areas of the enemy, the explosion sending a shockwave through the forest and a cloud of debris into the air.Who knew they
The rest of the journey was peaceful and they were almost in Armenia in no time. On their way, Dario and the generals went over their battle strategies to make sure there was no loophole and if at all there would be casualties, it should be minimal. Now that they had experienced a bit of the enemy kingdoms, they knew best to be well prepared. “General Marcus, General Cassius, well done,” Dario applauded them. “We need to be very much prepared. No room for mistakes!”As they approached Armenia, their noses itched with the scorching smell of smoke from a distance. And as they got closer, more smoke filled the air making it hard to breathe properly. The soldiers coughed repeatedly, flapping their hands in the air to minimize the amount of smoke they inhaled. Thick smoke billowed into the sky making the atmosphere blurry too, but after a while, as the vehicles moved forward, it became more clearer. Dario’s heart broke at the sight he beheld as they drove into Armenia. Everywhere was
Dario and the generals immediately stood up, running outside the grand palace to assess the situation. On getting outside, they realized more of the enemies were focused around the palace. Could they be here for the king?Dario immediately pulled his sword out of its jacket, rage and determination coursing through his veins. In no time, they were all in the midst of the enemies fighting alongside other soldiers. Dario wielded his sword with optimal precision, as if he were made for this moment. In this close-quarters combat, firearms were not the best option due to the proximity of the enemies. Thank goodness for the secondary weapons of the Persian soldiers like their daggers, combat knives, swords and so on. They were highly skilled in combat; hand to hand combat and firefight, unlike their enemies who were only skilled in firefight which involved using firearms. And before they could use their guns, a sword was already piercing through their abdomens.So they switched between fi
When Dario got in close proximity, he moved with great agility. Hours had passed but he wasn’t even exhausted. Lord Wilson had trained him on breathing techniques that would help maintain his stamina and prevent exhaustion during war. His sword flashed as he cut through the enemies. His blade swiftly moved through their abdomens one after the other in mere seconds. Everyone that watched was dazed at Dario’s swift and fluid movements. In his right hand, he wielded his sword, while his left hand held a dagger, replacing his pistol. He took down two enemies at once with remarkable speed.In the midst of the chaos, Dario caught the sight of a particular fierce opponent’s incoming blows. Dario quickly blocked his series of rapid blows, his movements a blur of practiced skill. But as he turned to fend off another attacker, he felt a sharp, searing pain in his right arm. An enemy’s sword had found its mark as it slashed through his inner armor and cut deep into his flesh. He grunted his te