Tyrant of the Ruined Sun

"The third battalion has also increased their speed, and are pushing their enemies even further, my lord!" A second messenger said happily.

"The first and second battalions are advancing steadily as well!" A third messenger reported calmly.

"The fifth and sixth battalion have forced the Diomedes Knights to retreat!" A fourth messenger loudly yelled with elation.

Heinrich had a wide, satisfied grin on his face as he listened to the barrage of good reports, while his officers began to carry favors with Heinrich by flattering him, saying:

"Incredible, my lord! The fearsome Eclipse Empire is terrified to even face you!" One officer said flatteringly.

"Your victory here, my lord, is a testament to your military talent!" A second officer praised even more.

"Indeed! This is nothing short of genius!" Another officer said refusing to be outdone.

Heinrich laughed snobbishly and replied with false humility "What nonsense are you saying? This victory doesn\'t belong to me alone, but to all the Luminous Empire, and general Georgios, who stalled the battle until all the Eclipse dogs ate their supplies, and can barely fight."

The officers immediately agreed with him and began to once again flatter him for his humility, and character, until a messenger arrived and excitedly said "My lord, the enemy has withdrawn so much that the battle mages\' spells can no longer reach them, and they request to be aloud to advance closer to the frontline!"

Hearing this Heinrich showed a jubilant expression as he laughed in ridicule at Hasdrubal\'s incompetence as a commander, and then he immediately ordered "Order everyone, including the reserves, to advance forward, we will not stop until we reach their camp, and teach that child they call an emperor the real horrors of war, and the consequences of facing the great Luminous Empire!"

The officers laughed and loudly cheered as they heard him, while the messengers bolted through the heavy fog to deliver their general\'s order, and with it completely destroy the Eclipse army\'s left flank!

***Scene Change***

Hasdrubal stood with the tranquility of the water in an ancient well, and the stability of a primordial mountain, while his ears were filled with the voices of messengers saying:

"My lord, our frontline has suffered a great number of casualties, because of the enemy battle mages!" An anxious messenger reported.

"The Diomedes Knights have withdrawn and are in position, my lord." One messenger said calmly.

"All the battalions are still withdrawing in an orderly manner, but some of them are starting to complain, my lord." Another said anxiously.

Hearing these reports one of the officers who was dissatisfied and envious of Hasdrubal, because of his young age and high rank said angerly "This strategy isn\'t working, my lord! We have more men than them, we should utilize that, and attack them."

Hasdrubal did not yell, or reprimand him. He didn\'t unleash his aura, or blood lust. He didn\'t strike, or humiliate him. He simply glanced at him, before returning his attention to the messengers, and in that momentary glance that officer felt his whole body shiver in dread!

Because at that moment he didn\'t see a normal man, or a powerful general, but a feral beast that was silently warning him, as it ferociously snarled at him.

Needless to say, that officer became as docile as a frightened lamb in front of a savage wolf after that.

Hasdrubal no longer cared for the officer and calmly said "Keep reeling them in."

A couple of minutes later, a messenger ran up to Hasdrubal and quickly reported "My lord, the Luminous Empire have deployed all their soldiers, and are attacking relentlessly!"

Hearing this he faintly smiled, and calmly asked "Are you sure that all of them have attacked?"

"Yes, my lord. I\'m certain." The messenger replied confidently.

Hasdrubal\'s faint smile turned into a distorted predatory grin, as he drew his serrated sabers, unleashed his aura, empowered his voice and unleashed a beastly roar that crackled like rolling thunder across the whole battlefield.

And then he blaringly said "I have forbidden you from our emperor\'s banquette long enough! I have starved you of your enemies blood long enough! But not anymore! Go, and satiate your hunger, for it\'s time to feast!

Feast, you beasts of war! Feast, you men of the south! Feast! Feast!

Feast!"

The men were influenced by Hasdrubal\'s aura and charisma, and began to fanatically chant "Feast! Feast! Feast!" Suddenly the Eclipse army that was acting as meek as mice became as ferocious as infernal fiends.

Capitalizing on the men\'s high morale, Hasdrubal quickly led the counter attack against the Luminous soldiers, while Heinrich immediately wanted to intercept him, but little did he know that this was only the beginning of Hasdrubal\'s masterfully crafted counter attack.

The Eclipse army charged like an enraged bull that was determined on crushing all that stood in it\'s way, and very quickly flipped the situations of both armies!

This shocked the Luminous soldiers who thought the Eclipse soldiers would be demoralized and weak after having basically no supplies left, and after being pushed back so far. But this was not the last surprise!

Suddenly a sound similar to that of waves smashing against a stone reef was heard from the back of the Luminous right wing, and it was quickly followed by the chaotic sound of mayhem, anarchy, and unrestrained havoc.

Quickly turning their heads, the Luminous soldiers bore witness to the most unlikely of scenes. They saw a deluge of black knights, riding atop their hellish steads, mowing down the battle mages; like waves of the sea swallowing loose sand into the endless depths of it\'s abyssal stomach.

Heinrich, the high ranking officers, and many of the soldiers gazed at that inconceivable sight, as they all shared the same thought \'Didn\'t we already defeat the Diomedes Knights, and sent them running? How did they get behind us?!\'

A few seconds later Heinrich awoke from his shock, and loudly cursed with bloodshot eyes, showing the intensity of his rage "These southern snakes! Is there no end to their cowardly tricks?!"

He then turned to his officers and howled insanely "When did they get behind us? And how did non of the soldiers hear thousands of men and animals encircling us?!"

The officers that were filled with flattering smiles, and words of praise and compliments just a few seconds ago, were now paralyzed mutes, who couldn\'t think of anything to answer their furious general.

And due to their shock, and stupefaction they didn\'t realize that the answer to this great mystery, was actually very simple, since the Diomedes Knights never moved!

You see the Diomedes Knights only feigned a retreat in the beginning of the battle, and then they stood quietly at the edge of the Eclipse left flank, and didn\'t move again!

And as Hasdrubal slowly retreated with his forces, and Heinrich confidently advanced, this allowed the Diomedes Knights who remained in their position to suddenly be at his back, without even lifting a single finger.

Heinrich finally finished his child-like temper tantrum and quickly turned toward Hasdrubal, the master mind of this disaster, and the architect of his humiliation.

Heinrich charged wildly with malice and anger burning brightly in his eyes. Within seconds he reached Hasdrubal, who was shredding the nearby Luminous soldiers, and he wildly swung his great sword at him, as he furiously roared in indignation "You bastard! I\'ll kill you! I\'ll Kill You!

I\'LL KILL YOUUU!"

But in response to Heinrich\'s unbridled wrath, Hasdrubal replied with a voice as gentle as spring breeze, and a smile as bright as the summer sun "Heinrich, my old friend, what\'s wrong? Did someone anger you somehow?"

Heinrich\'s rage was only fueled by Hasdrubal\'s response and he could only roar louder and louder "DIE! DIE! JUST DDDIIIIIEEEEEEEEE!!!"

Hasdrubal\'s smile only broadened as a predatory look settled in his eyes, and said coldly "Defeated prey has no right to demand or struggle, it can only helplessly die however it\'s predator see\'s fit. So obediently drop your sword, and I swear to make it painless."

Heinrich was reaching levels of rage he didn\'t even know existed as he maniacally laughed "HAHAHA! You think we\'re defeated? You delusional bastard, don\'t even think about it! This isn\'t over, yet!

I\'ll destroy your spineless ploys, and claim victory!"

Hasdrubal sighed and silently shock his head as he said "It must have been a miracle for you to become a general. How do you plan to destroy my strategy after diving head first into it, you hopeless imbecile?"

Heinrich venomously spewed with blood lust leaking out of his every cell "By ripping your scheming head off your filthy shoulders!"

Suddenly Hasdrubal appeared before him and downwardly swung both his blades toward him, forcing Heinrich to very quickly, and barely block his blow.

And as their faces were so close to each other, Heinrich looked deeply into his eyes, that didn\'t show the rationality of a man, but the brutality of a beast. And then he heard Hasdrubal boldly say "I\'d like to see you try!"