Chapter 127: Chapter 127: The March of Iron

Chapter 127: The March of Iron

The heavy iron doors of the military courtyard stood wide open.

I marched out of the central keep with my elite pack directly behind me. The morning air was sharp and filled with the thick scent of burning coal.

I completely suppressed the dark magenta aura of my newly awakened Law. I kept the Venom of Desire locked deep inside my core.

I did not want my soldiers distracted by unnatural lust. Today required absolute discipline and unbreakable focus.

I looked out over the massive stone courtyard.

Thousands of soldiers stood in perfect and rigid formations. They wore thick canvas uniforms layered with protective iron plating.

Every single soldier held a Model 47 Arcane Assault Rifle proudly across their chest. Heavy artillery crews stood beside rows of massive steam tanks.

The iron war machines idled loudly and blew thick clouds of white vapor into the morning sky.

King Regent Hardsteel stood near a newly constructed command tent. He wore a complex metal headset over his mechanical ear. A massive antenna protruded from the roof of the tent.

"The arcane radio network is fully operational," Hardsteel reported with a proud and metallic voice.

"We no longer have to rely on slow magical messengers. I will remain here at the Forge and command the information flow directly from this station."

I nodded my heavy and armored head.

"Keep the communication lines strictly encrypted. Do not let the Elven mages intercept our frequencies."

Silas stepped out from the shadows of a massive steam tank. The master assassin wore a sleek combat suit. He was ready for open war.

"I will take the front," Silas declared. He patted the thick iron hull of the war machine.

"I will lead the decoy vanguard straight toward the Elven borders. We will make enough noise to draw every single Purist mage out of hiding."

"Do not engage them in close combat," I ordered.

"Keep your distance and use the heavy cannons. Make Lord Vane believe you are the absolute main force."

"Understood, Sovereign," Silas smirked. He climbed up the side of the tank and dropped into the commander’s hatch.

I turned away from the heavy armor division. I walked slowly up the metal stairs of the grand podium overlooking the entire courtyard.

My crimson Ironclad armor gleamed dangerously under the rising sun. A heavy and absolute silence fell over the thousands of gathered soldiers.

I looked down at the fierce and determined faces of my people. They were Orcs, Goblins, Beastmen, and Humans. They were the outcasts of the continent.

"Soldiers of the Forge!" I roared loudly. My voice echoed across the massive courtyard with absolute authority.

"For decades, the arrogant nobles of the Zenith Academy and the High Elven Sylvanate have looked down on us! They called us monsters! They called us weak and primitive!"

I gripped the heavy iron railing of the podium.

"They funded the dark Cults that plagued our streets! They gave gold and magical weapons to the shadows that slaughtered your families and burned your homes! They tried to destroy us from the inside because they were too terrified to face us in the open!"

A low and furious growl rippled through the massive army. The memory of the Cults ignited a deep and very real hatred in their hearts.

"We are not marching to our deaths today!" I shouted fiercely.

"We are marching forward to completely destroy those who funded our pain! We are going to march into their pristine forests and burn their arrogant pride to absolute ashes! We will show them the true and unstoppable power of the Industrial Revolution!"

I closed my red eyes and reached deep into my soul.

I grabbed the heavy and burning chains of the Fire of Rage. I did not use it to burn or destroy.

I manipulated the sheer intensity of my Law and unleashed it as a massive wave of emotional radiation.

FWOOSH!

A blinding wave of pure crimson magic exploded from my chest. The fiery aura washed directly over the thousands of soldiers. It seeped straight into their skin.

It did not scorch their flesh. Instead, it injected my absolute and pure rage directly into their bloodstreams.

’I shall use their against the Cult to supply them with great power. They shall use their wrath to destroy them.’ 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

The soldiers gasped in unison. Their eyes glowed with a faint and terrifying crimson light. The magical buff forced their muscles to bulge with immense and unnatural strength.

The heavy burden of fear completely vanished from their minds. My Law of Rage transformed them into fearless and unstoppable apex predators.

"FEEL MY WRATH!" I roared to the heavens. "AND LET IT GUIDE YOUR BLADES!"

"VICTORY TO THE SOVEREIGN!" the massive army screamed back. Their unified voices shook the very foundations of the courtyard.

Silas slammed his hand against a metal lever. The heavy steam whistle of the lead tank blew a deafening and piercing note. The massive gears ground together.

The decoy vanguard lurched forward and began its loud and terrifying march toward the southern borders. The ground trembled violently beneath their iron treads.

I stepped down from the podium. The intense adrenaline pumped rapidly through my heavy veins.

Nyssa, Kaelith, Lysandra, Anise, and Rolf waited for me at the edge of the courtyard. They were lightly armored and radiating absolute lethal intent.

We did not need heavy tanks or loud artillery. We were the true strike force.

"The decoy is moving," Nyssa observed while adjusting the arcane rifle slung across her back.

"Then we move into the shadows," I commanded softly.

I channeled my crimson mana into the heavy spatial ring on my finger. A bright blue teleportation array expanded beneath our boots.

The Elven Sylvanate was heavily guarded, but their rear supply lines were completely exposed. We were going to cut their magical throats before they even knew we were there.

"Next stop," I grinned beneath my heavy metal visor. "The High Elven supply camps."

The blue light flashed violently, and we vanished from the Forge.