Oblivion's Crown

by M. H. Johnson

  Cold clapping could be heard from the monitor once more. “Well done, Terran ape! Daring to beard the lion in his own den. Daring to claim my property as your own! Oh, the things I will do to that fool Phelp. Nothing compared to the things I will do to you, of course. To you, and to the whores you stole from me!” Kentric’s face twisted into a mask of sublime rage, before snapping back to something almost human with too-chilling ease.

  He flashed a mocking smile, saluting Val with a golden cup.

  “Still, a fascinating move from the Terran monkey who dares to walk the Path of Shadow, invoking ancient rites long thought lost to Jordia.” He sneered at the corpses of Vidar and his brother. “Unlike the fools who fell all too easily to your wiles.” He shook his head in mock pity. “Still, there you are, exhausted and crippled, your final card spent. And just beyond, I have scores of battle-mechs and over sixty thousand men.”

  Cruel lips curled in a cold smile as the Dauda beside him nodded at something off-screen, before whispering into her master’s ear.

  “And I have just been informed that our gates are still fully operational.” He shook his head in mock pity. “Poor Tiberius. He had such potential, and died so stupidly. But he was able to serve me in this, at least. No matter. Soon my men will capture you, and I eagerly look forward to putting you on display for the entire High Council to gaze upon. To admire the spectacle of the Terran monkey who dared the throne! What a delightful little tale you will be. Who knows? Perhaps I shall even give you the honor of letting you choose your own death.”

  5

  Val had one chance at survival.

  Closing his eyes as Kentric continued to wax poetic about all the ways he would savor tormenting Val and the girl even now shivering in his arm, Val pulled up his Dominion Matrix, heart soaring with relief at what was displayed.

  Congratulations! You have bested your foes via Trial by Combat! The Dominicus Deathcurse has been lifted! Dominicus Province is a major territory and is available for purchase for a cost of 3 territory points! Purchase Dominicus Province? Y/N

  For all the horror Val felt at that moment, sick with the stench of blood and offal coating his tongue, he felt darkest exultation as well.

  The curse was lifted.

  The Dominicus clan was no more.

  You have chosen yes! Congratulations! Dominicus Province is a greater Territory intimately affecting the destiny and potential of 95,000 souls, over 75,000 within the capital city itself. You have earned 3+1 for conquest +1 for defeating a Rank 1 Overlord. = 5 Dominion points. You are 1 point away from becoming a Rank 6 Overlord.

  Dominicus Province is a Level 4 Greater Territory holding multiple farming consortiums that are collectively the equivalent of a Tier 5 agricultural center. Dominicus Province is home to dozens of mercantile and manufacturing operations working in close alliance with one another that in summation count as a Tier 5 mercantile operation and a Tier 5 manufacturing operation with Tier 6 mining rites. Special resources: Altersian mines. (Multiple Altersian veins have upgraded mining quality from Tier 4 to Tier 6. Mercantile and manufacturing operations have also been upgraded from Tier 4 to Tier 5.)

  As a Rank 5 Overlord, you now have 8 additional territory points (7+1 for defeated contender) to spend on upgrades for your province. (Province must be joined to other provinces by gate or geography to use entire pool of 10 points.)

  You have declined from setting bonuses or blessings at this time. You have declined upgrades at this time.

  The banging on the door went from interspersed disorganized knocking to rhythmic pounding by the time Val opened his eyes once more. Save for the missing arm and the already itching knot of flesh where his shoulder used to be, he felt as alive and focused as he ever had, thanks to his potion, PRM-induced regeneration, and the essence of his fallen foes shivering into his soul like sweetest wine.

  Julia was gazing into his grim smile with horror. “Val. Your arm! Baby, what happened to your arm?” Tears were flowing freely from her cheeks. Val plucked her tear with a single armored finger.

  “It doesn’t matter,” Val assured. “All that matters is we do what needs to be done.”

  “There is nothing further for you to do!” a now furious Kentric roared. “How dare you dismiss the master of your fate! You have gambled and lost, and yet you dare to ignore me, even now, during your final hour? An ape so stupid he lacks even the savvy to beg for mercy!” Kentric’s furious snarl twisted into a cold sneer. “It will be a shame to destroy such a work of art, but even now sixty battle-mechs are focusing their blasters upon the palace! The choice is yours, Terran. Know the glory of being recognized by the High Council for your infamy even as we pass sentence, or die under a torrent of blasterfire where you will be left to rot in an unmarked grave, forgotten by all, the glories of your existence remembered by none!”

  Utter silence rang eerily through the chamber. The rhythmic pounding that had gotten absolutely nowhere had been suddenly abandoned, and Val could all but sense the prickling sensation of dozens of sources of high intensity electromana discharges focusing on the palace.

  Val closed his eyes, Kentric’s cold laughter echoing through the ravaged chamber. “It is sweet to see you embrace the bitter despair that can be your only reward for daring to cross your betters, ape. A fitting end to your tale. Lessers will be taught of your exploits, and your folly. They will learn the virtue of obeying their masters in all things, and the horrors they will be forced to endure if they dare to shirk their obligations, no matter how powerful they think they are.”

  Julia’s hand clenched Val’s fist. “Val… baby, we have to move, now!”

  Central power rerouted. Peripheral facilities back online. City shields back online. One battle-mech (designation: red) two citizens and 23 non-citizens (designation: red) have been dismantled by force field. City back at full operational power. Emergency defensive measures disconnected from mainframe. Silvermesh countermeasures disconnected from mainframe.

  Val felt a tingling sense of awe as he sensed the city come alive, as the city's delicious secrets became his own. Secrets he had only moments to put into effect, with 60 battle-mechs just waiting for the go-ahead to blast the central palace to oblivion.

  Val couldn’t help flashing a confused Julia a relieved smile. He had hoped, betting so much that someone as savvy and ruthless as Tiberius Dominicus, one who had walked the Path of Kings just like Val did, would have some additional tricks up his sleeve. And considering how paranoid the clan had been, their entire lives lived in one massively secured fortress of a central throne room, Val’s hopes had only grown, gambling that whatever the secrets Tiberius had been on the verge of using before breaking free of Kentric’s influence, it would be sufficient to give Val the edge he needed to survive what was to come.

  “Val, please, we need to get out of here, now!”

  But no secret weapons on the cusp of readiness did Val sense. Yet thanks to the tremendous Altersian reserves to be found throughout this territory, he had stumbled upon pure serendipity.

  “Val!”

  Julia’s scream of panic jolted Val to panicked haste. No matter how sweet the find, he had seconds before death claimed them both.

  “Val, please!”

  You have embraced Halcyon Restoration! 1 point spent! Congratulations! Tiberius’s brainchild, the seemingly disrupted hyper-advanced Silvermesh defensive system he had intended to employ the moment he took your head, your power, and claimed the eastern half of the continent for himself upon closing all gates leading to Kentric, is actually fully intact! It appears Kentric’s ruthless attempts to have it destroyed, unbeknownst to the man who had thought to outsmart a master, did nothing but short out a decoy! A single surge of an Overlord’s will could easily direct power into this wondrous defensive system.

  Activate Silvermesh Defenses? Y/N

  “Val!” No longer pleading, Julia was screaming in terror. Even she could feel death closing in. Val’s eyes snapped open. Julia shuddered at what she saw, und
erstanding in that instant what Val had in mind.

  “But I thought we were just going to jump. Give them no time to regroup!”

  “You will be given no time to jump, regroup, or do anything else!” roared Kentric from the still-functioning screen. “You have made your choice, fools. Prepare to die like the worthless beasts of burden you are!”

  You have chosen Yes! Silvermesh defensive systems activated!

  Panic filled Val’s veins as he sensed scores of high-intensity charges heartbeats away from being released.

  You have formed a Tier 1 gate with Highblood Province! 1 point spent. You have access to your full territory point pool! 8 territory points remaining.

  A heartbeat from shoving Julia through, when the entire chamber began to vibrate and hum.

  “Val, thank god, come on, we have to move now!”

  “What are you doing?” Kentric roared. “How dare you! Elsith, tell the generals to fire. Tell them to fire now!”

  “Val, please!”

  Val caught her gaze and she paled, crumpling to her knees. “Oh please, Val, the risks!”

  “Trust me.”

  Panicked eyes crinkled in a desperate smile. “Always.”

  Kentric began to laugh. “Too weak even to jump through. Ah… how delicious. It will be a pleasure to gaze into your eyes as you die.” And with his words the windows blazed like a supernova as scores of Vulcan autocannons blasted away at the palace, though they failed to muffle the oddly mechanical voice resonating through the chamber.

  "Silvermesh defenses are fully operational."

  "Silvermesh shields have successfully absorbed electromana discharges. "

  "Silvermesh shields at 95% capacity."

  Val flashed a grin at Kentric’s shocked expression. “That’s right, asswipe. It doesn’t matter if I’m too far away from my territories to gate back. Tiberius built this throne room like a fortress! He has a year’s supply of vacuum-stored rations in the adjoining room, and his secret weapon will keep me safe forever!” Val laughed with contempt as Kentric’s face blanched with fury. “Too bad, fool. Blast away with all your mechs. You won’t hurt a hair on my head, and as soon as you get tired, I’ll slip away, laughing at your failure, happy to tell the whole world what an asinine idiot you are! First you sell your prized trophies of war to your enemy, and they warm my bed quite nicely, by the way. Then you reveal to me all those juicy military secrets, thinking I’m actually going to recruit for a hotheaded loser like you! Then, with your entire army surrounding me, you still manage to let me slip from between your fingers. And guess what else, jackass? According to the sacred rites of Jordia, this territory is now mine! No matter how much firepower you bring here, you can’t claim it before my death. And as strong as Dominicus’s gates are, guess what? If you can’t kill me within 24 hours, I get control of his gates! How do you like them apples, asshole?”

  Kentric’s face mottled with rage. “I will see you dead, Terran worm! Oh, the things I will do to you! You think just because your paltry defenses held off a single barrage that you are somehow safe? I have just begun, you damned ape! I will wipe that smirk off your face and savor every moment of torment I will bring to you when I rip off your head with my own fists and dunk you in my personal pain vat! I will savor every delicious scream you silently utter. I will make your liquid clear as glass, place you in my room of mirrors, and allow you the hideous joy of contemplating your endless agony, forever!”

  The windows flashed with another coordinated barrage of autocannon fire.

  "Silvermesh shields at 94% capacity."

  Val smirked. “Good luck with that, asshole. You think 60 autocannons are going to crack my shell? This shield’s rated for a hundred! A hundred, baby! No one has that firepower, asshole! How do you like them apples?”

  Val tried not to brace himself, knowing what was coming.

  The crack of Julia’s palm across his face, hurting him more than he had thought it would, bringing to life the furious burning itch racing across his shoulder stump.

  “You fool!” Julia snapped. “Say nothing!”

  Val paled and swallowed, turning away. “This conversation is over. How do I turn this damn thing off?”

  Cold, mocking laughter could be heard from the hyperion monitor.

  “Thinking yourselves so clever. And in the end, as foolish as children. Children to whom no mercy will be extended!” Kentric glared straight at the girl Val would do anything to protect. “Julia Petrovsky Highblood.” His malicious grin widened at her shocked expression. “Oh yes, I recognize you now, half-breed. Rumors of your exploits have already spread amongst your clan’s enemies, and you match the sketch before me perfectly. Your mastery of a tactical spell and bloodlines at least make you worthy of redemption. For this reason alone, I shall allow you the pleasure of serving as my breeder and slave.

  “But don’t think there won’t be punishment for your transgressions, Highblood whore. I shall do such things to your flesh that you will scream for mercy.” Mocking laughter filled the room. “Before I make you howl with pleasure and desperate need. And all of it, every delicious moment, will be done with your lover’s vat suspended above our bed, so he may witness every torment I inflict, every degradation you shall learn to revel in, forever.”

  Julia paled and trembled. And Val knew it was no act. “Never again,” she sobbed. “Oh Val, never again!”

  Her terror only heightened Kentric’s enjoyment. “Elsith. Command the generals. Send the entire armada through.”

  The plain-featured Dauda woman spent long moments studying Val, who had the gall to wink.

  She actually smirked. “Your Grace, I fear deception.”

  “She’s right,” Val said. “If you don’t tell your men to behave themselves and go back home, I’ll kill 'em all.” He locked gazes with the woman. “I know already that inquisitors are to announce themselves under normal circumstances. If any members of that branch are here, now, they ride under Kentric’s banner. As you are Dauda and the right-hand woman of Kentric, I deem informing you of any planned strike counts as a good faith warning.”

  Val’s smile was hard as ice. “I hereby give you warning, Kentric, the jackanapes that would dare the throne, and Elsith, Dauda and counselor to a fool. I will take out every man and woman who dares raise a hand against me within this territory. I will eliminate every Dauda and inquisitor and Highlord and trooper indiscriminately. So send out whatever warning you wish to the troops under your banner.” Val quickly glanced Julia’s way, noting the minimalist yet elegant jewelry she wore. A single questioning gaze and she immediately nodded, plucking a gold ring into his palm. Very deliberately, he caught the Dauda’s gaze, placing the gold ring in his palm, then covering it with his fist. Much as he had seen Agda, his grandmother, do once before.

  Elsith’s eyes widened as she clenched her jaw, giving him the tiniest of nods. “How long do I have?”

  Kentric twisted his head around to glare at what were suddenly shadows and gloom. “You will not believe this worm’s lies! He but seeks to sow fear, using his clever forked tongue in a desperate attempt to avert the death coming for him! Now instruct the generals to release our armada upon this Terran ape! That is an order!”

  “Thirty minutes!” Val shouted. “Tell them to jump through any gate or claim any velimobile, and just race for the border! There. You have been warned. Go protect your people, Dauda. The accords have been kept.”

  “Elsith!” Kentric roared, eyes crackling with hate, snarling at Val. “You will obey my orders and command the generals. And you will give warning to no one!”

  Val mocked Kentric with laughter. “What a fool you are, Kentric. Don’t you get it, yet? The Dauda. You think I haven’t already figured them out? They dot their i’s and cross their t’s more than anyone else! They have to, to keep psychopaths like you from hunting them down under any pretext! Her clan is a stickler for the accords. Even I’ve learned that much. And since everyone’s claiming I walk the Path of Shadow, whatev
er the hell that even means, the Dauda are forced to toe the line more than ever! She now has to alert every inquisitor and Dauda you’ve plopped onto my lands, just so no one can later accuse her people of breaking the accords!”

  "Silvermesh shields at 93% capacity."

  "Silvermesh shields at 92% capacity."

  Val forced mockery into his laughter even as the windows flashed with the constant barrage of laser fire, sensing from his Dominion matrix the constant flood of fresh battle-mechs and troopers all racing through the massive portal he had yet to claim. The pleasure he felt at Kentric’s mottled, furious countenance was not feigned at all.

  “You see how easily I can manipulate your pieces? I’ve played you all like puppets while sticking to all your idiotic conventions. And for the record, asshole, this is your last chance. Tell your stupid battle-mechs to leave my territory or you’ll regret it!”

  Kentric shook with rage. He lifted his fists and mimed squeezing Val's throat before flashing a chillingly gleeful smile. “I’m going to so enjoy having you in my hands,” he crooned. “The things I will do to your body. The things I will do to your mind!” He roared the last, flecks of foam spraying from his lips. “You will rue the day you crossed me, worm. Rue it for an eternity!”

  Val just smiled and closed his eyes, flipping his nemesis the bird.

  He had other things to tend to.

  Congratulations! You have successfully constructed a Complex Sacred Oath! 1 territory point spent!

  Congratulations! You have successfully constructed two Tier 1 fully accessible gates leading to Terrance Province. 2 territory points spent! You have 5 territory points remaining!

  Val had wondered just how complex a Greater Oath he could construct. He had thought for a while that the only real limiting factor was creating an oath so repugnant that people would rather leave than stay, which would drastically reduce the population, making burdensome oaths self-defeating. But if his goal was, in fact, to compel his citizens to leave… then he had no reason to hold back.