The Way of the Future: Age of Machines(Completed)

Uprising

News about Artemis attack was spread like wildfire around the city. But before wild rumors could appear, most of the people already saw the two waves of light that tore down the walls in an instant and laid waste to the one thousand strong garrison of the outer walls. 

Although comparatively, the inner walls had a garrison of over two thousand men which was a complete debacle in terms of strategy. 

As Artemis walked through the main street that led directly to one of the inner wall's entrance. The people who were frightened were now standing on the sides. Not because they were frozen due to fear, but because they were mesmerized at the sight that was beholded before them.

Reinhard, the famed knight commander of the garrison, the knight who was most loved by the people, was walking behind the supposed attacker. 

The people wondered if he was under a spell but his eyes were a natural brown still. He was completely okay yet he followed the mysterious man in black whose eyes glowed red like a demon. 

News of Reinhard's and the surviving outer garrison's supposed betrayal reached the count but before he could mount an escape through his tunnels, the insubordination had already reached half of the inner wall's garrison. 

A number almost totalling a thousand and a half men and some women who served as knights and mages for the inner garrison pointed their swords at the forces loyal to the count.

They remembered when the esteemed Reinhard told them that one day, some day, they will liberate themselves from Count Tyrian's tyranny. Now that they saw Reinhard walking behind the very man that single handedly destroyed the outer wall, it was time for the revolution.

Reinhard sent out Jord and Toby to further persuade the other garrison by shouting the news as loud as they could while they rode on the horses that were left in the stables. 

The wall archers were the first to rebel, drawing their swords at the other archers who refused to heed Reinhard's call for uprising. 

There was no turning back. 

But a few knights under the payroll and charm of lady Ava ran out of the Count's castle to face Artemis and the garrison forces who were currently in rebellion.

Reinhard, upon seeing the knights that were eager to stop them, was dumbfounded.

Reinhard knew that the tunnels under the castle were already blockaded by rebelling forces but if they dedicated a powerful enough force to one tunnel, they would've had a chance to break out.

But instead, they wasted their time and took the foolish decision of attacking man in black himself.

As Artemis and Reinhard's detachment of surviving knights approached the gate that connected the inner and outer districts, violence had already erupted in and around the inner district and the walls that secured it. 

There were still forces loyal to the count that blocked the path from the outside but the gate keepers themselves were already rolling the wheels inside and opening a path for Artemis and his company.

Reinhard and his detachment had their swords and shields drawn and were ready to right their own former allies for the betterment of everyone else. 

They knew sacrifices needed to be made.

But Artemis raised his hands at them.

"It's okay, you don't need to spill the blood of those you called your brothers-in-arms," Artemis said. 

Reinhard and his detachment were filled with pride and were in awe of the honor that the man in black displayed.

He knew the pain of attacking former allies and has thus resolved in doing it himself rather than letting them do it, or so they thought. 

Artemis' true intentions weren't that. He couldn't care less if the knights started hacking and slashing each other but Artemis needed the soldiers to believe that he was a man of honor.

And also, he wanted to showcase his combat skills up close to motivate the rebelling forces. 

All this chaos and death just to further his plans. Just to replace one man. 

Artemis stepped forward and faced the knights that blocked his way from the now opened gate. 

"Are you sure you want to face me?" Artemis said. 

The knights trembled but they stood their ground still.

"You are an invader! And the knights behind you are traitors to Count Tyrian! We won't let you through!" The knight at the front shouted.

Artemis closed his eyes for a moment and then tilted his head. When he opened his eyes again, his eyes glowed a darker shade of red.

The knights, upon seeing this, were struck by a paralyzing fear.

"What do I need to do to reconsider your loyalty?" Artemis asked.

The knights failed to answer for a few seconds. Just as when the knights at back were lowering their weapons, the knight at the front charged and shouted. 

"Over our dead bodies!" 

Artemis, decided to spare the ones that did follow his example except the ones didn't and so, charged at the knights as well, grabbing his sword mid swing and broke it into a thousand pieces before taking out his energy blades and slicing the man in half. 

The man's disemboweled body fell to the ground, his internal organs spilling out. 

The rest of the knights at the gate had threw away their swords and raised their hands. They knelt down on the ground, trembling with fear and crying. 

Artemis passed by them one and by one and looked at each. 

"You shall be spared. Do not be afraid, as long as you have never done wrong yourself in the past, you will be pardoned for this day," Artemis said before entering the inner district.

Reinhard and his detachment followed closely behind. 

They were in awe of the man in black's strength and weapons. Two swords that shined like the sun and had the sharpness of a holy sword. 

It was as if they were in the presence of Ares, the God Of War. 

After witnessing the man in black's power and charm. He was certain he was one of the famed rogue gods that the church and the three superpowers kept a state secret. 

"The power that once before the Second Great War" Reinhard said to himself.