Apocalypse Reborn: Demon Lord 19

Apocalypse Reborn: Demon Lord 19

…

Interlude: Sirena

…

I awakened not beneath stone and the dim glow of crystals, but beneath blue skies surrounded by grass and flowers.

For a moment, I thought that I remained in Paradise.

But the familiar sensation of my form’s hands around my hilt convinced me otherwise.

“Saint of Swords, Sirena, I am the High Justiciar of the Wardens of the Caverns. You have been called to uphold your oath.” The words were somewhat what I suspected, but they were not yet enough. If the people I swore my sword to remained, then there remained words that I needed to hear. “Let your sword of light cut through the darkness and reveal their sanguine heart.”

That was the first part of the phrase.

“Sapphire.” I inquired, ready to leap from my place of awakening should I hear the wrong reply.

“Onyx.” The High Justiciar said, and I felt a calm flow over my corporeal form.

“I am the Sword Saint Sirena, and I return to serve the Wardens of the Caverns.” I allowed joy to flow across my form. After countless millennia, our people now had a home and temple above ground. No. It was better. Beyond the clearing in which I was roused, I heard the sound of civilization, the howling of wind, and innumerable unfamiliar scents. Other peoples lived alongside us and our people. “I am ready to fulfill my oaths to my people.”

The High Justiciar wore bands of gold and thin gossamer threads over her chest and waist. In a show of modesty, there were no gemstones on her person. A veil even obscured the lower half of her face. Her form was lithe, and I could sense traces of magic upon her person. A humble young woman with immense amounts of magic. The new High Justiciar reminded me much of my friend before we parted ways.

To maintain my strength and power at their height, I needed to enter Paradise and be recalled in the future.

Leaving behind all who I knew and held dear so that I would return when I was needed most.

“I greet you, Sword Saint Sirena, and I thank you for your sacrifice. Let it be known this day that you returned as you swore you would.” I rose from the stone slab and looked around while my form’s armor was laid upon me. Enchanted threads of silver and gold, along with gemstones saturated with power, gave me strength, speed, and otherworldly defenses against all the foes of the Wardens. I felt ostentatious wearing only gemstones and precious metals, but it was needed for my role. “Please, allow me to introduce you to our people’s greatest benefactor. An Ancient reborn after all these countless years to guide our people.”

For a brief moment, I wondered if my people were somehow misled.

Then, I looked towards the figure who stepped out of the shadow.

I barely managed to defend my form’s neck against the feint he sent my way.

“She is strong.” I felt sweat break across my entire form as I resisted the urge to bare my edge against the being that the High Justiciar bowed to. For a second, I saw a Descendant with a crown of gold on his head and simple robes draped over a tall and well-muscled form. Then, I saw the truth. Power was barely constrained by his form. Every moment was an instant away from absolute violence. If I was more a sword than a person, then he was the embodiment of power itself, but I could not compare to him. I was a slave to my devotion to the blade, and I lost myself to it. He held control over his power, unlike myself. “She will serve well.”

“As a Champion or as a bride?” The High Justiciar suddenly said, and the tension in the room broke as I cast my gaze her way. A familiar smile split across her face as I felt blood rush onto my face. It was a too-familiar jest. I knew for a fact, then, that Kali had written more than needed regarding me in my records. I didn’t know how long it had been since she passed into Paradise, but all the generations of High Justiciars that came after her saw and read of her jest at my expense. “Ah, it seems she’s fine with either. What do you think, honey?”

I felt his gaze settle on me, and my form unconsciously stood tall and proud, clad in the raiment of my role as Sword Saint.

“I will have her as a Champion, but perhaps with time I can see her as more.” The words that came forward sent my heart fluttering in my form’s chest. My true thoughts still wondered how I could defeat him. None came forth, at least in my current state. “Kneel, Sword Saint.”

“But you just said you only want her as a Champion right now!” The High Justiciar teased and tittered my way, while I commanded my form to do as I was bid. The High Justiciar betrayed no sign of being coerced. In fact, she seemed devoted to the reborn Ancient in our midst. I could only wonder why this one was the first to return. Why now, instead of so many centuries ago? Those thoughts ceased as he drew his blade from his hip. Effortless shifting of weight. Perfectly balanced in his grip. With a flick of his wrist, I could see this whole temple cut in half. At the same time, he couldn’t be more than two decades of age. His status as a reborn Ancient was all but verified to me after seeing him draw his sword. “Though it’d be amazingly romantic to have her be more than a Sword Saint just moments after she returns to life.”

The High Justiciar and several other priestesses present gave wistful sighs that I did my utmost to ignore.

It would be romantic. —

He raised his sword, and all thoughts fell apart.

Perfectly and slowly, with one hand, he raised his sword up and the placed its flat against my shoulder.

It was suitable for his height; therefore, it was the length of the High Justiciar’s height. It was composed of a white alloy that was cool and light, but upon touching my shoulder, I knew that it had a heavy, weighted core. Its hilt was simple and robust, and I could see him holding the weapon by the blade and swinging it like a hammer to execute swathes of foes. The blade was robust, heavy, and built to be wielded with both skill and power.

Yet it touched my shoulder as lightly as a feather.

“Sword Saint Sirena, I bid you to serve me, and through me you shall serve your people. The Wardens of the Caverns are under my protection against the many threats that persist in this world. Those who would seek not only to kill us but to assail Paradise itself.” My heart almost stopped at his words, and I turned to the High Justiciar. I searched for confirmation, and my heart sank as she gave a single nod verifying the terrifying truth. The Ancient returned to us because of the threat to eternal bliss and safety after death. “The war to come will end all threats to Paradise. This world will be unified under my people as it once was. Peace and prosperity will come to all those who follow me.”

I wished to bow in acceptance, but another set of words left the lips of my mundane form.

“I bid you to show me your truth with your blade in a singular bout. Allow me to know you as a warrior. I beg this of you.” I bowed my head, and I felt glares bordering on condemnation from my fellow Wardens. For a moment, I considered retracting my words, but—

He took his sword up and away from me. I stood up and bared my true self against him, and our eyes met.

Silence hung between us for a mere moment.

Then, we struck at one another.

I went for his neck, swinging with all my strength and more, while breaking apart my arms and guiding my blade with the fiercest winds I could muster.

Before my blow could reach his neck, however, the tip of his blade rested on my chest.

With that I stopped and surrendered, and then I did not just take a knee but prostrated myself before him in apology.

“This one accepts you as her leader and wielder.” Simple, precise, and straightforward. The thrust he sent my way told me all that I needed to know of him. Born of talent and understanding beyond his years, but trained and honed from the moment he was able to hold a sword. A master of the art was reborn into a new body and never missed a moment to train his new one. This was a level of skill and technique in a young body only possible because he was a reborn Ancient, as he said he was. “Tell me what I must do.”

For a moment, I feared that he would question my resolve, but instead he sheathed his blade.

“You have a powerful blade to aid you now, Khalai. Use it well until I call for it.” I felt a shiver go through my whole body at his words. He understood me completely now. “See the Wardens as whole and hale as possible when the truth is shared.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Those words resounded from my lips and from all those present.

Still, in the deepest depths of my being, I bid myself to stay wary and to watch from a distance.

The Wardens have been swayed many times to the wrong cause.

It was my duty to keep watch and ensure that such was not the case whenever I returned.

…

The warden’s integration was a rapid one. They effectively all left their homes and settled across my lands. Tribes and clans coordinated with one another to create diasporas, settled into towns and cities, and set themselves up. The entertainers and merchants that came first made good impressions, while the rest of the population lived up to the expectations that were set, and before long the fact that a quarter of the population wore gemstones and precious metals instead of clothes was simply accepted.

I allocated funds for them to set up temples, and with my presence, they were able to summon people besides faithful Wardens.

There was confusion, and there was nearly a schism, but I stepped in before blood was shed.

It was a close thing.
Even with my reputation and strength, stopping that knowledge from turning the Warden religion into a death cult was more luck than anything else. If the wrong set of people were brought in first, if we didn’t get the numbers of supporters up before hitting the biggest hard-liners, then it would’ve all fallen apart. Thankfully, with me assisting Khalai and Sirena providing muscle, the problem was surmounted.

Now, my lands were filled with a lot of half-naked, promiscuous dark elves.

Some people would consider that enough of a reward for my word, but they brought in more than that.

“Have these reports been validated?”

“Yes, by three different inspectors with multiple scales. All shipments are true.” The Wardens were the best miners, which translated to increased production rates and increased gold income. They suffered a bit in regard to research, but they could make upgrades to their temples with gold and production that increased their faith output. That increased faith output was enough to empower their troops or bring back entire armies that had been destroyed. Their research may take longer, but they could hold their lines just fine. “The materials of this land will be at our disposal soon.”

“Set up a central currency and ensure that it flows through the land. The Citadel’s manufacturing capability is ours, but ensure that some of it can be purchased with a sufficient sum.” The Citadels provided a lot of things that rich people would want. Medical pods were needed to extend life, but simple things like beautification were products that could be churned out by the ton. By setting a stupendous sum for it, we can use the money that came in from the rich to bring everyone else up. This was a short-term solution to galvanize the population, of course. In a world with magic and massive fabricators like the Citadels, time was important, not wealth. “Draft a plan, and I will augment it with my own ideas.”

“By your will, my master.” Ayah bowed her head at my words, while I moved onto the next report. This one was of interest to me, and the Ancient Administrator took note. “That is the report regarding the faction that you believed would form in the northwest of the continent, yes?”

“Yes. The Merchants.” The reports stated that prominent trading caravans were heading there now. They were purchasing mercenary contracts, supplies, and more. Attempts to buy weapons from my soldiers were also rising with the sums offered becoming more and more stupendous. Morgan even reported that someone tried to bribe her for her loyalty, and I commended her for letting the man go to be followed instead of just killing him. “They will have a Citadel within the year, but it will be for naught. They do not have enough.”

I had six Citadels now. It was an eye-watering amount of power, even if my population and industry couldn’t catch up. My borders were filled with Guardians, the population was booming, and factories were starting to turn on, but only time mattered now. The Merchants and maybe the Forgers were on their way to take a Citadel for themselves, but they were in for a rude awakening. They were going to get stage 1 Citadels, while I had 6 Citadels at the 6th stage. One of my Citadels was worth six of theirs, so the manufacturing capability that I had was more than enough to roll over them.

In fact, that was my first thought and what I would do to the Forgers once they pop up.

The Merchants, though?

“Contact Harper. I will meet with these merchants and offer them a deal. To serve me, follow my laws, and prosper, or to perish.” With my overwhelming superiority and the fact that both the Merchants and Forgers had horrible technologies and societal ‘upgrades,’ there was nothing stopping me from going over there and rolling them over after they died for the Citadel. I only wanted to keep my population nice and strong. Fewer casualties now meant more people for the problems later. I knew that the Forgers wouldn’t play ball, but if I could bring the Merchants in without killing them… why not? “Prepare my gryphon and my new blade.”

“Yes, my king.”

Hopefully, showing up in front of the Merchants with a flaming sword, a building-sized flying beast, and covered in impenetrable armor was enough of an ‘intimidate’ action to get them to stop being anarcho-capitalist slavers.