Ruler Of Iron And Flesh

Two massive armies stood facing each other. Inian stood still facing the opposing forces of the Empire. His great vision let him see one figure standing center on top of the walls. This figure was in a suit similar to his wolf exosuit he lost in the forest. One thing was different, and that was that its head was that of a dragon instead of a wolf.

His heart was beating loudly in his c.h.e.s.t. All he was hearing were the rumble of the engines of the machines around him, and the wind was whipping around his ears. Storm clouds were rolling in as if gathering to the tension building.

Men on both wiped their hands on their legs because they were sweating so much. Their mouths were dry like they haven't had any water in ages.

Eno was shaking out his arms and legs to keep them loose for battle. Janae and Burt were rechecking their mechas to make sure everything was all right.

Nobody moved forward, but just watched the other side of the battlefield. Inian stretched out his wings, and that earned a few gasps from the imperial soldiers. Their eyes grew fearful, and their knuckles tightened on their weapons.

Monsters started coming forward in low growls on the allied side that scared both the Empire and allies.

Almost simultaneously, Inian and Marc pointed in front of them, "ATTACK!!!" Cried both figures.

The monsters charged forward first against the Empire, some spat out acid or flew. Some began rushing towards the humans to maul or trample them. The high-tier ones used their unique abilities. Tecale created several illusions of himself to confuse the forces, and another high-tier was launching balls of molten lava from his hands.

A shot from a Hiro cannon rang from the Empire's side; then a dozen more came from their behemoth level mecha.

They plowed through the allied lines, destroying several mechas and flying sh.i.p.s.

The behemoth mecha on the allied side returned fire, firing every weapon they had upon the Empire's mecha.

The behemoth machines roared as shots were exchanged and vibrated the entire battlefield. The sh.i.p.s engaged in ariel combat, firing many cannons at each other.

The smaller sh.i.p.s engaged one another almost immediately. They were looping around the battlefield, lighting up the dark and cloudy sky with explosions of lights.

A large mass of troops from the Empire flew up into the air. It was all of their exosuit soldiers that began engaging monsters and other sh.i.p.s.

The allied forces sent their exosuit soldiers to match them, and it was uncommon to see a space on the battlefield where there was no conflict. Every position on the land or in the sky was full of each side engaging on another.

Thunder was rumbling in the distance growing ever closer to the battlefield.

Inian flew up into the sky with Eno and began engaging enemy troops in exosuits. These enemies were far easier to defeat than Master Predo in his version 3 exosuit, so he defeated them quickly one after another.

Janae and Burt worked together to fight large squads of enemies with their mechas. They made sure to watch each other so the other wouldn't get hurt.

Inian glanced over to see Tecale engaging several enemies in Exosuits; however, he made it seem like there were several of him fighting several enemies. Kraque was riding on Reclusa's back, and Reclusa was leading the charge with her brood to fight regular soldiers.

Ebony was flying in the sky and would swoop down to pick up an enemy, then he would drop them when they were high enough.

Everyone was fighting their hardest when one blast caught their attention. A random blast came from the Empire's behemoth level ship, and it imploded. Several figures were flying away from it in exosuits.

The massive ship slowly fell to the ground, landing on top of a dozen imperial mechas.

"Hoorah!!!" The allied forces cheered. The figures that were seen flying away came near the allied forces. Inian recognized one of them.

"Sophia!" He called out and flew towards her. Sophia quickly talked, "we don't feel like Emporer Marc is right in what he's doing. We evacuated who we could from the ship then set it to blow up."

Inian smiled, "you may have just saved the battle!"

He saw the allied forces behemoth level ship begin to engage the behemoth level mecha as well, and this put the Empire on retreat.

Monsters were overrunning the ground forces and were tearing up soldiers left and right.

The battle seemed to be in favor of the allies until a lone figure shot up at an incredible speed towards the allied forces ship.

It shot through the armor, and within a few moments, the airship blew up. The explosion rang out across the battlefield and changed the pace of the battle in a moment.

'Master Predo was on that ship,' Inian thought and began flying towards the falling debris. He was getting close, then suddenly, that figure that flew into the ship flew back out and charged at Inian with incredible speed and force.

Inian put his arms in front of him to block the blow but was knocked all the way down towards the ground.

Inian created a crater from his landing and coughed up globs of blood. He shakily stood up on his legs and saw the figure lower down to him. The man was wearing that unique exosuit, with the dragon mask.

"I'm afraid it had to come to this Inian," Marc said through the mask.

Inian spat out the blood in his mouth, "It didn't Marc. You choose this path of bloodshed."

Marc c.o.c.ked his head, "there was no other way! This is the only way to secure an everlasting peace."

"Your peace is not real, and now, we have to stop you."

"Can you stop me?"

Jets burst powerfully from Marc's boots, and he launched into Inian, punching him across the battlefield.

Inian flew at least one hundred meters back before getting back on his feet. 'What the heck is this power? Even Master Predo wasn't this strong.'

Inian used mirage and created several images of himself, then they all split up.

Marc raised his arm, and a gun popped up, he fired powerful energy rounds at each image of Inian until he hit the real one. Inian turned his skin to steel and barely blocked the bullets in time.

At this moment, it began to downpour on the battlefield. Shots were ringing out everywhere, and lightning flashed above, lighting up the battlefield each time.

Inian willed the lightning from the storm to come down on Marc because it was much more potent than what he could conjure.

Lightning struck Marc, and it knocked him back repeatedly, but he quickly got back up each time. He fired more rounds at Inian, who turned his body to steel to block it. Lightning continued to cascade down on Marc when Inian changed his arm into a sword to attack him.

A sword emerged from Marc's forearm, and their weapons clashed in the air.

"I remember fighting you when you were in an exosuit and I had nothing on. Now, the tables are turned, and I have the advantage of power!" Marc roared over the storm.

Marc grabbed Inian's arm and gripped tightly.

"AAAHHHH!" Inian screamed as his arm was being crushed, even when his body was steel. Fire burst from Inian's mouth into Marc's dragon helm, forcing Marc back.

Inian supported his arm while he tried to heal it, but Marc was not giving him a chance. He came charging back immediately with the intent to stab Inian with his sword.

Inian didn't stop him but changed his other arm to a sword.

Marc knocked it aside and penetrated his blade deep within Inian's stomach.

Inian gasped but pulled in Marc close. Marc struggled to remove the blade, but Inian held on tight.

He used all of his strength to move his arm and cut through Marc's armor to create a wound on his arm.

Marc grunted as he felt his arm was sliced; however, it was relatively minor.

He stepped back, letting Inian fall to his knees on the ground.

Inian was gasping from the pain and looked up through his blurry vision to see Marc preparing his final blow.

Marc paused, however, and his arm began twitching. It suddenly fell limp at his side.

He looked towards Inian and then down at his arm.

Panic filled his mind, and he launched himself back towards the keep in the Aysel Palace.

Inian gave all his remaining strength towards healing himself enough so that he could walk, and he followed Marc towards the keep.

The battle continued raging on, but everyone was too occupied to notice Inian walk into the city and towards the keep.

Not a single guard was inside the City, but all of them are occupied with trying to defeat the allied forces.

Inian grunted from the pain and limped his way into the keep while clutching his side. He burst into the keep but didn't see anyone initially. He checked the throne room, but that was empty. He then went to the dining room and found it to be a wreck. Tables were lying everywhere, and a mix of broken glass and chipped wood rested on the ground.

One of the large windows was shattered, and Marc was lying on the ground in front of it. He was breathing raspy breaths as he lied there on the ground.

Inian limped over to him and dropped to his knees next to him.

Tears were staining his eyes as he took off Marc's helmet.

Marc's veins were bulging, and he appeared very pale.

Marc softly said, "I don't get it. I wanted to do the right thing. I gave up everything to protect everyone...why didn't you join me?"

Inian stoked Marc's head, "I couldn't. You had good intentions, Marc, but you were doing it the wrong way. Your parents wouldn't have wanted this. They wouldn't have wanted us to fight."

Marc struggled to swallow his saliva, "you mean our parents. I'm sorry for what I said earlier. You really are my brother, although you may not want to be after all this."

Marc paused for a moment and hacked. Inian sat and rested Marc's head on his l.a.p.

"Hey Inian, can you sing me that song our mother taught us?"

"The one we're meant to sing for each other?"

"Yeah."

Inian nodded and cleared his throat. He stoked Marc's head while Marc stared up at the ceiling.

Inian began singing the song:

"Oh brother, won't you sing me a happy song?

oh brother, won't you sing me a happy song?

In the age of monsters and madness,

where families are broken, and leaders slay the masses.

Oh, brother, won't you sing me a happy song?

Heroes come and go in these ages,

and they only are made from the wisdom of sages.

Oh, brother, won't you sing me a happy song?

Heroes, we will become you and I,

for as heroes and brothers we will die.

Oh, brother, this is my happy song for you."

At the end of the song, Marc smiled and closed his eyes, letting his last breath escape his lungs.

Inian quietly sobbed and held Marc's head close to his c.h.e.s.t as the roar of cannons and shots ended, and the joyous sound of cheering came from outside.