"An announcement to all citizens of Oshulia: the Secret Council and Daros Civilization have completely defeated the imperial forces. Emperor Lioz has fled, abandoning the people and disregarding the state. Our forces order all Oshulian citizens to cease all resistance and return to their posts. Any who refuse to submit to our cause of liberation and democratic justice will be killed without mercy..."
Though they had already experienced countless victories, the ease with which the Secret's forces entered Oshulia still caught them by surprise. In a metropolis capable of housing millions, the troops moved through almost without obstruction. Soldiers from the deployed civilizations and naturalized Earthlings infected by Blood of Ether had to race one another to claim the glory of destroying the capital before the other side could.
Tatar iron cavalry trampled across Fort Destiny's ramparts. Since the occupation had proceeded too quickly, much of the supplies and baggage they had brought proved useless. They simply cooked a feast on the spot and properly rewarded these contestants in the Oshulia Circuit Triathlon.
As for Oshulia's citizens.
There were no citizens left.
Building an empire had taken thirty-seven years, but the Secret had destroyed it in only four and a half days.
And that was merely the result of the Engineer and the Soldier acting together.
The palace gates were kicked open, and the councilors filed inside. Before they even had time to clear the battlefield, they began a new round of discussion in English.
"Li Aoz must truly have gone stupid, daring to wage a frontal war against half the Secret Council."
Astrologer Kauna played with an Eastern porcelain piece and stroked his chin.
"Has he gotten too used to crushing the rabble of Star Abyss and forgotten how to fight a high-intensity battlefield? Was the Emperor making too