Lowly Ascent

Months had passed since the Federation of Concord had conquered the city of Aprord, but its ambitions did not stop there.

Another significant victory followed as the city of Ansross, situated in the western domain and under the control of the Kingdom, fell under the Federation's rule. Nestled North East of Sholn, this city further augmented the Federation's power and influence.

The acquisition of both Aprord and Ansross brought about a profound change in the geopolitical landscape. The Federation's dominion now boasted an equal number of cities as the once-dominant Empire and Kingdom.

The Empire had held sway over Barch and the city of Fulens, while the Kingdom's strongholds were Carc and Kuson. With the inclusion of Aprord and Ansross, the Federation had effectively matched the Empire and Kingdom in might.

The news of the Federation's expansion reached the Empire, sparking fury among its leaders. They perceived Concord as a rising threat to their dominance, and the idea of a new rival power emerging in their midst was unsettling.

On the other hand, the Kingdom remained surprisingly silent, causing apprehension among the Federation's strategists, particularly Alex.

Unlike the Empire, which seemed to be internally troubled by the disintegration of Salazar, the Kingdom appeared stable on the surface. Alex felt that something ominous surrounded the Kingdom's tranquility and suspected that it might be masking something more profound.

To uncover the truth, she dispatched some of her men to infiltrate the Kingdom's domains and gather intelligence. The reports they returned with only reinforced her suspicions—the Kingdom might prove to be the true adversary in the coming days.

The Kingdom had always been known for its relative peace and strong loyalty from its nobility. However, the situation had taken a perplexing turn; not only was there an unusual sense of calm, but the nobles also seemed exceptionally supportive of the King, a rare sight in any realm.

Alex's thoughts turned to Cain, the leader of the Church of Pestilence, which had its origins in the Kingdom. His influence was substantial, and the sudden harmony among the nobles raised suspicions of his involvement.

While Alex could not conclusively prove Cain's machinations, the mere possibility of his meddling made the Kingdom a priority target. The Federation's concerns shifted, and it became increasingly evident that the real battle lay with the Kingdom, not the floundering Empire.

As the Federation consolidated its power over the newly acquired cities, it made a bold move against the Church of Pestilence. Both Aprord and Ansross swiftly outlawed the controversial religious institution and replaced it with their own Order of Truth.

The move stirred outrage among the populace initially, but the tangible benefits offered by the Order pacified many dissenters. The smooth transition between the two religious orders eased the tension, and the Federation began to gain acceptance.

Yet, not all were content with the change. Some devout followers of the Church chose to leave the cities, seeking the freedom to practice their faith unhindered.

Surprisingly, the Federation allowed them to depart without obstruction, showing a level of tolerance rarely seen in conquerors. This gesture helped to prevent future escalation of hostilities and further solidified the Federation's position as a fair and just dominion.

In the wake of these victories, the Federation of Concord continued to expand, albeit cautiously. New policies were put into place to ensure the smooth integration of conquered territories into the Federation.

Local governance was encouraged, and the newly acquired cities were given a significant degree of autonomy, provided they pledged allegiance to the Federation.

Alex knew that she needed to maintain unity and trust among the domains of the Federation if they were to thwart the coming apocalypse.

She tirelessly worked to strengthen her Order's position within the Federation to uphold its leading role. She had no doubts that the leaders of each city might turn against them, but it was better to be safe than sorry.

The time was fast approaching when war would inevitably break out, and if she were to prevent the future she foresaw, she needed power and dominance.

..........

In the Kingdom, the sound of war hummed through its cities. Walls began to be constructed around Carc and Kuson as devilish agendas were executed behind the scenes.

The Church, originally a criminal organization, now revealed its true nature as it eliminated all those who opposed its ideals. A plethora of people disappeared or died under their calculative gaze.

Those high up on the chain of command became afraid of losing their positions, or worse, mass conceding happened away from the public eye as generals and nobles alike bowed their heads to the Church.

King Edward, under Cain's orders, followed the guidance of the Church's bishops and obeyed their instructions to the letter. He helped create secret facilities for horrid experiments, provided information, and supplied the Church with the Kingdom's weapons of war.

Nonstop work was being done in creating weapons and armor in the Kingdom's workshops; they were hidden in obscure areas as blacksmiths tirelessly toiled, stockpiling weapons.

While their strength grew, the Empire's strength diminished. The Empire had begun to blatantly show its internal affairs as nobles ousted each other and exterminated opposing families openly.

Royals would create small armies and use them to ambush and kill each other. The entire Empire became a personal battleground for the strong.

In the dark, the Rebellion used this to recruit more and more people to their cause, like rats in a sewer waiting to surface.

With the support of some nobles, especially the Kingdom and Church, the Rebels grew steadily and already had enough power to exterminate the nobles by themselves.

With everything going as planned, the Church reeled back on the secretive killings and stopped influencing the world around them.

The Church began a period of respite as they too had to ready themselves. Entering seclusion, they trained and researched, preparing to come out on top during this bloody war that was upon them.

Meanwhile, in a laboratory in the city of Carc, Cain's madness overcame him as he reached breakthrough after breakthrough in his research. His laughter echoed like that of a mad scientist throughout his compound.