Chapter 511 – The Opis Mutiny.

"Fools, all of them." Lockheed grumbled from his horse as he watched the loose and disordered line of the rebellious troops line up in the field outside the walls of Zoltan. He'd commanded many a battle in his day and dealt with rebel troops more than once, but this one in particular irritated him due to the fact that it was so disordered despite being commanded by Nobles.

Kelira's forces were ultimately a joke, which was not exactly surprising, with the only worthwhile forces coming from the private retinue of the handful of Demon Nobles who'd avoided sending them on the Simoean Campaign. The Confederation's troops were actual soldiers, but they were so lightly armed and armored that Lockheed considered them little better than a well-funded militia. Though there were tens of thousands of them that'd been sent to aid the rebellious Demon Nobles, the vast majority were not on the front line. Rather, they were being held in reserve on the opposite side of the City. This served a two fold purpose in that it insulated them from any immediate fighting and also ensured that the conscripted Demon forces would die first.

"I don't see the flags of those traitors from Miretown." Ariel commented as she rode up next to her Father, her eyes scanning the banners behind the troops. "But I suppose that shouldn't be all that shocking. Those merchant families were always ones to talk big but then disappear into the shadows the moment anything resembling conflict broke out."

{If I have it my way those dammed fools will be hung in the Capital's main plaza for everything they've done.} (Ariel)

"I will not deny that I was hoping that Helkstave would be here." Lockheed laughed darkly as his hands gripped the reins. "Wringing the life out of that man would surely rejuvenate me, even if only slightly." Helkstave Foryoman was the head of the Foryoman house that controlled the breakaway region of Miretown and was responsible for the province's succession from the Kingdom. He and Lockheed had a long history that went back decades, and the two actively sought the other's demise.

"The Ninja reported that only a few military advisors were sent. Since the Alliance essentially disbanded with Amdamell's capitulation to me, they were afraid of leaving themselves open." Akagi commented as she appeared between their horses, forming from a black mist. "The vast majority of their army is camped out near the border across from a large Fortress."

"If things were different, I'd gladly lead my army to Miretown and burn the entire city to the ground." Lockheed growled, showing an uncharacteristic level of anger. "Those bastards have caused much damage to the Kingdom over my lifetime, and I'd love to see them pay for their greed."

"Oh? So even the seemingly jovial and kind Demon King Lockheed has a ruthless side to him." Akagi chuckled. "I thought you were the kind of King to turn the other cheek to any slight and rely on diplomacy to solve all problems."

"In most circumstances, that would be an accurate depiction of me." Lockheed replied. "But when it comes to Helkstave, I hold nothing back. I have no tolerance for those who betray our people to line their own pockets. The man could burn in the fires of the Hells for all eternity, and I still don't think I'd be satisfied."

"Back to the topic at hand, I find it odd that the Gods have yet to appear." Ariel said as she looked around, seeing only mortal forces. "I'd imagine that Divine Incarnation would be obvious, and yet with how calm everything is, I assume that they have not arrived yet."

{No clue how it works here, but if a God showed up on Altus, it would more or less be like that one anime you showed me where the sky opened up, light shone down through the clouds, and Angels sang a loud chorus.} (Yumi)

"They have never appeared in their full glory during my lifetime, and the only records I have mention that it was a... tumultuous event." Lockheed said as he continued to watch the haphazard motions of the rebel forces, grumbling about how such a pitiful display makes their entire race look like incompetent fools.

"I'll save us all the torment and nuke any chorus before it warms up." Akagi rolled her eyes. "I can't stand the thought of a Gregorian choir showing up and blasting our ears with that annoyance. Though, from what Elariel told me, Yumi's deception isn't that far off from reality. It will be big, showy, and very obvious once they decide to make their move."

"Then it would seem that now is the time for me to act." Lockheed said as turned his attention to the Demon Lord. “I take it you have not changed your mind about my proposal?”

"I promised you that you could give it a shot and I intend to keep said promise." Akagi nodded. "Marshal and the boys will be sad if they don't get to ride their new toys into battle but I'll just have to give them something else to do later."

{The idea of the Knights riding those things into battle and running down conscripted peasants really doesn't sound Knight-like to me, but what do I know? I'm just a Priestess who forsook her Gods and fell in love with a Demon Lord.} (Yumi)

"Oh, it's not. But I really want to see it." Akagi snickered as Lockheed snapped the reins of his horse.

"Ariel, please remain here... This is something I need to do... alone." Lockheed said as the horse accelerated into a full gallop toward the rebel army leaving them behind.

"I can only hope that our people listen to my Father..." Ariel said, silently praying that bloodshed could be avoided.

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<Lockheed POV>

*THA-THUNK* *THA-THUNK* *THA-THUNK* *THA-THUNK* *THA-THUNK* *THA-THUNK*

As he raced into the open field that separated the small Dumetorian contingent from the rebel army, Lockheed found his mind drawn to memories of a similar situation decades prior. Not long after he'd taken the throne, there was a small peasant uprising caused by the corrupt and burdensome taxation policies of the local Nobles. At that time his advisors urged him to whip out the entire force to send a message, but he instead chose a different path, offering the starving people clemency if they only listened to his words and put down their arms. Sadly, his pleas were ignored, and the rebellion was ultimately crushed via military force. It was a memory he'd wished to forget and something that he'd regretted in the intervening decades. As he brought his horse to a halt no more than a thousand feet beyond the line of contact, Lockheed took a deep breath and channeled magic into his voice to allow it to carry much farther than it otherwise would.

"CITIZENS OF THE DEMON KINGDOM!" Lockheed's booming voice echoed throughout the area, causing all idle chatter amongst the soldiers to cease. "I, Lockheed Yar-el Ravenwood, have returned!" He paused as chatter picked up among their ranks, many going wide-eyed by the supposedly comatose Demon King standing before them. "I'd ask that you forgive my absence. For so many long years, I was made ill by the foul machinations of outsiders. During that time, the Kingdom suffered greatly due to my infirmity. The duty to prosecute the war with the Spirits ultimately fell to my Daughter, Princess Ariel, who dutifully acted as my Regent during our time of crisis, a role that she performed impeccably during such a tumultuous time. As King, I am eternally grateful for her sacrifice and perseverance, and as her Father... I am immensely proud of her." He paused as the soldiers continued to listen. "When the malaise that nearly consigned me to the Black River finally lifted, I found the Kingdom in a state of crisis. Our armies were laid to waste, our people afraid for their lives... One could hardly call it anything other than our people's darkest hour since the War of Liberation against the Demons all those centuries ago." He continued, none daring to interrupt his words. "As King, it is my duty to protect the Kingdom and her people... And in that duty... I have failed... And because of my failure, our people have been forced to suffer." He paused as he took a deep breath. "That is why I've come here now, to prevent more of our people from suffering due to the failings of others." He said as he watched a few Nobles that he recognized yell at some of the soldiers to attack, only to be ignored.

"The Nobles who've forced you to assemble here today do so under the pretext that they are the only ones who can save the Demon Kingdom from destruction." Lockheed continued, his heartbeat echoing in his ears. "They claim that it is just and right to take up arms in this hour of darkness. If they are to be believed, should nothing be done, our people will be enslaved by the forces of darkness. It's an understandable fear; an outside force has seized the very halls of power and toppled the government, installing a new Demon King by force. Never in our people's history has something like this happened, and perhaps... perhaps if things were different, I would be fighting right alongside you; but I know the truth." He paused. "My people, the truth is... The truth is that we've been lied to, all of us. The Gods whom we trusted and worshiped lied to us, and the Nobles who brought you here have, in turn, lied to you in a vain attempt to seize power.” He said as a group of Nobles tried to force some conscripts forward with magic only to be forcibly stopped by their guards. “Those Nobles leading you do not care about you, your families, your homes, none of it. The Nobles who dared to raise their blades against the Kingdom did so not out of a love of country but because they desired power and wealth above all else. The standard of rebellion raised here today is merely a tool to acquire those things. Your lives... are little more than disposable pawns on their game board. Pawns they will happily dispose of the moment it suits their needs." He continued, locking eyes with Kelria as she mounted a horse. "I know that many of you are afraid. Afraid for your futures, for your families, for what all this means for our people... I know how you feel, because I too am afraid. But I beg you, do not allow those who care for nothing other than their own greed to take advantage of that fear. They are not people who are worthy of your trust, your devotion, your lives. So please, I implore you to lay down your arms and go home. Do that, and I promise you that we will work together to build a brighter future for our people. One that sees us finally given the respect and dignity that we've always deserved. That is all I ask of you. My people. My beloved people. I ask you to give me this chance... "