Chapter 666: Eclipse Battlefield (I)
Vlad, Janus, Agamenon, and all the other Sages were taken aback by General Tiberius’s opening statement. Many of them had heard rumors of the man’s inflexible nature and unyielding discipline, but to challenge every single one of them to a fight right upon his arrival was on an entirely different level.
Yet, by the steel in his eyes and the palpable killing intent in his tone, it was clear that this was no mere posturing. He meant every word.
Of course, none of the Sages dared to take him up on that challenge. No matter how prestigious their backgrounds might be, they knew without a doubt that General Tiberius wouldn’t hesitate to cut them down where they stood. His authority was absolute. His sword was swift. And his mercy, nonexistent.
The Legend’s eyes swept slowly over each Sage, piercing through them with the weight of command. Once he confirmed that no one dared step forward, he gave a slow nod.
"Fine. Since none of you are willing to challenge my power, you will recognize my authority. Any act of disobedience will be treated as treason, and the only sentence for treason... is death."
The words echoed like thunder. The weight of his presence grew heavier, making some of the less seasoned Sages break into a cold sweat. Many of them came from noble families, used to wielding power and giving orders—not receiving them.
While they might have shown respect and fear to someone like Marshal Maximo, some had been known to act arrogantly when dealing with ’regular’ Legends.
But none of that pride would serve them here. The message was clear: defy him, and die.
Vlad couldn’t help but nod in approval. General Tiberius’s methods might seem extreme to an outsider, but in the context of war—especially a war against a merciless enemy like the Vorometallicae—a strict chain of command was essential. A single moment of hesitation or internal conflict could spell disaster for everyone involved.