Solaria turned to the castle, a triumphant and dark smile on her face. Gladius watching the castle with worried eyes the only thing she could sense was danger.
Suddenly the large doors at the front of the castle were blown off violently. Everyone watched with anticipation as a pair of burning eyes watched them, the eyes looked on for a moment before moving forward, thundering footsteps echoing all around. As he stepped into the starlight Yohan had taken on another form, one he had been saving for this day.
His head was adorned with horns made of his energy in its usual purple hue fading into white at the tips, his long black cloak also had the same effect, though the white tips flowed like fire. He stopped just as he fully came into the light and looked at everyone, Ventris watching him with a mix of shock and anger in her eyes, the army dumbfounded by the constant shifts of events and finally his wife hugging Gladius.
When he heard her call Solaria mother he reacted without thinking, he had planned on waiting a little bit more but once he saw the two embrace he couldn't hold himself back. In an instant he disappeared from where he stood reappearing beside Solaria and Gladius, he took a look at his daughter and fighting back tears, knelt down to touch her face.
"Sorry I'm late my dear, we have lots of catching up to do but right now papa needs to go to work."
He turned to his wife with a smile. "Sol, take her back into the castle, I need to have a word with Ventris, it's time to end this." Touching her forehead he sent a mental image of the device recording at the window, telling her that once they enter the room they'll be in a forcefield of energy that should protect them both.
Solaria gave him a nod and motioned to Gladius to follow her. They started moving when Ventris holding her bleeding face sent a huge blast of energy at Solaria trying to stop them.
"Where do you think you're going with my child!?" Yohan got in front of the blast and with a swift swing of his hand deflected the energy upwards sending out a large explosion when it hit the black zones border.
"Your child? Did all those years away make you delusional Ventris?"
Ventris looked at him in disgust.
"You bast-"
Her words cut short by an immense pain that caused her to wince uncontrollably, another explosion rang out behind her as she realized that now the other side of her face was cut but this time the cut started to crack and burn as Yohan's energy was eating away at her skin. Korva's words ringing in her ear.
"When he comes back he's going to be stronger and very pissed."
"You know, I did originally plan on hanging back until I was called but after hearing my baby, I would be an idiot not to. After all you've done, I guess I can thank you for keeping my child alive but know that today I do intend on killing you"
Yohan stared up at Ventris, his eyes cutting through her, no one moved at the sight of him as they all felt his dangerous aura. Her eyes burned with rage as she sat on the golden throne but there was another feeling, slowly creeping up her spine the more she looked at him, something she only felt before from her father and Korva, it was fear.
"Z-Zervas attack!"
Yohan looked over at the apostle and with a dark smile started to walk over to him and soon the two warriors were face to face. Ventris taking this opportunity to leave, retreating back to castle Asura instructing her second general Grevos to assist Zervas in any way he needs to destroy the threat.
Yohan stared down at Zervas a mixture of excitement and bloodlust in his eyes, even his aura started to flash red.
Zervas was by all means a bit scared, the being before him was even stronger than the last time they met, strong enough to scare Ventris, he had far surpassed the limits of a transcendent and became a true god in his own right and knowing that his friend may hold some old grudges, he had no idea how he might win if they fought.
"So friend, what's your plan?" Yohan asked staring down at Zervas with burning eyes and a dark smile. Zervas with a shiver in his spine mustered up all his courage.
"GENERAL, TIME TO FULFILL YOUR DUTY!"
"YES SIR!"
The battle hardened man headed to the front line a crazed smile on his face. Getting a closer look at the man Yohan realized that he mirrored Mirlak, Zervas' father, sadly he had been lost in the conflict on Oreath before Zervas could get to his family, Zervas had made him a general due to his strength and character that resembled his late father, even training him in areas he was lacking in and now the general was a man of renown all across the galaxies and a trusted confidant for Zervas.
Grevos stood face to face with Yohan, the two men assessed each other seeing each others muscles and scars that must have come from brutal training, the two resisted the urge to lunge at each other. Then he spoke, his booming voice shattering the silence and tension.
"MY SOLDIERS! THE TIME HAS COME TO DEFEAT OUR GREATEST THREAT TO EVER EXIST, TO RETURN TO AN ERA OF PEACE, TO FIGHT FOR OUR FREEDOM, TO FIGHT FOR THE FREEDOM AND FAMILIES WE LOST SO LONG AGO, TO BLEED FOR JUSTICE OR DIE TRYING. NOW I SAY UNTO YOU ALL."
He took a pause.
"BOW BEFORE YOUR KING!"
A large fraction of the army erupted into cheers and battle cries, metal and earth collided as ten thousand men fell to their knees in front of Yohan, Zervas included.
"We the order of ash pledge our hearts, blades and undying loyalty to the last great king of Oreath, do with us as you see fit my lord." the men all said in unison. The men at the back of the formation had just seen the men bow and lots of them were in unrest, enraged at the betrayal.
"How could you do this to Lady Ventris!? How could you betray us for these vultures?"
Just some of the questions hurled at them. The soldiers loyal to Yohan had to hold off the other enemy soldiers, creating a small battle front on the army borders.
Yohan on the other hand was dead silent, Solaria and Gladius watching from inside the castle couldn't be more proud. Zervas looked at Yohan with a worried expression, he already estimated that his friend may not trust him and might still hold a grudge, him holding a grudge is guaranteed but whatever punishment was to come, he would accept it and boy was he about to.
Yohan stepped back a little, turning his back to the men, smiling to the device still streaming the proceedings, his crooked grin causing everyone, man and god to flinch then without warning he disappeared in a cloud of black smoke, reappearing in the same spot he stood before but now facing Zervas and his men and with a swift swing of his arm delivered a powerful and clean hit with the back of his fist to Zervas' face sending him flying and embedding him into a nearby boulder, knocking him out cold, he also simultaneously sent a massive wave of his energy in the other direction, the sheer size of the energy wave getting the attention of the everyone present.
"I'll deal with you later."
He said looking at Zervas' unconscious form, his smile nowhere to be seen. He focused his attention to the rest of the army.
"Hey general."
"Yes sir!" Grevos responded, none of the men daring to raise their heads.
"I'm going to tell you this now, I don't trust any of you, but at the moment I trust you more than Zervas, so if you're truly on my side, you fight by me but the second you betray me I will not only kill you but every man under you, they're lives rest on your shoulders. Now keep your heads down."
Yohan materialized a greatsword in his hand and took a deep breath, he stomped his foot into the ground to step into his swing and with a powerful swipe sent out a huge blast of energy, seemingly vaporizing all of Ventris' remaining soldiers that weren't sided with him.
The soldiers watched in awe and horror as the energy seemingly ate the men alive leaving behind nothing but ashes. The energy crackled with the fury of thunder yet flowed with the fluidity of water and consumed them like a crashing wave, even those who weren't touched by the energy at first found it spreading to them from their comrades. There was no escape. The viewers from the device were silent, Yohan had just obliterated over 40 thousand soldiers with a single strike.
Neighboring gods stood shocked at his power, some of the more prideful ones still convinced that his power was great sure but nothing compared to them who could easily dispose of entire star systems with the same movement.
After dispatching the army, Yohan created a stone throne and sat in front of his new soldiers. His signature dark smile etched across his lips.
"Now then boys, let's talk business."
The war in heaven had officially begun.