System in Assassin's Creed

Chapter 370: Chapter 369: The Crumbling Stone and the Rising Continent

Iwagakure - The Elemental Nations

The harsh, abrasive winds of the Land of Earth howled through the jagged canyons, kicking up violent clouds of grit that battered against the towering, fortified gates of Iwagakure.

Today, the village did not project the unbreakable, monolithic stoicism that had defined it for generations. Instead, a heavy, suffocating pall of desperation hung over the five hundred elite shinobi assembled in the courtyard. They stood in rigid, silent ranks, their heavy crimson and brown armor caked with the dust of their homeland, waiting for the singular command that would march them directly into a slaughterhouse.

Hovering a few feet above the cracked stone pavement, clad in his full, traditional battle armor, was Ōnoki of Both Scales.

The Third Tsuchikage looked incredibly old. The deep, weathered crevices etched into his face seemed to have hardened into permanent scars of stress, his small frame bearing the catastrophic, crushing weight of a failing war. Yet, despite his physical frailty, his chakra roared with a stubborn, terrifying vitality... a dying sun refusing to burn out quietly.

He floated near the vanguard of his troops, his dark eyes fixed impatiently on the gates, until the hurried, frantic sound of footsteps broke the grim silence.

Kurotsuchi sprinted across the courtyard, her breathing shallow and ragged, clutching a single, freshly unsealed scroll in her hands.

”Kurotsuchi,” Ōnoki demanded, his voice a gravelly rumble that barely disguised his frayed nerves. He lowered himself slightly, hovering eye-to-eye with his granddaughter. ”Tell me you bring good news. Have we received a formal response from the Raikage? Will Kumogakure honor our plea for a military alliance?”

Kurotsuchi stopped, her shoulders slumping as if an invisible weight had just been dropped onto her back. She looked up at her grandfather, her dark eyes shining with a profound, bitter sorrow, and slowly shook her head.

”They responded, Tsuchikage-sama,” Kurotsuchi reported, her voice trembling slightly as she gripped the edges of the parchment. ”But they refuse to send troops. The Raikage demands an upfront payment of ten billion Ryo just to formally consider the alliance.”

Ōnoki’s eyes widened, a flash of pure, unadulterated disbelief crossing his features before it quickly curdled into incandescent rage.

”Ten billion?!” Ōnoki hissed, his jaw tightening so fiercely that his teeth audibly ground together. ”That is outright extortion! We are fighting a war for the survival of the balance of power, and A dares to treat us like desperate beggars?!”

”They know we are bleeding, Grand— Tsuchikage-sama,” Kurotsuchi explained, swallowing the lump of despair lodged in her throat. ”Kumogakure’s intelligence network is well aware that our frontlines are collapsing in the Land of Grass. Furthermore, they cited that Konohagakure has recently solidified their diplomatic ties with both Sunagakure and Kirigakure. The Raikage believes joining us is a tactical suicide mission, and he intends to bleed our treasury dry before he even thinks about bleeding his own men.”

The silence that followed was agonizing. The surrounding elite shinobi exchanged grim, hopeless glances, realizing that the Stone Village had been entirely abandoned by the rest of the world. They were standing alone against a juggernaut that possessed monsters masquerading as teenagers.

Ōnoki closed his eyes, letting out a long, ragged exhale that seemed to carry the very soul of his village away with it. The political maneuvering had failed. The alliances were dead. There was nothing left but the sheer, unyielding pride of the stone.

When he opened his eyes again, the desperation was gone, replaced by a cold, suicidal resolve.

He floated closer to Kurotsuchi, reaching out a wrinkled, calloused hand to gently grip her shoulder.

”Kurotsuchi,” Ōnoki said, his voice dropping into a solemn, heavy register that carried the unmistakable tone of a final farewell. ”I am leaving the village in your hands. While I am not here to guide our people, you must guard Iwagakure with your very life. If the worst comes to pass on the battlefield... you will be the one to lead the survivors into the future... you will become the Yondaime Tsuchikage.”

Kurotsuchi’s breath hitched, a single, stray tear breaking free to trace a clean line through the dust on her cheek. She knew exactly what he was implying. He was marching into the Land of Grass with no intention of retreating. He would either break Konoha’s vanguard or die trying.

Despite the crushing sadness fracturing her heart, Kurotsuchi bit her lip, forcing herself to stand tall. She wiped the tear away and offered a deep, respectful bow.

”I will not fail you, Tsuchikage-sama,” she vowed, her voice thick with emotion.

Ōnoki offered her a small, melancholic smile, giving her shoulder one last, reassuring squeeze before turning his back to her. He ascended higher into the air, hovering above his five hundred elite warriors, his gaze fixed resolutely on the open gates.

”LET’S GO!” Ōnoki commanded, his voice exploding with volcanic, earth-shattering authority.

With a unified, deafening roar, the last great hope of Iwagakure surged forward, marching swiftly out of the gates and disappearing into the swirling dust storms, advancing toward the bloody plains of the Land of Grass.

The Royal Palace - Philadelphia - Holy Commonwealth of Pennmere

The throne room of the Royal Palace was a masterpiece of architectural restraint, blending the grand, sweeping arches of European royalty with the practical, unpretentious elegance favored by the Quakers. Yet, for the man sitting upon the raised dais, the velvet-cushioned throne often felt more like an ornate torture device than a seat of power.

William Penn Sr. rested his cheek against his knuckles, his brow slightly furrowed as he listened to the droning reports of a minor provincial magistrate.

He didn’t particularly enjoy being here. Penn was a philosopher, a visionary, and a diplomat; he had never sought a crown. He often felt entirely undeserving of the absolute, sovereign authority vested in him, acutely aware that the staggering wealth and military supremacy of his kingdom were largely the architected miracles of Alaric Kenway. However, his personal feelings of inadequacy were secondary to his profound sense of duty. The kingdom bore his name, and the millions of free souls thriving under its banner relied on his steady, compassionate hand to guide them.

As the magistrate finally bowed and scrambled out of the chamber, the heavy, gilded doors at the far end of the hall swung open once more.

The ambient chatter among the gathered courtiers died instantly, replaced by a tense, reverent hush as a solitary figure strode down the crimson carpet.

Kassandra moved with a fluid, predatory grace that commanded absolute attention. Dressed in beautifully tailored, dark leather armor that highlighted her athletic, immortal physique, she possessed a presence that effortlessly dwarfed the ornate surroundings.

When she reached the base of the dais, she didn’t drop to her knees. She didn’t bow her head or avert her eyes in submission, as the hundreds of visiting dignitaries and nobles did daily. Instead, she stopped, locked her ancient, amber eyes directly onto the King, and offered a loose, decidedly lazy motion.

She brought her right fist up, tapping it lightly against her heart in the Vanguard salute.

It was a gesture born of absolute, terrifying loyalty... a salute explicitly created by the three Vanguard Commanders: Reuben, Thulani, and Shakoka. The operatives of the Vanguard bowed to no king, no emperor, and no god. In fact, they didn’t even bow to Alaric; they simply lived, breathed, and fought for him. The salute was their only concession to hierarchy, a silent vow of lethal dedication.

”Greetings, your majesty,” Kassandra said, her voice smooth and carrying a distinct, melodic Greek accent. She casually glanced around the towering, frescoed ceilings of the palace interior before letting her gaze settle back on the man on the throne. ”I come bearing news from the Vanguard.”

William Penn’s posture relaxed instantly. A warm, genuine smile broke through his bureaucratic fatigue as he looked down at the legendary Eagle Bearer.

”Kassandra,” Penn greeted, his voice echoing warmly in the quiet hall. He waved a dismissive hand, effortlessly brushing aside the rigid protocols of the court. ”Please, there is absolutely no need for you to address me with such stifling formality. Your wisdom, your strength, and your role in shaping this world far surpass the fleeting titles of countless kings. You are family.”

Kassandra couldn’t help but chuckle, a rich, earthy sound that seemed to lighten the heavy atmosphere of the throne room. ”I appreciate the sentiment, William. But protocol is protocol when the doors are open.”

Penn nodded his head in understanding, pushing himself up from the velvet throne with a quiet groan of relief. ”Very well. But let us discard the pageantry. Come with me to my private office. We can speak freely there.”

He descended the short steps, gesturing for her to follow, and led the immortal misthios through a discreet side door that bypassed the crowded corridors, leading them directly into his personal, heavily soundproofed study.

The private office was a sanctuary of dark mahogany, filled with towering bookshelves, scattered maps of the New World, and the comforting scent of ink and aged paper.

Penn gestured to a plush, leather guest chair, offering Kassandra a seat before moving behind his own massive desk. He sank into the leather with a weary sigh, resting his hands flat on the polished wood.

”I assume Alaric is currently engaged elsewhere?” Penn asked, raising a curious brow. ”It is usually him who drops out of the sky to deliver the Vanguard’s intelligence reports while casually smoking up my office.”

Kassandra smiled, leaning back comfortably and crossing her long legs. ”Alaric is gone for some time. He had some... pressing, otherworldly business to attend to. In his absence, I will be the one controlling the Vanguard in his stead.”

Penn nodded his head slowly, fully aware that the blonde anomaly often vanished into the ether for reasons beyond mortal comprehension, yet the empire he built never stuttered. ”I see. You have my full confidence, Kassandra. So... what is the news the Vanguard has uncovered for me today?”

Kassandra’s easy smile faded, replaced by the hardened, calculating gaze of a Spartan commander preparing for a siege.

”Vanguard Commander Reuben recently embarked on his routine patrol rounds, sailing his fleet down toward Barbados,” Kassandra reported, her tone crisp and professional. ”He made a scheduled stop in Nassau to facilitate Edward Kenway’s negotiations with the pirates operating there. However, during transit, The Wraithling... Reuben’s flagship... was actively engaged and attacked.”

Penn’s eyes narrowed, his political instincts sharpening instantly. To attack the most heavily armed, technologically terrifying frigate in the Atlantic was either an act of supreme foolishness or calculated desperation. ”Attacked by whom?”

”By ships flying the black flag,” Kassandra clarified, leaning forward. ”However, upon boarding and neutralizing the aggressors, Reuben discovered the truth. They were not stateless corsairs. They were French naval vessels and marine infantry, deliberately disguising themselves as pirates to harass our shipping lanes and test our military responses.”

William Penn’s eyes widened a fraction, the heavy, geopolitical implications crashing down upon him. His brows furrowed deeply as he stared at the map of the Americas spread across his desk.

”So...” Penn murmured, his voice dropping into a solemn, grave register. ”It has finally happened.”

Kassandra let out a quiet sigh, nodding her head in agreement. ”Whatever diplomatic connections and fragile treaties you initially formed with the colonial viceroys were acceptable at first. But as Pennmere’s wealth and borders exploded... jealousy and fear were bound to dictate their actions.”

She gestured vaguely toward the map. ”Even if the local viceroys were heavily against provoking a war with us, it is ultimately the kings in Europe who call the shots. And, considering the shadowy mechanics of this world, it is highly probable that the Templar Order is actively manipulating the French and Spanish crowns, utilizing their puppet colonies to sandwich Pennmere in a desperate bid to crush Alaric’s influence.”

Penn listened intently, the pacifist Quaker ideologies that had founded his city warring violently with the harsh, bloody responsibilities of a King tasked with protecting his people. He looked down at his hands, then up at the misthios.

He gave a slow, definitive nod of his head, his decision calcifying into absolute iron.

”I will not allow them to bleed our merchant fleets or terrorize our coasts in the dark,” Penn declared, his voice ringing with a cold, unyielding authority. ”I will gather the hundreds of thousands of active and reserve forces of the Pennmerian army. We will not wait for them to orchestrate a coordinated strike. I will formally declare war against the two empires by the end of the week.”

Kassandra’s lips curved into a sharp, predatory smirk. She had lived through the Peloponnesian War; she understood the brutal arithmetic of preemptive strikes better than anyone.

”If that is the path you are choosing, William,” Kassandra replied, her amber eyes gleaming with the visionary fire of an empire builder. ”Then you should not stop at merely repelling their fleets and securing our current borders. Since a two-front war is now inevitable, you should actively seek to occupy and liberate all of the remaining colonial territories in the Americas.”

Penn blinked, caught momentarily off guard by the sheer, staggering scale of her proposition.

”Because Pennmere offers vastly more for the common people than the French or Spanish crowns ever could,” Kassandra continued, her voice laced with absolute conviction. ”You offer freedom from tyranny, fair wages, and genuine prosperity. If you march on their colonies, the oppressed populaces will not fight you; they will welcome you as liberators. It will become one, unified, untouchable kingdom stretching across the entire continent.”

Penn stared at her for a long moment, his mind struggling to process the monumental logistical and moral weight of conquering half a hemisphere. Slowly, a breathless, overwhelmed chuckle escaped his lips.

He rubbed his temples, letting out a long, weary sigh. ”We will have to figure the logistics of continent-wide occupation out later, Kassandra. For now... let us simply focus on beating the French and Spanish armadas back across the Atlantic. Securing our survival is the next immediate mission.”

Kassandra’s smirk widened into a brilliant, knowing smile.

”You know,” Kassandra mused softly, crossing her arms. ”Alaric told me years ago, when this city was barely more than a few paved streets and a dream... that Pennmere would one day violently unite all of the states and territories of the Americas under a single banner. He said it wouldn’t even take that long. It seems his vision is already manifesting.”

Penn was genuinely surprised by this revelation. His eyes widened slightly. Alaric had provided the funds, the architecture, and the military might, but the blonde anomaly had never explicitly shared such a grandiose, manifest destiny with him.

However, as he looked at Kassandra... the immortal warrior who shared Alaric’s bed and understood his mind better than anyone... Penn simply smiled. Perhaps it was because of their profound bond, or perhaps Alaric simply enjoyed playing the omniscient architect from the shadows. Well, it didn’t really matter much in the grand scheme of things. The board was set.

Penn stood up from his heavy oak chair, smoothing the front of his royal coat, and extended a hand across the desk.

Kassandra mirrored his warm smile, rising fluidly to her feet. She reached out, clasping the King’s hand in a firm, calloused handshake that sealed the fate of the New World.

”Just remember, William,” Kassandra advised, her tone dropping its martial edge, returning to that of a close, trusted friend offering crucial counsel. ”Pennmere may soon be embroiled in a massive, full-scale continental war. And with the army and the Vanguard at your disposal, Pennmere will undoubtedly prevail and occupy every inch of land in the Americas. But amidst the bloodshed and the glory of expansion... you shouldn’t forget your own, original mission.”

”Ah, of course,” Penn chuckled, shaking his head slightly as if embarrassed she thought he might lose his way. He squeezed her hand firmly before letting go. ”I would never, ever forget that. No slave system, free education for all, and a truly prosperous kingdom where every man is treated with dignity.”

Kassandra smiled, a look of profound, enduring respect softening her sharp features. She gave him a slight, approving nod.

”You are a very wise king, William,” she praised softly.

With a final, polite dip of her head, the Eagle Bearer turned on her heel and walked out of the private office, her boots silent against the floorboards, leaving the King of Pennmere alone to draft the declarations of a war that would change the world forever.

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