The **Mars Empire** was no stranger to war, but this was different. There were no enemy armies at the gates, no invaders from distant stars. Instead, the battle unfolded within the hearts of its own people.
Arian stood on the balcony of the **Royal Citadel**, looking down at the growing crowds in the city below. What had begun as whispers had erupted into full-blown unrest. The revelation of **Mars's celestial origins** had **fractured** the empire—some saw it as a sign of destiny, others as a betrayal of their identity.
In the central plaza, voices clashed like swords.
*"The Celestials abandoned us! Why should we embrace their legacy now?"* shouted a man from the **Old Blood faction**, a group that believed Mars was strong because it had forged its own path, separate from the Celestials.
*"You're blind!"* a woman from the **New Dawn faction** retorted. *"If Mars was born from the Second Major Realm, then we are part of something greater! We must reclaim our place among the stars!"*
**Arian clenched his fists.** He had known the truth would shake Mars to its core, but he had not anticipated the depth of the divide. Even among the **nobles**, tensions ran high. **General Rokan**, ever loyal, had urged him to crush the dissent before it became open rebellion, while **Elysia** had warned against forcing unity through strength.
The empire stood on a razor's edge.
---
### **The Tenebris Faction Stirs the Flames**
Deep beneath the surface of Mars, in the **hidden sanctums of the Tenebris faction**, Lord Targor watched the growing divide with satisfaction.
*"Mars is tearing itself apart."*
Lady Zhyra stood beside him, her fingers tracing a glowing projection of the empire, marked with red **pockets of unrest**. *"And yet, Arian still holds power. The people look to him for guidance. If he unites them, this moment will pass."*
Targor's eyes gleamed with malice. *"Then we will ensure he fails."*
With a flick of his hand, a shadowed figure stepped forward—a **spy, draped in the garb of Arian's own people**.
*"You will go to the Old Blood faction. Spread the word that Arian seeks to erase Mars's traditions and force Celestial rule upon them. Make them fear him. Make them turn against him."*
The spy bowed. *"And if that is not enough?"*
Targor's lips curled. *"Then we show them what fear truly is."*
---
### **The Breaking Point**
Arian had spent his life preparing for battle, but this was unlike any war he had ever faced.
*"Your Highness, the riots have reached the **Outer Districts**."* The report from his advisors was grim. *"If we do not act soon, Mars will fall into chaos."*
Arian exhaled. *"Then I will address them myself."*
The **Royal Square** was packed with thousands of Martians, their faces filled with both **hope and anger**. As Arian stepped onto the elevated platform, the shouting **roared like a storm**.
*"You are not one of us!"* someone yelled.
*"Did you lie to us all these years?"*
Arian raised a hand for silence, and though the murmurs did not fully stop, the crowd quieted enough for his voice to carry.
*"I have given everything for Mars. I have fought for you, bled for you. And I will never stop fighting for our future."* His gaze swept across the sea of faces. *"But we cannot build that future on fear."*
Some in the crowd nodded, but others remained stone-faced.
*"Mars was not created to be a Celestial world. Nor was it meant to be an isolated empire. We are something new, something forged in battle, in struggle, in sacrifice. We choose our own fate."*
A murmur rippled through the people. Arian could see **doubt** and **confusion**, but also **consideration**. He had begun to reach them.
Then the **explosion** ripped through the square.
A **shockwave** of fire and smoke erupted from the crowd, sending bodies flying. Screams filled the air as flames devoured the marketplace.
Arian's **instincts took over.** He launched himself toward the blast's origin, but the damage had already been done.
A second explosion roared to life. Then a third.
Panic spread like wildfire.
As the dust settled, figures emerged from the chaos—cloaked individuals wielding **Tenebris weapons**, striking down guards and fanning the flames of terror.
A **coup was underway.**
Arian gritted his teeth. The divide in Mars had been **orchestrated**, and now, the enemy had made their move.
*"This is no longer just a conflict of beliefs,"* he muttered. *"This is war."*
And Mars was burning.