"The books call it the Great War, but only those who have experienced it know how gruesome it is.
"I ran through the battlefield to find my father, amidst the shower of arrows and ducking beneath swinging swords. Finally I see him. Valiantly raising the amber Nethersword above his head, he shouted for the troops to follow him into battle. Opposite us, the Enderknights and the kingdoms charged with overwhelming force. If only the books recorded the deaths of those soldiers, those men, then they won't call it the Great War. My father, King Kronus, dived into the throngs, fighting like ten men. He worked his way up the hill, crippling, but not killing, everyone who stood in his path.
"Just as he was about to reach the apex, a huge Ender Dragon flew past overhead. It tore apart the Wither escorting my father and from it jumped an Enderknight. The purple crown he wore and sword he held glowed menacingly in the sunlight, streaked red by blood.
"'King Rendor.' My father said, 'step aside, you have ruled this world long enough.'
"'The Nether and the End have always been counterparts of each other.' Rendor replied, 'but the people of this land have earned their freedom and autonomy. You will find no security nor resources here so long as the people do not wish it.' He drew his sword. 'So long as I do not allow it.'
"'Then I have nothing more to say.' My father pounced and slammed his Nethersword right into the Endersword.
"An Enderknight snuck up on me and I had to respond. I overpowered him easily and destroyed his weapons. He swung out with his fists. I blocked his right punch, and his left hit me in the jaw. My sword dropped out of my hand as saliva flew out of my mouth. In return, I kneed him between his legs. That sent him howling in agony. Picking him up by the collar of his armor, I hurled him into the midst of bodies lying silently on the ground.
"Then I turned back to my father. He was beaten and lying on the ground. Just then, that red Ardoni jumped in on golden spurts and shot a storm of bright red darts into Rendor's dragon. He surrounded Rendor in a green bubble and put his sword to his throat, right between the helmet and the chestplate.
"Before I could pull my father away from danger, another Enderknight took my father hostage. He faced the Deathsinger in a silent truce as I scrambled up the hill. I pulled out my bow and aimed, shooting the knight on his hand and forcing him to release my father. But right as my father punched the knight off the cliff, Rendor's dragon rained down his fire on the red Ardoni, forcing him to release Rendor and teleported away in a flurry of golden circles.
"'They are too powerful, Ingressus.' My father spoke in his warroom. 'We almost lost everything today. I won't have the rest of my people slaughtered fighting a meaningless war.'
"'We have an alliance, Kronus.' The Deathsinger pressed his hands on the table. 'If you break that agreement we will both perish.'
"'We cannot defeat the combined strength of the Enderknights, the six kingdoms, and the Ardoni. We must retreat.'
"'If we retreat,' my brother, Pythus, interjected, 'you will bring shame upon our lineage and draw question upon your right to the crown.'
"'So be it.' My father looked old at that instant. 'I would rather save the lives of our people, than to risk everything for gain.' He looked at his sons. 'But most importantly, I hope for a brighter future in the Nether for you, Pythus, and you, Volcannus.'
"'You were supposed to be the pride of the Nether!' Pythus yelled at my father. 'Why did you order retreat on the verge of greatness!'
"'If you are the king,' Kronos said calmly. 'You must learn the balance between conquest and the wellbeing of your people. Everything, the wither skeletons, the withers, the ghasts, the piglins are all our subjects. I am responsible for them.'
"'COWARD!' My brother sunk his axe into my father's chest, and when he pulled it out, there was a splinter on the edge.
Volcannus gasped awake, panting. Ever since Pythus moved them to Crown Peak, this nightmare has been haunting him more and more. Pushing aside his soaked covers, he walked to the window overlooking the city below, showered by the light summer moon. The baby ghast, Kiki, looked up from her shelf.
Sometimes, he wished there was another way for the Nether to conquer realms. When they first came here, the city was built from grey stone and brown wood, not yellow endstone or purple chorus logs. But now, the city is flooding with lava. Dark purple Netherrack replaced the stone streets, and wither skeletons patrolled the roads. The humans had a much brighter life before they come here. The sinister aura exuded by his brother, Pythus, seems to grow on this world, like a tumor on a Piglin's foot. Would his father had done this, if he conquered the overworld?
He must right his family's wrong doings, and bring balance to the three realms. He patted Kiki in her sleep. The baby ghast purred upon his touch. Perhaps, for the first time in Netheran history, allying with the Enderknights is the only option.
"I now sit upon the throne of not only one, but two dimensions." Morning was half gone and Pythus has summoned Ingressus into his audience. "Once I have had my fun with the Overworld and expunged whatever resources it has to offer me, I think I will visit the End." He placed his leg on the arm of the Throne. "I will conquer that dimension as well and defeat the girl who dares call herself 'queen.'"
"I am pleased to know that you have everything we agreed upon." Ingressus replied. He did not come here to hear this Netheran gloat.
"Oh I have a lot more than what we agreed." Pythus removed his legs and stared at the Ardoni before him. "but you? Still only two Prime Songs. You know I could help you, but the sooner you get the Prime Songs," He leaned back, "the sooner you'll no longer need my help. And what then?"
"I assure you, King Pythus, I have no desire to sit on thrones or to rule Ardonia." Ingressus bowed slightly.
"Of course not!" Pythus cackled, running his hand along his axe. "That is what they all say, until they've been given a taste of power." He leaned forward, placing his head in his hand. "I like you Ingressus, you're wiser than most, but do not mistake this alliance as even the slightest form of friendship."
"I understand, King Pythus." Ingressus replied. "Our paths cross for our mutual benefit. I only seek justice and welfare for my people."
"You sound like my father." The missing piece on his axe glinted in the sunlight.