A/N: This is the new version of the previous Fictionpress novel that I had started, Sacrifices of Fire. Thank you for your support and I do hope you enjoy this new version. This version will be the entire backstory involving the main character, the Phoenix Empress but it will be told in the POV of Oma (de Fuarin) Tovar: Resistance Leader, Sergeant First Class and all around bad ass. Who this character is, where they come from, what they do?- read and find out.

Warning: Some chapters may contain refrences to torture: physical, mental, emotional and sexual. Rest assure that the rating will not rise about 'T' because I am not writing to create anything that's not appropriate for children under the age of 12. There will be violent scenes with tons of gore and blood so you are warned but those scenes aren't until later. I will warn you ahead of time if there is going to be a gory scene so then you can skip over it if you don't like those parts.

Reviews are highly recommended. Flames can happen but please, do not feel like this is something you have to immediately hate if you do not like kick-ass action, girl power, mythology/religion (but mostly mythology), sci-fi, and all around awesomeness.

Thank you.

Now on with the story...

Prologue:

Her entire world was in flames. Heavy merciless rain pounded against the heavy fabric of her cloak as it fluttered behind her in charred ribbons. Each breath was labored, forced even, while the last known survivor fled the scene, the light of the vicious flames, devouring the once glorious home of the Resistance, reflected off of the bloodied saber glued to her left hand. In the other, a revolver with one bullet remaining. Behind the escaping rebel, the hounds of the Empire barked wildly as they leaped over and through the crumbling city in pursuit of their unfortunate victim. The rebel, worn and dripping with blood and sweat, ran through less known paths that were littered with debris and scrap metal from constructing in a desperate effort to through off the fast approaching canines. Turning and twisting, the last living member of the Resistance maneuvered through the dangerous alleyways of the burning city that seemed unaffected by the pouring rain. The bright flames licked against her body as it spread like water, surrounding her in a ring of fire.

Coming to an abrupt halt, the rebel woman frantically scanned the area in search any escape route, any route that could save her. Not a single escape route presented itself, every one coming to a halt once they neared the ever growing barrier of flames. Sweat mixed with the rain dripped off of her as the thunderous barking of the Empire hounds neared her. The dark outlines of the hell beasts growing larger and larger. Until the hounds leapt through the pillar of flames, seemingly unaffected by the raging fires; their teeth tainted crimson from their previous hunt. Snarling while circling the survivor, the hounds narrowed their eyes. The crackling of the flames was the only indicator that time had not frozen but instead it had been the hounds, their bodies frozen in a crunching position with their teeth bared. Fear flooded her veins as the woman gripped the handle of the saber, knuckles turning white, while she tried to determine which one of the six hell hounds she was going to blow their brains out of. The closest one, seemingly the pack leader due to numerous scars, appeared to be the wisest choice if they were going to pounce. Yet they did not.

"What are they waiting for?" Thought the rebel, her body trembling from the adrenaline that coursed through her.

Her answer came in the form of a set of boots, clicking against the destroyed streets of Dver, the Capitol of the Resistance. The once glorious city shined with the glory of millenniums with the shadow of secrecy cloaking it's true nature. It was the home of some of the greatest figures to ever come into existence and it was the birthplace of democracy. But not anymore. Now it laid in ruins, burned down even as the gods cried for them. The gods! They could reverse this. Undo the horrors that were the Empire. The gods could stop this from ever happening. Her mind screamed at her foolishness to believe in such fairytales. If they did indeed have those abilities then why did they not do anything. Why did they remain silent as she drew her lasts breathes. Why?

No, the gods did not betray her. Not yet.

Suddenly her attention was snapped back into reality as the revolver in her hand started to tremble and whimper in- in fear? How could it, not even a living being, know what was coming. Something that could cause even the most inanimate objects to tremble in fear of. Something that which even the fiercest beasts, untamable and fearsome in their own right, tried to flee when caught in its sight. How was it possible that it created this amount of fear yet remained undetected like a storm's winds? Deadly yet invisible to the naked eyes. Did the knowledge of its owner's fate cause it to violently shake?

"Sergeant First Class Tovar." whispered the flames as the rhyme of the boots faded into nothing. "What an annoying little fox you are."

Teeth clenched, she tightened the death grip on her revolver as she tried to pinpoint the location of the monster. "Where are you?!"

"What are you feeling right now, I wonder? Misery? Depression? Aggravation?" It crackled, the flames growing darker with each passing seconds as the hounds moved into a patient but threatening stance. "Perhaps you have become numb with the knowledge of your comrades' demise. After all, you were the one responsible for this whole affair."

The sergeant visibly flinched when the monster announced the painful truth. Seeing this reaction, the dark fire only increased in size as it let out a deadly laugh that almost sent the sergeant to her knees.

"A pity really. Such promise wasted in a petty attempt at changing what is already done. Did you honestly think you could make a difference? That you could actually kill me?" It hissed, practically dripping with venom before it continued. "And you were so close, too."

Sergeant Tovar violently shook with fear and rage as the fire darkened until it was entirely dark maroon, nearly black. With its darkening color, the raging fire that entrapped her grew until it was twice her size. Suddenly, like a bee to a flower, the flames started to gather at one focal: right in front of Tovar.

"Tell me, Sergeant, how does it feel to be bathed in the blood of your comrades? To know that you are responsible for their deaths. To know that their children will grow up without mothers or fathers or perhaps neither. You've created orphans out of innocent children. How does it feel, Tovar? Do you feel like a monster?" The blackened flames howled as it compacted into a large spiral of flames, constantly spinning clockwise. Suddenly, a figure could be seen through the pillar of flames, its bright red and blue eyes glowing brilliantly from within.

"There you are." growled the last Resistance member, firing the last bullet into the pillar right between the eyes of the humanoid creature.

Its head snapped back from the impact if the bullet, vanquishing the pillars of flames but unfortunately not the monster. Crimson steam rose off of the creature as the beast returned its head to the original position, the titanium bullet falling out of it's entry wound, nothing more than a small crushed ball of deformed metal. Sergeant Tovar watched in horrified fascination as the wound healed itself in no time as the beast gave her a feral smile, brushing the invisible specks of dirt off of the perfect uniform it wore; the black cloak fluttering behind the creature only increasing its terrifying appearance.

"I thought you would have learned from the first time that that doesn't work with me, Oma." sneered the figure.

"It slowed you down though." Tovar replied with a huff as she felt her body start to betray her as exhaustion hit hard. Throwing the smoking revolver to the ground, the Resistance leader held the saber out in front of her, ready to strike down the enemy.

The smirk still in place, the monster unsheathed its own sword. Tovar eyes widened in shock as she gazed upon the legendary sword. It was longer than a short sword but a tad small than a long sword with a center blade, the longest, with two blades, one on each side, of different lengths that seemed to attract the light. The handle was surprisingly long with it's signature half star design emerging from the tip just like the other half was at the beginning of the blades. It truly was a magnificent weapon: Orion, Star Thief.

"You should surrender when you still have the chance, Sergeant. Your honor shall be wounded but you will be able to fight once more." the monster said as they clashed blades, sparks flying off in all directions.

"Not going to happen!" growled Tovar as she dodged the blades of Orion as she returned the strikes, a new energy surging through her body.

"Little fox, what do you hope to accomplish by fighting me?" taunted the monster, parrying each blow like they were harmless flies. "Your Resistance is dead, your friends are dead, even you are close to death. Are you that willing to become martyr?"

"No, I just value the lives of everyone else above my own." growled Tovar, bringing her sword down upon the monster's head. "Now die!"

"Ahh-!"

Blood erupted in a brilliant shower of gruesome crimson as the sword pierced through the skin and organs.

"You were always too slow... I hope your next life is better."

"W-why?"

The fire-like eyes narrowed as the blade twisted further and further into the dying body.

"Because... someone needed to end the war."

To Be Continued...

Already working on Chapter 1. I apologize in advance if my updating (and writing) comes slowly due to my laziness and new ideas that are constantly forming. Thank you for your support. It means a lot to me.

Well, the review button isn't go to push itself, peeps!