A/N: taking a long vacation, won't be back until March 8th or 7th
Fire was important during this period, some believe that fire is the beginning of everything, light the match and the fire will create life, and that life will create us.
For the faith of Zoroastrianism, fire is the symbol of purity, truth, and divine energy of the all mighty creator, it's mainly used as a focal point for prayer, representing the fight against darkness and representing wisdom.
As such when the Islamic Arabs torched the capital in which at this point held a royal fire which was not only used to show the royalty of the Shāh but also a strong point of Zoroastrianist faith.
So when the Arabs started to torch the capital it was not only seen as a complete and utter destruction but also blasphemy.
Now, I, the Prince of Persia am at a line between two choices, A) go the 21st century route, and attempt a peace or go B) the 7th century route and possibly completely destroy the Islamic faith.
Don't get me wrong, a counterattack will exist after I'm done killing everyone here, as such I'm already planning ahead.
"Please!" A man under my boot begged.
"Hm?" I turned to him.
"I… I have family! M-money!" Different languages made my understanding of what he was saying but I quickly understood it with a few words.
"So did my people" was this hypocritical? Yes.
Did those people I slaughtered at the Tang's last court had families? Did the men my troops killed have families as I took my time conquering Pala and the rest of China?
I am a flawed and hypocritical person.
And that's fine.
I'm okay with that.
My sword slit his throat and he began to choke on his own blood as I stepped over his dying body.
I do not know why I question myself, I often find myself wondering how historians will document me, will I be a tyrant? A great conqueror like Alexander? Will I be found to be the same as Ceaser?
These questions often surround me as I do anything.
But now?
Now I don't care.
Maybe it was my brother dying, maybe it's my beast nature coming forth, maybe it's just the true me; either way, it no longer matters, I will who I am.
No more pretending.
Blood came from another Arab, this time from an arm being sliced off as he screamed, he didn't have time to do much else as my sword found his sternum and ended his life.
I don't know why I'm even thinking of this, I didn't even care in the beginning.
"Hey, you" I pointed at a terrified Arab who was visibly shaking, which is impressive considering I only killed five or so people, was it because several swords broke on my skin?
"Who's your commander?" I asked, I only wanted a name so I can put on their tombstone.
Spelled incorrectly of course.
"Uthman" as I suspected it was Uthman Rashidun, I knew several things to make him pay for this transgression.
"Thanks" he didn't have much to say as I manipulated the iron in his blood to make small spikes to kill him from the inside out, to the outside world he only collapsed in either fear or died on the spot.
My troops must be killing a lot as the screams are starting to get sparse. The fires on the other hand are getting worse.
With a wave of my left had I extinguished the fires, it was special, Absolute Magic Dominion was really special, I could do anything and I've been limiting myself to only offensive stuff.
I could create a futuristic civilization if I wanted to, give myself infinite life, hell, I could probably summon a heroic spirit from the future if I tried.
Instead I call down meteors and create elemental attacks.
Am I possibly a waste of potential?
Am I the Potential Man?
Nah.
I can shoot lightning bolts.
With the fires extinguished I only exhaled as I came across what could only be called the 'rallying point' of the Arabs.
"Found you" I spoke as I counted them nearly a hundred in the market district, I remembered how bustling it was.
I saw eyes widened and panicked movements as swords and arrows were drawn, yet I didn't move, it wouldn't matter as none of their attacks can even harm me.
"Where's Uthman?" I asked as I leaned against a wooden pole of a market stall, I feel as if I am detached from… all of this.
I feel as if I'm an outsider in my own home and I despise it.
"Our-" I interrupted him.
"I am Afsaneh, the brother of the Shāh, 'Prince of Persia', 'Flame of Persia', or 'Saoshyant' I am here to end… this" I waved at everything that they've done
I stepped over a child with an arrow to her back, a common sight when assaulting any city.
"Secure him" a commander, I guessed, gave his order as fire licked my sword and forearms.
"I'm… I'm kind, so I'll give you until sunrise, to bring me Uthman to the gates of my capital, if you are unable to do this, then the consequences will be greater than you are willing to pay" I spoke as I turned the three nearest men to me to ashes quicker than they could scream.
"So run or panic, it won't matter, you will do as I say" I said before I unleashed hell, I didn't make the fire too hot, only enough to make it extremely painful.
Not first, nor second, I made sure the burns I gave them all were third degree,the screams were immediate and the panic set in only a second after, with dust kicked up, I quickly lost them to the dust they kicked up in their panic.
I let them go, I have nothing to gain from killing fleeing cockroaches.
Even if they're in my house…
I sighed as I felt my heart ache for the lives lost, I didn't know them, nor did I really care, it only made things worse in terms of paperwork and taxes.
"Damn… I have no clue how to move forwards with this… situation" I scratched my head, I am a conqueror, not a ruler, sure I'm good with a handful of taxes, but with the finer details I'm worth nothing.
Common sense at this time is broken and I don't want to hear about a crime considering goats or something similar.
I sighed again as I stared at the destruction around me, tens of dead bodies laying on the ground, food and other common goods covered the ground.
I didn't look like a king of kings here, I looked like a kid in the middle of a trashed road.
"My Prince, most of the Arabs have been slaughtered, what are your commands?" I heard my advisor speak behind me.
How did he even get here? Didn't I lose him?
Eh, I don't really care.
"Repair, feed, and heal" I kept it short, these thoughts are distracting me in all honesty.
My Advisor only nodded as he shuffled away as I walked towards the center of the market district, a water fountain, it stood for nearly a hundred years and yet, the water had stopped and it was missing one half of its side.
I sat on top of it, seeing how its flat on top. It made a fine small seat to contemplate on my decisions.
So here's why I'm thinking, rebuild, obviously, but also punishment. Punishment isn't something I don't want to touch but the people I'll rule under will beg for blood after this if they will not already.
So I know for the fact I will conquer their lands, but I can't shake the feeling that this was something else, why would the Arabs even come here? Shouldn't my conquest to the west be an indicator for my strength?
Was time that streamlined? Could I not fight the Islamic golden age due to the fact that time itself will reroute itself to follow the canon one of fate.
But that comes the question: which fate? Will there even be a holy grail war? Will I even be summoned? Will there even be a Grand Order?
What if I end up in that damnable NTR timeline?!
I shook my head as I forced myself to remove that thought from my head as I flexed a bit of magic, to properly get time to what I want it'll require a bit more elbow grease than what I was used to.
It wasn't like my first time doing this, when I was like four or something I bent the time to erase a civil war that almost broke out, as such completely forcing time to go my way took a bit more than I was used to.
But it was doable.
However, another question to pose, should I? I mean, I have no idea what the future would ever be, so what if I changed something that'll be interesting.
It was a crossroads that someone like Zelretch probably didn't have to face.
I could potentially replicate the Kaleidoscope but I'm not sure if I want to go to other universes, as I don't want to accidentally appear in front of Beerus and get one-tapped or something stupid like that.
I sighed as I stood up as I rolled my shoulders.
"Okay… rebuilding then…" I jumped off the water fountain.
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Omake (Non-Cannon)
The Flame of Persia
Ragnarok was something in mythology that was said to be the definitive end, and yet, here she was facing the gods for humanity's survival, Brunehilde was frowning as she surfed through the records she was given to choose the strongest humans.
"Sister!" Hlökk walked in upset her sister, choosing her for Volund against the Demigod Hercules "humanity is down 2 - 1 you better have chosen someone good!"
"Don't worry little sister, I've chosen someone who's already fought multiple gods and won in his life" Brunehilde gave her a sinister smirk that made Hlökk slightly uncomfortable.
"Really?! You'd expect me to believe that there's a human to win against a god and you're saying they beat multiple ones?" Hlökk crossed her arms as she frowned.
"A hero for a hero!" Brunehild selected the fighter and Hlökk immediately felt shocked
"Are… are you joking?!" Hlökk stared at the image of the person on screen, tan skin, brown hair that barely covered his ears, a curled mustache with a well groomed beard.
"Afsaneh Sasanian?! Are you kidding me?!" Hlökk screamed at her sister as she started bringing the Flame of Persia forth.
"W-wait! M-my hair! My dress… oh no, m-my room!" Hlökk shook with embarrassment as the man came forth from time.
"Now this… this wasn't on the schedule of today" Afsaneh stared at Brunehilde.
"…you better explain this" Afsaneh spoke as he sensed something terribly wrong with the man's in the air.
"Afsaneh Sasanian, I, Brunehilde of the Valkyries have selected you as a fighter for humanity to win against the gods in Ragnarok!" Brunehilde spoke.
"Okay" this made Brunehilde blink twice in confusion.
"That… that quickly?" Brunehilde spoke confusedly.
"Yeah, I mean, from what I feel if you needed to summon me, something terrible must've happened right?" Afsaneh spoke with a shrug.
"Just tell me who's head I gotta make sight see" Afsaneh said with a smirk.
"It's Hercules" Brunehilde gave the gods name to the fighter and waited for a reaction, only to get none
"Ah, that'll be a small bump" Afsaneh waved the concern away.
"H-hello, m-Mr. Sasanian" Hlökk was never nervous, however with the literal and only man who claimed the title of Flame of Persia she was slightly embarrassed.
"Aww… look at her, she looks nice" Afsaneh patted her head as he walked past.
"Let's go you two, I'm interested in punching the face of this Hercules" Afsaneh walked away from them as both sisters couldn't help but sweatdrop at how eccentric the man is.