u/Checky_3rd

I personally think this could have happened more or less, the scaling for Tanjiro surviving Kokushibo Pre-13th form is a bit iffy but I don't mind it overall.

Zuko has nichirin ore inside his dual swords.

Round 1: Zuko gets brought back to full health upon winning a match-up

Round 2: Has knowledge about his Round 1 performance and Sozin's Comet spawns in amplifying his Bending, but doesn't get healed or breaks between matches.

Wincons: Killing your opponent, outlasting them, knocking them unconcious or restraining them unbale to move.

Zuko's scaling:
Attack Potency = Town+ Level
Speed = Massively Hypersonic+

Note: Fodder and Lower Moon Tiers are debatable honestly.

1st picture is Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander
2nd picture is Flavius Valerius Severus
3rd picture is Libius Severus "Serpentius"
4th picture is Alexandros Macedonian

Now, what do I mean about Severus Alexander giving historiographers a "headache" ?
Well, to put it simply, Severus Alexander was the last member of the Severan Dynasty, a.k.a. he is the last descendant of Septimius Severus to rule Rome, and he is usually attested to be "Severus I" while Flavius Valerius Severus and Libius Severus "Serpentius" are numbered as II and III respectively.

I disagree with this numbering, considering how Severus Alexander's first name was Alexander, not Severus, he had the name Severus as to claim legitimacy from Septimius Severus, heck, he isn't the only Emperor to have done so, regardless if they were blood related or not to Septimius, such as Macrinus.

Instead, I propose we should refer to him as Alexander I and to the son of Basileios I as Alexandros II, and the Caesar of Constantius I, being numbered as Severus I, while Libius Severus as Severus II. That way, we can be consistent with Medieval Roman Emperors being the successors of Ancient Roman Emperors.

So, in conclusion on how they should be numbered in chronological list:

Alexander I Severan (222-235)
Severus I (306-307)
Severus II "Serpentius" (461-465)
Alexandros II Macedonian (912-913)

Basileus & Augustus Theophilos Amorian.

He is an underrated Emperor who won several victories against the Saracens, and always having a surplus in the Imperial Treasury during his reign. I would actually have him be the Anastasius to Iustinianus, in that he prepared the Empire to begin one of it's many golden ages. In this case, due to Theophilos's policies in economy, military and religious affairs, did we get the Macedonian Renaissance as what historians call it, he is also 2nd to last Emperor of the Amorian Dynasty and 3rd to last Emperor of the Basileia Period (641-886)

I highly advise you guys checking out his reign.

Year: 800 AD

Political situation of the Roman Empire: Two Separate States.

Dynasties of the Empire:
🟪Heraclian
🟥Tiberian.

Emperors:

🟪- Basileus & Augustus Ioustinianos III
🟪- Augusta Prokopia
🟪- Augustus Herakleios Ioustinianos (b. 788)

🟥- Augustus Tiberius IV Faber Lignarius
🟥- Augusta Euphrosyna
🟥- Caesar Hadrianus
🟥- Caesar Stephanus

Capitals of the Empire:
🟪- Constantinople
🟥- Rome

Summary of this alternative history:
In the year 800 of our Lord, on Easter Day, Carolus Magnus*, King of the Franks, is crowned by* Pope Leo III as "Emperor of Francia, Lombardia and Germania", the first time a man other than a Roman was bestowed the title of Emperor*.*

Beginning with Eastern Rome, The Empire in the East sat in a precautious position, on one hand, they had just won a remarkable victory in Taurica, expanding the Roman frontier beyond the Heraclian Wall in Taurica, on the other hand, not too long ago, they had lost 2 "Tagmas" to the Bulgars, with Moesia and most of Thracia being lost, to make matters worse, Emperor Valentinus IV was forced to submit to Khagan Telerig, and bestow him the prestigious title of Caesar*. Upon this humiliation, in 776, he was deposed by his brother-in-law,* Ioustinos Alexandros, cutting his tongue and blinding him, and sending him to a monastery in Western Anatolia, he then quickly raised his son, Ioustinianos, to the Imperial throne, acting as Regent for his under-age son. Regent Ioustinos quickly dealt with the raiding arab parties in Anatolia, and secured his own- his son's rule throughout the Empire.

In the Middle East, The Abbasids began slowly entering their Golden Age, winning the 1st Abbasid-Aghlabid War, and began to slowly rebuild or reinforce infrastructre in Egypt, Syria and Mesopotamia. The Caliph also issued new tax reforms and laws which strengthed the state from within.

In Francia, Thanks to the efforts of Carolus Magnus and his younger brother, Karlmann, Germania and Pannonia were secured. Forts, roads, towns and churches were build all around the de facto Empire of the Franks. The Frankish language and culture spread across Western and Central Europe, and everyone in Europe heard the tales of Carolus, son of Pepin, and his military and diplomatic achievements. In 783, Emperor Heraclius IV launched a massive campaign into what remained of the Lombard state, and after consecutive wins, it looked like the Romans would finally destroy the Kingdom and bring glory back to their Empire, Carolus understood that having a strong Rome in his south was not ideal for his plans, so he quickly invaded the Lombards from Mediolanum, capturing several villages and cities until reaching the Roman Comitatenses who were marching from Parma upon siezing it. The Armies stared each other down until envoys were sent and each army retreated back.
Carolus proposed a deal to Emperor Heraclius IV, he would retreat from the occupied territories, and in exchange, Venice, the roman client kingdom would gain full independence and shall annex the territories north of the Po river. The Romans ultimately accepted, this was one of the pitoval moments in which Carolus asserted his hegemony over Europe.

In Pannonia, The Avar Khaganate was no more, being squeezed in between the Franks and Bulgarians, the last Avar ruler, Bayan IV was last seen fleeing the battlefield against the Bulgar Khagan Telerig. most of Avaria was incorporated into the Bulgar Khanate, while the rest was made into a puppet Panonian state by Carolus. By 796, Khagan Krum ascended as the Bulgarian Tsar, officially, he is the First Bulgarian ruler to refer to himself as "Tsar of all Bulgarians", and was a great military leader as well as reformer, bringing the Bulgar Khaganate out of it's nomadic traditions and implementing several Roman, Slavic or Greek elements into his state, reforming it, and beginning the Bulgarian Golden Age.

As for Hispania, the Visigothic Kingdom, once a formidable foe, began to crack after the death of Reccared III "The Great" , and the ascension of his weak inexperienced son, Petrus "The Roman", whose mother was the daughter of a Roman Patrician, the nobility raised several candidates to the throne, who started fighting one another, sparking the 11-year long Visigothic Civil War.

In Africa, The Ummayad Emirate, while seemingly weak and in a hopeless situation, managed to fend off Abbasid raids into their territories, and their newly built navy managed to win several engagements with the Abbasid navy. Securing a truce with the Caliphate, the Emirate looked west, eyeing up Visigothic Africa, sending an expedition in 772, it ended in a disaster, with 2/3 of the army being decimated by a much bigger Visigothic one, the Emirate had to opt for truce, in which it allowed their enemy to expand their influence more in the region.

In Western Rome, Emperor Heraclius IV died in 791, having fathered only a daughter, he was succeeded by his son-in-law, Tiberius Bonitus. Tiberius IV was known due to his father, Bonitus being the Emperor's personal carpenter, thus, the epithet. He was loved by the people of Rome, and he was usually seen hanging out with the soldiers in their headquarters, drilling and learning new tactics. Emperor Tiberius also finally recognised the legitimacy of Ioustinianos III in the East, both Emperors serving as Consul for the year 797. the Roman Dromon was famously upgraded and expanded during his reign, as the Imperial Fleet patrolled the Western Mediterranian, hunting the Muslim pirates and showing it's superiority. Sardinia and Sicily's Tax base was increased in favor of lowering prices and importing several goods to the islands. When Pope Leo III crowned the Frankish King Carolus as "Emperor" , he also was present, showing face and acting amicably, but both knew the tension that was in the air, both felt a sense of rivalry between them, or so Tiberius thought in his biography he wrote in his later years.

By 800, the Roman Empire was barely one anymore, both halves recognizing the other as independent and separate states, the Senates in Rome and New Rome issued a degree, formally splitting the Empire into 2 Romes, East and West, thus, de jure, the Roman Empire ceased to exist, now in it's place, 2 heirs of the mantle of Rome. Both Empires recognized each other's legitimacy, however it would need to be seen if that will stay the case. How would the Two Romes fare going into the 9th century? Can we even predict what might happen next? Who knows, but what we do know is that this chapter ends here, for now...

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Note: Thank you so much for the support given to this series so far. I really appreciate the feedback this is getting. I believe this is a good opportunity to pause for a bit, let the story sink in, more people check it out, and maybe in a week or two continue it if it gets enough support. I WANT to continue it, but I also don't know for how long would I continue it for, and how to end it, so I need to be sure. Anyways, thank you again, you can always ask questions down below about the lore, I will make sure to answer all of your questions. With that being said, I wish you a Happy Easter.

Year: 760 AD

Political situation of the Roman Empire: Two Admnistrative Regions.

Dynasty of the Empire: Heraclian.

Emperors:

🟪- Basileus & Augustus Valentinus IV
🟪- Caesar Ioustinos Alexandros (brother-in-law of the Emperor)

🟥- Augustus Heraclius IV
🟥- Augusta Rosalia

Capitals of the Empire:
🟪- Constantinople
🟥- Rome

Summary of this alternative history:
In the year 760 of our Lord, the political situation of Europe, Africa and the Middle East drastically changed.

In the East, following the disastrous civil war of 749-753 of the Islamic Caliphate, the Ummayad Dynasty fled to their hard-won campaigns in Roman Africa, Persia and it's surroundings falling to a rival claimant of the mantle of Caliph, and the Abbasids usurping the title from the Ummayads.

In Gaul, Childeric III and his successor, Pepin the Short managed to incorporate more of Germania into their domain, and even won a decisive battle against the Norse warriors to the north. Consolidating much of Central Europe and solidifying their position in Italy, they quickly became a powerful state in Europe, even recognized by the Pope and Emperor in Rome.

In Pannonia, The Avar Khagan, Kazrig II "The Butcher" managed to repel the Bulgar Khagan Kormisosh, managing to retake much of their lands west of the carpathian mountains. Kazrig also is notably known for displaying his Bulgar prisoners' heads along the way back to his capital, earning him a infamous reputation to the Bulgars.

As for Visigothia, for about a few decades now, the Visigothic Kingdom is experiencing a golden age of sorts, both administratively and militarily, with Sisenand II's son, Reccared III "The Great" being praised to be the restorer of Gothic glory, winning him a reputation among the Europe.

In the Eastern Empire, while the Arab Civil Strife was happening, Emperor Constantinus V managed to successfully reconquer Hellas, while his energetic son lead a campaign in Taurica, quickly subduing it and setting up Roman fortifications and settlements, both came back to New Rome in a joint Triumph, and celebrating their victories for over 30 days.

In the Western Empire, Constans III introduced several reforms in both administrative and military matters, as well as visiting Constantinople and his cousin on various occasions, one of those occasions, he was allowed to come back with 30.000 veterans who would integrate and settle in Italia and the Imperial Army, where he reformed the Theme System, and blending in both Eastern and Western tactics and equipment, just in time for King Aistulf of the Lombards to suddenly die of "fever" or in his sleep, launching the remains of the Lombard realm into a civil war, the perfect opportunity for Emperor Constans III and his son Heraclius to reconquer Roman territory.

By 760, the situation of the Empire seemed more promising, the Arabs were fractured, the Franks and Goths were dominating Western and Central Europe and the Bulgar and Avar Empires were at each other's throats. What would happen next? What happened to Roman Africa and their Berber Allies? Why is Visigothia so strong? Are the Lombards on the verge of collapse? So many questions, yet so few answers...

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Note: Many factors and events, such as the Golden Age in Visigothia are stories of their own, I don't have the time or space to fit ALL of them into one post, so keep in mind that most of the stuff that happens off-screen is really detailed and packed with interesting twists, I will try my best to answer anyone curious about something that happened in the story, so the extra lore, you may find it in the comments, thank you so much for reading, and I WISH YOU A HAPPY EASTER.

Year: 737 AD

Political situation of the Roman Empire: Two Admnistrative Regions.

Dynasty of the Empire: Heraclian.

Emperors:

🟪- Basileus & Augustus Constantinus V
🟪- Augusta Pulcheria
🟪- Augustus Valentinos Konstantinos (b. 732)

🟥- Augustus & Basileus Constans III
🟥- Augusta Euphemia
🟥- Caesar Heraclius Constans (b. 729)

Capitals of the Empire:
🟪- Constantinople
🟥- Rome

Summary of this alternative history:
After the death of Emperor Iustinianus II in 721 AD, the Roman state endured, though no longer governed from a single center. The administrative division first re-established under Constans II had by this time solidified into a permanent arrangement, with two imperial courts ruling in concert. On paper, there was still ONE Empire, but practically, both the Senate in Constantinople, and the one in Rome, as well as it's Emperors, began seeing their own administrative halves as their own, rather than theoretically sharing it with their Co-Emperor from the other side.

In the East, Constantinus V held court at New Rome, now more commonly as "Constantinople", exercising authority over the Eastern provinces and holding back the Islamic Caliphate from penetrating into Europe.
Contemporary accounts describe him as both active in military affairs and attentive to civil administration, often appearing among the populace. Under his rule, the thematic system was strengthened, and the eastern frontiers were more firmly defended against the forces of the Umayyad Caliphate, whose pressure, though constant, had been checked in several campaigns. (The Second Siege of Constantinople in 717, Anatolian raids from 720-726, and the annexation of Cyprus in 733). While on the flipside, The Empire under Constantinus managed to decisively win against the Bulgars while they were preoccupied north fighting the Avars, The Khazar Khagan was slain at the battle of Chersonesus and his brother-in-law being captured trying to invade Lazica.

In the West, imperial authority was maintained by Emperor Constans III, ruling since late 715, Constans proved to be a formidable ruler. The position of the Western court was less secure. While Italy remained a battle ground between the Lombards and Romans, much of Gaul was contested by the rising power of the Frankish Kingdom. Relations alternated between conflict and accommodation, as the Romans teamed up with the Franks in a co-invasion of the Lombards in spring of 733, with the Romans notably dismantling the Lombard vassals in central Italy, although, the Emperor had to relocate the capital back to the Eternal City as Ravenna was ravaged by an earthquake, and it's walls were heavily damaged to the point it was asking to be sieged by the enemy.

In Hispania, the Visigothic Kingdom persisted after a long period of civil strife, with the rise of Sisenand II to the Visigothic throne, he managed to unite all of the nobles in his realm, and pushed all the way into the Roman Province of Mauretania, stripping Roman access to the Atlantic Ocean and setting up several fortresses along the coast.

Africa in the meanwhile, was struggling to hold the Arab armies sent one, after another, even with improved quality equipment for the troops and the assistance of their Berber allies, the African Exarch Stephanus Iulianus Anician unfortunately lost the battle of Thysdrus, losing almost 9.000 men, this solidified Arab rule in the region. Upon this loss, the Exarch hanged himself out of shame, or so it was said...he was later replaced by Exarch Gennadius IV.

Thus, by the year 737, the Roman Empire continued as a unified polity in name and tradition, though governed through two imperial administrations. This arrangement, born of necessity, had thus far preserved the state, though its long-term stability remained uncertain...

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Note: I'll try to keep the summaries way shorter than in Part II, for the extra lore, I can always answer in the comments of course. Thank you for reading, and Happy Easter to whoever is celebrating it.

Year: 713 AD

Political situation of the Roman Empire: Two Admnistrative Regions.

Dynasty of the Empire: Heraclian.

Emperors:

🟪- Basileus & Augustus Iustinianus II
🟪- Augusta Eudocia
🟪- Augustus & Basileus Konstantinos (b. 697)

🟥- Augustus & Basileus Tiberius III
🟥- Augusta Fausta
🟥- Augustus Constans (b. 692)

Capitals of the Empire:
🟪- Constantinople
🟥- Ravenna

Summary of this alternative history:
- Starting from Autumn of 700 AD, following the sudden death of Emperor Heraclius III, his brother, Tiberius ascended as the Senior Emperor in the West, and a period of 2 weeks of mourning were held in honor of Heraclius III. Normally, it was to be expected that the new Emperor, brother or not, would sideline his late brother's wife and son in order to gain more power for himself, Tiberius was not like that, he deeply cared for his nephew, and he didn't intend on marrying or having children of his own, he has decided that for a long time now.

And so, a few years of relative peace passed, Tiberius was hard at work, continuing his brother's policies of rebuilding roads, reinforcing forts, and recruiting more and more young men into the army. Diplomatically, he finally managed to re-assert the Empire's influence on the more civilized berber tribes in Africa, as well as introducing several tax reforms improving the income the Empire received.

However, peace was not to be. In 703, Hasan ibn al-Nu'man was sent by the Caliph to conquer Carthage and it's surroundings.
The first major engagements were fought for at Leptis Magna, Roman infantry engaged in brutal street-by-street combat to dislodge Arab divisions, however, while the Romans and their Berber allies fought valiantly, they lost. Shortly after, near Hadrumetum, a fresh Arab force came and united with Hassan's forces, in which the Muslims managed to secure a decisive victory, killing many of the Berber forces and routing the Roman forces to retreat. These victories opened the road to the conquest of Africa.

By 704, Arab forces marched towards Carthage. Emperor Tiberius III was notified of the on-going Muslim campaign, and with the African Exarchate's forces being non-existant by this point, he himself embarked with 7.000 men and sailed to Africa. Meanwhile, a fierce woman who wanted to avenge her fallen Berber men rose in prominence out of the Aures Mountains, leading a small but efficient force of her own.

Fast-forward 7 months, the campaign for the Arabs began to be slow and exhausting. The land had been devasted by the Romans and Berber forces, to limit supplies for the enemies, and Arab troops suffered heavily from heat, disease, and supply shortages. Progress came through constant skirmishing, with fortified positions and ruined towns changing hands repeatedly. At one time, even Tiberius and Dihya considered the option of abandoning these tactics and hide in their cities, but espite these difficulties, the allied army maintained cohesion, combining Roman discipline in pitched engagements with Berber mobility on the flanks, and the locals supporting them, Hassan was forced to abandon the campaign, but not before setting up forts and control over in Leptis Magna and the surrounding regions.

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Meanwhile, in the East, Emperor Iustinianus II was preparing an expedition in Macedonia, wanting to re-assert control over the region, before he could begin his march from Adrianoupolis,, a messenger came in, informing of the newly appointed Strategos of the Helladikon Thema, Leon (previously known as Konon) having started his own expedition in the Peloponnese with around 3.000 men. The Emperor, furious for such disloyalty, sailed to Athens, and caught up to a now victorious Leon, who conquered Corinth adn was preparing for a march towards the ancient city of Sparta. Leon, apprehended and thrown to the Emperor's feet, pleaded for mercy and stated that he only had the best interests for the Empire at heart, and was conducting this expedition in his name, and the conquests, were in the name of the Emperor, Iustinianus however had none of that, taking him to Athens, and publicly executing him for treason. Following this event, and the appointment of another Strategos of the Theme, Iustinianus sailed back to Adrianoupolis, but by the time he got back to his assembled force, it was too late, the Bulgars found out about the planned expedition, and launched several raids across Moesia and Thrace, what's worse, word came from the West and East, the Arabs launching a campaign in Africa, with the West seeking support, and in the East, the Caliph sent an army besieging several forts in Armenia and Albania.

Iustinianus left 4.000 men with the newly appointed Strategos of the Makedonikon Theme, Anastasios, in order to deal with the Bulgars and their slavic allies, while the Emperor headed East. Iustinianus unfortunately could not help his uncle in the west, they would have to fend off for themselves. After a few inconclusive battles on the Armenian highlands, and the threat of the Bulgars reaching Constantinople, The Emperor agreed to a peace deal with the Arabs, where the tribute would be changed to 500 gold nomismata, 20 horses and 10 slaves per year be given to the Empire, The Client Kingdom of Albania being recognized to be under the Caliphate's "protection" and the transfer of 10.000 Mardaite christians from Syria, to be settled in Hellas and Thrace.

By the time of this peace deal, the Western Empire managed to keep a hold on their African holdings, and when the Emperor arrived in Rome for celebrations, word came that the Lombards crossed the border and are headed straight for Ravenna.
The Emperor send a delegation to the East, again asking for support, while he marched quickly to Ravenna, to defend his capital.

By 709, The Lombards had completely seized control of all Roman lands in Italy, save for the fortified cities and islands, while Iustinianus managed to win a costly battle against the Bulgars at Adrianoupolis, agreeing to pay 25.000 gold nomismata and a 5-year annual tribute of 5.000 nomismata.
Following this, Iustinianus II finally embarked on the fleet with 12.000 men towards Syracuse, where he finally and formally met his cousin, Constans, now 12 years old, with his mother, Fausta, his own son, Konstantinos is said to have liked the company of Constans.
Afterwards, The Eastern Emperor marched north to Messene, and crossed into Calabria, with most of the local population joining his army, he liberated the occupied land and defeated several scouting and small lombard divisions on his way to Naples, there, he detached a part of his army, and assigned Konstantinos to reclaim the occupied region of Apulia, while he would march straight to Rome, to relieve it from the on-going siege.
By the time he was within 30 kms of the city, the Lombard army sieging the Eternal city retreated towards Tuscany, upon entering the Eternal City, he met up with Pope Constantinus, the current Consul of the Senate and several other senators, who all treated him with respect (and some with fear), after recruiting a few men from the city to his army, Iustinianus sent a delegation to his uncle in Ravenna in order to coordinate their armies.

By 711 AD, After constant back and forth occupying and liberating cities and towns, the Lombard King Aripert II met up with Iustinianus and Tiberius's forces close to the city of Perusia, where both the Roman and Lombard armies suffered loses, ending up in a inconclusive battle. The 2 Emperors then met in Rome, with the Pope as a mediator, for a peace treaty. In which the Romans and the Lombards would keep their current occupied territory, and Venetia gaining more autonomy, becoming a somewhat "vassal" of the Romans.

By 713 AD, both halves of the Empire were exhausted, things seemed dire at the time, and many feared that Rome would soon fall...The Arabs were itching for another go at Africa and the Caucasus, the Bulgars were eyeing more of Roman territory in the Balkans, and while the Lombards plunged into a internal crisis of their own in 712, they didn't forget about the "humiliation" brought to them in their war.

How would the Roman Empire deal with the crises that will follow? What do you think will happen? Will the Romans slowly fall in relevance like in our timeline? or will they rise like phoenix? Only time will tell.

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Note: Further lore or explanations could be asked in the comments, I will try my best to answer them. Thank you for reading.