User blog comment:Zathronas/Analysis by an author: World of Remnant, Kingdoms/@comment-10390252-20140920133653

It's a plausible theory but why grind down Vale at all?

Oh, Atlas may think this is their own geopolitical scheme but I'm still thinking that someone else is manoeuvring the whole world towards a total disaster. The objective is to destroy all hint of civilisation (Human and Faunus alike). Why? When people have lost everything, they will follow anyone who offers strength and security.

I suspect the Black King (who, confusingly, Monty seems to have confirmed is a female character) has decided to play the Game of Thrones for the highest stakes and the grandest prize of all - the total and undisputed rulership of all intelligent life on Remnant. When one plays for such stakes, any amount of collateral damage is worth it.