Capítulo 47: Revolution
A large man walked through a partition behind the throne room. Coated in flowing molten gold armour, even his head was covered. With a golden mirror that masked his face. Broad shoulders that spoke of strength. And a presence. An oppressive presence that held nothing back.
Aldric felt it for the first time. Feeling as if his nerve endings were beneath flames, his brain sent signals of fear. His [Insight] attribute was going haywire. Responding to a sense of danger that was not present or tangible. His mind was in disarray however, a familiar calmness spread over the feeling of oppression. [Tranquil Core] calmed his chaotic mind. Now understanding the feeling for what it was, he thought to himself.
'What an echo.'
He looked away.
Knowing that it was at least a transcended rank echo, it was the best thing that Gunlaug could have had. With transcended durability, none of his enemies would have any weapons that could pierce through it. And the mind ability, giving him total dominance over the sleepers. It definitely used a lot of essence to maintain; however, with his weak aspect ability, he did not have much use for it anyway. It was not as if he could manipulate his soul essence.
'Was he fated to rule this place?'
Aldric thought to himself. As he saw the crowd begin to fall, succumbing to the force of the echo.
"It's lovely to meet you again, Effie. You really should have joined the Host when I had offered it to you. Now look, a reprehensible criminal that is answering for her crimes."
Gunlaug teased the huntress with his theatrics.
"Fuck off."
The huntress responded resolutely.
A stream of shouts exploded in the room. Some were angry with her insolence and shouting for an immediate execution, while others were shouting in her defence.
Nephis placed a hand on Effie's shoulder. Staring right at the Lord, she spoke.
"I invoke the right of challenge."
Gunlaug laughed at her response.
"That old thing? You seem fond of tradition, don't you? I am beginning to tire of your insolence, Changing Star!"
He continued.
"Should it not be the accused who makes her own challenge? What right do you have to say that in her place?"
Nephis calmly retorted.
"It's like what one of your minions said. A leader is responsible for those under them. I am responsible for their crimes."
Gunlaug entertained her request.
"And who is it that you will challenge?"
Nephis eyes twisted darkly with white flames rising beneath them.
"You. I challenge you."
Gunlaug was not surprised at her challenge. Wasting no time, molten gold swam across his arm and formed a battle axe around his hand. Sprinting into a lunge, he dashed towards her with earth-shattering strides.
His initial swing blitzed through and displaced the surrounding air. Nephis responded in fashion by parrying the attack to her side. However, that was not the end of the Bright Lord's attack.
His golden axe elongated. Liquid gold extending the reach of the battle axe, nicking her cheek as she jumped backwards. Damaging the helmet of her armour.
The battle has begun.
A flurry of attacks danced around the crowd. Sounds of clashes echoed around the hall. A powerful kick from Gunlaug sent Nephis crashing into the ground. With no pause, Gunalug pressed the advantage, giving her no reprieve. Nephis dodged his attack and created space.
The challenger was covered in cuts and injuries; however, the Lord was untouched.
It was clear to see who had the advantage; however, not a soul cheered. For they knew, in her shoes, they would be long dead.
With nothing to hold back, Nephis revealed her trump card. Glowing white light emanated from her skin, empowering her. The ability to wrap oneself in their aspect for power was not limited to just Sunny and Aldric. Nephis could utilise it too.
The deathmatch continued. Changing Star could now match and outspeed Gunlaug. Dents and cracks began to form in the seemingly invincible golden armour.
It was annoying to watch such a fight play out and just be stood there. Aldric was feeling restless, but he knew what was to come next. His role to play.
The flow of the battle had a stark change. Gunlaug turned his head to catch the young girl's reflection in his mask.
BOOM
A wave of oppressive aura spread throughout the room. Aldric simply looked away and focused his eyes on Nephis. It seemed not everyone was as informed as him. People dropped like flies as blood leaked from their orifices. Nephis was withstanding the brunt of the attack.
'She can't look away. This is her chance.'
Aldric thought to himself.
Gunlaug brutally took advantage of her inebriated condition, piercing a dagger formed out of gold through her chest and out of her back. The battle was seemingly over.
Even in her condition, Nephis held nothing back and battered his helmet with the pommel of her sword. Trying to deal as much damage as she could, even in her state. However, her true intentions were obvious to Aldric.
"CRACK"
His helmet began to weaken.
Gunlaug stepped back and removed his blade from her chest. Affording her a small mercy.
"Go on, heal yourself."
He spoke.
A bright light erupted from her as she shifted the focus of her aspect to heal herself.
PIERCE
His ruthless blade entered her newly healed chest with no mercy. Brutalising her with repeated stabs, he held nothing back.
Aldric gripped his sword tightly. Seeing this was revolting. It spoke of Nephis' conviction to endure so much to place herself in a winning condition. Anyone else would never consider facing Gunlaug one on one. But for her ambition, she had to win the battle on her own merit. To legitimise her claim for what was to happen next. It spoke of her danger. It was one thing to burn others to fuel your ambition, but to burn yourself like a dying star was beyond the confines of what was normal.
The Lord continued his assault.
"Oh, this is really fun. Go on, heal yourself."
Nephis met his gleeful voice with a dark look in her eyes.
With his blade still lodged in her ribcage, she gripped his shoulder and smashed her head against his helmet. The gem on her headband breaking through.
SHATTER
A hole formed where his nose bridge was. Revealing his murderous blue eyes.
"You bitch!"
'It's time.'
Aldric thought as he readied himself.
Nephis closed her eyes and turned around. With her fist closed, she opened it and blew harshly. A red miasma formed in front of her, seeping through Gunlaug's helmet. Entering through the hole, it spread around his head.
The Lord instinctively inhaled whatever the young girl released. Breathing was everything to him, hunting in the dark sea with nothing but a spear. With his aspect and his golden armour, he never had to consider holding his breath.
Bending over in a violent cough, the Lord shouted.
"What have you done to me, you bitch?!"
Embroiled in agony, Nephis healed her wounds. Her cuts and injuries began to knit themselves. Covered in her own blood and a face twisting in pain, she stood up.
"You are dead."
She spoke.
Immediately, a wave of shouts echoed in the room.
"Immortal Flame!"
"Immortal Flame!"
"Changing Star!"
With blood dripping down his helmet, the golden serpent groaned in pain. Letting out a shaky laugh, he took an unsteady step to Nephis. A muffled scream rumbled through his armour. Falling to one knee, his body convulsed as the poison spread through his system.
He tried to say something, but blood was all that came out.
"Rest easy; your nightmare is over."
Hearing her speak enraged him. Fighting through the blood, he spoke vindictively.
"Good, this is good. Yours is only beginning."
As if he were fine with his demise, he made his way back to his throne. Stumbling through each step. His armour was shifting in apparent panic.
Landing roughly on his throne, he viewed the crowd watching his final moments.
With his last breath, he spoke out.
"I..I tried. I really did."
With that, the Bright Lord had met his end.
His armour shattered into glimmering light. Revealing a handsome young man in his late twenties. With long blond hair and a short beard, his left eye had a crimson flower sprouting out of it. Creating a grotesque image of life and death.
Aldric was ready. With darkness seeping through his armour like a river and black clinging to the edge of his blade. Though that was not all, he covered himself in a brief shell of darkness. To silence his presence completely. He had utilised this trick before; however, training with the [Forsaken Knight] gave him a reference to learn from.
A rough voice shouted in the hall.
"What are you waiting for? Kill them all!"
That was his signal.
*********
Thanks for reading.
The war is upon us. How will Aldric's presence affect things?
Not much to say. Till next time.
Capítulo 48: War
The first guard to follow the commander's orders dropped to the ground. Blood spurting from his eye with a kunai lodged within.
Aldric stole a glance at Nephis. The victor was on her knees, harrowing with metaphysical agony.
'How much did she gain to not have considered saturating her core beforehand?'
He thought to himself.
Aldric focused on his opponent. During the planning beforehand, they were assigning each other opponents. Who would fight who after Nephis won her bout? Sunny had staked a claim on Harus. Not giving a reason, however, it was obvious to Aldric. Harus, representing an inevitable future that Sunny would have to fight against. Servitude.
Aldric wanted to fight the hunters. Faction leader Gemma and his small group of experienced hunters. It would be a challenging fight and would give him more renown for the hereafter. However, he would have to hold Tessai back from killing the downed Nephis. Caster could not deal with Tessai, so he chose to hold Gemma back. With Aldric's presence changing the balance of the war, Seishan sided with Nephis immediately. Launching a surprise on the castle guards while Aldric dealt with Tessai.
The morose giant began his charge towards the Changing Star. Cleaving the sleepers in his way, his skin began to glow a blue hue. Aldric was told that his aspect related to cold. Empowering himself and producing ice that could stiffen and slow down enemy movements.
Aldric began a dash to meet his opponent. Cutting down the brave castle guards that pushed forward in his way. His shell of darkness suppressed his presence, causing those around him to die before they even knew what killed them.
"Sorry for the interruption, but my friend isn't available right now. You'll have to deal with me."
Aldric spoke in a mocking voice, knowing of the anger that the man was harbouring from watching his leader murdered.
"Ah... The Dark Hunter. Let's see if you are as strong as they say."
A grin promising violence spread across his face as his frost began to spread on the head of his two-handed battle axe. He looked like a berserker.
It was time for Aldric to prove that his presence meant something. Nephis had put on such a show. After all, what would it say about him if this war resolved itself in the same way that he read long ago? That his existence and actions did not change a thing. He would not have that. His ego could not.
'This war will end before the sun sets.'
He calmly resolved himself. Setting his intentions, at his armoured left foot, a pool of darkness began to seep onto the ground. A horrific giant of darkness arose from the pool, unveiling itself like a demonic being.
The viscous darkness, covering the over two metre long being, began to drop of it like molten lava. Unearthing a monolith covered in black intricate armour. With a black great sword, its helmet had two curved horns that might have been wings once, but now crimson fire burnt from them. It's visor shone with black flames, a small core of red in its centre.
"My friend here will keep your minions occupied. Kill everyone wearing that badge."
He ordered.
The castle guards surrounding Aldric shivered in fear as the ghastly wraith set his eyes on them. A red fire burning beneath his visor.
The sleepers of the outer settlement had been briefed about each other's echos, so he was not worried about cross-fire.
SPLURT
Hearing screams of death and carnage behind him, he could feel the familiar feeling of sprites enter his soul core. Aldric focused on his opponent. The giant wasted no time in attacking, breaking into a wide lunge with his axe.
Parrying the blow with perfect timing, the herald of darkness performed a front kick to his opponent's chest. His boot met the ice-covered torso and bounced off. A layer of frost formed around his foot.
SHATTER
With a stomp, the frost shattered from his foot before it could spread any further. However, the chill was still present.
'Damn. I can't afford to touch him.'
Gripping his claymore with two hands, he dashed into a front swing. Halting the movement midway, he stepped into a lunge. His feint was crudely blocked by his opponent, who barely reacted in time. Pressing his advantage, more heavy attacks chipped away at his opponent's posture. A half-step delay here, a shuffle backwards. Applying pressure allowed Aldric to systematically weaken Tessai's defence, not giving a chance to counter.
Tessai did not expect the force of the hunters blows to be so powerful. However, a battle of attrition was his speciality.
Layers of frost began to form on Aldric's weapon and armour. Just being near his opponent, let alone trading blows, began to stiffen his movements and slow the movement of his aspect.
Aldric paused his offensive to take stock of the damage he accrued.
"Took you long enough, you idiot! Who told you fighting me face-to-face was a good idea?"
The giant mocked his opponent with glee.
Aldric released a breath that misted through the air.
He assessed the damage he had dealt to his enemy. A few cuts on his torso that began to close with frost encasing it.
Aldric closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Calming his mind. It seemed to Tessai that his opponent had lost his edge. In a battle, the worst thing that you could do was to lose your cool. His grin began to widen.
The leader of the castle guards had a sudden shift in facial expression.
'Why am I so cold?'
Usually the man was acclimated and resistant to his own aspect. So it had been a long time since he had felt the regular chill of coldness. With the feeling spreading from his wrists and seeping into his core, he looked down.
Abyssal shackles chained his wrists. Looking at the ground, he could see a pool of darkness, with interlinked chains jetting out to form the shackles that covered his wrists. Following the pool to its origin, he could see it seeping across the ground from the hunter.
He could feel a small block that was inhibiting his aspect. Weakening his aspect and frost armour.
Not wasting time to even speak, he used all his strength to break through the chains that held him down. With an initial tug that shifted his body backwards, the chain was now taut and straining under his strength. All it took was for one link to break, and his hands were free. His eyes quickly darted to his opponent as his face twisted into a look of glee.
Tessai began to mock his opponent; however, he could not speak.
'What the hell?!'
The tip of a black sword was lodged through his throat and exited through the back of his neck. Shattering his cervical spine.
With the instinct of the oldest sleeper in the Forgotten Shore, he burned through his soul essence and unleashed the full power of his aspect. Attempting to bring his opponent with him in death.
'Bastard!'
He thought in his final moments.
DANGER
Feeling the impulse of danger from his attribute, Aldric dashed backwards continuously while desummoning his blade. Getting far beyond the range of ice. The now open wound did not even drop a single ounce of blood as it froze over completely.
A frozen winterland formed in the centre of the throne room. A statue of the castle guard leader was etched into the ground, frozen in time. The ice extended in a five metre radius, encasing debris and even corpses in its embrace.
Noticing that the frost had stopped its advance, he began to walk towards the statue.
It seemed as if the battle itself was frozen, as everyone in view watched the spectacle. The last moments of the commander. Gemma, Kido, Seishan, Nephis, and Caster all watched with abject attention.
"STEP"
"STEP"
"STEP"
The silent centre of the battlefield could only hear the sound of boots against ice. Approaching the statue, Aldric reeled his foot back and repeated his first attack against Tessai. His darkness-laced foot collapsed the body of ice. Falling to the ground into a myriad of pieces.
"SHATTER"
The largest faction of the Bright Castle watched their leader be murdered and his corspe defiled. Promises of death rang around the battlefield as the twenty castle guards defending Tessai's rear began their charge.
With a smirk of challenge on his face, Aldric met their charge.
**********
Thanks for reading.
We hit a major millstone of 200k views!. I appreciate all the readers who return to this story each time. Was a goal of mine and I'm glad to have reached it. Much love.
Did you enjoy the fight scene?
Notice anything different about the forsaken knight?
Enjoy y'all selves, till next time.
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