章 741: Serving with utmost loyalty...

General Stairrde Strickut was charging towards Rudild Aep Num and his legion, despite missing an arm Stairrde had quickly advanced the ranks of the Nilfgaardian empire. His previous unit leader General Voorhis ascension to the throne had allowed him to become the General of his own unit through countless difficult battles...

His grudge against monsters remained throughout everything, even as people of his own race and country cut down his troops... But, finally, he had an opportunity to cut the head off of the snake that'd caused this brutal civil war, Rudild Aep Num was a fierce combatant in his own right but Stairrde was confident his men could overcome anything!

He led the charge, sword in hand and covered in heavy ornate black armour... The two sides clashed, Stairrde's horse getting skewered by a spear and causing him to fall to the ground, his quickly gets up and engages the enemy, moving towards the man who'd killed his horse but finds they'd already been killed by someone else... Changing his focus he screams "For the Emperor!" to encourage his troops as he moves towards the general area where Rudild had previously been spotted.

Even with only having one arm, he easily cut down many men... His skills forged through countless brutal battles, and his fears being squashed by his previous encounter with those monsters within the swamps of Velen.

Arrows rain down from both sides, the skirmish being at the height of its intensity which causes the ranged combatants to not being able to fire without hitting their own allies... Their commanders force them to continue firing, however... Fireballs follow the arrows over the men's heads as the mages now get involved, numerous spells which skewer, burn, melt, control, and all manner of different things are fired from both sides... Though, Emperor Voorhis side has the advantage due to most mages being of "Noble" blood.

Stairrde screams as he cuts down another man, the slowly accumulating injuries on his body not preventing his onslaught... Suddenly he spots Rudild still sitting atop his horse and commanding his troops, a couple mages by his side to shield him from the projectiles being fired. "MEN, CHARRRRGGEE!" he shouts, managing to push the soldiers surrounding him towards Rudilds position...

The knight doesn't have any change of expression at the sudden aggression, the mages around him firing various spells that kill large swaths of the attackers... But Stairrde manages to break through, gutting one mage and moving to ram his blade into Rudilds stomach... Only for the man to wave his sword skillfully and slice a deep cut into Stairrde's wrist, forcing him to drop his sword...

A spell slams into his back and forces him to his knees, using his remaining injured hand to push himself up... He looks up at Rudild who smiles gently at him.

Rudild "You fought bravely, unlike those other Generals who sit at the back like cowards... I will give you a chance, serve me and we will bring down those who discriminate against us and their people!" he offers charismatically.

Stairrde "You are no different from them, seeking only power to raise yourself above everyone else... I spit on your honey'd words traitor!"

Rudild sigh, "That, is unfortunate." he says, nodding to someone which has them run a blade through Stairrde's back... "Huuurrghh!" he groans, rolling onto his back as the battle continues around him, his blood pooling beneath him.

Suddenly, the sounds of battle stop... Confused, Stairrde looks around and notices th arrows above him not moving, as if they were frozen in time.

*Clap, Clap, Clap, Clap*

Stairrde looks up and spots a man clapping while walking towards him, sidestepping the frozen warriors with asmile on his face. "Well done, your bravery really is something... Not many men would so willingly charge to their death like you had." he says as he sits into a squat next to the dying man.

Stairrde "W-what is this? A-am I dead?" he manages to say through the agonising pain he's currently experiencing.

"Hmm, you aren't dead, yet. As to what "This" is, I have no idea what you might be referring to."

Stairrde growls, "D-don't joke! What have you done to, to everyone."

The man shrugs, "Simply a small trick to allow us to speak."

Stairrde "What would you need to speak with me about... I am but a simple soldier." he states, not knowing what this man wanted.

"Oh, but you are not as simple as you think... I need your bravery and... Loyalty, to achieve some goals of mine."

Stairrde "I-I refuse!"

The man chuckles, "Oh? That, is unfortunate." he says mimicking Rudilds last words to Stairrde, "I will have to find someone else to destroy the "City of Monsters" for me then." he says, standing and beginning to walk away.

...

Stairrde "Wait..." he says after a moment of thinking. "You said you, need to destroy some City of Monsters?" he inquires.

The man stops and nods, "Indeed."

Stairrde "And, what would that mean for my place in the Nilfgaardian empire?" he asks, not wishing to betray his country.

"I'd prefer you stay as General, but, you are free to do as you wish aslong as you agree to my terms."

Stairrde "And... What might they be?"

The man smiles, "Nothing all that important, I simply wish for you to serve me with your heart, and soul... As you had done when you served your country. Sound acceptable? In return, I will grant you power, and a second chance to achieve your own goals." he says with a smug grin.

Stairrde slowly nods, "I-I agree!" he shouts with all the effort he can mustre, afraid that he'd bleed out before the man would get a chance to save him."

"Good. Oh, by the way, you may refer to me as... Gaunter O'Dimm." he states as he covers Stairrde in some sort of strange red energy.