Aace awoke to find himself stripped of his clothes and chained to a wall. Hannibal and a group of masked men walked into the chamber.
"Well it seems this war can finally end, Aace."
"Why the hell I'm I here. How did you get me, where is Lord John?"
"I can assure you Lord John is still safe at Academy. He will likely know you are missing, however he won't be able to find you. Dragonrock's dungeon is impervious to scrying, thus there is no way you can be saved."
"So what are you going to do to me? What is a coward like you going to do?"
"I don't have to do anything," Hannibal said as he left the chamber.
One of the masked men that came in with Hannibal brought out a large curved knife. Aace began to sweat. He tried to use magic was unable to. He couldn't feel the presence of the sword anywhere, nor could he see it. The other masked man who walked in was very strong looking. At the signal of the other, the brute began to beat Aace. He was sticking at his ribs, each blow breaking ribs and filling his lungs with blood. Aace coughed, spitting up a large portion of blood-soaked mucus.
Hannibal then entered the room. He grabbed Aace by the throught, pushing him into the wall.
"You know, your wife was still alive when I smashed your son's skull into the wall. She tried to let out a cry, but she died before she could. When I broke down the door to your home, your son looked at me as if I were a monster. Well, maybe I am. But you are a killer. You are an oath breaker. You are the false king. You had an oath to King Failer, yet you broke that oath and killed him. They may call me 'the monster in the west's or 'the black dragon,' but you are the villain."
Hannibal the stuck Aace with the dragon sword.
"I do hope you have a good time in hell," Hannibal remarked as he left the chamber. Aace was slowly bleeding out, and he was unable to free himself.
Lord John awoke to find Aace was missing. He quickly began searching, finding out that the men who lead them out were dressed as his own men. They were headed for Dragonrock Castle. Lord John gathered the knights and took Aace's sword. The knights watched as the sword began to move towards Dragonrock.
"My good men, we must rescue our king," Lord John said to the Knight's Company. They were all in agreeance and went to save their king.
When the Company arrived at Dragonrock, they either had to fight their way through, or sneak in. The chose to sneak in, using Aace's sword to point the way. Once they got into the dungeon, Hannibal's men attacked, capturing all of them. Hannibal then took Aace's sword.
"My what an astonishing blade," said Hannibal as he buried the sword into Aace's chest.
"Your men were trespassing on sovereign territory. They will be executed in the morning."
Aace was overwhelmed with pain as the sword cut through him indefinitely as he healed indefinitely. Time kept passing, then a warmth went over Aace as his eyes began to glow with a bright flame. A shockwave of fire went out from him and he was freed from his shackles. He pulled out his sword, quickly healing from his wound, then he gathered his things and went to rescue the Knight's Company.
As they were being lead up the steps to the execution block, Aace jumped out from behind the gate, freeing all seven knights. They quickly overpowered the guards, taking their weapons and then fought their way through the city. They cut through hoards of Hannibal's men, severing their limbs and decapitating several others. Hannibal roared out from the Dragon tower, "I'LL KILL YOU ALL!"
Aace looked back, enchanted his blade and swung, releasing a wave of magic that destroyed the majority of the tower. As Hannibal narrowly escaped, he looked on to see Aace and the Knight's Company riding out of Dragonrock. Outraged, he let out a terrifying roar, causing the earth to tremble before him, killing the man nearest to him. Hannibal's people then began to fear him, allowing Aace's spies to enter the city. Even some of his own guards were working against Hannibal so Aace could defeat him. From then on, Hannibal would be known as Hannibal the Tyrannical.
Aace and the Company quickly rode back to Academy to prepare a new plan. They where going to take Servinsrad, then starve out Fort Mudstop and occupy it. Aace swore that every ounce of pain he experienced would be given to Hannibal when they caught him.