A scry of Academy revealed only a black and endless void. There was nothing, only the evil remnants of the March of Chaos. Sorincrad shivered. He reached for hope, but couldn't grasp it. Then, hope grasped him. Isaac stood Sorincrad on his feet and have him hope.
"I've known you since the day you were born, Isaac. And I have watched you go from being a good kid to a great man. I only hope you can inspire others in this dark time."
"Your words are too kind, Sorincrad. And I hope I can inspire others as well."
Lady Athena and Sir Bartholomew recieved news of the death of Sir Zion and the elimination of The Shadows. Lady Athena was strong, but she could not hold back her tears. Sir Zion was like a father to her; he was the reason she became what she was. Sir Bartholomew could only pray. Isaac came to consul them both, telling them his death would not end in vain. Isaac then gathered Sir Bartholomew, Lady Athena, and Sorincrad to accompany him to the ranks of the army.
"Men, we are fighting evil. My ancestor Titus once said that we were not fighting for freedom, power, pride, or even knowledge. He said we were fighting to give the people hope. My ancestor King Aace the Unifier said in his dying breath that he would pass, but Unity would not. We are facing an evil that will capture your soul and enslave it to its cause. Fredrick's March of Chaos will destroy everything in its path. His blade is the shadow of death, but we are the light of life. As King Aace once said in his rally speech before he defeated Hannibal the Tyrannical, 'We are Graiigreald.'"
The army cheered, trying to hold on to that feeling of hope Isaac gave them. It may have been fleeting, but it was worth fighting for. Fredrick was at the gates of Symphonia, and they would fight him in every city or village until they defeated him or until they died.
Isaac rode to the front lines, ready to lead his men into battle. They were not fighting an army. They were fighting the essence of evil, the March of Chaos. Fredrick breached the gates and was ambushed by Isaac. Isaac then prepared to fight again. He stood his defences, fighting for every soul in his army, and every soul in Fredrick's army as well. Isaac was a hero, so he fought as a hero. Fredrick was crafty, swinging low and jabbing around so he could cheat his way to victory. Then he spoke his truest intention:
"I am not fighting to dominate and conquer the land and people. I am fighting to destroy them. I am fighting to turn everything into nothing. That's were power comes from. If there is nothing, there's nothing to take away. That is true power. An endLESS VOID!"
Fredrick then swung his attack downwards and sliced deep into Isaac's right thigh. Isaac grasped at his leg and he and his army then retreated to to Lion's Point, Fredrick not far behind. This time they witnessed the March of Chaos. They witnessed Symphonia collapse into nothingness, and only a void remained. The March of Chaos destroyed even the very land it marched on. The evil infected what was not destroyed.
When they reached Lion's Point, Isaac had Sorincrad look at his wound. It was black, branching out like an oak tree, yet it never grew. He healed from other wounds, but this one festered. Isaac then developed a limp and trained with Lady Athena and Sir Bartholomew to better himself.
Isaac's wound festered, keeping him up at night. Fredrick's March of Chaos had almost reached Lion's Point. Isaac got up and gathered his men for battle. They were tired and underfed. They groaned as they made ranks and prepared for invasion.
Fredrick did not waste time; he immediately attacked the city once he arrived. Battle-worn, Isaac's soldiers could not withstand the onslaught, and thus Isaac ordered a retreat to Rodnest. Fredrick the swept over the city and those who would not leave, destroying it and allowing the March of Chaos to enslave the souls of the dead. The city burned with black fire as it collapsed into the void.
When Isaac and Sorincrad made it to Rodnest, the people immediately came out with food for the soldiers. Sorincrad then took Isaac to the side.
"I don't think I will make it through this next battle."
"Don't lose hope, old friend. We will win eventually."
"No, Isaac, you will win. My time is drawing to a close, and I must give you one last bit of information."
"Whatever it is, I will take it to heart."
"I was the steward to King Aace, seven hundred years ago. My name is John. I came from Sand Castle and studied the works of King Plato. After Aace died during the Night of Chaos, I became a hermit and changed my name. That is when I came to Rodnest to help with rebuilding."
"Well that is interesting."
"Isaac, I will protect my home with my dying breath, and I will not allow Chaos to destroy my home in front of my eyes."
Sorincrad then gave Isaac a piece of paper, and they turned to face Fredrick. Sorincrad told Isaac to take the army to Sand Castle and prepare a defence in Sillsing. He told Isaac to call for Sir Christopher as well.
Isaac did not argue with the old mage, and thus he left with the people and the army. Sorincrad paid homage to the heir to his old friend in saying, "be safe, my friend."
Sorincrad stood down Fredrick and Mortimer, not giving in to the incoming March, and it swept over him. In a flash of bright light, he grabbed a sword and drove it into Mortimer's chest as Mortimer did the same to Sorincrad. As each stood, prepared to die, A swift wave of light erupted from Sorincrad, destroying Mortimer and killing himself in the process. The blast allowed their souls to enter their respective afterlives instead of being ensnared by the March of Chaos. In a fit or rage, Fredrick dropped his shell and allowed Cromwell to fully come through. Fredrick was a mere vessel, and now, that vessel was no longer needed. At the wave of his black sword, Cromwell destroyed Rodnest, causing the city to collapse into the void in a raging black fire. He then sent the March to Eagle's Nest and the rest of the strongholds that had not yet been attacked where it quickly swept over and consumed the land into the void of nothingness.
Isaac knew his friend was gone, and thus he wept. The soldiers, Lady Athena, and Sir Bartholomew shared his pain and suffered with him. As Isaac read the letter, he immediately called for Sir Christopher, then took to a chamber in Sand Castle.
"My dear Heavenly Father, I ask that Titus and Aace speak through me, I ask that they help guide my actions. My time is near, and in your holy name, I will not let Chaos reign. Amen."
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Isaac gathered his people and left Sand Castle for Sillsing where they would make their final stand.