The Grand Knights marched westward. Their armour with gleaming under the bright moon light. Their capes fluttering in the wind. Aerith watched from high above the Fourth Ring. She watched with the same anxiousness, as the others. Her mind racing with horrific thoughts. Analysing every single scenario that could unfold. A knight hesitantly approached Aerith. "Grand Mage Aerith, may I ask you a question?" "What is it?" "Why aren't we helping them? We could finish this war in one fell swoop." "No we couldn't." Aerith said irritated. "This is us taking a breath, from their suffocating attack." "That still doesn't explain why we aren't helping them. With our combined forces we could overwhelm them." Aerith rubbed her face. Her frustration made the knight retreat. "If you aren't as strong as them. You'll be nothing but a distracting burden." "Then what about the Grand Knights? Surely we wouldn't be a burden to them?"
"Vasha take me." Aerith groaned. "Do you know how Gwyneth, got her moniker?" "None of us really know much about her. I mean she always kept to herself. No one could keep up with her insane training regimen. Well...Except for that crazy Islander." "She earned it shortly, after the death of Hendrik Xenarith. She walked into a Kal'Nar outpost alone, wielding her great sword breaker. Eight hours later, walked out drenched in Elven blood." The knight stood silently, her eyes bulging. "There were a hundred soldiers in that outpost. Reports counted over a thousand limbs." Aerith turned to the shivering knight. "Now, if you think, you're good enough, to fight side by side, with her. Please. Go ahead and follow them. If not. Sit back and remember what you're about to see."
Zi'lara squirmed and fidgeted on his tarp, annoying the others around him. How did he even sleep on something like this before? He could feel every little jagged pebble and stone digging into him. He was cold from the wind around him. And he was terrified, of the ramifications of his outburst. He had struck general Argul and threatened him. 'AHHH! WHAT WAS I THINKING!?' he cringed, bumping into another Elf. They quickly got up relocating their tarp away from him. Bi'ranna slept sprawled on Thanatos's bed snoring away. Thanatos approached the Quartermaster's lodging, the only well lit area of the camp. He smiled hearing the banter and bickering of a few weary Leathers and Armourers. They stood up saluting him. "The order is almost complete, General Argul. We've almost completed your uniform." "Don't worry about it." He said, smiling at them. He felt the light hearted atmosphere become tense. His smile had clearly unnerved them. Thanatos placed a large coin pouch on their table. "Thank you, for rushing this order for me. Please treat yourselves tonight." He bowed, before leaving. They all gave each other confused glances, shrugging at his odd behaviour.
Bi'ranna shot awake, hearing a loud banging on the ground. She rubbed her blurry eyes. "Get dressed." Thanatos ordered, kicking open a large trunk. Zi'lara stumbled in rubbing his arm. He wasted no time getting dressed into undergarments. Bi'ranna quickly shied away, and rolled off the bed towards the chest. Her fatigue dissipated as she gazed upon the gleaming suit of slender emerald plate armour. "This...this is actual armour. Only Commanders get this." "Enjoy it later, hurry up and get dressed, both of you. We leave, the moment I am dressed." Zi'lara helped Thanatos to strap on his armour, noticing that his arm had been healed past the elbow. "Don't touch the folds. We don't have time, to take you, to a Blessed. Go help get dressed. I'm fine." He rushed. Zi'lara awkwardly, helped Bi'ranna strap her armour on. The weight was nearly triple the weight she was use to. However she could not deny how amazing it felt, to wear it. Thanatos handed Zi'lara a modified belt, with a covered slot for his sketch book. "Here, to keep your book away from her." He inspected the fine leather craftsmanship, before quickly replacing his worn and frayed belt.
The two of them followed the frenetic Thanatos towards the western side of the camp. Bi'ranna puffed, trailing behind him, with Zi'lara behind her. He kept glancing at her in awe. Thanatos showed them a large horse drawn carriage, with two sections in it. The two of them cocked an eyebrow at the sight. This carriage was meant for royalty. Or at least someone rich as royalty. "You two will ride for Artaraxus tonight. Make sure the person inside, reaches there in one piece. Do you two understand?" They both anxiously nodded, nervous to see Thanatos, so flustered. "Bi'ranna you are in charge, watch over them." She smiled proudly, clinking her armour with a salute. "Zi'lara, take care of her as well." He saluted back to him. "Now go. They're close." "Who are they?" They asked. A roar rung through the air and the night sky came alive with a pillar of brilliant fire.
Two roars rung out, and the ground quaked. Thanatos quickly tossed them both onto the carriage, slapping the horses' rear. Bi'ranna and Zi'lara hung their heads out, watching Thanatos run towards the pillar. The two of them felt cold, as if all the heat was drawn to the pillar. He sprinted towards the pillar, drawing his maul. "We need to go help him!" Bi'ranna yelled, trying to draw in the reins. "Are you crazy!?" Zi'lara screamed wrestling control of the reins. "We can help-" The night sky was illuminated with a bright red hue, and a Crimson Ryū circled the sky. Bi'ranna quickly snatched the reins, whipping the horses to go faster. "What happened to helping them?" "Fuck you!" The ground shook violently, and into the air the Bladed Dragon soared with the Ryū. The two of them watched over their shoulder, as screams erupted from the camp, before fading under the thundering hooves.
Thanatos stood frozen in place, surrounded by streams of fire. Towering Deiridium shards reigned from above. The ground quaked apart with the slamming of a Emerald Drake's paw. A volley of ballista bolts shot at them. Thanatos spotted two more figures, standing past the flickering flames. One that he could only discern was a woman, and the other with silver eyes that shone like cold steel. Encara Cagim. Fear and dread, clouded his racing mind. This counterattack is too excessive. Why would they pour so much power into a counter attack like this? Commanders scrambled to fire ballista bolts at Skora and Cin as they rained a volley of fire and steel, some bouncing and scraping off their scales. The ground continued to quake apart with pillars of earth rising and sinking. 'They're desperate to make us retreat. We need to hold our position, and we'll win.' He grinned taking a step forward. "ATT-"
Thanatos came to a halt, finally hearing the wails and screams of dying Elves. His heart thrashed against his chest. Their screams rang in his head. Gasping and choking on their blood, they continued to reach for their weapons. More, fire and steel rained down. More wails rung out, sizzling flesh permeated the air. Thanatos spun around in dismay. Another roar rung out. Into the night sky another Ryū soared into the air. Golden brown with a red rose mane, trailing down its spine. It begun swooping large flaming debris tossing it aside. A Commander shook Thanatos out of his daze. "UNCLE! WHAT DO WE DO!?" They're desperate we need to attack. Another screaming corpse rung out, reaching for him. "UNCLE!" He stared through the flames, watching Encara's eyes shimmer in the darkness. "Ret-Retreat...RETREAT! EVERYONE RETREAT!"
The Commander took off in a sprint, before being yanked by Thanatos. He handed him, his maul. "Save as many of our soldiers as possible!" He was greeted with a perplexed look, before the Commander took off with his maul. Thanatos glared at his stump and cracked his neck. The screaming drowned out, and the sound of his daughter's laughter run in his mind. "I will not leave you behind, and I will not let you kill more of my soldiers!" He roared. Leaping high into the air, his body expanding and bulging, his armour exploding into shrapnel. A large piece ripped through Cin and Miranda's side. The two of them cried out, plummeting towards the ground. A shard bounced of Skora's steel like hide. Thanatos warped himself onto her back with a Light gate. He warped once more, to between her Deiridium wings.
Skora quickly plummeted towards the ground, feeling an immense weight on her spine. Thanatos let out a roar, and a pillar of light shot into the air. A large claw with diamond like scales, gripped her neck. The two of them plummeted to the ground, and from the pillar of light, Thanatos leapt out as a crystalline Dragon, slashing Soel's side open. He let out a roar absorbing the flames to open his own Fire gate. Cin rebuked his flame breath with his own. Soel, Miranda and Skora retreated behind Encara, covering themselves in a cloak. Cin's flame breath bested Thanatos, and he reeled back feeling the wave of fire singed his face. He reeled back for another attack, opening a Light gate behind him. His scales begun to shine with a blinding radiance. "That's enough." Encara said, approaching him. He stopped seeing the damage he had done, being undone in an instant. Cin reverted his transformation and was tossed a cloak by Encara.
Thanatos cautiously retreated hobbling back on his one paw. Encara snapped his fingers. Thanatos jumped back. He glanced over his shoulder seeing the flames dissipate and Deiridium fly towards Cin and Skora. Scanning the field, he could recognise all of them except for the Bladed Dragon woman. Encara offered out his hand, holding a spare cloak in his other. Thanatos continued to snarl at Encara staring down at him, both gates spinning behind him. "Thanatos, I'm here to parley. If we wanted to kill you. We would have already done it." He bowed his head and reverted back to normal, taking Encara's cloak. Encara scanned his body stained with blotches of ink, and his stump. "Why not kill me? I have killed many of yours." "We know of your numbers. We also know, that you're the one running this attack. Killing you, leaves your army erratic and unstable. We'd rather have a mind, we can somewhat predict." Thanatos chuckled. "What are your terms?" "Take your army, as well as the Artaraxians and Tuskdran army back home."
Thanatos begun to smiled. "You're desperate for breathing room." Encara was silent. "But I know we tainted your water supply. You have no new resources and are bleeding out slowly. Let us take the Citadel. End this war peacefully." He said offering out his hand. In an instant, the night sky became illuminated, with two giant wings. Made of interlocking Curse gate, the magenta hands clinging to each other. Skora stumbled back, bumping into Soel. The stories did nothing to describe, how eerie and horrific the sight was. "Do not offer me peace! Not after, what your Kingdom has done to me!" Encara levitated above Thanatos, before Miranda pulled him down. "Alright, I'm taking over this negotiation. Go and disarm yourself." Encara scoffed and his Cursed wings disappeared. Miranda helped Thanatos to his feet.
"Now, as you can see. We're all on...edge. But. As of right now, the Grand Knights are currently dismantling the Artaraxus army, and the Butcher was sent to deal with the Tuskdrans, to do her job." "They don't deserve to be on the receiving end of that." "No one should, but pointy eared fucks, tend to start fights with us." She shrugged. "Now, here are our terms. Leave all supplies behind. Food, water, steel, leather, tents, everything and march your fucking armies back a few days. From there you will not attack us for...let's say....three months for now." "That's only going to prolong your suffering." She shrugged. "What can I say? We're masochist. Now do we have an agreement?" Thanatos reluctantly stuck his hand out. Miranda eagerly shook his hand. "Good man." She said, petting his face. "Now, as a sign of good faith. Oi! Encara." Thanatos was perplexed at how she was barking orders at Encara.
He branded Thanatos with a Blessing. His arm healed instantly. "This might hurt. Urkse's enk was always a nightmare to remove." "I've been treated by Blesseds all over the world. None have been able to-" He stopped seeing them, give him an incredulous look. "That's because, they were trying to heal, something that didn't belong to you." Encara branded Thanatos with Curse. He quickly jumped to remove the brands. Miranda struck the back of Encara's head. "Do one at a time. You're gonna scare him to death." Encara frowned at Miranda, before banishing the Blessing. Thanatos felt a searing sting course throughout his body. He fell to his knees vomiting out a black sludge. In an instant the pain disappeared with Blessing touching his skin.
"Urkse, replaced your muscles with his Enk magic. There's a reason why none of them could remove it." He said before walking away. Miranda handed him a reflective dagger. "Respect our deal Thanatos. I don't want the Citadel, to become a second Shizukana." Thanatos watched as they all walked off into the night. He opened a Fire gate inspecting his face on the steel. He smiled, before laughing hysterically. The ink staining his skin was finally gone. He fell flat on his back, furling and unfurling his new arm. Thanatos stared at the destroyed camp, with a singular thought, now racing through his mind. 'Did I freeze in combat?'
Lyn wielded two heavy plated gauntlets, her cape tied around her waist, and a light leather vest. Fervias clad in his armour, adjusted the chains over his vambraces. Yssac rested his spear, on the nape of his neck, sauntering beside him. Behind them with a towering figure. Vexgar marched behind them, poleaxe draw and eagerly tapping against his shoulder. At the front Axilas wore nothing but his cloak. The five of them stood outside the Artaraxian war camp. "Are you all ready?" Axilas asked. "Relax, it's a cold night. We won't judge." Fervias jabbed. He spun around shooting him a glare, with Lyn tittering. He scoffed shrugging. "How do you want to handle this?" Yssac asked. "Hendrik's favourite way." The four them smirked at Axilas. On earthen outpost, two guards stood atop, peering down into the darkness. Guards stood watch behind large torches.
The quiet sleepy night, with whispering winds, came to a halt. The sound of metal clanked and clattered against the ground. The guards perked up, staring into night. Voices winding up in excitement grew closer. They took their weapons at the ready. Their hearts thrashing against the chest. The clattering and excited voices grew closer. Vexgar charged out of the darkness with Lyn, Fervias and Yssac holding onto his back. Grinning from ear to ear. Vexgar came to a stop, sliding through the dirt, and swung his poleaxe in wide aching sweep. Cleaving them in twain before they could react. The sudden stop launched the others high into the air. Lyn and Yssac latched on to Fervias. As the soldiers came out to investigate the noise. Fervias launched his axes into the ground, rocketing the three of them into the ground. Yssac, Lyn and Fervias scattered deeper into the tent, killing those who came out.
Vexgar approached the terrified guards, still trying to comprehend the attack. One of them dashed in, thrusting his spear at Vexgar's visor. The spear tip shattered against the Deiridium. He spat out the splinters, and walked the terrified men down. "You think that was good enough, to kill a prince of Artaraxus!?" He roared, cleaving them asunder. He grunted ripping his poleaxe out of the ground, continuing his march towards the terrified soldiers. Lyn made her way through the camp, killing those with a swift and devastating blows. Fervias wreaked havoc, binding soldiers in his chains, and cutting those at the end. Yssac moved gracefully thoroughly the camp, precise and minimal motions. Each strike severed a vital artery, scalped flesh off bone. Artraxex emerged out in his armour, rushing out with his vanguard.
"Get me light, and space." His vanguard nodded. The four watched as the dark sky became illuminated with copious Fire gates, filling the air. The ground shifted beneath their feet, travelling towards the centre. They quickly stood back to back, weapons raised, taking deep breaths. "54. How many did you get Yssac?" Lyn asked "62. Fervias?" "Stopped counting after 69." He said with a smile. "Vex?" Lyn asked. "Wasn't counting. I'll start now." Artraxex emerged planting his weapon into the ground. "Seeing how there is only four of you. This was a suicide attack?" A roar rung out. "Actually there's five of us." Vexgar boasted. Plummeting down from the night sky, Axilas dove in, swatting the gates away with his wings. Chaos ensued as they restarted their rampage, now with a Wyvern. Artraxex frozen in fear, was forced behind his vanguard. The second in command ordered a retreat. The Artaraxus army fled in panic. The Grand Knights rode the back of Axilas in his Draken state, sweeping through the camp, picking off stragglers. Axilas let out a roar, with the others joining him in a triumphant whoop. "YOU ALL BRING SHAME TO ARTARAXUS!" Vexgar bellowed atop his brother's back.