Within the commander's tent on the army of Count Pinot's son, a lengthy argument was getting on its way as the nobles under the Count protested against the son of their lord. They had heard from the messenger and their scouts of the recent actions of the new noble of Mousillon. They had first thought that since it was just a new noble then his forces might not have yet solidified thus they followed the idea of the first son to lead an army and bully the new lord.
They had just heard how he took the Castle of Rachard with only over a dozen men and felt the new guy was indeed capable. But they have heard the actions of the Duke to suddenly marry his daughter to this newly risen noble. It made them baffled and felt that maybe the Duchy of Mousillon has fallen so much that the Duke is seeking favors from a lower ranked noble that the even conferred himself.
They had heard of the sudden attack the Duke made against the other nobles on his territory but it was understandable as it was a form of self-defense of the Duke. But him marrying his daughter to this hero warrior and putting him in charge of a castle gave them a feeling that the Duchy has weakened considerably. Thus they think that the Duke placed the warrior to become a guardian of the Duchy and marrying his daughter tied that warrior to the Duchy as well.
They were people who had sent messengers to recruit this young fighter when they had heard of his exploits of routing a growing warherd. They had seen his potential too so hearing he is now tied firmly to the Duke of Mousillon made them uncomfortable. And taking actions would likely make them enemies to the Duke as they had heard of the still active knights under the command of his personal guard. Yet the news of an Orc warband gathering on the mountains of Masiff Orcal had made the attention of the Duke focus down south.
And the sudden suggestion of the Son of their liege that they should ride with an army to intimidate the newly conferred noble into submission and take the daughter of the Duke for himself gave the nobles of Pinot domain to have other ideas. If they could hold hostage of the daughter of the Duke, Francine, then have the son of the Count create an heir with the young girl. Then they could have the Duke follow their demands like taking away the peasants of the Duchy so they could have more people to farm their lands.
Surely the hero warrior named Mark Johnson, the newly conferred noble could be a formidable opponent from what they had gathered. And has at least two dozen or more good soldiers on his ranks seeing that he only took over a dozen to take the castle. But that was just luck, a cowardly approach if they say, as they thought that if Mark sieged the castle then he might not have taken it overnight at all. And sure he fought like a great knight against many knights alone from what they had learned but what can he do against hundreds of soldiers?
His men should also be good but that is not enough to fight five hundred soldiers of their County. And their sources tell that Mark only has over ten Knights on his banner. A pitiful amount for an Earl, besides the five hundred knights they still have a secret group of knights that were secretly trained by Count. They had seen them fight three normal knights easily and even fought against a grail knight ten to one. They had heard of Mark's feat in Marienberg and they were misbelieving but the Count said it is better to Err on the side of caution than underestimate the rising noble.
And twenty of these knights could take down the new rising warrior which had gave them confidence. But now, they are terrified when they had heard from the scouts of a hundred heavily armed cavalry coming out of the Castle's gates and ride towards them with Mark leading the group. It made them realize how misinformed they were of Mark's activities as from what the scout had said, the quality of the armors and equipment of the cavalry that came out was equal to the twenty knights standing guard outside the tent. Thus started the bickering and finger pointing between greasy palmed individuals that followed the young son of the Count.
"A hundred knights! Do you know what that means! Even our County would have trouble paying for upkeep of such troops yet they have a hundred! Tell me who are our spies and I'll cut them down for misinforming us of the state of troops on the other side!!" An old fat grey haired man shouted at the other nobles on the tent spewing the remnants of food stuck on his mouth.
"Like I said, it is foolish to follow a boy in the field. Look how we are sitting here looking like idiots when our enemy is but a league away from us." Another noble said looking angry and all.
"Idiots?! From what I remember you were the first to agree to lend your spearmen in the army! You are the bloody idiot of all of us here!" A large bulky noble blew his top as he looked at the one calling them idiots.
"What now then? We fight him? Even if we win it would be a phyrric victory at most, who was the fool that said that the new noble would bend when faced with such a force?" an old lanky noble said banging his fist on the table.
"I said it, do you have a problem Earl Glacky?" said a teenage boy sitting on the main seat in the tent as he glared at the old man. He too felt that Mark's actions was not something they predicted. And hearing the old man call him a fool he answered immediately feeling angry but the old man did not cower at him. He had forgotten that while he might be the son of the Count, he has not enough gravitas to have the old man in front of him back down.
"Hah! A green boy indeed! If it were not for your father talking me into this then I would not have followed you into this at all! And you even had your father reveal his secret troop for what? An unrequited infatuation on a young girl?" The old man sneered as if it was up to him he would have just marched at the Forest Arden to kill some beastmen to pass his time.
"INFATUATION?! What I feel is love and you would not understand what I feel!" The young teen looked triggered as he lashed out to the old noble. He had always wanted to be Francine's man from the moment they met on the Royal Academy in Couronne so he did not think it through when he lashed out.
"Watch your tone boy! Even your father would not dare speak to me in such a manner, so don't talk to me about your stupid feelings. You are still young so you think it is love but you do not know what a woman is." The Old man stood from his seat as the atmosphere stilled in the tent. It was then everybody was reminded that this guy was the strongest knight in the whole camp right now. A Grail knight that the Count called in for a favor the Knight owed their liege and the one that tested the knights outside in battle.
"Y-you say t-that like you know women, you have taken an oath so how would you k-know?" the young teen realized his mistakes but he still said this as it was common knowledge that after the knights takes the vow of questing for the grail then they have to forsake their mortal properties as well as their titles so it was thought that most Grail knights do not have relations with anyone at all after they've taken oath.
"Boy I have bedded more whores than the amount of people present in your family's mansion before I took my oath and believe me when I say that you sending your messenger with your stupid demand made you look like a piece of shit to the eyes of the one you wanted." The Old man looked annoyed and disappointed at the son of his old friend. Gone was the man of honor that Count was and was left a frail person with a disgrace of a son.
"And even if you follow through after taking the girl away. All you would receive from her is spite, hatred and ridicule. What you have done just proved how unworthy you are of a woman's love." The old man stood up and walked out the tent as he felt something which the others didn't. He just left the other nobles stunned on the tent as they too felt that maybe things were done very hastily at this point. But before they could resume their talk without the old knight, they then felt the small tremble in the air.
The young teen was confused and looked at the walls of the tent tremble while the fat noble stared at the goblet on his hands forming ripples. It was then a sound o metal clashing got clearer in their ears and to confirm their fears a scout arrived and said the words.
"My lords!! The an Army approaches!!
It was then they all stood up and put on their cloaks as the slight frigid air of the winter morning greeted them after going out of the tent. They were then able to see an outline at the hills on the horizon that brought upon deafening sounds of metal gloves banging on shields in cadence. The banner flying in the air that has a shield hanging on a tree with a sun printed on it, as well as three fleur-de-lys on the tree placed on top of the shield in line.
This was the banner that Mark has decided that would represent the house of Jhonson, Earl of Castle Rachard. The people in the camp scampered in panic as Mark's army scared them with the disciplined formation along with the heavily armored cavalry. The glittering plates of steel on both men and horse looks like a tide of silver are going to trample them. Yet Mark did not do so as he stopped just a kilometer away from the camp.
The knights still were banging their shields in sync until Mark marched a little bit further in front along with a few of the nobles with him. Even the nobles looked solemn as they banged their shields until Mark raised a fist and the banging all stopped. The air sat on an uneasy atmosphere so oppressive that the soldiers of the other side that were forming ranks also stopped. It kept like that for a few seconds of deafening silent that only the crickets and braying of the horses on the Count's army was heard by everyone.
"WHAT IN THE LADY'S NAME ARE YOU ALL STANDING THERE FOR?! FORM RANKS NOW!" The deafening shout of the old knight was heard as he rode in front of the camp and waited for the nobles of their side to mount up. It took about three minutes until they all were on horseback and rode besides the old Grail Knight. The faces of the nobles were pale along with the son of the Count, but they still rode forward as it was tradition for them to meet the ones on the other side.
The Old Grail knight looked at the army behind Mark and was amazed, he had only seen such discipline and focus like their on veteran knights on the battle field. This made him frown as he felt that the one in front was also not normal and thought that maybe this was the young noble famed to have fought a Minotaur barehanded. Bested another companion of his in a duel which still surprised him knowing that his fellow grail knight might not be one of their best yet even he would not be able to best him in combat. Yet this man in front of his seemed to have stood his ground and was rumored to have been gifted with a talent for magic.
Thus he was reluctant to honor his promise with the Count to face the young man as he felt it was a boon for the kingdom to have raised another fighter for the Lady. Yet these idiots wanted to ruin the young man because of their jealousy towards the Duchy of Mousillon getting someone competent. He did have them promise that even if the defeat the other side they would spare the young noble. It had baffled him for decades how people still care about empty title when they could all develop. This was a question he did ask the Lady when he took his sip on the grail but the goddess just smiled as she said that humans are capable of good as much as they are capable of evil.
She would not care for those who have fallen but only those who had followed an honorable path. As there would be no good if there is no evil to face it, this was something he still did not understand but nonetheless he remembered. So he kept true to himself and even honor the promise he had made back then, but eh will protect the young man. Yet it seemed that they have all miscalculated, this was not just a finely equipped troop, this was also an army of battle proven warriors.
They were now in the middle of the open field they were able to now look at the faces of each other. But the eyes of those form the Count's side was drawn at the tall heavily armored warrior and the large sword hanging behind his back. They did not notice this from afar and thought that maybe the horses besides the one in lead were just normal horse but they were all Brettonian fine breeds. The black horse in front is just larger and more intimidating than the others, even the old Grail Knight was looking appreciatively towards such a fine steed. The rider is even more impressive as they were able to see how massive of a man Mark is.
His frame showed power and danger just sitting there, even the armor was impressive as it looked sleek and easy to move in. They could see no gaps at all yet from how he moved it was like smooth and unburdened. All that came to mind is that the armor is Dwarven made, they knew for sure as most of them also wore dwarven made armors but it was not as detailed and defined like Mark's. They all stayed there in silent as they still have not seen the other side open his visor. A silence that was covered by the rushing sounds behind them which contrasted greatly against the silent army behind Mark. The atmosphere was broken when the young teen spoke.
"So you are the one that got luckily married to Lady Francine?" the other nobles of the Count's side looked constipated as they knew this was just simple mind games between the two partied yet they lost due to the impatience of the young teen. The boy opened his visor showing his smug face against Mark looking like he had won; he had counted and found only about a hundred behind Mark. Sure they are heavily armored but they are outnumbered five against one.
Mark did not answer as he just opened his visor showing his face, even if was not Korean jade skinned young master handsome. He still could go for brown haired blue eyes rugged manly mature men category. Seeing his serious face, stare at the young teen and did not even say a word made the other nobles tense. He then turned his horse around as he left without word it made the nobles of the other side not able to react as this was not how others should be. Shouldn't they go on how they agree on terms on what the winner would take from the loser? Mark did not follow the script at all!!
"Young man!! Don't you have anything to say?!" The Old knight wanted to find a reason to make the two sides not battle as it would be detrimental to everyone and the loss would be very large if the two sides fought. He could tell that the result is now indeterminate from the state of the moral of each side. The men on his side were already intimidated but his side has not realized yet so he wanted to propose something to avoid further bloodshed. Yet Mark's words made them all shiver as it made the winter wind cut deep within their skin.
"I only came to see whose head I will cut off; I see no need to talk with a boy wet behind his ears." Mark then has Gideon gallop back towards his men followed by the people behind him. As he left the old Knight was screaming at his head saying that Mark did not follow the script at all! But they were all taken out of their stupor as Mark pulled a horn beside him and blew it.
*BWUVOOOOM!!!*
The deep sound made everybody tense as the nobles of the Count rode back pale feeling that they might have to lose a lot of their soldiers. They spent a lot on things yet training their soldiers were not part of their budget, all they brought with them were just numbers of newly trained peasants. From what they could tell the ones they will face are no normal knights at all, they could see the fast reforming of the army into an arrow in about a few seconds.
It was then their own knights form ranks but they were slower and quite disorganized compared to the other side. The peasants were looking nervous as they looked at the steel tide preparing to crash unto them. But oddly they were able to fix their ranks after ten minutes yet Mark had not charged forward yet. They thought that maybe they might have a chance now but the old knight said something that made them uncomfortable
"He is waiting for us to be ready, that means he does not see our army as a threat at all." The old knight also felt it was a pity they had to fight but things were getting heated too fast for him to find ways to fix the situation. Even when the spear wall formed in front their enemy has not yet taken the chance to charge. It was then they saw a sight they would never forget in their entire lives.
[Ten minutes earlier]
"Everybody be alert, the situation is not what it seems to be." Mark said which made his knights and the nobles looked confused at him. But they were given the reason as Mark spoke of what he had found.
"The boy is bewitched, I feel foul energy emanate on him. It seems that there is something else behind all this so expect another enemy in the dark." Mark looked solemn as his eyes returned into its natural brown color. He had the idea of doing this since Melissa said that there was something wrong with the messenger. So he willed his mana to gather at his eyes which made them give out a dark blue color.
The reason he was quiet when he too wanted to talk about terms is that he tried this after they started going to the center. And what he saw made him shudder, the whole army behind them had a taint in all of their body and the one with the most taint is the young teen he had seen earlier. He could feel the ancient dark magic within the enemy, even if there were some that were not tainted like the old guy as well as some knights on the army. He did not speak of anything at all; as he felt whoever is behind all of this is close-by.
And since he had to make sure that his men would not be taken by surprise, he started gathering Mana using his cultivation manual as well as gather it on his hands. He also made some sort of runic signs which was self-taught when he tinkered with the magic items on his collection. The Fireball ring, the Dagger( Which Blade bought), a shield he stole from some corrupt nobles and a book which he was only able to translate crudely with the help of the dwarves he has.
He was then able to deduce some effects of ancient runes which he is now forming as he tried a theorized spell he just thought of. And feeling the strong pull of mana made Mark draw from the air also as he charged his hands making sure he would not lose focus of his task at hand. The men besides him were able to feel the change in the wind and the power emanating from their lord so they did not question why they were not charging yet. Soon a glow of golden light appeared around Mark as he raised his hand and said.
"By my power as the Knight of the Forest!! I Bless our blades with fire that shall cleanse the foul, men draw your blades!!" Mark then pulled out his sword followed by the others taking out theirs as he raised his large weapon high in the air. Soon an ethereal wave of pure magic flashed and the swords drawn burst in flames yet no heat was emanated. Only warmth was spread over the men and even the steeds which made them neigh in tandem.
"For glory and honor! Charge!!" Mark brought down his sword pointing it forward as the other circle of runes he made spread over all the horses giving them a veil of protection. The first thing he did was a self-made buff that features the runes 'ignite' taken from the ring, coupled with runes that meant 'cover' and his small sliver of divinity mixed in his mana as well as the magic drawn from the air. The Second is a defense spell that was made from 'Shield', 'Cover', 'Sustain' and 'Siphon'. It would generate a shield that was self-sustaining as it kept drawing magic from the air and sustain the shield covering the horses.
It would break if Mark's become unconscious or the Mana in the ambient air is all dried up. Thankfully the winds of magic flows thick on the battlefield. Mark charged as he did not want to give whoever is behind the mobilizing of this army to do other tricks. He would route them first and ask questions later.
Their charged and Mar's flamboyant magic made the people on the other side lose moral in a quick manner. The spearmen in front were trembling as the steel hooves trampled the grass on the wide field. But they stood still as their commander hailed for a volley of arrows towards the charging cavalry. But then they saw how the grass beneath them extended and formed a vast wall to block the arrows and making them lose their sights on what's front of them.
They were all stunned as they did not understand how the grass suddenly grew tall like that. But someone was able to react fast which was the old Grail knight.
"First line Brace yourselves!!" as the shout was heard the grass in front burst as the Black steed and its rider stomped over the spearmen. This made tehm not be able to realize that some of the grass has taken hold of their spears at it was suddenly pulled down making the spear wall gone. What followed was the hundreds of mounted enemy of theirs pass through the tall grass and break the line of soldiers like paper walls.
It was then the cavalry of Mark split apart as it made a circle around the scared spearmen while Mark just kept forward as he charged for the archers yet before he could come near them a knight blocked his path and a familiar energy was felt making him look at the old man In front of him. It reminded him of the Grail knight he dueled in Marienberg, it was then he understood why this man has no taint of the dark magic. So they clashed as they met again making a wide area as the others steered clear of their fight.
While they fought the armies were now full on clashing as the mounted yeomen tried to pierce through the cavalry wall circling their troops. The nobles of Count Pinot hurriedly sent the knights as well because if they let the enemy be then their infantry would suffer great damage. Their archers could not even give the enemy trouble due to that golden glow that surrounds them. It made them feel despair as they had never thought the magical prowess of Mark could tilt the favor of the battle severely in their odds.
Soon the battle raged as the knight guards of the Count also joined the fray trying to save as much as they can from the spearmen. They were able to open a gap where about over two dozen spearmen were able to escape but it was stopped by the frenzied nobles on Mark's side as they felt invincible charging non-stop. They felt the adrenaline rush make them see the battlefield clearly as they did not worry about arrows disturbing them.
They only kept watch of the knights of the other side but they too saw the prowess of the soldiers of their lord making them more vigorous in keeping the spearmen at bay. If they are able to reform and make another spear wall then it would give them trouble to stay on top thus they kept the circle around while the ones on the edges guard against the knights of the other side try to break the spearmen out.
They remembered Mark say to them to make the result appear quick or else someone might interfere. And like their lord said, speak of the devil and he shall come. A large dome of dark violet magic was suddenly over the whole battlefield making everybody stop. But Mark's army reacted quickly as they rode out and reformed away from the others in over two minutes. It was then a discordant voice sounded out as the dome finished covering the area.
"What a great surprise!! To think the toys I have caught are a bunch of rare finds. And just as I was getting bored not finding good entertainment, behold mortals!! Witness my ascension to become a higher being as the perfect host is now mine to take!!!" A deranged laughter dripping out full of malice was heard all over the air. The soldiers of the count was also getting nervous as they do not know what is happening but all of their eyes are now drawn to the figure floating on top of the hill east.
The silhouette can be seen flying in front of the now dark purple sun and it gave them a sense of terror. They did not notice but Mark now had an ugly expression on his face as he now had drawn a conclusion of who the one behind all of this trouble is. It was just he had never thought he would have attracted the attention of this world's most insane being. And the words the thing floating said made him a 100% sure who the being is.
"I have found it! Hahaha!! A perfect body that could hold chaos! The body that would make me the 'Eternal Evil that shall never be defied'!! The world is showing me that I am and always will be eternal! A body that can draw the raw magic in the air and even not get affected!! A perfect body full of strength and power, as well as the ability to user the dwarven runes on a magic spell! Hahahaha!! I don't know how you did it but I will when I take your body as mine, then I shall truly be greater that those crude beings calling themselves gods, I am the GOD, I am the chosen!" The figure which was now a little visible was a seven feet tall man with an armor wearing a featureless mask.
"Whoever you are, whatever you say you will be, it will not happen. As my instincts tell me to kill you in the name of the lady, then kill you I shall!!" The Old grail Knight said as he raised his sword and prayed, which made his body glow in heavenly aura giving a gentle glow in the dark surroundings. He might not have been able to see the darkness that tainted those around him but the amount of evil emanated by the one in front of them is reason enough for him to forget the promise he made to the Count.
"Ah, I seem to have forgotten you were here old knight. But I will not be your enemy, they are. Heheahahahahah!!" The floating guy laughed as he waved his hand and what followed was a scene of nightmares as the soldiers started screaming in pain. Mutations slowly appeared as they seem to have fallen into a maddened state, the Old Grail Knight grimaced as the men of the count and even some nobles transformed into abominations.
"Now let's see if you can back your words grail knight, even if you have slain your former comrades I would have ascended and evolve into the greatest being!! Hahaha, I only came to entertain myself of a new rising hero but I found a treasure instead!! The world is serving me itself in a silver platter! Oh the greatness I will be!" As the creepy tall being acted like a creepier version of Hisoka, the mutated soldiers started to attack their former comrades. The Grail knight was put on a stalemate against tens of deamons but he still took the upper hand albeit slowly.
A great battle ensued between the mutated people against the ones left who were now huddled with the Grail knight trying to put up a fight. It was then another voice sounded out that made the others who were not infected angered when they saw who it was.
"Oh great one, spare the knights of my house as they would still be useful to spread the great one's magnificence to the world!" The son of the Count was kneeling towards the guy flying along with some of his personal servants.
"Hahaha, why should I?" The figure just laughed as he looked amused at the young man's actions.
"B-but great one, y-y-you promised you'd give me power to defeat the man who took my love from me in exchange that I spread the seeds you have given me." The young man looked pale and confused as he was not sure what to think of the situation.
"Did I? Well I changed my mind; you're just something to pass my time with." The tall person then waved his hand as tendrils of decaying roots cover the young teen and began to enter all of his orifices.
"G-ggreat one ha-have I not done all the things in your name?! Why! Please spare me great –bwarghhghh- save me….." everybody watched the young teen get covered by the roots and slowly transform into a tree made of flesh. While the face of the young man was still there trapped in a state of fear and regret, yet also still alive with barely a sliver of light behind the pain filled eyes.
"My lord!!"
"Noo!!"
"Young Count!"
The nobles that were not infected as well as the knights of the Count wailed in horror seeing the son of their liege die. The Grail Knight also looked grim as he watched the evil creature descend without a care to the remaining people. He looked at the cavalry of the warrior noble he fought and they were still in formation as the darkness seems to avoid the area they were at. The being also noticed this as he looked at the army curiously, he had never felt this kind of aura from any other gods so he thought that maybe this was just something new from the goddess of Brettonia.
"Well, where was I. Ahh, I am now getting a new body! Haha, I am so looking forward to thi-" He was not able to finish his sentence as a heavy hammer struck his face and sent him flying. From where he stood was Mark holding a War hammer glowing with fiery light which made the others think of where the hell did he got the hammer from.
"Bold of you to come down in striking range, Great Enchanter." Mark just said that as he sprinted with full speed towards the downed enemy. He just could not understand villains with their tendencies to look down on people and monologue so as the arrogant thing came down he just pulled out a hammer he plundered from a corrupt noble's collection. This was a magical hammer which he was studying as it was a rare dwarven made hammer meant for Dwarven Kings.
He used this as he has no sword with magical properties yet like this hammer so he swapped when the guy was in his own world. Mark charged as the dust settles revealing the enemy whose mask was now broken in half showing his decaying body to the others.
"So you know of me? Then why do you not fear me when I am older than the gods of chaos themselves!!" The Great Enchanter just waved and magic circles appeared that sent various projectiles to Mark. This was the only quick cast spell that he knew to buy time as he stood up to gain distance from Mark. That blow from the hammer reminded him of a dreaded experience he has, his first loss.
"You are just a monkey that takes on the body of others to live, the chaos has existed way before the Old ones arrived on this planet so don't over estimate yourself monkey." Mark dodged as he said this, he nimbly moved in that heavy armor of his as the great Enchanter tried to make a distance between them.
"I was here before they arrived so don't you dare say I am lesser than those crude fools!" The guy was somehow pissed as he had never thought someone would call him a monkey.
"You're the fool!! They just arrived late when the great calamity arrived but they existed way before you!! Stop deluding yourself you pruned ghost of a monkey!!" Mark was able to close in as he swing the hammer to the fleeing guy. At this time his army has charged again but the target this time was the deamon mutated soldiers. Thus effectively taking the others trapped in the middle out as they too joined in fighting the forces of the dark.
"You dare call me monkey again!!" the great enchanter was livid as he drew a sword to face Mark and as they clashed he realized how Mark seemed to have a strength greater than a troll. It was then he saw the warhammer and realized it was a dwarven rune forged weapon capable of inflicting him harm. But he was not afraid as he was quite experience in fighting as well and even threw spells from time to time.
Mark matched this as well as he pulled a sword out of nowhere behind him from his cape to cut down the spells that was going to him which made the Great Enchanter surprised. So their fight continued as the battle of the two armies raged as blood and entrails filled the ground. Mark fought as notifications of various beings getting knowledge of the fight, it was mostly the chaos god Khorne and some gods that embodied battles and wars.
The Lady of the Lake noticed too as one of her Grail knights was drawing power to help him fight these forces of evil. But the battle kept going on even if the forces of Mark were great as well with the help of the Count's knights and the Grail knight. It was because the dead rose again after being killed again and again making the soldiers fight nonstop. The one hundred Mark brought was now 70 and about two of his knights has fallen. A noble under his banner also fell as a stray arrow from an undead archer hit him on the gap in his helmet.
The side of the Grail knight was left with four minor nobles, the burly noble and twelve of the Count's personal knights. They had wanted to leave the dome but it seems to be an impenetrable barrier making them think only by killing the caster would it lift. So they kept the army of the evil being from ever going to help it as they could see Mark overpowering the guy.
It was then they had seen the monstrous strength of Mark's attacks who dual wielded a claymore and a warhammer against the being called the Great Enchanter. Being a Grail knight also give the old man access to old knowledge thus knew who the enemy was, so he explained to the others that they should stop the army of deamons to help Mark. And hearing it was the creature told in stories when they were children, a story to make children behave now standing in the flesh(or rotting flesh) near them.
Thus they did not falter as their comrades are getting killed slowly, they just fought and fought. Even the horses seemed tired but they kept fighting as they know that this was a do or die moment. As they were keeping the enemy at bay, Mark was getting frustrated as he had seen some of his men die making him madder and relentless in his strikes towards the stinky rotten moving corpse in front of him.
Who seemed to not eb able to shut up, this guy just kept talking about how great the world if they become one and he must accept to be a great being. Mark just did not bother replying as he could see that the guy was getting slower and slower thus he started to push him back as they fought.
"Can't you see? With my great knowledge and your perfect body for chaos them we could have those beings calling themselves gods of chaos kneel in front of us." The Great enchanter just seemed to like listening to himself, if he was really a him.
[Khorne is amused]
[Ulric is rooting for you]
[Taal is curious of what the Enchanter spoke about]
[Morr is angry the souls of the dead is being taken by chaos]
[Khaine wants more battle]
[Sigmar wants to bless the hammer but the veil is stopping him from doing so]
[Grugni is saying smash the head of the pompous idiot]
Mark was ignoring these messages as he kept pushing the Great Enchanter back until they were about hundreds of meters away from the battle. It was then the Great Enchanter sent a shockwave all around pushing Mark back putting the battle to a pause.
"Why can't you see it?! The amount of dread we could cause these weak mortals! Our names written in history that people will fear us just from the mention of our names!! And besides, I am immortal and I will always exist" The Great Enchanter said as he circled around like he was on a stand off against Mark who was also circling around.
"Immortal? Let's see if that's true once I bash your face in." Mark said as he walked around the being known as Constant Drachenfels, a big bad he wanted to target but he had not thought he was targeted first. These events made him realize that even as meticulous his plans are, it was not perfect to enough that it could predict everything. This even was a great wake up call to him to keep back up plans in the future.
"I will always live, but not unlike you. I can see you are ageless like the elves so I will say this, even if you kill me now I will come back and take your body as mine. It seems you have no foresight to the future thus wasting away such a great body. I will take it as I am worthy of such." The enchanter stopped walking as he saw Mark stood twenty meter away still looking serious.
"A Monkey like you have no idea what is possible and let me tell you a great saying." Mark then stabbed the sword on the ground, then he raised his now free hand to get something on his belt.
"Oh, you have piqued my interest. Now tell me before you become a part of this eternal champion of evil which is my great self." Even when it seems he was losing he was still unbearably arrogant like things were just plays he watched in amusement.
"Explosion is an ART!!" Mark revealed a detonator and pressed it.
"Wha-" suddenly the grasses around the Great Enchanter grew in a fast manner that it engulf him instantly. He struggled to move out but just as he was about to get a hand outside.
*BOOOM!!!*
An explosion engulfed the place where the Great Enchanter was standing, Mark watched as debris fly past him but he stood still appreciating the view. Then Mark looked to the side and gave thumbs up to Gideon, his horse who he sent here earlier during the monologue of the idiot to dig a hole and place some of the c4s he had made with the synthesizer. This was one of the preparations he had packed before thinking that there might be large creatures that'll attack him. Thus the whole pushing him back to this place and circling around to place him atop the ten Kilograms of C4, what a dumb idiot.
Mark could then see the dome shatter as the atmosphere was now silent. After the sudden bursting into millions of pieces of the caster the undead also fell down. Giving the others time to look at the place where the thundering sound came from. They saw Mark go to his steed which made the others realize Mark fought on foot earlier not on horseback. They watched as Mark neared them making what's left of the men of the Count tense as they were now the ones outnumbered. But Mark chose to ignore them as he looked at the battlefield and said to his soldiers.
"Send some men to gather our dead, also bring their swords and armors with them. If their horse are alive them make a simple cart to carry them with use back to our castle." Mark then looked at the grail knight and nodded in respect. He had seen how this old man saved many of his men during the battle even when he was fighting the Great Enchanter, thus he did not bother the survivors much.
Mark then turned to the only thing alive left form the deamons side, he looked at the tree made of the flesh of the pitiful teen. He could see the rage in the eyes of the face embedded on the trunk of tree making him shake his head. He did not pity the guy at all but the fact that the magic was not lifted which means the soul of the Great Enchanter was able to escape. Thus maybe the guy would return again to trouble him in the future, this was going to be an annoying thing for Mark. But before he turned he looked one last time at the guy turned into a tree and said.
"Idiot"
(A/N: I was really tired after I wrote this as I never thought the chapter got so long up to 7K+ words in it. Hope you enjoy and please point out some plot holes if there are any and I'll try to correct it.)