(Ten years later)
"Can you do it, Killian?" Abaddon asked him. "Can you really take down their leader while we all distract their forces?"
"Is that even a question? Of course," Killian Creed responded with smug confidence.
"We have to be meticulous with this mission," Abaddon uttered. "If we take him down, that means one thing, one more step towards royalty. The king himself trusted us with this, we can't fail now." He said this with excitement at the thought of becoming royals.
The battle went as Abaddon planned, with their enemies being far too preoccupied by their distractions that Killian easily managed to sneak in and execute their commander almost immediately.
Cries of victory and preparations of a grand campfire celebration was done by the group.
"Holy crap, that really did work, huh?" Killian Creed laughed as he did not think that the plan would work as well as it did.
"It is all because of our leader here, Abaddon!" a member said as he placed his arms over Abaddon's shoulder.
"No, not at all. It was because of everyone's efforts that we got a win here today," he said with a nervous smile.
"Ah, nonsense. You were never really good at taking compliments!" Killian said as he slurred over his words as he was a bit tipsy now from the booze.
The Blood Angels were a mercenary group made up of about five hundred strong mercenaries who rallied behind the vision of their leader, Abaddon Chrysos.
Abaddon stood up. "Hey, can we talk alone?" he said to a drunken Killian.
"Yeah, sure…" Killian replied as he was helped up by the others.
"I do not know how I am feeling right now. It is like this is the happiest I've ever been, considering that this is our most important win so far," Abaddon said with a joyous expression. "It feels like I can do anything!"
"Woah, slow down there. I wonder...since when did the scaredy-cat become such a skilled fighter and tactician? Seriously, you've come a long way. I am so proud of you!" Killian congratulated him.
"If you were not here to carry the load of the offense, we would not be this strong, Killian. Besides, I never understood why you kept pushing me to be the group's leader even when we know you are the far better fighter."
"Because being a leader does not only rely on swordplay and raw strength, you've got to have a lot in here," Killian said as he pointed at his head. "That's where you fit, smartass."
Abaddon could not help but smile. "Thank you, Killian. We really have made it this far from the early days of the Blood Angels' conception, eh?"
"I tried being the leader, but everyone was just far too scared of me. I don't know why. Heh."
"Because you threatened to hunt their ghosts down if they died in battle…" Abaddon said with a blank expression.
"Ah…right. Well, there's that." Killian was being too lenient with his booze levels at this point.
Abaddon helped his best friend up and carried him to the camp. "One down, men," he said to the others as they erupted in laughter.
Morning came around and King Aldrich had summoned the Blood Angels to his court. There, Abaddon Chrysos, their leader, and Killian Creed, his second-in-command, knelt in front of him.
The king cleared his throat. "Abaddon. The last time I saw you, I told you that if you were to eliminate the enemy nation's top commander, that you all would be knighted, correct?" he asked him.
"Yes, my king," Abaddon responded.
"It turns out the Emperor of Niflheim suggested a truce after the fact," the king said with a chuckle. "Looks like taking the head of his most feared lapdog does that, eh? Anyway, just because of this, I grant every single member of the Blood Angels knighthood. And as for you, that of a noble's title. A Lord."
Abaddon's eyes widened at the sudden turn of the events.
The other members of the court gasped and expressed their disapproval and utter shock at the king's abrupt decision.
"Silence!" King Alrdich quieted them down. "I've had several royal commanders get sent back and buried without achieving a single notable feat in this bloody war! While here we have a bunch of commoners doing more than them! It is only right to give them a prize befitting that of their victory."
Abaddon Chrysos' breath was quickening right now, he did not expect to be given the title of 'Lord' this fast.
"Well, what is it, Blood Angels captain, do you accept my offer?" the king asked.
"Gladly, my king." Abaddon nodded as he wanted to anger the pretentious royalties and naysayers even more.
A large banquet feast came shortly after within the king's very own hall.
"Lord? You?! Hah. This is too good, Brother," Killian Creed said as he shook his best friend's hand and hugged him tightly.
"This is not the end of our path towards greatness, Killian. Once I can curry the king's favor, I will ask him to turn you into a Lord as well, and the other commanders too," Abaddon confidently uttered.
As Killian downed a whole bottle of whiskey, he posed a question to Abaddon.
"Have we done it? Have we reached our dreams already?" he asked in a state of euphoria.
"No. This is not even close to the peak of our dreams, we can go even higher. The two of us can do anything," the leader of the Blood Angels assured him.