In the distance he could see them darkening the skies
knights that flew on wyverns, all with evil glowing eyes
giant beasts like monstrous bears were marching on the ground
every step they took soon followed by a heavy sound
Riding on the giant creatures, mages dressed in black
summoned clouds of poison and made ready to attack
an infantry of twisted men and monsters all insane
smiling while they made a wasteland of the grassy plain
In time they’d reach the nation were he’d almost been a king
his friend would die along with everyone and everything
he asked the mercenaries if they’d stay behind and fight
but like the merchants they were more intent on taking flight
Panic struck the caravan, and chaos filled the air
the army, fast approaching, seemed to radiate despair
“if you fight that army, there is no way to survive
once they find you, they don’t leave a single soul alive”
The merchants took their horses and whatever they could hold
the mercenaries ran without a second thought for gold
all the slaves were bound and left behind to act as bait
the hero sighed at how his friends all chose to meet their fate
The hero wanted badly to rebuke his fleeing friends
but he knew well the way a hopeless battle often ends
he ran ahead to meet the army’s forces right away
sure that fate had brought him to this place to save the day
All the armies he had ever seen in any war
wouldn’t be a fraction of the force he stood before
then he noticed, when they saw him, all their movements ceased
and how the army looked at him was strange to say the least
Wyverns landed near him and the giant monsters bowed
the hero found himself the centre of a kneeling crowd
the hero put away his magic sword and looked around
then a single, elder mage approached without a sound
“We are all but humble servants of the king of death
since our kingdom’s birth, we’ve served him with our every breath
though we feared we may not live to see our king revived
now we may be sure the promised moment has arrived”
The hero didn’t understand a word the mage had said
“why do you all bow to me, and not your king instead”
the mage looked slowly up and held the hero in his view
“we could only hope to be as blessed by death as you”
The hero summoned two great swords of fire and then cried out
“I’m no king and never will be, let there be no doubt
leave this place and go back home or face my righteous blade
heroes spare no evil, so declare the choice you’ve made”
The mage stood up and smiled with adoration in his eyes
“we had only known of you from rumours heard by spies
you shall be essential to the sacred one’s ascent
none could be more worthy of this holy sacrament”
The hero’s sheer confusion had become a blinding rage
and just as he had had enough the army set the stage
Stolen story; please report.
since he’d been surrounded they could quickly pass him by
if he didn’t stop them now his friends would surely die
He jumped into the air and cut the wyverns in their flight
and threw his fiery spells at every living thing in sight
as he fought them desperately to hold their forces back
he worried that his friends could all be killed in one attack
Many knights were strong enough to take a hit or two
and archers hid among the shadows, somewhere out of view
since he’d found his magic powers in the woods that day
never had he worked so hard to keep his foes at bay
He struggled, fighting harder, shrouded in a cloak of fire
a raging battle shook the land as flames kept burning higher
after several hours and battles, he could barely see
he just hoped he’d keep his friends from harm til they were free
While a swirling storm of fire was circling all around
turning everything to ash, the hero heard a sound
the elder mage with twisted eyes was walking peacefully
like strolling through a park without a sense of urgency
The hero looked at him and then demanded he explain
“why should all you madmen live for suffering and pain”
the mage’s eyes were nothing like he’d seen in any wars
“we would all be honoured to exchange our deaths for yours”
The mage then cast a spell which turned the hero’s fire to smoke
the hero tried to cut the mage but he could only choke
“thank you for your service to our cause, but we must go
I cannot express the debt of gratitude we owe”
The hero caught his breath and used a minor healing spell
then he made a gust of wind before he tired and fell
from his knees, he looked around once all the smoke had cleared
but when he looked behind him it was just as he had feared
Though he’d sent a half of all those monsters to the grave
many more had caught up with the friends he tried to save
the army had no trouble catching up to those who ran
everyone’s escape had failed as fast as it began
Overcome by chaos while he fought with all his might
the army’s remnants now converged at once to end the fight
sorcerers and cavalry attacked him one by one
leaving him without a chance to counter or to run
The mage who seemed to cherish every moment of their war
made the hero sick with the expression that he wore
every time he killed a monster or some ghastly knight
the mage would only smile a little wider in delight
“Though this sacred act has been a pleasure and a joy
it seems as though we’ve reached the end of what you can enjoy
die now, and we’ll go ahead to carry on your will
thank you for this dance of death, it’s truly been a thrill”
The mage directed all his forces to attack as one
then the hero’s long and brutal battle would be done
the hero knew he’d failed to save a single person there
but as the army closed around him, he became aware
Somehow during battle, while the world was all a blur
a smile had crept across his face, though when he wasn’t sure
maybe it was fate, but even if that wasn’t true
all he knew was he was free to see what he could do
The mage was well impressed the hero hung on for so long
he’d never seen a single swordsman even half as strong
but as he watched the man before him facing his demise
he felt a slightly different power starting to arise
Since he’d left the forest where his powers were acquired
he’d fought so many battles but he’d never once grown tired
now he felt he’d found a way to let go of control
and let the fire consume his weary body, mind, and soul
The twisted, evil mage in black was overwhelmed by joy
“it is certain, death itself has blessed this righteous boy”
the hero could no longer hear the mage’s strange remarks
all the air around him filled with dancing flames and sparks
He didn’t even notice in the flaming clouds of dust
the army and its weapons turned to charcoal, ash, and rust
he simply walked toward the mage, whose smile was like his own
a feeling coming over him like he had never known
The mage began to chant a spell that made his eyes turn red
and summoned forth the souls of knights, an army of the dead
basking in their power he unleashed a fierce attack
but all the hero had to do was punch the wizard back
The mage was cloaked in darkness, and impervious to heat
he could walk through any fire and never fear defeat
but now the hero took the mage and held him by the throat
striking him repeatedly through his protective coat
He struck the mage who simply laughed despite the blood he shed
the hero was surprised to see the blood was mostly red
the mage no longer had the strength to cast a single spell
and when the hero let him go, the old man simply fell
Looking down upon the man whose army he’d destroyed
he didn’t think of all the lives with which the man had toyed
the old man rose up to his knees, and once again proclaimed
“you truly are the saviour who will see this world reclaimed”
The hero was too tired to even listen anymore
his eyes and ears and every other part of him were sore
before succumbing to the flames, and with his dying breathe
the smiling mage just whispered, “see you soon, oh lord of death”
The hero held his head and laughed until he couldn’t see
the battlefield was his alone now, roaring endlessly
as he laughed he thought he heard a whisper in his ear
a chilling voice that said “well done” but it was hard to hear
The hero stumbled awkwardly, and felt a gentle breeze
feeling such a soothing wind while falling to his knees
he looked around to see the hell he’d made then closed his eyes
and fell into unconsciousness while his fires touched the skies