Iason’s Smithery,
Kerta.
5:52 p.m. 16 th Zelyr 1092.
1 Day to World’s End.
“Oi, Ian, how much longer is this gonna take?”
“Argh, shut it already! You’ve been badgering non-stop for 48 hours! Aygor’s Hammer! I haven’t even caught a wink of sleep, you know!”
Iason’s Smithery, one of the most famous Smitheries in all of Kerta had been closed for two days. Suspiciously, however, sounds of crashing and beating metal rung out incessantly, as if the smith was hard at work. Furthermore, complaints from multiple voices occasionally rang out above the din. It made the curious citizens wonder just what was going on behind the scenes.
“Shut it, you two! Think yer the only ones ain’t sleep in two days? Fuck! Who the fuck made this kinda deranged order, anyway!?”
“KASHI!”
Fifteen pairs of eyes turned to glare at a daeben who was hammering away at a metal ingot.
Kashi froze when he felt the intense killing intent. He looked up at the blacksmiths with a sheepish grin and then waved. “Uh... Ian, take your time, take your time. I’m sorry I asked.” Kashi cringed when he felt the glare grow even hotter. Well, he could not blame them. He was the one with the unreasonable order.
Two days ago, Kashi arrived from Serisis to stock up on items for the battle. His time at the Serian island had opened his eyes to a hint of the path he should take in the future. Unfortunately, the future was the future. Right now, Kashi needed to use what he had to overcome this battle. With this line of thinking, he placed two massive orders for mana potions and arrows.
The mana potions were much easier to get than expected. Apparently, the Royal Family hired a Grandmaster Alchemist. No one knew why, but she claimed to be grateful to the people of Rosendun, and so, decided to teach Alchemy to any willing parties for a small price.
Naturally, students flocked in from far and wide, and through the Grandmaster Alchemists’ teachings, learned much more efficient and cost-effective ways to concoct most potions. As a result, mana potions, which were once ultra-rare products, now flooded the market, and sellers were the ones looking for buyers rather than the other way round.
Kashi did not know the identity of this Grandmaster Alchemist, but he was immensely grateful for her help. Without her influence, it would have been impossible to find any mana potions on the market. Especially now that most guilds had vacuumed most of the potions in preparation for the battle.
The orders for arrows, however, was much more complicated. Kashi needed precise requirements for his arrows. The common market did not have anything near his standards, so he needed to place a special order. Unfortunately, Kashi also needed an inordinate quantity, which was why he had Iason call upon his blacksmithing friends to assist.
And that brings us to the present time. Fifteen blacksmiths and one daeben heavily sweated under the sweltering heat as they pounded out one arrow after another. Over to a corner to the forge, rows upon rows of arrows were neatly stacked. Big, small, thin, fat. All sorts of strangely shaped arrows were piled up on the wall. In reality, these were more than enough to outfit a small army. It was difficult to believe that one man needed so many arrows.
Three hours later, the fifteen blacksmiths crowded around Kashi as he ran Jingu Ross across the last arrow. The metal glowed with a bright light and then returned to normal as the runes solidified.
“HAAH!” A blacksmith pumped his fists into the sky. “Finally done!” He looked at the rows of arrows off to the side with a wary glance. “I’m never working for you again, kid. Fuck! You’re a real slave driver!”
“Ah. You said it, Soares! Forget him, Kashi. You can bring your business my way anytime.”
“Ah. Fuck Cedric! You know I was only joking! Forget him. You can always trust in Soares’ Wares! You will never be sorry you shopped at Soares’ Wares.”
Pfft! Kashi failed to hold his amusement and burst out laughing. The smiths’ constant bickering had been one of the few things that kept everyone sane during the past two days. The daeben chuckled as he raised his hands to placate the men. “It’s alright, Cedric-san, Soares-san. The Hopeful Maggots will certainly send a lot of business your way.” He paused and then added with a sly grin. “Of course, it’ll be even better if you choose to straight-up join.”
“Hehe. You’ve got a large appetite, kid.”
“Hey, I had to at least try.” Kashi rubbed his nose, and then said, “Even if you don’t want to join the guild, you can visit the Maggots or the Royal Family to apply for a position in the new academy we’re building. We need teachers from every profession. The pay’s pretty good, I hear. Plus, it comes with a lot of promotion and credibility.”
Kashi opened a portal and sucked all the arrows inside. He then looked at the stunned smiths. “Think about it. Could be a real game-changer.” He smiled and then made his way to the door. “But, really, thank you all for the help.” Kashi paused after opening the door, and then said to Iason, “You know what to do.”
Iason grinned and flashed a thumbs-up. “Don’t worry. I’ll happily bill the Hopeful Maggots.”
“Thanks.” Kashi pulled his hood over his head and then said as he pulled the door shut. “See you all later.”
Bang.
Kashi quickly shuffled along Kerta’s streets after exiting Iason’s shop. He tugged his hood tight when he passed by the Maggots’ Headquarters and then only relaxed when he made it to the fields outside.
Kashi ran into a nearby forest and then climbed a sturdy tree. When he was certain no one would stumble upon him, he shut his eyes and willed himself into a light sleep. It would be one long dash to the battlefield once the daeben awoke. He needed the rest.
Ygg, Ederwood.
5:53 p.m. 17 th Zelyr 1092.
6 Hours to World’s End.
“What are you doing here?”
“You did not think I would let my orcs go on this expedition without me, did you?”
Brilith Loneheart wore a thin smile as she looked at the unexpected Orc Chieftain. Renark Ragelock, the newly crowned Orc Chieftain, stood proud at the head of the orc army. The powerful orc grinned when he noticed Brilith’s angry expression. Like hell he would let everything go as she wanted.
“We had an agreement, Renark.” Brilith Loneheart warned. Her voice was low, but even Renark felt the pressure—not to speak of his subordinates. Many orcs nearly knelt in fright, but Renark shielded the orcs with his aura.
Renark snorted. “This does not break our agreement, Loneheart. Razznik’s home has nothing to do with your conquest. This is an independent conquest for the orcs’ future.”
“Hey! It’s the Holy Mother!”
A shout drew Renark’s attention to a corner of the field, from which the Holy Mother emerged with Sophie at her side. Renark grinned and then looked at Brilith. “Looks like it’s about to start.” The Orc Chieftain hoisted his axes and then held them in a reverse grip. “I will see you on the battlefield.” Renark chuckled. “Come brothers, we march.”
Brilith’s gaze grew dark as she watched Renark leave with the orcs. “That damned NPC.” However, mere moments later, she smiled once more. “Never mind. This works as well. It would be heartbreaking if the Orc Chieftain were to meet an unfortunate accident.”
The soldiers around her shivered from the frost in her tone. Still, no one dared to refute her claim. That was because they knew Brilith Loneheart. When this woman proclaimed something, it always happened. They looked toward the Orc Chieftain with pity and disdain. Might as well begin planting daisies.
Brilith, meanwhile, calmed her nerves and then walked up to the podium where the Holy Mother and Sophie stood. Following the Holy Mother’s prompt, Brilith climbed the podium and joined them.
With Brilith on her left and Sophie on her right, the Holy Mother took out the teleportation matrix scroll she received from Rider. She then looked over the thirty thousand-strong coalition as she unfurled the scroll. “It is not my wish to deceive you all. Oni Hill indeed holds a lot of riches, but even more, it holds plenty of danger. The reason we waited until the last possible moment to transfer you all is to mitigate some of that danger.”
The Holy Mother, Anya, explained further, “As you all know, we have a powerful clairvoyant on our side. She saw that a few minutes from now, Skyrm will begin the summoning spell for Razznik. However, in doing so, it will relinquish the ‘cover’ on the Chaos Orders’ troops. This action would cause the undead to view the Chaos Order as enemies rather than allies. If we attacked earlier, then you would be facing a concerted effort from the Chaos Order on one side and the undead on the other. However, now, rather than an organized front, you will engage in an all-out three-way brawl. The situation will undoubtedly be chaotic and messy. But it is exactly this messy situation that will give some of you a chance to break through and then infiltrate Oni Hill.”
Jatakem, Imperium.
5:55 p.m. 17 th Zelyr 1092.
6 Hours to World’s End.
“Oni Hill is divided into 8 floors,” Sayen recounted to the coalition, her small voice amplified by magic. “The natures of the floors are ever-changing, but the central theme remains constant. Each floor corresponds to the seven deadly sins. Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy and finally Pride.”
A hint of wariness appeared in Sayen’s eyes as she warned, “Be very careful when attacking each floor. Razznik was not interested in simply strong warriors, but warriors with powerful will and characters. Each floor will test not just your physical prowess but your mental state as well. I do not need to tell you what will happen if you fail. Razznik is famous for never taking prisoners.”
Ygg, Ederwood
“Each floor houses several hidden riches and treasure. More than enough to satisfy this army ten times over. However, I suggest you curb your greed and try not to get lost in the treasures. Razznik would never give out anything for free. Please apply the greatest caution when looting Oni Hill.
Jatakem, Imperium
“When you arrive at Oni Hill, you’ll find yourselves standing about a kilometer away from the mountain. There will be a large forest behind you. Expect the undead to flood you from there. To prevent your forces from being ambushed, you can either rush at the Chaos Order to quickly add them to the chaos or have a few people stand their ground and carefully make your way to the Chaos Order. The first option will result in more casualties, but it will buy more time for the leading men and women to infiltrate. The second will save more lives but will use up a lot of time.”
Sayen looked at Sonic. “Time or Lives. I will leave the decision up to you. It is not my place to interfere with military decisions.
Ygg, Ederwood
Brilith smiled as she weathered Anya’s gaze. “Do not worry, Holy Mother. I know what to do.”
Anya shook her head. “It is not my place to worry. Do what makes you feel comfortable. You are the commanding general for this mission, after all.” She then looked at the rest of the army and said as she raised the scroll, “Now is the time to retreat.” When no one left, she revealed a bitter smile and then said, “May Sram look favorably upon your blades.”
Riiip!
Jatakem, Imperium.
Sonic’s heart accelerated as a blinding light exploded out from Sayen’s scroll and then consumed the entire army. The kafu shut his eyes, excited at the knowledge that a magnificent battlefield would await him when next they opened.
Oni Hill.
Five Minutes Ago.
“Seems our guests have arrived.”
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
Queen Alia, who sat by the pristine lake atop the fabled mountain, looked to the skies. Her brows furrowed as she sensed the overwhelming power coming from above. She might have finally become a Transcendent herself, but she instinctively knew she was no match for those monsters.
Thankfully, however, she did not have to.
Queen Alia looked at the robed Transcendents behind her. “It’s finally time. Please welcome our guests.”
Low chuckles arose from the Transcendents as they kicked off into the sky. This was one of the powers of Transcendents. The [Flight] skill unlocked at Lv. 200. Of course, some were far more skilled at using this skill than others.
The Chaos Orders’ Transcendents flew for about a kilometer ahead before they came to an abrupt stop when they spotted four men and a draconian among the cloud.
Nornesh stood at the group’s center. His eyes turned red with rage when the Chaos’ Transcendents came into view. “You children dare cover up in front of me!? Do you want to remove those ridiculous robes, or do you need me to roast you up a bit?”
“Hah. You’re as angry as ever, Nornesh.” Bellmaster Rene took off his robe and then faced the Divine Dragon with a happy grin. “It’s been a long time. I did not think you would ever leave your lair.”
Nornesh snorted. “Do not deign to understand the thoughts of a Divine Dragon.” Fire burned in his eyes as he then looked at the others. “Well, what will it be?”
“Lose the robes.” Bellmaster Rene sighed and then said, “It’s too early to fight.”
Whoosh!
Following Rene’s suggestion, the remaining nine got rid of their robes, revealing their identities. In total, there were six men and three women. Of the six men, there were two masonians, one halben, one cerulian, one lycan, and a single daeben. The women, on the other hand, consisted solely of daeben. The daeben women were no surprise considering daeben were a matriarchal race. The women often fought in wars, while the men stayed behind to raise the next generation.
“Well, well, You certainly are no less commanding even in old age.” Lilo Shadebreak, one of the daeben women, teased with a seductive smile. Her fine, straight hair cascaded down her back like a cascading waterfall. The short daeben had an athletic, slim build and was garbed in leather armor that was as professional as artistically pleasing.
“He ain’t the only one, here, ya know?” Tritan snorted, pulling the attention away from Nornesh. Sure, Nornesh was the strongest being present, but it did not feel good to be ignored. Tritan locked onto one of the masonian men. His lips spread in a wide grin as he questioned, “Hey! Yong-Su. Did you finally find Gorian’s Trident?”
The masonian, Yong-Su, looked at Tritan with a pair of deep-set brown eyes that were like two patches of dried blood. His luxurious beige hair sat at shoulder-length and was worn in a dignified, simple style. Like most masonians, Yong-Su was a bit on the short side, but his graceful, slim build and vintage wardrobe made it so no one could take their eyes off him. “If the Trident were so easily found, I would have no reason to be here. Why do you ask when you already know this? Perhaps you made a discovery into Stagnetti’s Black Pearl?”
“Hehe!” Tritan rubbed his nose with unabashed pride. “Looks like I’ll be beating you to Master of the Sea.”
Yong-Su, however, was unperturbed. “It would seem you have yet to acquire it. For someone of your ability, if you could not have it with you despite knowing its location, then you’ll probably never be able to acquire it. What was the matter? Is it restricted to Summoned alone? Or is there some other kind of restriction?”
Tritan’s face turned dark.
Yong-Su nodded. “I suppose my hypothesis is correct. Why don’t you share the pearl’s location? I might have more luck than you.”
“Forget it. He’s probably lying, anyway.” The other masonian, Sang-ki, interrupted before Tritan could respond. The middle-aged man’s sharp teeth and slitted green eyes brought to mind a prowling alligator. Unlike Yong-Su, Sang-ki was tall and quite muscular. Intriguingly, a pair of very bushy eyebrows sat above his eyes, giving him a comical look. The man wore a bizarre mishmash of clothes, with plenty of yellow. Sang-ki ran his hands through his wavy, burgundy hair as he said, “I’m more interested in Damah Dumm over there. Have you considered our offer? With your money and our strength, we can easily rule this continent.”
Damah Dumm shrugged, a lackadaisical smile on his face. “I seek neither fame nor power. Only a realm without pain or suffering. You lot are incapable of providing that realm.”
“There is only pain and suffering because of opposition,” said Nhikli Grayhunter, a laid-back daeben with puffy white hair that resembled a cotton ball. Like most daeben women, Nhikli was tall, but she also sported a lean, muscular build. Her ruddy skin and callous fingertips told tales of the harsh training she underwent to reach her current position. Still, she wore a flattering blue and yellow dress that showed off most of her skin. It was indeed a bizarre choice of attire, but no one dared criticize her. She did not wear armor because, quite frankly, she did not need any. “If you joined us, we could crush the opposition in record time. Wouldn’t you achieve your so-called peace then? A few thousand lives in return for centuries of peace. It is a fair trade, wouldn’t you say?”
Damah Dumm shook his head. “The Chaos Order are conquerors. This world has seen countless conquerors, and they have all failed to achieve the peace I seek. So, I have chosen to seek out a different approach.”
“The Hopeful Maggots, and their leader, Kashi?” Dyna L’Real, the final daeben woman, questioned. Her contemplative gaze and warm smile spoke of a benevolent, reliable leader, with hair woven into beautiful locks that fell down her back. Unlike Nhikli, she wore practical, thin, leather armor that accentuated her curvy figure. “To my knowledge, they are going about it the same way we are. Serisis is a fluke. There won’t be another land which he can win over with rations like that.”
“Maybe so,” said Brock, “But at the very least, the Hopeful Maggots are striving to put systems that benefit the common man in place.” Brock looked at the Transcendents. “You all are only enamored with the idea of ruling. What would you know about the plight of the injured adventurer or the child suffering in the slums? You have set your sights too high, which is why you are willing to rule with fear. A nation built on fear is bound to collapse one day. And then war will resume.”
“You speak like most of us did not come from those very slums,” said the cerulean, Onishi Rai, whose wide emerald-green eyes and enigmatic smile reminded one of a playful kitten. His thick, curly, short hair, the color of rich cream, accentuated his handsome features. He stood at average height and was quite muscular for a cerulean. He wore a red vest and flame-painted shorts. The bare-footed cerulean chuckled as he challenged, “I grew up in the worst hell-hole you can find, and I can tell you this. Humes say they want freedom, but they cannot handle it. Ultimate Freedom ultimately destroys any society. They need structure, a strong leader they do not dare oppose, and terrifying consequences to keep them in line. That’s the only way dumb humes can ever coexist in peace.”
“Aethir’s Blessing.” Palu Sails, unable to keep his silence any longer, spoke up. “I refuse to believe humes are these despondent creatures you describe. Humes wish for prosperity and happiness above all. All they require is to be provided the opportunities to live happily. The world the Order wishes to create does not care about these opportunities as long as the humes submit and obey.”
“You speak of happiness like it is a singular attribute that all humes share,” remarked Ixoud J’Tur, the only male daeben. His slanted red eyes, sardonic grin, and tattered clothing gave off the aura of a crazed lunatic. Furthermore, thick chains bound his arms and legs, forcing his body into a straight ‘I.’ Interestingly, the daeben women did their best to stay as far away from him as possible. “Have you thought about those who can only derive joy from killing, murder, or fighting? This dumb utopia where everyone gathers around a fire and sings folksongs doesn’t fucking exist! The only thing that deters Chaos is strong and infallible Order. That’s what you praying nancies don’t freaking get. If you wanna stop all wars, then you need a power that’s so scary, no one even dares to go against it.”
“That is but one way,” Palu Sails argued. “Peace and prosperity can also be gained through a happy and joyful community. Need I remind you that time and time again, humes have proven their ability to coexist peacefully—especially in the presence of an external threat.”
“But then they fall right back into war at the slightest offense,” Arasell Cloudlance, the sole halben, possessed the bearing of a precise machine. Be it his hair or businessman-like attire, not a single piece was out of order. His azure eyes were cold and dark but carried a vast intelligence within like the depths of an ocean. “There is no denying the nature of humes when left to their own devices. History has proven this point countless times. The only chance for peace is to crush all thoughts of dissent with overwhelming power.”
“Chisoa’s wisdom.” Palu Sails firmly shook his head. “You might think this is the only option, but I assure you, there are more. Humes require hope to evolve. A hopeful nation will continue to grow under the strength of a desire for a better tomorrow for self and country. In contrast, a nation ruled by fear is only as strong as the fear allows. Such a nation will certainly crumble the second its citizens overcome their fear. What you seek is akin to building a structure on grains of sand. It will crumble at the first flood.”
“Hmph! Basically, what you’re saying is, everything’s as long as the fear never ends, right?”
“What? No—”
“Yes! That’s exactly it!” Aedelwulf, the grey-furred 8-feet tall lycan, challenged with a toothy grin. Aedelwulf’s angry, violet eyes glowed with sick joy. “The peace will remain as long as we don’t let the people dream of rebelling. That’s the summary of what you just said.” Aedelwulf clenched his fist, a sadistic grin on his face as he said, “Well, guess what? We’ve got the necessary power to keep the humes’ desires in check! With us here, there will never be a situation where the common folk even dream of rebelling.” Aedelwulf looked at Nornesh, who had remained silent since the debate started. “What about it, Nornesh? You don’t hold an opinion?”
Nornesh silently looked at the ten Transcendents. Bellmaster Rene, Lilo Shadebreak, Nhikli Grayhunter, Yong-Su, Sang-ki, Dyna L’Real, Onishi Rai, Ixoud J’Tur, Arasell Cloudlance, and the lycan Aedelwulf. Each of these individuals was powerful on their own, enough to command significant portions of the continent if they wished. However, these ten powerhouses had come together to work under the same umbrella and ideal. Could he really say their basis had no claim? Nornesh did not think so.
Fear could indeed be an effective motivator if handled correctly. Even the current civilized cities had laws and punishment to deter citizens from committing crimes. That said, Nornesh had lived long enough to see what happened in civilizations ruled entirely by fear. Eventually, someone loses that fear and subsequently infects those around them with the disease called courage. This courage would then cause these beaten down humes to rise up and challenge their overlords.
The dangerous thing about courage was that it was almost impossible to stamp out once it spread beyond a certain point. In fact, like a terrible virus, any efforts to squash courage often caused the infection to spread even further.
Nornesh, personally, had no skin in this game. As a Divine Dragon, he did not care much about the humes’ lives. He just wanted to live out his 2000-year life span and pass on peacefully. If the Chaos Order had not deigned to place his territory (Serisis) in their eyes, he would not have opposed them. Even now, the main reason he was here was to learn from Skyrm how he created a daughter when Divine Dragons were supposed to be sterile.
Vwoom!
Luckily, Nornesh was spared from answering the question as two gigantic pillars of light exploded into existence at the East and West of Oni Hill.
“Ah, they’re here,” Nornesh remarked with a loose smile. “Damah, why don’t you set the stage. It will be a boor standing the entire time.”
“Of course.” Damah Dumm smiled and then waved his hand. The purple ring on his finger lit up, and then a large, rectangular table appeared in front of them with all sorts of drinks and food. Damah waved his hands again, and fifteen chairs appeared around the table. He then gestured to the head of the table, “If you will, Nornesh.”
“Impressive as always,” praised Nornesh as he took his seat. He then gestured to the Chaos Orders’ Transcendents. “Take a seat. We might be here a while. There’s no point standing like fools.”
“Heh as you wish.” The Chaos Transcendents took their seats and then cast their gazes to the wasteland below. They did not want to miss a moment of this battle that would determine the world’s fate.
Brock, Damah, Palu, and Tritan also took their seats and then cast their gazes to the ground. So much build-up for this moment. What would it be like?
Vwoosh!
Down on the ground, the columns of light finally dispersed, revealing the seventy-thousand strong coalition that glared at Oni Hill with greed and desire. Anya and Sayen gave up leadership to Brilith and Sonic respectively upon arrival and then promptly disappeared from sight.
While Brilith and Sonic worked on getting their men ready up in the sky, an emotional reunion was about to occur.
Cathek’s white fur fluttered beautifully in the evening breeze. He gazed at the four individuals in front of him with an enigmatic smile. The kafu’s eyes glittered when Niye appeared in their midst. “Niye, it’s been a while.”
“Stuff it, Cathek.”
Cathek smiled and then looked at Anya. “Anya-sama. I know this is benign, but I do hope you have been in good health, and your time has been peaceful.”
“What are you planning exactly, Cathek?”
Cathek once again ignored the question and then turned to Zeign. “Zeign Ashqoj. Our paths rarely cross. I am happy you were finally able to liberate your brethren from oppression.” The kafu’s eyes did not hold the emotion in his voice. “Ah. I just pray you have not delivered them into another form of oppression.”
“YOU!”
“Stop it.” Rider held back Zeign with one hand. “There’s no point in fighting him. He just wants to make you waste your energy before the big moment.”
Cathek grinned. “Rider, Rider, Rider. Or should I say Lucius Ludarak, the man who spent a millennium trying to atone for being a coward and letting his love die?” He chuckled when Rider’s expression turned Dark. “You’ve been busy, Lucius. Don’t you get tired of it all? When was the last time you went home? Are you even certain your parents are still alive?”
Bang!
Fladnag stomped his staff against the ground. “Shut up, Cathek. We’re not here to talk. Whatever it is you’re planning, we will put an end to it.”
Cathek looked at Fladnag. “Stop me? Do not fret, brat. No matter how this battle turns out, I will emerge victorious.”
“What?”
Cathek chuckled. “Don’t play innocent with me. Why did you send the daeben on a quest to unite the world? Isn’t it because you figured it out? The only way to truly open a path to Razznik’s realm is to conquer the continent under a single banner. All this talk of uniting and prosperity is smoke and mirrors. You desire freedom as much as I do. The only difference is the paths we chose to take and the sacrifices we’re willing to make.”
Anya interjected with anger in her voice. “Killing and terrifying the innocent is not a sacrifice.”
“No, but having to listen to century after century of inept rulers is a painful sacrifice,” Cathek revealed a proud smile as he glanced at Oni Hill behind him. “Thankfully, fate is not blind. It has rewarded my pain with a competent, wise ruler at last. She will be the champion that not only unites the realms but finally defeats Razznik when the time comes.”
“Does that justify the suffering you’ve caused?”
Cathek’s smile shifted for the first time, and he turned to Bert. The brown-furred kagu lazily looked at the ground, as if raising his eyes was too much of an effort. “Still won’t look me in the eye, Nii-san?”
Bert closed his eyes. “No brother of mine would look upon such chaos with a smile.”
Cathek’s smile dimmed. “You do not understand, brother. None of you do.” Cathek turned to look at the top of Oni Hill. “I do not derive pleasure from suffering. But, blood must be shed to unite the continent. In the grand scheme of things, the lives lost are but a blimp in the pages of history. Generations to come will happily forget the sordid past to celebrate their newfound peace.”
Rider shook his head. “There is no point arguing ideologies. We’re all too old and set in our ways. You take your path, and we shall take ours. In the end, our destination remains the same.”
Cathek grinned. “Could not have said it better myself.” He then looked at Oni Hill once more and said, “Begin, Gunder.”
Roooar!
A terrible roar shook the souls of every living being within thirty miles. The coalition and Chaos Order soldiers looked up to the sky, trepidation in their eyes as a heavy gust of wind burst out from the top of Oni Hill and then cleared the surrounding clouds. Thus then revealed the terrible Skyrm, or rather, Gunder, who stood atop the mountain, head raised.
Thousands of Runes appeared around Gunder and then flew into the skies, forming a giant, 5-meter, black egg. Horrifying pulses and screams akin to the echoes of hell escaped the strange object, filling the onlookers with a heavy sense of dread.
Cathek chuckled as he looked at the embryonic ‘Gate.’ He spread his arms wide and then said with a pleasant smile. “Well, I welcome your champions’ attempts to stop mine. May the best emerge victorious.”