Occasionally, I'd visit the local tavern for some food. I also needed to buy some supplies. I never really had the concept of money or gold, but I had to provide for myself and survive. Mostly, I would just loot dead bodies or eat whatever I found in nature. If I needed to hunt, I had my sword and electric crossbow with me. I would usually sleep underneath a tree. And I never took off my armor. I made sure that nobody knew what I really was.

As time passed, my belief that the Queen's Empire standing faded away. My connection to her still never revived itself. And the world seemed so much more chaotic. After the parties and celebrations from various towns, chaos ensued. New powers rose up to take their place. And I was sure that General Kull was one of them. He did say that he was planning to rise up above the chaos. He only let me go knowing full well that the Queen was gone. He knew that I couldn't really do anything to him. I wasn't a threat to him or his power.

And there were rumors. Rumors of beings known as the Bronze-Riders. I heard that name before. General Kull mentioned it. They were rumored to be wraiths and ghouls. Everywhere they went, death soon followed. They were rumored to have their skin and bones replaced with bronze metal. And their bodies could never die or be damaged. If one fell, they'd immediately come right back up as if nothing happened. Of course, these were all rumors. Rumors that I believed in fully.

As I continued my way forward along a stone road, a couple of horses were passing by me. The heavy clouds above were darkening. The horses galloped at a slow pace, and I paid no real attention to them until I saw who was on those beasts. In front was KR-01. I wondered what it was doing here, but I didn't have any answers for that. Anyways, I looked down trying not to get its attention. I hoped that he wouldn't recognize me, and I don't think he did. He merely glanced my way and continued forward past me. As he did, I began to notice that the horses were undead creatures. Their skin rotted away and the legs were replaced with bronze. They had pure white eyes that looked at nothing. Magical collars were across the horses' necks.

And it wasn't just KR-01. There was a small group of other bronze beings close behind him. At first, I didn't recognize any of them, but it didn't take long for me to know who they were. When they were together side by side, it just clicked in my head. I thought it was impossible, but the three of them were almost identical to my closest siblings. I couldn't believe it. So, these were the Bronze-Riders, I thought. All of them were covered in bronze, but they weren't like KR-01. I could smell the scent of rotting flesh behind all of that bronze. And there seemed to be pus leaking out of the sides. They gave off an aura of death. Each one seemed to also have a magical collar around their necks, however they were covered up by a thin veil. I could hear hoarse breathing behind all of that bronze.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Right behind KR-01 was a hulking, giant rider. He had swords sticking out of his back. And his eyes moved around erratically. He held onto a giant, bronze axe in one hand while holding the reins in the other.

Behind him was somebody smaller in stature. He had only one eye while the other was covered up. He wore belts full of various knives.

And behind him was a woman carrying an electric crossbow. This one I recognized. I saw this one back at the sewers when General Kull betrayed us. This was the one who said that Hell was cold before firing a shot. Although, I still didn't understand what she meant by that.

I immediately knew who they were, but I didn't think it was possible. No. I just didn't want it to be so. General Kull must have revived my friends and turned them into mechanical slaves.

They glanced in my direction for a moment. I hoped that they didn't recognize me. But it was only for a moment, and they continued looking forward. When they passed me, I muttered to myself, "Viking... Cutter... Hornet..."

I wondered whether it was really them or just undead puppets without any semblance of a mind. Either way, I hated what General Kull did to them. He turned my family into his own personal army.

But... how was that any different than blindly obeying the Queen? It was different. We were her children. It had to be different. It had to. Yes. We still had our own individual personalities. General Kull had that stripped away. He stripped away their flesh and souls, and replaced it with metal and wires.

When they left my view, I heard a shot of lightning. My heart raced.

"Shit!" I yelled as I ran to cover. I held my crossbow tightly. "They must have recognized me. Damn it. Damn it. Damn it."

I peaked around the corner, but I didn't see anybody. But I knew they were there. That was until I heard a thundering clap in front of me. Rain started to pour instantly as I stared at the bolt of lightning that lit up the dark sky. I realized there that nobody was firing at me. Even though I knew that, I still hid behind cover. There was nobody there, but I still hid. The bolts of lightning continued blasting all around me. I waited there until it was over holding my crossbow with a tight grip. It was lucky that nobody else passed by this road. I would have shot anybody in my sight without a second thought.

And even after the storm was over, it never really ended. I crouched and sat on the mud covering my ears. I could still hear it - the bolts of lightning ringing around my head.