Noir was anxious as he waited, two tankards of meat sat before him when the door was blown open.
"The Lost Legate, here to discuss further operations."
The gruff Voice was heard before the eight-foot tall man in Silver full plate armor entered, the tiny amounts of light that was inside the room turned to fractals of light on the man's chest, and as he lifted his Visor an impressive mustache pronged above a wide grin.
The dark lord stood and saluted his friend, who reciprocated the action.
"It has been eight years, Legat der Verlorenen Legion, after my little misadventure, I kind of had to disappear quickly. How has the whole Apocalypse thing treated your men?"
The German's laugh made the walls shake as both sat down.
"My guys are hardy bastards, besides, we just decided to continue our training, no reason to stop just because a voice explains to us how much we don't know about fighting. We had those Motherfuckers join the legion and made them train us till we collapsed. Some stayed with their families, but you know us. Magic, monsters and mystery will always draw us to a good show, though we won't be paid for this one, I assume. We were employed as NPC's on a nearby convention when this whole thing broke loose, and after we grouped up with those Hags, we went and asked the church for help. Can you believe they turned us down? Just because most of us are Atheist or Protestant, those pearly white butt suckers rejected a perfectly trained army. At least they told us about you, complained about some edgy dark wizard guy that stripped innocent people of their cash, I had a hunch it might be you."
Both raised their beverage.
"United we stand once again."
Noir sang.
"And united we will fall."
The other joined in.
"But through terror and through pain,
we will conquer all."
Then they drank.
"I used quite a few of our adventures in my books, fooled a few guys, would never have thought this whole magic thing would turn out real after all. At least, all my tomes are kind of real now, and just about everything inside them works, if you got the power for it.
Would you like to join the Dark crusade? We have recently fought a wannabe dragon to a draw, and I finally learned that damned secret to Immortality, or I am close to it at least. Just have to test it. Further benefits are the right for your guys to stay in our territory, a library filled with knowledge, and the opportunity to fight against priests and crusaders alongside undead, demons and abominations of flesh."
Noir stood up, his own muscles bulging as he turned his back on the man he spent most of his time in Germany with.
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Johan grinned. He had always known his rival to be a faker, a lot of smoke and mirror hiding the madman's true intention at every corner.
The man that called himself Noir was the absolute opposite of him, a honourless bastard, a showman to the core and someone who didn't care for those they do not consider a friend.
But as the guy all his soldiers called a devil turned around, the tip of his coat sleeves revealing arms modified to hold muscles no human arm should ever contain, he clasped it.
For every difference the two of them had, there was only one set of codes they both abided by.
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Their hands grasped, they stared into each other's eyes.
A grafted arm and focus enhanced muscles clenched as the two of them tried to crush each other, an old rivalry reignited as their hands entwined. Together, they left the building, a single click of their collective tongue prompting everyone to listen.
The lost legion but their hands on the spears, gathering in formation as they prepared for a play they did many times before.
To their right, the horsemen gathered.
Mia ignited hellfire, the two hellhounds and an impish creature gathering around her.
Marc stood before three pristine white skeletons, each of them glowing a ghastly green from their eyes.
Fenrir, Famine and a few Unibuns found a place next to them, murderous intent and animalistic curiosity easily noticeable.
The coven rose above each, three witches floating as their powers resonated with the armies single-minded focus.
"No kings, no gods and no masters shall stand in our way." They began, their eyes locked together as flashes of a future filled with blood began filling everyone's mind.
"Our Enemies will infiltrate, and our allies will betray us." The screams of the innocent filled the air.
"I will not trust you ever, and neither will you trust me, but I know who you are, and your eyes pierce through my every Illusion."
It burned, memories of their biggest battles rushing through their heads.
"And thus, we will fight together, not as allies, but as brothers." A mad gleam flashed across their faces.
"We will grow together, sharpen our blades against our foes or against one another."
Fires rose and weapons were rhythmically slammed into the ground.
"We have a common goal, a darkness coated in false light, attempts to gather those hopeful."
Hatred reverberated, but everyone held their tongue as the chant came to an end.
"We are the darkness that snuffs out false light, four sides meant to sharpen one another, the eternal infighting among the desperate and destitute. The legions of loss have been united, and the council of four hereby declares the dark crusade upon those who falsely believe themselves divine."
Everyone held their breath as the three horsemen gathered.
"We declare the legate of the lost legion as Conquest."
They stood side by side and faced their respective troops.
First, Mia turned around towards the house the coven had begun to hover above.
"The Infernal horde is willing to tear their souls asunder."
Next, Marc did the same.
"The Unliving Army is thirsting to have the fallen join their Ranks."
Noir grinned manically as he followed their gesture.
"The swarm hungers, and is ready to eat our opponents alive."
Johan sighed as he did the same, pounding his chest.
"And the lost legion will conquer those who turned them away."
Noir let loose a manic cackle as the moon was swallowed, and every light in the sky got obscured by rolling thunder.
The hags looked at each other as they send a message far away, and a large festival had begun in the Crusaders camp.
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As the clerics in the city went for their nightly prayers, the sky darkened.
A voice full of hatred hammered into their skulls.
"War has been declared, and pestilence will come over the unworthy. Conquest is assured when death comes to claim the sinners. Prepare yourself, as false gods will be torn from their thrones."
That night, three councils gathered, planning to eradicate the only thing that could pose a thread to them.
"We must punish those who worship the false gods, this prophecy was clear."