"THE SECOND BLEAKNESS IS A MYSTERY TO EVEN ME. THE FROSJRS RETURNED, AND WITH THEM CAME OUR FIRST SIGHTING OF THE TRUE ENEMY, BUT WARRIORS WHO MANIPULATED THE ARCANES APPEARED TO SAVE HUMANITY. THEY WERE NOT DEVILDEALERS, THEY HAD NO BOND, AND THEY GLEW WITH ETHEREAL WHITE."

* THE HELLFIRE CHRONICLES, HOLY BOOK OF TRAGSXT

4th of Jiraith, 1012 on the War Calander:

Grimmor overlooked the angry mob of soldiers that sat at the bed of the castle of Sali.

Ors burst into his quarters, "Your Majesty! The rebellion is waiting outside the palace! They demand to speak with you."

"I know, Ors." Grimmor's decision to help New Learu City has stirred up the resentful faction against him to act. About time, He thought to himself.

Ors trailed him silently as he walked down the halls of his vast palace, ready to face his soldiers. Ready, for the first time since gaining the crown, to lead.

Linora walked with him in her true form; a girl made of vines in a flower peteal dress and long interwoven leaves for hair. If it wasn't for the color and grooves on her skin, she could have easily passed as a young Draith girl.

She looked so human it was almost unnerving, but he tried not to show it.

Linora looked at him with wide glimmerling eyes, studying him. "What is it?" Grimmor asked his pledgeborn.

"You're finally wearing the outfit!" Grimmor raised an eyebrow.

"The crown and cloak used to wear you, but for the first time since...since then, you finally look like a king!" Her grin was so wide that even under the intensity of the situation Grimmor managed a smile.

The three walked until they reached a large gate emblazoned with the symbol of Sali and Earthshaking.

Grimmor threw the doors open, revealing around nine dozen soldiers in the daylight, all gathered around the palace, ready for some kind of coup.

A broad-shouldered man with long brown hair walked through the crowd, a large claymore in his hand.

"So the coward king shows himself, at last!" The man said.

Grimmor looked him up and down. "What is you're name, soldier?" The king asked his subject.

The man scowled, "You are not my king!" he sneered.

"I do not have to be your king to ask for your name, child."

The warrior scowled again, "Lao!" he screamed through gritted teeth.

"Stop this foolishness, Lao. Your rebellion will not be successful."

Lao stopped trying to protest, instead holding up his claymore towards Grimmor. A duel.

"So, if this little fit of yours works, you shall be king?" Lao nodded.

Grimmor thought about it. A king wouldn't condemn his people to a bloody civil war.

"I have a better idea!" Grimmor called, "Defeat my vessel and I'll let you have the throne."

Grimmor gestured towards Ors to go and fight, but the soldier just stared back at him, slackjawed.

"NO!" Lao screamed back at him, "If you want to pawn off your throne so easily, then fight me yourself!" he demanded.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

A spike of fear ran through Grimmor, but it was accompanied by something else, victory. He couldn't explain it, but he knew that if he fought, he could win the hearts of his men.

"I accept!" Grimmor yelled.

Lao winched back, obviously not expecting Grimmor to accept. Ors eyed him as if he was insane.

Grimmor held his hand to the side. Linora touched his palm with a pinky then transformed into a large black scythe. The scythe that used to be his brother's.

He pointed the scythe at Lao, accepting the challenge.

A flash of gold fired from the left corner of Grimmor's eye. He glanced to find a man hooded in a dark green cloak. Immediately, he knew he was the Voidwatcher.

Grimmor turned back to his opponent.

"Let's do it!" Linora said in his mind.

Grimmor charged in, trying to slash with his scythe. Flashes of skill flared within him, but they burned quickly.

Lao lumbered around his broad sword through the air, making sparks fly through the air when it and Grimmor's Devilblade collided.

Surprisingly, Grimmor didn't feel as pained as he thought he would while Linora was in his hand.

He sliced at Lao, who blocked again with his broad sword. Lao growled, before shoving both his claymore and Grimmor's scythe into the sky. He slammed the king with his fist, knocking him to the ground.

Grimmor could feel the bones in his body crack as he hit the dirt floor.

"Yield!" Lao screamed.

"Please! Get up!" Linora yelled in his mind.

Slowly, as the fractured bones healed thanks to his Devildealing, Grimmor rose to face his soldier again.

Lao grunted before trying to slam his fist into Grimmor. Luckily, the king managed to dodge, even landing a large cut on the soldier's forearm.

Lao's eyes lit up with rage. He grabbed Grimmor by the head and threw him into the wall at top strength.

"I said, YIELD!" The soldier screamed.

Grimmor barely managed to rise to one knee, "No..." He managed to mutter.

"Then die with honor!" Lao screamed before ramming his broad sword into Grimmor's chest.

Ors screamed with rage and charged the soldier, intending to avenge his king. Grimmor fell to the ground, Linora trying to shake him up.

"No! Please, not like this!" She pleaded.

Grimmor could feel his eyes start getting hot before his fuzzed vision exploded gold. His mouth moved on its own, delivering an insanity speech.

"The king will rise aided by four, including thy!" Nobody else was listening to Grimmor's ravings, they were focused on Ors and Lao.

"I am speaking to you, Grimmor! This is not thy time to pass!" What? The burning left his eyes, and control of his mouth returned to him. He managed to glance at Linora, but she looked as confused as he was.

"I...I pledge to end the Blood War!" Grimmor managed to gurgle, defeating crimson-filled lungs.

Golden mist exploded from Grimmor. Like drops of liquid salvation, he breathed in the mist. Power filled him; he felt his bones reform stronger than and his muscles felt ready to act.

Grimmor rose.

Everyone was looking at him. Even Lao and Ors stopped fighting to stare.

Using surprise, Grimmor managed to knock Lao to the ground. He glanced at the rest of the soldiers; their eyes were filled with awe. Good.

"We shall march tonight; New Learu City shall require assistance! We shall end the war!"

The soldiers knelt in reverence and cheered. Grimmer smiled, taking in the moment. He dissolved his Devilblade, where it sprang into Linora. She wiped tears from her eyes and hugged him.

Ors raised his spear to kill Lao. Grimmor extended his hand to stop him. "He will be an asset. I will not have him killed."

Grimmor inched towards Lao, who lay on the ground, dazed.

"Pledge to serve me!" Grimmor yelled, foot pushing down on his heart.

"I pledge!" Lao screamed. Golden mist streamed up from his skin and into his mouth.

Grimmor turned towards Ors. "We march tonight!" He ordered.

"In or out of the bloodied cloths?" Ors joked.

Grimmor looked down; his cloak was bathed in blood. "Out." He rose into his palace to take a shower, sparing a glance to look for the Voidwatcher, though, of course, he wasn't there.