The Shadows claws slid off the glowing barrier of a shield that Lancelot brought up. It continued to beat and pound on the shield until it gave way. The Shadow slashed out with its talons, but Lancelot’s armor flashed with light and the claws just glanced off of it.
“You’re going to need something more than some melee ability to break through my armor,” Lancelot said smugly.
“Then I’ll huff, and I’ll puff, and I’ll blow your house down,” the Shadow growled.
“What?” Lancelot asked, confused.
A roar from the Shadow hit him and blasted him off his feet, sending him tumbling through the air. A flock of eagles and hawks descended on the Shadow, but a wave of fire engulfed them as Jeriah stepped back into the fight. Lancelot pushed off the ground flashing forwards, his shield striking the shadow with the force of an artillery shell. The black fog surrounding the shadow was blown away, revealing a hulking beast with forearms that extended down to its knees and the head of a wolf-like beast. Its entire body was covered in black armor with swirling whirls of white and silver shifting across it.
The black fog snapped back into place as the Shadow rushed forwards; it ducked the swipe of Lancelot's sword and tackled him to the ground. The Shadow’s jaws went for his head but an arrow with the force of dragon behind it struck his skull and knocked him off of Lancelot, enough for the champion to roll out from under him.
“Your not the only one with fancy armor, champion,” the Shadow laughed.
“What are you?” Lancelot asked between heavy breaths.
“I’m the part of Mordred he’d like to pretend doesn’t exist,” the Shadow said. “I’m pure confidence, rage, passion, and desire.”
The shadow spread its arms wide like a showman. “I’m everything you weak mortals aren’t.”
An arrow flew down from the sky but the Shadow caught it tossing it away before it exploded.
“Now, where was I?” it asked.
The Shadow let out an eerie otherworldly howl and mist rose up from the ground; out of it emerged thirteen hounds. The hounds rushed Lancelot from all directions as the Shadow deflected another arrow from up above.
“Why don’t you come down here and play with the big boys, little girl?” the Shadow taunted Mira. “Or would you prefer to stay up there and watch as I rip your boyfriends limbs off…again.”
Jeriah shot into the sky, dragon wings appearing at his back as he launched himself at the archer champion. She dodged his pursuit takinging pot shots at him as she retreated, but Lancelot didn’t have any cover from the sky anymore. The Shadow advanced on him as Lancelot slashed at the hounds flanking it, biting at his back and heels at every opportunity.
A viscous backhand from the Shadow sent Lancelot flying and crashing into the blackened stump of a once massive tree. The Shadow lunged and smacked Lancelot upside the helmet, sending him staggering. Lancelot hunkered down, a shield dome appearing around him and deflecting the next attack. The world boss hammered into the dome with its claws until it exploded, the force launching the Herald back a dozen yards. Mira landed next to Lancelot and helped him to his feet and looked up; she’d lost Jeriah a ways behind her but he’d be back any moment.
“We need to rejoin the army,” she said.
“But…” Lancelot began.
“If Mordred has returned, people need to be warned,” Mira said, casting a furtive look at the world boss. Her hand went to her incredibly swollen belly. “I’m not staying here and risking our baby to that; I’m leaving now with or without you.”
The Shadow raced forwards and Lancelot slammed his shield into the ground, sending a shockwave blasting it back. He took Mira’s hand and they took to the air, flying off to the east. The frustrated howls of the Shadow and the hounds pursued them as it raced along behind them on the ground until they lost it in the distance.
The Shadow stopped, snarling in frustration and tearing up the ground. Eventually, it calmed and returned to Jeriah.
“My brothers and I split up,” Jeriah said. “They need your help…”
“The other Heralds have already been dispatched to help them,” the Shadow growled.
“Others?” Jeriah asked.
The Shadow grinned the flash of silver fangs sending a shiver through Jeriah’s body before they disappeared behind the roiling black fog.
“I am not alone,” the Shadow said. “Go to your mates and children, take them to where the castle of your father stood. There is a portal there that will take them to safety.”
The Shadow faded away like a passing thought, leaving Jeriah alone. He looked to the west across the barren ashen fields. Shaking his head, he hurried to where he had left his family to gather them together.
---
Juruk turned his mount to face the army of Camelot. They’d been cornered in this valley but their deaths would not be the weak deaths of goblin tribes that normally heroes’ came upon. Juruk turned to face those who had followed him even after the Warlord’s disappearance.
“I am proud to have fought alongside you!” he called out, his voice amplified by an ability so all could hear him. “When the Warlord brought us together, we were weak; I stood no taller than a human child. Now I stand taller than most men. We have fought men, beasts, monsters, and the champions of gods together. I will be honest; we are trapped. If any of you think they can escape on your own, then you have my permission to do so.”
None of the goblins moved.
Juruk nodded. “We are not the same. I was once a pitiful being, my words and mind were as weak as my body, but I followed the Warlord and he gave me strength. He may be gone now but I still remember the strength he gave me. Let us show these men that strength so we will not be forgotten when we are gone.”
The goblins roared and the horns of hundreds of knights answered their call as the calvary of Camelot and Lunara came into view. Juruk squared his shoulders and readied his spears and swords to face the threat.
You have been offered knighthood by Mordred, Proto-god of Sacrifice and Heroes. Will you swear the oath to his service and become a Void Knight?
I will swear to serve my Lord so long as he holds true to his word to me. I will lay down my life for the weak under my care. I will bleed myself dry to protect my home. I will speak the truth to my lord and fellow knights at all times. I will honor my word and be faithful to all my promises.
Yes/No
Juruk blinked then selected yes. He looked behind him to see every other goblin on the back of their raptor with the same expression on their face. One by one they accepted and black and silver otherworldly armor flowed over them and their mounts. A rip in space opened up and before any of them could react, a massive man stepped out.
At first Juruk thought it was Mordred, but though the armor was the same style and shape, it was black and silver instead of black and gold. A flowing cape like a starless sky flowed out behind him and he carried a long spear in one hand and a massive round shield in the other with the visage of a snake headed woman on it.
Herald of Sacrifice, Ares, Gifted- Void Entity/World Boss, Exarch, Rank: 580
“Well done,” the entity said to Juruk. “It is good to face death without flinching. Your faith in the Warlord has not gone unanswered; he cannot come to you at this time but I will fight beside you in his place.”
“I am honored by my lord’s Herald,” Juruk said, bowing in wonder at the creature. Its face, if it had one, was impossible to see behind its helmet.
The ground trembled as the opposing Calvary charged them. Juruk was still nervous—they were outnumbered three to one—but the Herald stood unflinching as if he were looking down at the plans for a battle rather than standing in the middle of one.
“Counter charge,” Ares commanded, and Juruk spurred his mount forward, obeying at once.
All at once he felt a power suffuse his body and weapon. There were only a hundred feet between them now as Juruk rode at the head of the horde.
Push, Ares said.
Juruk felt speed envelop him and he and the horde surged forwards a hundred feet, their weapons striking the enemy a dozen paces ahead of them; phantom outlines of their weapons projected before them, closing the distance. Horses screamed as they slammed into a wall of flesh as the horses were stopped dead in their tracks. The raptors, not as limited as their equestrian opponents, climbed over the bodies, ripping into anything still living with their teeth as their riders plunged blades into everything around them.
The tide of battle had changed in an instant, the momentum of the calvary turned against them. Already some knights were fleeing the field and Juruk felt the joy of battle rush into him. He turned to Ares who once more stood beside him, looking over the battlefield dispassionately.
“Do we pursue them?” he asked.
“No,” Ares said. “The battle is won. Do not seize defeat from the jaws of victory by falling into a trap.”
“What do you wish us to do with the survivors?” Juruk asked, looking at the many knights wounded or pinned to the ground.
“Take them captive and bring them to where Castle Dragon-breaker once stood,” Ares said.
“Captive?” Juruk asked. “I didn’t think we took prisoners.”
“We do not,” Ares agreed. “However, your god requires sacrifice. Others might balk at this but I know you will do as your lord needs.”
Juruk nodded. “They shall be brought there alive.”
Ares nodded as a tear opened before him, and he disappeared.
---
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Tobias looked at the river blocking their path. He set down his youngest daughter, handing her to one of his wives. Taking the massive maul Mordred had given him, he spun it in his hands and moved to place himself between the pursuing champions and his family. He could cross the river easily himself, but most of his family was only Mortal rank and he couldn’t get them all across before they caught up with them.
The baying of hounds filled his ears as he caught sight of the six champions charging towards him. One rode a unicorn, another some sort of wingless dragon and a third a massive wolf while the other three just ran on their legs, easily keeping pace with their mounted companions.
You have been offered knighthood by Mordred, Proto-god of Sacrifice and Heroes. Will you swear the oath to his service and become a Void Knight?
I will swear to serve my Lord so long as he holds true to his word to me. I will lay down my life for the weak under my care. I will bleed myself dry to protect my home. I will speak the truth to my lord and fellow knights at all times. I will honor my word and be faithful to all my promises.
Yes/No
Tobias stepped back, looking about for an attack before he read and fully understood the System message.
“Yes,” Tobias said.
Mist rose up from the ground all around him and a woman emerged from it, floating above the ground. She wore skin tight amor that did nothing to obscure her feminine curves, the glossy black armor filled with swirling, shifting whirls of silver and white. Her hair, skin, and eyes were all a abyssal black the details only visible at all due to a silver nimbus glow that surrounded her. Her long, thick hair floated and moved around her as if she were submerged in water as she rose before Tobias.
“Hello human,” she said, her voice oddly girlish and cheerful.
“Who are you?” Tobias asked, his eyes running over her body.
“I’m Voidra,” she said, smiling. “Your lust is very tasty, but you have more important things to worry about right now.”
Tobias blushed and felt his wives’ eyes boring into the back of his head. He settled his gaze on her in a more professional capacity and took in her description.
Herald of Change, Voidra, Gifted- Void Entity/World Boss, Exarch, Rank: 580
Tobias felt his blood cool as he read what she was: a creature of the void and a world boss. Any thoughts of wooing this creature went completely out of his mind; this was a weapon, not a woman.
“How can I assist you?” Tobias asked, bowing his head to her.
“It’s more what I can do for you,” Voidra said, waving her hand. “World Forge.”
A bridge rose from the riverbed creating passage across it.
“Your family must go to where the castle in the forest once stood,” Voidra instructed. “There will be passage to safety for them there.”
Tobias’ children, wives, and the other woman and men who had split off with him ran across the bridge, but Tobias stood next to Voidra as the champions approached.
“You will fight them?” he asked.
“You could call it that,” Voidra said. “Make sure you get some hits on them; Mordred will need you to grow in strength if you are to be of use to him.”
“He is back then?” Tobias asked. They only had moments before the champions were upon them, but this question seemed important.
“In a manner of speaking,” Voidra said. “He is able to help you. That is all you need to know for now.”
A blast of golden fire hit Voidra, but she wasn’t even moved by it. Her fingers twisted and silver lightning blasted out, chaining between the six champions and their mounts. The wolf fell on its side, twitching and launching its rider from the saddle. Tobias stepped forwards and hit the champion with the maul as if he were swinging a bat, attempting a home-run.
Other champions closed in but Voidra lifted the one in the lead up into the air and clenched her fist. The woman screamed as her body began to compress in as she was crushed under the force of telekinesis. Tobias launched a conjured spear, slicing along the suspended woman’s neck; it cut a deep wound but not deep enough to be instantly fatal. Still, Voidra held her and continued to compress her body; finally, with a pop, blood sprayed out over the other champions behind her.
450 rank points gained split between surviving contributors.
Voidra raised both hands overhead and the land was cast into darkness as a black orb hovered above them. Silver light shone down, and Tobias could see clearly, but the champions froze, looking around with their eyes wide but unseeing. One of them raised a staff and light shone from it, pushing back the darkness, but it was just a small radius of light in the blackness. They began to scream as the light from the black star above burned their skin.
Tobias raced forwards and swung his maul. He smashed a small woman into the ground and heard her ribs shatter and break as he crushed her leather armor.
464 rank points gained split between surviving contributors.
He spun, blocking the downward strike of a great sword. Poisoned blades shot towards him, bypassing his armor and digging into his flesh. Tobias roared and activated his ability to boost his stats and smashed into the swordsman in front of him. He bashed into him and knocked his opponent to the side. Tobias brought the maul down on the champion creating the light; they brought up their staff to block. It was a foolish mistake as Tobias was obviously more of a physical fighter than they were.
He smashed right through their guard, slamming the spiked maul through their robes. They were Exarch rank so their flesh was more resistant than a normal humanoid’s, but that didn’t matter much against someone like Tobias. Blood sprayed out and he ripped the maul out, brought it around, and swung it down again to finish the job.
438 rank points gained split between surviving contributors.
The light disappeared and they were plunged into darkness again; Tobias could still see perfectly. He snapped out his left hand and a whip of magma appeared in it as he activated an ability. The whip snapped out, wrapping around the armored swordsman who had tried to bar his path moments ago. The man screamed as his armor began to grow hotter and hotter, cooking him within it. The armor was artifact grade apparently, as it didn’t twist or warp under the heat being applied to it. Tobias brought his maul around in a one-handed swing, colliding with the man’s head. There was a crack as the man’s neck snapped, but he wasn’t dead yet. Tobias swung again and again until the man’s head was ripped off his neck through blunt force.
472 rank points gained split between surviving contributors.
The two remaining champions were blind. One limped forward, clutching his chest where Tobias had hit him when he’d been launched out of his saddle. Lighting forked through the air striking both of them the earth rose up and trapped their legs, holding them in place. Tobias strode forwards and caved in the head of the wounded man, killing him instantly.
360 rank points gained split between surviving contributors.
He turned his attention on the one remaining champion, a pretty girl with light blue skin and pale eyes.
“Wait!” she pleaded, holding up her hands in surrender as he strode towards her.
“You came for my family,” Tobias said, his voice hard and without mercy.
His maul smashed her into the ground as he struck three times; she died after the first.
398 rank points gained split between surviving contributors.
Tobias breathed out heavily. He looked up as silver light touched upon him, Voidra hovering above him and looking down at him with an unreadable expression.
“Gather whatever loot they had and go join your family,” she instructed. “Your brothers will meet you there.”
With that she and the black star above him vanished, leaving him with only the mangled bodies of the champions.
---
Exar’kun smashed to the ground. He pushed himself to his feet, the broken wing on his right side painful. With a grimace that was even more savage in dragon form, he transformed. Clutching his side with his left hand, he limped towards the cave entrance. Vone came out and rushed towards him.
“What happened?” she asked.
“Ambush,” Exar’kun said. “We need to leave.”
“It’s to late for that,” a strong male voice called out from behind them.
Exar’kun turned and watched as Queen Lunara entered the mountaintop glade. She carried a long silver spear in one hand and a slender oval shield in the other. Her body was covered in white and silver scale armor with a grey tabard depicting the moon over it.
Queen Evalia Lunara, High Priestess of the Moon, Gifted- humanoid/moon-elf, Hierophant, Rank: 2015
“You have terrorized my kingdom long enough, dragon,” she said.
Vone stepped forwards, her glaive appearing in her hand. “You will not touch him.”
“Your time will come too soon enough, traitor,” Queen Evalia said, glaring at her. “You’ve aided this creature in the killing out thousands. Your crimes will not be forgiven no matter your condition.”
The two woman glared at each other, Vone’s hand going protectively to her stomach, but Exar gained a far away look in his eyes.
“Yes,” he said.
“What?” Vone and Evalia asked, turning to him.
Skintight glossy black armor flowed over Exar’kun’s form. Queen Evalia, to her credit, didn’t wait to see more; she struck immediately, her spear flashing forwards. Exar’kun caught the tip of her spear on his forearm, sparks filling the air as he deflected it away from himself; the natural armor he gained from one of his skills combining with the void armor to make his body unbreakable.
Evalia’s shield slammed forwards, striking Exar’kun and knocking him a dozen paces backwards. She spun her spear, knocking aside Vone’s glaive. Her weapon swept out, disarming the other woman and she raised her spear to skewer Vone. A shield interposed itself between them and Evalia staggered backwards as she was rebuffed.
A black armored figure stood between her and Vone, the thick plates of his heavy armor seamlessly fitting together, leaving no gaps. Only silver eyes behind his visor gave any sign there was anything besides the armor. He carried a heavy tower shield and wielded a gauntlet sword in his other hand.
Herald of Protection, Karnen, Gifted- Void Entity/World Boss, Exarch, Rank: 580
“What are you?” Evalia asked, circling Karnen.
“I am the Herald of Modred, God of Sacrifice and Heroes,” Karnen answered.
“The game of the gods isn’t over; there are no new gods,” Evalia said.
“Believe what you want,” Karnen said, shrugging. “My lord has heard the prayers of his vassals and has sent us to answer the call.”
“Us?” Vone asked.
“I am not alone,” Karnen said. “Both of you leave this to me; go to castle Dragon-breaker. Safety awaits you and your unborn child.”
“You think I’m just going to let them leave?” Evalia asked.
“The question really is, do you think I’m going to let you?” Karnen said, striding forwards as his body began to swell and grow in size.
Evalia vanished, appearing at Karnen’s back, but he’d already started to move. Impossibly quick, he interposed his shield between the queen and his allies, slamming it down on the haft of her spear. It was an artifact so he couldn’t snap it, but he did bury its tip into the ground, his sword slashing down like the blade of a guillotine. Exar’kun transformed, sweeping up Vone in his claws and departing.
Evalia moved to go after them, but Karnen was on her before she could take a step. She raised her shield confident, in her ability to beat someone a quarter of her rank. Her feet cratered into the ground as the force of the strike hit her. Karnen’s stats were equal to Mordred’s, the percentage increase of Blood of Kronos putting him at more around half her rank. It was still a massive disadvantage, but he wasn’t a threat she could ignore.
The gauntlet sword began to vibrate as Karnen moved at supersonic speeds, the air thundering with each of his movements as the two superhuman creatures battled on the mountaintop. Spears and blades of moonlight slashed into Karnen, cutting or bypassing his armor, but every wound she created was healed in a matter of seconds. She inflicted conditions and debuffs on him but they barely lasted more than a few seconds.
Her every action was foreseen by Karnen as he moved to counter and outplay her. Evalia screamed, raising her hands and beam of moonlight a thousand feet across lanced down from the heavens. Karnen staggered under the force of the attack, but maintained his feet. Evalia slashed with the tip of her spear and a wide blade of light emerged from its tip. Karnen staggered once again as the attack struck, then another blade hit, and another. Evalia jumped into the air above Karnen and threw her spear; it passed through Karnen’s collarbone, bypassing his armor entirely. When it was inside his body, it began to glow and shine before an explosion rocked his body.
Evalia collapsed to the ground; her ultimate attack took a lot out of her. She watched as the creature fell and began to crumble to ashes. She smiled; it was over.
“You’re finished creature,” she spat.
Laughter filled the air and her blood ran cold. The figure of the world boss began to shrink until it was the same size as when she had first seen it. The massive hole was still in its center and she could see that it was disintegrating more with every second.
The laughter was not coming from Karnen however, it was all around her. A door opened in the air, red light obscuring everything for a moment, but the red light was pushed back as someone stepped through the doorway. He stood more than seven-feet tall, his feet bare and he wore barely any armor. A fur cloak hung from his shoulders and he carried a rod in his hand capped with scarlet crystal at either end. He was still laughing as he looked down at her and extended a hand to the other creature on the ground. It took his hand, disappearing as if drawn into the body of the man.
“You can’t kill my Heralds,” he said. “You had trouble facing just a fraction of my strength. Let's see how well you fare against all of me.”