Gordon slumped in his seat along with all the other Officials in the stands. He looked over the Officials of Unlife and Undeath and saw the Officials of Unlife fared better... The same couldn't be said for the Officials of Undeath.

"Undeath Official Doomcry re-" Official Doomcry cleared the phlegm in his throat, before calling again, "Undeath Official Doomcry requesting permission to speak."

Gordon thought the Doomcry representative foolish last court session, but it seemed he still had a backbone.

[As expected of the Doomcry... Stupid but brave...] Gordon could only think to himself after Undeath Official Doomcry cleared his throat.

Gordon then returned his gaze to the God-King, as he watched the God-King stop staring at the Jar and slowly rotate his head to look upon Undeath Official Doomcry.

This time there was now clank, no bang of the Ferula, the Officials heard the giddy voice of the God-King...

"What is it that you wish to ask?"

"Ga-God-King, sire, your grace, sir... Is it not enough to lock their souls beneath the jails of Deagoth, such as-"

Official Doomcry's eyes drifted to his lost ancestor. His lost ancestor, Joan simply smiled in a cruel way... Gordon swore he couldn't be the only one that watched the new Warmarshal drag her index finger across her scarred throat to threaten the younger Doomcry...

"I mean, to remove their mem-memories... What good are they? They now no longer know the reason for their imprisonment, sir, God-King, sire..."

The God-King's flaming eyes crackled a few times within their eye sockets. The Officials would hold their breath if they breathed.

Gordon took a moment to see that the other two lady undead seated beside the God-King's throne stirred. The one with the crown of horns seemed to be eyeing the corpses of the Grimnights, while the otherworldly beauty appeared to be very surprised and curious over the jar of souls.

Gordon snapped back from his thoughts, as the words of the God-King issued forth, "Simple imprisonment is not enough for them to atone for their crimes, nor would true death deliver them... These souls of the Grimnights and all others that will join them in the future will be known as... Drudges. These Drudges will be the ones to automate the new City of Bellum!"

After a moment of silence, no matter how afraid of the God-King these Officials were, they couldn't help but mutter to each other.

[Automate? Drudges? So many questions...!] Gordon now wanted to know more than before Undeath Official opened his big mouth!

The God-King then swept the Officials again, and again...

Clank...

A hush returned, and the God-King spoke, "I see you have many questions..." As he spoke, the God-King lifted the sash that wrapped around him from his right shoulder over his mid-section briefly exposing his armored carapace, as he attached the Jar of souls to his spice with gold chains. He removed his hand, and his sash fell back into place, "They will all be answered in time. Know that the City of Bellum will be unlike anything that has ever been known to the Underworld, and the Kingdom of Deagoth will be the wielder of this new power."

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

The God-King laughed a few times, almost... Maniacally, but stopped short of going out of control.

He continued, "My Judges."

The remaining Judges rushed to line and kneel before the Throne, leaving the bodies of the Grimnights behind them.

"I have read of your exploits from Pope Lucius. I am pleased. Your duty of purging the Court is done, however, Our work to continue must not be abated. The shadows of Our land is protected in the absence of my Light, but in the radiance, I wish for you to be that judgment. To that end... I ask only the staunchest of you to accept the role of... Militus Obitus..."

"Militus Obitus?" "Militus Obitus??" "What's a Militus Obitus?" "Is that a spell?" "I think that's a rank..." "Militus Obitus?" "What does that mean?" "Militus Obitus?" "Is this good?" "Militus Obitus?" "Is this a new branch?" "Militus Obitus???" "Praise the God-King!" "Militus Obitus?" "Does that mean they will still purge us if I act like my former brother?" "Militus Obitus?"

The sounds of the Officials murmured out all questioning the name "Militus Obitus."

"Sounds like a disease doesn't it, Gordon..."

"God-King damn you, shut the hell up!" Gordon yelled in a whisper to his best friend. He might not be a follower of the God-King, but that didn't stop him from taking his name in vain.

The God-King ignored the Officials as he spoke to the kneeling Judges, "This is not a light task I ask. Only the most loyal to me, the most faithful, the most stanch, and with iron will may become the first of the Militus Obitus. You will be the trailblazers that all fellow Militus will follow. Without you, the dark will forever reign in the Underworld.

Those that wish to be that trailer blazer... Arise and stand before your God-King."

All the Militus stood. All eager to serve.

"Again... There will be pain... Madness... Bitterness... Even true death may come... Do you still pledge to my service as Militus? I will not think less of anyone of you Judges that turn away. I will sill reward your service in a different way."

After listening... One Judge hesitated, as he stepped back.

"Oh?" The God-King spoke surprised.

The other Judges stared daggers into the soul of the Judge that retreated... Shamed, they felt.

"For-forgive me, my God-King. I have just engaged by childhood sweetheart... I do not wish to be separated from her so soon..."

"Enough!"

Clank...!

The Officials turned silent, as the Judges snapped back to face forward.

"You will not look down on your fellow Judge. He wishes to serve his love. I, too, serve my love. My selfish love." The God-King placed his hand over his First Consort's hand, as she smiled while looking on to the Judges.

"No one will disrespect his choice... State your name, my Judge."

"Frank Undershire, my God-King." Frank kneeled again.

"You are no longer a Judge, for I have relinquished the need for my Judges, but you are not Militus... Report to Pope Lucius to be reassigned to be the Head of the new Church's enforcers... To be known as an Arbiter. You will keep the peace for the locals in the place of the Church. The Church will attend to its sacred halls... You will attend to the crimes of your fellows, and judge them in my stead, as you were my Judge before... Do you accept?"

"Yes, my God-King... I will be this new Arbiter to continue your Judgment."

Clank...!

"My soon to be Militus. Your last task as Judges are to take these... Grimnight corpses to the Royal Crypt below... The Pope will appoint you a guide."

The Judges beat their chest and saluted with the sign of the God-King, as the turned to begin their task of dragging and piling up the corpses on themselves to tote... Even as their mighty hammers dyed in hues of red shined heavily on their backs, did they take four or five corpses each still clade in frost steel chains... the rattling soon died, as they left the Court to the side, provided exit by the clergy at the direction of the Pope, Lucius.

While the Officials were fixated on the task being performed by the Judges, Gordon couldn't help but notice the God-King nodding to the undead lady with the Crown of Horns... The latter of which began to drool, as she quickly dabbed her mouth with a cloth she had taken out...