Today was the day where everything will end.

His army stood a mere few hundred meters away from his enemies. The land between them was torn and bloodied from past skirmishes. In recent skirmishes, a mysterious man with a helmet concealing his face wrecked havoc among his men, sending them into a rout. It won’t happen today.

The morning sun began to show her face, peering over the ranges that stretched in the far east. The wet trampled grass tore under his steed’s pawing hooves and its sides trembled as it nickered impatiently, yearning to run.

Slowly, he raised his hand. Immediately, the blasting sound of a horn covered the battlefield. The end has come. His twin brother lost years ago, will finally be avenged in this last battle.

His trusty mount lurched forward and the ground shook as his heavy cavalry thundered after him. Time slowed as he galloped across the plains. A shield wall confronts his men, but he merely braced himself.

The angled armor on his horse deflected one spear’s steel tip and shattered the pole of another.

The world tilted as his horse’s armored chest slammed into the solid wooden walls. He could feel the impact as if it was he who crashed. Pulling himself high, he commanded his horse to charge forward. Trampling the faceless soldier, he forced his way in and then out.

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Blood blossomed with each swing of his saber. Swords chopped at him in return, but they were met with heavy mail and plate. The movement of his knees guided his horse through the movements necessary to crush the life out of their enemies again and again.

The shield line buckled under the press of his infantry.

High on his horse, he could see the entire battlefield. His eyes darted around, searching for the telltale helmet. And he found it. There he was, thundering toward him on his own pitch black steed.

His own infantry made room for him and his horse to rest briefly in preparation for the final charge. He reached down and unclipped the heavy war lance from below his saddle, adjusting it until the point leveled with the enemy knight. Walk to trot, trot to canter, canter to gallop, the two steel juggernauts collided.

His lance caught the tip of his enemy’s shield and bounced off. It wasn’t enough. Wheeling around, he charged once more. The impact of his lance on the enemy’s shield and the enemy’s on his own shield knocked him out of the saddle. One of his feet caught on the saddle. Drawing blade, he cut off the trap and finally rolled to a stop.

Advancing toward the enemy knight, he swung and was parried. Again and again, they clashed, almost evenly matched. Slowly but surely, he began to advance, pushing the man back.

Who was it?

Who was this man who vexed him so? He must know.

Staring into the man’s eyes through his visor slits, a twinge of familiarity shot through him.

Lowering his shoulders, he charged and rammed the man, his armor deflecting a thrust. Knocking his opponent into the ground, he curled a finger under his helmet, ripping it off.

He saw himself.

Still, his sword descended in a quick stroke, ending everything.