Lazaruss :" I have decided to rewrite a few of my stories. Hope you'll find them more adequate. "
From his stand stretched the long black shade that drowned their hope. For three times more did they send their strongest, and the defeat of the third was now upon them.
Cha-Zallanor could smell the rage in his approaching black heart, to taste the pain in stored for him, but still he struggled, forcing his labor, holding on to hope of success. Yet, despite his efforts inevitable failure was again hanging on the throats of his entire race. How was it possible for one of the Cursed Ones to advance so much trough their, at start flawless plans, and to shatter the last strands of hope on sheer winds of his whim. His Hylden were putting all their muscle and powers to complete the machine but it just wasn't enough, for their Nemesis marched in, shattering the iron door of the underground chamber like a frail glass window.
It has bean five hundred years since Defiance to the Elder God. Since Raziel's sacrifice. Kain has changed. His split ears grew almost like Vorador's, two folded-up spikes emerged out of his shoulders like small skeletal horns under his skin, and on his back perched two strange excrescences of bone and skin, a foot wide and reaching to his waist, folded down like small un stretched wings. Aside from his physical change his telekinetic powers evolved to mach Turel's at the apex of his days, his agility and strength broke trough the boundaries of greatest demons, and he even gained partial resistance to water, like the early Rahabhim.
But the greatest change he endured was not in appearance and dark gifts, but in personality.
After he'd killed Janoss and the Unspoken which possessed him, Kain has withdrawn from his position of a ruler, and went into his blessed solitude where he'd spend most of his time meditating and pondering the past. He resurfaced only when invaders threatened, and seldom to hunt fresh blood. In time, his sightings became folklore, a bad omen, and strangely enough, many of those who saw him, lived to tell the tail.
But Kain couldn't care less. In his isolation he unlocked the gifts Raziel had bestowed upon him, and with great spiritual effort, suppressed Nupraptor's taint which gripped his mind. But even the touch of Nupraptor's legacy was nothing next to the insanity of rage and malice which were the laws of his existence, and the first sparks of clarity brought no relief, only the bitterness of the madness which was there all along. The solitude ensnared him, but gilt consumed him.
Thus he became the protector of Nosgoth, though everyone still feared and hated him, yet he performed this new role without any care for a second opinion, and the choices he did make preserved what's left of the land, even improving the situation slightly.
Regardless, his hatred for humans remained. Despite all his efforts he couldn't forgive mistakes of the past, but they were just the third thing on his list of hatred. The second were the Hylden on which he would pore all the rage and pain of this world whenever they would dare to breech the barriers of their banishment, and the thing he hated the most was himself. He hated himself for his past actions, for the corruption his Empire wrought, and most of all for casting Raziel away into the Abyss just so that the fate could unfold the way it wanted.
For five hundred years he'd left the land to progress on its own, practically leaving it in human's care, but he also made his last son, Desmond, to respawn the race of vampires to a tolerable number. With all his efforts he made Desmond to be pure in heart, poring in him wisdom and skill necessary to coexist with all of Nosgoth's creatures. Desmond became the secret ruler of the land, directing its progress in the best course but also leaving freedom to the others to follow their own paths. He alone maintained the link with Kain who would give him council in his time of need, but generally left him to make his own choices.
" How do we fight such a thing, Father ?"; Desmond would ask at the base of the Pillars of Nosgoth :" How do we fight the corruption of the Pillars ?"
Desmond was a boy of 20 when Kain embraced him, nobly born, if chiefs of scarce human tribes roughly scattered across the ruined land could be called Nobles. He had long curly blond hair which covered his slim shoulders and intensely green eyes, and his dark-birth only intensified both of these features. At his bid, Kain supplied him with clothing of ancient human nobles, red and blue satin coats and white silk shirts with lace at the neck and sleeves. So garbed, Desmond was a vision to behold, unlike anyone else in Nosgothic Waist and his pray would usually find its own way to his arms.
His Sire didn't seem to pay attention to his inquiry, apparently engrossed with the studying of the tall columns of ruined gray rock, but Desmond knew him better than that. It was after exactly 13 minutes that Kain answered his question :
" Everything has its weakness, Desmond. Find it, and half the battle is done. "
" And what's the other half ?"; Desmond asked again, giving in to his prying nature. Kain didn't mind – that curiosity will be Desmond's greatest asset in the future.
" To exploit it. "; Kain answered, this time straight away. With an eternity ahead of them, he had taken a habit of taking his time with answers every now and then. It would occur most often when his attention was drawn to something else, even though he in his age knew every answer to any question ever asked :" To attack the crack. But to fight the crack it self, you must find the strength which is cracked. And strengthen it against the crack. "; his tone had taken a jubilant rise and he smiled :" 45 678 986 543 remaining, and whole two feet taller !"
That was Kain's hobby in those days ; to count the fractures and measure the height of the Pillars, and his account had shown the improvement of 38 cracks, 6 fractures and two feet of heights. His methods were working !
Under such expert care, the land slowly begun to heal, but ever so slowly for the Pillars were still a derelict reflecting pain like a great mirror into the past.
This time the Hylden entered Nosgoth in a much more secret manner than before and they were almost done assembling their construction. Twice before did they try their plans against Kain and twice did he cast them back from whence they came. And now just as they've managed to restore some hope, Kain broke in their layer and with the soul reaver in his arm started to cut his way to their latest commander, Cha-Zallanor.
As the iron dour shattered in at least a thousand smoldering debris, the Hylden dropped their tools frozen in terror, filling the large underground chamber with no other sound but that of metal hitting the stone. Cha-Zallanor drew his enchanted Rune Axe and boldly blocked Kain's entrance as the last line of defense between the freedom of his people and yet another failure. As he slowly marched in, with the Hylden blood still staining his face and the Reaver blazing, practically making the extinction of his arm, the bits of metal which once made the large door silently cracked and splintered under Kain's clawed feet.
" I solute you, Kain, my great enemy. "; the Hylden general said :" It is my honor that you are within the sight of my blade. "
" With honor I reply, Hylden. "; Kain smirked :" But only with the honor, you've shown me. Save your brethren and yourself and return to your exile. "
" And give up my chance of glory ?"; Cha-Zallanor spoke softly :" Our destiny is to rule this world in stead of you. Our destiny is to deliver your destiny onto you. My destiny is to take your life and free my Cousins from the injustice you've forced upon us ! I am sorry my lord Kain, but I would rather die, than go back embracing my failure. "
" Is that yours or your people's choice ?"; Kain asked
" I am one with my people, Cursed One."
" Thick headedness is the root of both of our suffering, Hylden. "; he gave him a frosty grin :" If you keep choosing my fury next to my mercy, your people's destiny shall be extermination. "
With these words, Kain unleashed his ancient wrath upon them, giving in to the sweetness of battle and frenzy, his sole remaining comfort.
Cha-Zallanor rushed with all his strength swinging his Rune Axe most skillfully upon him, but it never even reached his foe's skin. With the Reaver rushing in a great arch, Kain sliced the magic axe in two and with a strong blow tossed the Hylden to the far end of the room, snarling in frustration :
" Is this it ?"; he roared :" Are there no more worthy foes, no challenge left for Redeemer and Destroyer ?"
The Hylden forces charged next, all the guards, soldiers and mages trading their own lives for a little more time so that the workers could finish their work. Just a little more time, that was all that they needed to complete the machine, but their forces were dropping too fast. Brave as they were, all but Cha-Zallanor were dead as soon as they've reached the enraged vampire, and the Hylden General threw the last of his powers against him.
Kain had no time to toy with him. He summoned his telekinetic powers, the most destructive of his dark gifts and created a wave of energy that swiped around him, blowing them all off like a huge blast of wind. With this act of power, Kain started to reap them as fast as he could, forcing them to leave their work, desperately trying to defend from his unstoppable attacks. He was almost done killing the last of the Hylden workers when Cha-Zallanor activated the still incomplete machine. Rumbling and quakes passed trough the cavern, and the Hylden General laughed :
" It is done, my lord Kain !"
" What have you done, Hylden ?!"; Kain snarled
" I have murdered us all !"
Whatever the purpose of the machine was, it was not completed and its mechanism began to fail and explode, collapsing the cavern in its might. Upper floors of the mountain above started to descend and to burry the exits crowded with fleeing Hylden. As the entire mountain groaned showering brawn rock upon them, Kain focused his teleportation magic, but an explosion of the machine next to him blasted him away ruining his spell.
Trough the rain of stones, Cha-Zallanor stepped forth. Kain's arm with the reaver was under a giant bolder, and he himself unconscious. With swift dodging the Hylden managed to make his way to the fallen vampire razing his knife-long claws towards him with a triumphant grin, but moments before they descended Kain opened his eyes and grabbed him in a TK grip. Razing him above, he held him like an umbrella against the falling malice of rubble, and Cha-Zallanor groaned as the boulders rained upon him, braking his back and ribs. But it didn't last long, for the next moment the stone that pressed Kain's arm split in two. The Reaver's glowing blade sliced trough the air and detached Cha-Zallanor's head from his body.
Kain jumped at his feet and tried to flee but it was too late. The rubble was collapsing upon him, its sharp edges cutting his skin, making it impossible to cast. But he did manage to use the Reaver's magic and give himself some more time. Slowing time down Kain beheld his sword :
" No, Raziel ; This won't be our end ! I promise. "
With all he had, he fought the collapsing mountain but eventually, the darkness closed around him.
Lazaruss :" Lots to do, barely managing all of it... I hope i'll be able to complete this soon. "