Chapter 5: Blood
Necron leaped at an elven assassin and gathered all his might into his zweihander, cutting apart the elf diagonally. He had already slaughtered a dozen of these elven soldiers but it seemed that they didn't put up much of a fight.
"Lost morale? We only came back after resting for two hours. What could have happened?"
He and his unit had skirmishes with the last rag-tag remnants of the elves inside the caves for just a few minutes and managed to breach their strongest cordons.
"All of you, rally to me!"
All the raydrics around him followed him as he charged deeper into the caves. After cutting down any elf that got in their way, the 4th raydric division stopped just outside the village. Normally, the raydrics would charge into the city at once but…
"Unreal…"
It looked as if red paint was splashed all across the village. There were bloody remains and gore everywhere as well as the crimson liquid that covered everything.
"Who could have…?"
There was nothing but blood. It was as if all the elves in the village exploded. The raydrics behind Necron began whispering to each other.
"Is this some joke?"
"Could be a trap…"
"But Fox Maiden could have gone on a rampage, could she?"
"Don't be foolish. That creature is still sealed…"
Necron raised his left hand. All the raydrics behind him lined up and readied their weapons.
"Slaughter what's left of them and be careful. Something dark is present."
Just as the raydric-knight expected, a loud wailing came from the village. The wailing that sohees usually used as battle cries. The next second, the doors of every house sprang open. A barrage of arrows followed, taking down a number of raydrics.
"To hell with these scums. Fall back to the town!"
…………………………..
Agranias pulled up the reins on his horse, letting the steed rear up and slam its hooves squarely in an elven knight's face. The knight of heaven grabbed another elf by the throat and whirled his black sword at him. The elf's decapitated form dropped on the ground before its head did.
His troop, the Knights of Heaven, had already penetrated the heavy cordons in the longer path to the makeshift village but since the grand high priest forbade them from venturing deeper, Agranias ordered them to remain there and fend off as many elves as they can in that wide, open space in the caves.
"Captain, the elves appear to be charging. What are your orders?"
Agranias watched as a large group of mounted elves along with a few sohees surround them.
"Two of you, control the rafters."
Dervos and Selinas rushed towards the steel rafters where a band of elven wizards were preparing their spells.
"Aelumina, position on that mound."
The knight of heaven armed her enormous bow and followed Agranias' orders.
"The rest of you, ride with me."
Ixyll, Cafranel, Phaernal, and Dornacath lined up behind him. Aelumina was positioned at the mound behind them while Dervos and Selinas covered their rear.
"For the glory of Glastheim!"
Agranias dodged an orb of flames and lunged at the nearest elven knight. The knight of heaven's dark sword punched through the elf's shoulder pad and followed in a crescent slash; breaking through his ribcage.
From above him, black-shafted arrows flew in the direction of the swamped elven hunters. Chains bolted from beside him and coiled themselves tightly around an elven knight. Phaernal tugged his chains, forcing the bewildered knight towards him then to be impaled by the black sword.
Agranias paid more attention to the elves who could hardly hit them with their swords and lances. Another stroke with his black sword and more blood was splashed on the cave walls.
'These elves are less aggressive than before. What is his Excellency planning?'
The knight of heaven watched his troop. Phaernal, Ixyll, and Cafranel were pouncing on the vast elven groups. Aelumina was sniping at every elf she could aim at and took only a single arrow for each. Dervos and Selinas had already routed the elven wizards and were beginning to clash with the vulnerable hunters.
"Captain, another subdivision of elven knights is charging towards our position! What are you orders?"
Agranias turned to Selinas and signaled for them to prepare to meet the enemy. All the knights of heaven lined up. The elves were drawing nearer to them.
"Onward."
Black as it is, Agranias' sword was stained with blood even though the crimson liquid trickled from the blade instantly. Again, it was thrust into an elf's chest. A spear bolted towards the knight of heaven but he grabbed the shaft with his spare hand and turned it upwards, breaking the oridecon tip off. The knight of heaven then withdrew his black sword from a fallen elf and slashed off the lancer's head. The elf's decapitated form reeled backward and stumbled backward.
More elven knights came. Agranias brandished the blunted spear he grabbed, knocking them off their mounts. The knight of heaven raised his black sword and bashed the head of an elven knight's horse. The elf managed to jump off just in time to avoid another strike but a barrage of black-shafted arrows perforated him.
Two more elves charged at him but their spears broke when they collided with the knight of heaven's sword. The bewildered elves reeled backward but Agranias grabbed the nearest one by the throat and gave a smooth but quick slash, letting guts spill out of the opening. The knight of heaven withdrew his black sword and impaled the other.
……………………………………..
The head of an elven wizard flew towards his allies when Kael brandished his sword. A group of elven hunters ran to their struggling brethren's aid and continued firing at Kael's unit.
Kathris lifted her crossbow and aimed at the elves. A large bolt flew towards them and exploded at contact, leaving smoking corpses.
Kael urged his mount to move and hack into the approaching elves but before he could get near one, red lightning coursed through the commander's body a few seconds before exploding in a fountain if blood, bones, and flesh.
"What in blazes was that?"
After seeing their commander explode, all the elves wiped blood away from their faces and ran screaming back to their village.
"Any idea, Kathris?"
Kael looked at the huntress and expected some answers. He knew that she was with the elves for many years so she might know something about that.
Before telling his unit to move, Kael heard the sound of footsteps coming towards them. The raydric-knight kept his sword in front of him.
"Long live King Meothrinas!"
An elf covered in blood ran and jumped in the middle of the raydric archer unit.
"All of you get away from that elf!"
Agranias charged in and grabbed the elf by the throat. Necron followed him closely behind, zweihander held in front.
The black-haired raydric-knight grabbed Kathris and hurled her away from the elf.
'Unfortunately, she never had a chance to fight these elves before…'
"Captain? From the Knights of Heaven!"
The knight of heaven rode at least for a dozen feet from the raydrics before stabbing the bewildered elf with his large black sword. The elf spat out some blood before dying and exploding the same way the elven commander did.
Agranias wiped blood from his face before turning to Kael. The knight of heaven was full of crimson liquid and fleshy remains.
"This is far worse than we could imagine. The Knights of Heaven will make sure every human leaves. Away from these caves. Now!"
"But you're full of the blood! Are you going to be alright?"
Agranias sheathed his black sword.
"I…..have so many things unheard of…"
………………………………….
Three hours later...
"We have received reports from the 4th raydric division that the caves are flooded with the elves' blood."
High priestess Isis stood up and looked at the cave entrance outside the house. Khalitzburgs were on guard and were ready to kill any enemy that tries to get out.
"Despite that accident, what are you suggesting, Salendriel?"
"Sending our forces in would prove nothing. What is the grand high priest doing not sending the Knights of Heaven inside?"
"Probably have some plan of his own."
"Indeed, I do, Champion Osiris."
Abraxil Sovivor entered the room. Isis, Osiris, Salendriel, and the blonde swordsman stared at him. The grand high priest looked behind him and signaled to someone to leave before turning back to Osiris.
"There is no need for any more senseless fighting."
"Was that infection your…doing, you're Excellency?"
"Why, it is. A few more hours and the blood of the elves would be "exorcised"."
……………………………….
Meothrinas sheathed his sword and stood up to full height. He glared at the surviving elves around him.
"Get what's left of us and put barricades around this damned place!"
"But my king…"
"Do as I say! We can't let the humans take this disease as an advantage now that we've held out for this long! We won't let that sick bastard race overwhelm us just because of a single mistake!"
The elf king slumped down on the same rock he was sitting on moments ago. He gasped for air after the constant yelling. His armor was battered now and his saber was jagged.
"Damned…damn it all. If only I could have…"
He coughed out some blood and buried his face in his hand.
"Human dirt. You think you've won?"
The elf king looked up to his people who were trying to put up barriers and sighed deeply. Of course, the barricades won't stop the humans any more than their gate did.
"Your Highness, is something the matter? Everything will be alright…"
Meothrinas bolted up and drew his wet saber. A female human was leaning on the cold cave wall and was standing on a puddle of blood.
'A human? But how did she get in…'
"Everything will be alright…as soon as your whole misbegotten race's blood will be exercised from this world!"
The woman pointed both hands at the elf king who was already bearing down on her.
"Not while I draw breath, human!"
Crimson lightning erupted out of the woman's hands and struck the elf king on the neck.
"Human? I've lost or should I say discouraged humanity the day I was made."
Meothrinas fell on his knees and clutched his head. His eyes widened in pure horror as red lightning coursed through his body. Every single vein on his body expanded. The human kept on blasting him with the crimson lightning.
The elf king yelled in pain before exploding in scarlet foam.
A yell suddenly followed. All the remaining elves drew their weapons.
"You seek to stop me? Incarnate Hate?"
The human raised both arms and the same red lightning ran through them.
"Do not let her hit you!" one of the elven commanders ordered his men who spread it to the others.
Before letting the blast of pure energy fly towards the charging elves, the human they called Incarnate Hate's lips curled to a smile. Her scarlet eyes started to glare.
The blast of energy was directed at the elves, some managed to dodge the lightning but many were knocked off their mounts and started screaming.
After some time, the infected ones exploded just like their king did, splattering blood on their horses and brethren who suddenly showed the same symptoms.
'Light have mercy…it brought my entire unit down like it was flies…'
The elven commander held his javelin and hurled it at "Incarnate Hate" who merely sidestepped it. Before the elf could even force his mount to stop, crimson lightning struck the horse's head. The steed shuddered in pain as the energy ran through its body.
"Get me priests! Hurry! Anyone who can stop this madness!"
The commander tried to jump off his steed but the horse exploded underneath him, splashing blood all over the elf's body.
Before the elves can muster what's left of their forces after the last commander exploded, it rained blood. Their sohee and horong allies were fleeing to the nearest sources of water and fire.
"Abandoning us now? Curse you lower races!"
"You have me to worry about, elf."
The elven priest staggered and tried to run but blood splashed on his face. He fell on his knees before quivering violently and exploding.
More elven priests surrounded "Incarnate Hate" and blasted her with all spells known by the elven church. A giant image of a cross appeared below her followed by a constant barrage of Holy Light.
"Weak minded cowards…you will all fall before the wrath of my lord!"
"Incarnate Hate" surged with red lightning. The next moment, it seemed that blood was raining more heavily.
……………………………..
Abraxil Sovivor looked at the hooded figure in delight after she emerged from the caves.
"It's all done, my lord."
The grand high priest smiled and turned to everyone behind him.
"You see, soldiers of Glastheim? You need not fear the elves anymore. They are simply myths now."
Salendriel had the look of surprise on his face. It wasn't supposed to be like this…
Abraxil expected the soldiers to cheer at their victory but all was quiet. Despite the assurance of humanity's dominion over Rune-Midgard, there was silence.
"Lord Knight, what was that?"
Salendriel turned to Necron with a forgiving look.
"We may never speak of it, raydric. For now, we must return…and celebrate our unworthy victory…"
The blonde swordsman was scratching his head and asked Osiris for something. High priestess Isis was weeping and the two of them were trying to comfort her.
"It may be his greatest sin. Now, Joe, tell your forces to move out. We may have earned our rest. We may have…"
The swordsman Osiris called Joe approached Kael.
"Let's call it a day. Not much of a fight, huh?"
Kael looked at Necron before telling his division to move. Kathris had already taken off her full plate and was only wearing her normal huntress clothes.
Necron was still talking to lord knight Salendriel.
"If that hooded figure managed to do all that…bloodbath then…"
"Patience, Necron. You have much to learn from being a raydric-knight after our dominion would be recognized."