The anonymous reviewer: Yes, I know that very well but I already mentioned that this is the history of Glastheim based on the present events in Crimson Twilight. Read that fic. Remember that Rune-Midgard's history is neither mine nor Tom Valor's. This is how we would like it to have happened and Glastheim did not fall before elves. It fell before the Lord of Death and Baphomet. Crimson Twilight is perhaps the most influential fic in this section so I'm receiving instructions from Tom to write history BASED ON HIS FIC not the ACTUAL HISTORY of RUNE-MIDGARD. Well, thanks for the review anyway.

Chapter 16: Lawful Void

"Looks like there's no stopping this…"

Kael sheathed his newly tempered two-handed sword and looked at the surroundings of the castle from the battlements. Many parts of the city were ablaze and smoking while others were garrisoned and evacuated. Majority of Glastheim was still in their control but the undead and other creatures were relentless.

The afternoon skies were clear and the banners of Glastheim were still in the skies. The raydrics wondered why no reinforcements came from Geffenia or the other cities but many knew exactly why there weren't.

Before the raydric-knight could return to his quarters, the metallic voice entered his mind again.

'Is stopping this bloodshed why you're fighting? If so, then let me show you the easiest way. Fight the reasons that make you fight.'

"That is purely none of your business, whatever you are."

After shaking his head, the metallic voice still kept coming. It simply won't go away. But at some point, it was right when it had first spoken to him during the last battle.

"Just what do you want from me?"

'I want you to listen. Did you choose this way to die or is it Xamiur or Lorthiras? If you made the decision for the raydrics then this battle would have ended early with you as the victor.'

"You…"

'You are young. You will never get my logic if you deny the truth. Had the raydrics made the decision, you should have never lost so much. But who listens to a raydric? You are made to fight. To exterminate the elves and serve examples to those that may rebel. It is you who wiped out majority of the elves instead of the fools you bow before. But never worry. I will soon come to change the fate of the raydrics especially you, commander Lukerion.'

"W-what? Just what did you…?"

Kael wondered what the voice meant. He was a raydric-knight and had been winning constant charges against undead forces or minorii but why would the voice want to change everything? If he had done anything he would have thought was good, would this battle ended in triumph? True, they were bent to serve those lords who are superior and progressed but what the voice told him was far deeper…

……………………………...

"The raydrics can ward the castle. You can return to your posts now."

A number of knights saluted before Necron and rode off. The dark-haired lord knight put away his zweihander and started to make his way towards the southern keep. Around him, people were piling up fallen undead and burning them. Just before that battle, the street was filled with skeletons and sword-wielding undead warriors but divisions of knights surrounded them.

Hour by hour, Necron has been leading his knights against hordes of undead and won. Nearly everyone was pretty sure they would win this whole thing under the banner of the lord knights and the Raydric Army.

The dark-haired lord knight wiped away some blood from his elunium arm that he had been using to either impale or incinerate undead. It had been months since Salendriel had cut off his arm accidentally during his Lord Knight test. What was bothering the lord knight was what could have happened to his mentor.

"Hurry up, Necron. Our success is a must now go!"

Salendriel blocked a blow from an elven lord knight and tiled to the right. The auburn-haired lord knight swung Khatzbalger from below, the sword barely missing its target by inches.

From a short distance Necron watched as the two clashes with each other, his bloody zweihander ready to be swung.

"What are you doing, boy? You are a knight! Advance ahead and slay their lords before they regroup!"

"But what about…"

Salendriel ducked another blow and turned to the black-armored raydric-knight.

"That's an order!"

Necron gave a salute and charged deeper into the mines where bodies were littered all over. After going past several pathways, he could still hear the sound of oridecon clashing. The commander's halls were just close by…

The raydric-knight spotted the entrance and swung his sword at it. Flames exploded from the black blade's edge and the oaken door shattered. He charged in but was unopposed.

After the dust cleared, the elves that were waiting for him in the commander's halls were…frail. Most of them were leaning on the walls with blood spilling out of their wounds while those who can still stand were staring at him in horror. The others were simply children who were cowering behind the furniture.

Zweihander was raised and Necron charged…

"Salendriel…"

Necron broke his reverie. That time the elves were defending the coal mines in an attempt to delay Glastheimian forces from reaching Al de Baran. Salendriel had faced an elven lord knight and defeated him while he charged deeper into the caves and killed all the elven lords, peasants, and children. Salendriel, however, didn't bother killing non-combatant elves. If the war was called Elven Extermination, then he wasn't doing his…job correctly.

"Lord Knight, a message from the castle!"

The lord knight whipped around. The raydric who spoke to him was full of blood and half his face was wrapped in bandages.

"Go ahead."

"It's khalitzburgs! The castle is under siege by khalitzburgs and many other undead creatures!"

A division of knights formed behind Necron when he gave the signal.

"These battles rage every hour. We have to stop this or all of Glastheim would crumble."

He readied his zweihander and was about to lead the knights to the castle when another messenger, a priest, came to him.

"The subterranean stairway is overrun with wraiths and the scarlet-robed undead. My division was completely destroyed!"

'Damn!'

Necron turned to the second-in-command of the knights.

"Two to three of you come with me. We need to move against the wraiths immediately. The rest of you gather the other forces and ride to the castle."

The lord knight turned to the direction of the stairway chamber. There was no need for him to lead the knights to the castle anyway. Kael can summon him anytime.

………………………………………………………

'Save your strength. This test isn't for you, Sir Kael.'

The metallic voice entered Kael's mind as soon as he sliced open a black-robed creature.

"Test?"

A khalitzburg swept its burning sword at retreating raydrics, incinerating them.

"Killing the soldiers you think are going to serve me is simply a test?"

'Not actually but rather a preparation for my forthcoming arrival…and your claiming of the knights.'

Kael spurred his horse to charge towards the khalitzburg and raised his sword for a killing strike.

"Raydric archers, concentrate fire on the khalitzburgs!"

It did not need any more orders to make every ranged raydric barrage the khalitzburgs with everything they have.

Kael's sword ripped through a khalitzburg's flaming leg then tore across its torso. The gigantic bone construct lashed at him but its blazing sword fell on the ground inches from his horse. The black mount neighed furiously and staggered away. The raydric-knight kicked it in the sides to keep it from running off.

Silver-tipped arrows hailed on the burning khalitzburg as Kael charged once more. The raydric-knight's mount leapt to the same level as the skeletal demon's neck and whirled his sword at it. The easiest way to bring down khalitzburgs was to knock their heads off.

The bone construct's flaming skull dropped to the ground but its body still whirled its blazing swords about. Kael stared in astonishment. How can this thing move without its head? Before he could react, a rusted rapier crashed on the ground in front of him causing his horse to careen backward.

All of a sudden, black lightning came from nowhere and struck the raydric-priest that was buffing him up.

"All will be for naught, Sir Kael Lukerion, soldier of Glastheim."

Kael stared incredulously at the khalitzburg. It was slowly crumbling. From behind it, the figure of Abraxil Sovivor was standing with orbs of lightning crackling in his hands. The grand high priest's grin was…eerie. Kael tightened his grip on his sword.

"You bastard…"

"Oh, and what do you suppose you are going to do next? Your new lord is arriving this very moment."

The raydrics around Kael charged and yelled furiously at the grand high priest. Abraxil raised his hands in answer and orbs of black lightning bolted towards them. Several raydrics stumbled backwards and exploded after being rocked by several bolts of lightning.

Suddenly, something cut up the grand high priest's arm. Kael withdrew his sword and swung it down once again, this time blocked by an invisible barrier.

"You should have taken the words seriously…persistent child."

Dark electricity sprang towards the raydric-knight's face and sent him flying backwards. Abraxil Sovivor stared at the downed soldier before uttering an arcane incantation. Large pillars of light began to form outside the castle gates.

Kael stood and charged towards the pillars of light. There was something…great and terrible that it was hiding. Something large was being concealed.

The raydric-knight raised the battle standard he was holding on to and signaled all his troops to rally to him. If this was another gateway then it has to be stopped.

"Raydric Commander, something is coming out of the waygate!"

A figure of a creature mounted atop a huge stallion could be seen from where Kael was. From behind him, khalitzburgs lined up before Abraxil Sovivor. This was going to be a bloody stand.

'Sir Kael Lukerion, the time for your ascension has come. Lead your men to their glorious fate.'

The pillars of light collapsed at once after the metallic voice rang through Kael's mind. That was when the shrill sound of a demonic stallion's neigh was heard.

The final lines of light vanished, revealing what it has been hiding seconds ago. All the raydrics stopped in their tracks all at once. The…thing was breathtaking.

An armored white stallion began trotting forward. Atop it was a demon clad in brilliant silver armor wearing a cage-like helm. It held a shield with a blunt cross and a beautifully crafted silver lance.

Kael locked his teeth as his mount drew backward. He had seen this before. If this was the thing talking to him, then only a dark fate awaits him.

The silver-armored being spurred his horse to move forward. His cage-like helm hid most of his face as he looked around.

"Tremble mortals…and despair. Your doom is brought forth to this world."