Chapter 17: Bleeding Hollow

"Blades ready!"

Kael bit his lower lip and tightened his grip on his sword. The silver-armored being that waited before them and the large number of khalitzburgs that lined up behind Abraxil Sovivor was evidence enough that this would be the bloodiest battle the raydrics would ever be in.

The raydric-knight's mount neighed furiously when he rode in front of the rag-tag divisions of the Raydric Army. Almost every commander has fallen and he was the only one had the standing of being superior.

Every raydric raised their weapons in answer. For some reason, the khalitzburgs didn't move at all nor did Abraxil Sovivor. The silver-armored being's white mount trotted unmindfully.

"For the glory of Glastheim!"

Kael's horse charged, the entire Raydric Army behind him.

"All will be for naught…"

The silver-armored being raised his silver lance and spurred his horse to meet the raydrics.

Soon, its figure rose into the air and the silver lance shone in the dusk skies. The white stallion's neigh rang through the air as its rider whirled the spear, sending several raydrics flying. It was not a second longer for the rider to recognize the boy that was raising the standards.

"Don't be impatient, Sir Kael. You lead your forces to their own doom this way."

The raydric-knight locked his teeth in anger.

"You bastard! Just what do you want?"

The silver-armored being brought his lance down on a raydric-knight and flung the impaled form into a band of raydric archers before turning to Kael.

"You will learn soon after you save your forces. Surely, you know the method since I have told you before."

A raydric fell on the ground beside Kael. The soldier had half his head broken off.

"Come to my side at once. Obey!"

Kael stared at the silver-armored being in astonishment. He knew it! This creature could only be…

"Lord of Death!"

The raydric-knight yelled the name as his warcry and charged. The Lord of Death glanced at him before letting his white mount launch him into the air and swept down on several raydric priests.

"You observe well…just as what Abraxil said you should."

A raydric-hunter fell dead as soon as the Lord of Death withdrew his lance.

"As you should know, the artifact given to you by him was a present from me so I can contact with you…and it worked well."

Kael remembered the time when he received a package from Abraxil Sovivor. The stone sort of crumbled when he touched it but he didn't know what it was for.

"I will show your forces to their victory despite your great city's near fate. Are you willing to listen?"

The raydric-knight's sword hand shook in anger. He looked around and more bloody armored corpses were flying in all directions. There was nothing they could do…

"Stand down! Everyone stand down at once!"

With the standard raised, all the raydrics withdrew from the Lord of Death.

"Excellent…"

The silver-armored being stationed himself somewhere where all the raydrics could see and hear him.

"Listen to me, all those who fight for the raydric army in the name of fanaticism and fervor."

Kael kept his guard up. This was no jest.

"All of you have shown me a grand display of power after you claimed victory over the elves. It would be a total waste to have to slay every single one of you."

"I lead my army to defending what is dear to us, demon."

"Is this the fate you chose, soldiers of the Raydric Army? Or do the clergy do all the decisions? Had you made the decisions then all of this slaughter could have been avoided. So, who listens to you? Are we born for a single purpose, to fight for those frail weaklings that serve as our commanders? I have come…to change the fate of all of you glorious warriors! Not anymore must you bend your knee to the people who think are superior to you! Those who would never comprehend what you have ever endured. Fight by my side and we will subjugate this world of Rune-Midgard. All will be under the power of us, the soldiers! Discipline will win over greed! Efficiency over pride! The greater glory before self-aggrandizement! Once this world is under my grasp, I will make this heap of rubble of a city great again. So what shall be your fate…? Pledge your allegiance to me…"

All the raydrics began to speak in whispers then all of a sudden, a yell of agreement followed.

"Our allegiance is with you, Lord of Death!"

"It was us who won the war with the elves, not Haldivas or the others!"

"We would rather rally behind you than fall along with Glastheim's disgrace!"

The Lord of Death lowered his silver lance and spurred his mount to move forward. His cage-like helm slowly turned to Kael.

"See how the army sways to me with a thunder of acknowledgement. How about you, Kael Lukerion? It is a greater honor to lead the new raydric army than stay with what is left of Glastheim's defenders."

"You are…right…"

Kael held his medallion and turned his head to the silver-armored being.

"I ride with you, my liege."

"Then you and you're army's ascension awaits."

The Lord of Death raised his silver lance which gleamed in the dusk sunlight then chanted an incantation.

Bright purple wisps of smoke appeared and began to snake around the metal shaft. After a few more seconds, the same purple smokes appeared and circled all the raydrics except Kael. Dazzling violet orbs of light soon coalesced and shrouded over the entire raydric army.

Kael watched from where he was. For once he was…trembling in fear. As he watched one of the raydrics, he nearly dropped his sword. Everyone was being…transformed. Bright purple smoke covered their flesh and made it slowly fade. When the raydric's face was covered in the smoke, his face was practically erased, leaving only a floating helmet in its place. The smoke and purple light cleared, leaving only hollowed suits of armor standing on the place of the raydric. His body is no longer visible.

The Lord of Death stopped beside Kael and looked at his completed work. He transformed the entire Raydric Army.

"Marvel at the sight of your new army, General Kael. The new reanimated raydrics live only to serve you and you shall serve under me as well."

The raydric-knight backed away from the Lord of Death. This was supposed to be his army? They were all empty suits of armor that can move and kill.

"This is my…army. But I am different…I am human and they are…"

Kael raised his sword in anger.

"How can I command an army I don't even comprehend? I would rather perish!"

"Oh, but you are the same. Only better."

The raydric-knight said a silent prayer before releasing his medallion and charged.

A silver lance was raised in the air again only to throw out bolts of purple lightning at Kael. Dark electricity coursed through the raydric-knight's body, throwing him off his mount which was also being covered by purple smoke.

"One final stand against your own power and you have won…against yourself."

Violet electricity continued to flow from the silver lance to Kael who screamed in pain. He could feel the energy scorch his skin. No, it was more than just scorching. It was erasing his flesh off.

"No…it is all pointless. Whatever is going to happen to the Raydric Army, it won't make a difference…It won't!"

With the last ounces of his strength, Kael hurled his sword at the silver-armored being which caught the demon in surprise. The two-handed sword's tip buried deep into his chest and exploded in flames.

The Lord of Death placed his gauntleted hand on the hilt and pulled the blade off.

"That one almost hurt me."

More of the violet electricity was launched from the silver lance, forcing Kael to his knees. It was over. The raydric-knight's flesh was soon covered with heliotrope smoke.

"The Raydric Army awaits your ascension, General Kael."

"I won't allow it!"

A portal sprang out from behind Kael and a black-haired lord knight emerged from it followed by a red-haired huntress holding a pair of repeating arbalests.

Kael managed to glance at them before the last half of his face was covered with the smoke.

"Necron…run away…"

Necron drew his zweihander. The large heavy black sword reflected the purple flames that soon sprouted out of the gaps on Kael's armor.

"You'll pay dearly for this!"

Both the black sword and the silver lance gleamed in the air and collided with each other. Necron's sword was far too heavy and the Lord of Death pushed it away with his shield and brought his lance down on the lord knight.

The silver weapon unexpectedly bounced off the lord knight's elunium arm. Necron launched himself in the air and raised his zweihander for a killing strike.

"No matter what you did to the raydrics, you won't live to enjoy it!"

The black sword crashed against the silver spear once again. Before the lord knight could react, violet lightning erupted from the tip, hurling him away.

Necron locked his teeth and raised his elunium arm to deflect the energy. The star crumbs that serve as the joints would do well in absorbing the electricity.

"You…you were also a raydric, Lord Knight Necron Lorthiras. You would do well in my new army."

"I…."

More of the violet electricity was launched at Necron only to be deflected by his arm as he tried to get up.

"Will not!"

All of the violet electricity was launched back at its caster who withdrew his weapon in astonishment. Before he could make another move, the zweihander had already ripped through his side.

"Arrogant child. You will soon learn what it means to incur my wrath."

An invisible force wall pushed Necron backward and sent him careening away. The Lord of Death spurred his mount to move closer to Kael who was already smoking on the ground.

"Arise, my Raydric General."

Kael stood up and stared at his bloody gauntlets. Necron looked at him in horror from where the lord knight was.

The raydric-knight slowly turned around and what was left of him was…horrid. His flesh had all melted and turned into nothing but heliotrope smoke. What was more grotesque was that his face had become nothing more than an orb of gas that had two spheres of amethyst that serve as his eyes.

"As you command, my lord."

His voice was metallic and cold, closely similar to that of the Lord of Death. Necron and Kathris stared in horror as the new Kael straightened and walked towards the silver-armored being.

"General Kael, I order you to eliminate this obstacle."

"Thy will be done…"

The black horse that served as his mount landed beside him. The Raydric General looked around for his sword and the orbs that served as his eyes flashed. A two-handed sword lay on the trimmed grass and he pointed his palm at it. The bloody gauntlet sprang and stretched in a line of violet smoke then grabbed the sword before returning to its original length.

Kael mounted his spectral horse and raised his sword.

"You must all die as per my lord's orders…"

A loud neigh of his mount rang as he charged. Necron stared in astonishment at the charging Raydric General. It was like his body was made of purple flames. He couldn't just swing his zweihander at him. He was his friend ever since he was trained by Salendriel.

"Rise up and face your fate, Necron Lorthiras!"

Those words reared Necron into action and the lord knight swung his black sword, causing flames to explode from it.

"If you are the enemy then…I'll strike you down as I should."

From behind the Raydric General, the Lord of Death charged towards Necron. The lord knight readied his zweihander. His target is the Lord of Death but…

"Necron, we have to go!"

Kathris approached Necron and aimed her arbalests at Kael who was fast approaching.

"But we can't just…"

The huntress launched several arrows at Kael who was hit squarely in several places.

"Look, the entire Raydric Army is at his command now! If we don't pull back soon, we're finished."

Necron placed his hand on the huntress' shoulder. She was looking worriedly at him.

'Damn you Lord of Death…'

The lord knight turned and walked in the portal Kael had created for them before.