CHAPTER SIXTEEN: RISE OF THE ZILART

The first Crystal War ended when Captain Volker fought bravely to kill the Shadowlord. The monster's body was torn apart and sealed inside a magical tomb that was locked by four seals. Each of the three nations received one seal to protect and the fourth was hidden in an unknown location.

The three Beastmen strongholds spread across the world worked in secret after the first war to carry out a plan passed down to them by a higher evil. Lion, who was investigating their movements, found that each race of Beastmen – the Quadev, Yagudo, and Orcs – built their strongholds around Magicite and planned to bring about the resurrection of the Shadowlord.

The Magicites were strange crystals that held power within them unfathomable to a mortal and were forgotten objects from a long dead age. The three strongest Beastmen races worked together, controlled by some unknown force, to collect the Magicite together to bring about the resurrection. They then planned to steal the seals that were in the possession of the three nations with which to break the tomb holding the body of the dead Shadowlord.

The second Crystal War in which the Six Champions made their fame started in the same way as the first. The Demons of the Northlands reappeared to protect their master's castle. The nations once more reunited to battle against the hordes while in secret the Beastmen infiltrated each nation to steal the seals and somehow discovered that the fourth had been hidden deep inside Fei Yin.

The nations had not fully recovered from the first war so there were many casualties. Many young soldiers, trainees, mercenaries, and adventurers were conscripted to help in the fights and to try and steal pieces of Magicite.

Eventually, the second war culminated in a last ditch effort to push through the Demons and stop whoever was attempting to break the seals to the Shadowlord's tomb and bring about his resurrection using the Magicite energy.

Many soldiers entered the castle and fought their way into the baileys of it, but only one group of six managed to break through the huge stone gates barring the way to the black bridge.

Across this sinister looking jagged platform lay the doors to the throne room of the castle. They were the first to tread the ground since Volker had first sealed away the entrance. No one else had made it safely through and the armies outside the castle were being pushed back by overwhelming numbers.

The six recruits, all of them of low rank and standing, had no choice but to charge forwards together to try and stop the resurrection from starting.

This is what happened on that day…

"Don't look back! Push forward!" Gerdinus roared.

Alain, Rost, Catherine, Nokum-Akkum, and Hanaa stayed close behind their Galkan leader as they all rushed across the black rock bridge towards the throne room all the while checking behind them for ally or enemy.

An evil precence filled the air and weighed heavy on them all. He felt his body try to turn him and make him run away, but he knew he could not do that. No one else had made it with them and many squads had sacrificed themselves purely so they could push through, they could not have died in vain.

"Rost, Alain, break this door down now! Hanaa, Nokum-Akkum, Catherine, guard the rear – make sure none of the Kindred are following us!"

They obeyed the Paladin. He had been placed in charge of their squad for many months and was a fearless leader. He understood their skills and weaknesses and always knew what was best. While their Mithran and Tarutaru comrades stayed in the middle of the bridge with Catherine watching for enemies he and Rost raised their weapons and struck them into the huge iron doors barring their way into the throne room.

"Slice!"

"Tachi:Enpi!"

The two glowing weapons smashed and sliced into the entrance a second time and bent it inwards. An elongated cut spread down the middle causing the dent to burst open blowing a hole through the centre. The ground under their feet cracked from the downward force of their combined attacks. The doors swung uneasily open with a painful creek letting stale air billow out. Alain silently thanked the Goddess; it looked like no one had been inside yet.

"It looks like nothing has followed us," Catherine reported as she, Hanaa, and Nokum-Akkum joined them.

"Alright," Gerdinus said and edged just inside the broken door, "Proceed with caution."

The inside was pitch black save for what little light shined in from outside. The floor was a strange dark orange colour and seemed to have the pattern that was present on Beastmen flags scorched into it (he guessed from what he could see in the limited light). The walls seemed similar colour around the rim but then changed to pure black rock that matched the bridge they had travelled across further up the wall.

"Itaru smells in here!" Nokum-Akkum grumbled as Hanaa covered her sensitive nose and coughed.

"Like a dead body..." Rost muttered.

"Thataru is good then, we don'taru need to do anything, rightaru?"

"Do you hear that?" Alain asked them all.

There was a quiet hum. It was strange; it did not seem to be coming from anything and was simply present all around them. It was as if the very room was reacting to their presence. It looked as though they were the first ones to set foot in the room since the Shadowlord had first been slain many years before. Something was not right, something had to be controlling the Kindred battling outside, yet it seemed as though the Shadowlord was still locked away inside his sealed crypt.

The room shook suddenly as previously dormant torches built along both sides of the wall lit up in unison into fiercely burning flames revealing the grand design on the orange floor in all its glory and illuminating a staircase at the far end of the throne room. At the top of the stairs on a platform surrounded by black candles was a huge tomb placed before another image of the Beastmen symbol.

One-by-one the black candles around the tomb lit in sequence and all they could do was stand motionlessly watching, unable to comprehend what was happening. Had they set off some sort of booby-trap? Or worse; had they accidentally broken the seal? Purple smog spewed out the edges of the tomb as the stone lid began to wobble as if some immense pressure was building up below it.

"Everyone out!" their leader cried.

They turned to leave and found that the entrance had sealed itself up. Remarkably, the marks from the damage they had dealt it had vanished along with the hole. Some magic had been cast upon them as no matter how hard they tried to pull the double door open it refused to budge. They struck their weapons into the doors and found they bounced off.

"By the Goddess…look at the smoke…" Catherine whimpered.

In turn each of them turned away from the entrance and was speechless at the sight they perceived. The purple fog leaking up from the tomb had grown darker and formed into a huge blob that hung in the centre of the room. It changed shape as it turned darker still and became a blend of black and purple. The form of a person seemed to be appearing from it, but far larger than any normal body.

"It can't be!" Rost exclaimed.

"That…that's the Shadowlord!"

First a pair of black legs appeared, and then a chest, and then a body, and then two arms, and then a head, and finally a huge jagged crescent shaped blade of the same colour. The face took shape as purple energy seemed to ripple around the monstrous figure's form filling orifices on it's skin with glowing light and all six of them suddenly bore the burden of the creature's presence in the room.

"We must destroy him before his full power returns!" Gerdinus called. "Tri-Lightning Formation Attack!"

"Understood!"

Gerdinus attached his sword onto his belt, raised his shield so that it sat just below his eyes and charged forwards. Rost, Alain, and Nokum-Akkum ran behind in a line with weapons poised. Catherine pushed her arms forward and created a blue protective barrier in front of them all while Hanaa ran to the side to get a good shot for her magical attacks.

The mighty Shadowlord let out a fearsome roar as it pulled its arm into the air and brought it down on the advancing attackers. The tip of the jagged black blade met with the large protective crystal and almost shattered it instantly, however it held strong and rested between the weapon and Gerdinus' shield. The fiend began to apply pressure.

"Go when the spell fails," he barked at them all.

The protective spell shattered and the blade met with the Galka's shield immediately pinning him to the spot and causing the floor under his feet to smash as he bore the attack head on. As soon as the weapon met with the shield Rost darted out from the left while Alain went from the right.

Rost's Great Katana sliced into the Shadowlord's leg as he skidded to a halt beyond the creature taking out a large chunk of black matter that turned to dust as it was detached from the main body. Alain's Scythe sliced into the skin of the other leg and took off another section. A lightning bolt struck into the creature's upper right shoulder taking out another chunk of skin and forcing it to relieve pressure on Gerdinus.

Nokum-Akkum (who had stayed hidden behind Gerdinus) picked this moment to jump backwards enough to get a shot at the upper body and hurled both his tiny axes towards the creature's face. Much to his (very vocal) annoyance the Shadowlord's left hand moved in front of its face fast enough for both axes to wedge into its wrist.

Hanaa fired off the second volley of lightning, this time aiming for the left shoulder. Another chunk became dust as the Shadowlord's reeled backwards from the blow and Gerdinus picked this moment to parry away the black sword.

The third and final lightning magic fired off from Hanaa's out stretched hand and struck straight into the chest of the Shadowlord sending a black cloud of dust into the air as it roared and toppled backwards and smashed into the floor, shattering the seal design.

"Is it dead?" Alain asked desperately. "We've never had to go through the whole planned attack before…what's…"

From each wound they had inflicted lines of black fog shot out like chains and headed straight for each of the melee. None of them could react fast enough as the black fog surrounded their throats and began to choke them. Hanaa and Catherine jumped to the aid of their comrades but as soon as they moved in range more black fog shot out and grabbed them in a similar fashion and they were forced coughing to their knees.

While each of them floundered, the Shadowlord slowly got to its feet. Its skin was now glowing bright purple and the black sections of its skin seemed to fade. This was its real power resurfacing and they were all powerless to stop it. Just as Alain felt like his consciousness was slipping away from lack of oxygen he was sure he heard the entrance to the throne room open. He was just about able to look over towards the door and was shocked to see Zeid standing with weapon ready.

The glowing Shadowlord rose to full height and roared louder then before as the purple energy around its body expanded in the shape of a sphere. As it struck each of them the black fog was banished and they were thrown into the sides of the throne room. The sphere dissipated after reaching its maximum size and then was absorbed back into the fiend's body, where it began building up power to be released again.

As Alain recoiled from being thrown into the wall of the throne room and was attempting to find the power to get back on his feet Zeid walked confidently past him and he was sure he heard his former mentor muttering to himself;

"To think these inexperienced children would do this much damage to you so easily…and one of them is… But now it has once again fallen to me to kill you. This ends now!"

As the Shadowlord's blade fell upon Zeid the Galka's Great Sword pushed up through it with sheer force, shattering the fiend's blade in two as if it were made of wood. Zeid then sliced into the side of one of the creature's ankles, bringing it down onto one knee. Then his mentor gazed into the face of the creature and all was silent between them for a moment.

"It cannot be…"

The Great Sword slashed upwards across the monster's chest ripping it open and sending black fog into the air. This time instead of collapsing backwards the Shadowlord's whole body seemed to turn to vapour, save for a black shadow in the centre that seemed to be taking on some different form. Alain was now on his feet and using the wall to lean his weight on and watched in disbelief as a second Galka appeared from the fog, one he did not recognise.

Zeid dropped to his knees to catch the unknown Galka, "Raogrimm! Raogrimm how can this be! What has happened to you?"

"So…you finally came to free me, Zeid…" the other Galka said solemnly. "I was lost in the dark for so long…"

Alain and his Comrades all surrounded the two and listened in silence.

"Why…why did this happen?"

Raogrimm closed his eyes before speaking, "I am the Talekeeper, the keeper of our races memories…But there was so much pain, so much rage… On that day…on the day of the Northlands Expedition, I let myself become consumed in a dark abyss of rage and madness."

"We thought you had died with all the others that went…" Zeid sighed. "How did that incident led to this?"

Raogrimm smiled helplessly.

"People are capable of kindness beyond angels, yet we also commit sins that would put a Demon to shame… We all stand precariously on the edge between darkness and light… And when we fall, we are greeted by only madness and chaos. And so I have fallen…"

There was the sudden sound of doors closing.

"Such a touching scene…" a voice said.

They all turned to face the two figures. One was short with blond hair and wore elegant blue cloth robes with criss-crossed grey outlines and an eye patch over one eye. The other was taller with blond long hair wrapped together in a ponytail and wore dark red and brown royal robes. His hair formed a strange shape in the centre of his forehead and his face bore tattoos.

"I don't know. It could have used a little more excitement. The Galka can never do anything right," the younger one replied.

"It was a shame to interrupt it, Brother."

Alain was shocked and so was everyone else that looked upon who had somehow managed to make it to the throne room. Before them stood the Archduke of Jeuno, Kam'lanaut and his younger brother Eald'narche. They had not even been on the battlefield outside so he could not fathom how either of them could have taken the same way that they had to reach the castle keep.

"The Archduke of Jeuno and… What are you two doing here?" Zeid questioned demandingly as both the brothers strolled past them all towards the staircase at the far end of the room.

Kam'lanaut's hand wave lazily as they ascended the stairs, "We come to reap the seeds we have sown. You've preformed well, as ignorant as you are. I can see that we have some cleaning up left to do, but that won't be a problem. I am surprised any allied forces managed to make it this far. How is it, Brother?"

Eald'narche turned after ascending the top step and outstretched one hand and traced it around the room with his eye closed.

"…There is still…noise. Strange, it should have all vanished with his defeat, but it has not. Perhaps because his retched former form still breaths, I don't know. It is no longer as loud however…so we can begin."

From the ground around the tomb of the Shadowlord, crystals rose from the ground, each taking on a different elemental colour as they went.

"Archduke, just what are you planning!" Gerdinus questioned.

"You orchestrated all this?" Rost added.

The Archduke let out a long laugh as if pitying his fellow comrades.

"Listen carefully, you sorry excuses for sentient beings. The Crystal Line will soon be revived and the Gates of the Gods will open. The dream we Zilart have held onto for thousands of years is about to become a reality."

Roagrimm's eyes shot open and he tried to get onto his feet, but could not manage it without Zeid's help.

"Zilart?" the Talekeeper panted. "They were thought to have become extinct centuries ago!"

The brothers exchanged amused glances.

Eald'narche spoke next, "Extinct? Hah! Galka, Humes…all life on this planet has no purpose or meaning. All that matters are we Zilart, we will always exist. This world belongs to us. The people around you are nothing but children and would not remember your first encounter with the Shadowlord. We thought simply defeating him would be enough but we ran into a little snag; we were unable to release him from the crystal with our power alone…so that's why we used the Talekeeper…"

"You…I was…"

A sudden wave of energy seemed to flood the room and Alain felt himself being forced onto his knees. It was a presence far greater than that of the Shadowlord and struck fear into his heart.

"Yes, I can hear them now!" Eald'narche exclaimed. "I can hear the five life-forces, I can hear them approaching. The minions of the crystal!"

Multiple things were approaching from some dark unknown. The Archduke descended a few steps towards them and pointed forwards, and it seemed almost like directly at him.

"This world is nothing but a grave, and you are the maggots that squirm through its rotten corpse. Slowly but surely everything will be consumed by Emptiness while we ascend to the heavens in our rightful position as Gods. Farewell, lowly vermin. Your time is up. This is the beginning of the end. Come forth Warriors of the Crystal, and cleanse this world of the filth that plagues it!"

Around the staircase on which the Archduke stood five figures appeared. Each were pale skinned with blood red eyes and clad in pure black armour unlike anything he had ever seen. Just looking upon all five of them and feeling the power flowing off them made him shiver with fear. Each one seemed to take the form of one of the five dominant races on Vana'diel and glared with an otherworldly stare at their counter part amongst those on the throne room floor.

"This ends now!"

The brave Dark Knight left Raogrimm where he lay, took up his blade, and charged at the stairs. As he reached the bottom of them he swung his sword up behind his head and leapt into the air. As he came back down heading directly for Kam'lanuat his blade met with a huge yellow barrier that pulsated with force. After a moment of hanging in the air being trapped against the barrier Zeid was tossed backwards by the collected energy and was sent sprawling across the floor next to Raogrimm. His sword landed upright some distance behind him, lodged into the ground.

Alain could only watch helplessly as his mentor was easily beaten back. He could not believe that Zeid was so easily knocked down as he had never seen the Galka even come close to losing a battle.

"Don't underestimate them…their power is…immeasurable…" he grunted.

The five black armoured figures broke off towards each of them. Alain got to his feet in time to avoid one of the Hume's duel wielded swords striking him through the chest. He pulled back to attempt to swing his scythe, but the other sword in his opponents hands cut upwards through the wooden section, breaking it in two. He felt his armour rip as he was cut and cast to one side. He looked up from the ground to see the Hume heading for Catherine.

The Tarutaru in black hovered some distance off the ground and wielded a large jagged scythe. From the top step he moved instantaneously to in front of Nokum-Akkum, who squealed with terror. Alain watched from the floor as a bolt of lightning struck into his best friend, sending him into the wall next to the entrance, where he fell and did not move.

Rost met with the sword of his races likeness, which appeared to be female, and then felt the side of her black tower shield batter into him. He was knocked off balance long enough for her to catch his side and then follow up with a second strike that knocked him to the floor with ease.

Even the Shadowlord's mighty blade had not managed to break Gerdinus' shield, yet as he rose it to fend of the Galka that wielded a Great Katana he was shocked as it was cut straight through and the blade tip dug deep into his shoulder, bringing him down onto one knee. A firm boot to the chest then knocked him across the floor.

Hanaa fell after receiving a blow from the side of the axe in the Mithra enemies hand after managing to parry a few. Before she could get up she felt a foot met with her gut, winding her.

The entrance to the throne room was suddenly blown inwards once more. This time only a lone slender figure entered. It was Lion wielding her dagger and a ball of energy in her other hand. Just as the black armoured Hume reached Catherine (who had no way to defend herself) she threw the ball of light which struck straight into him, knocking him back to the base of the stairs. The rest of the enemies, upon seeing this, moved back to the base of the steps.

Raogrimm turned to Zeid, "I…I can still draw some energy from this land… I will do my best to slow them down. Get out of here and save these brave souls that fought against the darkness that controlled me."

"Raogrimm…"

"There is no salvation for me, my friend. The Raogrimm you once knew is gone forever. I expect no forgiveness for what I have done, but… Don't let them have Vana'diel! Now go!"

Raogrimm's form was consumed by black and purple smog as it increased in size and began to take on the shape of the Shadowlord once more. Zeid grabbed his sword and then picked up the unconscious Nokum-Akkum. Rost and Gerdinus were able to get up and run on their own. Alain felt Lion pulling on his hand and he eventually found the strength to get up, but felt the blood dripping down him. He was led by her hand out into the light.

As they all escaped through the magical doors they began to reform and repair themselves once more, sealing in Raogrimm and the five black armoured enemies conjured up by the brothers. Just as they were about to seal they all heard Raogrimm speak one last time.

"My true self died thirty years ago… All that remains is an empty shell… Cornelia… Finally… we may meet again…"

With the doors sealed the only other sound to come from them was a frightening roar of a cursed monster being ripped to shreds.