"STAND YOUR GROUND!"
The roar of commanders filled the air, alongside the sound of blades clashing and the dying screams of fallen soldiers.
But the earth-shattering warcry of armies outside the wall always deafened those sounds.
They're outnumbered.
They will not last and the gates will soon collapsed.
And on the tower overlooking the battle stood Marius the centurion, overseeing the defenses. The last orders he gave to his commanders were to stand their ground.
He watched as rain of arrows killed most of his men, ever decreasing his forces within these walls.
Soon enough, the gates were force open. And hordes of vikings stormed the fortress and slaughtered his armies with their brutality. And afterwards, the knights and the samurai had taken over the walls.
With the situation now beyond his control he furiously walked away from the balcony and he pointed at his two guards "You two! With me!" and headed out for the final fight.
He and his guards make their way across the wooden bridge above the coursing river when they're greeted by a small group of knights from the Iron Legion.
"Halt! Surrender or we'll have your head centurion!" their commander shouted.
With no other choice, he draw his gladius from his scabbard, "You want my head! Earn it!" and accepted the commander's challenge.
The Iron Legion charged towards the three man army, with most of them focus only on the centurion while the rest fought the guards.
But they were no match to the centurion. And with his loyal guards they killed all of knights.
Witnessing all of his comrades perished, the commander was about to fight the centurion and his guards alone when a Lawbringer stopped him from behind.
"If you value your life, stand down."
"Cross..." said the centurion.
"Surrender now, Marius. We don't have to fight." said Cross, trying to persuaded the young warlord. Hoping he will change his heart.
"I don't have time for this! Kill him!" Marius ordered his guards to attack the Lawbringer. The two attack simultaneously, thinking they could gang up on the old warrior. But it was a foolish move as the Lawbringer parried the attack from the first guard before striking a quick blow to the second guard's face with the other end of the poleaxe.
He then swung his mighty poleaxe cutting through the first guard's neck, decapitating the warrior.
The second guard recovered from his stunned state and swung his sword towards the Lawbringer to avenged his fallen comrade but Cross blocked the attack and shoved the guard off balance. He then thrusted the tip of his poleaxe unto the helpless guards neck.
The old Lawbringer succesfully defeated two of Marius's most loyal guards.
"Seems like the old dog still has his bite." said Marius as openly mocked Cross.
"Last chance, Marius... Surrender now or-" before he can finished, he heard those words coming from the steel-masked warlord.
"Never."
And now he realized, this young warior is a lost cost.
The two then engaged in heated one-to-one combat.
Cross desperately blocked all of Marius's attacks, struggling to find an opening. But everytime he finds one Marius always seems to be ahead of him. As the battle grew longer, the Lawbringer aging body slowly loosing strenght.
And this was the opening Marius waited for. He distracted Cross with a feign attack and he gave a quick kick to the side Cross's knee and the bulky warrior dropped to his knees with his armor weighting him down.
Marius took this chance to delivered one killing blow from above Cross quickly blocked the attack and the blade only left a scratch on his helmet, but the very tip of the gladius is very close to his throat.
Marius leaned in on Cross's face, showing the lifeless steel-masked he wore.
He stared down on the helpless warrior while slowly pushing his blade down to Cross's throat.
"Once I'm finish with you, Lord Warden will be next! And all of the Iron Legion will serve me or perish!" Marius said in a malicious tone. But just as he was about to end the Lawbringer's life, a strayed catapult shot destroyed the wooden floors behind the centurion and the floor beneath Marius collapses and sent him plunging into the coursing river.
"CROOOOOOOOSSSS!!!"
That was his last words before the river swallowed him, sending deeper into the depths.
Having survive his encounter with the feared centurion, Cross got up on his feet and observed the river below.
"Is he dead? Is it over?" said the commander.
Cross looked at the commander and picked up the gladius on his feet. "Show this to the Blackstones. They will surrender."
The commander nod, and took the gladius and ran towards the sound of ongoing battle.
Cross looked back at the river, sees no sign of life. He assume the river have killed the Marius. Sending him to his watery grave.
Soon, the remaining Blackstones surrendered to the Iron Legions.
Three nations that were once enemies, now look each other as brethrens as they celebrated the long awaited peace.
Marius. The Cruel Centurion. Is now dead... Or so they though...
As he reached the edge of the river, he pulled himself out of the water and collapsed on the ground gasping for air.
After a few seconds, he opened his eyes and sees darkness. He looked around and realize he's inside an underground caverns.
He sat on his knees in disbelief then yelled at the top of his lungs that echoed around the cavern walls.
"WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME!"
He looked above, hoping for some answers from the gods. But there's only the deafening quit.
He's alone now. In his own hell. His prison of isolation.
His fate as exiled him and now he's a shell of his former self.
Believing that no hope shall come to him.