To any potential readers, I must advise caution. This story, as it deals with the dawn of the evil known as Overlords, will contain dark and mature themes of violence, death, suffering, and many more such things. Just be sure you are ready for such a story.
Overlord belongs to its proper owners and I make no claim of ownership, this is a fan story made in admiration of the work of the companies and studios involved.
Chapter 3: Wolf Queen
I lived again. Taking my first steps forward I didn't find myself overjoyed at rebirth, but instead I was driven toward my vengeance. Where to start was hard to say, I'd emerged past the borders of land I recognized. Yet again I could only make the most sensible choice of taking another step in this cold wasteland and expect something to come into view.
Overtop the hills peaked the tips of trees, but as I crested the hill I found they were unlike any tree I'd ever seen. Much, much taller covered, some of them top to base, in not any sort of leaves, but as I approached I grasped little green needles in my fingers. They even smelled so different. And there was a whole forest of them beyond me. Of course I was not the only one in awe of this strange place, my minions had clearly not seen anything of the surface as those who were not stopped in wonder were hopping and dancing for joy. Perhaps I was allowed a smile while they were distracted.
My boots left marks upon this new, unfamiliar soil as I marched forth from the brief reprieve. The minions were much less in formation, running and hiding around the trees, playing about and picking up thick branches they found. I'd called them back to my side, but I figured the sooner they were acquainted with this world the better they'd be able to fight in it when time came.
Judging by the glimpses of fur rushing between distant trees that time would come soon enough. They weren't quick to attack, clearly prefering to stalk their prey for a while. But they did, and they were far more ferocious than the wolves of my homeland. They were already upon us, one crushing a minions head in its jaws and another pair pouncing and pinning another intent to do the same, but one would yelp and be sent away by my boot while the other dodged my axe swing.
Taking formation seemed to dissuade further attacks, my minions gathered into a defensive circle as the wolves formed their own around us. When one tried to rush alone it would learn the impressive strength of my minions as it was batted away with the swing of a tree branch. These wolves clearly weren't used to prey that fought quite this hard, so they didn't know when to give up as we'd be rushed on all sides by the pack, fending off each attempted snap or pounce. Still, I didn't know if we could hold out like this.
Seven of them, half of them were now running in a counter direction to the others, harder to keep track of. It was infuriating how they looked at us as though they were observing our formation, occasionally testing and snapping at possible weak points. These were no dumb beasts! A final, coordinated charge proved that as three pairs rushed in unison and caught three of my four remaining minions into a struggle. Not liking the chances of them not getting overpowered I raised my axe to take out one from the occupied pairs, only to learn that was the opening they had been waiting for. I'd barely raise my left arm in time to put it between the beast and my throat.
These damned dogs were a lot heavier and stronger than they looked, enough to knock me down and make me lose my axe. It was all I could do to occupy its fangs with one hand while the other tried pushing it back. I couldn't keep this up, so I reached for my axe, but the wolf fast capitalized on the opening and made a lunge at my neck! Briefly I considered the difficulty of dragging myself back out of the Netherworld again. My near conceding was snapped away with the same thunk that sent the wolf stumbling back with a bloody skull.
Not sparing a moment to verbally thank the reliable minion who'd battered the wolf already I took up the axe and brought it upon the wounded beast, crushing into the ribs. Time short I foresaw where the line would break as a minion was pinned and ripped into, but fast was I and my most loyal minion pounced upon the two as they feasted, myself splitting the wolf's skull while my little friend grappled his foe, biting into its neck and clawing into the eyes, mangling it such that one might think a larger beast had done this.
Seeing the tide turn the rest of the pack made to flee, with three rushing deeper through the forest, the last one not being so lucky as my other two remaining minions latched onto its back and beat it down. Each side had gotten a taste of blood, and I would be disappointed if we were to stop short of spilling the most! We took off with a lust in our sprint as we hardly let the dust settle behind them before making it upon their tails! Alas! These beasts knew their home more intimately, what had at first looked like a clearing that drew near, I'd barely caught hold of the tree in time to not barrel off the cliff into a small ravine, even as the wolves leaped the gap.
I knew myself to be stronger than before, but I was not so arrogant to think myself their equal in agility. So I stopped myself and inhaled the brisk winds as I watched them flee down towards their dens. It had seemed the world had sought to swallow me back down to where I belonged and deny our goal when it was so in reach, the mutts taking refuge at the mouth of a dark cave and entirely boxed in by stone, their only defense this contemptible pit in my way. Best thing would be to leave this be, they held nothing we wanted, but I sought a test of my newfound power and allies. Still I could have it, but not by acting as a crazed revenant, instead...
Reaching out and grasping something seemingly invisible I made my command known to the Heart below the earth, letting myself speak through it. Soon my call was answered as earth was pushed aside and a pair of new minions arose to replenish my ranks. That done I took in what was in reach of the ravine, in particular I noticed a specially decrepit tree leaning so close. Sweeping my five helpers the the side opposite, I took up my axe and made a swing just before they pushed.
With the crack of thunder the sturdy old timber fell and made my bridge. Already the wolves snarled at my approach as each step on the creaking wood sank deeper in their doom... or so it would seem. For a mighty howling reverberated from the mouth of the cave that drove the beasts to stand aside as a blur of motion and fang tore from the shadows, as her paws struck the ground I felt the pressure with this dire beast standing eye to eye with me!
She made her challenge known as she prepared to pounce and her pack mates began to circle. Not another word as the fast as wind bitch threw itself at me! Faster than I'd imagined her paw smacked into my side and sent me over rolling toward the ledge! I only stopped by digging my hand into the earth, groaning in pain as my arm twisted from the momentum of my roll. I clenched my teeth and ignored the pain as another damned dog tried to finish the job, bracing myself I flung forth the same aching arm and caught mid-leap the beast! Quickly I rose to my feet before it could resist and I brought my axe into its side, not once nor twice, but three times to see it hacked in two!
As the great wolf made another rush I dodged out of the way, and to avoid another double attack I sent my minions to intercept the others. Three worked together, tripping, pinning, and bashing in the head of one. With the other two, one baited it as the other pounced onto its back and held a branch between its jaws pulling its head up for the other to stab it in the neck with a jagged branch.
Ready to fend off yet another rush from the large wolf I was instead surprised to see her stop and let out a mournful whine at the deaths of her pack. Of course that would be followed by her rage boiling over as she was drawn from me to my minions. Immediately she crushed one under her paw before swinging her head low and snapping two between her jaws. Quickly I swept aside my minions through my control over them, but seeing she would not give up the chase I threw myself at her and caught her snout with my axe!
She yelped hatefully at that, so I did it again, leaving another bloody gash. The third strike she batted away with her paw, at which point my minions began to beat her from the sides. Seemingly frightened from being surrounded she began to back away, at which point I rushed her and brought my axe into the side of her skull, carving out an eye. From that the beast did howl in pain, immediately pushing past me before leaping up onto a ledge above the mouth of the cave. There she howled as loud as her wild lungs could! This call and reciprocated by a cacophony of more out of the darkness.
Not liking the implications I called back into the Netherworld from another three minions to borrow through the earth and replenish my force. Just in time as another seven wolves emerged to meet me. This time I and my minions charged them together. Beating, cleaving, and clawing our way through these reinforcements we soon looked up to see the great wolf still above, snarling madly before taking up a large stone in her bloody maw and flinging it at us. Dodging as we could we avoided several more, and I cursed our lack of slings or darts. In fact I would even take the skin-charing ball of fire I'd ripped from the demon's body about now...
Perhaps that wasn't so beyond me. I had once been in the priesthood, I'd seen the old spell totems and pillars, I knew formulas, but now most of all was that I had actual magic flowing through me! I closed my eyes and focused as the bracer on my left arm lit up like a lantern as I channeled that power and imagined the very same fistful of molten blood I'd grasped. And as I felt the surface of my palm boil I opened my eyes and pitched my hand out sending a fireball at my prey..Though mighty, all beasts fear the flame, so she instinctively dodged, jumping down to us as the ball exploded the side of an above tree sending it tumbling after, and crashing down atop the beast, pinning her down under the burning timber.
Seeing it done my minions whooped and cheered as they raised their arms and hopped in place. Secretly beneath my helm I too grinned, even as I approached the struggling, broken beast. Her one eye hateful as she yelped and whined. Perhaps I had the cruel temptation to let her burn alive, but I'd not let the fire have the honor of finishing this admittedly impressive wolf. So I raised my axe and at last brought it down on her neck, beheading the mother of the pack.
Finally I took a breath, my first true victory in the hunt and battle. A redemption I sorely needed after being so trampled by the army of that wretched queen. Yet as I relaxed and set my minions to work scavenging I noticed something new. Glowing orbs rose from the dead, so fascinating were they that I knelt down and picked one up in the palm of my hand. Immediately my minions stopped what they were doing and did the same, bringing all the orbs they could to me.
"Life Force, Master." The most veteran of them said, one who now wore a bloodied wolf skull on his head and a pelt on his back, something the others would shortly imitate. "New Minion! Whoo-Hoo! Yay!" Cheered another.
Could it really be? Never before had I seen anything like this, but if what they said was true then life just gained a whole new use to me. But that was for another time, today I simply drew them into myself and sent this Life Force away to be stored in that Heart below.
Seeing this all as done I turned to set off and away, but I was stopped by the dreaded sound of one final howl echoing loud from the depths of the cave. Still I could leave, but it would not sit right to leave this unfinished. So I made my way into the darkness, past various bones of their prey, and through the winding tunnels, guided by a howling that grew meeker the closer we got.
Finally I was face to face with my prey and it was... underwhelming. "Yip! Yip! Arwhool!" The small, fluffy thing barked standing as though it were something impressive.
"Haha! Stoopid puppy!" One of my minions mocked as he pointed a finger right into her face, only to have it immediately bitten off. "Ahhh! Stupid Doggy!" The same minion screeched as he raised a branch, the pup not cowering one bit as she crunched the small finger. Before retaliation could be had I snatched the minion's club from him and tossed him aside.
Kneeling down I inspected the defiant thing, clearly not having an ounce of fear. At least up until I picked her up by the scruff of the neck, at which point she whimpered like a baby should at such a threat. Sure it would be easy Life Force to just finish it like that. But what would one extra minion really be compared to a beast like that one that was surely her mother? Tearing off a piece of my tattered red cloak I wrapped it around the shivering thing. For now she complied, but if she'd be loyal was something to be learned after time.
As the evening sun shone, new light gave path to a second exit. Having no other path in mind I held the pup to my chest and made my way out to be greeted by something I had long wished to witness... the sea.