Chapter XXXIX – Rise of a Warlord

"Who he is? Him not should here be! No humans!" A scratchy voice. High pitched as well.

Ganondorf looked up to whom he believed to be the chief of the Bulblin tribe living within these parts of the mountain. More iron protected his body compared to the other beastly warriors and he wore a crown. Roughly formed, none of the spikes shared the same size.

Warriors stood at the chiefs side, even more gathered at the walls of the vault, wielding spears and swords alike. Some of them crafted by their own kind, easily visible by the questionable craftsmanship though they also used those from their fallen victims

Ganondorf remained on his spot, watching those Bulblins staring at him. None stepped forward to face him. For a good reason, had he slaughtered any daring to stay in his way to reach their inner sanctum. He turned towards the chief, still sitting on his throne built of rotten wood. "I make it short. Bow down to me and follow my will, then I will spare your life and that of your subjects. Defy me and you will pay in blood."

"Him not further come! Me bowing down not human to!" The chief raised his spear, his face twisted by anger. A roar. His kinsmen joined in. The chief leaped from his throne, storming towards Ganondorf with his guards in his back. They showed no Fear. Just anger and bloodlust.

"Die then." Ganondorf raised his hand. Such fools, throwing away their lives so easily. Darkness formed around his hand. He unleashed it on his attackers. Their cries, once filled with fury turned into agony. Pain. Death. No mercy for anybody that opposed his rule.

Ganondorf laughed. He noticed the survivors pressing nearer against the wall as the darkness vanished, giving view on the remnants of the fallen. Nothing but burned corpses, eaten away by the dark.

Astonishing. Every time again. The power the Triforce had granted him, just astonishing. Such a weak incantation he had used, barely able to put enemies off balance, yet empowered with the divine might it burned his foes to death like the mightiest of magic. Even centuries of training would have never granted him such a force.

Ganondorf looked around at those Bulblins, now leaderless. "Is there anybody else who questions my rule? If so, feel free to challenge me for it." He grinned, knowing very well that he had defeated their strongest and even their numbers could not prevail over him.

One rammed his spear with its pointy end into the ground. Mumbling. Hesitation. Others followed his example. With cheers they raised their arms, their screams filled the vault.

Satisfied, Ganondorf crossed his arms in front of his chest. They had accepted his rulership. Proved to be easier than he had thought. "Well, follow me! We won't stay in this muddy place. There is a far more gracious home that shall soon be ours to claim."

Cheers and war cries accompanied him when Ganondorf searched his way back to the surface. These Bulblins, from now own they followed him everywhere and obeyed every command. To the strongest they swore their loyalty, a simple rule true for most tribes of such beastly nature. Their intelligence was subpar at best, but he would put their fighting skills and sheer number to good use. Besides all his powers, he was still only one man. The battles against an army would drag out till all eternity if he fought one alone.

Now, with that tribe also subdued, he had enough manpower to claim a kingdom. Finally become a king not only in title. Since those Hylians had destroyed his kingdom it was only right if he took theirs in return.

"Lord Ganondorf!" The man who ran up to him gasped for air. "The preparations are finished, just as you have ordered, my lord. They're only in wait for you command."

"Good." Ganondorf stared at the castle town. By now, legions of men and beast alike camped the borders on the fields. No one would get out there without fighting through hordes of warriors only to get killed. He grinned. What a proper fate for those accursed Hylians and everyone sympathizing with them. Just too bad he could not go at war with his own folk, seeing the Gerudo still hid well. Hopefully once they got to know he claimed the throne of Hyrule the survivors would leave their hideouts.

"You are aware of my order?" Ganondorf turned his view around, looking at a Moblin and Dinolfos with a few humans in between. His appointed generals. No way he could lead all of his thousands of subjects alone.

"Of course." A man grinned, his hand gliding down to the sword. "Kill anybody that crosses our way, no matter whom."

"Sounds like a lot of fun," added another. "Hadn't such since those bastards threw me into the dungeon."

They joined a laughter, though Ganondorf glared at them. "And the exception?"

Their laughter fell silent. Startled they watched him, switching questioning views with each other. Ganondorf felt losing his mood. If he would have no need for them, he would have set them ablaze in an instant. Not that it surprised him that they forgot about his exception in their excitement.

The Dinolfos turned to him. "You mean to spare this princessss?"

"She's the queen!" The Dinolfos cringed, trying to hide behind one of the man. Stupid, seeing he was way greater in size. "But I hope you remember well what happens to the one who ignores this one order and harms her?!"

Ganondorf noticed their unease. One man picked on his beard. "Well. You torture the one slow and painfully to death. Or banish him to hell, depending on your mood."

Ganondorf approved, nice to see they understood. "If she does cause you trouble, you may use violence to bring her down if nothing else is working. But use more than necessary and you will be in great trouble. Is that clear to you and all your warriors?!"

"Yes, they are aware, your lordship." They all nodded, placing one hand on their chest. One added, "She probably be happier dead than being captured by you. Who knows what you're going to do with her while her own folk gets destroyed."

"Then ready your men! We're attacking!" commanded Ganondorf and conjured his stallion. He did not like to admit but the comment casually stated by his officer, it got to him. True, he indeed had his reasons to let Zelda live but not because he wanted to see her suffer. He even preferred to spare her the suffering of seeing her own people get slaughtered, like he had to endure, though it was inevitable. No matter to which highs he rose, which powers he acquired, nothing of it was enough to cut the last bonds to his past. And her bond, it rooted the deepest inside him, even after all the years passing. Even though she was the queen of his archenemies.

"Run! Run!" Screams of despair filled the streets. Fires. Cries. Destruction.

Ganondorf watched the people running like rats, chased down to death by his warriors. Now these Hylians experienced on their own how it was to be hunted without mercy for they appeared always so eagerly about it.

Never had he thought to feel such a pleasure. Such a sick pleasure by watching how his followers burned the houses to the ground, leaving nothing but ruins behind on their track of destruction. So different from taking up arms on his own and slay one by one. Reminded him on the rebellion back in the arena yet the imprisoned did not follow his command but their desire of freedom. Those here though, they were only here because he convinced them. In one way or another at least.

Ganondorf walked along the main street, greeted by flames and death on his way. The once lively street of the castle town of Hyrule, now nothing but a former shadow of itself, engulfed in chaos and tainted by blood. Those Hylians had not given up on their bloodshed once they had won the Great War. They continued their hunt. And so would he once he had claimed the throne.

"You fight for them?!"

Surprised, Ganondorf turned around. About a dozen Hylian soldiers covered in blood had slain their way through his warriors. The one leading them, he gritted his teeth. "I knew right from the beginning one can't trust a former slave! Taking a barbarous gladiator into an army full of honorable knights just isn't working! What's the result? A high traitor!"

Ganondorf watched them as they raised their swords. "Ah. Now I remember you. You're that annoying jester I've met years ago in the arena in company with that Hylian bastard. Though your name is just forgettable."

"Your arrogance won't save you!" Jyrik screamed as he rushed towards him, followed by his men. "Filth like you has no right to set foot into our town. Just die like you should have in the arena, traitor!"

Ganondorf stood still. In no way would he taint his steel with their spoiled blood, they did not deserve to touch his blade even at its pointy end. "You," he lifted up his hand, "shall bow down before your king or die in agony."

Ganondorf unleashed his dark magic, silencing their screams. It crushed his foes, whirling up dust and stones alike. The soldiers crashed into the ruins, on the ground, remaining there motionless.

That power. That wonderful power of the Triforce. A divine one, through and through.

Enough time wasted with those rats. A throne still waited for him. He moved on yet heard coughing from the side. "How… where… you gained… such power?" Ganondorf looked to the side and down at Jyrik. Never had he believed he had survived, seeing he was the first caught in his magic and slung far away.

A smug grin appeared on his lips. "A lowlife like you is not fit to know. But let me ease your mind: You do not need to be afraid of death. In hell, you won't be alone, I'll send all your comrades after you. This is a promise, one of the few I won't break."

"No… why would… by the Goddesses… please… no." Ganondorf laughed as he left Jyrik to his fate. No mercy blow for him. He should suffer as long as he clinched to life. He deserved as much.

On the castle's courtyard, corpses greeted him, of man and beast alike. Friend and foe, painting the once glorious court of Hyrule in blood. Echoes of battles back in the town reached his ears, flames rising high into the sky caught his eyes. Even here the battle raged on amidst the day. Steel biting into each other. The Hylians would never give up easily, they fought till their last man. Today, this would not save their kingdom. Today, he would claim it his own.

The great hall, still as mighty as he remembered it, though now the statues shattered broken across the floor. The chatting else filling the hall, silenced by screams, one crueler than the other. Of victory, of defeat, life and death. In one corner Ganondorf noticed a Hylian soldier barely breathing, pressing his hands on the gaping wound on his chest, the hilt of a sword still sticking out from it. His comrade tried to defend him against a trio of Bulblin. In vein, they would not make it much longer.

Why should he care about those lowlifes anyway? His warriors, albeit many fell victim to this raid, should be capable enough to deal with them. The Hylians had no time to prepare and call for reinforcement fast enough from their outer borders before he would capture the city. After that it was only a matter of time all of Hyrule bowed down to their new crowned king.

No, there was only one he wanted. One rat for himself.

Ganondorf moved on until a crash disrupted his thoughts. He leaped backwards. One of his officers crashed through the wall only to crash into the next. Motionless he sunk to the ground, his eyes empty. Sparkles still spread from his corpse.

Ganondorf grinned. He knew the sparkle's source, had he himself a painful encounter with them. Now the time had finally come to get serious and not just slaughter any resistance with the wave of his hand.

He lurked through the hole in the wall. One of his men slid off a sword rammed through his chest. Seven Hylian soldiers he saw though the one in their middle was the only that counted. Clad in black plates, the golden symbol of the Hylian emblem engraved in his chest plate. His face hidden under a helmet.

Aldar, the leader of the death knights.

A shivering through his bones. Sweat on his back. Those images of his fallen kinsmen, drowning in their own blood, the hateful laughter of that one man. He drilled his fingers into the stone. That cruelty, beyond words.

Ganondorf balled his fist. That nightmare must come end. It would today. He was not a helpless child anymore. He was not a silent witness. Today, he would claim victory his own. Victory on the defeat of this man. He stepped over the boulders, leaving that accursed memories behind.

Not even a second passed as the soldiers caught sight of him. "Kill him!" yelled one of them as they stormed towards him. Their swords, they cried for his blood, echoing through the anteroom of the throne hall, wanting nothing less but his death.

Fools. All of them.

"No! Don't!" screamed Aldar towards his men. His voice, overshadowed by the unleashing of Ganondorf's incantation. The darkness engulfed the soldiers, silencing their cries.

No mercy. No mercy for any of them.

Dust whirled through the room though as it lighted, Ganondorf looked satisfied at his deeds: Maimed bodies of fools that had not bowed down before their king.

Aldar still stood. His magic, casted in front of him as a shield, let him get away unharmed.

Ganondorf grinned, now it was only the two of them as it should be. "Nice to have you still with me. I admit, I would have been disappointed if you had fallen to such a weak spell." Dismissively, he kicked one of the corpses away as he stepped towards Aldar. "But shouldn't you be ashamed you let such weaklings serve you?"

A shame the helm hid Aldar's face and had such small slits he could not look into his eyes… if it was anger or fear which lingered there as this rat watched his dead soldiers. A shame he also showed no emotions in his body. Even in voice Aldar remained cold. "So you have returned, Ganondorf. I already guessed that much since such a barbaric approach for a raid fits to you desert filth." Not even a touch of scorn swung in his voice. "And as it seems, you also became what the legends of the Gerudo told about. A master of the dark arts. Though slave fits better, seeing how it corrupts even its own wielder. Now you even bother with monsters and undead since most men besides criminal scum rejects you."

Ganondorf's mood worsened. This high-and-mighty attitude of that Hylian coupled with his coldness, just unbearable. Sickening! "Well, spare your breath, Hylian rat. I'm not here for you anyway, I've a meeting with my queen. So, if you don't want to become a blind man if I give you another scratch in your mug, better bow down before me."

"Ha, of course. But unfortunate, in opposite to you, I preserve my oath in protecting my queen till my last breath. You will never get near her!"

"Never?" Ganondorf grinned. "Oh, I think you are greatly mistaken. Because I was much nearer to her than any other man ever was or will be. Your precious queen is not as innocent as you believe her to be. Though, who can blame her she got soft in the presence of a king."

"You what?!" roared Aldar, though he calmed down again. "By the Goddesses, spare me your disgusting lies. You're not getting me careless with them. There is nothing more to say."

"Never thought I would ever agree with you."

Ganondorf let his hand slid down to his sword. Sparkling. Out of the corner of his eyes. He leaped to the side. A crash, stones torn off the ground from the spot he just stood. Aldar, he stood behind him now. How had he gotten there this fast?

No time. Ganondorf lifted his sword, biting into the Hylian's one and saving him from being cut a head shorter. A sting in his rips. Prickling. Too late. Aldar unleashed his spell.

Such force. He got rushed off his feet, the power of the spell crashed him into the wall. Small boulders fell on him. He suppressed the scream of surprise and pain. Oh no, that man would not hear him cry. Never.

Barely on his feet, he felt a swift of air. Ganondorf clung to the ground. Metal scrapped the wall. Aldar was fast, much faster than he remembered. He leaped on his feet again, ready to slice his steel through the Hylian. He did not saw Aldar. Puzzled he looked right and left. Where was he?

A pain. So fierce. Gnawing through his back, spreading up to head, down to feet. Head-first, Ganondorf crashed into the ground. He moaned. No time. A swift. He rolled to the side. Crashing, the ground trembled. He glanced at the blade next to his head.

Impossible! How could Aldar get behind him as fast as if he just teleports on a whim? Ganondorf called upon the darkness as he got back on his feet. That Hylian dragged him into the defense, it had to change!

Gone again. Ganondorf turned his head around. He had to be here, somewhere. A whizzing. He jumped backwards. A thunderbolt crashed into the ground, sending boulders fly. He turned around, unleashed the incantation but Aldar, no, he was not there.

Ganondorf raised his sword as he stepped to the side. In time, his steel trembled from the impact of Aldar's sword, the blade only an inch apart from his eye. He was fast. So fast despite wearing heavy plates to protect his body. That was inhuman!

Ganondorf observed the sparkling spreading all over Aldar's body. It dawned him. Aldar did not teleport, of course, but his magic, that lightning, it cut the air, eliminating any resistance.

A shock ran through Ganondorf's body. Stunned, he felt his knees becoming weak. Down on them again. Another bold formed in Aldar's hand already, even his sword sparkled. To think about an attack himself, no chance. That man, he was fast. Strong. And relentless. So very different compared to when he fought him after the revelation of his past. Seems this time he took it deadly serious and held back nothing of his powers. Now armed with a true sword and armor, he had no need to remain in the defense. No surprise he survived the Great War.

The war today Aldar would not win it.

No time for toying. That man, he was too battle-scarred, too great of a sorcerer. Ganondorf loathed it. He wanted to crush that Hylian with his own hands, his own powers. He wanted to show him the might of the Gerudo. However, Aldar outmatched him with his experience and skill.

In one thing though, Ganondorf prevailed. And that was all that counted. Because he had almighty powers. And almighty powers were not meant to be beaten by a mere mortal, not even by a greatest battlemage.

The mark of the Triforce glowed on his hand. Ganondorf formed his spell, time for the Hylian to taste defeat. He noticed the hesitation on Aldar. That rat had not expected that, not at all. Even he was no match for the almighty power.

Ganondorf unleashed the dark might onto Aldar.

A scream echoed through the room, now covered in darkness. No, Aldar would not get the mortal blow. No, not yet.

Ganondorf conjured crystals. As the darkness began to clear, he let them rush on his foe. Around legs and arms they snuggled up, forming a solid chain to pin Aldar on the ground. With his armor torn, giving view on flesh and blood alike, his sword out of reach and his hands unable for form another spell that Hylian was at his mercy now.

Ganondorf grinned. He kneed down on Aldar's chest, savoring in the satisfaction to show his archenemy his place. The surprise was written all over Aldar's face. "How…?" he stumbled, struggling for breath. That rat could not comprehend what hit him.

"How?" Ganondorf's grin grew even more mischievous. "Weren't you the one lecturing me to get to know my enemy before heading into battle? How disappointing to see you don't even live up to your own teaching." Aldar's breath grew flat, his skin paler. Seemed his body neared his limits and so did his life. Ganondorf got off his chest. "Don't die on me now. Your service isn't over yet."

Tortured by his wounds, Aldar stared wordless as him. The Hylian did not understand, but no, as of now, he had not intentions to kill him. Because death was far too grateful. That Hylian should suffer. And he would suffer for a lifetime to come.

The scream of Aldar echoed through the hall as he was pulled into a black vortex Ganondorf had conjured. It closed again after it had swallowed him up.

Now the time had come. Ganondorf walked over the soldier's corpses and swung the door open. Into the throne room!

"Our defense is broken?!" screamed one of the soldiers inside. "Defend our queen!"

Ganondorf raised his hands. The called magic, wiping them off with ease. He had no need for those.

Zelda stood behind them. No escape for her, his men had surrounded the capital. Slipping through secret passages, if there even were any, he would have been disappointed if she had let her people back. She was not that kind of a woman or queen.

Zelda watched him, her body trembling, yet her voice remained calm. "I see, you have returned. Though I am still uncertain about your intentions in your conquest."

"Oh, I can tell you. I'm a king but unfortunate, I have neither folk nor country I can rule over. I don't think I have to tell you the specifics how this came to be. However, if I can't fulfill my duty to rule over my own kingdom, I have to search for another one." His smile became vicious. "Or another ten if I feel like it. Though just to be clear: Like the Gerudo had no place under the law of the Hylian, well… the Hylian have, with one exception, no place under my rule."

"You are saying you desire to sit upon my throne?" Zelda tried to hide her dread, unsuccessfully.

"You don't intend to challenge me for it, do you? Because your watchdog failed his duty miserably. It would be a shame if you force me to harm you." He walked towards Zelda who stepped back. He grabbed her by her arms, forcing her to stay when he looked her into the eyes, "So what's you answer, my queen?"

The resistance and reluctance, so very visible in her eyes. But she was wise, he knew that. With all her soldiers scattered or dead, even her must trusted highgeneral and the castle surrounded by his own army, she had no forces left to stop him.

Zelda never gave him an answer.

"I take it as a 'yes' then. I recommend you to not keep such a distance. Don't fear, you've enough time to overcome it." Ganondorf laughed when he claimed the throne to be his own.

Now he was the new King of Hyrule.