"Evil...the birthright of all beings. For evil is in our very nature, it exists within us all. No matter how good or just one may claim to be, evil will always be burrowed away deep within their hearts, clawing to break free of its psychological cage. The light of the world has and will always give birth to evil. There can be and will never be an everlasting 'peace' for evil will always be born. Evil will always see through to a new existence...a new birth. Evil is as eternal as the existence of life. Evil will always find a way."

Taris Village, Gromgard Kingdom

Year: 1090 ADM

The village burns in a scorching blaze, corpses lay scattered about as the countless assailants walk away from the flames.

"That was too easy Cullis, when're we gonna have a real battle?" The 8 foot tall orc looks toward the ringleader of the group and awaits a response.

"You oaf, this attack is merely a distraction to get the attention of the Gromgardians. Your barbaric tendencies will be the death of you, you fool." The giant orc is talked back at by another, much smaller orc wearing brown garments resembling a magician's cloak.

"Heheh, you two can't go a day without bickering can you? Hey Cullis." The forth orc with a tall and lanky frame, resembling the stereotypical appearance of a thief turns back to the ringleader and asks "Whattaya say I teach these two a lesson about good behavior?" The leader of the group of orcs finally speaks up as countless other orcs crowd around to hear his words. "Yonak, Bright & Orak, your work here will accomplish a great deal in the battles to come. Yonak, take your stealth warriors and go ahead of us into the Greenvale territory. Report any findings about the state of the Gromgard military back to Bright with your communications lacrima."

The thief-esc orc appears to vanish into the air, in reality, just moving faster than the average eye can see.

"Soon, vengeance will be ours, Gromgards..."

Greenvale Region, Gromgard Kingdom

Two individuals approach the edge of the tree-line, lying in wait in the bushes like a predator stalking their prey. "Our intel was right, we found the camp brother." The younger sibling whispers as he glances to the side at his brother who silently watches the camp filled with militia men doing various tasks around the camp. "Baron, are Raphael and the men in place?" the younger brother asks as his elder sibling finally answers "You're much too impatient Duke, calm yourself. We'll begin the attack soon. Months of conflict have led up to this point, hundreds of lives lost because of this rebellion, well it ends today." Baron takes out a small lacrima and pours a hint of magic energy into it which activates a soft red color.

"There goes the signal, Raphael's archers should begin their assault soon enough."

On queue, a volley of fire arrows rain down from the tree-line opposite to the brother's location and soldiers pour out of the greenery like bees leaving a hive. The militia men scurry to arm themselves as several of them are struck by the incoming arrows, some run for cover while others whom the volley missed rush to engage the approaching Gromgard soldiers. The groups of men clash as swords strike through flesh and shields clash amongst each other.

"Arghh" a Gromgard soldier cries out in pain as his leg is slashed and he falls into the muddy ground as a militiaman stands over him, ax overhead, ready to bring it down on the young soldier.

"FREEZE!" a blue mist-like energy engulfs the militiaman, stopping him dead in his tracks as a long haired bearded man appears behind him with vanishing superspeed-like movements. Wasting no time, he slashes the rebel across the back and shouts out "Launch another volley men!" The archers, still positioned in the tree-line, launch another flame-arrow deeper into the camp, hitting countless of their rebel targets. "Commander Raphael!" the wounded shoulder exclaims as he looks relieved to still be alive "Thank you sir."

The two brothers have now exited the tree-line and are fighting their way into the camp. "Flame Wave Spell!" Duke shouts as he blasts a large fire wave in the form of a ball toward a group of rebels, scorching them into ash. Baron cuts his way through a group of rebels and keeps his eyes peeled as if looking for someone. 'He's here, he must be.' Baron thinks to himself as he continues to fight his way deeper into the camp with his soldiers by his side. Baron stops as he observes the battle around him "Where are you Yargash!?"

Baron senses a killing-intent filled magic energy behind him and quickly raises his sword overhead, blocking the powerful blow from not one but two, handheld axes. "So you've finally decided to show your face, traitor!" The ground underneath Baron cracks from the force of Yargash's blocked strike. Baron's eyes glow as he lets out a torrent of magic energy, pushing Yargash back and creating distance between the two.

"Your antics have placed the kingdom that you once defended in danger. How could you betray your own people, coward!"

"I owe you nothing but my blade, Baron!" wasting no time Yargash rushes toward the young warrior, swinging his axes in a volley of blows which are blocked in perfectly time parries as Baron, now on the defensive, is slightly pushed back with each blow. Finding an opening Baron ducks, avoiding a blow which clips off two strands of hair and slashes at Yargash's chests just managing to graze his torso as the rebel jumps back and avoids a fatal slash. The two warriors rush to each other and lock blades as Baron pours magic energy into his sword engulfing it with a scorching flame. "Damn!" Yargash shouts out as he pushes away from the lock and takes three steps back. Baron stands still as he brings his sword, now fully engulfed in fire, down to the ground dragging the tip on the ground, melting the dirt it touches. "Hellfire Blade."

"So you've finally used it, the famed Hellfire Blade, don't think I'll surrender because you've used a sacred spell against me!" Yargash taunts as he begins running toward Baron. "I didn't come here for you to surrender, I came here to burn you into ash!" Baron shouts as he swings toward the incoming Yargash who just barely dodges the strike and swings one of his axes as Baron who jumps and strikes mid-air to counter the swing of Yargash's other ax. Heat sparks fly off into Yargash's face as he screams out in pain in reaction to the droplets of magic infused sparks melting into his skin. Yargash blindly swings his axes toward Baron as his stunned vision slowly returns, grazing Baron on the shoulder as he blocks the other blows. Baron, finding an opening, swings down with the force of ten men, completely shattering one of Yargash's axes. Yargash grabs Baron by his armor with his now free hand and picks him up into the air, preparing to throw him but Baron retaliates quickly and strikes him on his wrist bone with the handle of his sword and exits his clutches as he launches a kick into the burly man's face, sending him down to one knee. As gravity brings Baron back to the earth, he prepares his final attack.

"NOW YOU DIE!" Baron screams as he swings down his flaming sword from overhead into the flesh of Yargash's torso. The wound cauterizes as quickly as it was dealt due to the heat on Baron's sword. Baron's feet are now back on the ground as he watches his enemy fall to both knees. Yargash's vision slowly fades away as he feels the damage dealt to his internal organs, his body shutting down with every second. "Tch, dammit! You bastard!"

Baron approaches his enemy, pointing his sword to Yargash's face and declaring his victory "Now do you see Yargash, your rebellion failed, and all you have to show for it is death and defeat. Now why?...Tell me why." Yargash speaks up "Your father is weak and you'll all pay for it, the kingdom will pay for his weakness. I had hoped that when I started this rebellion that you would see things my way but I was wrong." Yargash coughs up a mouthful of blood as his final words are uttered "You'll see, the lot of you will all see..." with that said, Yargash falls to the ground, dying from his wound.

Duke and Raphael approach Baron and Raphael speaks up. "My prince, the last of the rebels have surrendered. With Yargash dead, they won't be rising up against anyone again. Let's head back to Castle Gromgard now."

"Wait, I want to see something." Baron walks deeper and deeper into the camp, and approaches a table with notes that he caught a glimpse of earlier while he and Duke were scouting the camp. "Several of the rebels were drawing up on these, they look like battle plans." Raphael approaches the table as Baron examines the sheets of paper "That makes sense, it seems the rebels were plotting a full armed revolt against us then, but we already knew that.

"No, something's off. These plans show battle positions that are meant to be set up on the outskirts of the Kingdom, why would they try to fight against us by setting up their forces on the outer regions...it's as if we weren't the only ones they were planning to fight. I must show this to father, Raphael, take this news back to Castle Gromgard my brother and I will remain here, there are still more rebel camps to deal with. "Baron takes up the plans as he signals for his men to wrap up and leave. "What of the prisoner's, brother?" Duke asks and awaits a response. "The ones who are willing to make up for what they've done can join the conscription force, the others can rot away in any of the Kingdom's dungeons for all I care. Now let's go." With that the men wrap up their post-battle conference and begin leaving, unaware of the darkness to come their way.

Nethercaves, Unknown Area

"Heheheh" The short stubby hooded figure laughs in a dark amusement as if it was excited to have found something. The creature watches a glowing surveillance lacrima, the light of which reveals an aged gremlin-like face with a faded grey color and teeth more yellow than bone marrow. "This one shows potential, could he be the one that we've been searching for...Jester! Come here!" On command, a brown, much younger looking creature of the same species appears with an array of similar looking creatures behind him. "Open the cave gates, I have business to attend to on the outside."

"Gnarl find masta!? New masta!?" Jester shouts out in excitement "Calm yourself Jester, just do what you're told, and I will see if he is a master worthy of the Netherworld..."dark times are coming my friends...we will see to it that we take full advantage of it."

To be continued...

Anddd there goes chapter 1. On average, I'll try and make these chapters shorter compared to my Immortal Empire story but sometimes it might get a lil longer depending on the events so we'll see what happens as the story progresses. This chapter was definitely a short one though, I want this one to function as a little intro of sorts, but anyways, hope you enjoyed this chapter and stay tuned for the second! It shouldn't be too long before it's out.