As more of the beasts come out, Kin and his group draw out their weapons as they back away.
Beads of sweat came on through his face- something shared with his small group- but he has it even worse, his legs we're quaking, his hands shaking, his own teeth chattering as overwhelming fear comes onto him... and a foul realization.
Not only were the beast's and wraiths popping out as every second goes, he and his group found more noteworthy traits, but Klaus can clearly tell who they are, but not even he can believe it.
He saw many of them, and in his glory days of a scholar, it is only second hand knowledge that he knows them...
The Champions. The Heroes.
All of the greatest fighters in this Kingdom's history, they were there.
But even he knows that those have long lived their days...
It truly is the work of Necromancy.
One of the Black Dogs screamed, telling them to scatter. It's pretty obvious as to why.
A Knight charges at them, but even as it is barreling towards them, these dogs smelled out one thing, and that this one is a War Maiden... Klaus knew more, for he saw that this wasn't only a War Maiden.
It was "The Mountain".
A woman nearing 8ft in height, born with inhuman strength and agility, and her ferocity made her a force to be reckoned with. As she made it to them, she swung her sword up high, and it bashes the ground hard, making the earth shake as they run on their feet.
They run like rats, rats fleeing from a feral cat that hungers fiercely for flesh. Locked in a deathtrap as well, as they find themselves surrounded by the beasts, any attempt they made to escape, they get pushed back to the carnage, a rinse and repeat of terror.
Tensions rise up even more, as three more enter the fray.
Orella Vayne, the Shining Blade joins in, riding on her steed, Goldhoof, and the Husband Wife Duo: Dorian Black and Athena Black, The Generals from the Badlands, the best tacticians that were once in Queen Olga's army.
Klaus couldn't believe it, they were here, and he doesn't even know what to feel. Should he be elated? or should he be terrified?
Then the chorus of cheers come to a halt, the Wraiths ceased their chortles of joy, and it becomes silent... Blank silence.
Not even the four Champions continued, they just stood there, like statues... frozen in place.
Kin looked around, slowly regaining his bearings as he kept on looking at everything with a watchful eye.
Then from the sea of Ghouls, Ghosts, and Wraiths, they formed a line for one lone figure.
He stood there, looking at them, dressed in a black robe, his face indistinguishable from the hood cast over his head.
Kin can only stand there with baited breaths as he stares on, intrigued and intimidated by such a sight.
The man walks over to them, steps echoing across the forgotten Kingdom as if the once chaotic air has been discarded. Kin was so anxious that in his own stupor, that he didn't notice one of the mercenaries charging straight at him.
"..." The man stayed silent, as he merely pulled out a growing green blade and blocks an overhead strike.
People watched on as the two blades clashed against each other, Mercenary vs. Necromancer, sparks flying as both of them stared each other down.
Then the mercenary breaks the lock and swings at him, sword whirring across the air.
The sounds of the two blades clashing against each other rang in the air, one on the offensive, one on the defensive.
Kin gulped as he watches the bout, the Necromancer blocked every single attack, every swing, he parries them, and when they locked blades again, he merely kicked the dog to the ground.
Then he tilted his head... lowering his weapon by the side, he just looked down at the mercenary before him.
"Weak..." He said, before turning around as if he was about to leave.
It was a big mistake, and Kin knew it. He smirked, his glare reaching out as hehe helped the mercenary to his feet, and handed his sword over to him.
"Aim for the back." He whispered.
The mercenary charged again, letting out a battle cry and-
Stabbed through the gut by the glowing green blade.
"No!" Kin wailed! Choking on his spit as he saw it.
And to add an insult to injury, the Necromancer pulled it out, and with a swift spin, he cleaved through the mercenary's waist like butter. The two pieces of him falling to ground as the life leaves his eyes.
Kin just couldn't believe it, one Dog fell. Almost as if it was nothing but a dummy.
Then he raised his arm, and snapped his fingers.
The only thing that happened, or from what Klaus could remember, the screams of the Dogs before he blacked out from a punch to the face.
"Ugh..." Klaus groaned as he slowly opened his eyes.
the room had a dim green glow, from what he can tell despite the obvious haze
was the man standing before him.
"I see that you're now awake..." He began. "It's been a long time since we've last met."
Klaus can only raise a brow at that statement. Was there already a time when they met?
As his vision, it clicked to his head. The man wasn't just a man, but someone he once knew.
"K... Kazuma?" He choked out.
"It's been a long time, hasn't it?"
Klaus can't tell if he should be glad, or stupefied from what he sees. Memories flashed through as he remembers when he was young. Well... younger.
'He was a Bastard.' He recounted as he remembers. It was a long day back then.
When he first saw him, he noted the lightly tanned skin on his frame, and his hair; white and pearly like snow or ash. Even had a sister too that watched over him.
"I see that you're remembering?"
"Yes, I am."
He gave him a light smile as he remembers more, but he also remembered how he came to be.
His parents, from what he can recall, were aspiring students, and if not, remarkable people. One was smart, witty, dashing. The other, almost the same with a subtle hint of a cunning attitude. They were perfect together, as much as they were popular. Really, there were famous enough that the news of them having children became an uproar!
But even he doesn't know the full details, but why should he? it's not his business, and he'd be seen as a creep if he does that.
He still couldn't believe it, he changed quite a bit. Nothing too major, other than the tips of his hair turns green, and his skin has gotten pale.
Probably a side effect of Black Magic.
"How did you live for this long?" He asked. "Ever since you were exiled, some of us betted on you dying to bandits."
"That? I found this fort in my travels, slaughtering some of the bandits that crossed me... They're still here, part of my ranks."
Well that explains a lot.
"How goes the war?" He said, his turn to ask questions. "I've been inside this fort for years, and I have been practicing magic, so I couldn't keep up."
It didn't take long for him to see the sour look on his face, first, it was a jovial one as if he saw a friend... now a face of scorn.
He sighs to himself before looking at his eyes.
"I don't know where to begin." He began. "But I guess we won, technically. I'm not exactly glad about it."
"Why? Don't tell me you don't want this war to end-"
"NO!" He shouted. "No... I wanted it to end, but not exactly how you wanted to end." He said with a bitter tone.
"We're now caught with another war, we may have won the war against Olga, but we have another one."
The boy looked at him, wordlessly, he gestured him to continue.
Klaus didn't waste any time, and told him everything. Everything about the Black Dogs, every thing as far as he knows.
Kazuma could only look at him in pity as he listened to it all... the tears streaming down the scholar's face made his own heart ache, he couldn't even imagine how hard it was for him to endure all of it. Betrayed by his father, everything.
Sadness bubbled along with rage knowing this. Not only could he bare to see him witness the horrors of the Kingdom, but to know that the content is being devolved into nothing but a widespread brothel not only angered him, but to know that his own mother and sister could be victims as well, his father could have been killed too.
"I know what to do." He began. Looking at Klaus dead in the eye.
"H-how?!" He exclaimed, wiping his tears away before calming down.
Then an idea came to him, his eyes widening I'm glee, desperation, but also in fear.
"You're going to raise an army?"
"Yes. Mine's not big enough to take on a fortress, but we can take on an outpost."
He turned around for a bit, adrenaline rushing through his veins as he smiles on in glee, looking at the wall until his face took a somber turn.
"It's ironic, you know..." He began. "Here we are, talking about how we're going to start a rebellion..."
"Isn't that what you want? Well, what we want?"
Kazuma turned around to look at him again, eyes glowing green as well before moving closer.
"I know... It's just ironic. I'm exiled, remember? I have been exiled ever since they found me dabbling in Dark Magic, Necromancy! I was casted away because of that... I find it rather ironic that the "Dark Lord" will be the one that saves this continent."
Not gonna lie, he has a point there. Even Klaus knows that. A Dark Lord marching with a terrible army to save a Kingdom from a band of rapists... it is ironic, a greater evil clashing off against a lesser evil.
"What choice do we have?" Klaus inquired. "You know it now. Collaborators have already taken control most of our land. I won't be surprised if there is a Resistance, but even, they're weak. Almost nothing more but the simple common folk."
"Hmm..."
The boy thought on, wasting no time in preparation for this rebellion. How can he get himself an army big enough?
Sure, he can roam around, ressurecting bandits and patrols among the like, maybe even going to cemeteries and morgues, but that can raise suspicion. He can hire mercenaries/subjugate other monstrosities and have them fight, but there's no way of knowing when they'll betray him.
He had to think hard, closing his eyes and begins to meditate.
"I think I know an easy way..." Klaus spoke up, seeing as how the boy turned around to look, he began. "There are bandits and patrols roaming around, the Black Dogs barely have any armor, so it won't be too hard to slaughter them. Even the bandit camps can be sufficient. Only issue is that it will raise suspicion... It maybe easy, but it's better done at your own risk."
The boys hums to himself again as he mulled it over, he already thought about that... but it does sound like an easier task, he just has to play his cards right.
"I'll do it."
Klaus' eyes lit up like a child in wonder as he heard those words, finally, not only will revenge be fulfilled for the ones at grief, but justice raining down on the mercenaries just felt right.
"Now go!" The boy roared. "They'll be betting on you and your "friends" to come back, your comrades are unconscious, and with how gruffed up you look, it'll be even more convincing."
"But what will I say?"
"Tell them that you were attacked, and you barely got out with the rest of your comrades, they'll believe it."
And with those words, he sent the scholar off. On his own, he got on a horse and gathered a few of his Champions and a couple of ghouls and undead to follow him. Trotting out of the fortress with his ghastly band, he had one goal, one objective, and one Kingdom to save.
This is not only the beginning of a rebellion, but a war between the dead and the living.