Chapter 21

Okay, so I decided to dedicate a chapter to Lokhir Fellheart as he'll become an integral part later on. I've also decided to do the same with other characters, like Curseling. This is also done in the hopes that people can decide on who they want Fairy Tail to face against at Tenrou Island with Grimoire Heart. Right now it's a combination of Dark Elves and Chaos Warriors of Tzeentch. Also, did I accurately depict what Lokhir's equipment can do? I know his helm can regenerate pretty much anything he takes hits from, and his blades are described as the deadliest pair of blades in the sea because of what they're made out of and they can return to him via magic, but that's it. Is there anything else they can do?

Alerx09- Yeah, I guess adding Gotrek and Felice will work. Same with Oxyotl.

Ren64- I didn't really feel like it was necessary to describe Fairy Law that much, but I guess I can go and add that stuff in.

Wouldn't risk it. The reason will be uncovered later on.

The Blessed Dread

Lokhir Fellheart

"Lord Fellheart. We're approaching the lands of Cathay now." Said Vestea with a wild smirk on her face as she approached Lokhir. "And our guest is currently in his quarters, being a good boy." Lokhir just scoffed at that before gauzing at the lands that were fast approaching his peripheral vision. Even from here, miles away from the lands, he could see a small port city. A perfect start for his latest raid.

"No matter, make sure our guest is comfortable." Said Lokhir. "I care not if he isn't. He is, ultimately, not worth my time and will continue to do so until he's proven himself." He then turned to Vestea. "Ready your men. The moment we're in firing range, let loose our weapons to bear on that port city." He then pointed to the general location of the port city that he saw. "We'll raid the port city of any value it has and capture whatever vermin are left in the holds. Once all that is achieved, we'll march to the nearest city and begin true plunder."

"At once, milord." Said Vestea before leaving. As she left, Lokhir decided to dwell on what his sister had written in her letter. What she wrote on that piece of parchment should be impossible, but he knew his sister. She would not lie to him, especially not something this big, when he was the head of their house.

According to his sister, the Dreadwaters, their hated rivals from long ago, had resurfaced. Such a thing should be impossible. Their father, Ramon Fellheart, saw to the eradication of their house personally, taking whatever was of value from then in the process.

If it was any other sibling, with the exception of his sorceress sister, who was the first-born daughter of Ramon, he would have dismissed such thoughts with only minor punishment. Yet, his sister, Thassea Fellheart, was someone that would not dare tell him something unless she was one hundred percent certain of it is true, especially if it was something like this.

Thassea was a hardworking and diligent steward for their house whenever he was out looting and pillaging the weaker races. Always making sure that their rivals and their "allies" knew the price of crossing blades with the Fellhearts. Or anger them in any shape or way.

She was diligent, hard-working, but above all, loyal to the family. She would rather be consumed by the Chaos God Slaanesh or face the wrath of Malekith before ever think of betraying any of her family members. Unless, of course, they do something that endangers the family name. Over the years she had ample chances, or at least opportunities, to usurp him and claim the title as head of the Fellhearts. Yet every time she didn't. She even brought him the heads of those that would dare try to usurp his authority as head of the Fellhearts. She was a true Fellheart, much like all children of Ramon Fellheart. So, he had little reason at all, to not trust his sister's word that the Dreadwaters have returned. Besides, if there was anything about the elven race that Lokhir knew for absolute certainty. It was that they were a difficult race to kill.

They survived the war against the Chaos daemons, back when they were able to roam freely across the world without fear of losing their corporal forms. The weaker High Elves of Ulthuan managed to survive the war against the prideful and easy to manipulate Dwarves. And, perhaps the most impressive, his people, the Druchii, survive and even thrive despite their self-destructive nature because of their crafty nature. And if there was anything that Lokhir knew for certain about the Dreadwaters, it was that they were quite crafty.

So, coupled with the trust that he had with his sister, Lokhir was convinced that the Dreadwaters existed still. While this was certainly something that must be resolved due to the rivalry between their houses, he had more pressing matters to do.

The Witch-King demanded more slaves and treasure from distant lands. What he planned to do with them was anyone's guess, but Lokhir imagined that he has planning to launch another attack on Ulthuan, to both eradicate their accursed cousins, the High Elves, as well as to claim the ancient land for the Druchii. Malekith had sent one of his prestigious Black Guard, warriors dedicated to protecting the Witch King and those that held his favor, to deliver orders for Lokhir, to which the sea lord welcomed. Once again, Lokhir was given an opportunity to prove why his family and himself are to be feared and respected.

To return to Karond Kar with nothing was suicidal, both for him and his house. So, even if it would irritate his sister, Lokhir was determined to come back to Karond Kar with his ships filled to the brim with slaves and treasure from the distant lands of Ind and Cathay. And perhaps even capture some High Elven slaves and treasure if he was lucky. Such things were always something the Witch King desired, along with his mother, Morathi, the first Hag Queen and ruler of Ghrond.

His thoughts of the Witch King and the Dreadwaters were soon interrupted by the sounds of his Black Ark firing its weapons on the port city. With that, Lokhir set about to head for the rowboats, eager to be the first to spill the blood of the people for that port city.

Meanwhile

In the port city that Lokhir's Black Ark was raining magical artillery upon, people were fleeing away from the massive piece of land that was the Tower of the Blessed Dread while smaller ships were departing from its massive frame to offload its cargo of deadly corsairs upon the port city, to both sack the port city and to capture any for usage as slaves.

To many, if not all, of the citizens, they did not know who was attacking them. Was it the Ogres coming to feast upon a small port city? Was it the Beastmen coming to destroy their fine city just for existing? Or was it the dreaded Northmen that somehow managed to bypass their great fleets and come to raid them for plunder and killing? Whoever it was, it didn't matter. Someone was attacking them and they had to run in order to live.

As the civilians ran away from the horrid monsters that will be soon upon them, what military presence was preparing to fight them off to both give the civilians time to escape and for their messengers to send word that the dark elves were landing.

As Cathayan Bannerman, the standard warriors for the lands of Cathay, readied themselves for what was most likely their last fight, their leader, a captain, watched as the rowboats of the Druchii made their way to the port city.

Dressed in full battle armor, helmet and sword in hand, the man watched as he saw a golden masked figured lead the rest of the rowboats, arrogantly leading his men to battle. That arrogance will be the downfall of this Druchii as he will use it to his advantage when he demanded the Druchii to single combat.

The man had never seen, much less fought, the Dark Elves before, but he heard of what they did. What they intend to do with his people and what they intend to do with the riches of his land. His grandfather, before he passed away peacefully in his sleep, told his grandchildren of the Dark ones, their true names, and what they're capable of. The dark ones were, in many ways, the bane to the port cities of Cathay.

He told them of how he was a simple bannerman that fought against a Dark elf raid that was attacking his own home village, a fishing village on the coasts of Cathay. He told them of how furiously the Dark elves fought. How they laughed as they tore apart his grandfather's fellow bannermen as they fought to defend their village from the Dark Elves. The warriors fought valiantly, but in the end, they were defeated. The survivors, along with what civilians the Druchii captured, were sent to their massive floating fortress in the sea. His grandfather was lucky. He was sent into the water by a rather cruel Dark elf while he was in transit to their massive ship. They obviously hoped he would drown as he wore his full armor. His grandfather was forced to discard his ornate armor to survive. He was swept, thank the emperor, to a shoreline that wasn't occupied by the cruel elves. It was only later that the captain learned that he was fortunate along with those that died in the fighting. His grandfather woke to see the Dark Elves torturing or disemboweling the survivors. Cutting their still-beating hearts out of his people, neared naked Dark elf women screamed and laughed in delight as they butchered all they could find while other Dark elves laughed in amusement at the slaughter before they went on their business of pillaging and plundering.

It was only after three weeks of slaughter and raiding did the dark elves leave, but not before they destroyed seven more port cities and villages, taking whatever valuables and people they wanted.

It was only after his grandfather told them that story that he told them that, if they ever face the dark elves, they should run. Never fight them. Just run. They are cruelty and madness incarnate. Even more so than the monsters from the north. The encounter with the Dark Elves has sucked the bravery from his grandfather's soul.

Only the captain failed to listen to his grandfather. He was a soldier. He would not run away when people relied on him to let them live. And he was going to do so by challenging the leader of this Dark Elf raid in single combat. His grandfather told him that, prior to the battle that destroyed his village, that the Dark elf leader, a female, much to the captain's shock at the time, challenged their finest warrior to single combat. She goaded the man into it by calling him a coward if he didn't accept. Faced with such a challenge to his family's honor, the man accepted and so the two faced each other in honorable combat. Well, in a way.

The Dark elf wench cheated. Just as they first crossed blades, the Dark Elf injected the man with a poison dart that slowly sapped his strength, giving her an easy victory against him. To his credit, the man lasted for two minutes before the Dark Elf sliced his head clean off. She licked the blood off her blade while her men began attacking the horrified Cathayan warriors.

Much as it may be risky with such barbaric people, the captain was determined to buy the messengers time to warn the nearest military garrison of the Dark elves as well as buy time for his people to evacuate. Such was his final desire. He prayed to the emperor that he will succeed.

As the boats made their way to the shores, the captain marched down to the shores, gathering what men he can find. More and more men gathered around him as if they sensed his bravery and gathered around him. Soon, all the men available to the port city were around him and were at the shores where the Dark Elves were landing, leading them was the golden-masked man.

Looking at the captain of the port city, the golden-masked man barked some orders to his men and soon they all fell into line before they marched, led by the golden-masked man, now confirmed to be the leader. Stopping just a few feet from the gathered Cathayan band of warriors, the leader of the Druchii then spoke up, speaking in perfect Cathayan.

"I am Lokhir Fellheart." Announced the Druchii leader, speaking the language of Cathay with such perfection that it shocked many of the Bannermen, including the captain. "Normally, I would be ordering my men to slaughter you all for daring to impede us, but I saw the look on your leader's eyes. I saw the determination and bravery in them. And I had to give him a proper fight." With that, he drew out his twin, serrated swords and pointing one of them at the captain. Unlike the swords of his men, these swords were red and they weren't red because they were slick with blood. No, it was as if they were actually forged with metal that was red. Such a thing should be impossible, but the captain was looking at red-colored blades that looked eager to spill his blood.

Thinking it was some sort of magical blade, the captain steeled himself before speaking himself.

"I am captain Xiao Zu. Son of Xing Zu." Said the captain before drawing his own sword. A curved sword forged with the finest metal and with the finest care. "I challenge you, Lokhir Fellheart, to a duel to the death. Accept or be called a coward." Some of the Dark Elves growled at that and attempted to shoot him with hand-held crossbows but they were stopped when Lokhir raised one of his hands to stop his men.

"*Laughs* Impressive bravery, for someone so young." Said Lokhir in amusement as he looked at captain Xiao. "Let's hope that your skills in battle are as impressive as your bravery." With that, Lokhir charged towards Xiao Zu, eyes thirsting for blood.

Xiao Zu barely had enough time to block the first attack with his sword before he was forced to dash out of the way. Holding his sword as firmly as possible, Xiao was forced to dash and block as Lokhir unleashed a flurry of attacks, each one as fast as the last.

Shocked at how fast Lokhir was attacking, Xiao was unable to do anything but defend until his back was against a wall of wood. With his back against a wall, Xiao was forced to dodge left as Lokhir slashed at him with his right sword. Unfortunately, he left himself open to an attack from the left sword, which took a slash at his right arm, slicing through Xiao's armor like it was butter and scoring the first hit. Gritting his teeth as his right arm surged up in pain, Xiao ignored the pain and tried to land a hit on Lokhir, but the Dark elf simply blocked the attack with his left sword before attacking with his right sword at his chest. Much like before, his armor meant nothing to the red blade as it sliced through it easily and found flesh.

Grunting at having been hit again, Xiao felt his strength waning. That last attack cut deep and blood was spilling from that wound. Not a minute passed and Xiao already received a major wound. Undeterred, Xiao tried to launch another attack on Lokhir, but the corsair simply sidestepped out of the way and slashed his back with his blades, making a mockery of his armor with how easily they slashed through it and inflicting deep wounds.

Now Xiao was struggling to stand up. The heavy amount of blood loss and wounds were starting to take it's toll on the man. Soon, he went down on his knees, causing his men to cry out in alarm while the Dark Elves laughed at him. Taking long deep breaths, Xiao wondered why Lokhir wasn't trying to end him when the Dark Elf spoke.

"That was the best you can offer?" Asked Lokhir mockingly as he glared down at Xiao, a few feet from the corsair. "Pathetic. Your skull is not worthy of being mounted on my wall if this is what you offer. Get up, man, so you can die with some measure of dignity." Xiao tried to get up, but his wounds were too much and he just went back to his knees again, causing the Dark Elves to laugh out loud at him. Shaking his head, Lokhir spoke up again. "Pathetic. I will ensure that you're family will suffer greatly from this. Perhaps they will make up for your failures by being slaves for my people. Or not. There will be much atonement for your failure to give me a good fight."

Upon hearing all that. That his family would become slaves. That they would have to repay him for his failure to give Lokhir a good fight made Xiao angry. Angry enough that he got up almost instantly and charged at Lokhir, who looked a bit surprised at the man getting up so quickly, sword at the ready.

With the last of his strength, Xiao rammed his sword into Lokhir's gut. His strength was so much that the sword pierced Lokhir's armor and went through the other side. Xiao's soldiers cheered while Lokhir's men were stunned at this display of power. At first, Xiao thought he had won against Lokhir, but he soon saw the look in Lokhir's eyes and saw that the Dark Elf wasn't surprised anymore or even trying to deny his death. What he saw was amusement.

Before Xiao could even think of this, Lokhir sliced Xiao's throat with one of his red blades.

"Impressive." Said Lokhir as he pushed Xiao off of him. He then grabbed Xiao's sword and pulled it out of him while Xiao was holding his own slit throat, trying vainly to keep his blood from spilling out of his throat. While all this was happening, Lokhir's men were shooting at Xiao's men or charging at them with their blades, intending on capturing some of them for usage as slaves.

After pulling out the sword from his gut, Lokhir examined the blade of Xiao. As he did so, his flesh and his armor began to knit themselves back together. In a matter of moments, the attack from earlier seemed like it never happened at all. Inspecting the Cathayan sword, Lokhir decided to keep it as well as give this Xiao person the honor of having his skull be planted on his wall. It was the least he can do after he successfully landed a blow to him when he was so weak. With that in mind, he grabbed Xiao's head and removed it from the body while Xiao was still alive with his swords, making a clean cut. When one of his officers approached him, Lokhir tossed them the head. Catching it, the officer then listened to Lokhir as he gave out orders.

"Take that back to the Blessed Dread." Ordered Lokhir before handing the sword as well. "And take this back as well. It's the first of many spoils from this land today. And it won't be the last." The officer did what he was told and went back to the rowboats. Lokhir, meanwhile, went back to what he did best. Kill and plunder.