Here…we…go…AGAIN!

Welcome to The Will of Repay, a final installment in my TWR Trilogy. We saw the beginning of the journey with The Will of Resistance. We've been through the brutal battlefields of the short-lived 2nd Galactic War and Andromeda Defense War in The Will of Revenge. Now, the time has come to wrap up the story started these few years ago as a simple Gate fic. Honestly, I myself did not expect the story to grow into something like that, but nonetheless, I'm happy we went through so much together. I appreciate you're still here. I hope you will enjoy this story as much as the previous ones.

So, what else is there to say? I think that's all. So, let's get to the content.

Prologue

The war has been won. We paid for it in blood, but tell me, which war isn't a bloody one? Enemy was repulsed. His morale destroyed. Hundreds, if not thousands, were laying dead. Smoke from burning tanks, personnel carriers and many more darkened the sky above our heads. Our brave men and women did all they could to stop our demise. We thought it was all over, when the last enemy units withdrew from our space. We celebrated. We were sure of our victory to it's fullest, not caring about the threat received at the end.

We were wrong. War was not over.

Battle of Point Tengram 4586 showed us that the threat from the so-called 'Erecan Emperor' was not just some empty words. A fleet of nearly twenty enemy vessels appeared on the edge of Taurus System just three months after their withdrawal. We countered their attack, destroying the fleet completely. But it was just the beginning.

A series of what we called 'Border Battles' followed, with enemy fleets of all sizes appearing in our space almost regularly. For nearly two years, we fought them time and time again, holding them off. While Milky Way was dealing with the aftermath of Galactic Concordance invasion, we still had to fight our own war.

However, this was about to change.

A meeting was held in Geneva. A vote was passed and approved not only by Humans, but also Nashini, Shakayans, Chakdriks and all the other races of the Milky Way. An international force of size never seen before was to be assembled in Andromeda and sent into the unknown to find not only Sons of Sadera, but also Erecans as well. Everyone knew, that they either find and defeat them completely…or they will be convicted for unending conflict. So the choice was easy.

Operation: Uncharted Shores was about to begin. We thought we were prepared for what awaited us.
Oh, how wrong we were.

49,995 years ago

Northern Falmart

The sky was dark today. And rightfully so.

Sounds of battle came from every direction. Swords clashing. People screaming. Beasts roaring. Stench of death rose in the air, as hundreds and then thousands were slain, their bodies covering the ground.

Queen Selene of the United Warrior Bunnies sat atop her horse, observing the ongoing battle. The situation was dire from the very start. The whole war was dire from the very start. Ever since the ogre tribes left their dwellings in the northern mountains and started their campaign of slaughter and destruction across the continent. No matter where they went, the ogres would follow, like wild animals, following their prey.

"This is madness!"Tenon, king of the Elves, exclaimed, screaming through the clamor of the battle.

Selene looked towards the battlefield. Ranks of their united armies were being thinned left and right, as hundreds of ogres charged at them. She knew Tenon was right. But she knew, that if they didn't do it, not only they, but hundreds of thousands of their people would die. If they didn't make their stand here, then they could as well simply give themselves to the ogres on a silver platter.

"We have to call the retreat!"Dedlin, chief of the goblins, exclaimed, biting his nails."We can't win this!"

"We will not."Selene stated firmly."We still can win. We just have to buy enough time for Vandel."
Tenon scoffed.
"Vandel is nothing but a fraud."he stated."He's no mage! All mages died back at Badithel!"
"He will come."Selene squeezed the reins."He promised so."
"His promises are not worth a coin."Dwarven king stated."Besides, he'd rather spend his days drinking and fucking prostitutes than actually doing something for the good of all."

Selene tightened the grip on her horse's reigns. She really should agree with that. She knew Valden for long enough to know his tendencies. But still…

"We have to believe."she said."Believe and have hope."

Near Alnus Hill…

A lone raider was making his way through the open fields. This far from the war, everything seemed so pristine and clean. Animals were running in all directions on the edges of the forests. Far to the left, the raider could see the circle of stones, standing there from times older than the recorded history. But that wasn't important. What was important was the goal of his travel.

The man stopped his horse and reached for a flask attached to his belt. He opened it and took a sip.
"Gods, I'm sozzled…"Vandel said, hanging it back on the belt.

But that wasn't important. What was important, was the help he promised to get for Selene and the others. You could say whatever you wanted about him. But all in all, he was the man of his word.

He looked towards the Holy Hill. There, he could see it. A metallic structure, covered in vines and other growths. It's been only five years since it settled there, but the nature already started claiming it. There was no doubt that the inhabitants of the structure had their hand in it. They were not really sociable, especially since what happened few years back.

He approached the structure and stopped his horse and coming off of it. He started walking towards the structure.

"Hello?!"he exclaimed."It's me, Vandel! Is anyone home?!"

There was a moment of silence, with only the wind and animal sounds around. Suddenly, there was a green flash within a dark tunnel leading into the structure and a crescent of energy went flying at him. Vandel quickly leaned down and the energy passed over his head.

"What do you want?"a gruff voice asked.

"I should've remembered he can do that."Vandel though."I…I have come to seek your help…"

A scoff came from the darkness. It was then followed by heavy footsteps. Soon, a figure stepped out of the shadows. It was a tall, humanoid creature, clad in dark-silver armor. It stood in front of Vandel, towering over him.

"I know what help you're asking for."he said."I know about the war that's currently ravaging your lands. You tricked us into sharing some of our power with you, so you could get fortune and fame. But if you think that we're gonna join any of your foolish wars…"

Vandel gulped. He had to carefully think his words through.
"Listen, I…"He gulped again."…I know I didn't show my best side last time. I was selfish. I pretended to need your power to help others, but yes, in truth, I wanted the money and fame. And I'm sorry for that. But this time? This time I'm serious. I will give up all the money, the fame, the women…"He frowned."…All the money and fame. I will give it all up. Just please. I need your help…Many people need your help."

The armor-clad figure rolled his eyes.

"Our decision is final, Elf."

Saying that, the figure turned around and started walking back into the structure. Vandel tightened his fists.
"I know what happened to your people!"he said. He had to play the last trump card.

The figure stopped.
"You told me the story of your people's rise to power…and their fall."he said."And I'm really sorry. I really am. Seeing your people…all the things you knew turned to ashes by mindless creatures…We're facing the exactly same thing. And right now, there are thousands of good people, sacrificing themselves to preserve whatever we have left. So please…don't let our people share the fate of yours…I'm not trying to play on your emotions. I'm just asking you for help, as an inhabitant of this world, who doesn't want to see it all burned."

Vandel could feel his heart pounding, awaiting the figure's response. Figure glanced over it's shoulder and proceeded to enter the darkness it came out of.

Seeing this, Vandel's shoulders fell. He failed. He actually failed. He knew he shouldn't have tricked these people from beyond the skies. They were noble and he was just a scoundrel. Resigned, he turned around and started walking to his horse.
"In one thing, I have to agree with you."

Vandel stopped. He looked back at the entrance to the structure and saw the figure coming back out.
"We don't want to see more people share our fate."he said.

Following behind him were eleven more figures, clad in similar armor, but darker and less ornate. The figure in silverish armor stepped forth and extended it's hand. Out of thin air, a staff appeared in it, similar to those used by the mages. But this one was made of silver metal, like the figure's armor, and was embedded with a white crystal on top.

"With this, you will gain the power to control our United Form. We will help you win this war. And it will be the last thing we're gonna do."

Vandel grabbed the staff from figure's hands. As his hand touched the metallic structure of the staff, he could feel electricity coursing through him. He looked at the figure.
"Thank you. I wholeheartedly thank you."he said.
"As members of the Obsidian Order, it is our duty to help."Figure looked at the rest of his companions."Brothers! Unify!"

All knights, because they couldn't be called anything else, reached for their sheathed swords. They pulled them out and joined their tips together.
"For years I stand guard!"they chanted."For the people and the land! No darkness too strong, no enemy too powerful! Only in death does my duty end! For Cradle, we march!"

They were then all enveloped by green, blinding light. Vandel had to look away to not get blinded himself, but when he looked back, his jaw almost dropped. In place of the twelve figures, now stood an enormous beast, with twelve heads looking down at him. It spread it's wings and roared, spewing fire. At the same time, the white crystal on Vandel's staff started glowing a similar green hue. Remembering what he was told, his expression shifted to a more focused one. He ran back to his horse and jumped back onto it. The twelve-headed beast jumped into the air and followed the guiding green light of the staff.

Back at the battle, few hours later…

Selene felt herself being thrown off of the back of her mount as it was smacked by the ogre. Creature roared as it broke the horse's spine, causing it to whimper in it's last moments and threw it away. Ogre then focused on the Battle Queen of Warrior Bunnies as she laid there, vulnerable. But before it could do anything, he was jumped by nearly twenty other Warrior Bunnies, who started slashing it and stabbing. As they backed away with the ogre, another soldier approached Selene and helped her to her feet.
"My Queen, are you alright?"the soldier asked.
"Yes…thank you…"Selene replied.
The soldier nodded and went to join her sisters and brothers in fight against the ogre that dared to lift it's hand on their queen.

Selene started looking around. The battle was nearly done. There were only a few dozen of them left. Ogres charged and smashed through their ranks. Yet they didn't dare to stop. They were going to fight, no matter what.
"So?"Tenon asked, joining her."Where is Vandel?"
Other ten monarchs joined them on foot. They all lost their mounts long ago.

"He will come. He has to."Selene repeated, even though her faith slowly dwindled.
"Ya still holding onto it, huh?"chief of the orcs asked.
"Honestly, if possible, I would love to cave in that scoundrel's skull as my last act."Dwarven king said."At least I could die happy."
"You still about that…?"Dedlin asked.

Selene closed her eyes. A storm of thoughts coursed through her mind. Did Vandel actually double-cross them? Did he just run off, leaving them all here to die? If it was the truth, then she swore, that whenever they met in the afterlife, she would make sure to gut him again.

"What do we do?"chief of Darrs asked.

Selene looked at them all. Even if they were going to die here, she couldn't help but smile. There was a lot of bad blood between all of their peoples. Centuries of war and destruction and hatred. But when a danger appeared, they all united. As one, they stood against impossible odds and were willing to die for the greater good.

"Even if we're gonna die here today…"she spoke."…fighting by your side was the greatest honor one could ask for."

The monarchs looked at each other and nodded.
"Likewise."they all replied.

Looking one last time at the battlefield, the Battle Queen then glanced at her sword. Vandel gave it to her. It was identical to eleven more swords, wielded by the other monarchs. Vandel said these blades were magical. But as of now, they didn't show it much.

Right then, the only words that were in her mind, were those spoken by her late mother on her death bed.
"With no sacrifice, there can be no victory."she whispered, tightening the grip on her sword.

Right then, she felt something. It was like a force, coursing through her veins. She looked at her sword. It was suddenly covered in green, glowing lines. At the same time, a medallion she had on her neck, also gifted to her and others by Vandel, had similar pattern on it. They all looked at her, surprised.

"What…?"
"Coming through!"a familiar voice exclaimed.

Hearing it, Selene immediately whipped around and smiled, seeing Vandel galloping towards them. In his hand, he held a staff with green light, like the one on the swords and medallions, glowing on top of it. He stopped among the monarchs.

"Vandel!"Selene exclaimed."You came!"
"Of course. I am a man of my word after all!"the Elf replied.
"I hope you actually brought some help, or else…!"Dwarven king pointed out.

Vandel just smiled.
"Oh, I did."He lifted the glowing stuff up.

A roar pierced the air. Suddenly, the whole battlefield came to a standstill, looking into the sky where it came from.

A twelve-headed beast flew from behind the cover of the trees and roared again, before diving towards the ground. Before it hit, it spun around, causing it's back to slam into the ground as it rolled across it, crushing anything under it. Fortunately, it fell only on the ogre forces, leaving the allies unscathed.

"By the gods…"Tenon said.

"Is THAT the help you got us?"Dedlin asked, his goblin eyes wide.
"I said I had connections."Vandel smiled.

"I knew you won't fail us."Selene said.
Vandel just nodded.

Selene in the meantime, feeling confidence and will to fight fill her once again, pointed her sword at the battlefield. Than she raised it high above her head.

"For Falmart!"she exclaimed.
"For Falmart!"the other monarchs and Vandel joined them.

Next, with the roar of the fire-spewing, twelve-headed beast ringing in their ears, the panicked ogres in front of them, the last of their armies rallying around their leaders, they all charged into the fray.

XXX

With no sacrifice, there can be no victory. These words were etched in our history since that faithful day, when united armies of Falmart met and beaten back the invading ogre forces. And ever since then, many cultures and empires adopted them as their motto. From the Warrior Bunnies tribes from the North, ending at even Saderan Empire itself. For centuries, these words were spoken with utmost honor and admiration.

But never before, except when they were spoken first, were they so true as today.

XXX

And there is the prologue. If you're confused, don't worry. The explanations will come. For now, as always, feel free to leave a review, follow and favorite. It will be highly appreciated!

See you in chapter 1!