Prologue
Since the dawn of time, the armies of the gods and demons waged an endless war. Drawn to the conflict was the Ascendant Council, an entity bound ancient laws to preserve order and balance throughout the cosmos. It held that any great power unchecked, threatened the very fabric of the cosmos.
In time, The gods and demons came to honor the Council and its laws, for none were beyond the swift and terrible justice of the Council's enforcers--a fearsome brotherhood known as the Prime Avatars.
Amid the turmoil, the first humans emerged. The Council foretold that these weak but cunning creatures would someday be integral to the Balance. Thus, a third kingdom was named, the Kingdom of Man.
By order of the Council, a truce was forged between the gods and demons. The great pact was bound by Seven Seals, to be broken at the appointed time--when Man's kingdom stood ready for the Endwar--a battle that would bring balance, and determine the ultimate fate of the three kingdoms...
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Kanavan Capital
It was a a typical day at Burmesiah's most prominent kingdom, the kingdom of Kanavan. Home to many popular figures of the heroic history of the Burmesian lore. From the historical and widely-known clan of prestigious knights, the Erudon Clan; to the legendary hero of the continent, the Black Onslaught himself, Sieghart--whom to be believed to have slain single-handedly numerous battalion of demons in one fell swoop. The city itself is booming with bustling crowds and a very busy atmosphere. Birds singing and children playing, it's a bright and shiny day for Kanavanians.
But from afar, a black shroud of darkness approaches. A massive shroud of black cloud slowly consumed the whole pristine sky. The denizens of the continent stopped and paused to what they are doing to look at the strange nimbus clouds consuming the sky. It would be one hell of a rain they may say. Moments later, long streaks of lightning emanated from the black sky--and then suddenly, meteor clusters began plummeting from the sky to the earth. This was no ordinary rain, its a full-blown rain of fire.
The meteor shower has now started a state of chaos to the citizens of Kanavan, as they flee in panic, and struggled to take cover from the wrath of the black sky. The meteors destroyed everything that comes in its wake, including the most prominent infrastructures of the capital. A large meteor then plummeted down at the central district area, destroying Sieghart's monument on impact.
Crowds began gathering upon the large meteor crater on the central district. Then they noticed the pile of debris began to shake. And from the pile of concrete debris, emerged a winged divine entity and a hulking demon--with the divine entity gored on the demon's massive claws. "Ugghh..." grunted the entity before it drew its last breath. The hulking demon threw the gored angel aside, and its attention turned to the crowd surrounding it. It narrowed its sight, "GRRAWWGGHH!!!!" with a loud primal roar, the crowd ran away from the hulking monstrosity. And then from the meteor craters emerged a horde of demons and angels descending from the sky above to fight the demons. The demons began running after the fleeing humans. The two forces destroyed everything in their wake of battle with each other with the humans caught in the crossfire.
The people were caught by surprise, the guard knights of Kanavan did their best to fend off the demons and aid the divine entities. But they just suffered a heavy collateral damage from the battle of the two warring factions with the divine entities didn't even acknowledge them as allies to this war. Clusters of meteors continue to rain down upon the earth and more demons and divine entities appear. It was total chaos--no, it was the end of the world as they know it. With the titanic battle taking place, it virtually destroyed Kanavan in a blink of an eye.
Amidst the chaos, a black meteor came plummeting down from the sky and crashing down in the middle of the fray. Both factions surrounding the crater stopped at their tracks as they felt a malevolent surge of energy emanated from the crater. As the cloud of dust faded from the crater, a kneeling figure appeared from the dust. He wields a huge sword and dons a black hair and clad in abyssal steel. The enigma slowly stood up while the attention of the demons are on him.
The enigma flips his sword and opened his eyes. His eyes were glowing in a malevolent glow and his rage unstoppable. As he approaches the demonic horde, he slowly hasten his pace while the horde began charging towards him. As he got closer, he came storming at full charge, "Graaa!!!"
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Chapter 1: Last Stand
Kanavan 600 years ago...
*KABLAM* *KABLAM*
"Captain! we can't hold it much longer!" a handful of struggling soldiers trying their best to bar the gate from the unknown entities from breaking in. At this moment, the soldiers were exhausted, morales wavering like crazy and there was no place to run. There was no options left but to make their last stand. Every man for himself, the situation is getting more dire every passing tic of the clock.
"Alright..." the captain finally made up his mind. He stood tall upon his men and drew his weapon from its sheath. "We have no choice but to fight our way through this. We may not survive this, but our glory as Knights of Kanavan will!" the captain said with such charisma and boldness, enough for his men to earn their respect to their captain. So all of them brandished their swords and then growled like a charging army altogether. "All hail Captain Sieghart!"
Now, they altogether positioned themselves to attack. Muscles tensing and sweat rolling down their helms to their face and the eerie darkness that envelops the hall. "Okay... when I give the signal--open the gate and give them hell." the order has been passed. Soon, the hall was filled with silence; nothing but the sound of the large gate being rammed from the other side. With the drop of sweat to the ground, "NOW!" the soldiers holding the the gates altogether ran towards the flanks and then the gates blew wide open.
With the gates now opened, hordes of demonic minions came storming in the hall. With that, the soldiers came charging right at them with full strength despite their numbers. Sounds of grating metal; blood splattering from the walls and corpses piling up; it was mass slaughter. Soldiers giving all they got and fighting to their last breath as they make their last stand. And demonic minions keep on flowing through.
The bloodshed lasted for a few hours, until finally the soldiers of Kanavan managed to mow them down. But they got the higher part of the bargain. Only 3 of them left standing including the brave captain of the battalion. Exhausted, battered and one of them gravely injured and covered in cuts and bruises. "We--We did it..." Sieghart muttered under his running breath as he was almost on his knees with his sword supporting him from falling down. It was bittersweet victory for them, but at least they made it through. It was a great loss but the glory was greater at that moment.
One of the surviving soldiers gave him a hand and helped him stand up. "Easy captain. I got you." with a little helping hand, Sieghart was back on his feet. He looked at his fellow knight and gave him a pat in the back, "Thank you soldier. We haven't made it through without your strength." said Sieghart, pertaining to the surviving knights that stood by him.
-----------------
Moments passed, suddenly, a marching stomp was heard from the outside that caught the attention of the wounded knights. One of them took a peek at the broken glass window, only to saw an incoming massive wave of demons approaching the city. "Captain! There's a massive horde of demons coming this way!" panicked the surviving knight. "God dammit! We have no choice but to escape. Follow my lead." as Sieghart turn to give the order, the knight that helped him stand up suddenly stood frozen on his feet. "Hey...! You okay soldier?" with a little shake, the soldier's head dropped down clean off his body that startled the survivors and spraying blood unto Sieghart's eyes, disorienting him. "Ahh!" screamed the panicking soldier. As he make a run for it, he was stopped in his tracks. "I can't move!" the soldier was then lifted by the skull by an invisible force. He tried to squirm his way out as the invisible grip became tighter and tighter. Until finally crushing his skull into a bloody pulp.
With sight blurred with blood, Sieghart struggled to pull himself together as he witnessed an unseen murderer, just slaughtered the remaining knights with a blink of an eye. He then quickly grabbed his sword with his right hand. But before he can grasp it, an strong invisible force pushed him and sent him flying to the wall and fell flat on his chest. He struggled and crawled to reach for his sword. As he was close enough, his right arm was stabbed by a large dark blade. Severing his arm right off. "AAAAGGHHH!!" The wounded knight screamed in pain and intense agony.
"Ah... Humans."
A warped voiced was heard. And then a shadowy figure appeared in front of the severely wounded Sieghart and then picked him up with its vile claws. "So stubborn to face the inevitable... You lowly creatures make me sick!" Sieghart was then impaled through his chest with the blood-stained weapon of the shadowy figure. "GAAAGGHH!!!" shrieked the knight in pain before puking blood. The shadowy figure held him high with Sieghart still impaled on the enigma's blade. Life now rapidly fading away from his body.
"Dio!"
Suddenly, another voice was heard from the far side of the room, calling out to the enigma. "We have the artifact, now stop playing around and let us leave now." the voice added. "Heh! Well about damn time." Dio scoffed, with that he finally put down the mortally wounded knight and then pulled out his blade from his dying flesh. The demon then pulled out a dagger and then threw it beside the dying Sieghart. "Here's a knife, kill yourself." mocked the demon as he slowly walk away from Sieghart. "I hope you live longer to see your city be dismembered! Hahaha---!" with that parting words, the arch-demon, Dio disappeared without a trace.
---------------------------------
Left for dead, and life slowly draining out of his body. Vulnerable to the claws of death, Sieghart lied still, waiting for his time to come. He did his best to defend the city, but apparently it wasn't good enough. The wound made by Dio's blade has left dark residues on his flesh.
Suddenly, the dark residues began forming up and then closing the mortal wound itself. And Sieg's body now beginning to be enveloped by the dark matter, until finally regenerating him his new right arm. Sieghart's body now began releasing mass amounts of dark energy, channeling from within his body in a form of purple lightning streaks. Sieghart's eyes now wide open but with a white glow on it.
Slowly, he stood up with his breath running, heart with a rapid beat and dark energy rushing through his veins. The awakened Sieghart gritted his teeth in such anger, such rage. "GRRAAAAA!!!" roared the enraged Sieghart, unleashing tremendous amounts of energy.
"Grrr..." acting now purely on instinct, he grabbed his sword and then dashed outside where a massive horde of demonic minions waiting for him. "Grr..." the enraged knight then suddenly broke out into a killing frenzy. Single-handedly killing the demonic minions. At this state, he is virtually unstoppable like a malevolent force of nature reigning down destruction on everything that comes on its sight.
Corpses of the demonic minions piling up as the enraged Sieghart hacks and slashes his way through the demonic horde. He then landed on top of the pile of demon carcasses, "GRRAAAA.....!!!" Outcried the enraged Sieghart unto the heavens. And then he disappeared without a trace ever since that fateful day.
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Chapter 2: The Cloaked Stranger
Present day
The black sky has cleared, chaos faded; the sun's rays tearing through the clouds. The aftermath of the last stand. Although the city of Lowell was rampaged and reduced to ruins, the brave knights of Kanavan has managed to fend the demonic legions from entering the kingdom of Kanavan. Many lives of brave souls has lost, but it was all worth it. With the mangled carcasses of demons disintegrate one-by-one, the gathered civilians who hid amidst the fray, now began going back to the surface to have their first taste of freedom from the claws of darkness.
The brave knight captain was nowhere to be found. Neither his dead corpse or his striking silhouette from afar, nothing. He just disappeared, leaving only his dented pauldron behind. Where he had gone is a big mystery.
-----------------------------------
Although Sieghart is absent, he and his brave men who fought and died the last stand were given the highest honor by the Queen of Kanavan. They were heired as heroes of the kingdom. If for wasn't for them, the whole continent would have been a black hole of darkness, with demons running a muck the land, corrupting every living soul in it.
A statues of him was built in every town in the continent to commemorate his heroic deeds to save the land. Years and years had gone by, and his story of bravery has began to spread throughout the land and even in the neighboring continent, Burmesiah. From a prominent historical figure to a hero of legend. His reputation as a true warrior has polished from the years passed. With his known fierce prowess in battle, he was known by the title "The Black Dragon of Kanavan".
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The Elven Forest, Burmesiah
"Come on!"
A yell of a young elven girl was heard amidst the forest. "Come on Aura! Hurry up! We're gonna miss dinner again if you don't pick up the pace." A young elven archer maiden and her companion in a hurry to go back to their village. Having came back from hunting food from outside the sacred forest. "Wait--Lire! can we stop to catch my breath for a bit?" Aura replied with a panting breath, exhausted and can't keep up with Lire's pace.
"Aww... just few more miles! I can already see the village from up here!" she shouted from atop the tall tree overlooking the tree village from up there.
Lire, the ever free-spirited elf, always one-step ahead of anything and has an overflowing sense of cheerfulness in her innocent soul. From the treetop, she jumped down from the top in a long free fall. As she reached the branches, she quickly stepped on a single branch then swing and jump from the other until finally landing to the ground on her feet. Having adapted to their forest habitat, Lire has mastered the twists and turns of her environment and then use it as training grounds. With this, she has acquire well-developed reflexes, agility and acrobatic feats.
From the ground, she found Aura waiting for her, exhausted and struggling to catch her breath. "Can we stop here for a sec? I need a break..." she panted, almost leaning over Lire. "In your dreams! one gets left behind is a rotten slime. Tee--hee!" Lire's childish traits kicking in as she zoomed off again, leaving Aura behind again in her trail. With impressive agility, she traversed the obstacle-filled forest scape with ease and enjoying it to her heart's content.
As she swung from the branch from another, she then accidentally made the wrong grip on a thin branch. Causing it to snap due to her weight. "Ahh! Ahh---!" she went on a short free fall; there was no time to recover her pose so that she can land safely. "Oof!" she then fell unto a unsuspecting passer-by. "Ow... huh?" disoriented and slightly hurt, she slowly picked herself up and then startled at the cloaked stranger she fell unto. Lire quickly got up and then turned her attention to the cloaked stranger. "Oh no... I'm so sorry dear sir for my recklessness Are you hurt?" As she move to help the stranger back up on his feet, she was then held back by a sudden pluck of string on her senses. "What...?" she said to herself, "What is this strange energy I'm sensing in him?". The cloaked enigma then dusted himself up and then took a quick look at the elven maiden with his face hidden beneath the shade of his thick hood. "Lire---! Wait up!" Lire's attention was caught by Aura's call from not to far from where she's standing with the stranger. As she turn again her attention to the stranger, he just suddenly disappeared. As if he vanished into thin air, much to Lire's surprise. It's only for a split second and then he was gone just like that.
Aura finally caught up with Lire, who is still baffled on what just happened. "Aura, did you see a cloaked man just beside me, a few seconds ago?" the elven maiden asked scratching her head, still confused. "What? What cloaked man? Are you seeing things?" Aura replied, "Did you hit your head or something?" she added with a knocking gesture on her hand. "No really! I could have swor--",
*BOOM!*
before Lire could even finish her sentence, she was cut by loud explosion from afar. "What was that?!" panicked Aura as she quickly ran for the nearest cover. Lire on the other hand, sprang into action as she quickly climbed at the nearest tree. Upon reaching the top, "Oh... no..." a horrified expression suddenly drew on her face. The explosion came from their tree village just up ahead. With no time to spare, Lire quickly rushed down and then dragged Aura with her. "Wait Lire! What's happening?" Asked Lire's companion as she was being dragged by her in a hurry. "The village--the village is under attack! We must hurry back!"
--------------------------------
Tree Village, The Elven Forest
The once peaceful elven village, now being overrun by Orcs; a barbaric race of demons, whose aim is to ransack and destroy villages and cities under the command of a dark lord. Normally, they would attack small villages or towns but to attack the heart of the elven capital is a different story. Meaning there's some scheme involved, to unleash such a massive Orc invasion. But things are just getting ugly by the moment.
"For Goddess Elara!"
The elven troops stood at the ready. But the overwhelming number of the enemy makes it harder for them to fend the Orcs off their sacred land. Houses being raided and ransacked leaving a bloody trail of corpses who dare stand their way. Chaos and discord filled the air as the Orcs mercilessly killed and even devour everyone in sight. The pure grounds of the Elven capital, now tainted with the blood of the innocent. It was no use, the elves are heavily outnumbered 10 to 5.
Upon Aura and Lire's arrival, they were more than shocked to the horrors that stood before them. Blood everywhere and mangled corpses of their loved ones flayed all over the place. And survivors running away, being beaten to the death and devoured. Aura tucked herself behind Lire, crying in fear and can't take what she is witnessing right now. With a quick response, the two quickly took cover to hide themselves from the Orcish horde's sight. "What are we going to do now Lire...? I'm scared..." cried softly Aura, trembling in fear. The elven archer then held her by her shoulder and then faced her, "Get ahold of yourself Aura. Now, listen to me... You go ahead and find the others and then get into a safe place as soon as possible." even in a situation like this, Lire still managed to stay firm. "But what about you Lire...?" dared Aura asked, "I'll hold them off--Now go!" Lire pushed Aura immediately as she sprang to action.
Lire charged at the Orc trio ahead, quickly pulled three arrows from the quiver, pulled the bow's string, and then fired three projectiles at once with precise accuracy. X marks the spot, all three arrows pierced through the three Orcs' skulls. Dead on the spot. Using her superb archery and precise accuracy, Lire rarely misses her target. She tore through the horde using her combat prowess and aiding her fellow Elven troops along the way.
She made her way towards the top of the Great Tree, battling her way through, where the village elder was. So that she can help him and the other survivors to safety. With impressive speed, she rushed through the debris and then jumped over it where a number of Orcs are waiting for her in the other side. While in mid-air, she pulled out a handful of arrows from her quiver and then flipped her body upside down and fired the arrows downward towards the Orc horde just below her. Death from above. The projectiles impaled each of the Orcs' skulls in a gruesome manner. As Lire landed on her feet and on her knees on a crouching position; she pointed her bow to the side and then aimed precisely.
Shooting Star
With fast handling, Lire started rapid firing arrows in a fan-like area, eliminating Orcs within range. Now that's out of the way, the elven archer hurriedly rushed towards the Great Tree.
As she was nearing the Great Tree, her steps stopped as the earth began to tremble. Something big and of massive proportions is heading towards Lire. She readied her bow and then pointed at the huge wall of flame. She pulled the string back and then fired 3 consecutive arrows right through the flames. Lire backed away a little as a huge figure came out of the flames. "Grrr...." It was a huge Orc, armed with a giant hammer and clad in makeshift steel shoulder armor with the three arrows pierced right through its skull. But with all three arrows plunged to its head, the Orc was still standing. "So you must be the leader." Lire quickly pulled a handful of arrows from her quiver and then began firing at the huge Orc.
With more than 10 arrows on the Elite Orc's flesh, the hulking monstrosity is still standing. It then began to swing its massive hammer at the elven archer. But with its slow movement, Lire managed to somehow dodge its attacks. Slow but destructive. As she evaded, she kept firing at her adversary's bare flesh, but its flesh were tough as steel; as if its whole body is numb for physical force. The Orc then swung back its hammer, Lire dodges it as she jumped in front of the Orc. As she pulled the bow's string back, the Orc then smashed her with its hammer's bottom tip right at her. "Oof!" Lire stumbled through the ground and then right at the nearby debris. "aargh.." She struggled to stand up, because of that blow, several of her ribs was broken and she suffers from a major concussion. She tried to reach for her bow, but the Elite Orc just stomped it right before her very eyes. "Damn!"
The Elite Orc slowly lifted its hammer while Lire watches in horror to her impending doom. "Is this it...? Is this the moment where it all ends?" said Lire softly under her breath, "Well, at least I did my best... Everyone... I'm sorry..." Lire slowly closed her eyes With full force, the monstrosity plummets its hammer upon Lire. She then prepared for the worst and to what fate has brought to her. The force of the blow created a gigantic impact.
Suddenly the everything was filled with silence. "I-Is this it..? Am I with the otherworld now..?" Lire then slowly opened her eyes and then it came to view. The cloaked stranger. Using only his right arm and his sword, he completely blocked and holding the massive attack of huge Orc from pulverizing her to a pulp. Lire's expression was filled with shock and awe. Just who is this person to wield such incredible strength?
"Hey."
The cloaked stranger began to speak, but Lire was much in awe to hear it. "Hey you there. Pointy ears." the stranger repeated, Lire then came back to her senses. "Wh-wha..? Me?" she stuttered, utterly confused at the moment. "How about giving me some little space here? You're kinda getting in the way." He cracked with a lint of sarcasm into it. "R-right..." slowly but surely, Lire quickly got up and then moved away from the stranger and the Elite Orc. She then stayed at a safe distance or so it seems.
With the elf archer maiden out of the way. The stranger now faced the monstrosity right in the eye. With a heave of strength, he deflects the Orc's massive hammer, throwing it off-balance. He cracked his knuckles and neck and grabbed his claymore. As Lire observed, the stranger held his sword in a reverse-grip and with a very unique combat stance. The Elite Orc then got up and then immediately swung its hammer directly at him. In a number of massive swings, The stranger just deflected all of it like it was a wooden sword. The Elite Orc now agitated, it then plummets its hammer to the ground creating a much more impact than the last. "Hrhrhr..." the Orc chuckled with a slight grin on its ugly face. With that impact, its impossible even for that person to deflect it.
As the cloud of dust cleared, the stranger appeared standing on the weighted end of the hammer. "Rrr...?!" the Orc and Lire was shocked. The stranger then cupped his left hand to his face and sighed, "That was very lame..." with that, the orc then swung its hammer upward. The stranger then used the force of the upward momentum to launch himself up in the air. While in mid-air, he channeled his energy unto his claymore with a sudden burst of downward speed,
Lightning Strike
Like a lightning bolt from the heavens, he performed a downward slash with lightning-speed downward momentum. The stranger's sword tore through the Elite Orc's body, splitting it in half with a clean sweep. The strong wind then blew off the stranger's cloak that has been covering his identity. A black-haired warrior....
Lire was in awe on this unknown warrior's power. "J-Just who is he...?" Lire was both amazed and awed.
==========================
To be Continued...
Since the dawn of time, the armies of the gods and demons waged an endless war. Drawn to the conflict was the Ascendant Council, an entity bound ancient laws to preserve order and balance throughout the cosmos. It held that any great power unchecked, threatened the very fabric of the cosmos.
In time, The gods and demons came to honor the Council and its laws, for none were beyond the swift and terrible justice of the Council's enforcers--a fearsome brotherhood known as the Prime Avatars.
Amid the turmoil, the first humans emerged. The Council foretold that these weak but cunning creatures would someday be integral to the Balance. Thus, a third kingdom was named, the Kingdom of Man.
By order of the Council, a truce was forged between the gods and demons. The great pact was bound by Seven Seals, to be broken at the appointed time--when Man's kingdom stood ready for the Endwar--a battle that would bring balance, and determine the ultimate fate of the three kingdoms...
-----------------------------------
Kanavan Capital
It was a a typical day at Burmesiah's most prominent kingdom, the kingdom of Kanavan. Home to many popular figures of the heroic history of the Burmesian lore. From the historical and widely-known clan of prestigious knights, the Erudon Clan; to the legendary hero of the continent, the Black Onslaught himself, Sieghart--whom to be believed to have slain single-handedly numerous battalion of demons in one fell swoop. The city itself is booming with bustling crowds and a very busy atmosphere. Birds singing and children playing, it's a bright and shiny day for Kanavanians.
But from afar, a black shroud of darkness approaches. A massive shroud of black cloud slowly consumed the whole pristine sky. The denizens of the continent stopped and paused to what they are doing to look at the strange nimbus clouds consuming the sky. It would be one hell of a rain they may say. Moments later, long streaks of lightning emanated from the black sky--and then suddenly, meteor clusters began plummeting from the sky to the earth. This was no ordinary rain, its a full-blown rain of fire.
The meteor shower has now started a state of chaos to the citizens of Kanavan, as they flee in panic, and struggled to take cover from the wrath of the black sky. The meteors destroyed everything that comes in its wake, including the most prominent infrastructures of the capital. A large meteor then plummeted down at the central district area, destroying Sieghart's monument on impact.
Crowds began gathering upon the large meteor crater on the central district. Then they noticed the pile of debris began to shake. And from the pile of concrete debris, emerged a winged divine entity and a hulking demon--with the divine entity gored on the demon's massive claws. "Ugghh..." grunted the entity before it drew its last breath. The hulking demon threw the gored angel aside, and its attention turned to the crowd surrounding it. It narrowed its sight, "GRRAWWGGHH!!!!" with a loud primal roar, the crowd ran away from the hulking monstrosity. And then from the meteor craters emerged a horde of demons and angels descending from the sky above to fight the demons. The demons began running after the fleeing humans. The two forces destroyed everything in their wake of battle with each other with the humans caught in the crossfire.
The people were caught by surprise, the guard knights of Kanavan did their best to fend off the demons and aid the divine entities. But they just suffered a heavy collateral damage from the battle of the two warring factions with the divine entities didn't even acknowledge them as allies to this war. Clusters of meteors continue to rain down upon the earth and more demons and divine entities appear. It was total chaos--no, it was the end of the world as they know it. With the titanic battle taking place, it virtually destroyed Kanavan in a blink of an eye.
Amidst the chaos, a black meteor came plummeting down from the sky and crashing down in the middle of the fray. Both factions surrounding the crater stopped at their tracks as they felt a malevolent surge of energy emanated from the crater. As the cloud of dust faded from the crater, a kneeling figure appeared from the dust. He wields a huge sword and dons a black hair and clad in abyssal steel. The enigma slowly stood up while the attention of the demons are on him.
The enigma flips his sword and opened his eyes. His eyes were glowing in a malevolent glow and his rage unstoppable. As he approaches the demonic horde, he slowly hasten his pace while the horde began charging towards him. As he got closer, he came storming at full charge, "Graaa!!!"
----------------------
Chapter 1: Last Stand
Kanavan 600 years ago...
*KABLAM* *KABLAM*
"Captain! we can't hold it much longer!" a handful of struggling soldiers trying their best to bar the gate from the unknown entities from breaking in. At this moment, the soldiers were exhausted, morales wavering like crazy and there was no place to run. There was no options left but to make their last stand. Every man for himself, the situation is getting more dire every passing tic of the clock.
"Alright..." the captain finally made up his mind. He stood tall upon his men and drew his weapon from its sheath. "We have no choice but to fight our way through this. We may not survive this, but our glory as Knights of Kanavan will!" the captain said with such charisma and boldness, enough for his men to earn their respect to their captain. So all of them brandished their swords and then growled like a charging army altogether. "All hail Captain Sieghart!"
Now, they altogether positioned themselves to attack. Muscles tensing and sweat rolling down their helms to their face and the eerie darkness that envelops the hall. "Okay... when I give the signal--open the gate and give them hell." the order has been passed. Soon, the hall was filled with silence; nothing but the sound of the large gate being rammed from the other side. With the drop of sweat to the ground, "NOW!" the soldiers holding the the gates altogether ran towards the flanks and then the gates blew wide open.
With the gates now opened, hordes of demonic minions came storming in the hall. With that, the soldiers came charging right at them with full strength despite their numbers. Sounds of grating metal; blood splattering from the walls and corpses piling up; it was mass slaughter. Soldiers giving all they got and fighting to their last breath as they make their last stand. And demonic minions keep on flowing through.
The bloodshed lasted for a few hours, until finally the soldiers of Kanavan managed to mow them down. But they got the higher part of the bargain. Only 3 of them left standing including the brave captain of the battalion. Exhausted, battered and one of them gravely injured and covered in cuts and bruises. "We--We did it..." Sieghart muttered under his running breath as he was almost on his knees with his sword supporting him from falling down. It was bittersweet victory for them, but at least they made it through. It was a great loss but the glory was greater at that moment.
One of the surviving soldiers gave him a hand and helped him stand up. "Easy captain. I got you." with a little helping hand, Sieghart was back on his feet. He looked at his fellow knight and gave him a pat in the back, "Thank you soldier. We haven't made it through without your strength." said Sieghart, pertaining to the surviving knights that stood by him.
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Moments passed, suddenly, a marching stomp was heard from the outside that caught the attention of the wounded knights. One of them took a peek at the broken glass window, only to saw an incoming massive wave of demons approaching the city. "Captain! There's a massive horde of demons coming this way!" panicked the surviving knight. "God dammit! We have no choice but to escape. Follow my lead." as Sieghart turn to give the order, the knight that helped him stand up suddenly stood frozen on his feet. "Hey...! You okay soldier?" with a little shake, the soldier's head dropped down clean off his body that startled the survivors and spraying blood unto Sieghart's eyes, disorienting him. "Ahh!" screamed the panicking soldier. As he make a run for it, he was stopped in his tracks. "I can't move!" the soldier was then lifted by the skull by an invisible force. He tried to squirm his way out as the invisible grip became tighter and tighter. Until finally crushing his skull into a bloody pulp.
With sight blurred with blood, Sieghart struggled to pull himself together as he witnessed an unseen murderer, just slaughtered the remaining knights with a blink of an eye. He then quickly grabbed his sword with his right hand. But before he can grasp it, an strong invisible force pushed him and sent him flying to the wall and fell flat on his chest. He struggled and crawled to reach for his sword. As he was close enough, his right arm was stabbed by a large dark blade. Severing his arm right off. "AAAAGGHHH!!" The wounded knight screamed in pain and intense agony.
"Ah... Humans."
A warped voiced was heard. And then a shadowy figure appeared in front of the severely wounded Sieghart and then picked him up with its vile claws. "So stubborn to face the inevitable... You lowly creatures make me sick!" Sieghart was then impaled through his chest with the blood-stained weapon of the shadowy figure. "GAAAGGHH!!!" shrieked the knight in pain before puking blood. The shadowy figure held him high with Sieghart still impaled on the enigma's blade. Life now rapidly fading away from his body.
"Dio!"
Suddenly, another voice was heard from the far side of the room, calling out to the enigma. "We have the artifact, now stop playing around and let us leave now." the voice added. "Heh! Well about damn time." Dio scoffed, with that he finally put down the mortally wounded knight and then pulled out his blade from his dying flesh. The demon then pulled out a dagger and then threw it beside the dying Sieghart. "Here's a knife, kill yourself." mocked the demon as he slowly walk away from Sieghart. "I hope you live longer to see your city be dismembered! Hahaha---!" with that parting words, the arch-demon, Dio disappeared without a trace.
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Left for dead, and life slowly draining out of his body. Vulnerable to the claws of death, Sieghart lied still, waiting for his time to come. He did his best to defend the city, but apparently it wasn't good enough. The wound made by Dio's blade has left dark residues on his flesh.
Suddenly, the dark residues began forming up and then closing the mortal wound itself. And Sieg's body now beginning to be enveloped by the dark matter, until finally regenerating him his new right arm. Sieghart's body now began releasing mass amounts of dark energy, channeling from within his body in a form of purple lightning streaks. Sieghart's eyes now wide open but with a white glow on it.
Slowly, he stood up with his breath running, heart with a rapid beat and dark energy rushing through his veins. The awakened Sieghart gritted his teeth in such anger, such rage. "GRRAAAAA!!!" roared the enraged Sieghart, unleashing tremendous amounts of energy.
"Grrr..." acting now purely on instinct, he grabbed his sword and then dashed outside where a massive horde of demonic minions waiting for him. "Grr..." the enraged knight then suddenly broke out into a killing frenzy. Single-handedly killing the demonic minions. At this state, he is virtually unstoppable like a malevolent force of nature reigning down destruction on everything that comes on its sight.
Corpses of the demonic minions piling up as the enraged Sieghart hacks and slashes his way through the demonic horde. He then landed on top of the pile of demon carcasses, "GRRAAAA.....!!!" Outcried the enraged Sieghart unto the heavens. And then he disappeared without a trace ever since that fateful day.
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Chapter 2: The Cloaked Stranger
Present day
The black sky has cleared, chaos faded; the sun's rays tearing through the clouds. The aftermath of the last stand. Although the city of Lowell was rampaged and reduced to ruins, the brave knights of Kanavan has managed to fend the demonic legions from entering the kingdom of Kanavan. Many lives of brave souls has lost, but it was all worth it. With the mangled carcasses of demons disintegrate one-by-one, the gathered civilians who hid amidst the fray, now began going back to the surface to have their first taste of freedom from the claws of darkness.
The brave knight captain was nowhere to be found. Neither his dead corpse or his striking silhouette from afar, nothing. He just disappeared, leaving only his dented pauldron behind. Where he had gone is a big mystery.
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Although Sieghart is absent, he and his brave men who fought and died the last stand were given the highest honor by the Queen of Kanavan. They were heired as heroes of the kingdom. If for wasn't for them, the whole continent would have been a black hole of darkness, with demons running a muck the land, corrupting every living soul in it.
A statues of him was built in every town in the continent to commemorate his heroic deeds to save the land. Years and years had gone by, and his story of bravery has began to spread throughout the land and even in the neighboring continent, Burmesiah. From a prominent historical figure to a hero of legend. His reputation as a true warrior has polished from the years passed. With his known fierce prowess in battle, he was known by the title "The Black Dragon of Kanavan".
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The Elven Forest, Burmesiah
"Come on!"
A yell of a young elven girl was heard amidst the forest. "Come on Aura! Hurry up! We're gonna miss dinner again if you don't pick up the pace." A young elven archer maiden and her companion in a hurry to go back to their village. Having came back from hunting food from outside the sacred forest. "Wait--Lire! can we stop to catch my breath for a bit?" Aura replied with a panting breath, exhausted and can't keep up with Lire's pace.
"Aww... just few more miles! I can already see the village from up here!" she shouted from atop the tall tree overlooking the tree village from up there.
Lire, the ever free-spirited elf, always one-step ahead of anything and has an overflowing sense of cheerfulness in her innocent soul. From the treetop, she jumped down from the top in a long free fall. As she reached the branches, she quickly stepped on a single branch then swing and jump from the other until finally landing to the ground on her feet. Having adapted to their forest habitat, Lire has mastered the twists and turns of her environment and then use it as training grounds. With this, she has acquire well-developed reflexes, agility and acrobatic feats.
From the ground, she found Aura waiting for her, exhausted and struggling to catch her breath. "Can we stop here for a sec? I need a break..." she panted, almost leaning over Lire. "In your dreams! one gets left behind is a rotten slime. Tee--hee!" Lire's childish traits kicking in as she zoomed off again, leaving Aura behind again in her trail. With impressive agility, she traversed the obstacle-filled forest scape with ease and enjoying it to her heart's content.
As she swung from the branch from another, she then accidentally made the wrong grip on a thin branch. Causing it to snap due to her weight. "Ahh! Ahh---!" she went on a short free fall; there was no time to recover her pose so that she can land safely. "Oof!" she then fell unto a unsuspecting passer-by. "Ow... huh?" disoriented and slightly hurt, she slowly picked herself up and then startled at the cloaked stranger she fell unto. Lire quickly got up and then turned her attention to the cloaked stranger. "Oh no... I'm so sorry dear sir for my recklessness Are you hurt?" As she move to help the stranger back up on his feet, she was then held back by a sudden pluck of string on her senses. "What...?" she said to herself, "What is this strange energy I'm sensing in him?". The cloaked enigma then dusted himself up and then took a quick look at the elven maiden with his face hidden beneath the shade of his thick hood. "Lire---! Wait up!" Lire's attention was caught by Aura's call from not to far from where she's standing with the stranger. As she turn again her attention to the stranger, he just suddenly disappeared. As if he vanished into thin air, much to Lire's surprise. It's only for a split second and then he was gone just like that.
Aura finally caught up with Lire, who is still baffled on what just happened. "Aura, did you see a cloaked man just beside me, a few seconds ago?" the elven maiden asked scratching her head, still confused. "What? What cloaked man? Are you seeing things?" Aura replied, "Did you hit your head or something?" she added with a knocking gesture on her hand. "No really! I could have swor--",
*BOOM!*
before Lire could even finish her sentence, she was cut by loud explosion from afar. "What was that?!" panicked Aura as she quickly ran for the nearest cover. Lire on the other hand, sprang into action as she quickly climbed at the nearest tree. Upon reaching the top, "Oh... no..." a horrified expression suddenly drew on her face. The explosion came from their tree village just up ahead. With no time to spare, Lire quickly rushed down and then dragged Aura with her. "Wait Lire! What's happening?" Asked Lire's companion as she was being dragged by her in a hurry. "The village--the village is under attack! We must hurry back!"
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Tree Village, The Elven Forest
The once peaceful elven village, now being overrun by Orcs; a barbaric race of demons, whose aim is to ransack and destroy villages and cities under the command of a dark lord. Normally, they would attack small villages or towns but to attack the heart of the elven capital is a different story. Meaning there's some scheme involved, to unleash such a massive Orc invasion. But things are just getting ugly by the moment.
"For Goddess Elara!"
The elven troops stood at the ready. But the overwhelming number of the enemy makes it harder for them to fend the Orcs off their sacred land. Houses being raided and ransacked leaving a bloody trail of corpses who dare stand their way. Chaos and discord filled the air as the Orcs mercilessly killed and even devour everyone in sight. The pure grounds of the Elven capital, now tainted with the blood of the innocent. It was no use, the elves are heavily outnumbered 10 to 5.
Upon Aura and Lire's arrival, they were more than shocked to the horrors that stood before them. Blood everywhere and mangled corpses of their loved ones flayed all over the place. And survivors running away, being beaten to the death and devoured. Aura tucked herself behind Lire, crying in fear and can't take what she is witnessing right now. With a quick response, the two quickly took cover to hide themselves from the Orcish horde's sight. "What are we going to do now Lire...? I'm scared..." cried softly Aura, trembling in fear. The elven archer then held her by her shoulder and then faced her, "Get ahold of yourself Aura. Now, listen to me... You go ahead and find the others and then get into a safe place as soon as possible." even in a situation like this, Lire still managed to stay firm. "But what about you Lire...?" dared Aura asked, "I'll hold them off--Now go!" Lire pushed Aura immediately as she sprang to action.
Lire charged at the Orc trio ahead, quickly pulled three arrows from the quiver, pulled the bow's string, and then fired three projectiles at once with precise accuracy. X marks the spot, all three arrows pierced through the three Orcs' skulls. Dead on the spot. Using her superb archery and precise accuracy, Lire rarely misses her target. She tore through the horde using her combat prowess and aiding her fellow Elven troops along the way.
She made her way towards the top of the Great Tree, battling her way through, where the village elder was. So that she can help him and the other survivors to safety. With impressive speed, she rushed through the debris and then jumped over it where a number of Orcs are waiting for her in the other side. While in mid-air, she pulled out a handful of arrows from her quiver and then flipped her body upside down and fired the arrows downward towards the Orc horde just below her. Death from above. The projectiles impaled each of the Orcs' skulls in a gruesome manner. As Lire landed on her feet and on her knees on a crouching position; she pointed her bow to the side and then aimed precisely.
Shooting Star
With fast handling, Lire started rapid firing arrows in a fan-like area, eliminating Orcs within range. Now that's out of the way, the elven archer hurriedly rushed towards the Great Tree.
As she was nearing the Great Tree, her steps stopped as the earth began to tremble. Something big and of massive proportions is heading towards Lire. She readied her bow and then pointed at the huge wall of flame. She pulled the string back and then fired 3 consecutive arrows right through the flames. Lire backed away a little as a huge figure came out of the flames. "Grrr...." It was a huge Orc, armed with a giant hammer and clad in makeshift steel shoulder armor with the three arrows pierced right through its skull. But with all three arrows plunged to its head, the Orc was still standing. "So you must be the leader." Lire quickly pulled a handful of arrows from her quiver and then began firing at the huge Orc.
With more than 10 arrows on the Elite Orc's flesh, the hulking monstrosity is still standing. It then began to swing its massive hammer at the elven archer. But with its slow movement, Lire managed to somehow dodge its attacks. Slow but destructive. As she evaded, she kept firing at her adversary's bare flesh, but its flesh were tough as steel; as if its whole body is numb for physical force. The Orc then swung back its hammer, Lire dodges it as she jumped in front of the Orc. As she pulled the bow's string back, the Orc then smashed her with its hammer's bottom tip right at her. "Oof!" Lire stumbled through the ground and then right at the nearby debris. "aargh.." She struggled to stand up, because of that blow, several of her ribs was broken and she suffers from a major concussion. She tried to reach for her bow, but the Elite Orc just stomped it right before her very eyes. "Damn!"
The Elite Orc slowly lifted its hammer while Lire watches in horror to her impending doom. "Is this it...? Is this the moment where it all ends?" said Lire softly under her breath, "Well, at least I did my best... Everyone... I'm sorry..." Lire slowly closed her eyes With full force, the monstrosity plummets its hammer upon Lire. She then prepared for the worst and to what fate has brought to her. The force of the blow created a gigantic impact.
Suddenly the everything was filled with silence. "I-Is this it..? Am I with the otherworld now..?" Lire then slowly opened her eyes and then it came to view. The cloaked stranger. Using only his right arm and his sword, he completely blocked and holding the massive attack of huge Orc from pulverizing her to a pulp. Lire's expression was filled with shock and awe. Just who is this person to wield such incredible strength?
"Hey."
The cloaked stranger began to speak, but Lire was much in awe to hear it. "Hey you there. Pointy ears." the stranger repeated, Lire then came back to her senses. "Wh-wha..? Me?" she stuttered, utterly confused at the moment. "How about giving me some little space here? You're kinda getting in the way." He cracked with a lint of sarcasm into it. "R-right..." slowly but surely, Lire quickly got up and then moved away from the stranger and the Elite Orc. She then stayed at a safe distance or so it seems.
With the elf archer maiden out of the way. The stranger now faced the monstrosity right in the eye. With a heave of strength, he deflects the Orc's massive hammer, throwing it off-balance. He cracked his knuckles and neck and grabbed his claymore. As Lire observed, the stranger held his sword in a reverse-grip and with a very unique combat stance. The Elite Orc then got up and then immediately swung its hammer directly at him. In a number of massive swings, The stranger just deflected all of it like it was a wooden sword. The Elite Orc now agitated, it then plummets its hammer to the ground creating a much more impact than the last. "Hrhrhr..." the Orc chuckled with a slight grin on its ugly face. With that impact, its impossible even for that person to deflect it.
As the cloud of dust cleared, the stranger appeared standing on the weighted end of the hammer. "Rrr...?!" the Orc and Lire was shocked. The stranger then cupped his left hand to his face and sighed, "That was very lame..." with that, the orc then swung its hammer upward. The stranger then used the force of the upward momentum to launch himself up in the air. While in mid-air, he channeled his energy unto his claymore with a sudden burst of downward speed,
Lightning Strike
Like a lightning bolt from the heavens, he performed a downward slash with lightning-speed downward momentum. The stranger's sword tore through the Elite Orc's body, splitting it in half with a clean sweep. The strong wind then blew off the stranger's cloak that has been covering his identity. A black-haired warrior....
Lire was in awe on this unknown warrior's power. "J-Just who is he...?" Lire was both amazed and awed.
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To be Continued...