Outside a horde of men, women and children stood outside.
They made a circular space around the large, heavy wooden door of the medical area; where four men at a time rammed it, and everyone else stood behind with torches, hatchets and pitchforks causing a loud hubbub, in front of the medical area's blocked entrance.
One Guard stood on the side vigilant over the situation with a weapon at his side.
A female guard walked up behind him, "there still at it?"
The male guard was startled, but regained his posture "oh your back! But yeah, the medical area's door seems unnaturally tough, like it's blocked from one side."
They observed a man jumping at the door by himself and hurting his shoulder.
Both guards wore straight faces clearly unamused.
"They should have broken through already with all that effort…don't you think?" the female guard said.
"I thought the same, but it's been 15 minutes and they're still going at it."
"prehaps the door is barricaded…"
"prehaps. Did you tell the captain?"
"No. I ran into the lieutenant instead, and he told me to continue overseeing the situation and make sure no blood is shed until he comes back with some guards."
"Well if that's what the lieutenant said then so be it." The male guard shrugged, still looking at the horde of people.
The female guard crossed her arms "So, do you think the doctor has actually gone mad like everyone's saying?"
"No, not at all, everyone's completely overreacting as usual. The doctor is a wonderful person, and sure he does have a criminal past but so have a lot of people in, viscura. Regardless of that he has done so much good for the village and everyone knows that, yet for some reason it only takes one mistake for people to turn up with pitch forks"
Female guard quietly nods in agreement
"When you think about it could be something stupid like they all just locked themselves in." she wonders
"My point."
"Well we will, they just have to see when that door opens." as she says this.
The villagers go for one final ram, "RAAAH!"
Bursting the hospital door open.
The guards at the side ran forward intrigued.
Inside, darkness consumed the space, until blue flares ignited, one by one, glowing with a burning desire. The villagers, some sick, some curious, and some concerned, now stared in absolute shock at the entities before them.
Before they could even react, the dust at their feet stirred.
Skeletal hands erupted from the ground beneath them grabbing on to all of their ankles, locking them in place. A pair of purple eyes flickered alive right in the middle, among the blue ones, malicious and cold.
It spoke:
"Kill them all. Take their weapons."
The bone walkers swarmed, flooding into the crowd, cutting villagers down one by one. Some tried to resist, but the skeletal grips rendered them helpless. It was a massacre. From the sick to the strong, none were spared.
A sinister grin shone through the darkness as Zero emerged slowly from the hospital.
He surveyed the lifeless bodies then began his grim ritual; by piling corpses, and resurrecting them, as he worked, guards from the village arrived, but his skeleton soldiers held them off.
"Fifty more," he muttered with satisfaction, watching as his old skeletons, now bolstered by the newly risen, met the already losing soldiers head-on: relentless and fast.
"Extinguish the torches. Eliminate all remaining soldiers." he commanded.
"Then, eradicate the entire village. But thirty of you will stay here within the core of the village. Don't worry about the bodies, focus on annihilation."
A moment passed
Zero now stood proud, chest puffed, soaking in the screams of terror, which echoed around him.
"Alana, did you see that? My plan, flawless!" he chuckled, still boasting.
"I told you it would work! I'm a genius! Too smart! Hahaha!"
But Alana didn't answer.
"...Alana?" he called.
"Meh, whatever," he muttered, brushing it off.
So absorbed in his own gloating, he forgot, he was still on a battlefield, but then he saw them. A group of kids who ran across the battlefield ducking skeletal attacks. He smirked. A deep purple aura radiated off him.
"This will be fun," he said. Sensing his intentions, all his items immediately flew to him, wood and leaves still clinging to them. He planted his staff into the ground, cracking the earth beneath him.
His book clung to his hip, as he pulled his cloak on.
Flipped his hood up, and with an even more sinister smile, and a purple glint in his eyes. He slithered through shadows; unseen, unheard, pursuing the children.
"An alleyway? In this chaos? Brave indeed…"
Inside the alley, danger lurked.
Skeleton hands burst through walls, weapons slashed out of nowhere at them, bloodied and broken, screams echoed all around, but they all endured.
"Tough little runts," Zero sneered following closely.
All four kids snuck into a small barricaded home.
Zero pressed his ear against the wall, eavesdropping.
"Why are we even here?! We need to leave NOW," an older boy said sharply.
"But our belong-" a boy and girl started.
"Forget our belongings! If we don't get out of here, there won't BE any belongings, dummies!" he snapped.
"Don't yell at her, Xavier!" another boy protested.
"Shut it, Lyco. What do you know?" Xavier barked.
"I know more than you!" Lyco fired back.
"Why don't you learn to aim better first, butterfingers," Xavier replied smugly
"SAY THAT AGAIN, YOU WITLESS FOOL!" Lyco said belligerently.
Xavier shouted back adamantly "If I must, I said you're a damn cowardly fumbler at anything you do!"
Zero giggled "oooo, this is getting interesting quickly!"
As the commotion within the building got louder,
A voice stood in front stopping them.
"Stop it you ruffians, you're making too much noise we are still on the battlefield." She stopped them.
"But Alexis-" Lyco started
"Yes I know but you shouldn't have reacted, and Xavier, that was uncalled for. You're the oldest here, you should know better."
"You're right, sorry Alexis." Xavier replied, shame settled in his voice.
Suddenly, another boy broke down in tears.
"Oh? A fifth one. He's on the ground too," Zero noted with interest.
Everyone's attention shifted toward him.
"I don't want to die…" the boy chanted.
"Damn it, Raion, quiet! Did you not hear Alexis, you'll get us killed!" jacquez whispered harshly.
"Yeah, man up already, we literally came here for you so stop crying." Alexis added.
Jacquez continued, "Anyway we're better with our stuff than without it. It won't slow us down. You've got me."
Xavier sighed also, "Whatever. Let's get this over with-fast."
Alright, Zero thought. Looks like they're packing. Time for the fun part
5 minutes later
"The coast is clear," Xavier whispered.
Xavier left first he was now, reaching 5,11 in height his grey hair had grown longer now tied back in a bun, his droopy ears slightly longer and finally his blue eyes which had grown much sharper.
Then Raion scurried out, keeping close behind Xavier.
He was still the same little boy he was before nothing had changed.
Jacquez then came out behind after both of them lugging a large leather backpack, his spiky brown hair was now falling over his face slightly, his round coal eyes and body were even more bold as he stood at 6 feet tall now.
Alexis and Lyco came out last.
Alexis looked older but overall she was the same, still standing a inch over Raion.
Lyco was a half dwarf, who stood at 5,5 technically taller than Raion but shorter than Alexis while also being the same age as her.
He wore loose leather clothing, with a leather coat buttoned around him, hair was brown, eyes black and compared to the others his skin was a mixed colour.
All of them took off.
They stayed in the alleyways to avoid too much exposure though it proved not too helpful as suddenly as they were walking, a skeleton burst from the wall.
Debris flew, hitting Xavier, pinning his leg under a stone slab, Raion froze, paralyzed by fear.
The skeleton, broken and soaked in blood, lunged at Xavier.
"MANA BOLT!"
A blue blur zipped past, disintegrating the skeleton instantly.
Lyco stood there, panting.
Both Alexis and Jacquez looked at Lyco for a brief moment as he panted.
"Guys go to xavier cmon!" Lyco shouted.
Jacquez ran immediately to lift the debris.
Xavier's ankle was hurt badly
Alexis rushed over to try to help him up.
But he failed. "He can't stand up, someone needs to carry him." Alexis assessed
Her eyes darted toward the petrified Raion.
"RAION!" she shouted.
"Huh?" Raion snapped out of his trance.
"Help Xavier!"
Raion hesitated.
"I'll do it," Lyco interrupted with a calm smile.
Alexis and jacquez were both even more surprised.
Lyco ran over, bended down, as Alexis guided Xavier onto Lycos' back.
"No idea when you had the chance to learn a spell like that Lyco but I have got to admit, you've got good aim." Xavier said from Lyco's back.
"Haha thanks Xavier."
Lyco then refocussed
"Come now everyone follow my lead" Lyco asserted as he ran.
Alexis grabbed Raion by hand, and pulled him along.
Jacquez ran beside her as they gazed at Lyco they realised…
This wasn't the usual gullible Lyco, they saw someone else now. Someone reliable.
As they ran, words fell on Lycos ears.
"Also I am sorry for what I said earlier."
"It's okay," Lyco replied.
Xavier smiled.
Lyco led the group out of the alleys reaching a blood-soaked street.
Five more skeletons appeared. Cracked. Rusted. Weapons-stained deep red.
"We've got to fight," Lyco said.
Jacquez, picked up a femur, rushing in with Lyco. Xavier used his slingshot, balanced by Alexis, firing stones to unbalance the skeletons.
Jacquez crushed one, Lyco blasted another.
"Three more!" Lyco shouted.
One lunged at Lyco.
Too fast.
But a rock hit its knee.
It stumbled, and Jacquez smashed its skull.
"Thanks guys!"
"no problem" jacquez panted heavily, sweat coming down his face.
Xavier and Alexis thumbs up.
"Two more" Lyco muttered panting slightly
As skeletons approached
An eerie voice whispered in their minds
"Enough"
The skeletons retreated. No hesitation.
"They ran?" Alexis asked, surprised.
"Seems like it," Xavier replied. "Good timing, ammo was getting scarce."
Everyone regrouped and gathered themselves.
"Good work, everyone," Alexis smiled.
They started walking again.
Alexis started to think back, Raion had again not done a thing to help.
She couldn't stop thinking: What did I even see in him....?
They walked for a while.
Raion was now holding Xavier, but Alexis looked extra pale.
"You, okay?" Lyco asked gently.
"Yeah… It's just… the bodies. We knew almost everyone…"
"I know. But remember what Marve said, keep moving, no matter what."
"…Right," she nodded.
Lyco paused.
"Wait." He pulled two pieces of pink candy from his pocket.
"Candy?" she smiled.
"Yup!"
"You always carry candy?"
"For you, yeah."
Her mouth widening for moment then turning to a sweet smile
"Thanks Lyco. You're the best" she blushed.
He blushed back.
"Okay, lovebirds, we got to GO," Jacquez teased.
They ran faster, approaching the village gate, when a black cloaked figure blocked the path.
"What… is that?" Lyco whispered.
Everyone stopped.
"Why're we stopping?" Jacquez asked.
"Look ahead."
A shadowy figure, featureless, walked toward them.
Lyco powered up a mana bolt.
"I'll destroy it. This is it, I'll save everyone!"
"LYCO!" Everyone yelled.
"Why are you guys shouting?" gaping hole was in the place of where his stomach was.
Lycos eyes immediately lost all life, as he fell.
"L-" Alexis gasped....
Her one, hope was shattered.
she didn't cry.
she didn't feel vengeance.
she didn't freeze.
she felt… nothing. she was broken....
"DAMN IT!" Xavier screamed, pulling out his slingshot.
He fired a white crystal at Zero, perfect aim.
But Zero didn't flinch.
Dark mana enveloped the crystal stopping it mid-air.
"You really thought that would work?" Zero mocked, his grin shone through the shadow.
"Pathetic!"
He laughed
"Alexis!" a voice echoed in her mind.
Lyco's voice, memories of his encouragement flooded her.
"Never give up."
"Keep moving."
"You look better when you smile…"
Alexis remembered the courage Lyco showed, and it all clicked.
She grabbed the red amulet hidden under her clothes.. Her mana turned crimson.
Mana surged through her, she floated, vibrating with power.
With a single hand, she overpowered Zero. The crystal he had stopped. Now it blasted into his face, knocking him down as white mist exploded everywhere.
"RUN!" Jacquez shouted.
Raion bolted first with Xavier on his back still.
Jacquez picked Alexis up and they all escaped.
Zero lay on the ground, stunned.
"…~Hoho~…" a familiar voice cackled.
Alana hovered above him.
"You are a genius alright."
"A genius among idiots! Hoho~!"
Zero lay still, rain began to pour pattering against his thin mana barrier.
"What kind of necromancer gets outsmarted by kids? Not in all my years hohoho~!
"You really are the first one, Zero!"
Zero turned, burying his face in the dirt, pulling his hood up to drown out her laughter….
He stood up, and snapped back into reality.
There was still a battle to oversee.
He looked around seeing scattered bones everywhere, and an idea popped into his head.
Zero closed his eyes and raised both his hands up.
A surge of necrotic mana swirled from his palms, sending streak of mana outward, scooped up all the shattered pieces of bones in the area, as soon as the bones were accumulated in a pile, necrotic mana licked across each bone piece, broken, shattered and all.
"You're not seriously fixing those, are you?" Alana asked, raising an eyebrow.
"There's no point. They're done."
"You're right," Zero replied, cracking a grin. "But I've got a better idea."
They began to mend and meld together; not neatly, not precisely but violently grotesque. Pieces fused and tethered together by raw necrotic force, filling the cracks, reshaping the remains.
Alana stared, visibly unnerved.
This wasn't a resurrection. It was a convergence. An abomination of bone.
"Done," Zero said proudly.
What now stood before him was a hulking 15 foot, twisted mass of bone, jagged and unnatural. Three heads jutted out from its broad, distorted shoulders, each with glowing blue eyes.
Two massive pairs of arms extended down past its knees, with smaller limbs branching from various parts of its torso. It walked on two gnarled, pillar-like legs.
"Oh, so you just… bone-melded them," Alana said, unimpressed.
"Don't forget, bone-walkers aren't elegant. And it only gets worse when they're huge."
"I understand that." Zero admitted. "Just thought it'd be a better use of the waisted bones. "
He admired the monstrous creation like a proud sculptor.
"Your name," Zero said theatrically, "will be Skull Lord!"
The creature snapped its jaws in response, three sets of teeth grinding against each other like a grinding stone.
Alana frowned. "Seriously? Skull Lord? That's… childish."
Zero's brow twitched.
A vein bulged slightly on his temple, but he kept his cool, ignoring her.
"Anyway," he said through gritted teeth, "you two can come out now."
Two bonewalkers emerged from the shadows.
"Come closer."
He placed both palms on their ribs and channelled necrotic mana once again.
Their cracked bones began to repair, threads of violet mana stitching them together.
Both bonewalkers promptly retrieved their weapons, one gripped a long, chipped spear, the other nocking an arrow onto a worn but reliable bow.
"Alright. Let's move."
They descended the hill and returned to chaos.
Zero walked forward calmly, with Skull Lord towering behind him, so tall, only the six glowing blue eyes and a silhouette of three maws were visible above the swirling dust and smoke. The two freshly restored bonewalkers flanked him, armed and ready.
As they reached the core of the chaos, Zero caught sight of a horsemen clashing with a spearman.
"Alana, take a look down there and tell me what's going on," he said.
Alana emerged from his chest her wisp like form curling with violet mana, as she floated forward to get a better view for Zero.
"Here, look through my eyes," her voice echoed inside his mind.
Zero's vision synced with hers. As he walked forward, the battlefield unfolded before him with crisp detail.
"Wait… when did they get here?" Zero wondered.
Augustus was in the middle of a clash, calmly duelling the spearman from horseback while Arcaeus, his undead mount, paced with eerie stillness.
"And is that... the guard who took me to the medical area?" Zero said, squinting.
Jackson was battered and bleeding, his chest heaving with every breath.
"Huff… huff…"
He gripped his spear, sweat mixing with dirt on his brow. His movements were sluggish, while Augustus sat firm atop Arcaeus, unfazed, unbothered, unblinking.
"I've been holding that undead horse off for thirty minutes, and it hasn't budged even with all my effort, my spear can't even scratch it. It's like a damn boulder." Jackson gasped.
Augustus and Arcaeus simply watched like silent sentinels. No fatigue. No emotion. Just cold observation.
"And the undead horsemen is not even taking this fight seriously," Jackson spat.
"He's barely moved. Just sat there, staring me down like a hawk.
…It pisses me off!"
With a frustrated growl, Jackson charged this time sticking his spear into the ground, using it to vault himself forward. As he soared through the air, he drew a short sword from his belt, aiming straight for Augustus.
But Augustus didn't move.
Arcaeus twisted body beneath Jackson, and raised his hind legs,
CRACK.
The double-kick landed straight into Jackson's gut, launching him through the air like a ragdoll.
He hit the ground hard, choking on blood and memories.
A flash of Bridget's face lit up in his mind, as he tumbled across the earth.
Desperation surged through him. Mid-fall, he grabbed his embedded spear, using it to anchor and roll back into a crouch.
"Damn it… I knew horse bucks hurt, but not like that," he coughed, blood pooling at his lips.
He looked up with a glare that could burn through Armor.
Augustus remained still, casually brushing a hand through Arcaeus mane, silent praise exchanged between horsemen and steed. Neither cracked a smile. Neither looked proud.
But in truth, they were enjoying this.
"There's a clear gap in power," Zero commented
"It seems so." Alana agreed.
Zero's eyes narrowed as he drew closer to the fight, a malicious smile spreading across his face. His violet aura flickered to life, and crackled with anticipation…
Suddenly,
The tide shifted when a figure crashed through a line of bonewalkers scattered bone and debris across the battlefield.
Jackson turned, confused.
Until his eyes widened in sudden hope.
"Chief!" Jackson called out, relief washed over his bruised features.
But the chief didn't say a word. He rushed forward , and without warning he grabbed Jackson's jaw and forced a green elixir down his throat.
Jackson gagged at first but didn't resist. Whatever it was, he trusted him.
His body glowed mana circulated around him as his body started to heal up completely.
"Thanks chief." Jackson said in relief.
The chief turned away, showing a branded lion's head on his back as he planted a spear into the ground beside him.
Jackson's breath caught in his throat.
"That spear… no, it can't be Captain…?"
The chief finally spoke, firm and resolute: "I understand how you feel, Jackson. But you need to keep moving. You're the last one left. Warn them. all of them. This isn't just about our village anymore. This is about Viscura as a whole."
Jackson nodded slowly, clutching his chest. The gravity of the moment sunk in.
"Take the spear," the chief said, "There's a message tied to it. Get it to Leader Alcon. The caravan is at the village's front entrance. All our supplies are there. Join them."
He unsheathed a sleek black-and-silver saber.
"As for this…" he said quietly.
"I'll handle it."
He never turned away. He stayed facing forward, motionless, a wall of defiance against death itself.
Jackson looked at him with new reverence.
"I won't let you down, Thranduruin."
Thranduruin stood tall; 6,6 of honed muscle, his bloodline an elegant fusion of orc and elf. Brown skin shimmered from the torchlights in the battlefield his lean physique bare except from the waist down which was wrapped in plates metal covered in leather. Long brown braided hair, whipped in the wind, and his jet-black sabre glinted like a hungry fang. The silver lining on its edge caught every flicker of tension like flame, deadly and beautiful.
Augustus, still astride Arcaeus, looked unfazed. But his bones became unrested as a vile ,and an overwhelming presence was now behind him.
Understanding, he dismounted without hesitation.
The shift was instant. As soon as Zero arrived, Augustus dropped to one knee. His loyalty was immediate. Unquestioned.
"Augustus," Zero said, his voice sharp with expectation, "Today you and Arcaeus will prove your worth. Show me… why you're my First Undead."
All the nearby bonewalkers stopped mid-motion. Zero snapped his fingers.
CLACK.
All of the bonewalkers turned and formed a perfect spacious circle around the augustus and within the battlefield. All their glowing sockets glued on to the scene.
While others continued fighting outside the circle making sure no one got in.
Augustus's blue sockets flickered brighter. In Zero's mind, a chilling voice echoed.
"Yes, sir."
Zero smirked with satisfaction.
"Skull Lord," he commanded, "gather the fallen. Bring them back. Stack the corpses."
Skull lord the monstrous fusion of bone, hatred and undying loyalty.
Roared in response, he sounded like three monsters screaming at once.
It barrelled into the fray, tearing through homes and warriors alike.
"...Not exactly what I meant," Zero said, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Whatever."
He turned to the two skeletons on either side of him.
"You two help him out. He's going to need the support."
On the battlefield, Thranduruin prepared to strike.
He lunged forward with blistering speed, but Arcaeus met him head-on, dashing with terrifying momentum.
This horse is fast… Thranduruin thought, grinning with excitement.
Just before impact, he stepped in planting one foot, and spun hard to the side. His blade lashed out.
CLANG!
Sparks flew.
"What?! Not even a scratch?!" he gasped.
Arcaeus hadn't even reacted. The cut bounced off like steel against stone. Still galloping, Arcaeus skidded, then pivoted with unnatural precision.
He came to a complete halt.
"He stopped?" Thranduruin muttered, confused.
Then
A presence behind him. Cold. Immediate. Deadly.
Thranduruin instinctively tilted to the side just as a skeletal hand swiped for his neck.
Augustus.
Without hesitation, Thranduruin spun, slicing at the joint
SNAP.
Augustus's forearm fell to the ground, he then reeled back, taking distance.
"You really thought that cheap trick would work?" Thranduruin scoffed, spitting on the severed limb and kicking it aside.
But Arcaeus was already moving again, hooves pounding.
He charged, this time attempted to stomp the hybrid into the dirt.
"Again, huh?" Thranduruin said back facing Acaesus.
He spun once more, with perfect timing clashed with Arcaesus which created a bounce effect which redirected the momentum back on Arcaeus knocking him slightly off balance.
Thranduruin didn't waste the moment.
He spun again, jumped into the air torso level with Arcaeus who was on his hind legs and delivered a brutal sidekick straight into the creature's ribs.
THUD.
Arcaeus crashed back, sliding along the ground. But before Thranduruin could regain full footing.
Augustus was already on him. Palm outstretched. Trying to land a touch.
A Withering Touch, but Thranduruin's senses were sharp. He dodged. Again. And again.
Each time, Augustus struck air.
Up on a rooftop, Zero watched with his arms crossed. Alana floated beside him her wisp body flickered in ghost light
"Why does he keep spinning like that?" Zero pointed out.
"Fighting style" Alana answered lazily.
"Some warriors develop a specific rhythm or flair. Sometimes it gives them an edge… sometimes it just looks cool."
Zero nodded, mentally filing the info away.
"The real issue," Alana added with irritation, "is that Augustus keeps trying that damn Withering Touch. He's not learning. He hasn't landed a single hit."
"This is his first real battle," Zero replied softly. "He's experimenting. Testing spells. It's part of the process."
Alana scoffed. "Yeah, well, if he doesn't adapt soon, he's dead."
"...I mean he's already dead, I doubt he would care too much." Zero said unbothered.
She fell silent.
"Hmph. I still believe in him," Zero added with a faint smile.
This is probably the nicest I've ever seen him. Those kids must've done a number on his ego, she mused letting out a short chuckle.
"What?" Zero asked, confused.
"Nothing," her eyes narrowed back below.
Back below Thranduruin, tired of dodging, began to push back. His strikes were fast. Precise. Augustus now cloaked in a spectral shroud moved with ghostly steps, phasing slightly with each dodge.
"See? I told you," Zero smiled even bright. "He's getting better!"
"Yeah," Alana admitted. "Using the Damnation Shroud was a smart move."
"And moving like that makes it harder for solid hits to bypass the shroud," Zero added.
"Okay, when did you get so acquainted with warlock magic?" Alana teased.
"I didn't," he said calmly. "I just understood it."
Scary… she thought, quietly impressed.
Suddenly—
A bolt of mana streaked down from the sky like lightning
Augustus didn't react in time.
But Arcaeus did.
Throwing himself in front of his master and shielding him from the blast.
Smoke exploded outward as the spell hit.
Thranduruin's eyes widened at the sky
"MYTHRANOR! YOU'RE HERE?! I THOUGHT YOU LEFT!" His voice called out.
"You think I'd leave your dumb Orlf butt to fight alone?"
A figure descended, calmly from the sky.
The bone walkers stayed frozen in place.
His feet touched the ground in front of thrandurin
He was 5'8" in height, stocky, with messy brown-grey hair and thick, bushy brows. His patchy beard bristled with silver streaks.
His blue cloak, inscribed with glowing sigils, hummed faintly with warmth. A mage's uniform peeked beneath it, and a spellbook on his belt beneath his cape.
"I'm so glad you're here," Thranduruin sighed in relief.
Myrthandor stood proud, and looked straight at his opponents "So what's the plan chief?"
Thranduruin face hardened.
"You handle the undead caster and I'll take the undead horse."
"Sounds good."
"But don't burn all your mana," Thranduruin warned. "We've got bigger fish to fry later."
"Yeah, yeah. I'll be cautious." Myrthandor replied, glancing at Zero, joyfully spectating the battlefield atop a building.
"Also, I'm not a damn Orlf! I'm an Elf-Orc."
"Hahaha, but it's funny!"
"It's not." Thranduruin said his tone serious
"That was pretty fu-" Zero began.
"Don't start, Zero," Alana cut him off.
Zero suddenly stood, raising his arms like a ringmaster.
"LET THE REAL MATCH…oh wait" he looked back at alana.
"Alana, what rank do you put them at?"
She scanned the field.
"Hmm… Well, they're definitely trained. Based on confidence and performance, I'd say both are Peak E-Rank."
"And Augustus?"
"Barely Peak F-Rank. He's only used the simplest spells in his grimoire so far. Arcaeus on the other hand has shown a bit of competence, so the low end of E-Rank, but either way, ranks only really show in battle."
"So.. it's official then" Zero looked forward.
"Two Peak E-Ranks vs… Augustus and Arcaeus. ROUND ONE!"
Thranduruin readied his stance, legs coiled.
Mythranor opened his spell book, a shimmer of mana coated his body.
His cloak whipped behind him in a magical breeze.
"ONE."
Arcaeus clacked the ground, his violet-crimson sockets locked on the two enemies.
"TWO."
Augustus climbed onto Arcaeus's back, his grimoire hovering beside him. His severed arm now firmly reattached. The smoke and dust drifted from his face.
His burning gaze never wavered.
"THREE."
"GO!"
All four of them launched forward at once but this time, Augustus was ready.
As Arcaeus thundered across the battlefield, Augustus stood up on Arcaeus back then, with precise timing, ran up Arcaeus back as the beast galloped forward. At the last second, Augustus leapt from his partner's head, soaring through the air in a fluid arc.
Straight toward Mythranor.
The mage's eyes narrowed. He halted his sprint, hands glowed with a preloaded Mana Bolt. At the same time, from the air Augustus fired his own projectile; that was a greenish-black flame, which shimmered with unholy mana.
BOOM.
The two spells collided mid-air. Sparks of mana flew out from the centre of impact mana, and static crackled in wild bursts. Both fighters staggered from the force but held their ground.
As soon as Augustus' skeletal feet touched the ground.
The barrage began.
Augustus and Myrthandor unleashed a storm of magical bolts, each crackling with raw, focused power, glowing with eerie brilliance. The air warped with force as mana clashed mid-air, casting wild shadows across the ruins.
Barriers flickered around them mid-dodge. Their silhouettes blinked in and out of shrouded motion, ghosts caught in a duel, spells whipped past like rogue comets. It was less a fight, more a battle of wills wrapped in light and sound.
"And now the light show begins" Zero's face in awe as his eyes reflected every flash of arcane chaos.
Meanwhile,
Thranduruin and Arcaeus met in a brutal display of raw power. No spells. No tricks.
Just sheer, physical might.
Their blows shook the earth. Hoof met sabre. blade met bone. Each clash cracked the dirt beneath them, creating shallow craters. Their movements were quick, two forces locked in a savage dance of momentum and force.
At one point, they pushed each other back, Arcaeus reared up, trying to crush Thranduruin with repeated stomps. Thranduruin leapt back, spun, slid, and sidestepped. But it wasn't enough.
"Tch, it's learning…" Thranduruin growled, gritting his teeth.
Arcaeus adapted fast. His movements became tighter. Faster. More relentless.
He didn't give Thranduruin a second to breathe.
The pressure mounted. Blow after blow, Arcaeus chased him down, driving him further across the battlefield. Thranduruin's arms trembled. Sweat began to bead on his forehead.
And then
CRACK!
A stomp. Brutal. Clean. Perfectly timed.
It landed squarely on Thranduruin's guard, the ground beneath him shattered under the force. Dust kicked up, a gust of wind sweeping through the battlefield from the sheer impact. Thranduruin felt the full force of it in his arms, his flesh straining under the pressure.
He was stuck. Locked in place.
From across the battlefield, Augustus saw this.
With enough distance now between him and Mythranor, he raised his grimoire once more. The pages turned, glowed with spectral ink.
He whispered a dark phrase and the shadows behind Mythranor came alive.
Two long skeletal hands burst from the shadow on the ground, gripping the mage's ankles and yanking tight.
Chains of bone also coiled around his upper legs, locking him down.
"Wha?! Dammit!" Mythranor cursed, trying to twist free.
Augustus was already sprinting toward Arceus and Thranduruin.
"Thranduruin! WATCH OUT!" Mythranor shouted, forcing his grimoire open with a surge of will.
Thranduruin turned his head.
"Huh?"
But before he could process anything, Arceaus reared his head back and slammed it forward with full force.
WHAM.
The blow sent Thranduruin flying, skidding across the battlefield but he twisted in midair, landing on his feet, panting heavily.
Mythranor, meanwhile, gritted his teeth and forcefully dispelled his entanglement with a hard flick of his wrist and a muttered command. The skeletal hands crumbled into ash.
Now side by side again, the two veterans regrouped.
"Dammit," Mythranor muttered.
"That damn horse got stronger. I didn't realize how agile and fast it was until now… keeping up with me in close combat while applying constant pressure? I've never seen a monster do that in all my years living. Never."
Thranduruin said while catching his breath.
"All that?" Mythranor asked.
"Yeah," Thranduruin confirmed grimly.
Mythranor wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, gaze hardened.
"We definitely underestimated them. I never thought a skeleton of all things could keep up with me in a magic duel. And it's smart, too. This isn't some mindless summon. We've got to be careful."
"Yeah." Thranduruin cracked his neck, adjusting his stance.
"Let's put our all into it. Starting now."
"ROUND TWO BEGINS…!" Zero shouted, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.
For a split second silence.
Not a sound. Not a movement.
And then
"NOW!"
All four lunged forward again, Augustus mounted atop Arcaeus, they charged in as one.
Thranduruin rushed solo, blade drawn and eyes burning.
And Mythranor? He went wide, driving his hand into the earth.
The ground trembled with telekinetic mana.
Two massive boulders ripped free from the terrain, followed by a spray of sharp jagged rocks. Mythranor hurled the two huge stones straight at Arcaeus while dozens of rock shards shot toward Augustus like a high-speed scattershot.
Augustus reacted instantly.
From, Thranduruin's shadow skeletal hands erupted snagging his ankles, and yanking him down.
THUD.
Thranduruin slammed into the dirt with a grunt.
At the same time, Augustus dove to the side, and slipped off Arcaeus mid-charge. The smaller rocks either missed or passed through him harmlessly his Damnation Shroud shimmered like a ghostly cloak.
Then SNAP.
Augustus clicked his fingers mid-air.
A piercing, bone-rattling sound echoed across the field.
"GAAAH!" Mythrandor suddenly gripped his head in agony.
The boulders he was controlling wavered mid-flight, momentum faltering.
SNAP. Another snap this time as Augustus landed.
Mythranor's concentration shattered, and Arcaeus ploughed through, tearing the crumbling stones to pieces with his solid frame.
But just before he could crush Mythranor
"kindleburst!" the mage roared.
A fierce flame erupted in his hand. It flared upward so intensely, Arcaeus reared up on his hind legs, and neighed in alarm and in that split-second, Mythranor thrust his other hand out, blasted Arcaeus with a telekinetic force that launched the undead beast backward.
Arcaeus flew through the air for a moment, then twisted and landed cleanly, hooves slamming into the earth as he skidded to a halt.
"Thranduruin, get up!" Mythranor barked.
Thranduruin growled, wrenching one leg free from the skeletal grasp. Mythranor dispelled the other with a swift flick of his grimoire.
Thranduruin was up.
And then a blur.
He lunged at Augustus with lightning-fast speed, sabre drawn and aimed straight for his skull. His blade gleamed in the air, slicing down in a lethal arc.
But Arcaeus was already moving.
WHAM!
A devastating ram intercepted Thranduruin mid-strike.
The impact echoed through the field. His body twisted unnaturally; the sound of a bone creaking filled the air.
Still, Thranduruin planted his blade into the dirt, skidding to a halt, his knees shaking, but he stood.
"I'm done with these games, dammit!!" Thranduruin roared.
"Wait! Thranduruin, you can't rush in!" Mythranor called out.
But his words fell on deaf ears.
Thranduruin charged full force. Arcaeus met him halfway but this time, Thranduruin dropped into a slide, skimming low and fast between the undead's legs.
"Not this time!"
In one slick move, he twisted out of the slide, spun anticlockwise, and sprang up with a deadly precision, sword now just inches from Augustus's face.
But Augustus saw all of this, a skeletal hand already glowing with necrotic power, poised to strike just before Thranduruin even landed his blow.
"A withered touch again?" Alana sighed, exasperated.
"OOO a trade off!" Zero eyes widened with admiration as he sat on the building, legs crossed.
But before either of them could strike—
BOOM!
A thin mana barrier shimmered, and Mythranor suddenly blasted in from the left side, flying with incredible speed, his cloak's inscriptions shining.
His palm was charged with a concentrated Mana Bolt.
Augustus had only a split-second to glance
FWOOSH.
A surge of blue light enveloped him, the blast slamming him across the battlefield. He crashed through the ring of skeletons and into a building, dust and smoke billowed from the place.
Thranduruin rubs his neck, "thanks! Sorry i got a bit carrie-"
"Don't worry about it, let's just look out for each other like always chief, I'll take it from here, You handle the horse!" Mythranor called out as he flew forward.
Thranduruin nodded, turning to face Arcaeus who stood tall and silent, regal in posture, its skeletal form somehow… elegant.
"Come on then," Thranduruin muttered, charging again.
Meanwhile, Mythranor hovered in the air, stared down the now half-buried Augustus on the other side of the street.
"Time for everything I've got. I'm going to destroy you, damned skeleton!"
Smoke and dust shrouded Augustus's form. His blue flamed sockets were unseen. His state is unknown.
It didn't matter.
Mythranor thrust his hands downwards. Small rocks levitated then launched rapidly, pelting the space to pressure Augustus, trying to force him out into view, but he didn't even appear.
"Whatever he must be stuck in there, it's time to give it everything I have!"
While doing so, Mythrandor began forming something larger. He fused multiple boulders together, and slowly shaped them into a massive stone.
"Kindleburst!" he flicked his fingers.
The entire thing ignited, flames curling around the massive boulder.
"THIS IS THE PEAK OF F-TIER MAGIC!!" Mythranor roared, triumphant.
...
Cut to Alana and Zero watching.
Alana stared, completely deadpanned.
"…So basic spells."
Zero blinked once, matching her tone.
"Lame."
They both nodded silently, in perfect agreement.
Myrthandor launched the blazing boulder with all his might. As it flew, the fire around it flickered shifting into unnatural hues greens, purples, black red… distorting the very light around it.
The glow blinded everyone for a split second.
Arcaeus took advantage.
THUD.
A devastating stomp caught Thrandruruin off-guard again, as he just guarded against it.
"I never thought my hardest fight would be an undead horse of all things" thranduruin thought mulling over his life up until now
But behind the dazed Myrthandor, a skull flew past him, along with other bone pieces that flew in after the skull.
But he didn't realise and instead with his eyes shut he shouted "that trick won't stop your destruction bone head!" he pushed through it the spell finally exploded causing fire and large debris to fly outward, the building and the area around it was left as a mini crater in depth.
Mythrandor opened his eyes and only had a moment of respite before he froze feeling a cold creeping chill behind him.
He felt it. A cold, creeping chill behind him.
"AUGSTUS!?" Zero shouted, a strange mix of joy and awe in his voice.
Through the smoke and flickering shadows, Augustus used bones from the other bonewalkers he crashed into earlier to magically build himself back up, his dark cloak curled back around his now reformed body.
"N-N-NO…" Mythrandor gasped, spinning around and summoning a Mana Bolt on reflex.
Too slow.
Augustus already had him gripping both his wrists tightly.
"What in the- ARGHH!" Myrthandor screamed.
His left wrist was decaying rapidly Augustus had breached the barrier.
The flesh turned black and shrivelled. Bone showed.
"DAMMIT!! AHHH!"
He yanked his right hand away, "GET OFF ME YOU WRETCHED FIEND!" then blasted Augustus with all his power; the telekinetic burst caused a mini shockwave in the air.
Which forced Augustus back further into the air, then they both rapidly plummeted to the ground, Augustus crashed down hard into another row of bonewalkers while myrthandor plummeted but managed to break his fall with his cloak's levitation.
Myrthandor in pain, panic settled in.
"I don't have much mana left dammit that combo spell was supposed to take it out for good."
His left hand hung limp, useless.
Myrthandor grabbed his spell book, and placed it on the ground frantically flipped through it.
"Why… why does it feel like he's always two steps ahead!?" his thoughts churned.
Then he found it.
"Fireball…!"
Meanwhile, Thrandruruin and Arcaeus were locked in pure chaos.
The ground shattered beneath their blows.
Arcaeus was now cracking his skeletal body showing signs of fatigue.
But Thrandruruin was worse off bloodied, bruised, his sabre chipped, armor torn, and his will the only thing holding him upright.
Arcaeus stomped again, splintering the earth.
Thrandruruin leapt back, gasping. He looked over and saw Myrthandor, slumped and barely standing. One arm limp, his spell only halfway formed as he hastily chants.
Then Augustus stepped out from the smoke.
His cloak disappeared, his bone now showed
His sockets glowed a deep red pink.
"Hexbrand… is complete."
Arcaeus had already left the fight with Thrandruruin and calmly walked behind Augustus.
Thrandruruin narrowed his eyes.
"This'll be easy," he grunted, stepping between Augustus and Myrthandor.
Myrthandor looked up at thrandruins back, a shaky smile formed on his face.
"I trust you… Buy me time."
Thrandruruin gave a quiet nod, thin mana coated his body, it shimmered faintly around his battered body—even through the gloom.
Then he turned around, embarrassed slightly.
"Yeah… but uh, got any potions?"
Mythrandor laughs softly and takes two flask out of a pouch he has.
"here"
They both chugged them.
Then smashed the flasks to the ground.
Pain vanished. Adrenaline returned. Strength returned.
"One more round."
Augustus opened his grimoire.
"Hex."
Pink symbols floated from the pages. He grabbed one with two fingers and whispered:
"Brand."
He infused the hex with white light and threw it.
It moved slowly and Thrandruruin dodged.
But the moment he passed i
CLING! The symbol latched onto his back.
"Hex complete."
Thrandruruin's strength halved instantly.
Still, he pressed forward, slashing Augustus's rib open.
Augustus didn't flinch. It healed immediately.
CRACK. Augustus punched him.
Thrandruruin staggered. Then another punch.
A slash? Augustus healed. A limb cut off? It grew back.
One slash = 1 punch.
A limb cut = 2 punches.
Thrandruruin grew desperate he aimed to take Augustus's head off
BOOM. Augustus beat him to it with a punch that knocked him to the ground.
Bloodied. Shaking. Dying.
"Haha… imagine getting beat up by a bonehead," Zero chuckled.
"You're one to talk, mister I-get-beat-by-kids," Alana added, smirking.
"SHUT UP," Zero hissed. "We were supposed to leave that behind!"
"Too funny to leave. Sorry~ hohoho~ ♡"
Back in the battlefield
Myrthandor tried casting continuously, but something was wrong.
"My mana… it's draining…"
He looked down at his good hand and followed a glowing line of decay mana running down his wrist.
It led to Augustus.
Augustus stood over Thrandruruin's broken body.
"No way he's been using this to heal himself against Thranduruin, no wonder he's losing!"
He pulled out a knife, levitating it with telekinesis as he heated the blade with a quick kindleburst. Clenching his cloak between his teeth, he severed his wrist in one clean motion.
"AAAHHHHH!"
The wound hissed skin seared shut by the burning edge. No blood. Just the smell of scorched flesh.
He ran forward fuelled by fury.
"THRANDRURUIN!!" Myrthandor shouted.
"TAKE THIS STARLIGHT MANA BOLTS!!"
The massive blue ball manifested in front of him had many other mana bolts within it, once he got close it surged forward, slamming into Augustus's frame with a booming chain of explosions.
Smoke. Dust. Fire.
Augustus stood unmoved. Eyes glowing. Arms crossed.
Arcaeus walked forward, calm and unhurried.
Augustus leapt up and landed on his back in a single motion.
Myrthandor's breath was ragged. He looked back at Thrandruruin—motionless, bleeding out.
With a desperate cry, he lifted him off the ground with telekinesis, dragging him back toward safety.
"Thrandruruin, GET UP! We're going to DIE—!"
A faint murmur.
"…We're already dead."
"Thranduruin get up right now we are going to fight to the very end, as gallantry i refuse to die like this don't you!"
A pause.
Then—
WHOOM.
Thrandruruin opened his eyes. Mana flared around his tattered frame.
"You're right and we best use the rest of my strength buying time for Jackson too."
He stood bleeding from every inch of his body.
"Let's finish our service to the people of Viscura!"
"That's the chief I know." Myrthandor grinned.
"you with me soldier!"
"YES SERGENT!" myrthandor said, walking up beside him.
They prepared one last charge.
Myrthandor summoned the largest Mana Bolt he had ever formed.
Thranduruin ran forward again.
"WITH EVERYTHING!" they shouted in unison.
But before they could do anything else.
SHUNK.
Ghostly chains wrapped around Thrandruruin, paralyzing him.
"sergeant!!!" Myrthandor yelled.
Arcaus ran toward past thrandurin and Augsutsu leapt from his back, sockets turning back to a blazing blue glow, mid air he charged a spell of deadly power.
He was ready.
The Mana Bolt was just as big as Myrthandor himself.
But
WAAAAIIIL!!
Arcaeus let out a nightmarish scream, disrupting all magic except Augustus' spell.
The spell vanished.
Myrthandor stood stunned.
"Match…"
Augustus's Soul Flame Bolt was fully charged greenish-black fire swirling with deadly mana above the trapped Thranduruin.
Arcaeus reared back.
Augustus fired.
The flame didn't burn Thrandruruin's body.
It burned his soul.
"It's all up to you now, Jackson....Gallantry...I served as the people's shield till the end." he whispered, a tear slipping down his cheek as his eyes fluttered shut.
His mouth opened in a silent scream as the fire swallowed his soul.
His body convulsed then crumpled, empty.
His soul… gone.
BOOM.
Arcaeus stomped the ground with full force.
A shockwave of cursed mana shattered the field crushing Myrthandor to pieces. Only his inner robes remained, tattered and blood-soaked.
The dust settled.
Augustus landed gently.
His sockets faded back to a soft blue glow.
Arceus stepped beside him, skeletal form still cracked—but standing proud.
They both knelt before Zero, who now stood at the battlefield's edge.
Zero clapped.
All the skeletons that were left clapped with him.
"Augustus. Arcaeus. Today, you've both proven your worth."
He placed a hand on their foreheads.
They were enveloped in a surge of mana, fully restored.
"Augustus… you are the first of my Undead. Your authority is now equal to mine—you may command and create your own army."
He smiled, proud.
Alana floated up.
"And I'd like to say a few things."
She looked at Arcaeus.
"Excellent adaptability. Your pressure forced them to stay alert constantly. You were the reason they couldn't relax."
Alana turned to Augustus.
"And you… You started clumsy. But you adapted perfectly. From that head toss to your regeneration trick, to baiting that old mage and bleeding him dry—brilliant. You made every move count. Every second even."
Augustus… actually blushed.
"Also… great strategic opponent switching. Warriors can't defend their souls, and mages can't reinforce their bodies. Soul attack on the warrior. Physcial attack on the mage. impressive."
Zero smiled, arms crossed.
"That was a great fight."
"Agreed. Thrilling." Alana nodded.
Zero suddenly perked up.
"ALSO ALANA I WON THE BET!"
"Huh?"
"What do I get!?" Zero demanded, grinning.
"I can tell you your next point of interest," she offered dryly.
"Boring… Maybe later."
Zero rolled his eyes, though he was definitely considering it.
END.