“Bow before the twelfth lord!” Commanded an Abyss mage toward other abyss mages standing before a cliff.
They went on one knee as a portal opened and a woman clothed in black robe like the rest of them walked out.
Their breaths became misty at her presence. This was the woman who before joining the covenant of abyss worshipers earned 10 blood suns!
Meaning she had slain 10,000!
Currently, some said she had over 50,000 kill count and found freezing her preys while they beg for mercy.
She wasn’t always like this. Once, this woman was the brightest star in the north, the jewel of fallen Count Tigris, Liya Tigris!
Pulling down her hood, Liya revealed her pale white face and vibrant red lips that seemed as if they were soaked in blood.
“Winter will soon be upon us. Are they ready?”
Liya asked softly.
“They await you at the bottom of the cliff, Lady Twelve.”
Liya turned, approached the edge of the cliff and gazed down at the thousands of green skinned creatures featuring scars on their bulging muscles, battle skirts and various weapons of war in their hands.
Amongst them, there sat one. He sat on the carcass of a beast, his hair made entirely of flames and his muscles mass a lot less than the others but he had the a greater number of scars.
With skulls decorating his leather armour, the 7 foot tall orc king sat there. His eyes balls, literally made of flaming balls went up, meeting Liya’s gaze.
Liya smiled.
She turned toward the abyss mages. “Prepare. We march for the city hidden underneath the four mountains.”
“Ashkelon.” A mage spoke.
“Yes. Let the orcs ravage that city. Let them burn it to the ground. Let them satisfy their thirst for blood and wipe out all that breathes.”
The sharp chill In Liya’s voice made the abyss mages excited.
The abyss force fueled their negative desires and emotions, empowering them beyond a mage on the side of the magi force.
But for the abyss creatures, consuming life was a major defining trait of their very being. Since each life holds a trace of magi or battle force, devouring it would empower them.
Abyss force was the devourer of magi and battle force!
This was the reason the Glorious Age that thrived on Magi force fell.
“What about paradise?” An abyss mage inquired.
“Once we march for Ashkelon, they won’t be able to sit still but if they do, we shall march on Nineveh. Eventually, we will consume the north and wait for them to come meet death.”
Liya smiled.
“As you wish, Lady Twelve.”
“Any word about my brother, Cain?” She suddenly asked, the rage in her eyes intensifying.
She knew he was the one who killed her mother!
“He still hides in the Wildlands and hasn’t appeared in any public sighting.”
Liya scoffed. “We shall deal with that matter later then.”
With a wave of her hand, a portal appeared.
“Lady Twelve. What about Clan El?”
Liya turned. “Ignore them for now.”
Swoosh!
….
Step. Step.
A bald man clad in blue garments walked into a hall which had an open roof, allowing the soft moonlight to flood in.
In the middle of the hall was a large lake and by the lake was a man with long gray hair and golden eyes.
He clasped his hands behind him. His eyes monitored the peaceful lake and it seemed like he had lost himself into it’s serenity.
The footsteps of the intruder broke his immersion. Matthew El, sacred guardian of the sacred hall turned to Jonah El, a man with a bald head, bushy beard and a broad physique.
This man also had golden hair and his beard was gray.
“Elder Matthew…” Jonah said.
“You do not come here unless it’s a matter so critical that you cannot bear but force yourself to look upon my hideous face. What is it this time, Jonah?”
Mattew glanced at him with his eyes alone. His head didn’t move an inch.
“The rising faction. A boy hailed as Achilles the undefeated has united the Dothanites, Edomites and humans in the west. I am afraid he might become a threat.”
“Kill him then. You have men blessed by the Emperor Koi, one of the greatest mythical beast in history. It shouldn’t be too hard even if you have to face half giants.”
“You do not understand the gravity of the situation, Elder Matthew. This boy isn’t ordinary.”
Elder Matthew raised an eyebrow. “How so?”
“They say he bears the Kryos talent. In addition, he bears the forbidden name.” Jonah’s voice grew deep.
“Ashbourne.” Matthew’s eyes widened.
Jonah nodded. “That boy must be connected to that cursed family. The family that almost took the life of our first ancestor.”
“!!” Elder Matthew’s expression grew cold.
“Find him. Kill him and bring me his golden eyes!”
….
After a month of travel with 30,000 Dothanites, Asher finally set foot on the floating island once again.
It had begun to snow and the people wore thick attires. A loud horn blew as Asher and his men rode through the main street that led straight to the lord’s estate.
“My goodness. Who are those?” A small kid gasped, staring at the imposing Adeptus Paladins on their war horses racing after their lord.
The sight of these royal soldiers stunned the crowd.
“Those are the lord’s paladins. I hear they are the strongest warriors in these lands and beyond.”
Another kid, but much older responded.
“I want to be a paladin and ride with Lord Asher!”
The younger one said firmly.
‘Only if it were as easy. The past of these paladins isn’t as glorious as they look now.’ a citizen of Winter stronghold before the merge said in his mind as he eavesdropped on the kids’ conversation.
While this was going on, Sapphira gazed at the white haired man and his glorious men riding towards the lord’s estate.
“He’s back.”
Mia, the most prominent priestess in the crimson temple said.
Sapphira smiled. “He is and with hundreds of imperials and thousands of half giants.”
“He’s a remarkable lord. I envy you, Grand priestess.”
Sapphira glanced at Mia, smiled and veered her eyes back towards Asher’s face.
“Prepare for his arrival. Make sure the information about the orcs isn’t revealed to him immediately. He needs a night of proper rest first.”