General POV:
Achlys watched as the knight who identified himself as Edmond walked to his house. She couldn't help but smile as she remembered the look on his face from seeing him. He was a rare gem to find in a place like this.
Most D- tier planets wasn't worth much on any Church map, but this one really took the cake. Sparse forests, dying rivers, and people who wouldn't be missed. That's exactly why Achlys chose it. The low mana made the townsfolk frail, easy to sway with whispered promises of protection or a fistful of coin.
She followed Edmond to his home where he gathered his family without hesitation, leading her to the town square. Tonight, the sky was bruised with dusk as Achlys stood at the edge of the ramshackle church, her fingers idly tracing the tip of her knife. Edmond's eyes grew wide as he saw a terrifying scene before him.
Ten Rookie church members knelt in the dirt, blindfolded, wrists bound tight with coarse rope. Their pale uniforms were caked in mud and fear. Behind them, ten Midnight Covenant followers — loyal enough to pose for the charade — waited for her signal.
"You're trembling," Achlys said softly to the boy nearest her, leaning in until her face nearly brushed his ear. "Good. Fear keeps you alive." She tapped the flat of her blade against his neck, smiling as he flinched and started sobbing.
Edmond knelt on the ground with the rest of the town folk. Strangely, he noticed that not everyone was present. Jack the Weyline Keeper was missing. Logic told him what most likely happened to him, but he had to know.
"These are good people, miss. Jack was doing his job, he had a wife and three kids." Edmond says, keeping his voice and eyes low to not offend the monster before him.
"Bad things happen to good people all the time Edmond. Fortunately for him, I let him go." Achlys explains, not bothering to even look his way. She was more entertained on tormenting the Rookies.
Her words caused more confusion in Edmond. What was all this? What was their goal? He looked around trying to understand her purpose until suddenly, everything became clear. He knew all too well what an execution looked like. With sadden eyes, he turned to his family, placing a hand on their shoulders to comfort them, causing them to hush whimpers.
"I see. It's best that you don't waste any more time then, and do what you've already had your minds to do. The church won't come. We matter too little to them."
"Oh, they'll come. They can't have anyone seeing Rookies on their knees, especially not for ransom. The Church bleeds pride before anything else."
She pulled the recording rune from her pocket, fiddling with it for a moment. What a brilliant plan Lord Nidhogg came up with. Most would use this device to keep their moments with their family or event with friends or loved ones. The real beauty behind the device was that it was known that whatever was recorded was true. Should someone try to tamper with the memory held within, the whole device would crack.
They came at dawn. They always did. Dawn was hope, and the Church loved to arrive with the sun behind them, banners blazing gold in accord with their god. Achlys slipped back with the fleeting shadows, letting her ten braves take the spotlight now. Before she fully disappeared, she creeped next to Edmond.
"Be a good little boy and play your part now. Try anything and I'll make sure I'll have your family begging for death." Edmond nodded, the light fading as the sun rose. Facing her was death, defying her was worse than death. His only hope was that the church could stop her. But there was a feeling that they weren't up to the challenge.
A hundred figures marched over the hill, armor gleaming where the weak caught polished plates. At the front was a young, broad-shouldered Deacon, the Light sigil burned bright on his chest plate. Achlys couldn't see his eyes, hidden by a visor, but she imagined they were righteous and empty.
On the church's approach, the first Midnight Covenant member also came forward. Achlys held up her device, inputting mana into it so it could start recording.
"We are the Midnight Covenant, and we have a list of demands. Should they be met, no one gets hurt." He loudly proclaims.
The Deacon's scowl was all that can be seen as only his mouth was visible. "Oh, and what would you ask of the church?"
"First, the sum of ten million gold be delivered within the hour. Second, the motion that fairer treatment for those who do not support the church of Luminous. Third, any planet saved, or has the church intervention, does not have to be conjoined with the church and can remain a free planet." He shouts.
Edmond couldn't believe his ears. Each and every demand was outrageous, with only the first one being the most realistic at them even trying to accommodate. In response, the Deacon held his gauntleted fist in the air.
"Light Fracture," the Deacon intoned. The air split like glass, a dozen mirrored shards flying forward. The follower's head hit the dirt before his body did.
Achlys watched with cold amusement as the Church unit moved like a scythe through dry grass. There were no counteroffers, no demands, not even mercy. With no regard for the hostages, the church ran forward, cutting down any Midnight Covenant in their sights.
"Execute the hostages!" One commanded.
The Rookies eyes grew wide as three of them were killed in an instant, their necks spewing blood. However, the church remained undeterred. Within a matter of a minute, the last Midnight Covenant was struck down without him being able to mutter a sound.
The Rookies and townsfolks watched in silence at the scene that happened before them. The remaining Rookies recovered first, running towards the church with open arms. However, the town watched in horror as blood spilled the ground once again, as five bodies thudded to the ground.
"W...Why?" Edmond managed to ask.
The Deacon turned towards him. "Retired Knight Edmond. I grew up admiring you and your deeds. But as I see you now, kneeling in the mud like a dog; you disgust me. The Edmond I heard stories of would have fought to the death to keep these Rookies safe. Instead, you allowed them to be tainted with weakness. They were purged just like how all of you will be purged." As he's talking the church begins to surround the town. People begin to cry out as they know what happens next.
"Make sure there are no loose ends." The Deacon orders.
Blades flash with the light from the sun before they are stained with red from blood. Edmond rises to his feet, only to be kicked down and held down by three men. Fighting with all his strength but to no avail, he can only watch as his friends are cut down. He grows still as a body land next to him, and he looks into his grandson's lifeless eyes.
Knowing his turn was next, he did nothing to resist. The only thing he had on his mind was how did the church become so radical. No. It was always like this, he was just only blind to it. The blade comes down, piercing his chest, and a pool of blood forms under him as his head slowly falls. When silence came, it was thick with smoke and the iron scent of slaughter.
"Clean this place up. We have work to make sure the rest of the planet is..." The Deacon starts, but slow clapping interrupted him. The church rearm themselves, turning around for the source. The Deacon turned, boots squelching through the mess. He raised his visor — young, just as she thought, his cheeks speckled with blood.
"Show yourself, heretic." He shouts out.
Achlys stepped into the open. The wind tugged at her cloak, with a smile clear on her face as she was unable to hide it. The church was predictable and played their part. Now it was time for her to do hers.
"You killed them all," she said, voice smooth as oil. "Even your own Rookies. Did your light whisper that was righteous?"
"AMBUSH!" One of his own people cried out, setting the rest of them on alert.
From the crumbling houses, the dusty alleys, the tree line, shadows moved. Fifty more Midnight Covenant emerged, clad in black and white armor glinting dull in the morning sun. Hidden runes flared around the square, shimmering a sickening black veil as they trapped the church within.
The ambush shattered the Church unit's tight formation. Mana bolts flashed, knives found throats, and screams rose once more, different this time: fear, not faith. Achlys moved gracefully, weaving between attacks almost as if she was dancing. Her knives never missed their mark, hitting any openings in armor or any lethal spots at any opportunity given to her.
Seeing that his men had no chance at taking her down, the Deacon cut down his current opponent to match her. The two stood uncontested as the battle raged on around them.
He raised his staff, calling out the first spell:
"Pierce the Veil." A lance of light ripped through the air towards her. Achlys narrows her eyes as she falls to the ground and the lance continues on vaporizing three Midnight Covenant members behind her.
"Holy Binding." Chains of radiant light shot from his staff, wrapping around four more of her soldiers, pinning them to the ground as they screamed, light burning into their flesh, searing deep until they fell silent.
She pressed forward, closing the distance, slipping between her people and the Church soldiers, cutting throats, leaving streaks of black blood in her wake. The Deacon saw her coming and raised his staff one final time.
"Luminous Judgement." A column of pure light descended from the sky, blinding in its brilliance, disintegrating everything it touched. But Achlys still dodged, closing the gap. He tucked his staff away once more and pulled out his blade to face her at close range.
Their blades collided, clanging with sparks, as they engaged in a clash. Achlys pulled out a second blade, slashing for his throat which he merely blocks with his arm, leaving a shallow cut. He smiles as he shows her his gift that set him apart from everyone else. Luminous had blessed him with the art of divine healing.
He had watched her closely and knew that she was more like an assassin. So long as her knives didn't hit any of his vital points, he could tire her out and be victorious. A mistake on his part.
One.
Two.
Three.
Her blades found his wrist, then his shoulder, then his side.
Stepping back, she puts her blade away as she looked and raised her arms to the sky. Confused for only a second, he takes his staff back out to strike her down for her folly. "Luminous..."
The Deacon gasped as his body locked, mana freezing in his veins, the column of light faltering, flickering, then vanishing as he fell to his knees, eyes wide with confusion and rage.
She stood over him, pressing the tip of her blade under his chin, lifting his head so he could see the battlefield he had lost.
Midnight Covenant warriors overwhelmed the Church's soldiers, black mana crashing against light shields, tearing them apart. Black figures instantly rushing to the wounded, silencing their cries once and for all before moving to the next target.
"This is the light you follow?" she asked, her voice calm, even as the fires roared around them.
The Deacon's eyes were glassy, tears of pain slipping down his cheeks.
"You... are nothing... but monsters..." he choked.
Achlys tilted her head.
"Indeed. And you created us."
Then she slit his throat, clean and precise, letting his blood pool onto the blackened dirt, feeding it to the land that the Church had tried to cleanse with fire.
With the fall of their command, the church's ranks now were in more disarray. Those who tried to flee found themselves trapped by the veil and were swiftly dispatched. Some tried to surrender but were also cut down. Mercy wasn't in anyone's vocabulary today.
Achlys stood over the destroyed town, surveying the battlefield. Her soldiers were looting the remains of the church, salvaging weapons, staffs, and armor that will be repurposed into their own. Holding up the recording device for it to see all, she finishes with, "Behold the truth of the church. Is it really monstrous to show it to you?" And she stops the recording. She goes to walk away but paused as she sensed something. She walked over to Edmond, who still had the faintest hints of life.
"Hah. I guess there can be some more use to you." She pulled her blade once more and cut him three times. Maybe he'll regret not dying here. Achlys took one last look at the burning town, then turned away, her knives clean once more, ready for the next step in Lord Nidhogg's war.