"RAAAH!" a man shouted, holding a torch in one hand and a hatchet in the other.
An army of men, women, and even children stood behind him.
The door to the hospital burst open.
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 there ankles, locking them in place. A pair of purple eyes flickered alive right in middle, among the blue ones, malicious and cold.
He 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, piling corpses and resurrecting them.
As he worked, warriors from the village arrived, but his skeleton soldiers held them off.
"Fifty more," he whispered 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 in the main area. Don't worry about the bodies, focus on annihilation."
A moment passed
Zero now stood proud, chest puffed, soaking in the screams of terror echoing 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.
Then he saw them, a group of kids running.
He smirked. A deep purple aura began radiating 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, breaking the earth beneath him.
His book clung to his hip, as he pulled his cloak.
Putting his hood with sinister smile, purple glowing from his eyes, he was now fully ready.
He then moved, slithering through shadows, unseen, unheard, pursuing the children.
"An alleyway? In this chaos? You kids are brave..."
Inside the alley, danger lurked.
Skeleton hands burst through walls, swords slashed out of nowhere, bloodied and broken, screams echoing all around.
"Tough little runts…" Zero muttered, following closely.
All four kids made it inside. Zero pressed his ear to 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 the 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.
Xavier smirked. "Why don't you learn to aim better first, loser" he said smugly
"HEY!" Lyco stood up, ready to throw hands.
"Wait, Lyco!" the girl stopped him.
"But Alexis-"
"I know... and Xavier, that was uncalled for. You KNOW what happened…"
Xavier looked away, shame settling in.
Suddenly, another boy broke down in tears.
"Oh? A fifth one. He's on the ground too," Zero noted with interest.
"I don't want to die…" the boy, Raion, chanted.
"Damn it, Raion, quiet! You'll get us killed!" Xavier whispered harshly.
"Man up already," added Jacquez .
Jacquez continued, "We're better with our stuff than without it. It won't slow us down. You've got me."
Xavier sighed, "Whatever. Let's get this over with-fast."
Alright, Zero thought. Looks like they're packing. Time for the fun part
5 minutes later
"Coast is clear," Xavier whispered.
The kids took off.
Xavier and Raion in front, Jacquez behind them, lugging a large leather backpack. Alexis and Lyco followed.
They stayed in the alleyways to avoid to much exposure.
As they were walking, suddenly 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.
Jacquez used the opening to lift the debris. Xavier's ankle was hurt.
Alexis ran over to check his leg.
"looks, like you won't be able to run for a bit." Alexis said
"RAION!" she shouted.
"Huh?" Raion snapped out of his trance.
"Help Xavier!"
"I'll do it," Lyco interrupted with a calm smile.
Alexis admired him. Even Jacquez was surprised.
This wasn't the usual gullible Lyco, they saw someone else now. Someone reliable.
"Sorry for earlier," Xavier said from Lyco's back.
"It's okay," Lyco replied.
Xavier grinned. "Hey Lyco?"
"Yeah?"
"Good aim, buddy."
Lyco smiled.
Lyco now leading the group.
They escaped the alleys, reaching a blood-soaked street.
Five more skeletons appeared. Cracked. Rusted. Weapons-stained deep red.
"We've got to fight," Lyco declared.
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.
"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."
"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....?
Raion was now holding Xavier, but Alexis looked 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, I got something for you." 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 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.
"What?" he turned, just as a gaping hole opened in his stomach.
"L-" Alexis gasped....
As she watched him fall.
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 shinning 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…"
It all clicked.
She grabbed the red amulet hidden under her shirt. Her mana turned crimson.
Energy surged through her, she floated, vibrating with power.
With a single hand, she overpowered Zero. The crystal he had halted. 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, the rain pouring onto his 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, snapping back to reality.
There was still a battle to oversee.
Zero quickly made his way to the three shattered skeletons nearby.
"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."
He raised both hands. A surge of necrotic energy swirled from his palms, licking across the broken bones. The bones began to mend; 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 pair 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-heads aren't elegant. And it only gets worse when they're huge."
"I know, I know," Zero admitted. "Just thought it'd be better use of them."
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 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 skeletons emerged from the shadows.
"Come closer."
He placed both palms on their chests and channelled necrotic energy once again.
Their cracked bones began to repair, threads of black energy stitching them together.
Both skeletons promptly retrieved their weapons, one gripping 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 skeletons flanked him, armed and ready.
As they reached the outskirts of the chaos, Zero caught sight of a rider clashing with a spearman.
"Alana, take a look down there and tell me what's going on" he said.
Without hesitation, Alana emerged from his chest like a phantom wisp, floating forward to get a better view.
"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?" he muttered.
Augustus was in the middle of a clash, calmly duelling the spearman from horseback, while Arceus, his undead mount, paced with eerie stillness.
"And is that... the guard who took me to the hospital?" 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 Arceus, unfazed, unbothered, unblinking.
"I've been holding him off for thirty minutes," Jackson gasped.
"He hasn't budged. That horse… it's like a damn boulder. My spear can't even scratch him."
Augustus and Arceus simply watched, silent sentinels. No fatigue. No emotion. Just cold observation.
"He's 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 his short sword, aiming straight for Augustus.
But Augustus didn't move.
Arceus twisted beneath him, raising 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.
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 Arceus's 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 coolly.
Alana nodded. "there's something you should know about Augustus."
"Oh?"
"A necromancer's army has three foundational undead," Alana explained.
"The First Undead. That's Augustus. Self-explanatory.
The Forsworn Undead; not summoned, but born through willpower so intense, it manifests its own body.
And then, the Chosen; a soul you're bound to. In every way."
Zero blinked.
"...Huh."
"You'll see," Alana said.
"Alright then...."
Zeros eyes now narrowing as he drew closer to the fight, a malicious smile spreading across his face.
His violet aura flickered to life, crackling with anticipation.
He was getting excited.
This was what he lived for.
The tide shifted when a figure crashed through a line of skeletons, scattering bone and debris across the battlefield.
Jackson turned, confused.
Until his eyes widened in sudden hope.
It was the chief.
"Chief—!" Jackson called out, relief washing over his bruised features.
But the chief didn't say a word. He rushed forward and—without warning—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.
The chief turned away, planting 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."
Jackson nodded slowly, clutching his chest. The gravity of the moment was sinking 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—six foot six of honed muscle, his bloodline an elegant fusion of orc and elf. Brown skin shimmered in the torchlight, his lean physique wrapped in Armor only from the waist down. Long brown 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 Arceus, looked unfazed. But his body tensed.
An aura—a vile, overwhelming one—was now behind him.
He dismounted without hesitation.
The shift was instant. As soon as Zero arrived, Augustus dropped to one knee. His loyalty was immediate. Unquestioning.
"Augustus," Zero said, his voice sharp with expectation, "today you and Arceus will prove your worth. Show me… why you're my First Undead."
All the nearby skeletons stopped mid-motion. Zero snapped his fingers.
CLACK.
Bone soldiers turned and formed a perfect circle around the battlefield. All eyes—empty sockets and glowing runes alike—locked onto the scene.
Augustus's blue flames 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, the sound like three beasts screaming at once.
It barrelled into the fray, tearing through homes and warriors alike.
"...Not exactly what I meant," Zero muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Whatever."
He turned to the two skeletons beside 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, sabre ready. But Arceus 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, spinning hard to the side. His blade lashed out—
CLANG!
Sparks flew.
"What?! Not even a scratch?!" he gasped.
Arceus hadn't even reacted. The cut bounced off like steel against stone. Still galloping, Arceus 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 Arceus was already moving again, hooves pounding.
He charged—this time attempting to stomp the hybrid into the dirt.
"Again, huh?" Thranduruin muttered.
He spun once more—his timing perfect.
The clash of sabre and hoof created a shockwave, knocking Arceus slightly off balance.
Thranduruin didn't waste the moment.
He spun again, leaping into the air—torso level with Arceus—and delivered a brutal sidekick straight into the creature's ribs.
THUD.
Arceus 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 arms crossed. Alana floated beside him, her wisp body flickering, in ghost light
"Why does he keep spinning like that?" Zero asked, pointing.
"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."
"...Why do you care so much?" Zero asked, side-eyeing her.
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.
She laughed.
"What?" Zero asked, confused.
"Nothing," she replied with a playful grin.
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 grinned. "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 a lightning spear.
Augustus didn't react in time.
But Arceus 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.
"MYTHRANOR! YOU'RE HERE?! I THOUGHT YOU LEFT!"
From beyond the smoke, a voice called out.
"You think I'd leave your dumb Orlf ass to fight alone?"
A figure walked calmly through the ranks of frozen bone walkers, approaching the circle.
He was short—5'8", 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 floated beside him beneath his cape.
Mythranor.
"I'm so glad you're here," Thranduruin sighed in relief.
"This guy uses spells. You handle the caster—I'll take the 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, 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 BEGIN!"
"Alana—what rank do you put them at?"
She scanned the field, focused.
"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. Arceus is on the low end of E-Rank—he's still a magic beast, just a weak one. But either way, ranks only really show in battle."
"Then it's official" Zero grinned.
"Two Peak E-Ranks vs. Augustus and Arceus. ROUND ONE!"
Thranduruin readied his stance, legs coiled.
Mythranor opened his spell book, a shimmer of mana coating his body.
His cloak whipped behind him in a magical breeze.
"ONE."
Arceus pawed the ground, his violet-crimson eyes locked on the two enemies.
"TWO."
Augustus climbed onto Arceus'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 warriors launched forward at once—but this time, Augustus was ready.
As Arceus thundered across the battlefield, Augustus stood firm—then, with precise timing, ran up Arceus's 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 glowing with a preloaded Mana Bolt. At the same time, Augustus fired his own projectile—a small, greenish-black flame that shimmered with unholy energy.
BOOM.
The two spells collided mid-air. Sparks flew. A rippling shockwave burst out from the centre of impact—mana and static crackling in wild bursts. Both fighters staggered from the force but held their ground.
Then 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 energy clashed mid-air, casting wild shadows across the ruins.
Barriers flickered into place mid-dodge. Their silhouettes blinked in and out of shrouded motion—ghosts caught in a duel, spells whipping 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 grinned, eyes reflecting every flash of arcane chaos.
Meanwhile—
Thranduruin and Arceus met in a brutal display of raw power. No spells. No tricks.
Just sheer, physical might.
Their blows shook the earth. Hoof met blade. Blade met bone. Each clash cracked the dirt beneath them, creating shallow craters. Their movements were blurs—two forces locked in a savage dance of momentum and force.
At one point, they pushed each other back—Arceus rearing up, trying to crush Thranduruin with repeated stomps. Thranduruin leapt back, spun, slid, and sidestepped. But it wasn't enough.
"Tch—he's learning…" Thranduruin growled, gritting his teeth.
Arceus was adapting. His movements became tighter. Faster. Relentless.
He didn't give Thranduruin a second to breathe.
The pressure mounted. Blow after blow, Arceus chased him down, driving him further across the field. 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 shattering under the force. Dust kicked up, a gust of wind sweeping through the battlefield from the sheer impact. Time slowed for a moment as Thranduruin felt the full force of it in his arms, his bones straining under the pressure.
He was stuck. Locked in place.
From across the field, Augustus saw his chance.
With enough distance now between him and Mythranor, he raised his grimoire once more. The pages turned, glowing 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 legs and yanking tight.
Chains of bone also coiled around his 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, Arceus reared his head back and slammed it forward with full force.
WHAM.
The blow sent Thranduruin flying—skidding across the field—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 hardening.
"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 Arceus, charging 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 energy
Two massive boulders ripped free from the terrain, followed by a spray of sharp, jagged pebbles. Mythranor hurled the two huge stones straight at Arceus, 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, slipping off Arceus mid-charge. The smaller rocks either missed or passed through him harmlessly—his Damnation Shroud shimmering like a ghostly cloak.
Then—SNAP.
Augustus clicked his fingers mid-air.
A piercing, bone-rattling sound echoed across the field.
"GAAAH—!" Mythranor 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 Arceus 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, Arceus reared up on his hind legs, neighing in alarm and in that split-second, Mythranor thrust his other hand out, blasting Arceus with a telekinetic force that launched the beast backward.
Arceus flew through the air for a moment—then twisted and landed cleanly, hooves slamming into the earth as he skidded to a stop.
"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, sword drawn and aimed straight for his skull. His blade gleamed in the air, slicing down in a lethal arc.
But Arceus 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 cracking 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. Arceus met him halfway—but this time, Thranduruin dropped into a slide, skimming low and fast between the beast's legs.
"Not this time!"
In one slick move, he twisted out of the slide, spun anticlockwise, and sprang up with deadly precision—sword now just inches from Augustus's face.
But a skeletal hand was already there glowing with necrotic power, poised to strike before Thranduruin even landed his blow.
"A withered touch again?" alana sighed, exasperated.
Zero stood on the sideline, eyes wide with admiration.
"Now that's what I'm talking about."
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 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 into the side of a building in a cloud of dust and debris.
"I'll take it from here," Mythranor called out. "You handle the horse!"
Thranduruin nodded, turning to face Arceus—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, staring 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, stupid bonehead."
Smoke and dust shrouded Augustus's form. His eyes were unseen. His state unknown.
Didn't matter.
Mythranor thrust his hands into the earth again. Small rocks levitated—then launched rapidly, pelting the space to pressure Augustus, force him out.
While doing so, Mythranor began forming something larger. He fused multiple boulders together, slowly shaping a massive stone.
Then— "kindleburst!"
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 deadpan.
"…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.
Arceus took advantage.
THUD.
A devastating stomp caught Thrandruruin off-guard again.
But behind the dazed Myrthandor, a skull flew past.
He barely reacted—until—
"AUGSTUS!?" Zero shouted, a strange mix of joy and awe in his voice.
Through the smoke and flickering shadows, Augustus was regenerating, his dark cloak curling back around his now reformed body.
Myrthandor froze.
He felt it. A cold, creeping chill behind him.
"N-N-NO…" he gasped, spinning around and summoning a Mana Bolt on reflex.
Too slow.
Augustus already had him—gripping both his wrists tightly.
"What the he—ARGHH!" Myrthandor screamed.
His left wrist was decaying rapidly—Augustus had breached the barrier.
Flesh turned black and shrivelled. Bone showed.
He yanked his right hand away, then blasted Augustus with a telekinetic burst, hurling him into a wall.
"DAMMIT!! AHHH!"
Myrthandor stumbled back, panic settling in. His left hand hung limp—useless.
"Why… why does it feel like he's always two steps ahead!?"
He frantically flipped through his grimoire.
"Fireball…!"
Meanwhile, Thrandruruin and Arceus were locked in pure chaos.
The ground shattered beneath their blows.
Arceus was cracking now—his skeletal body showing signs of fatigue.
But Thrandruruin was worse off—bloodied, bruised, his sword chipped, armor torn, and his will the only thing holding him upright.
Arceus 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.
Then—Augustus stepped out from the smoke.
His cloak disappeared, his bone now showing
His eyes glowing a deep red pink.
"Hexbrand… is complete."
Arceus calmly walked behind Augustus.
Thrandruruin narrowed his eyes.
"This'll be easy," he grunted, stepping between Augustus and Myrthandor.
Myrthandor looked up at him—shaky, smiling.
"I trust you… Buy me time."
Thrandruruin gave a quiet nod, a faint spiritual glow shimmering around his battered body—even through the gloom.
"Yeah… but uh, got any potions?"
"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—Thrandruruin dodged.
But the moment he passed it—
CLING! The symbol latched onto his back.
"Curse 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 again. But something was wrong.
"My mana… my life force… it's draining…"
He looked down at his trembling hands—followed the glowing line of decay energy running down his wrist.
It led to—Augustus.
Augustus stood over Thrandruruin's broken body.
"THRANDRURUIN!!" Myrthandor shouted.
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.
"MANA BOLT!"
The massive spell surged forward, slamming into Augustus's face with a booming chain of explosions.
Smoke. Dust. Fire.
Augustus stood unmoved. Eyes glowing. Arms crossed.
Arceus 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."
"NO! I REFUSE TO DIE GIVING UP!! I'LL FIGHT TO THE VERY END!"
A pause.
Then—
WHOOM.
Thrandruruin opened his eyes. Mana flared around his tattered frame.
"You're right… Our last stand."
He stood—bleeding from every inch of his body.
"your right... it hurts so much… but I refuse to give up here, lets finish our service to the people of Viscura!"
"That's the chief I know." Myrthandor grinned.
"you with me solider!"
"YES SERGENT!" myrthandor said walking up beside him.
"Let's go."
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.
Arceus ran past him.
Augustus leapt from his back, his eye turned back to blazing blue glow, landing above Myrthandor, charging a spell of deadly power.
He was ready.
The Mana Bolt was just as big as Myrthandor himself.
But—
WAAAAIIIL—!!
Arceus let out a nightmarish scream, disrupting all magic.
The spell vanished.
Myrthandor stood stunned.
"Match…"
Augustus's Soul Flame Bolt was fully charged—greenish-black fire swirling with deadly energy.
Arceus reared back.
Augustus fired.
The flame didn't burn Thrandruruin body.
It burned his soul.
"It's all up to you now, Jackson....Gallantry...I served as the people 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 spirit.
His body convulsed—then crumpled, empty.
His soul… gone.
BOOM.
Arceus stomped the ground with full force.
A shockwave of cursed energy shattered the field—crushing Myrthandor to pieces. Only his inner robes remained, tattered and blood-soaked.
The dust settled.
Augustus landed gently.
His eyes 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 clapped with him.
"Augustus. Arceus. Today, you've both proven your worth."
He placed a hand on their foreheads.
They were enveloped in a surge of energy, 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 stepped up, nodding.
"And I'd like to say a few things."
She looked to Arceus.
"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."
Augustus… actually blushed.
"Also… great strategic opponent switching. Warriors can't defend their souls, and mages can't reinforce their bodies. Soul Flame on the warrior. Curse stomp on the mage. Genius."
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.