《Blood of the Past》


 Chapter: I The Awakening

    As nightfall crept in and covered the lands he moved towards the tower he saw in the distance. As he walked through the forests he looked all around able to see just as if it was day. He saw no animals, no birds, no beasts of the deep wilderness, and heard naught but the steps he took and the shrieking howl of the wind. He felt in himself something churn and writhe, he needed to feed, and soon.


    He came upon the abandoned castle and found some traveling merchants. He waited until they slept and then he made his move. He snuck down to the camp quieter than the night itself, and he fed on the merchants. He was indeed, a vampire. He forgot the lust that blood had and he could not enjoy himself enough. He did not recognize the insignias that the merchants wore, this was not a kingdom he had the memory of. He searched the merchants wares and found gear for himself as well as maps of the area.


    He entered the ruins of the castle and was surprised to find his suspicions were right, the castle was abandoned. He spent much of the next few days searching and finding everything within this castle. He noticed it was once a beloved throne to the king of the land, and this was when he became angry. He recognized this king, this was the sole man responsible for the attacks and wars on his people, King Chazzar. This king''s sole purpose in his life was an oath to end the Vampires and free the human race. Although he knew that Chazzar was mortal and could not have lived this long he felt an deepenign anger and a need for revenge against him and the race of humans.


    Whilst on his search his name popped into his head as he searched the many murals showing the massive wars led by King Chazzar on him and his peoples. His name was Revian. He was an esteemed General under the command of the Vampiric Court. A group of the most powerful Vampire Lords in the land, but they were not powerful engough as it would seem. Revian continued on and he soon was deadset on having his revenge, by any means neccesary. He would make the humans feel his pain, and he would raise a new order of Vampires, and they would rule the land with absolute power.


    His mind raced with his plans for renewing the castle which he claimed under his peoples name. He soon found every secret within the castle and made his way back to where he had slaughtered the merchants and looked down the long and winding road from which they had come. He took thier ragged clothes and fashioned himself a hood to hide himself from the suns scorching nature and he made his way down the road. He would first start to search for any survivors other than himself. hoping they had not entered a slumber as he had.


    He came upon a small village which he did not know and began to search for rumors. He stopped by the towns tavern and asked the many denizens there if they knew about any vampire sightings nearby and they just laughed at him and went back to their drinking. He was nearing the end of his patience when a figure tucked far back within a dark corner peered at him from under a pitch black hood under tarnished and battle weary plate.


    Revian approached this figure when he noticed at once who it was, it was a Hellatic. The Hellatic are vampire hunters sent out by Chazzar they were supposed ''Warriors of God''. Revian asked the man, "Do you know of any vampire sightings nearby?" The Hellatic hissed at Revian, "Vampires? They have not been seen in centuries around these parts. Why must you ask stranger?" Revian said, "I am a bounty hunter searching on rumors of a vampire that was sighted here, with a rather large reward that I could use. Will you be of any help or shall I leave you be?"


    The Hellatic laughed as he stood up and he slowly approached Revian and said, "Vampires have been destroyed, there are none save a few select left. They however hid from their fates like cowards. Me and my brethren slaughtered those monsters without mercy..." The Hellatic slowly returned to his seat while he continued, "...Without restraint. I see no proof there are any left here." Revian said, "I was tracking one when I came upon a castle, abandoned and in ruin, along with a massacre. Two merchants had been ambushed by something, somethig that just wasn''t a man."


    "They had cuts but no blood was coming from them, they were paler than a winters snow, and they had bites on their necks...." Revian went on to divulge many over exaggerated details trying to convince this Hellatic to give him more information on his peoples, without seeming too suspicious. The Hellatic answered, "A vampire, hiding out within the great ruins of Vertruda? I will need to see this for myself, but know this. If there is no vampire there, I will find you, and I will kill you, with the same unbridled fury I slayed hundreds of those wretched beasts."Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    Revian watched as the Hellatic rushed out of the tavern in the direction of the old castle which he now knew the name of. He knew that King Chazzar only had a son and a daughter, his daughter was killed in battle as she fled. Revian remembered this day very vividly. Chazzars son, Othren, was leading a battalion against an outpost of Vampires that had captured the Kings daughter and threatened to turn her. King Chazzar loved his daughter more than anything, as did Othren. As Othren slaughtered his way towards his sister one the lord of the outpost, Lord Vergrat, had taken the King''s daughter and took her to the highest tower of the outpost. Once Othren reached the top of the tower and confronted Lord Vergrat, the vampire lord laughed as he flung his sister from the tower.


    Revian at this time was leading a counter attack against the Kings forces when he looked up at the tower. He saw the Kings daughter hurtling towards the ground and her body slam into the mud. As he watched her lifeless body slowly become swallowed by the mud and rain he looked back to the tower and saw Othren hoisting Lord Vergrats head high screaming. Othren hurtled the Lord''s head out over the battlefield and it landed near Revian. Vergrat had been his teacher, his mentor, and his friend. Out of this he soon learned, caused Othren years after the war had been over when he was made King, to name a castle after his sister, Castle Vertruda.


    Revian snapped out of his daydream when a bar fight broke out, it was a mere brawl until one man shattered a mug and drove it into the throat of the man next to him. Once this happend screams rang out and it became a slaughter. Stools being broken over backs, tables being smashed by bodies, and heads beind driven into the ground with boots. Revian saw the blood, and his hunger set in, he couldn''t control himself. He drew his sword and cut down each and every person within the tavern, including the women and children. Revian then fed, he fed and fulfilled the centuries of sleep he had just been through.


    Once he was finished Revian quickly left the tavern, and the town altogether. He rushed back towards the caslte, he had a bone to pick. He reached the castle extremely quickly and he setup for the night within it. Once night began to rise a deep red radiated from the sky where the moon was rising. Revian looked at this and saw it as a sign, he was not alone. He suddenly felt a surge of pain ripple through his body and even his soul. Revian dropped and cried out in pain. Once it wore off he stood and he felt different, changed almost, stronger. He looked at his hands and was enthralled by fear. He had only seen this one other time.


    He flashed back to the final moments of the war, where the lord of his order ascended beyond any normal vampire, beyond every binding of nature. This lord is the second heir in line of the first of his order, and of the pure bloodline of vampire, Lord Xeroch of the Dracul line. Xeroch was one of the strongest Vampires to ever exist, most closely because of his ties to the first vampire, Dracula. Revian remembered a transformation Xeroch did during battle and it was immensely powerful and demonic looking. Xeroch took the form of a large bipedal beast with immensely large black wings.


    Within this form Xeroch blasted through battalions of men with little to no effort, slaughtering and destorying any in his path. Xeroch was then faced by the entire Hellatic Brotherhood, and King Chazzar. Xeroch let loose a shout that echoed off of the entire battlefield and the souls of all, vampire and human alike. Chazzar and the Hellatics charged Xeroch but were unaware of his strength and speed. Xeroch killed all but four of the Hellatics and savagely wounded King Chazzar, when he was suddenly stabbed from behind. Othren had arrived in the battle to save his father and end the war. As Othren drove his blade into the back of Xeroch he let loose another shout and all of the Vampires rushed to his side, surrounding Othren, the Hellatics, and the King. Just when they thought the battle was lost, Xeroch was pierced by a rogue spear thrown from an unknown soldier who was immediatley dismembered by several Vampires.


    Othren saw this as his moment, he drew his fathers sword and charged the wounded Xeroch, and in one fell swing, lopped off the head of the Vampires Lord of Lords. Othren shouted and sent a rally cry through the human forces and they drove the VFampires out and hunted them down to kill each and every last one. Revian saw first hand this power that this form had. He did not understand how this was possible until he remembered the origin of this power that he was told by Xeroch that Dracula had gotten it from. Dracula had made a deal, a deal with the Devil and this power was able to be given to those strong enough in the Devil''s eyes to bring terror upon the world.


    Revian decided that if the Devil wanted him to have this strength then the Devil too wanted revenge on the men of the world. He would be glad to bring about an age of darkness in which the humans suffered terribly. He waited as the forest and castle plunged into darkness. His vision was hieghtened along with his hearing and natural abilities. Deep within the night was when he noticed the Hellatic arrive at the castle and he watched the warrior dismount his horse. He readied himself for a fight, he had not faced a Hellatic in battle but heard the stories told by the survivors, it would not be an easy one.

 Chapter: II The Realization

    As Revian sat perched in an open window like a crow bathed in darkness sitting upon a branch at night, he was calm. He watched the Hellatic move around and search the castle. Soon the Hellatic found the bodies of the two merchants whom Revian had killed previously. When the Hellatic noticed the wounds on the neck he drew his sword and began to walk more carefully. The Hellatic cursed under his breath and went deeper into the castle out of Revian''s sight.


    Revian moved and followed the Hellatic through the castle, every step leading closer and closer to an inevitable clash between the two. Revian moved past a window from which the blood red moon poured a crimson red light across the corridor he was in when he stopped dead in his tracks. He had peered into a room and saw within a very old case a set of armour, the armour of Xeroch.


    Revian also saw his sword, still gleaming with the blood red rubies in the hilt shining brighter than the stars in the sky. The blade seemed to hum to Revian, to call him. He entered the room, the Hellatic leaving his mind for the moment briefly. Revian looked for a way to open the case but found none. The armour however was a different story altogether. Sat upon a decrepit wooden mannequin sat the armour of the Lord of all Vampires. Revian took this armour and put it on, it fit loosely at first but then seemed to warp and conform to his body perfectly, as if this was another piece of devilish magic.


    Revian then picked up the Bloody Crown, the very thing that the Lord of all Vampires would wear on his head. Revian thought deeply about the past and the terrible truths he learned now and he placed the crown upon his head. The door behind him flung open and the Hellatic hissed, "You are no Lord, you simply wear the broken crown of a broken line." Revian smashed the case where the sword laid and took it in his hand. Revian said in response, "The line continues with me, We will not be broken that easily." He turned to face the Hellatic, and much to the Hellatics surprise he recognized Revian.


    "So you are the vampire eh? I thought there was something off with you." The Hellatic spat. Revian did not reply but simply stared at him, and into his soul. A silence that seemed to last forever hung in the air when both warriros shot towards each other and clashed. In a battle that would have been recorded in history they sent blow after blow towards each other. Swords clashing and ringing, slashes being bounced off of armour, and various objects being caught in the violent clash. The Hellatic shouted as they fought, "You are a dying race, and you will join your fellow beasts soon enough." Revian laughed and shouted back, "You and your people will pay for what they did. After I kill you I will hunt down your brethren and then I will move for your King''s head."


    "My King has more tricks up his sleeves than you will ever be able to know." The Hellatic said. Revian disengaged the Hellatic and said, "Let''s take this up a notch shall we?" Revian walked backwards towards the window in the corridor, being outlined by the blood red moon. He did a backflip out of the window and transformed into the true vampire form. Revian hovered in place outside the window by beating his massive velvety black wings and he started to laugh. He shouted, "I have more surprises than your King will ever know, and a power far beyond what has been seen in many centuries. I am a vampire. I am the Lord of Lords. You are nothing, you have never been anything, and you will only be one thing after this..." The Hellatic asked, "What might that be?" Revian reared back and said while laughing, "You are going to be dead."If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Revian launched himself towards the Hellatic at an insane speed slamming into him and driving him through the room and smashing him through the stone walls out into the central courtyard of the castle. A once majestic and beautiful courtyard was overgrown and has long since lost its past beauty. As the Hellatic recovered slowly from Revian''s attack, the situation changed. Revian was now above the Hellatic, dodging in and out of the darkness of ngiht dropping in with insane speed and slashing at him.


    The Hellatic said, "I know the tricks of your kind, you forget I have hunted your people and killed many of them." Revian soared high up and stopped very high above the Hellatic. He shouted down at him, "You have not met a vampire like me before." Revian hurtled towards the Hellatic driving his sword down through his entire body skewering as if it were a pike. As Revian watched the Hellatic die he noticed something, the blood of the Hellatic was different, he tasted the blood and immediately spit it out and he could not believe what he was seeing. As he did this the Hellatic laughed, coughing up blood.


    Revian asked before the Hellatic died, "Why? Why would do this?" The Hellatic laughed and spat blood at him. the Hellatic managed to gurgle out, "I had a choice and I made one." Revian said, "And this is what that choice gave you, death." Revian pulled his sword from the Hellatic and his body dropped lifeless and spewing blood onto the courtyard. Revian spat on his corpse and searched the body for anything that might be of use when he found a map. This was a highly detailed map with several hundred locations, almost all marked by a red X. He noticed that one of these locations was very close to where he was.


    He made his way towards the place, wondering what it was, and hoping it was something that he needed. After a few hours of walking he came upon an abandoned mining camp, It had once been a massive silver mine. Revian entered the mine shaft and quietly stalked his way through until he came upon a large central cavernous room that had signs of denizens. There were signs that people had been living in here, then he saw it. Streaks and streaks of blood, something had happened, and he knew what. As he inspected the bloody remnants he heard a shiffling behind him.


    Revian stood and turned slowly, to stare down yet another mineshaft. This one however had an eerie darkness to it, one only akin to a Vampire. Revian spoke in his native language down the mineshaft, "Do not fear me, I am not one of them. I am Revian, second in command to Lord Xeroch. Rise from the shadows, our time has come...." A figure slowly appeared from the darkness of the mineshaft and Revian finished his sentence, "...The time for revenge."

 Chapter: III The Emergence

    Out of the shadows crept a lowly figure, whose face was bathed in blood, still dripping wet. The figure said, "I have heard of your name, but things have long since changed, we are not a welcome sight, nor are we a well known." Revian said, "I only found you because of a Hellatic, those beasts. I have learned a terrible truth about them and I am not sure I want to believe it." The figure said, "Niether do I."


    The two talked for a good couple hours as Revian led this Vampire named, Varak, to the castle. Upon arriving there they find that it had been taken over by several bandits and mercenary. Revian said to Varak, "Watch this..." Revian walked towards the bandits and said, ''What are you doing with my things, I have laid claim to this castle and if you do not leave you will have the wrath of Hell let loose upon you." The bandits laughed at Revian, two of them moving to attack him. They did not get far as with blinding speed he drew his sword and cut both of them down.


    Revian said as the bandits stopped their looting, "I said leave." One by one the bandits attacked him and he cut them down, faster than they had ever seen anything move. One of the bandits ran from the castle towards the thick forests to the North. Revian let this bandit go and finished off the rest of the ones within the main castle still. Both of the Vampires cleaned up the bandits and stored them for later feeding. As Revian cleaned he noticed they carried goods from a town which had the same crest he had seen on the merchants earlier, so he decided to ask Varak about the crest, hoping he would know more.


    Varak said, "I do know this crest, it is a newer crest but is still a sullen sight. It enrages me everytime I see it, the same enemy just behind a new pair of eyes." Revian asked, "What do you mean by that?" Varak answered, "it is the bloodline of King Chazzar, still strong...headed, and ignorant as ever." Revian asked, "Where might this city be? I would like to pay it a visit." Varak laughed and said, "You will not get near that city, the Hellatic swarm it, they are many more now than they had been in the past."


    Revian sat back on his haunches deep in thought when it hit him. He took the map that he had taken from the Hellatic and made his way to a room of the castle which had a map of the lands in great detail laid out onto the floor in a large mural. Utilizing this map Revian and Varak found the locations of the remaining Vampires and set out to find them all and bring them to their new home. Varak took several of the less risky ones while Revian took it upon himself to find those that had hid deep within the territory of the enemy, and deep within desolate lands.


    Revian set out for the easiest of the locations he had taken first, which was not saying much as this particular one was in the capitol city of the humans. Revian needed to be very careful where he went and what he did as any sign of danger and he would be forced to leave and come up with another plan. It took him a four days journey to reach the capitol. He saw the grandeur of the city and thought back to his very own home city. He was reminded the the immense beauty that had been destroyed and he was thrust back into the moment suddenly as he was halted by a brigade of passing cavalry.


    The lead of the cavalry demanded, "Who are you stranger, and what is your business here?" Revian said, "I simply am a traveling merchant in need of shelter, I was attacked on the road by bandits and barely survived with my life." The cavalrymen believed his story and their leader said, "Carry on then, keep your wits about you however, Vampires have been spotted in the area. Those beasts are back from the depths of Hell. We will send them back soon enough however."


    As the cavalrymen rode away Revian thought in his head, ''I''ll show him the depths of Hell.'' He cursed under his breath and continued on his way into the city. Revian entered the city with much caution, avoiding as many humans as he could, the stench of the city invaded his nose and filled his mind with terrible thoughts as to what could cause such foul smells. He searched through the slums of the town where both the smells and the sights grew worse. There were bodies laying in the streets, a sickness had plauged this town for decades. Revian, being a Vampire, was immune to this which was when he noticed a man hauling a cart. This man was collecting the dead and he did not wear masks like the other humans that were around him.Stolen novel; please report.


    This made Revian question as to who this actually was and if this was who he had come to the wretched place for. He approached this man, having part of his heavy leather cloak cover his face and said, "Why do you not cover your face? Won''t you catch this horrific sickness?" The man replied, "I cannot catch this sickness for some unknown reason. I suggest you be on your way before you are unfortunate enough to succumb to its embrace. All who do will die a very long and terrible death." Revian came close to the man and said, "I as well cannot become sick, I am like you." The man backed away and motioned for the other men working with him to check the houses.


    The man and Revian started to talk amongst the dead and decaying bodies. Revian found that this was who he had been looking for, a Vampire by the name of Orik. Orik was a fairly young Vampire only recently reaching the phase in the life of a Vampire in which he will retain for the rest of his life, Vampirus Totalum. Revian told Orik of his new home, and He convinced Orik to follow him there. They went on their day, choosing to meet at night befroe they left, little did they know they had been watched by one of the cities Elders.


    The Elders were a group of men directly under the King, responsible for completing any task the King wishes to be done. This Elder swiftly left the slums and made his way towards the King''s throne with the news of what he saw. As the Elder passed out of the slums and made his way through the middle classed houses, and into the richer part of the city he was approached by a Hellatic. The Hellatic asked demandingly, "Where are they going to meet?" The Elder knowing to whom he spoke with said, "They are meeting at the old western guardshack, then they will ride to their castle." The Hellatic said, "Bring this to the King with haste, we must act before they are able to escape the city. Order a full lockdown of the gates, no one in and no one out." The Elder said, "Right away."


    As the Elder rushed away the Hellatic moved to a position near the old western guardshack and waited. The Elder busted into the King''s throne and began to scream, "Vampires! Vampires in the city! We must lockdown the gates my Liege, they must not escape the city!" The King jumped up out of his gilded throne and shouted,"Guards! Lock down the city now! We must not wait or they may escape." The King raced towards a chamber behind his throne and entered a secret pathway. He traveled down a staircase that spiraled deep down under the castle and the land. He came upon a room, a room in which had twelve chairs placed around a large very ornate table.


    He walked up to the table and sat within one of the twelve chairs. As he did this, he felt the air grow cold and thin. He watched as a mist poured into the room from the center of the table and filled the other eleven chairs. The King saw before him, the Kings that came before him, ending with King Chazzar. The King asked, "My ancestors, how will I purge these Vampires?" Chazzar spoke in a ghastly voice that pierced every soul that would hear it, "These will not die easily, among them is their new Lord of Lords. This Revian, I believe his name is, was once the General of their armies during the Great War. He already found the secret of the Hellatics, it is only a matter of time before he discovers who else is among them. To end this, you must save him for last, so no other can inherit the true Vampires powers." The King asked again, "How will I kill him?" Chazzar said, "Deep beyond this chamber through the door behind me lies a weapon, the weapon of which I used to destroy the beasts during the Great War. It is a blade, made of the purest and holiest of metals ever found in the land..."


    "...This blade will decimate any Vampire that it touches, it was forged from the heart of a fallen star that shone like Gods embrace. It is the Blade of God, retrieve it if you are worthy, and use it to finally end their wretched existence." The King said, "I will end those Hell Beasts, for all of you, your battles and wars will not have been in vain, I swear to it." Chazzar said, "I hope you are up to it, King Valianore. Only time will tell now."

 Chapter: IV The Hellatics

    As Valianore walked down the long and winding path towards this powerful weapon he thought to himself, "How could they return, why did they return?" He thought back to the stories he had been told by his father, that had been passed down all the way from King Chazzar himself. He went through the tales of triumphing over evil and the depths of Hell. Valianore did not know why the wars began in the first place, those details had not been revealed to him, only the aftermath and what had to be done to avoid more wars.


    Valianore passed the many murals of the victories of his predecessors when he reached a large ornate metal door. The door shone in the darkened passage and radiated as if it were made from God himself. Valianore did not see any handles but once he was close enough the door slowly started to open. As the door slowly cracked open and blinding white light shone from deep within the door amidst a black landscape. standing lonely along a very thin long path laid a sword. Valianore walked along this path, peering over the side to notice it was in fact a bridge he was crossing. He brought himself back over the bridge, now fearful that he might fall.


    Once he reached the sword he reached out to grab it, and it shone brighter. His hand grasped the hilt and it sent a shiver down his spine. The swords light suddenly engulfed his entire body and shone tenfold. The immense cavern he was in was filled with light. The light suddenly stopped and he was back within his throne room, standing with the blade thrust high in the air. He carefully studied the blade within his hands. The silver blade shone when even in the darkest of light, and it shimmered with a mysticalness that he could not comprehend. The crossguard of the blade was a set of silver wings that extended straight out of the sword, they seemed to flutter in the wind, even when there was none.


    The handle was a velvety white, but it was harder than stone. The feeling of it in the hand was more perfect than any blade he had ever held, even his own which he had used for decades. Within the pommel laid a massive diamond that shone so bright he could not look at it for too long, as if the very sun was with him wherever he went. This really was a blade from God himself, the holiest of artifacts ever found. Valianore lofted it high and said, "With the Blade of God I will once and for all end this plauge of Vampires, wiping the Devil''s spawn from the land!"


    Revian made his way with Orik towards the Western guardshack. They traveled through the small and musty alleyways when Orik was stopped by Revian. Orik asked, "What is it?" Revian said, "I feel as though the King has come into posession of it, we must make haste. Our presence here is known. Do you know of any other way out of the city?" Orik said, "There is an old tunnel system but it was sealed off decades ago, the humans feared that the plauge was being spread from within it." Revian said, "That will have to do, lets just hope that Hellatics do not arrive." Orik asked, "Whats a Hellatic?" Revian said, "They are dangerous, they are Vampire Hunters."


    Orik led Revian to the entrance of the old tunnels, they set on the choice of blowing it open using charge powder. Revian said, "Once we blast it open we must run fast if we are to escape, and lets hope it doesnt trap us within." Orik said, "Do not worry, I know the way through, I lived in these tunnels for many years before coming out to join their world." Revian sighed and said, "Lets get the charge powder then."


    After about an hour Revian and Orik returned with enough charge powder to blow the entrance clean open when they were approached by several guards. "Halt!" Shouted one of the guards. Revian turned around and said, "You might want to run..." He lit the charge powder with a match and rushed towards the guards. Revian transformed into his true form, Vampirus Incarnatus.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    Revian flew high up and saw several soldiers enter the clearing to attack him. He circled above them and slammed down hard on one of them crushing thier body with the force, breaking bones and ripping them through the skin. He quickly slaughtered all but the one which was armoured. He put some distance between the two of them and noticed that this particular soldier was very heavily armoured.


    Revian let loose a terrible laugh and charged the soldier. The soldier stood his ground as Revian slammed into him sending him flying back, but he got back up. Revian slammed him again and again, each time the soldier got back up, however slower and slower. Revian thought a little higher of this human, as he withstood this much of a beating when he grew tired of playing with his prey.


    Revian flew straight up in the air, causing the soldier to become entangled with fear as he did not know where Revain had went. As Revian looked down on the soldier he chuckled for a bit, then he stopped going up and slowly started to fall back down. Revian shot his wings out shortly before hitting the ground in front of the soldier causing him to slow enough to land gracefully on the ground. He grabbed the soldier by his helm and squeezed. The helm caved in around the head of the soldier and Revian then lifted him off the ground.


    Revian stared into the slits of the helm and into the eyes of the soldier. He laughed as he shattered the head of the soldier through his helm, blood rushing out of it and coating the plate which he wore in crimson. Revian dropped the soldier and stood over his limp body, when suddenly several figures appeared in the far end of the clearing. Revian looked up and saw three Hellatic''s standing and looking at him. Revian flew up into the air, as he was not prepared to fight them yet, as he did so the Hellatic in the middle of the other two removed his hood and showed his face. Revian saw the face of this Hellatic and was stricken with a feeling he had not felt in many centuries, fear.


    Watching Revian fly away the one of the other two Hellatic''s asked, "Why did you show him your face?" The Hellatic in the middle said, "I have seen his face before." The Hellatic''s looked to the sky where Revian soon dissapeared from sight. The third Hellatic said, "We must chase them, before they find the rest of the Vampires and they amass an army to fight us. What do you say we do Krium?" The middle Hellatic, this Krium, responded, "We will win as we did last time, but he, he will have to die first." Krium turned to one of the Hellatic''s and said, "Corvik, send word to the King, have that blasted tunnel system shut down for good before they use it against us..." he turned to the other Hellatic and said, "You Hellius, follow them and find their camp, but do not attack them, we must find all of them and attack when the moment is right."


    The Hellatics took off to do their tasks as Krium stood and stared off where Revian had dissapeared to. He said to himself, ''Long time no see old friend, it seems our fates cross paths once again. This time however you will not escape from me.'' Krium marched off, leaving the broken bodies of the soldiers lying in the clearing, his mind deep with thought and memories of the past.


    Revian finally arrived at the tunnel exit where Orik had been waiting. Orik said when he saw Revian, "You made it, good. I had started to think the worst." Orik was aghast by the true form of Revian and he was speechless when Revian transformed back into his normal form. Revian said, "That is the terrible power of a true Vampire, held only by the Lord of Lord''s. We must move quickly as Hellatic''s are going to be following us." Orik asked, "How many were there?" Revian said, "There are three, one of which I know."


    Orik was confused and said, "You know one of them?" Revian said, "Yes I do, from a long time ago, which means only one thing and I really do not like to admit it." Orik asked, "What might that be?" Revian looked Orik in the eyes and said, "His name is Krium. Not only was he a Vampire.....He is my brother." Orik stared at him in disbelief. Revian said, "The Hellatic I killed before I came to find you, was also a Vampire, they all are. They betrayed us." Orik snarled at what Revian said and answered, "We will make them pay in their blood then." Revian and Orik swiflty made their way back to their castle, and naught one word was said the whole journey.

 Chapter: V The Wretched

    The two Vampires arrived back at their castle. Revian made his way to a decrepit old tower with the map in hand to find what he needed to, more. Revian climbed to the top of the tower and set the map on a table in front of him and he began to study it. Meanwhile Orik walked through the castle and gathered up the vampires they had found so far, a mere twenty-four. Nothing close to the Empire of old, but they were not all dead yet.


    Revian made his way down from the tower and to Orik, whom he told, "I would like for you to travel to these series of caves, I have found a location that should provide us with a handful of our brethren." Orik asked, "Alone?" Revian said, "If you are up for it yes. I have another goal in mind far from here, and I am much faster than you are." Orik gained a look of gratitude on his face, although he was a fairly young Vampire, Revian saw something in him that shone bright, the qualities of a leader. Orik said, "I will do it."


    Revian and Orik both set out at the same time, splitting on a fork in the road several hours down it. Revian said, "At the first sign of a Hellatic, run. If you try to fight one you will die, they are warriors with centuries of practice under their belts. Bring as many as you can back." Orik said, "I will try...No. I will bring them back." Revian laughed and said, "Don''t be so sure, nothing is that easy, and if it is, you are walking into a trap. You have much to learn Orik, in time you will see many things. You will also do a great deal of good for our people, you already have even if you can''t see it."


    Revian turned and walked away from Orik, and once again he was on his own. Orik walked towards his task, and he thought of his life in the tunnels of the human city. He remembered being in terrible hunger for a long time, and terrible pain. He was shunned and cast out, he would not let that happen again. Revian thought as he walked away, ''I hope Orik has what it takes, he will have a large burden to hold, one that had once been mine. Hopefully after he sees our old kingdoms halls, he will be invigorated. I hope He finds what was left all them years ago.''


    Orik arrived in a valley, several days after he had first left. This valley was shrouded in a dark mist, an unnatural mist. He came upon a clearing in which sat a massive castle, a once great castle now seemingly centuries in ruin. He came close to it, and it seemed to know he was there. He approached the massive front gate which stood taller than trees and seemed to never end and he wondered how he would get inside. Suddenly the doors began to open, and several armed guards rushed out, taking him by surprise. They surrounded him in seconds, demanding he stated his business there.


    Orik said, "I come to seek allies to join us." One of the guards barked, "You are not welcome here, how did you find this place hum....wait. You are no human, you are one of us." Orik asked, "You are Vampires?" The guards muttered in acknowledgment. They led Orik into the ancient kingdom, he watched as the massive doors slowly closed shut behind him. As they closed it sent a shudder down his spine, one of wonderment and awe. The guards led him down several streets for about an hour, passing all manner of Vampires, and Orik was filled with happiness.


    The guards led him to the throne of the old castle, and upon it sat a very old Vampire. Orik had heard stories of a Vampire of immense age, but he didn''t think they could be real. This Vampire was one of the first of the order, and even with immortality, time will catch up with you eventually. This Vampire stood, and welcomed Orik with open arms. He asked, "Young one, how have you found us?" Orik said, "I was sent by the Lord of Lord''s, newly come back to his throne. I was sent to gather all of you." The man took a step back and said, "What? Xeroch is dead, I saw him fall myself. How is this possible?" Orik said, "There is a newn Lord of Lord''s, he is Revian." The aged Vampire grew a serious look on his face and asked, "Is this the same Revian that commanded our battalions during the Great War?"


    Orik answered, "The very same. He seeks all of our remaining brethren, to rebuild our once glorious kingdom. Also to get a little payback." The Elder Vampire laughed and said, "Revian has been gifted the true form of a Vampire eh? I always knew he had high favour, but not that much. He was a fierce warrior, and a loyal friend. Where is he now?" Orik said, "He has taken up in an abandoned fortress, once belonging to King Chazzar''s descendents, we have only twenty-four others besides ourselves that have been saved." The Vampire replied, "Well now I know who you are and why you are here, let me introduce myself then. I am Herzarth, Herzath of Old."This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Revian landed just outside of the caves which he was looking for. He entered them, knowing what he would find, and he was not dissapointed. As soon as he entered a larger interior cavern he was swarmed and attacked. He fought off his attackers for several minutes when the fighing suddenly stopped and a deep commanding voice echoed through the dark cave, "You are no human, and no Hellatic. You are familiar to us, what is your name warrior?" Revian smirked and said, "I am Revian, your Lord of Lord''s."


    Several torches were lit, and the cave filled with a red glow of light. Revian watched as twelve Vampires emerged from the shadows of the cave, still wearing their scared battle armour from centuries past, many times repaired however. One of them asked, "Is there a new Lord of Lord''s? Prove it to us then." Revian transformed himself and let loose a roar that shook the cave, the twelve Vampires all kneeled in unison. Revian transformed back and said, "I wish for you to become my new Lord''s. You are all warriors till the end, and the only few left who still posess our old ways..."


    "...Will you join me and become Lord''s of the new age of Vampires?" The twelve stood, thier leader stepped forward to say, "Our blades are yours. You know command what remains of The Wretched. We honor our brothers by continuing to wear our armour in memory of them. What is our first task Lord of Lord''s?" Revian answered them, "Come to your new home. We have an army to build."


    Orik arrived along with the newly gathered Vampires. He gathered them all within the central courtyar and slowly they all filtered in. Orik said loudly to them all, "Soon enough, our new Lord of Lord''s will come. He will come with a secret weapon, one that will give us an edge in our fight. He will arrive in a few days, and while we wait we have a job to do here. We must repair this place, our new home. We must build a grand new castle to give our people a new start, and a stronghold that we can defend and call our own. Get started soon, we do not have much time to turn this ancient castle and keep into a defendable fortress."


    Several cheers rang out from the gathering. The Vampires filtered out and sorted themselves into groups that set off to different parts of the castle that they would slowly repair. Orik made his way to where the throne room had been, he looked upon where the King had sat and was disgusted with it. He tasked a group to remove it and build a grand throne, a throne fit for the Lord of Lord''s.


    Revian and The Wretched made their way back towards their new home, the road long and winding. They passed through dark desolate woods, and over streams blacker than night. They came to the end of the darker edge of the land as Revian noticed the color started to return to the land slowly as they walked. Soon they were surrounded by bright and vibrant spring colors and the sounds of various birds and beasts alike off the road.


    They reached a fork in the road after many hours of traveling when Revian said, "This is where we will make camp and rest for a while, let us find a good place a decent ways off of the road." The Wretched agreed, and they made their way off of the main road and into the woods, soon finding a suitable place to camp. They had set up their camp and began to speak on the matters of how they would raise their army to be great as it once was, which was a very daunting task indeed. They spoke for many hours until they rested, before they did Revian said, "We continue on tomorrow. It is still a few days travel from here to our new home, it has been a long time since we have been together my brothers. Rest well, and be ready to travel in the morning."


    The group started to rest as the sun set slowly over the land. The sunset cast many vivid red and orange colors over and through the trees, causing a mystic sense of feeling to fall over the area. Soon enough the sun dipped below the horizon, and the group rested. They had a long journey ahead of them still, and an even harder future as they began dreams of triumph and victory for their people. Darkness crept over the land as tomorrow grew ever nearer, and fate ever drew further in around them.

 Chapter: VI The Calm

    Hellius walked for several days but soon came upon an old decrepit castle deep within the wilderness. He knew this was once a bastion for the race of man but now lies abandoned. He noticed quickly that this was not in fact the case, it was in fact inhabited. He thought to himself, ''This is where they take refuge? The ruins of the Kingdom that nearly destroyed them. It''s almost poetic.''


    He watched for many hours watching many of the Vampires move in and out of the shadows and he saw them slowly rebuilding this castle. He then noticed a large caravan approaching, led by a rather young Vampire. The same which he followed here alongside Revian. This caravan was a massive herd of Vampires and this worried Hellius. He thought, ''They amassed a great amount of Vampires in such a short time, I wonder how they did it.'' He continued to watch for hours, through most of the night when yet another group came in, but much much smaller.


    He immediately recognized Revian leading this group, a group which he had not seen in a very long time. He saw what remained of The Wretched. Centuries back he fought against this legion of Vampires, and he knew their strength. This was the most alarming to him, now that they had a way to train a new army, and a great new arrival of Vampires to do so with. He also noticed that there where only twelve of them, and he thought, ''Could these be the new Lords?'' He did not waste time in rushing back to Krium and tell him of this grave news. If they were to attack it would need to be soon, very soon. Otherwise the Vampires may gain a fighting chance.


    Corvik barged his way into a meeting of the King and several other higher nobles and said, "I must speak with you immediately my King, a problem has arisen that needs your immediate attention." King Valianore said, "What can be so damned important with Vampires within my walls?" Corvik said, "The Vampires have fled sire, but I bring you ill news which we have just learned." The King said, "What is it Hellatic?" The one that leads them, Revian is his name sire. He is their new Lord of Lord''s."


    The King cast his chalice across the chamber and yelled at the nobles to get out of his sight. As they rushed away in panic the King approached the Hellatic he said with a condescending tone, "You need to squash this for good, do not waste time or they will become a pain in my neck." Corvik said, "I will converse with the other Hellatics, Krium has sent Hellius to scout their camp, he will return in a few days with much needed information." The King barked, "What does Krium do then? Sit around and let the darkness that plauged this land for centuries grow in strenght?"


    Corvik said, "Do not speak ill of Krium, he is much older and wiser than you. You will do well to remember just how strong of an ally he is to you. You forget he was one of the first to join the fight against the Vampire hordes. He knows who Revian is, and this means he knows how to fight him. We will wait for his judgment as we always have." With that Corvik stormed out of the chamber and off to find Krium to find what his next mission would be. Meanwhile the King became engulfed with fear and anger, he did not know what to do.


    This was when he remembered the sword at his side, he drew it from its entombing scabbard and meditated with it. He was filled with images from the past, of both Revian, and Krium. He was filled with knowledge of Revian''s tactics in battle and how ferocious of a warrior he was. This did not deter the King however, he would not let what his forebearers built be destroyed after all these years. He sheathed the silver sword and made his way out of the chamber and he thought to himself, ''Time to get ready for a war.''


    Krium sat in deep meditation in an extremely dark chamber deep within the confines of what he called home, the deepest dungeon within the castle of King Valianore. This dungeon was far older than all the rest, as it had been here for nigh on an eon. This was one of the first dungeons of his peoples, and this was where the Lord of Lord''s gained his powers.


    In the center of the chamber sat a large jaggedly round table with many demonic shards and spikes protruding from it. Krium slowy grazed his eyes over it as he had many times, he saw every inscription, every marking that the first had used and said. This very place is a holy shrine to his people, a place he mocked just by being in. He turned his back on his people when he learned that they in fact were unnatural to the world. He knew himself would one day have to die and this cursed shrine would have to be destroyed.


    He did not expect however to be clinging to life as he is, when he thought all of his fellow Vampires, save the Hellatics, were dead, he could not kill his brethren left. He could not order any to kill him either. He closed his eyes and thought back, way back. He thought back to the beginning of the war and to one in particular, Revian. Revian was his brother, but he no longer thought of him as such.


    Standing alone in a field Revian and Krium took up arms against their advancing host. Revian looked at Krium, smiled and said, "Looks like another fight is upon us brother." Krium answered, "I would have no other beside me in battle brother." In they went to battle, facing hundreds of human soldiers. After several hours of fighting they had become surrounded on every side. Even for their strength the humans outnumbered them greatly. Revian turned to him and said, "Krium, It was an honor to fight by your side brother, and it will be an honor to die by it."A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Krium had always been jealous of Revian, even though they had always been near identical in strength and wit Revian always gained more than him. Revian was older than him but he did not see why he had to be left in his shadow. Krium had become paranoid of his brother after several decades of hearing nothing but the achievements of his brother. He said nothing in response to what Revian said and instead charged the ranks of men with brutal rage and strength.


    Seeing this Revian followed, although hesitant to what Krium was doing. Revian would not let his brother fight alone in a battle while he could still fight. Through the brutal onslaught that they drove through the ranks of men Krium had been cut down. This enraged Revian, he seemed to almost become something more, stronger, faster, and more deadly. Suddenly horns rang out and other Vampires burst out all around the soldiers and cut them down and another large battle ensued, with the Vampires having to be drove out.


    Revian looked for Krium, but he could not find him, and he was forced to flee with the rest of the Vampires. It was this battle that earned Revian the commanding position over the entire force of the armies of Vampires. Krium had escaped during the commotion and went into hiding, when he learned of his brothers promotion and that they had basically forgotten he existed, was when he broke.


    Krium snapped to and screamed, "WAS I NOT GOOD ENUOGH?" He regained his composure and turned to see both Hellius and Corvik standing, both on edge and slightly filled with fear. Krium asked them, "Are your tasks done?" Hellius and Corvik nodded and the three of them counseled in the chamber for hours. When they emerged Krium now knew the location of the new Vampire stronghold, and that they had a new Court of Lord''s. They were on their way to being a large problem, which meant they must act soon.


    Krium and the other Hellatic''s met with King Valianore and discussed their plan. They settled on only the Hellatics going a half days march ahead of the main army, to catch them by surprise. When they raised enough panic the main army of King Valianore would arrive and lay waste to their ruined castle and destroy the Vampires once and for all.


    It had been days since Revian sent a scout out to the capitol of man. He sent this scout as he knew they would send someone to follow him back to their new stronghold. He had begun to fear the worst had befallen the young Vampire but he was soon relieved as the scout came into the castle at full speed, and with a message. The scout said out of breath, "Revian.....I have news. It is of the utmost......importance." Revian said, "Catch your breath young one, tell me this news." After several minutes the young Vampire caught his breath and said, "I know who followed you, he returned earlier today." Revian asked, "Who was it?"


    The scout said, "It was a Hellatic by the name of Hellius." Revian took this news with a sullen look on his face, he would need to act quickly and smartly if he was going to repel the first wave of attacks he knew they would throw at him. He told the scout, "Go find Varak and my Lord''s, tell them to meet me at the western tower. Bid them make haste young one." The scout sprinted off to complete his delagated task as Revian went and found Orik.


    Revian approached Orik who at the time was busy helping set emplacements near the front gate. Revian said, "Orik, I require your presence for council at once, we must go to the western tower immediately. This can wait until we are done." Orik said, "Right away my Lord." Revian and Orik arrived first to the western tower and waited only a few minutes for the Lord''s to arrive. As the Lord''s entered the tower and gathered around Revian he began, "We have a very big problem I am afraid." Varak asked, "What would that be my Lord?" Revian turned to face them and said, "The Silent Legion are the Hellatics. This is a group led by my brother Krium, whom we all thought to be dead."


    Varak said, "So what, we have The Wretched here with us, surely they cannot beat us." Revian said, "The Wretched are not the concern, my concern is the rest of my army, they along with The Wretched are two of the deadliest units to have ever fought amidst the legions of Vampires. They are the greatest fighters to have ever lived. They will be left for me and me alone..." Varak asked, "But why must it be only you my Lord?" Revian replied, "I watched them slaughter Xeroch, the Lord of Lord''s before me, I saw my own brother stab him through the heart. I will be the one to kill him, and only me."


    Revian stormed out of the tower and off into the castle, where none of the others at the council knew. They began to hatch a plan in his absence however, a plan they knew he would like. When Revian returened, hours later and cool headed he was impressed with the plan the others had set before him. It went as such, First they would move all denizens deep into the main keep, which was the most heavily fortified part of the castle. They would then station troops along the walls, more or less their entire force to seem as if they were preparing to be besieged and to make their army look much bigger than it was.


    However, during the night they would station troops along the passes that led to this castle, and they would sporadically attack the soldiers of men that passed them and instill fear into them. By this time they assumed Revian could reach the capitol and cause enough chaos their to throw off their commanders. Revian liked this plan, however he would need to strike them before they left their capitol, to give, what he had of an army, a chance to get prepared.


    The next day at sunrise, Revian transformed and moved to set out the plan that his Varak and the others came up with. He flew with great speed hurtling towards a city which he knew was an abomination, and where he knew his brother would be. A part of him thought, as he flew, that he might be able to save his brother. His gut however told him otherwise. After several hours of flying he came upon the city, the sun rising slowly behind it casting a blood red light across it. Revian said to himself, ''That will not be the only blood to be spilt today, oh no. This, this is the calm....''

 Chapter: VII The Storm

    "....Before the storm." Revian flew high up to gain a view of the full city, and he ws apalled by what he saw throughout the city. The stench rose from it like a decaying carcass left for scavengers and maggots. He saw their army preparing to leave although they still had been a few hours if not a day away from advancing on his kingdom. He found the keep and saw the King, along with two of the Hellatics.


    He did not see his brother Krium however, but he knew that he was in the city. Revian picked out his approach with a rather great deal of ease, they did not expect an all out assault by him, but thats what they were getting. He found a large painted mosaic window on the eastern side of the keep. Thats where he would make his entrance. The window depicted King Chazzar standing over the hoards of Vampires, holding the head of Xeroch.


    This angered Revian greatly, and he waited until King Valianore and the Hellatics had entered the keep when he swooped down with immense speed and force. Revian went back to his original form as he smashed through the window, landed, drew his sword and slid across the flat tile floor where he skidded to a stop. King Valianore had drawn his sword but stood in horror at what he saw, as did the two Hellatics.


    The Hellatics charged Revian but were bashed aside with ease, Revian laughed and went for them. They clashed back and forth taking slashes at each other but none seemed to gain the upper hand. The King then went in for a strike, now all three attacking Revian at the same time. He kept up with their blows with little effort, he disengaged them and took several small slashes at each of them, catching Hellius on the thigh and Corvik along the breastplate, He only gouged the Kings pauldrons but kept on fighting them.


    The fight went on until the King became too tired to continue and he fell back to regain stamina. Just as he did a voice echoed, "Stop this." Revian and the Hellatics froze, they all knew that voice, Krium had arrived. He said, "Brother, why do you fight when you know this war will end with us as the victors once again." Revian took several steps back and said, "I am afraid not brother. Last time we were betrayed by our own, but this time, I will avenge their deaths." Krium said, "Only the Lord of Lord''s can lead the hordes, and Xeroch is long dead."


    Revian laughed and said, "You are right. Shall I show you where you are wrong?" Just as he finished speaking he transformed into the Lord of Lord''s. This left the Hellatics and the King in shock and fear.Revian bellowed in the deepened voice of his true form, "I am Revian, the Lord of Lord''s. You will not beat us again. As for you traitors, both of you and Krium will die a very painful death for what you did to our people. This time brother, you will die." King Valianore said, "I am the King of this land and your demonic peoples will be swpet from the face of it, never to be known of again. I have the power of Hellatics at my side, not some mythic apparition." Revian charged forward with immense speed and slammed the King back, which he was thrown into a wall by.


    The Hellatics charged him with only a slight moment of hesitation. Revian threw them aside and he was met with the silver blade of the King. Revian was grazed on his right shoulder and he let loose a cry. It was as if a thousand coals had been dumped on his arm, he could not believe it. A silver sword was very hard to find especially thousands of years ago. This put him on the defense against the King while still holding against the Hellatics,


    Suddenly Revian let loose a burst of energy and a very strong attack with which he impaled Corvik with, twisted the blade while it was in his gut and ripped it out through his left side. Blood and entrails spilled onto the stark white tile floor, killing Corvik instantly. Revian let loose a terrific roar, as Corvik''s lifeless body fell to the floor with a defininitive thump.


    Revian jumped back, putting some distance in between himself and Krium. Krium yelled in anger, Hellius rushed to his fallen friend. The two Hellatic''s regrouped and charged Revian. Krium yelled, "You will pay for what you have done Brother" Revian laughed and said, "You both will be next. This time, we will not lose." Their blades clanged and with every hit shot sparks throughout the room.


    King Valianore had rushed outside and ordered the army leave at once. This was part of Revian''s plan of course, to force a premature attack. What he did not expect however was what he saw next. In mere seconds Hellatics flooded the throne room from nearly every crack and crevice it seemed. Revian did not know what was happening, this was unforseen.


    Revian disengaged the two Hellatics and jumped back giving himself a chance to take in what had just happened. He looked around at the sea of red cloacks that the Hellatic''s wore. It slowly advanced on him, and surrounded him. Revian asked, "How came you by so many?" Krium pushed through out to the front of the Hellatics and said, "You forgot already did you? There is a power that we all posessed dear brother. They follow me, but they are not like us."


    Revian understood now. Krium had turned humans into his slaves, he corrupted them with his blood, a most foul life to live. Each host turned, the more the true host, in this case Krium, was torn apart on the inside. This cemented the fact to Revian that Krium could not be saved from this madness. This was because that with every corrupted body, a small piece of the original host was placed into it, giving it more strength and speed. Along with a ferocity that is only matched by the true thing.


    Revian said, "You could have been saved brother. I thought you were dead as did we all, we looked and did not find you. You did not have to do this to us." Krium yelled, "I did what I was forced to by you all, I was betrayed by my people, and I brought upon their end." Revian said, "You may have killed most of our people but where would you stop after that, you still would live, you only. Could you live like that brother? Could you really know that you are alone by your own hand, no chance of our race surviving?"Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Krium spat out, "I care no more for our race. We are a plague to this world, we have scoured it over the centuries and eons past. We do not deserve life as we are not part of this natural world. I have sent them back from where they came, the depths of Hell." Revian said, "You used to be happy, as did our people. Now we are angry, and we will have our revenge, mark my words Krium. You will not win this time." Krium said, "Consider them marked brother..." He now directed a command to his human blood slaves, "....Kill him."


    The sea of humans engulfed Revian, but he fought them off as best he could. Revian was cut and slashed by the corrupted humans but he still fended them off. This was when the King, from behind approached Revian. The King had the Silver Blade drawn, and he slowly advanced on the clearly distracted Revian. The King had reached Revian but still he did not notice he was in mortal danger.


    The King went to strike when suddenly Revian was hit from the side, causing the Silver Blade to only slice his side. Revian cried out in pain, spun around and backhanded the King across the throne room, where he slid on the floor to a halt. The King had been knocked unconsious by Revian''s blow, but Revian was bleeding a great deal from the wound brought by the Silver Blade.


    Krium called out, "It stings does it not brother? Does it feel good? Can you keep fighting against the inevitable?" Revian said in a calm voice, "I will always fight for my people unlike you Krium. You turned your back on us, you have no people anymore. I Revian, the Lord of Lord''s banishes you, Krium, from our race. You will forever be an enemy to our kind, and you will go down as a traitor to not only your kingdom, but your very own family. The next time we meet, you will die."


    Revian took flight, slamming out of the same window he entered in. He flew off back towards his kingdom, trying to keep the bleeding at a minimum. Krium in the meanwhile left the throne room, did not check to see if the King was still alive, did not mourn for the loss of Corvik. Krium went back into the shrine where the first Lord of Lord''s had risen, to meditate. The words Revian had said to him stung him, he was banished from his own kind, he now really was alone.


    Revian saw his kingdom come into view after several grueling hours of flight. He saw that hundreds of bodies of men littered the grounds before his castle, and along the way here he saw that their plan had worked to an extent. Revian came in close but he could not slow himself down, he slammed down into the central courtyards fountain with a splash that sent water in every direction and cracked the base of the fountain.


    Revian turned to his back and the little water that remained started to run red with blood, his side had not gotten better, but seemed to burn even more, as if the sun was searing his flesh down to the bone and beyond. He was unsure of the success of the plan that was devised until out of the shadows crept a familiar face to him, Orik. Revian managed to painfully say, "What happened here? Where are the people Orik, where are my people?" Orik said, "Fear not my Lord, the people are safe, they were moved into the caverns under the castle, we are still in a period of hesitation. We ran off the main force but there are still soldiers out there." Revian said as he faded into unconciousness, "That is good Orik. The plan worked my friend, it worked in every way but on small step."


    Orik asked, "What step my Lord?" Revian said, "I was cut by a silver blade, hence the bloody water." Orik said, "I noticed the wound but I did not think of what it could have been from. My Lord?" Revian faded off into a very familiar deep, dark, black embrace that he was all to familiar with, darkness crept over him and he lost conciousness.


    Revian awoke with a sudden jerk, straight to his side which still burned, but not near what it had. His awakening caused the young Vampire tending to him jump in fright. Revian said, "Calm young one, a bad dream was all." The young Vampire smiled and ran off out of the room in which he was currently recuperating in. When the young one returned in tow she brought Orik.


    Revian immediately asked, "What are the damages, how many did we lose Orik?" Orik ordered the young Vampire away for the time being and once she left he said, "We lost a few, but we won the battles." Revian asked, "Battles?" Orik said, "Yes my Lord, there were a few after you returned, but they were nowhere near the first. We handled them with ease." Revian asked, "How long have I been out Orik?" Orik, obviously choosing to not divulge the information said, "It matters not, you are awake now, and we are in a good position."


    Revian said, "I asked you how long I was out, do not ignore me Orik." Orik, quite begrudgingly said, "You have been away for about a month or so." Revian, attempting to stand said, "A month! I have been in this room, near dead for a month?" Orik said, "Yes my Lord, this is the first time you have moved since I took you from the fountain, your wounds are still too great you must rest." Revian yelled, "I have rested enough..." He tried to walk but soon fell, sending more pain through his wound.


    Orik said, "You are not strong enough and your wound is not healed enough for actions like that my Lord. Please lay back down, you must recover." Revian said, "I was cut by a silver blade, this wound will not heal for a very long time, I must prepare for the next full on assault Orik." Orik laughed and said, "My Lord, we have something to show you then, let me help you..." Orik walked with Revian around the castle, which looked extremely different now than it once had.


    In the two month period Revian was recovering Orik had led the Vampires on several very successful trips to the Old Kingdom. These trips were for but one reason, resources. Orik had almost fully rebuilt the castle and its defenses, it was now a proper fortress. Orik and Revian made their way into the throne room, a completely new section of the castle. Orik brought him right up to the throne, the very same one used by Xeroch and thos before Revian. This throne was in fact the same Revian had seen centuries earlier, the Throne of Lords.


    Upon seeing it Revian sat upon it, with Orik saying, "I have but one more thing for you my Lord." Revian asked, "What else did you find Orik?" Orik walked over to a chest which sat within a small side room to the left of the throne and came back with something that was wrapped in cloth. Orik said, "You wouldn''t be much of a Lord of Lord''s without a crown now would you?" Orik removed the cloth and revealed a crown. This crown also, was the very same that once sat upon the head of Xeroch.


    Truly was this a sight to see, once again in the fasion of old, did a true Lord of Lord''s sit on the throne. Once again was the Vampire race cast into war. Revian said to Orik, "We are at war once again. This is going ot be the last one however, this I promise. Our race will know peace once again, and we will rule the land. I am very pleased with what you did in my stead. I would like for you to do what I once did Orik." Orik asked, "What might that be my Lord." Revian said, "I want you to be the point on my sword, and the weapon which we win this war. I want you to be the commander of my army."

 Chapter: VIII The Aftermath

    Deep into the night, after several months had passed. Revian sat upon his throne deep in meditation, nearly recovered from his wound when suddenly a commotion roused him from his mediating and He went to investigate. He reached the front gate where the guards were dragging someone. Revian said, "Who is this and why is he here?" One of the guards said, "This human thinks he knows one of us here, I say he is a spy and we should end him right here right now." Revian said, "Not so fast, let us see what he knows first. Then we can feed him to the young ones." Bring him to my throne room and we will decide who he really is.


    The guards dragged the man behind them following Revian to the throne room. Once there Revian shut the large metal doors behind them and sat upon his throne. He said, "Guards, leave us and wait outside the door, he will be no challenge for me." The guards dropped the man and left the throne room to do as they had been told. Revian stood up and said, "You come here, to my Kingdom claiming to know us?" The man said, "Yes." His face still hidden under long black matted hair.


    Revian asked, "Who are you stranger?" The man said, "I am a Vampire." He looked up so Revian could see his face and it left him in shock. Revian said in bewilderment, "Ricard?" The man stood up and said, "Yes, it is me old friend." Revian laughed and said, "I will now apoligize for your treatment then, my guards are very suspicious of people nowadays, we are at war once again with the humans." The man, Ricard, said, "That is precisely why I am here Revian. I heard you were gathering all Vampires, and I came as soon as I could. I thought you long since dead until the tales of a new Lord of Lord''s spread, and when I heard your name I could not believe it was you."


    Revian said, "I thought you long since dead as well old friend, please..." Revian motioned down a hallway, "... Let us go for a walk." Revian and Ricard talked for a good several hours, when they reached the door to the throne room again. "Do not worry old friend, we will win this time." Revian opened the doors, and the guards asked, "What is to be done with him my Lord?" Revian said, "It has been found he is an ally to us, go get refreshed, and get me Orik." The guards rushed off and soon enough Orik arrived.


    Revian said, "Orik this is an old friend of mine Ricard. Ricard this is my commander Orik." Orik and Ricard greeted each other and they went on talking about the nature of Ricard''s visit. Ricard was one of the foremost users of the Old Magic, a powerful force that the world had long since forgotten, even when the first Vampire and Human war erupted. Ricard said, "I have a secret to tell, that no one else alive now knows." Revain asked, "What is is Ricard?" Ricard smiled and said, "I have found it." Orik asked, "Found what?" Ricard said, "Before the end of the war I was tasked by Xeroch to find the source of the Old Magic. I did not find the source as it was not a place, but a person."


    "This person had been taken by a group of Elder Vampires that we thought had been lost since before the war, only one of them survivng. This Vampire in particular was the one that held the key to it all, and he taught me everything he knew. He is somewhere in the Northern mountains in a sanctuary, built millenia ago by the first to populate this land." Revian was caught in his thoughts about the map he took from the Hellatic, one of the Vampires was in the Northern mountains. Revian said, "I know of this Vampire..." He took out the map, "... This Vampire is dead however."


    Ricard laughed and said, "You cannot kill Heron. He has learned the path to true immortality. He is very much alive at that very location. He is far too powerful even to be killed by silver blades. Every curse of our people was taken, and he was given the gift of a god." Revian said, "If this is true then I must find him. Heron was an immensely strong warrior, I knew of him. I did not know him personally however, that was Xeroch mainly. His legion was lost early in the war, I thought they were all dead but it seems they were not. I will go find him."


    Orik said, "That brings me to say we have bad news My Lord." Revian asked, "What news is this Orik?" Orik said, "An army of Humans marches on us once again, their strength has been regained, I might say that is a far more important matter. We need you on the battlefield My Lord." Revian said, "Ricard shall assist you with that, and he is far better to have at the moment than nothing. I will find Heron and I will return with much haste. Ricard, I need you to do what you do best." Ricard said with a dark tone, "I will find great enjoyment in helping destroy a puny army of Humans. We must not waste time, you should Leave immediately. Orik and I will handle this for you, and we will wait for your return."


    Orik and Ricard took their positions atop the wall that faced where their enemy would soon be arriving from. As their troops gathered in their positions, a new strategy he had to develop in order to keep catching the humans offguard. His small attacks as they traveled no longer worked, they were too ready for them. He spoke to Ricard about these tactics and how he had to change them to which Ricard responded, "Maybe do what it is they expect, then hit them where they are not looking." Orik asked, "What do you mean by that?" Ricard explained, "For these small attacks, they would focus on them, as they expect them to happen. So why would you not send a larger force in behind them, while spacing the rest along the path. It would make for the ultimate ambush and they would not expect it, and they won''t escape it."


    Orik said, "I will think about this for the future, but for now we mus focus on the task at hand." Ricard replied, "Ah yes. Yet another war for our people to suffer through." Orik said, "This will be the last one, Revian will make sure of that." Ricard said, "He will try to, war has plauged our species since it''s birth. It was born in it and it will die in it. That I am certain." Orik and Ricard remained quiet until the night crept in. Through the dense trees where their enemy would come they saw torch light.


    Orik said, "They attack at night? They have never done this before, they must be joking." Ricard asked, "They have never come at night before?" Orik said, "No they have not, this will be an easy victory for us." Ricard said, "They must have something else then, something that makes them bolder than usual. Last time thier night raids were the most terrifying. They had beating drums tha...." Just as he was about to finish his sentence the deep rattle of drums was heard. Ricard said, "Pull your men behind the wall."


    Orik looked at Ricard and said, "Are you mad?" Ricard turned to Orik and said, "I said pull them back. I will deal with this one myself." Orik hesitated for a moment but gave in and called for his men to pull back into the safety of the wall. Orik said, "You better know what your doing." Ricard laughed and said, "I have never been more sure in my life." Ricard began to run forward and he leapt from the wall. He landed with no sound and walked towards the torchlight, and towards his enemy.


    The human soldiers poured out into the open field before the Vampire''s stronghold and began to form ranks, the drums grew louder and louder with each passing second. Orik did not realize until Ricard was too far out that he did not have a weapon with him, no way to fight which caused him great concern, this Vampire was mad. Ricard lifted his arms out to the side and began to concentrate. Within seconds the air began to thicken, and dark clouds rolled over head. Soon thunder could be heard, a counter to the drums perhaps.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Suddenly the air around Ricard began to glow a deep blue. A crackling began and soon Ricard was surrounded by what appeared to be lightning. Ricard smiled and started to sprint towards the ranks of the Human army. With each thrust of his hand he sent great jagged bolts of lighting that decimated all it touched. As he did this a fog started to set, covering the entire field but was low enough that Orik could still somewhat see what was going on beneath. Orik watched Ricard, who wielded a power he had not seen before, an unholy power.


    The fog lit up in the dark of the night with terrific flashes of blue light as Ricard struck the army head on. The humans became engrossed by fear as they could not see what was going on, only the crack of thunder and the flash of lightning. The drums stopped and horns were sounded that called for a full retreat but that did not stop Ricard''s advance. All the Humans fleed in terror as Ricard dissapated some of the fog so they could see who was the cause of this.


    Ricard was met by one who did not run, a Hellatic. Ricard yelled to him, "I would turn and run if I were you traitor." The Hellatic stood his ground and said nothing. With no warning hundreds of Vampires poured out of the fog, with no sound showing of their advance. This made the Hellatic take a few steps back, and eventually flee as well. Ricard laughed meniacally and shot bolt after bolt into the forest, killing many Humans in the process. As the fog faded, so did the illusion at play dissapear.


    Ricard used the fog to make it seem an army of Vampires were charging when in fact they were not. Once Ricard made sure the army had fully fled he made his way back to the wall, which he jumped back up to Orik with one easy leap. Orik asked, "What was that?" Ricard said, "The power Revian wishes to master as well. He will no doubt become unbeatable with it. It is the meaning of his haste to find The Old One. He taught me this. He is one of the first of our race, and he will win us this war."


    Revian landed outside a massive temple that had long since been overgrown, but he remembered what it had looked like during the prime of his race. The temple used to shine a gleaming white, even in the dead of night. He entered the temple, paying his homage to those that were lost in the great struggles over the millenia since his race first rose from the ashes of darkness. He looked at the many murals depicting battles of Old, and then he saw a new one, one which had not been there before.


    This mural in particular was centered around the last war, and led to a new war. He assumed it was the war they were in now, and there was a single being standing alone on a mountain. This figure had tremendous torrents of lighting erupting from him in every direction, and an inscription near the bottom read,''Only his true heir can hope to save us all. Only the blood of Dracula can bring an eternal darkness. He will bring us peace.''Revian could not belive what he saw. A voice behind him said, "That mural there is a prophecy young one. That is the one who will lead us to a new age."


    Revian turned to face this voice and he was astonished to see it was Xeroch. Revian said, "Xeroch? But how? You were killed, I saw you die." Xeroch laughed and said, "Yes I am dead Revian. It is this temple, it is because you now are the Lord of Lord''s and I would have no other take my place. We have much to talk about but that is for another time. Your host is awaiting, he has been very anxious to meet you." Revian walked down several halls and deep within the temple where he walked into a large room, which used to be their sanctum.


    In the center of the room a massive stone carving of Dracula stood, and everytime Revian saw it he was filled with a sense of pride. He was proud to carry the title of Lord of Lord''s. Xeroch appeared from behind it and motioned to a solitary pair of doors, up behind the main stage in the center of the wall. Revian approached it and as he went to open it Xeroch said, "You have exceeded our expectations Revian. You will be a strong leader for our people, and you have been. Make our ancestors proud young one." Xeroch faded away and once again Revian was alone in the temple, or so he thought.


    Revian opened the doors slowly, as he did a light fog poured out and the smell of rain filled the air. He opened the doors all the way and entered the dense fog room. Once he was through the doors, they slammed behind him and a deep voice said to him. "Revian, I have waited for you." Revian asked, "Who are you?" Slowly through the fog Revian could see a dark figure approach him, the figure said, "I am old, very old. I have seen the rise and fall of many of our kingdoms since the one in which I was known had fallen...." The figure stepped into the light where Revian could see him and continued, ".... I am a legend."


    Revian took a step back and gasped at the sight of the figure, he knew this Vampire, he had seen him before. The figure said, "Yes I am who you think. Your questions are too many to be answered in such little time. You are here for one thing, a teaching and nothing more." Revian said, "You could come with me, help fight for our people." The figure said, "Sadly I cannot. This temple is the only thing that binds me to this life. If I leave, I will vanish forever. Come closer to me Lord of Lord''s I wish to get a better look at the one who leads my people." Revian stepped forward a few steps and stood still as the figure looked over him, weapons armour, and it even felt like his soul was being searched to Revian.


    The figure said, "You are different than those from the past who came here to learn. You have what they do not." Revian asked, "What might that be?" The figure said, "The blood of an ancient one. The blood of a true Vampire." Revian had thoughts racing through his mind, and questions began to rise but he could not ask them. Was it fear that stopped him, or perhaps because he already knew the answer deep inside himself? He asked, "Who''s blood do I have within me elder one?" The figure laughed and said, "You will find that in time young one, you still have much training to do."


    The figure handed Revian a set of rings and said, "These belonged to a long lost bloodline, one in which held the purest of power, fitting their hands and their hands only. Take them, they are your birthright Revian." Revian reached out and took four rings, and he placed them on his fingers. The rings slid on with ease, but they did not fall off when he put his hands to his side, they were a perfect fit. The figure smiled and said, "It is finally time for the world to once again feel my full power, prepare yourself young one, this may hurt."


    As the figure finished his sentence Revian was enveloped in torrents of lightning. He felt a pain he never imagined he could, one worse than any blade of silver could provide, this was true pain. He endured this pain for a long while before the lightning suddenly stopped. Revian sank down to his knees, smoke rising from his body in some places. He looked at his hands and saw his rings were now glowing a deep blue, and they hummed with power. The figure said, "This will help you learn my secret, this will win you the war Revian. Now go, you know what you need to do. Make me proud young one, proud to have you as my heir." The figure faded away, and the fog dissapeared with it leaving Revian kneeling in an empty room within the depths of the temple.


    Confused and left with many unanswered questions Revian made his way back to his kingdom. His mind raced with new knowledge, and it left him astonished he did not know this before. He walked past the large statue of Dracula and ran his hand along it. As his hand glided across it''s near smooth surface he felt a humming coming from the statue, and slight vibrations which it gave off. Revian smiled and proceeded to leave the temple. Once he was outside the temple he looked into the nights sky and concentrated.


    He knew what he had to do, deep down he always knew who he was somehow and now it was proved as fact. Revian was a true Lord of Lord''s, it was indeed within his blood, and was indeed his birthright. He suddenly shot both of his arms towards the sky and sent massive bolts of lighting into the sky lighting the area for miles around. He stopped after nearly a minute long of doing this, his hands sizzled and smoke rolled off the ground from around him and he began to laugh. He was a new Vampire now, he was as he always was, the heir of Dracula.

 Chapter: IX The Cataclysm

    Revian took flight and soared into the nights sky, with only a few thoughts on his mind. He thought deeply about what the next move would be. His mind eventually was set on one plan in particular, but he really did not have much else to go with except a very crude and simple one. His plan was to kill Krium, but that was as far as he could think at the moment.


    As he flew he took in the scenery of the land, dark forests towered over pitchblack grasslands and mountains on the distant horizon. The pale moon lit the landscap with the slightest of light. He could see fog in the distance and he knew he would be back to his kingdom soon, with a surprise for all. He would keep the fact of him being Dracula''s heir a secret for as long as he possibly could, but his new powers on the other hand would come in very handy in this war and he planned on using them.


    Revian saw his kingdom come into view, and he saw the ruins of a battle, a battle easily won. He knew that Ricard would easily have fended off the Human army, and he also knew Orik was not too fond of him. He hoped that after this Orik would respect him better. There was no room to hold grudges internally, it would not help the war in any way. Revian landed in the field in front of his stronghold and inspected the battlefield. He could see the burnt corpses of the Humans and he knew what killed them, better yet who. There were no signs of any Vampires to fall however.


    He made his way inside the walls of his castle and he quickly found Ricard sitting on a stool around a fire with several other soldiers, Orik included. They were laughing and telling stories of long ago. Revian said as he approached, "It seems you two have buried your grivances then?" Orik said, "I had my doubts but after that display, my doubts are no more." Ricard laughed and said, "The look on his face when I had him pull the army behind the gate and took them all on was priceless. Anyway, how was the trip Revian." Revian laughed and said, "The trip was a success, and I thank you Ricard for finding me and telling me of the Old Temple."


    Orik said, "We better clean up the battlefield, before the bodies rot and stink up the place." Revian asked, "How many pikes do we have Orik?" Orik said, "I''m not sure, a couple hundred. Why?" Revian said, "I have an idea." Revian took Orik, Ricard, and several other soldiers out to collect the bodies. Revian skewered them and posted them around the field and along the pathway towards his castle. After they finished adorning the road Orik asked, "Was that really necessary?" Ricard said, "It is a fear tactic, they dare not touch them in fear of what killed them. It is a glorius display of power, and one used many millenia ago."


    Orik asked, "Who did this before, it is gruesome and dessecration?" Revian said, "Dracula..." Revian and the group began to walk back to their home as Revian continued, "... Before he was a Vampire Dracula was one of the most impressive military leaders to ever live. His armies conquered the world for many decades. He would take the prisoners he had and impale them all the way through like we have, but they were not dead until after the fact. He posted hundreds of bodies around his castles and strongholds. This angered many and before he fell he made a pact with the Devil, becoming the first of our race. The rest you all know."


    Orik said, "Dracula was barbaric, I see now why the world wanted him dead, Humans are creatures of war, it seems to be the only thing they know how to do." Ricard said, "They are beasts of nature, they know nothing else when their territory and lives are threatened. Us on the other hand, we are not natural. We do not crave war, well, most of us anyhow. We are the superior race in this land, we will reign supreme once again."


    Revian said, "I have a plan in mind, but it will not be easy." Orik said, "Nothin is easy in war." Revian took a more serious look on his face and said, "It will not be easy for you Orik." Orik asked, "Why will it not be easy for me my Lord?" Revian answered, "We will speak of this in the council room, meet me there in an hour, both of you, and only you." Revian walked away, both Ricard and Orik looked at each other with an inquisitive look, neither knew what Revian was thinking, but they both guessed it was extremely important. They made their way to the council room and met with Revian.


    As both Ricard and Orik walked in Revian said, "My plan is to kill Krium." Orik asked, "Why is this not going to be easy for me my Lord?" Revian said, "You will not be helping me Orik, Ricard will." Ricard was surprised by this and asked, "What do you mean Revian?" Revian said, "I will travel to their capitol, along with Ricard. We will kill Krium before tomorrow''s sun will rise." Orik said, "You cannot be serious my Lord? Surely they will have their entire strength there to stop you. I do not think even Ricard could take them all without getting killed, this plan is suicide."


    Revian laughed and said, "Trust me Orik, you will want to stay far away once Krium is killed, he has enthralled many humans." Orik asked, "Why must we worry about some enthralled humans?" Revian said, "Krium used an ancient way to do it, a violent way to do it. Once Krium dies his soul will be just the same. All of his enthralled slaves will explode in a gloriusly blood bath, and they will take with them any near to them. I trust he knows that I am aware of this which is exactly the plan. I want to kill him, and wherever his thralls are, I want them to damage nothing of the Humans."


    Ricard asked, "Will that not just anger the King?" Revian said, "It matters little of what the King thinks. It is rather what the people think, or fear. I want to instill a fear so terrible on them that they cannot possibly imagine. Krium is the focul point of their war effort, we kill him, we win the war. Within the next few hours me and Ricard will make our way to their capitol and we will launch a full scale attack between the two of us, and their entire army. I gurantee you it will be one grand spectacle. I am not up for any arguments on this plan, I know what I am doing."


    Ricard said, "I will follow you gladly, the last battle was nothing compared to what I can really do. I have been waiting a long time to fully stretch my abilities. I have not felt my true potential in such a while I feel as though it is no longer in me." Revian said, "Do not be hasty to strike Krium, he is still very powerful, and he will be very hard to kill. We must push through their army and strike him down once and for all." Orik said nothing and walked out of the council room, Revian knew he would not like this plan, but it was what had to be done.


    Revian and Ricard arrived just outside the Human capitol just as night fell. The sun slowly crept along the horizon until it dissapeared and naught but the moon lit the landscape. Revian said, "We will strike soon, you must be ready for this however." Ricard said, "This plan may be crazy but I am ready for anything Revian." Revian smirked and said, "You will not be ready for this..." Revian transformed and grabbed Ricard. He took off into the sky hauling Ricard with him. Ricard was indeed not prepared for this.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Ricard looked down and saw the ground becoming very far away from him and he became a little nauseous. Revian laughed as he soared up into the sky and he asked, "Are you ready Ricard?" Ricard said, "I may have not been prepared for this Revian..." Revian began to laugh meniacally as he suddenly turned and raced towards the ground at a very high speed. Ricard felt as though his stomach was suddenly thrown into his feet. Just before they slammed into the ground Revian slammed himself into the ground, setting Ricard down lightly enough so he would not be crushed. The Two Vampires stood in the wide open of a courtyard, surrounded completely by Human soldiers.


    Revian and Ricard went back to back and the battle began. The Humans charged in weapons drawn, Ricard and Revian gathrered their strength and let loose torrents of lighting through the ranks of soldiers. Revian shot forward and drove a path through hundreds of soldiers, leaving Ricard who was surprised by the power of Revian. Ricard shot bolts through the Human ranks taking many of their lives. It didn''t take long before the bells started to ring that signaled an attack. More and more Human soldiers poured into the courtyard as Ricard and Revian decimated them.


    Just as Revian was beginning to get comfortable he saw a force of Hellatics arrive. He laughed alloud and his deep voice thundered throughout the city. Ricard started to get overrun by soldiers when suddenly they were vaporized instantly with an intense flash of blinding blue light. Revian had shot a bolt that ricocheted off of the soldiers one by one. Ricard spun around to look at Revian when he saw the Hellatics swarming into the clearing. He began to think they would overpower the two of them but as he thought that Revian shot into the air and began to spin like a tornado.


    Lighting crakled around Revian as he spiraled up. A single bolt fell from the sky and hit Revian as he unleashed a tornado of lightning. Ricard was left in awe with what he saw and he thought to himself, ''He is the true heir.'' Revian continued to spin and spin, sending bolts of lighting out in every direction. Once he reached a height he thought as enough he stopped rising and began to descend with immense speed. Revian let loose a deafening warcry as he slammed into the ground. A shockwave was sent throughout the entire courtyard instantly turning all into dust except Ricard.


    Revian stood and looked up, he left a massive crater where he hit. As he walked out of the hole in the ground he looked around at the nearby buildings and saw they had been leveled, and the ones that were not were burning fiercely. He smiled and saw Ricard standing alone, and he could tell that Ricard knew his secret but there would be time for that later. Revian turned around and saw the King approaching. Revian yelled, "You have unleashed a power you cannot comprehend King of men. Are you ready to die?"


    The King drew his sword and said back to Revian, "Are you?" Revian heard a cry ring out across the courtyard and he spun around quickly. He saw Krium with a sword through Ricards chest, and it was burning. Revian started to run towards Krium, Krium pulled his sword from Ricard out through his left side nearly cutting him in half and began to run towards Revian. The two started to yell as they ran, Revian charged up all the power he could muster, this is where Krium would die.


    When the two met a massive blast was sent out, completely razing the courtard. This sent a cloud of ash and dust up that covered the courtyard, blocking all who watched from seeing anything. The King tried to see if anything was moving, to see if anyone would come out, but neither did. He began to advance forward to see for himself what had happened but he was stopped by flashes of blue and red light. He could not tell what was going on in the cloud of dust but he knew better than to enter after what had just happened.


    Revian could not believe what he was seeing. Krium had mastered an ancient ability of another kind. He had learned to master flame. This was when Revian thought back on what Dracula had told him, during their talks Dracula mentioned only him as an heir, not a second. This meaned only one thing, Krium was not his brother. If Krium was not his brother, then what was he?


    Krium laughed aloud and said, "It seems you are not the only one who learned something new brother. I have learned something of my own, a far more ancient power than what you know. It is in fact the opposite entirely. You will not win this fight." Revian said, "You may think that brother but there is something I know that you do not..." Revian did not want to reveal his the truth about his connection to Dracula but he feared there would be no other chance. Revian continued, "...I am the true heir to Dracula." Krium hesitated, and this was when Revian struck.


    Revian sent massive bolt of lighting hitting Krium which sent him flying far off into the distant streets. Krium landed somewhere deeper in the city and was knocked unconsious by the blow. Revian knew this would not kill him, that would have to wait. There was a King in need of a meeting with death. Revian turned away from the direction where Krium was thrown and began to walk towards the King. The King noticed the flashing stopped, and wondered what had caused this. He did not know Krium had been blasted out of the battle, and did not know Revian was approaching him.


    The King saw a shadow coming out of the cloud of ash and he was on edge, not sure of who it was. When the King saw it was Revian he called for a full retreat. His soldiers that remained fled in terror deeper into the city, but the King remained. Revian began to gather his energy as he started to run towards the King but the King still stood his ground, his sword drawn. Once Revian had came close enough he leapt forward towards the King. The King raised his sword to strike but a flash blinded him. Revian slammed the King with his full power, driving the King into the ground with immense force.


    Revian stood and walked to the King who lay on the ground. The Kings body was slowly becoming ash but he was not dead, he would be soon however. Revian leaned close and said, "Your reign ends here Valianore." The King said, "You are spawn of the Devil and you will die as such." Revian laughed and said, "I am the heir to Dracula, you cannot kill me." The King''s body turned to ash before Revian''s eyes. Revian would have been happy if he did not know Krium would return, so Revian vowed to himself that he would train. He would hone his abilities even further, gain more power.


    Revian took flight into the sky, the sun just began to peer over the horizon. As he flew away he looked back at the capitol and saw it was almost fully in ruin, and buildings burned. He and Ricard killed many of the Humans, but his plan had failed. He lost a good friend, and he found a terrible knew foe in Krium. The coming months would be difficult for him and his people, but something else was nagging at him, something he needed answers to. Who was Krium?


    Krium awoke at the height of day. He struggled to stand but he soon managed it. He looked around and saw nothing but destruction and death. He walked slowly back to the where a beatuiful courtyard once had been and saw nothing but ash. He saw what appeared to be a body far in the distance and he went towards it. He soon noticed it was the King. He crouched down and picked up the King''s crown, which was burnt and scarred. He stood with the crown in hand, not sure what to do next.


    Revian had beaten him, destroyed the capitol, and killed his King. Krium took the crown with both hands and placed it on his head. He said to himself, ''I am now the King, and I will have my revenge Revian. Next time we meet, you will not escape. You may be the heir of Dracula, but I am so much more."

 Chapter: X The Crowning

    Krium walked through a kingdom that at one point was the pinnacle of the Human world. Now it was not much more than a raging fire. Most of the city had been turned to nothing but ash, the structures that remained were either burning or had already burned and left the stone foundations on which they were built. He approached his castle, which still stood, although badly scarred by the fires that raged during the past few months.


    The people that once inhabited this city fled for their lives into the wilderness. Where exactly Krium did not know, and he did not feel as though he cared at the moment. His thoughts were of but only one thing, Revian. When Revian revealed he was Dracula''s heir Krium was deepened with dread. He thought back to his young life, and thought back to his parents. He at one point was nothing more than the other Humans, weak and afraid of the night. His father was a great general of war, and his mother was a young princess of the King with whom his father had fought for many years.


    ''Revian could not be the heir to Dracula.'' Krium said to himself. ''I thought I was his only child, unless it was after. Of course it had to be after.'' Krium was in fact the son of Dracula as well, but he was born before Dracula became the first Vampire. It brings into question just how Krium became a Vampire and the answer to which is simply nothing more than an accident.


    Once Dracula gained his powers, his blood was forever changed. The human blood within him burned away and was left with the blood of a beast. This means that all of his blood was changed, including the blood that flowed within Krium. This was not as it was supposed to be but Dracula had thought Krium long since perished. Dracula had assumed that when his wife was killed, Krium was taken from him as well but he was wrong. Krium survived the attack, and was left alone within the wilderness.


    As a child once Krium had noticed he was not aging that fast he began to wonder why, it took several centuries for him to mature and as he did he was found by a group of Vampires. These Vampires took him to a large kingdom, a beatiful Kingdom. This was when he learned of Dracula, but it had been so long that Dracula was ancient history. Kriums mixed blood changed him, made him different from all the other Vampire children. He was adopted by one of the Kingdoms nobles, one of the Vampire Lord''s. He was to be trained alongside the Lord''s only child, Revian.


    The two of them trained with each other and gained a strong connection between themselves, but Krium became very jealous of Revian in the centuries to come. Revian was always stronger and faster, but still Krium pushed himself to be better to prove he could be better. What Krium did not realize however was that Revian looked up to Krium, and he respected him more than any other Vampire, even their own father. It was too late when Revian tried to save Krium in their Great War when Krium''s mind was corrupted with hatred. Once again he felt as though he was left abandoned by those whom he cared about.


    This turned his heart dark, darker than it already had been. He vowed to make all others feel as alone as he did, this was when he joined the Humans and formed the Hellatics. Krium trained the Hellatics to not only fight vampires, but to kill them. Once Krium helped kill Xeroch he thought his mission complete, but after searching the dead bodies of the hundreds of thousands of Vampires killed there was one body which he did not find, the body of Revian. This angered him greatly and he ordered his Hellatics to never stop searching for Revian, and that once he was found he was to be brought before him.


    Krium now stood in the main chamber of his scarred castle. He glanced at the stained glass window that Revian had first burst through and he became very angry. Krium started to throw fire throughout the room, he did this for many hours until he stopped and dropped to his knees. He would not lose, he could not lose, not after all he had done to win. He clenched his fists and stood up, He straightened the burnt crown that sat upon his head and he said to himself, ''I will not fail.''


    Revian sat upon his throne deep in thought, ''What did he mean when he said he was so much more? Krium was a Vampire like he was, he could not be so different from himself.'' Revian knew Krium was not his brother, but they were raised like they were. Who was Krium really and why did his father lie to him? Revian stood and walked to a nearby window and peered out upon his Kingdom. He saw his people, the people he fought for and nearly died for on many occasions. He knew krium would not stop, He knew he would never allow them to live in peace, but Why? Why he would not puzzled Revian, and it maddened him as to exactly why.


    Revian knew that he was always on the top when they were growing up and training. He noticed there was something different about Krium but what it was exactly he could not quite place. He thought, ''Maybe Dracula could help me understand, he must know something he is not telling me. I need to speak with him again.'' Revian went outside and found Orik and said, "I am going back to the Temple, there are questions I need answered still." Orik said, "Do you want us to wait for your return to bury Ricard?" Revian said, "No, I do not know how long I will be, I will pay my respects when I return."Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    Revian took flight towards the Temple his mind blurred with many thoughts and questions. Several hours later he saw the temple come into view and he put several questions into the front of his mind, not sure which order to ask them, but ask them he would. He landed outside the main door and pushed the large stone doors open and entered. He walked through the ancient temple and up to the statue of Dracula. He closed his eyes and said, "I wish to speak with you once more, I have questions that must be answered." He opened his eyes and saw no one.


    Revian was curious about this so he went deeper into the temple to where he had spoken with Dracula before. He entered the dark chamber and said once again, "I wish to speak with you." This time it had worked. Dracula appeared and asked, "What questions do you have for me of Krium?" Revian, surprised, asked, "How did you know?" Dracula laughed and said, "I know more of him than most." Revian asked, "Who is he really?" Dracula sighed and said, "He is my son." Revian stood dumbfounded and asked, "Then how am I your heir if he is your son?"


    Dracula said, "He was my son before I was a Vampire. His blood was corrupted when mine was. He only gained a small amount of my power as he was half Human. I thought he was dead, along with my wife but that seems it was not the case. How did you know him Revian?" Revian said, "I knew him as my brother, my father raised the both of us and molded us into warriors." Dracula placed his hands behind his back and paced the room while he spoke with Revian. Dracula said, "I did not think that should he have lived that he too would be corrupted, It was unforseen and something that I did not expect until you came to me. Only then did I understand just why he was so strong. He had half of my power, you however have all of it and then some."


    Revian asked, "Then why is he so strong?" Dracula said, "It is the Human in him Revian. That is how he so easily turned on our people, it seems that his Human side is stronger than his Vampire side." Revian said, "But Humans hold no power, they are mortals with nothing special about them." Dracula turned to him and said, "Do not underestimate the Humans. The Humans of old had users of an ancient and terrible magic and as it seems Krium learned this power as well. Thats why he is so strong, his mother, was the daughter to the King in which the first war was faught against. Krium is the heir of a long line of Humans, and powerful ones at that."


    Revian asked, "How to I beat him then? If he is so strong then how am I going to save our people?" Dracula said, "Our people have stood for thousands of years, but we are nothing more than a curse that has gone on for too long. I do not like knowing that Krium has this power. It is in fact the opposite of mine. I see this as a balance effort, that the eventuality of the two clashing is a defintive outcome. You must fight him, but I fear niether would live. In doing so it would mean the end of the land we know, but it shall start something completely new. I do not have the answer for beating him Revian. If his mind is set upon destruction, then maybe destruction will be the only way to win, but for everyone."


    Revian asked, "Do you mean the end of all life as we know it?" Dracula sighed and said, "I do Revian. I do not want it to happen as they are my people as well but there is nothing else that can be done. It must end, and it can end only one way." Revian became angry with the words that came out of Dracula''s mouth. Revian said, "I do not know where you came to become such a traitor to your own peoples. I fight to save them and you are telling me to destroy them. I cannot do this, and I will not do this. I will kill Krium and our people will flourish. I will return and when I do, Krium will be dead." Revian stormed out, Dracula said as he left, "The path is already laid before you, and whether you like it or not, death is inevitable for all Revian, fate makes it so."


    Revian sprinted out of the temple, his anger clearly showing as bolts of lightning began to form around him as he ran. He shattered out of the front doors of the temple sending a shockwave into the forest that laid before it causing many trees to break and fall and many others to be severely damaged. As he flew a storm began to form around him, he flew up high into the sky. Lightning shot out from all around him and he soon reached above the clouds to where he sent out a massive blast of energy. This blast sent a crack that was heard for hundreds of miles around, and reached the ears of Orik and the rest of the Vampires causing them to pause whatever they were doing and look around in confusion.


    Revian turned towards the ground and barreled towards it at an insane speed. He slammed into a dense forest and sent out another, but twice as large of a blast that sent bolts of lighting exploding outwards. When he stood, he found himself standing in a deep crater, nearly three times taller than himself. He walked up to the edge of it and saw that what had once been a dense forest was now smoldering destruction and that was when it hit him, Dracula was right. He clenched his fists and cursed under his breath. Dracula was right. He took flight again and headed to his Kingdom, his mind clear of all thoughts, his mind at peace with what he needed to do. He needed to destroy Krium, he needed to destroy it all.

 Chapter: XI The Reckoning

    Just like a blink of the eye many years passed as a period of peace fell over the Vampire kingdom. Revian sat upon his throne, one thought upon his mind. This thought brewed in his mind every day, every second, and he was utterly defeated by it. Revian brought to his people peace, but Krium was still out there, he still was a threat to it all, but it did not even matter. Revian knew that if he fought Krium the end would be brought no matter how long he waited to fight him. Suddenly within his mind flashed visions, visions of the past and of the future. For brief moments he saw images of fire flash through his mind, this image was of a man who wielded a sword of fire.


    Was this Krium? No. This was something else, something far older, and far more powerful than Krium. He heard a roar that split his mind and the image was engulfed in flames within his mind and when he recoverd from it he found himself on his hands and knees on the floor just before his throne. His mind burst forward into yet another vision, but this one was very different. This one felt like his very being was being taken from him. This vision bore a man once again, whom Revian did not know. This man radiated power that he had not felt before, and this man wore stark white armour.


    Revian became fearful, he did not know why he was seeing these images, or who they were. He knew that they were for a reason but were they of the future to come, or the past that had been. He settled upon a conclusion that was simply they were both like he and Krium. That they both served the same purpose they would, they were a means of an end. An end brought by destruction of all. They were all connected somehow, but why? Why he could not answer, and he knew he would never be able to.


    Orik approached him and asked, "Are you alright my Lord?" Revian struggled to stand but managed it and he said in response, "Yes, but I have something I need to do, but I am not sure if I should do it. I have to do it, I am supposed to do it." Orik said, "Then why do you not want to do it my Lord?" Revian looked at him and said, "It will destory everything we have fought so hard to gain. It would bring the end of everything." Orik stood confused by what Revian had said and then told him, "Sometimes the end of one thing is the beginning of another. What must you do my Lord." Revian said, "I must fight Krium."


    Orik asked, "How does that bring about the end of everything my Lord?" Revian said, "Destiny is a funny thing Orik. It seems that If I do fight him, our fight ends with total destruction, a sort of new beginning for the world." Orik said, "I do not think that is possible my Lord, after all you have beat Krium before. You will beat him again there is no doubt in my mind nor any of your peoples minds about that." Revian said, "It is not that simple Orik, Victory cannot be achieved without sacrifice, I just hope it is wrong about the outcome." Orik said, "You will do right by our people, you have already done so much for us my Lord. We finally have the peace we had suffered for, and it is all thanks to you."


    Revian watched Orik walk away and he slowly sat back on his throne and leaned back. If only Orik could understand what he had said was true. What would he say to it however? How would he respond that the only way for Krium to die would mean the destruction of everything in the land? He could not, and that is why he in fact did not understand what Revian meant, as if there were a force beyond that blinded Orik from understanding the truth about what Revian had to do and what it would cause. Revian shook off these feelings, still very sure of what he needed to do, and what the end result would be.


    Revian stood and walked out of his keep, he walked the streets of his kingdom and saw his people happy. They had not been happy in far too long, they deserved this, they did not deserve what was to come however. He ended his walk at the front gate and he walked out. He walked in the direction he knew fate was guiding him, but he did not want to walk this path. He turned and looked upon his Kingdom for the final time. A deep feeling of regret entered his mind but he soon turned and kept walking away, with every step he took, his mind and body became more and more numb.


    His body soon went fully numb, he could not even feel the dirt beneath his feet, but he did not lose his balance. Revian was thrown off by this feeling, it was as if he had became something not of the world he knew. He kept walking and his mind remained empty. Revian grasped the hilt of his sword lightly, he wanted to be ready when he met Krium in battle. He steadied himself, and he began to meditate as he walked. He filled his mind with the thoughts of his people, and of their suffering. He focused on the pain they had been put through by Krium, and he took the anger and fueled his steps.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    After a few minutes of doing this, he once again felt the ground beneath him, and once again felt the all to familiar wind on his face. He began to pick up his pace, he was still very far from Krium, but he was going to take as much time as he felt neccessary to reach him. As much as Revian wanted to kill Krium once and for all he could not get the thought of killing his people out of his head. Suddenly a voice spoke to him, this voice burned with intensity. This voice said, "You have began your journey Revian, soon you will learn the truth behind everything, soon you will be made whole."


    Revian asked, "Who are you, and why do you speak to me?" The voice said, "All in due time warrior, you have a job to do. Both you and I know you do not want to do this, but you have no choice in the matter." Revian asked, "But what if I change my mind in the end?" The voice laughed and said, "You will survive whatever Krium will do to you, and you both will meet once again. No matter what you choose this battle is inevitable, fate is inevitable." Revian said, "You do not control me, you do not know what I am capable of." The voice took a serious tone and said, "Do I?"


    As Revian was running he was suddenly stopped, his entire body went stiff and a fiery mirage appeared before him. This mirage took the shape of a man, the one from his first vision. The man said, "I hold a power that was forced onto me by a power I do not know, but it did tell me the purpose and what is to happen if I am to fail. You will fight Krium, and you will fulfill your destiny." Revian shouted at the man, "Release me and feel my wrath." The man laughed and said "You stand no chance of beating me Revian, I have watched you for a long time. Krium as well was shown the visions that you saw. It was much more of a forewarning than what I had. Krium is willing to participate, why are you so stubborn?"


    Revian said, "I finally have brought peace to my people and you want me to destroy them. I want to kill Krium but I do not want to do it at the expense of the lives of my people." The man shook his head and said, "you still fail to understand just how important this moment will be Revian. Yes your people will die, but would you rather they die happy and at peace? Or would you rather I step in and motivate you?" Revian shouted at him again, "You will not hurt my people." The man said, "You could not stop me, even in your dreams. I am not of this world, I have not been part of this world for so long I forgot how it felt to walk in the grass. I forgot the feel of a northern wind upon my face. I have been a prisoner to a fate far worse than death, and both you and Krium have been chosen to join me."


    Revian said, "I will never join you, or Krium." The man said, "We will see about that now won''t we." Revian felt his body free and he charged the man drawing his sword. As he struck at the man, the man flashed away in an intense flame and was gone. Revian spun and looked around but saw no sign of the man. Revian looked in the direction of where Krium was waiting for him, then back towards his kingdom. He sighed, sheathed his sword, and continued on his way towards Krium. He hoped that after the events of the day he would learn the meaning of all of it. He vowed to learn the truth, if he indeed was chosen, he would surely gain answers to the questions he had. After he learned the truth, he would kill the man and Krium once and for all, if they both indeed were to be in his presence eventually.


    Several hours passed and Revian came upon where the Human capitol once had been. It was now a barren wasteland of ash, truly a destructive sight to see. He thought within his mind, ''I did this. I killed them all, except one. How about we change that?'' Revian walked out of the trees and a ways out into the wasteland. Revian drew his sword and yelled as loud as he could, "KRIUM! I HAVE COME FOR YOUR HEAD!" Within seconds Revian saw Krium rinning towars him, sword drawn like himself. Revian began to run at Krium, the two titans of power raced towards each other. They drew back to attack and when they met a shockwave was sent out. This shockwave shattered every tree, and collapsed mountains.


    It was this first blow of many to come that started the process of total destruction. Once the battle had reached the point to where everything had been destroyed they would themselves be overwhelmed with power they had never felt before. They would tower far higher than any mountain before had, and would clash until they could not hold the power any longer. In their last moments they would each send out a blast of energy, which would destory anything not already destroyed. This burst would travel from each of them, wrapping around the land until they met in a final clash, leaving the world in a state of total destruction.

 Chapter: XII The Destruction

    Revian and Krium crashed together with such force a shockwave was sent out in all directions, leveling everything within many miles. They threw blow after blow at each other, and with each one shockwave after shockwave of energy. This shockwave was the first of many, as with each shockwave that was sent out, they traveled further and further. Everything that stood, no longer did after one of the shockwaves hit it all. Revian and Krium faught, neither caring anymore, they only wanted to end this.


    Revian and Krium broke away from one another and Revian took the chance to add some of his input on the matter at hand. Revian said, "I will destroy you Krium. You will not be in my way any longer." Krium laughed and said, "You still do not understand do you? We both shall die today along with your precious people." Revian, angered by this said, "You will know what true power feels like traitor." Revian began to channel his energy and he shot bolts of lightning at Krium who began to dodge them. As Krium dodged he fired back with great balls of fire.


    Revian was thrown off by this but he dodged Kriums attacks with ease. The each channeled their power into their blades, erupting each with the power that they held. Revians blade coursed with powerful lightning, and Kriums blade raged an unholy fire. They continued to clash, one not seeming to gain the edge over the other, blow after blow was sent and each met the blows with blocks placed with ease. The power the two commanded started the ground they were standing near to waver and shift. They began to float off of the ground as they fought and after a few seconds they seperated and flew hundreds of feet apart.


    The two warriors charged at each other with speed faster than that of the very light this battle was being shone on from. When they clashed they sent out a land shattering blast. The ground beneath them split and created a massive crater which sent jagged chasms in nigh on every direction. These chasms spread many miles, one of which tore directly through Revian''s kingdom. In the utter chaos that ensued there, hundreds lost their lives in the event, but more would come. As the castle and its walls crumbled Orik, who now finally understood what Revian had meant when they had spoken earlier. Orik looked out in the direction where the chasm had come and within his final moments he swore he could see the two titans of power in battle.


    As Orik fell into the chasm from the wall he had been standing his only thoughts fell on Revian. These wer not thoughts of anger and betrayal, but of pride and respect. Revian had done what he set out to do, he brought peace to his people. This peace was long lived, but maybe not long enough in the eyes of immortals. Orik knew Revian had no control over this moment, and he knew deep down, that Revian faught for all of them. Orik knew, Revian, was not just a Vampire Lord, Revian was and would remain, the Lord of Lord''s. Orik descended into the inky black of the chasm, and those were his final thoughts.


    The two titans clashed on and on as their power grew out and radiated from them. Soon their weapons could not longer stand the immesurable power being unleashed on them and they shattered as their blades met. Now with no blades they resorted to the only weapons they had left, their fists. It was at this moment that they transceded their fleshly bodies. Each grew, taller than trees, taller than mountains. Revian became an embodiment of pure lightning, whereas Krium became the respective embodiment of pure fire. Now the two towered over everything in the land and any living thing left after the destruction done so far that were close enough to see were left in awe.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    The two now literal titans of power clashed, the shockwaves they sent out now utterly destroyed and leveled anything they touch. Every tree turned to splinters and every mountain reduced to rubble. Blow after blow they sent out until everything in the land had been obliterated. They seperated one final time and Revian said,


    "This is the end for you brother." Krium laughed and said, "No, this is the end for us both." The two raced at each other, the only intent by either of them was to destroy.


    When the two met they sent out a blast of energy that volcanized the land around them, this shockwave traveled so far so fast it completely encompassed the world. Once it reached the opposite side it reflected back, back towards the two. As the two threw countless blow after blow into each other the shockwave was fast approaching. Krium noticed this, Revian did not. Krium laughed as he locked up with Revian and he said, "It seems after all this time brother that we leave this land as we came into it, together." Revian said, "We did not come into this world together Krium, but if we leave it, there was only one other I would rather leave it with."


    As Revian did hate Krium for all he did, he truly did respect him. For after all these years the both of them knew each other so well, so well in fact that they both knew the extent of each others power. Revian knew that he could not best Krium, as they were equal in strength. Revian closed his eyes and embraced the fate he was about to be brought to, by their own hands these two beings were hit by the shockwave. The both of them exploded with energy and particles that rained down slowly to the scorched world that had once been filled with many things.


    With their end they brought about a new beginning which niether of them had known they would. Millenia passed and soon the first green sprouted into being. Many millenia after, the world they had destroyed once again began to breed life. For in their ultimate struggle, they did what they had been destined to do, and in turn life continued. Revian and Krium, along with the world they knew would never be remembered. Their world would remain lost, as did the worlds before them, and soon after the world they had brought into the light.


    As the sun rose on the newly formed planet and the life started to flourish once more, deep in a place where time and space did not exist, new faces rose. A place beyond the land they had once known and a place where they would learn the truth behind their lives and their power. As Revian and Krium would not longer be a part of the physical realm anymore they indeed lived on in a place very far away yet so close to the land they knew, the land they destroyed, and the new one they had unkowingly created.


    Revian awoke as if he had been sleeping for a millenia again, but this time was much different, this time he was falling. He tried to reach out and transform as to not slam into the ground which he was hurtling towards but he could not. He closed his eyes and flinched as he rapidly approached the ground, but to his surprise he felt no pain as he softly landed on the dark floor. Revian looked up and saw that Krium was indeed there as well. Revian and Krium made eye contact and charged at each other with ferocity but when they were mere feet apart they were stopped by an unseeable force.


    Slowly, a man approached the two of them, a man which they had both seen but did not know. This man was the first of the two they had seen in their visions, the man wreathed in flame. This man said, "Finally you arrive. There is no more need of fighting, you cannot hurt each other in this realm although you may try. Your jobs are done, and your lives begin anew as something else. I am here to guide you, to help you adapt, and to teach you the truth behind your powers, and why you destroyed the land you both clung to so dearly. In due time you both will see the truth, and in due time you both will become friends once more."

 Chapter: XIII The Truth

    As Revian and Krium stopped their attack towards each other they felt the thing holding them back fade away. They both turned towards the man and Revian asked, "What is your name?" The man laughed and said, "I have been known by many names in the time where I roamed the land but the one I seem to have clung to the longest would be Wrecker. I know you have many questions so I will begin to explain them in due time." Wrecker led the two to what appeared to be a large tower, once inside he led them up the massive flight of stairs that spiraled around its interior. Wrecker started to explain why they were where they were and why as they traveled to the top.


    Wrecker began, "This may be hard for the both of you to understand at the moment but you will soon learn to know it is true. The two entities you called God and the Devil in fact exist, but not as you percieve them as. They are in fact brothers. You see, until you two arrived I was the only one like me, the only one that has stood in the stead where more are needed. Have you ever wondered why you gained your powers? You gained your powers from the two brothers, one of them each granted to you a different power with whatever falsehoods came with it. You both indeed were in a way doomed to arrive here eventually, it was just a question of when..."


    Wrecker continued, "...You see, nothing like you has ever happened before, nor will it ever. I was the first, I was part of the plan. You see the two brothers are responsible for keeping a balance in the world of the living and well, when one of you gained a large amount of power, the other had to rise to match. Unbalance cannot be had, it shifts the universe in a way that is terrible, and a way that will make it fall. You will be the only two to ever come here at the same time, and for that you must know the true masters of the universe."


    Krium asked, "So we are nothing more than vessels for divine bodies to have their own war instead of them fighting it themselves?" Wrecker answered, "Yes, we are in fact. You two however are destined for a different fate than what I had originally thought. It seems you two will join me, and we must together create the next one who will join us." Revian asked, "What do you mean create the next to join us?" As he finished the sentence they reached to top of the tower which gave way to a horrific looking contraption.


    Krium asked, "What is that infernal thing?" Wrecker said, "It is a machine, it runs on the very essence of this realm which is kept by the masters. There are three of them, and they embody everything you know, see, and feel. They each control one of destiny, which is the path you take, fate, which is the end you will recieve once your path has ended, and time, which is how long you path will take to end. We are to use this machine to go to them, and to pledge ourselves to them so we may start a new cycle, one in which we bring about one final end to everything."


    Revian asked, "If we are to bring about another destruction what is there left to destroy?" Wrecker laughed and said, "We are to destroy all of reality of course, along with the fourths help." Krium asked, "So this, machine, will create a being?" Wrecker said, "No, it will take us to the plane where the masters reside, which is where they will create the fourth and set in motion a plan that is far larger than all of the five beings that control the universe. You both had been given the privelege to be shown the one who we will create, the man clad in white armour."


    Revian and Krium looked at each other in awe, then back to Wrecker. Wrecker said, "This is a great deal to handle but once the fourth is created we need only wait for him to arrive here, so we may begin our path beyond which is one of great power, and one of the utmost importance. While we wait for him I will train the both of you to harness your powers to a far greater extent than your fight had allowed you to, I will teach you to become gods in your own rights. So, shall we begin?"


    Wrecker activated the machine, it slowly began to whirl into life and power on. Several large rings floated off of the ground and started to spin at an extreme rate, both Revian and Krium took a few steps back when Wrecker said, "No need to fear it, nothing can hurt us here, embrace your future warriors, your time has come to show your true potential."


    A portal opened and Wrecker said, "Step through and let us figure out our next step." Wrecker stepped through and dissapeared, Revian and Krium both paused, looked at each other, then went through the portal. As they came out the other side it was as if walking through the gate to a castle, very simple, very easy. Revian looked around him and noticed there was a large white landscape, mirrored only by a similare pale white sky. They stood on one of three massive black towers which seemed to float amidst the sea of white.


    Wrecker walked to a small circle laid upon the ground, a rune of sorts. He knelt down placed his hand on it and as he did green lightning shot outwards in all directions running through the tower, as if it were powering up. The tower shook and tremled as the lightning coursed through it and soon before the three warriors appeared from a whirlwind of mist, three beings. Wrecker said to Revian and Krium, "These are the masters of this realm, and now, the masters of you. Warriors, meet Fate, Destiny, and Time. Destiny spoke in a voice that echoed through both mind and body, "You have done well warriors, you path is nearing the most important fork in the road. We have watched you all for a long time and now that you are finally here we may give you your next task."


    Time said in a voice that seemed to waver on the very air and seemed to command the seconds and minutes that went by as they spoke, "Your next task is a simple one, but first we must reward all of you. We gift you three rings of immense power, these rings will help you withstand the power of the last to join your group, and rise to his level." The Three fashioned three rings out of thin air, or lack thereof as in this realm nothing seemed to exist but everything did at the same time. Revian, Wrecker, and Krium each took a ring, which formed to their fingers as they put them on.


    Fate said in a voice that thundered over them, and seemed to command the warriors themselves, "Your task is to go back and train, now that you have these rings you may practice your powers, hone them, and become masters of them. You are to do this until the fourth arrives there, which will seem like eons, but will pass in the blink of an eye to you. Once that happens, the machine that brought you here will take you on to the one who will give you your final task. That is all we require from you now, He, will answer any question you have at the appropriate time."


    Revian and Krium both had many questions for the Three but they held their tongues and followed Wrecker back to the portal that the machine had opened. They stepped through and left the Realm of Three for the only, and final time. Once back to where they arrived Wrecker said, "Let us begin training then, we must be ready when the fourth arrives, then we can begin to do what we are destined to." Revian turned to Krium and said, "It seems we were meant to be split, but now we are again at each others side. I cannot forgive you yet for what you did, but maybe in time I will be able to. I would like none other to be by my side however, brother." Krium said back, "Neither would I Revian, neither would I."


    Eons and eons passed and the three warriors trained every second, every hour. They honed their skills to the point at which it seemed as if they were unstoppable, and in their own rights they were. They waited, they waited for their final companion to arrive, and when he did, they were going to be ready for whatever laid before them. Revian and Krium lost sight of the fued they once had, and they once again became seamless and very comfortable with each other in battle. They both were surprised at the power Wrecker had, it seemed to equal theirs but it also seemed to surpass them.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    Amidst their training, a faint hum fell over the realm they had been in for so long, so long silent, now no longer. Through a fiery entrance came the one they had been waiting for, the one which they needed to complete their duty. The man was kneeled down on one knee, his head was hung low, clad in his armour. The warriors approached him, and he looked up. He stared at them through a haunting helmet, which was that of a skull, and a pitch black visor.


    The man stood and asked, "Where am I?" Wrecker said, "You have reached the place where you were meant to, we are like you, we seek to balance the universe as well." The man looked over the three of them and wondered what they had meant, he thought he was the only one to follow the Masters, but he was wrong. Revian said, "What is your name warrior?" The man said back to him, "Atlas, my name is Atlas, who are you all?" As the three introduced themselves to Atlas, Atlas asked, "What happens now?"


    As he said that the machine spun to life and opened yet another portal, just like the Three had said it would. Wrecker said, "We enter the portal Atlas, and we confront our destinies." The four warriors entered the portal and stood before a massive white tower. This tower floated in a pitch black space, that seemed to waver into and out of existence. They entered the tower and slowly began to make their way down, as it seemed they were on the top of it. They began to descend the hundreds of thousands of stairs, on edge to face what laid before them. Atlas said, "At the bottom of the stairs there will be a large door, and beyond lies one who I have met only once. He restored things back to as they should be, but I do not understand, this is not where I was supposed to be, I was not supposed to be back in this realm."


    Revian asked, "What do you mean by that Atlas?" Atlas said, "We will soon find out Revian, we will soon find out." They reached the bottom after what seemed like a millenia of stairs. They were met with a massive door, where Atlas said, "The one that lies beyond is very powerful, last time I was here I had to show him my power to show him I was worthy, I do not know what he will require this time." The three of them stood there and did not know what Atlas was talking about but followed as Atlas swung the large doors open and began to walk down a massive room that was very long.


    At the far end sat a throne, and in this throne sat a figure that radiated power, all four who entered felt the presence as soon as the door was swung open. As they approached the figure looked up and stood watching them approach. They stopped several feet in front of the figure and the figure said, "Welcome warriors, you have finally reached the final step in your journey." Revian asked, "Who are you?" The figure said, "I am one whom you have known all of your lives, but you never knew it. I have created everything you see and feel, I am in a sense your God but I am indeed very much more than that. My name cannot be uttered by your primitive minds so you may call me..." Atlas cut him off, "Reality." Reality looked at Atlas and asked, "How do you know that Atlas?"


    Atlas said, "I have been here once before do you not remember me?" Reality said, "No one has been here since the Five were concieved, no one." The four warriors looked around at each other, Atlas the only one in confusion. Reality continued, "...But yes you can call me Reality for I am everything and I am absolut here. You have but one task left and it will not be an easy one. I come from a plane very far away, but not so far when looked upon on a greater scale. I was banished from that plane, and I will have my revenge. I was exiled into an unknown space where I created a plan, a plan for my return."


    Krium asked, "Why were you banished?" Reality said, "I was different from the rest, I was smarter. I knew the path it was being led and fought against it, as did many of my brethren. That place was filled with war and the ones in control sought to punish me, and they did. I have created this plane for the four of you. I set in place a way for this realm to concieve powerful beings, ones that matched mine. I did this so that we may return, and we may set things right. Once that is done you all shall be free to do what you please."


    The four looked at each other with no words to say at first until Wrecker said, "So we are to help you fight a war?" Reality looked at him and said, "No. I want you to help me end one. You are all products of terrible war, the strongest out of any other living thing. You mirror me in every way, and now it is finally time to do what should have been done long ago." Reality took a few steps forward and turned around, he held out his hand and his throne rose off of the ground and towards the ceiling which revealed a massive machine.


    Reality said, "This machine will allow us to return to my realm, it will also completely free you and allow your power to surpass even what it is now. Our fight will be long and will not be easy so we must go now. I however will give you the choice. If you are not ready to fight in the greatest war to ever exist, or to stay here and tend to a dying universe." The four talked it out amongst themselves but they soon settled on the same outcome. Revian said, "We have nothing to go back to, so we will fight with you Reality."


    Reality smiled and said, "Good. Now prepare yourselves, this will get very intense." Reality powerd on the machine and said as it came to life, "You will each need to pour your energy into it, and I mean all of your power. The amount we need is nigh impossible even in my realm to reach but with us all we can do it." Atlas asked, "What if it does not work?" Reality said, "We will continue to pelt it with our power until we erase the realm itself, and soon thereafter ourselves." Krium said, "So let us not fail then." Reality said, "Indeed, let us not. Now, let us begin."


    The colossal machine sputtered to life and Reality started to pelt it with his energy. Soon the four warriors poured together their strength with Reality''s and they shot a single massive barage of energy into the machine. The machine kicked itself into overdrive and began to whir and whir faster and faster. Soon the machine was at its limit until Reality stopped, the other four following suit. The machine began stoic and Reality said, "It is done, we may now travel to the other side."


    The portal that had opened glowed an iridescence that the four had never seen before, but Reality had seen only one other time. Revian turned to reality and asked, "How can we stand against the powers that banished you if we are only part of the realm that you created? Would they not simply banish us as well?" Reality said, "No. The banishment process is very long, and has rules. We will have eons to fight them, and to eventually win. We will not fail as you four have proved yourself to me, and for that I thank you. Each of you are stronger than you know, and each of you shall join my side when we finally end the tyranny of those who banished me."


    As each of the four passed through the other side, Revian was the last one to do so. He hesitated a little bit from going into the portal and he said to himself, ''This is it. This is what I was destined to do?'' He sighed and entered the portal, tightening the grip on his mind and powers. Once he stepped through he felt an onrush of power that was so strong it brought him to his knees. He managed to stand where he noticed everyone else had been through the same thing except Reality.


    Reality was looking forward towards a massive tower when thousands of soldiers appeared before them. Reality said to the three warriors, "This is the beginning warriors, prove yourselves to them, so that we may destroy them..." Reality turned towards the army and yelled, "...I have returned, you had banished me but I have broken your chains of imprisonment and I have come for your heads!" The army began to lurch towards them and the four took their places and soon charged towards the army. The two forces collided and they started a war that would last eons.


    That story however is one for a different time. Revians final thoughts as he rushed into battle were ones of happiness and pride. Kriums were of belonging and hope. Wreckers were satisfaction and rage which helped him in battle. Finally comes Reality, his thoughts were vague and scattered about but could be summarized in only but one small word. Revenge.