46 Bedevilment

Graklak was a large and old orc, he had no weapons instead he had large scarred fists with gauntlets. He had a very light armor over his body, from his build I knew he emphasized speed. His strength and endurance were already high, so he needed no weapons or armor. He just needed to remedy the problem of an Orc's speed.

It wasn't that they were slow, it was that they weren't the fastest. Goblins were significantly faster than Orcs, and sometimes speed can decide a fight entirely. Like in the fight that I had against Dazkieht. I will emphasize my speed advantage and cut away at his defenses. Graklak had only one eye but when he looked at me, he resembled hawkeye. A piercing eye like a hawk, one that made me feel like his prey.

'He's strong...he probably reached mid-stage inner reformation.' I thought to myself as I gulped

It was worse than I thought, and it was a little bit scary. But I calmed myself my skills have long since metamorphosed. Even if there is a difference of 10 levels, I could handle it if I hold nothing back. So I released all of my sword intents, space swirled as my black lotus revolved faster.

I directed my commanders, Dazkieht and Pektog to attack. The swung their corrupted swords at Graklak, who raised his gauntlets in a crossguard. With a piercing yell, he forced both weapons back. Then he twisted his fist facing up to the sky and punched at Dazkieht first. He could feel Pektog's strength, and so he chose to kill Dazkieht to lessen his troubles.

But as the punch was about to land on Dazkieht, he raised his greatsword like a shield. He guarded against his strike, but the great force of the punch hit the greatsword out of his hands. He flew back without big injuries but his hands were trembling from the force. Graklak jumped forward with a big final punch to finish off Dazkieht.

But I acted I sent out my undying sword intent, it was heavy and repressive. It forced Graklak back out of fear of being cut down in one strike. He looked at me in fear for a moment and backed off from Dazkieht. I myself had no intentions of acting yet, this was a test of faith. If Pektog and Dazkieht were both useless then they could both scram. In the time that the commanders were engaging in combat.

I had the sub-commanders deal with the remaining Orcs. There were only 2 more Orcs, but their combat potential was higher than even Ulbrag, who after Pektog, and Dazkieht was the strongest. But they handled it well, Ulbrag kept the Orcs cornered with void archery, an elusive art using terrifying arrows of space. It could change positions in the air and cause no ripples while doing so.

Even I had to praise Ulbrag for such accurate use of spatial energy. Especially when my use has been barbaric at most when compared. The other hobgoblins kept control of the Orcs' frenzied attacks by misdirecting their attacks. Then the goblins would attack in mass, with little slashes and quickly flee.

The strategy was one that I had taught them, and they made good use of it. I kept watch of the situation as Pektog duked it out, Pektog's unsheathed a ghoulish sword on his waist. Earlier, he was making use of one of the nobles swords. But now he decided to try out Raynard's sword. In a way, the sword in the formation was better than the one on the outside.

The sword has lost its spirituality but I had already granted it to Pektog, giving him full control of the ghoul sword. The sword was inundated with the power of my sword intent, as a black serpent slithered along the sword. Pektog cut at Graklak who tried to guard with his gauntlets. The serpent was the link between me and my army!

But the sword was too sharp, it cut at the gauntlets. Quickly, Graklak directed the force of the sword down and retreated. But his gauntlets were ruined and he had a thin wound along his hands. Pektog seemed tired as he sheathed the ghoul sword, and switched to the nobleman's sword.

'The spirituality of the sword and my sword intent suit each other very well. But that for Pektog is a problem since he can't handle the power.' I thought to myself as I analyzed the fight

'Pektog and Dazkieht are efficient with their combat. Pektog is approaching 40% efficiency, with Dazkieht at around 34%. Those are good figures at their level.' I thought although my efficiency was significantly higher. But that was because the Lightning Sword Code pursued efficiency to the peak.

Graklak's face became solemn as he remembered the power in Pektog's strike. It was awe inspiring and the power was far greater than he expected. He had fought with Pektog before, he knew he was talented but he never expected him to have improved so much. He was especially fearful since he noticed that he had some relationship with that terrifying human on the tree branch.

He kept vigilant of the situation as he forced back the commanders. As they fought the situation with the goblins was wrapped up, the orcs were massacred entirely. Pektog was only able to barely handle Graklak's strikes as he was forced back.

'They did well, I guess its time I acted.' I thought in appreciation

I channeled the power of true qi in my body and activated the Shadow of Providence. A black sword intent radiated from my being. The aura started to take form as it became the head majestic horned true dragon. It roared into the void, with a piercing screech that created huge winds.

It left Graklak shaking in utter fear of the dragon's majestic form. This wasn't Drrak it was something much more powerful and originated from myself. I was able to stir the Primordial source of Cenir using the Shadow of Providence. As the dragon roared my followers were blessed with greater power as a black serpent slithered along them.

I was the true dragon and the originator. They were the serpents and my offspring in a way. I would use this method to rear true dragons under my control from the serpents. With my blessing, Pektog's endurance and magic power were rejuvenated. The wounds on their bodies recovered to an extent as they sealed up.

Dazkieht who was knocked prone from the punch had recovered and came back with a vengeance. Pektog who was unable to use handle Graklak's strikes forced him back with a cleaving strike of his sword.

'The use of Cenir's source does indeed amplify both my power and those of my followers. Just like you said Drrak, this technique has quite a lot of advantages.' I said to Drrak in a happy tone

'Would I lie to you kid? This is your chance to soar to the skies.' Drrak said to me patiently

Although I often exploded and was unstable sometimes. Drrak dealt with my outbursts patiently and helped me. Although I hate many and assume the worst of people. It is much harder to do so with Drrak, at least although I may not fully trust him. I am willing to rely on his wisdom to a certain extent. At least now I know those outbursts came from shadowborn nature and not from 'him'.

With that declaration in mind, my heart calmed as Pektog fought back Graklak. Graklak's arms became battered with sword cuts from Dazkieht's opportune attacks. When Graklak had lost his fighting ability and fallen to the ground in fatigue. I signaled to Pektog and Dazkieht to stop their assault. I jumped off the branch and went to Graklak, whose body was devoid of energy.

His age was even more apparent up close, it would make one feel sympathy for his weakened figure at the moment. But his dignity allowed no sympathy even in his weakest moment. He looked me in the eye, trying to determine my intent but he couldn't meet my vision. Out of fear of being brainwashed by me.

"You are old, you could have handled Pektog and Dazkieht normally. But as you age, you lose significant strength. But I can grant you power that will allow you to regain your strength and more." I offered in a devilish tone

The power I offered though great comes at a hidden price. But what power doesn't come at a price? One must bet that they are able to either pay the price or overcome the debt entirely. So I felt nothing wrong with offering power at a hidden price and with a deadline. Graklak remained silent as he avoided my vision. But I could see his hateful eyes, unyielding even under my imposing presence.

"Well, I don't need you to agree anyway," I said with a dastardly smile

I grabbed his skull with my hand and forced him to look at me. I forced his eyes open as I channeled the power of true qi. My eyes became swirling vortexes of darkness. The black lotus inside of me rapidly rotated releasing another seed. I injected it into his soul examining it for death Qi, unsurprisingly it was inside his soul. I had the seed consume the death Qi, and let it consume his consciousness.

His eyes dulled with their hatred as he prostrated in solemn respect and reverence. This was another power of Providence, bedevilment! He cannot disobey my commands, he was the equivalent of a slave rather than a follower. The strongest point of a slave is that they can receive much more of my power.