21 The Fight for Power

The shadows of tall buildings covered them as the sun began to set its time of rest. Between them are a group of eight armed knights. Covered in the most exquisite sheets of plated armor. Tailored specifically suited for their physique — it shines just like the tales that he was told. Never had Richard been so amazed by the fiefs of old when he was back at earth. The crests on their chest indicates they're affiliation to the Clayhill family. Clearly one of Webnor's subordinates. He must be behind this but why?

However, Richard didn't have the time to contemplate, Webnor's sudden betrayal and instead is focused on the current situation. He'll have to question the Marquess and get rid of the disloyal ones in his noble house. But then again, what reason does Clayhill have if he went this far. He was no doubt one of the most loyal during Oliver's reign. Could it be him perhaps?

Lost in thought. A knight swings his sword at Richard's face. Karsodian blocks it in time thanks to his quick reaction speed whilst his head was torn apart from his body. Then another knight thrust his blade at the lower part of the duke.

The pillar-guardian also sees it incoming and grabs it with his hand. While kicking his schlong and squeezing it with the tip of his toes. Throwing him in the air like a rag-doll. Karsodian gave Richard the sword as a way to defend himself in case he couldn't protect him in time. Richard hastily takes the longsword and puts on a guard position.

He was lucky to be the son of a duke. Trained from his early childhood, it was expected for him to learn both in literature and the art of the sword. Karsodian took care of the knights that were in the front whilst Richard deals with the other knights. Things weren't getting any better as all six of them charged at us.

"My lord, hit the dirt!" Karsodian yelled.

Richard did what he did. What happened next would make his noble dress into a mess. Karsodian did a 360 swing and killed all the six of them in one twirl. Blood spewed from their severed bodies as they poured on me like a shower of watered syrup. It covered my face with its disgusting smell. I wiped off the fluid in my eyes so I could see.

Then I see someone with a horse coming closer towards us. When Richard identified the man's face; he gritted his teeth in a fit of rage. It was Webnor and he isn't alone. With him was a retinue of twenty knights holding heater shields and halberds. This doesn't seem welcoming.

"Marquess Webnor Clayhill, I demand an explanation as to why your men take up their arms and strike me, the Archduke." He didn't respond. "ANSWER ME, YOU WAZZOCK!"

Again; he said nothing. Which infuriates Richard even more. Then he waves his hand, which signalled the knights to attack him. Karsodian quickly stood in front of Richard in order to protect him. Acting as a shield to the duke. They all sprinted towards me as six of them were concentrated to Karsodian while four of them were aiming at Richard.

It didn't look good as Karsodian punched through a knights heater shield — breaking it instantly, stabbed another throat and crushed one of their skulls. I didn't know my custodians were this hardcore in battle. However, there are other warriors that could best me in combat. Fortunately, Karsodian finished the opponents that he dealt with but not without recieving any wounds.

He throwed his Halbert at the knight who was the nearest to me and then picked up the other two and strangled them. The snap of their necks made them stop breathing as they hanged in his hands. Then a knight charged at Richard but he evaded his attacks and thrust his longsword at his neck.

But the fight wasn't over yet. Webnor signalled the other knights for another wave. This time though; he brought in someone new and it horrified Richard. It stomped the ground as the earth quakes on his feet. It was a small skinny girl; she had the appearance of a banshee but is quite pale. Dangled hair that was had not been groomed for years. Eyes so sunked into her skull it was as if she never had any.

Then Webnor pulls out a vial of lustrous green and handed to her as she gladly takes it without a hint of reluctance nor jubilance. Just an expressionless face devoid of any humanity. She emptied the bottle and what happened next churred his stomach. The once frail girl that couldn't beat a man was now transforming into a monster. Static lighting erupts in her surroundings as she continues to wail in pain. Morphing her body into a grotesque proportion as her muscles progress larger tendons.

He can tell just by seeing her face that she isn't enjoying it. The muscle began to stop expanding the sinewed fibers — It must be her limit. Resulting in a deformed 10ft tall hulk like monster. Easily toppling over Karsodian.

"Clayhill, what have you done..." Richard muttered to himself.

Barely holding the longsword in his hand as the grip begins to loosen. The knights were unphased by the shift of her body mass. Especially, Karsodian who stood vigilant — disregarding the laceration that was inflicted upon him by the knights. Richard even questioned himself as to how common these outburst of metamorphism were.

If this existed on earth then it wouldn't have been allowed to continue in the first place. He grew disgusted by this worlds acceptance to allow such abominations to exist. If only he had control over the world then maybe he could stop whatever they've done to people like her.

She then charges directly at us — running in the most absurd way possible. Karsodian throwed his Halbert at her. It hitted her abdominal regions but there was no sign of her slowing down. No, in fact it's as if she couldn't feel any pain at all. Which brought more fear to Richards already broken psyche. Karsodian too dash at her, retracting two fin blades that were in his bracelets. He jumps over her and slices the wrist of her left hands. Though at the cost of dulling his right blade.

Annoyed, she then notices the one responsible and chases after him. Karsodian dodged her mighty blows that as he swiftly grabs a hold of her legs. She trips as a result of Karsodian hurling her over. Then he lifts her up and propels her at the knights. Unfortunately, Webnor wasn't hit. The monstrous beast gets up from Karsodians throw.

However it quickly gets up after being flung in the air. Enraged, it created a bellowing roar as it charges again at Karsodian but much faster than before. He tried to counter her by throwing a punch but she catches it.

Leaving only with his right hand to pummel her and pummel her, he did. Blow after blow creates a wind of force being projected in the air as if it was like wave underwater. Although, I noticed its left hand being regenerated. She then caught the other hand of Karsodian. He in return used his legs to strangle the monster. But to no avail as it didn't have any sign of waning from his impregnable legs. It was her turn now.

She crushed both Karsodians arms and picked him up to detach his grip on her scruff. Then she later bane snapped his spine — twisting his form and shoves him far away to a nearby shop. The glass displays were shattered due to the impact.

Luckily, he still lives as I can see him twitching. Frightened, Richard stood still. Frozen in fear as the 10ft tall abomination marches back to Clayhill. My lungs breathed hard on the oxygen in the air. The space between us is around 10 meters away as I hold the longsword tightly.

"Cromwell, surrender yourself to me and renounce your title of dukedom. Now hand it over." Clayhill shouted.

"What if I refuse?" He barked back

"Then, I am sad to say that you must not be allowed to exist."

He snapped his finger and the gargantuan girl started dashing towards me. Right when Richard was losing hope; he hears the sound of crystals breaking. It came from above him as he looks up. He closes his eyes and calmly inhales.

The girl raises her contorted fist into a flapped hand. Before it could land on him — the building beside them collapses. An iron arm intercepted the beast assault on the Archduke.

I open my eyes to see the events taking place. Witnessing closely through the cluster of dust; he saw a 14ft tall iron giant, clad in the most ubiquitous of auramite golden armor. But what he saw was not the level of extravagantsy that it adorn but it was its helm.

It felt very reminiscent to that of a contemptor dreadnought. The eyes beamed in the most brightest red. Shining golden hair fluttering in the winds directions. This is so surreal...

"///GREETINGS YOU ACCURSED ANATHEMA. FOR I, SANTARIUS, AM YOUR EXECUTIONER\\\" It voiced a muffled yet static, robotic tone.

The iron giant called Santarius squash the arm of the beast and upper-cuts it's ugly face up in the air. Irritated, the beast returned the blows back. Santarius also joints in.

It then started spewing flames at the bottom of his wrist. Burning the poor creature as it continues to bawl in pain. Stalling the regeneration process to a certain degree. Allowing, Santarius to eliminate the beast.

"///MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA!\\\"

They both trade blows of fist — each punch becomes a shock wave in the ever more intense fight. I had to stand 3 meters away just so I wouldn't be in the crossfire. Then out of nowhere, I see the black, golden stripe briefcase that Jeunesse was supposed to give me. It was up in the air. Falling towards me.

Richard made a run and tried to catch it without it being damaged from the fall. He grabbed it in time as he hastily puts it down and opens the latches that keep it closed. Then, Jeunesse appeared in front of him.

*****

Far away from the battling giants, Webnor was shocked and awe struck by the presence of a golem praesidios being in the ranks of Richards personal bodyguards. He was never aware that a golem appearing in front of him was not what he had expected. His steed was going out of control due to the sheer intensity that the fight brought through.

Then, he made up his mind and decided to retreat to his manor. The marquess was about to order his men to withdraw but then sees Karsodian rising from the shards of rubble. He re-aligned his broken, dislodged limbs and proceeds to assault the group. Panic stricken, Webnor orders his remaining knights to hold off the monstrous guard.

"Damn you, Cromwell. Mark my words, I will make you pay!" He cursed under his breath.

He made it to his manor in time and quickly went to his study to devise another plan. Although he knows very well that once the duke is victorious; his head would on the line. Along with his family lineage, who would also be punished if he can't think of a way to stop Richard Cromwell.

Then the unexpected came. Richard suddenly manifested in front of him like a ghost out to haunt the traitorous noble. Next to him was a young, attractive women wearing a hood. She is a witch. The marquess can tell since he has never seen such magic nor ever heard of it.

He stops — teeth gnashing as he was filled with rage. Webnor decides to kill him off with a one on one duel. He won't worry about the women beside him if he chose not to attack her.

"Marquess Webnor Clayhill of the Clayhill family. For your crimes against civil order and for attacking your lord. I hence sentence you on death row." Richard declared the execution of the noble.

"I object! I request a trial by combat to prove my innocence! Let us see which of us is truly guilty." He glared at him with spite.

"Granted! Commence the duel!"

"Then come hither for I shalt kill you!"

"*Chuckling* Bugger off chav..."

"What?"

BANG!

An invisible projectile hits the head of Clayhill as there was a cloud of thick smoke that came out of a peculiar tool. It was a small cane like wooden thing that held in Richard's hand. He didn't think of it too much for he was loosing his consciousness. He drop dead on the ground.

Richard, relief that he has solved one his problems. He holds the weapon that killed the marquess tightly. It was a flintlock model that experimented. It was the 4th proto-type that he has made so far. Despite its effectiveness in killing — it's endurance was questionable as it wasn't able to withstand the pressure of the black powder.

Of course it would break. This wasn't the perfect model yet but in the future; he'll be able to mass produce this weapon somehow.

"Ssssooo... What do we do now?" Jeunesse inquired to Richard. Unbaffled to his death.

"We have to make sure to get out of here before his family notices that we were the ones responsible for his death."

"Again with the 'we'." She rolls her eyes.

"Well, I wouldn't have made this far without you. You helped me a lot." He smiles at her.

"Then lets get to work but don't think it the wrong way. I'm only doing this because I have nothing to do anyway." She turns away from Richard. When we were about leave the study, I noticed some papers that piqued my interest.

*****

Running in a frantic motion. Agnes and Isabella were moving in fast pace so it could catch up at the Golem Praesidios that Wamuudesri awoken. They made it to where the Golem stops. At a destroyed dwelling that it made an exact copy of itself.

Agnes face palm and was distress even more but before she could rant over due the collateral damages. Amending such devastation would strain the treasury's savings. Just right after they were in the middle of recovery from the Ork invasion.

"Brother, are you certain to wake Santarius?"

"Yes~! I am positively sure! How else are we going to find our master?"

"But isn't it a bit overkill to let him run lose on the streets. He is creating such a ruckus."

"Oh please, I'm sure he's just stretching his legs. Besides! Who cares about a few destroyed houses that a mortal would live?"

"Look! I see him fighting a giant- GUUUAAHH! What is that?!" Isabella pointed out.

"It appears to be a large deformed mutant. Really, people should just stop with creating such monstrosities." Rediscian explained with content.

"And that's why mortals are not to be trusted!" Wamuudesri hissed.

Then they see Richard, who appeared along with Jeunesse and Karsodian. Isabella wanted come to him and give him a hug but Agnes stopped her by the last minute. As the giant beast then falls. Probably due to exhaustion from fighting the far superior Golem Praesidios.

"///HAHAHA! VICTORY FOR THE PILLAR-GUARDIAN SHIELD HOST!\\\" Santarius yelled in triumph.

"///MY OILED PLATES OF GOLD SHINES AT THE DEFEAT OF THIS ABOMINATION!\\\" He added. Then, Rediscian and Wamuudesri saw Karsodian next to Santarius. And Anges lets go of Isabella who couldn't hold back the urge to give Richard da hugs.

He kept on contemplating to whether or not he should resign as the current duke. Then, Isabella came and gave him a crushing embrace while weeping.

Sometimes, he wishes to be a simple blacksmith or just some regular baker but no. He had to have the most highest and elevated authority in this time of a world with both medieval and ancient periods. To which, he has to carry the burdens of such responsibilities. He was alone.

"I will find the truth... Even if it is worth dying for." He whispered in English.