Chapter 24: Bringer Of Death, The Maelstrom Of Tob

Atlas rode on a skeletal horse, quickly approaching the Necropolis. The situation seems to be serious, twenty thousand Re-Estize soldiers have gathered around the Necropolis, blockading it. Intelligence says that there is a warrior of level 50, and the rest of the fighters are of 15-25 level, being on barely par with the junior brothers. But their levels were not the problem, it was their numbers. Even with 25 hero rank brothers, the battle will not be in the Necropolis' favour just like that. The Brothers needed their leader, and some reinforcements.

Atlas arrived at the human wall that was blocking him off from The Necropolis, jumping off of his horse and moving closer to the blockade. The green armoured figure approached the warriors of Re-Estize with only killing intent.

"HEY! DO NOT STEP A FOOT-"

FLOP

Atlas drew his crossbow, downing the soldier with a bolt to the eye.

"Kni...knight...OF GRIM?!!"

The soldiers that were nearby him started to shake and spread out, trying to move further away from him.

"ATTACK! KILL THE KNIGHT OF GRIM!!!"

A wave of 100 soldiers rushed toward Atlas, brandishing some silvered swords and specialised amour, they attempted to overwhelm Atlas in a single rush.

"Greater Horde Breaker." Atlas spoke.

Atlas aimed his crossbow towards the soldiers, releasing a single bolt, which appeared to become a hundred bolts.

"AGGGH!!"

FLOP FLOP FLOP FLOP FLOP...

The entire attacking force fell to the ground, each with a perfectly placed arrow through one of their eyes.

"I still need their skeletons. Flesh is not so necessary."

Atlas walked through a small gap in the blockade, which he created, joining with his brothers in the Necropolis. As he walked through the large gap, he felt a large sense of fear and dread emanating from the soldiers, unwilling to attack him as he passed by.

The feeling of disgust flew throughout the skeleton's mind, feeling absolutely hateful towards the cowards who could only rush him as a group, unwilling to fight him alone. None of them stepped up, just letting Atlas pass through to his brothers.

Atlas crossed through the burnt land which was left by the Re-Estize soldiers, looking to the ground to see 5 human corpses for every skeleton that lied on the ground. The pride of having such great brothers made the flesh move to tears, dripping from inside Atlas' helmet.

"Brothers, wait, I will bring you back, stronger." Atlas spoke as he walked across the war torn clearing.

Atlas finally arrived at the main defending force of the Necropolis, sensing their disgrace at losing so many brothers, he spoke.

"Brothers, Death is but an injury. An injury which disgraces those that are still here, but brings us motivation to return injury for injury. Our brothers lay dormant, but they will rise again. Before they rise, bring forth the corpses of the enemy to bring honour to our injured. I am proud of having brothers like you, now follow me, to victory!"

Atlas drew his crossbow on his left hand and sword on the other, charging into the fray with his brothers following close behind him.

"LET NO HUMAN ESCAPE!"

The human forces stood in terror as they witnessed the true fury of the Black Legion, attacking in unison to break the blockade. With a volley of arrows, the skeletons charged into the Re-Estize soldiers, buffed by the mere presence of their Eldest Brother, destroying all of the humans that lay in front of them.

"SNIPE!"

The level 40 archer Brother effortlessly downed multiple cavalry units, as they charged in to reinforce their retreating infantry.

"LAUNCH THE CREEPING VOLLEY!"

Atlas charged forth with the senior brothers, entering the main body of the enemy army as a rain of arrows peppered the scene, leaving all but the skeletons, in ruins. Atlas and his top 5 units continued to charge as the main skeleton army wiped out the main infantry, eventually reaching the enemy general.

The General wore full golden plate armour, brandishing an ultra great sword. The General seemed to be of middle age and extremely muscular, able to make up for the strength of a hundred men. The man stood in front of the ranged units, standing in between Atlas and victory.

"Knight Of Grim, why do you bring wrath to our kingdom?" The General asked.

"Your kingdom has something that we desire." Atlas responded in a Deathly voice.

"You have murdered so many already! Don't you know the consequences of your actions?"

"I murder? You attack. We defend. You destroy. We amend. You invade. We assimilate."

"You stand by and pretend that you are the moral order of this world? Then what of the Demi-humans and slaves?" Atlas continued.

"..."

Atlas' sword glowed a deep red, flickering as sparks of negative energy coursed through the blade.

"You bring death, we bring life."

Atlas thrusted his sword straight into the ground, causing veins of negative energy to run along the crack and pierce through the corpses and fallen skeletons on the battlefield. The negative energy enclosed all of the bodies, starting a familiar process.

"Brother General, in your death, we offer you life."

Atlas dashed forward and engaged the heavily armoured General, launching quick and skilful attacks to break past the latter's armour.

"FOR THE KING!" The general shouted.

"BROTHERS, BRING BACK THE ARCHERS' BODIES!"

Atlas quickly fired his crossbow at the general's left arm, knocking off the left forearm plates. Atlas then clashed his sword on the generals left forearm, leaving a Deathly gash.

"AAARGH!"

"DIE FIEND!"

The General launched a chain of slow but powerful slashes as he forced the skeleton into a defensive posture.

"MARTIAL ART: GREATER ABILITY BOOST!"

"MARTIAL ART: BODY OF STEEL! BLADE BOOST! COMBAT REFLEX!"

The General felt a rush of energy and strength coursing through his body as his swings became faster and stronger. Atlas parried and dodged with slight difficulties as he moved to counter the General.

"Martial art: Adamantine Bones."

Suddenly Atlas grabbed the blade of his opponent's great sword with one hand.

"Hands Of Iron."

Atlas grasped the blade, crushing it as he threw it to the ground.

"MONSTER! A HUMAN COULD NOT POSSIBLY BE THAT CAPABLE."

"Perhaps you should re-evaluate your combat potential. You were quite strong, but you do not possess anything other than martial arts."

FLOP

Atlas shot a single arrow through the left eye of the General, dropping him to the ground.

"What a pity, this is all that Re-Estize has to offer."

The remaining human combatants all fell to their knees as they saw their Great General dead. Giving up on hope, many of them rushed in without any strategy, instantly being killed by the powerful skeleton soldiers and their newly risen brothers.

"WAIT!!! KNIGHT OF GRIM! I AM MARSHAL HEZAFF VOSKOV! I WILL EXECUTE THEE WITH MY MEN!"

The marshal appeared in shiny plate armor with a squad of hired adamantite class mercenaries, ready to confront Atlas. Atlas was not moved by their declaration to battle him.

"The General was stronger than all of you combined, and fought with honour." Atlas spoke.

Atlas peppered the group with a rapid click of the trigger, emptying his crossbow bolts in the eyes of the challengers.

"Pitiful."

The souls of thousands were poured into the skeleton soldiers, leaving one thousand of the best souls for Atlas. Atlas raised his arms and absorbed the red energies, assimilating them into his strength. The power he felt was not overwhelming, but just a small spike in power.

***

Name: Atlas, The Knight Of Grim, The Maelstrom Of Tob

Race: Bone Devil

Level: Skeleton warrior 15, fighter 15, executioner 5(genius), Bone Devil 5, Underworld judge 5(unique), Great leader 2(variant), Marksman 3, Horde breaker 5(unique), unused 45

HP:80

Phy attack: 55

Phy defence: 50

Agility: 52

Magic attack: 30

Magic defence: 50

Resistance: 40

Special ability:37

***

"It has been a long time since this has worked for me."

Atlas raised the corpses from the battlefield as the battle officially ended, culminating in the complete military failure of the Re-Estize kingdom. Unwilling to expose their shame, the kingdom officially announced that the army is travelling to the east and will return when they find treasure. The name of 'The Knight Of Grim', became a much more dreadful name when brought up in official meetings; with only the highest ranking officials having knowledge of what happened on that dreadful day.

"Eldest Brother, The new brothers await thy presence." Red spoke.

"Then I will give it to them."

Atlas stood on the top of the Necropolis walls, addressing his younger brothers.

"BROTHERS! WITH THE DEFEAT OF THE RE-ESTIZE ARMY, WE HAVE GAINED CONTROL OF THE GREAT FOREST! OUR NEWLY AWAKENED BROTHERS, REJOICE FOR YOU ARE NOW PART OF THE FAMILY OF NAZARICK! REJOICE FOR YOU ARE FREE OF YOUR DREADFUL HUMANITY! WELL DONE!"

Atlas jumped off of the wall landing in front of the crowd of tens of thousands.

"I will now return to Nazarick, Red, you will be in charge of the brothers until I return from the Tomb."

"You have raised your level to 45, becoming the most capable Senior Brother, continue to bring honour to Nazarick." Atlas spoke.

"I will always follow Eldest Brother to bring glory to Nazarick! Glory to The Supreme Beings!" Red announced.

Atlas left the Necropolis, ready to report back to his lord.