please reset the booktitle Oblivion_Disk 20231218092329 27

Seth Constantin closes the door behind him as he readies the last of the remaining members of what the locals have dubbed the "Cult of Shadows".

The soldiers of the Holy Order had recieved a tip from an anonymous individual who revealed that a lord of the kingdom of Creathe was a member of this unholy organization. Lord Ferris Algrave III, after a few days of siege in his own keep, surrenders and reveals the headquarters of the cult, the 'damned' tomb of the dark lord Azrael himself. Invading the tomb, the soldiers of the Holy Order were now fighting with armed members of the Cult outside the room Seth and a few others were currently in.

"That bastard, Ferris, has doomed us." Seth grits his teeth.

"What are we supposed to do?!" A fellow member named Jeremiah Locke asks him. "Where is Lord Geraldt?!"

"He led the defense of the tomb's first floor." Seth replied. "I don't know if he is still alive..."

Being forced into the deepest parts of the catacombs, Seth tries to think of a way to escape... but nothing seems to work.

Digging for an exit was futile as, other than the Holy Order's soldiers already fighting their way into the room, they had no tools to make digging easier. There were no secret tunnels as far as they know of, and being in the deepest room, there were no windows.

What separates them and the soldiers in the other room was the door.

"Zachariah!" Seth turns towards one of the cult's prominent figures, a high priest of sorts."Can't you teleport us all out of here?!"

"I had already spent half my mana during the Holy Order's entrance of this tomb." Zachariah li Conquista tells him. "Besides... teleportation is a 4th-tier spell. I can only cast a portion of 3rd-tier spells at most."

"Damn it!" Seth remarks. "We really can't escape?!"

"The Dark Lord Azrael is with us." Benjamin Croft points at the tomb that was with them. "Fear not. He will save us."

"Benjamin is here." The others murmured. "One of the members of the triangle."

"We can win.." Jeremiah tells them.

"Zachariah!" Seth unsheathes his sword. "You better think of something!"

Zachariah fumbles through his book of spells. He was a former student of the Magic Academy until it was found out that he was a cultist.

The fighting outside seems to have seized. There were a few murmurs first, followed by a few seconds of silence, before a loud bang occurs. The soldiers were breaking down the door!

Valentin Ivanov begins praying to every dark lord that she knows, whilst Benjamin, Claude deClaire, Jeremiah and Seth prepare their hearts for battle. They were too busy being afraid of the soldiers that they never noticed Zachariah dropping the book of spells, chanting a foreign invocation.

The door finally gives in, and a few knights of the order enter the room. Leading them was Lord Bartholomew Gilford, one of the so-called heroes of Creathe.

"Geraldt is dead." Lord Gilford announces. "Surrender now and there will be no more needless death."

"For you." Seth spits at the ground. "You're going to deliver us to your court to be condemned, dying in the gallows with shame!"

Claude smirks. "We'd rather die here where our gods have rested. We will live forever in the void cursing your name, Gilford!"

"Why you-" one of the knights steps forward, only to be stopped by Gilford.

"There is no need, my brother." He tells the knight, who scoffs at the cultists in return.

Gilford walks towards Benjamin, the nearest of the Cultists, stopping his attack by grabbing Benjamin's hand before it even swung to attack him.

He stabs Benjamin in the stomach with 'the spirit', Gilford's favorite sword which was said to have been made in the heavens above.

Benjamin screams in pain before Gilford seemingly puts him out of his misery. Benjamin had been one of the strongest swordsmen in the cult, and his quick death demoralized the rest who were in the room.

The knights of the Holy Order chuckled. Benjamin Croft, the one that had caused them the most trouble this year, is dead.

"I'll kill you, you bastard!" Jeremiah tries to thrust his blade, aiming for Gilford's torso. Gilford, having been distracted by Benjamin's demise, dodges at the last minute and swings his sword, chopping off Jeremiah's head.

Claude charges at Gilford, bringing him down to the ground. Claude beats him a few times before a knight of the order intervenes, pushing Claude off. Gilford stands up, seemingly calm despite receiving several hits to the head. He rushes towards Claude who throws a punch, only to have his arm broken when Gilford grabs it and forced it into his knee.

Seth was sweating nonstop. This was the end.

"Sorry Elizabeth" He says to himself, readying himself.

Gilford had already picked up his sword, leaving the crying Claude writhing in pain. He looks at Seth, who was obviously nervous.

"Aren't you Lord Constantin's boy?"

"What's it to you?!" Seth tells him.

Gilford shakes his head. "He was an honorable man. Samuel's death in the great war must have taken a toll on your mind, no?"

"Screw you!"

"Joining the Cult... forsaking your duty towards the crown.." Gilford slowly walks towards him, his sword in hand. "You are the most pathetic man I have ever met. You and Geraldt."

"Shut up!" Seth begins running towards the enemy, who easily makes him trip and fall to the ground. Gilford pins him, holding his right arm.

"Geraldt had it easy." Gilford said as he begins twisting Seth's arm. "I will make sure that you suffer. Here and in prison."

Just then, Benjamin (who was already presumed dead by most), shouts from across the room. "Valentin! Now!!"

Valentin nods as she casts two spells. "Strength of Hercules! Speed of Hermes!"

Benjamin had no trouble slicing through every knight in the room in top speed. Many never had the chance to raise their blades because of how fast he was moving.

Gilford lets go of Seth and turns toward Benjamin, who had just eliminated the last of the group of knights he was with. Valentin rushes towards both Claude and Seth's aid and begins to heal them.

"I knew there was something off about your sudden collapse." Gilford says, putting his sword at the ready. "You were never the type to drop dead so easily."

Meanwhile, Seth urges Valentin to support Benjamin. "You can heal us later. Benjamin needs your help!"

"But-"

"We can take it!" Claude tells her. "Go!"

Valentin nods and stands up, eager to support Benjamin on his biggest fight yet.

"Mr. Croft, was it?" Gilford says.

"Lord Gilford!" Benjamin replies with great bravado. "How are the men you sent to kill me? Still licking their wounds? Or out there lying on their place at the ground?"

"A member of the Unholy Triangle." Gilford says. "The strongest among your cult of evil.... and the greatest thorn that found its way to the Order's side."

"There is nothing evil about wanting to believe in something other than your god." Benjamin tells him. "The church is corrupt. Your entire order is a disease to Creathe."

"We do more good than you will ever have." Gilford smiles. "Seeing as how this is the last of your days."

In a split second, Benjamin was already in front of Gilford. "You pharisee!"

The two seemed evenly matched, blocking each others attacks with both blade and fist. It seemed like this was never going to end, until it was certain that Benjamin's attacks were slowing down.

"Looks like you're almost out of juice, Mr. Croft." Gildford smirks as he kicks Benjamin away from him. "Holy Smite!"

Valentin steps up. "Swiftness of Mercury!"

Benjamin, with the help of Valentin, dodges the wave of holy energy that was approaching him.

Gilford took his eyes off Benjamin and looked at Valentin. "You fu-"

Benjamin swings his sword. Gilford barely managed to dodge, losing his right ear in the process. The two of them stop as Gilford inspects the right side of his head, which was drawing blood. Being a paladin, he casts "God's blessing" and heals it almost immediately. It didn't bring back his ear, but at least it stopped the bleeding.

"Don't get distracted, Gilford." Benjamin says.

Gilford scoffs. "A small price to pay as a distraction."

A shout comes from behind. "Explosion."

A burst of flames erupt from behind Benjamin's back, knocking him straight over towards Gilford, who was now preparing to deal the finishing blow.

Just as he managed to strike Benjamin accurately, Valentin casts "Harden" unto Benjamin, rendering Gilford's attack useless. Gilford was really annoyed now, gritting his teeth as he starts walking towards the cultist.

Benjamin tries to get up, but is immediately interrupted by another explosion.

"What the hell?!" Benjamin says as he barely managed to dodge that one.

"Annoying, isn't it?" A man in white garments appear from the shadows, along with a second group of Knights. "My name is Ludwig von Ehrmantraut, pleased to make your acquaintance."

"A disciple..." Benjamin points out.

"Even the damned like you know who to fear." Ludwig grins. "How nice."

"I need to get to Valentin.." Benjamin says to himself, his eyes still focused on Ludwig. "The buffs she gave me have almost gone out. Think fast!"

Benjamin decides to make a run for Valentin, but realizes that he was no longer able to move.

"What?!" Benjamin exclaims.

Ludwig gives off a laugh. "Do you like it? Bind is a tier 1 spell but no doubt a strong one."

Fear seizes Benjamin as he looks toward Valentin.

Meanwhile, Lord Gilford is almost upon him.

"Lion's Heart! God Armor!" Valentin immediately casts buffs on herself as she prepares for a devastating blow. "Penetrating Armor!"

All this time, Claude and Seth remained on the ground, helpless and afraid.

"Zachariah!!" Claude shouts at the seemingly paralyzed mage who was now standing idly in front of the tomb. "What the hell are you doing?! Help them!"

His shouting was to no avail. Zachariah couldn't hear him, as he was struggling with his own spell.

Benjamin struggled to get out of the situation he was in whilst Ludwig was scanning his own book of spells.

"Which one, I wonder..." Ludwig says as he flips another page.

Gilford swings his sword onto Valentin, only to be knocked back by her spell.

"God armor, huh?" Gilford notes as he scans himself for damage. The left part of his stomach was bleeding as Valentin's other spell, Penetrating Armor, managed to cut through his thick armor. "You even got me with your other spell."

"You can do nothing to me, Gilford." Valentin gives off a confident grin.

"But I can." Ludwig says. "Spell Break!"

Ludwig casts Spell Break, removing all the buffs that Valentin gave herself. A few seconds after doing this, Gilford slices through Valentin's body like it was nothing.

Valentin drops to the ground, facing Seth. "S-sorry."

"Valentin!!" Benjamin forces his way out of the bind spell and started hitting Gilford.

"Still in you, huh kid?!" Gilford says as he blocks every strike. "You're pretty dangerous."

"Blind!" Ludwig casts, clouding Benjamin's vision. Still, he never stopped swinging his sword.

"I'll kill you, you bastards!" Benjamin shouts whilst hitting Gilford blindly.

Dodging his final swing, Gilford strikes the same hole that he had made into Benjamin's body a few minutes ago. Twisting and turning the Holy sword, Spirit, into the wound, causing severe damage to the body.

Gilford removes his sword as Benjamin falls to the ground unconscious. Deciding that he had to be safer than sorry, Ludwig takes out a dagger, freezes Benjamin's arms, and cuts both off, rendering him unable to, if ever, swing another sword again.

Gilford sighs, sheathing his holy blade. "It was great when it lasted, didn't it Constantin?"

"Damn you, Gilford!" Seth manages to shout. "Damn you all!"

"Stop screaming." Ludwig casts a minor spell that zips Seth's mouth temporarily. "It hurts my ears, you know."

Gilford walks over to Claude, looking at him seemingly with empathy. "You poor souls... tricked into serving the dark lords of Terra. Let us help you-"

Claude spits on his face. "Go die, you degenerate prick!"

Gilford wipes off the saliva on his face before placing his hands on Claude's neck, effectively breaking it in about 4 seconds. "May you rest in peace."

Looking at the back, Ludwig notices Zachariah twitching, so he approaches him. "Helloooo!"

He waves his hands in front of Zachariah's lifeless face. "Anybody home? Earth to Bastard!"

Zachariah's head sloppily turns toward Ludwig, revealing nothing but pure darkness in his eyes.

"What's wrong with you-"

Meanwhile, Gilford bends over toward Seth. "Such a shame..."

"There is nothing shameful about what I do." Seth tells him.

Gilford slaps Seth. "I was your father's.. Samuel's... best friend... and I would know that if he saw you now, he would be very, very disappointed in you."

Seth grins. "Looks like birds of the same feather really do flock together. You're an asshole, my father's an asshole... sounds reasonable that you two would get along."

"Have you no respect for the dead?"

"Lord Constantin, my father, never cared for me." Seth informs Gilford. "I was nothing but a mere slave in my own house."

Gilford closes his eyes before looking at Seth's hateful gaze. "You will be brought to the Supreme Court for trial."

Just as he stands up, a shout comes from behind him.

"My lord!" a knight points. "Disciple Ludwig!"

Gilford looks at where Ludwig initially was, and was surprised. Zachariah, the cultist, was holding Ludwig's lifeless head on his hand.

The knights formed around Gilford, preparing to attack what seemed like a demonic entity.

Seth was glad at first... but then his wide grin turned into shock. Zachariah seemed to be possessed!

"Demon!" Gilford shouts, putting his hand on the handle.

Before Gilford can even pull the blade out of the scabbard, the dark one that possessed Zachariah made his head explode.

The knights of the holy order, surprised that their leader had fallen very quickly, began to retreat, only to be greeted by the corpses that they had just left behind at the other room.

"What the hell is this?!" One shouted.

Having enough, three of the knights simultaneously charged at Zachariah, only to drop dead a few meters away from him.

"What.. is this power?!" Seth could only imagine whilst staying on the ground. The knights that surrounded him seemed to be quivering in fear. He would've liked nothing more than to strike them down there and then, but he was paralyzed as well.

"Bow down..."

The knights withheld their gaze from the undead that filled the next room and looked directly at the demon-possessed body, who was now raising both his hands high up in the air.

"BOW DOWN TO ME, ALL OF YOU!"

One by one, the knights put down their swords and bowed face first.... before the Lord of Chaos.