Deathly Aftermath

The Noltian Army reaches the mountain of Valtuz that has been a den of bandits stationed there.

They advance towards the mountain to confront the Red Claw Bandits that has been left unchecked. Only to be introduced by a battlefield littered with corpses and destroyed structures.

The knights can only glance on the corpses that has been riddled with fatal teeth and claw marks. Some corpses has been burned to a point it has been unrecognizable.

And yet, every knight knew that these bandits were criminals and only fueled with selfish desires.

A caped knight that is leading the army also saw a crater with scorch marks above the entrance.

"For the bandits to get decimated, a powerful monster must've appeared here. It should still be in this cave to rest." the caped knight thought.

They advance further into the cave only to be assaulted by the powerful stench of death. The pools of blood, the entrails, and bloodied footprints.

The caped knight dismounts his horse and gestures the knights to follow him further into the cave. Despite the cave being fairly lit, the knights still carry lanterns in case of sudden darkness.

"AAAAAGH!!" A scream reverberates throughout the cave, alerting the knights. That scream is the scream of horror of witnessing a terrifying monster.

The knights marches through the cave to find the scream and began to witness something the knights wouldn't expect.

Bandits. The Red Claw Bandits that was once a force where aspiring adventurers and even knights fear the numbers and strength of bandits.

Now, the bandits have now turned into a shell of its former glory. More than half of their forces has been killed mercilessly, some were burned, some mutilated, but the rest suffered fates worse than death.

The bandits who were fueled by their greed and lust are now meek, fearful, frail, scattered, and broken. They occasionally scream as the horrors still freshly haunt them. Some cradle themselves back and forth to comfort themselves, some even mumble incoherently.

"What type of monster could've done this?" the caped knight thought. However, he will make sure the bandits are taken care of for sure as they have been around for too long.

"General Lann, the Ergexian Army are here." one knight said.

General Lann looked behind him and saw a red caped knight, but without a helmet. The red caped general has brown eyes and short red hair and beard. The red caped general meets Lann and looks at him with neutrality.

"General Altu Fergus." he introduced himself.

"General Lann Silvent." Lann responded in kind.

Altu cuts right to the chase about the Red Claw Bandits.

"So, this is what's left of them, huh?" Altu said.

"Yes, the letter said that there are over 1000 bandits, but most were decimated by the time we arrived." Lann explained.

"I see. The claws, fangs, and burns must come from a powerful monster. If it's an army, there would've been remnants nearby." Altu said.

"However, for the bandits to be reduced to this, it must be a powerful monster." Lann said. "Anyways, let's put the end of the Red Claws for good."

Lann pulls out his greatsword. The greatsword's blade showed a bright gray color and at the base have a green gemstone.

Altu pulls out a longsword. The blade is red with a blue center inside the blade. The knights behind them also unsheathed their weapons.

"CHARGE!!"

The knights rushes towards the bandits with the intent to kill. The bandits look at the running army and the sight the running knights suddenly turned into a horde of skeletons.

"AAAAGH!! It's the undead army!"

"The Cerberus is back!"

The bandits ran away from fear, shouting "Cerberus". Some ran, some couldn't out of fear. But the knights cut them down swiftly and mercilessly.

"Cerberus? Undead army? What are they talking about?" Lann thought. Also, the bandits have no will to fight anymore.

The massacre continues until a handful of bandits remain, including Zaneth. Zaneth hides in a corner as he is hearing the same screams like when the undead army attacked. All alone, with no one to fight for.

When the screaming stops, Zaneth looked towards the entrance to see walking figures heading closer.

His breathing became faster as the footsteps get closer, his sanity wanes for the passing moment. If he is to die and become a skeleton, he'll take as many with him.

Zaneth grabbed his blade to make a final stand.

"RAAAAGH!!" Zaneth roared and charged at those who are approaching, seeing red from being cornered for too long.

*Clash!*

The sound of metal explodes in the room, the objects around him and the assailant tremble around him.

Zaneth comes to his senses to see his weapon has been blocked by a different greatsword.

"Grrgh...such strength. No wonder the bandits were to roam free for so long." Lann said.

Both Lann and Zaneth step back with their swords still pointed at each other.

"You! You work for that Cerberus, do you!? Or is it Wulnus!?" Zaneth yelled.

"I don't know this Cerberus or Wulnus." Lann answered, denying Zaneth's claims.

"Lies! You knew about the undead army and you're here to finish the job!" Zaneth yelled back.

*Clang!* *Clang!*

Zaneth swings his sword at Lann, but Lann manages to defend those strikes. But for every strike, it rattles his bones bit by bit.

"What undead army?" Lann said, grunting from stopping Zaneth's sword. Lann redirects Zaneth's sword away and steps outside of Zaneth's room into the main path.

"General Lann!" the knights yelled after seeing Lann jumping out with his sword unsheathed.

"Prepare for battle!" Lann ordered the knights.

The knights ready their weapons to see Zaneth rush at Lann.

*CLANG!*

Lann blocks a hard horizontal strike, knocking him to the army behind him.

Zaneth looks at the enemy army extending from his room to the entrance of the cave. Zaneth looks behind and see Altu appear behind him. Zaneth is surrounded and alone, but if he is to die, he'll die fighting.