Overlord Rising

The news caught Uriel's attention. Her eyes opened, but she remained calm. "Intruders?" she asked, setting her bowl on the table. Her voice carried mixed hints of worry and excitement.

"Yes, my lady," Mycelia nodded. She lowered her head, and then paused for a brief moment "To be precise, about seven intruders have entered the citadel."

"How do you know this?" Uriel went on.

"I have casted a spell upon certain shadows, throughout the citadel," Mycelia explained. "They now act like nerves, informing me if we are being invaded, or simply visited."

Uriel gave a small grimace. Magic was not something that she enjoyed talking about. While she did not have any ill thoughts about it, it was not a topic that she would casually indulge in. To her, understanding magic was no different from trying to solve a complicated riddle written in a foreign language. It was often complicated, as well as convoluted.

If magic was involved, then she would simply shut her mouth, and accept what little explanation was given to her. If a lake was on fire, and magic was responsible, then that was all she needed to know. Nothing more.

Uriel then cleared her throat, and changed the topic. "Are these intruders hostile?"

The elf almost passed an incredulous stare. However, she quickly controlled her expression, before she could make such a face.

"My lady, please excuse my tone," Mycelia remarked with controlled breath. "If they were friendly, I would have simply addressed them as visitors, and not intruders."

The response surprised Uriel a little bit. Usually, such replies would have been trying. However, Uriel instead found herself smirking. It proved that Mycelia wouldn't just be a doormat who would bow to her every whim. Responses such as this weren't bad every once in a while.

"Well then," Uriel grunted, sheathing her sword. "I suppose I should get myself armed."

"My lady, there are only seven intruders," Mycelia said. "I have fought and protected Nul Hunur from countless foes, for almost a century. This measly force should not be a problem."

"Consider this as part of my training," Uriel replied, as she looked through some of the available armor. "Actual experience should help my new body adapt faster."

"If that is what my lady wishes," Mycelia sighed.

Uriel continued to look though the selection of metal available in the armory. Terror appeared to be the focal subject of these armors. B.r.e.a.s.tplates, shields, helmets, and other personal armor were fashioned to bring about some sense of fear and dread. Even the scrawniest farmer would have looked like a threat, if equipped with any of these items. Uriel actually fancied these sorts of armor, over the clean and heroic suits that most knights wore.

As much as Uriel would have liked a full suit of armor, she knew she was being pressed for time. Quickly, she grabbed a pair of gauntlets with spiked knuckles. Like almost everything in the armor, it was eaten by dust and cobwebs, and desperately needed some polish and a bit of sandpaper. Regardless, they were light and a fine fit. It would suffice.

Picking up her sword, Uriel found herself a little more comfortable. The sword's handle was starting to wear out her palms. The leather on the gauntlets protected her hands from the roughness of the handle.

"Will you not need a weapon?" Uriel asked. Mycelia responded by opening her coat, revealing a pair of tucked daggers. "Well then, take me to our guests."

Mycelia nodded and led the way.

They travelled through the citadel, searching for the intruders. Before long, they heard a series of encroaching footsteps. After passing one corner, they met the intruders.

Warriors marched up the hall. Each wore armor that had been corroded by the elements, and battered by countless battles. The clothes under their armor had been reduced to rags. Their colors had been either drained, or stained by blood and dirt. Thick helms masked their faces, hiding their identities completely.

An aged knight led this small band. His face looked as shriveled as a prune. Thick bags of shadows rested under his eyes. Shades of grey dominated most of his hair. Very few strands of brown remained. The knight wore armor of higher quality, but suffered the same condition those of his subordinates. A navy cape dangled on his back, suggesting a high rank.

"Humans?" Uriel gasped. She turned to Mycelia for an explanation.

"It's not as uncommon as you'd think, my lady," Mycelia replied. "Quite a few humans have managed to reach this far. It is leaving Ebonus that poses as a problem."

Uriel couldn't help but agree with Mycelia's statement. Having ventured many times through Ebonus before, Uriel understood just how difficult it was to survive in the treacherous environment. Even with her experience, she knew that it wasn't a place that one could just leave so easily.

"Who stands in my way?!" the old knight bellowed. "Who stands before Sir Gerald of the Red Hound?!"

Something clicked in Uriel's head. She knew both names. "Sir Gerald of the Red Hound, as in Gerald the Bulldog?" she asked aloud.

The knight jerked, as if he had just been pinched. He turned his attention to Uriel. He glared straight right at her, like a victim condemning a criminal. Although he did not speak, his reaction to the name confirmed Uriel's assumption.

"You know of him, my lady?" Mycelia asked.

"Sir Gerald Barker, or Gerald the Bulldog as he was nicknamed, was a veteran knight of Grandstark," Uriel answered. "About four, or in this case six, years ago he ventured into Ebonus to prove that he was still a capable knight. Nobody commanded him, but his stubborn pride couldn't handle younger knights from taking his place."

"Lady Uriel…" Gerald huffed. "Uriel the Black Knight, is that you?"

Uriel nodded. "It is, Sir Gerald," she replied. "It has been quite some time."

The old man stared at her for a moment, but a scowl soon appeared on his face. "Lady Uriel, what are you doing here?" the old knight asked with a more menacing tone.

His sudden change caught Uriel off guard a little. She had rarely seen the old man get mad, and even rarely like this. "Sir Gerald, I-."

Gerald quickly pointed a quivering finger towards her. "Y-you! You're trying to rob me of my glory, aren't you?! I shall not have it!"

"Sir Gerald, please listen to me," Uriel pleaded, trying to reason with him.

"Silence!" Gerald roared with bloodshot eyes. He drew one sword from his belt, and then pointed forward. "I will crush all those who stand in my way! Men, to arms!"

Immediately, the warriors drew their weapons, and took a defensive stance. Slowly, they advanced with their blades pointed forward. Their weapons did not seem well-kept. However, that did not mark them as useless. These rusted swords and spears could still grievously wound someone, if handled properly.

"Stop this, you fools!" Uriel commanded, as she held up her sword. "Do not make me do this!"

Her words did not reach them. The warriors continued to approach. Swords and spears remained raised ready to slay those in front of them. They moved in a rather tight and steady formation. Despite their ill presence, they still managed to stand firmly.

Uriel would have commended them, but she didn't have time to be impressed. The enemy drew ever closer, ready to attack as soon as she came within reach.

Taking a deep breath, Uriel quietly focused and readied her sword. A part of her wanted to avoid fighting them, but instincts prioritized her own survival. There wasn't really any way out of this. A quick death would be the best that she could give them.

Eventually, a soldier stepped out of formation and made the first move. A spearman thrust his weapon, expecting to draw blood. He had a strong stance and decent form. The spear could have pierced through a ribcage, and punctured a vital organ. This soldier had been taught well. He seemed like the kind that would survive many battles. Unfortunately, this battle would not be one of them.

Without a hint of hesitation, Uriel quickly reacted. She parried the spear and pushed forward. She swung her sword and struck the soldier's exposed neck.

Gurgling a single breath, the soldier dropped his spear and crashed on the ground. It happened so quickly that he did not have any time to respond, or even realize that he had gotten hit. He simply lay on the ground, with blood beginning to slowly flow from his wound. One had fallen. Now five remained.

They had seen one of their own fall so quickly and easily, but it did not deter the other soldiers. If anything, the death of their comrade acted as the actual signal for all of them to attack. Together, they charged at the two women.

Uriel worked up a cold sweat against these soldiers. They did not seem all that different from the first to attack, but multiple enemies did raise the level of difficulty. It did not help that Uriel still felt some fatigue from her earlier exercise. She did not enter this battle at full strength. Uriel didn't exactly do badly, but she didn't fight up to her expected standards.

Despite the disadvantage and inconvenience, three soldiers found themselves defeated by Uriel, while the other two had fallen to the elven sorceress. All six lay defeated in a miserable state. Now, only one more opponent remained.

"Worthless cads!" Gerald sneered.

"Where are the rest of your men, Sir Gerald?" Uriel asked, picking up one of the spears. "From what I recall, about a hundred loyal men chose to follow you into Ebonus."

"Bah, they were too weak!" Gerald hissed. "I left behind the stragglers, and those stupid enough to get themselves surrounded!"

Uriel's eyes opened wide, before turning into a frown. "You abandoned them?" she growled. "Has this place clouded your judgment and discarded your honor?"

"Don't lecture me about honor, you desert rat!" Gerald roared. "You're just a lowly peasant masquerading in armor!"

"How shameful," Uriel sighed, flourishing her spear. "The once great Gerald the Bulldog has forsaken his own armor and men, and been swallowed by his pride. Still, I must commend these six for still choosing to follow you all this time."

"My lady, you may wish to look at this," Mycelia said.

Uriel turned and found a soldier with his helmet removed. Upon looking at him, Uriel's eyes gaped and her mind nearly exploded. Underneath the helmet she found a pale face that had been drained of color and nourishment. It looked no different from a corpse. The eyes were gone. Blackness was all that remained in the sockets. They were like deep holes that led into an unending void.

"What is this?" Uriel asked.

Mycelia inspected the other soldiers.. "They're all the same, my lady," she declared.

"Sir Gerald, what have you-?!"

Suddenly, Gerald came charging towards her. With a raging scream, Gerald tightly held his sword and delivered a mighty swing for her neck.

Before her head rolled down her shoulders, Uriel raised her weapon and guarded herself. Uriel tried to shove the old knight back, but found his strength beyond his age. Before this game of push could continue, Uriel lifted her leg and stomped Gerald on the stomach, sending him a few steps back.

"Sir Gerald, what is this?!" Uriel yelled. "What have you done to your men?!"

Gerald panted for a few seconds before answering. "Bah! They were not good enough. They were too weak!" he snapped. "I needed men who felt no pain or discomfort!"

Uriel threw the spear at his direction, almost striking the side of his face. She did not have the patience to listen to more of this prattle. "What did you do?!" she roared.

The old knight frowned, but then slowly laughed. His pupils had shrunk, and the shadows around his eyes became more evident. "I made a deal with wraith," he responded. A disgusting smile extended to both cheeks. "In exchange for their lives, I obtained power to survive this place!"

Uriel's eyes swelled. "Your men followed out of pure loyalty," she snarled. Her sword throbbed in her hands. "They chose to follow you into this wretched land, when no one else would, and yet this is how you repay them?"

"Their deaths are inconsequential!" Gerald raged on. "All that matters is that I find Nul Hunur and restore my-!"

Uriel heard enough. Launching herself forward, Uriel threw a series of strikes and swings. Despite the exhaustion, Uriel found herself fighting with an extra dose of speed and strength. Her rage and frustration fueled her body, allowing her to exert herself.

The two clashed for quite some time. Gerald may have been an old man, but he proved to be a cut far above the six. He defended and attacked with might most impressive for his age. Penetrating his defense proved to be difficult, but not impossible.

At one point, Uriel found an opening. Not wasting this chance, Uriel sprung forward and thrust her sword forward. The blade pierced through the side of Gerald's c.h.e.s.t, where armor did not protect him. Blood started to drip from the knight's lips, as Uriel plunged her blade deep within.

"It is over," Uriel sneered, twisting the blade for extra measure.

Just when it seemed that the battle had reached its conclusion, Gerald grabbed one of Uriel's wrists. He threw her against a wall, and then pinned her against it with one hand. His strength did not wane. His fingers tightly gripped around her neck, choking her.

"My lady!" Mycelia cried out, drawing out her daggers to save Uriel.

"Stay your blade, or I'll make her suffering worse!" Gerald commanded, tightening his hold.

The sorceress gritted her teeth and took a step back, realizing that she could not just attack. Dropping one dagger, she hid a hand behind her back and readied a spell.

"Did you actually think it was that easy to slay me?" Gerald howled, turning his attention back to Uriel. Another voice spoke in unison with his. "It will take much more than a blade to my sides, to finish-!"

Suddenly, Uriel swung a fist on the side Gerald's face. She did not have the patience to listen through the rest of his speech. The spikes on her knuckes broke his jaw, forcing him to release his grip.

"Y-you impertinent-!"

Before the old knight could finish his sentence, Uriel reached out and stole Gerald's sword from his hands. Then in the time it took to blink, Uriel delivered a swift swing against the knight's neck.

Sir Gerald's jaw slowly lowered. A line of blood appeared around his neck. The head fell first. It bounced a few times, and then rolled not too far away. A horrified expression remained pasted on his face. His eyes gaped wide, and his mouth only partly opened.

The body soon followed. It fell to its knees, and stumbled on the side. Uriel's sword remained impaled into the side of the knight's body. Thick crimson spewed from the neck, creating a large puddle. It was over.

Uriel stood over the body, panting heavily. Her c.h.e.s.t pounded rapidly. The battle had ended, but she couldn't get the feeling to stop. She had just killed a knight of her kingdom, a former comrade. Uriel did not know the man like a brother, but she respected him enough to say his name with dignity.

"What happened to you?" Uriel asked aloud. "Has wandering this place gotten to your head?"

"Ebonus is a place where powerful magic and spirits converge," Mycelia answered. "Neither his mind nor his body were prepared for the madness that nest in this realm. Eventually, he was consumed by fear and desperation."

"A most tragic fate," Uriel grunted, restraining her grief. "Just how many were consumed in this land? How many have succ.u.mbed to weakness, and traded their souls and mind for power?"

"Hundreds, my lady," Mycelia replied. "And believe me when I say that there are others who have fallen much farther into depravity, than this man."