Chapter 2.1: Injustice and Hope

With the Sky Raiders rallied under Kent's rule they now head to forward operations base in Haizol city.

Once the city was a connection point for trade in the southern regions and the capital city of Arcadia.

Now the city was turned into a temporary base of operations by the Sky raiders a week after their initial assault on the planet.

"I have not seen so many troops since the Northern War? How did this come to be Kent?"

"Lady Yuuno, these hundred thousand soldiers are merely a battle company. Since the Sky Raiders are spread throughout the planet we number in the millions. Rest assured they all have the same desires as we."

"When this war is over my love, allow us to share our home with you for Ren'veil welcomes you home." Yuuno smiled.

"Yeah, you are a Vai'len Kent the gods gave their blessing so if anyone says otherwise then let us take care of it." Aisha boasted a little.

Kent snickered, for their warm and gentle hearts brought him some peace. 

Though his eyes were upon those he loved, the peace he desired was nothing more than a dream.  

As they reached the forward operations base that used to be the former city hall. Many knights both young and old were ready and eager to fight against the forces of the New kingdom.

Before they could continue Khorn walked towards the three he saluted them with a fist to his chest.

"Lord Anthony, sorry for the interruption but everyone is waiting for you at the war room." Khorn reported.

"I see master, I will be there in just a." Kent stuttered.

Before he could speak the Demon suddenly dragged his soul from the mortal realm and into the realm of dreams.

The realm of dreams also known as the realm of the souls serves as a purgatory before the souls of the departed are sent to their respective places.

The realm serves as the last bridge for the dead before they fully depart for the afterlife.

Once the realm of dreams was nothing more than darkness until Faith intervened creating life in the shadowy realm.

Now the Realm of dreams is a vast land of bountiful greenery, vast blue oceans, and clear skies as far as the eye can see. 

At the center of the realm lies the Var'kros, the City of the Demon. 

The dead can reconcile with their families with the blessing of the Demon.

Here the dead can walk upon the mortal coil one last time to find peace and redemption and if given the chance and the blessing of the Demon.

Though many souls both innocent and damned pass through the Demon's realm without its lord giving no care whether the dead do anything upon his world.

The lesser gods who pledged their loyalty to the Demon created the council of the dead. Ancient spirits made with the sole purpose of judging the innocent from the damned.

All who die upon creation are sent before the council of the dead for judgment. 

To judge the dead before they are sent to the High Heavens, the burning hells, or the realm of Faith. 

Despite their best efforts to appease the Demon, he can easily overrule the council's judgment should he see fit and give the damned soul redemption or damnation.

Despite the constant wars upon the other Realms and the annoying laughter of the fell gods.

No god or ancient would ever dare to invade or interfere upon the realm of dreams or suffer the Demons wrath.

Despite being dragged into the spirit world all of a sudden Kent managed to survive the Demon's fury.

Though being pulled to the realm of dreams while awake is equal to drowning in the bottom of the ocean while having a massive mountain placed over your chest.

The Demon smiled praising the fragment for enduring such pain he was not even given a moment to rest as he told what he had found.

"Kent, listen well the souls of the fallen Vai'len had not returned to the spirit realm for reincarnation. I had been trying to search for them these past few days to no avail."

'How could this be? Aren't you the king and creator of the realm of dreams?" Kent asked while catching his breath.

"The dead shall linger upon creation and my realm is merely the staging point for their journey. Death has been incompetent with his duty I will deal with him later. For now, we have more pressing issues to deal with."

"I have a bad feeling about this!" Kent mumbled.

The Demon summoned a chair for the fragment to sit upon while he explained.

“This world is on the verge of dying right after we left. I can feel the decaying souls are luring the attention of the dark gods to this new realm. If you do not stop this then I shall be forced to destroy this realm!” The Demon growled.

“You know full well that I am but a fragment of the original and I don’t even know what part of the original me did you take!” 

“Hmm, I guess it is time that you finally know. Before your soul completely shattered I had to separate you from the part of Kent that still held his aspect of a hero and kind-hearted nature though your power weakens with each passing moment.”

“What do you suggest I do?” Kent sighed.

“Use the Blight Eater, that blade holds the biggest piece of your soul. If you reunite with the blade it will give you the pieces that it has… Purified.” The Demon chuckled.

Kent quoted the Demon that the Blight Eater is the sister blade of the Trailblazer both are the original weapons of the Eternal knight but the Blight eater is well known throughout the realms as a God killer. The only weapon that can rip apart dimensions and even the ancient god’s fears that weapon as it holds billions upon trillions of souls from sinner to ancient gods it had kept them chained to its will sapping their power, freedom, and self-awareness from each individual and turning their power and giving it to the Eternal knight.

Though many tried to steal the blade from the Empire long before it fell to the hands of the Dragon-wolf kingdom. 

The blade will always have one master and that is the Eternal knight, many tried to bend the blade to their will only for the warden of the blade shall always have one master and nothing more.

The Demon emphasized the blade shall always answer his call no matter where he may be the blade will always find him. 

Though Kent has no problem with using the Omni-Caliburn or the Devouring blade born inside the Hell’s gate from Kent’s severed left arm. Fused with the fangs, and claws of the fallen god titans of the deathly inferno.

From the fires of the 12 dying stars and the blood of the slain was it tempered, crafted with the purpose to serve the Redridge clan. Anyone who tried to touch the blade was badly crippled by the monstrous blade as it nearly destroyed half of the Iron-wolves clan home and left almost 500,000 were left critically injured by the monstrous blade in an attempt to find its master.

“Last time I heard of the Omni-Caliburn, it was locked away by the Forgemaster's inside the Reliquary of Eternity.”

“That remains to be seen.” The Demon laughed.

Before Kent could ask anything else the Demon snapped his fingers sending the knight back to the Realm finding himself aboard the Night Hawk as the assault was well underway. 

Kent shook his head realizing that the few minutes they were talking in the realm of creation almost 3 hours had passed.

The knight leaned upon the wall rubbing his head as traveling to and from the Sea of Dreams was mentally taxing. 

He took a deep breath looking at his men, ready to fight while he tried to remember the battle operation. 

Flashback 3 hours ago.

At the command hub at the outskirts of the city of Haizol, the veteran captains and venerable knights gathered preparing for the battle ahead of them.

Rex and the other captains proposed many plans and each had varying degrees of failure. 

Some suggested an aerial assault with drop pods and gunships but the dark clouds above the city proved difficult to go through. Even the scans precision scans of the Night Dreamer could not penetrate the dense cloud formation. According to Aisha, there are a total of 12 floating stone fortresses that act as a defensive line for the capital.

Another suggested an amphibious assault with the gunships flying close to the water’s surface to get to the capital but the lake that surrounded it was teeming with Domesticated Hydras. 

The land assault was out of the question with the city having one bridge to cross. 

Even if they crossed the bridge they shall be met by the royal guard of the city called the Silver hammer. They could prove to be a challenge for the knights to battle but nothing can stand against the fury of a million rageful knights.

Aisha and her mages explained that the dark clouds above the city are created through magic and they can dispel it easily. 

Aisha turned to her sister asking “Sis, I am not sure if this is true but… Didn’t you mention that there is a secret underground catacomb that runs throughout the city from the temple?”

Yuuno’s eyes widened asking “How in the god’s good name did you learn that?!” She shouted.

“Ugh… Visions?” Aisha stuttered.

“I doubt that you learned that from Visions my dear sister. I just hope I do not get into trouble for this but… Yes, but the high priestesses are the only ones who know how to open it. And I am still a Priestess learner.”

“We do not have the luxury of finding the entrance right now, the longer we wait the more people will suffer.” Captain Zoe shouted.

The captains started bickering amongst themselves as time was running out for Ren'veil when Kent slammed down his fist asking his men to take a deep breath. 

With his troops' attention now focused on him. 

Kent took a deep breath explaining. “We will begin the assault on the capital with the NightHawk leading the way. When the mages dispel the dark clouds above Arcadia, the 312th, 117th, and 299th battalions will either take or capture the stone fortresses above the city they may prove useful later on. While the invasion is in progress the Knight companies under Khorn and Matthias will lead the charge at the center. I will lead the western assault while the marine companies of the 81st and 901st Marine corp will take the eastern fortress. Am I understood?"Kent explained.

"Thank you, sir!' The captains saluted.

"Yes, the Silver hammer and Nerro shall pay for what they did to the innocent!" Khorn growled.

"Good then let the operation begin may Faith guide us this day. May the ancestors guide us!" Kent shouted.

"WE STAND FOR FAITH!" The Captains shouted.

Flashback ends.

Kent sat down thinking how he would be able to fight without the Omni-Caliburn being locked away. 

The Demon barely gave him any context or a plan of what would happen to them if they fought.

"I wish I still had the Terra breaker blade. If I had that, maybe I would be in better shape!" Kent sighed.

Rex tapped his shoulder "General, forgive me for disturbing you but you have a package from lady Charlotte it is waiting for you inside the armory."

"Thank you, I have a feeling this will be a very long day." Kent ordered.

The knight walked towards the armory finding a massive black adamantine coffin chained and guarded by many of the Iron wolf's best and elite.

Kent asked them to leave him as the monster inside the coffin started thrashing violently desperately trying to claw its way out.

He reached out his hand as the coffin stopped for a moment when all of a sudden the coffin was torn into pieces by the beast as a double-edged blade flew right out of the coffin and into Kent's right hand.

He looked upon the 7-foot long dark blade made of flesh and bone. 

The Omni-Caliburn now reunited with its master and creator, Kent could feel the blade's thoughts.

He placed the crossguard of the blade close to his lips whispering. "Thank you, Vestroia."

The blade's fangs vibrated rapidly creating a high-pitched sound barrier that nearly damaged the ears of the knights inside the armory out of the sheer joy it felt of being praised like a father to a child.

With the blade in hand, the knights now march upon the city with Arrow, cannon, and fire reigning down upon them filling the skies in darkness.

Aisha's mages were able to dispel the dark clouds above them.

The armies of the sky raiders began their assault taking each fortress one by one.

As they moved into the city the skies poured down bolts and fire. Many of his men were shot down during the initial assault while others were forced to land at the city's edge.

Though their assault would not be stopped by mere arrows, something heavily disturbed the knight lord as the assault was far too easy.

He ordered Marky to begin a biometric scan of all life across the city.

"There's no way this is even possible? General, something isn't right with this battle we are not getting any life signals all across the capital!" Marky shouted.

'How is that even possible?" Kent asked in frustration.

"We don't know sir but we are detecting a massive influx of Dark energy surging all Across the capital." 

"I don't like the looks of this not one bit! Everyone, prepare for battle." Kent grunted.

As the Sky Raiders entered the city the knights suddenly felt a sudden shift in the balance.

The first knight teams jumped off their respective gunships as they attacked the Silver hammer with relentless fury. 

As they fought through the Silver hammer was cut down in droves. 

They merely stood silent as one of the knights tapped the soldier he fell, realizing that the enemy was already dead.

The knights pushed forward when all of a sudden the soldiers turned around attacking them with savagery and madness.

The knights fought desperately for their lives while the marines supported them from a distance only to realize a dark truth.

The silver hammer soldier's eyes turned red as horns and many tendrils like protrusions began growing out of their bodies.

They all rallied at the center when one of the abominable soldiers raised his bloodied ax against the knights shouting.

"Death to creation, Death to the last Daughter!" The monster roared.

Khorn and his berserker's eyes turned red realizing their enemy was no longer men.

"DEMON!!!" Khorn shouted.

The ancient demons of the Chaos wars had come back to haunt them.

The warriors of Faith both new and old fought without mercy or restraint knowing their ancient enemy was now before them.

The battle for the very soul of Ren'veil had now begun and the knights know what shall come should they fail their duty yet again.

The sands of time turn against the warriors of Faith as the shadow looms upon the Frontier. 

The battle to determine the very survival of the realm had only just begun.