Warcraft Fan Fiction ❯ Bloodstained Shadows - Chronicles of a Lost Soul ❯ The Kiss of Nightfall - Chapter 13 ( Chapter 43 )

Chapter 13:

 

 

Mograine used the last amount of his energy to summon a portal to the fortress of Acherus just like the one the Lich King had used to appear in front of Tirion Fordring.

He explained that only deathknights would be able to step through it without taking any harm.

Darion, Koltira, Thassarian and I are the first to step through it.

There are only a couple of ghouls and val'kyrs on the lower floor, all in all no match for us. As we enter the lower circle the young Mograine takes two swords from a near weapon rack.

“The haze has been lifted... I can see as clearly now as the day that I plunged the Ashbringer into my own heart to free my father's cursed soul: my last memory as a free man.”, his voice is filled with sorrow for a moment. This is the first time I've ever noticed a feeling in this man's voice.

“We must take back Acherus from the Scourge if our order is to survive in this new world... The first battle of the Knights of the Ebon Blade in underway! Death to the Scourge!”

Thassarian, Koltira and I step onto the teleporter into the upper area.

The whole upper level is infested with abominations. The large one that carried our weapons is standing in the middle of the room.

“Patchwerk miss Naxxramas. Maybe kills quickly so Patchwerk go home?”

A few more initiate deathknights appear out of the teleporter. I look at Koltira and Thassarian for a short moment expecting that any of the two might say something or give the signal to attack. After nothing has happened for a while I shrug and charge at the abomination nearest to us.

Even this way it takes the two a while to understand what I am doing. But they, as well as the other deathknights, follow me into the fray.

The abominations don't get killed easily. It takes a lot of blows to send them to rest. Some even keep fighting if you sever their heads. But the worst about fighting them is the awful stench coming from them. Their guts are hanging out and leaving a trail of ooze behind them with every movement they make.

We clean up a third of the room without difficulties. The giant abo named Patchwerk in the middle is still paying no attention to us. We have to kill him, otherwise we won't be able to take Acherus as ours. As Armageddon cuts down another smaller abomination, a group of initiates attack Patchwerk. Those overzealous fools!

“Patchwerk play!”, the fist of the abomination, easily as tall as a tauren, rushes towards the ground, faster than you would ever expect from a creature this large, especially when you know how slow his little counterparts are. A human deathknight is too slow to dodge the attack and disappears underneath the lump of flesh that is supposed to be the hand of Patchwerk. The helmet of the deathknight is rolling to the feet of the other initiates. But the true horror is displayed the moment Patchwerk lifts his fist again. A few bones and shreds of the armour are skewered into his gigantic hand. The rest of the body is reduced to a bloody mass mixed with bones and Saronite.

The initiates now realize that it was a dumb idea to charge at that abo, but it is too late. They try to run, but the creature just starts chasing them. He can easily keep up with them.

“Cut the seams at his legs!” I yell over to them. I wonder if they will react to the hint I just gave them. Patchwerk is after all only a .... well, patchwork. I shout to Koltira that he should come with me. The elf hesitates, but comes after me eventually. The giant abomination is still chasing the three other initiates.

“The seams at his legs! Cut them Deathweaver! Let's bring this rag rug down...”

I try to get to the left leg while Koltira tries his best to keep up with the creature. Using Armageddon while running is damn difficult. As my sword hits the legs of the giant and cuts halfway through it, I am swept away by an arm of the abo, sending me flying towards Thassarian.

Koltira on the other hand managed to do what I told him. The giant leg came off without trouble letting Patchwerk tumble and fall over onto its open stomach.

I get back to my feet. We still have to sever the other leg as well as the three arms.

I hurry to get back to my sword. Cutting off the leg now isn't too difficult. But getting rid of the arms is still a problem. Another deathknight initiate comes too close to the abo again.

“Patchwerk angry!”, the creature cries and grabs the nightelf. You can hear his bones breaking as Patchwerk keeps on squeezing the elf before he throws him head-first against the nearest wall.

It's astonishing how much blood still courses through the veins of those deathknights, there is hardly any of it left in me.

I approach from its left side. It's great that Armageddon is so long. I can cut the seams of the abo's shoulder without endangering me too much. Still, I have to be quick when doing this.

With a clean strike the left arm of Patchwerk now lay motionless next to the monster, but I was almost hit by the strange small arm on his shoulder.

It is incredible how bothersome these creatures can get.

I get on its back to detach the right arm, but then the creature starts trying to roll around.

Another swift strike later the abomination is blabbering strange things and the arm lies to its right side. I jump off the back of it and decide that the initiates can take care of the rest.

“No more... play?” are the last words I hear from Patchwerk after someone has cut off the creature's head.

The last few smaller abominations would also be no problem for any of the initiates, although.. by now I should probably call them knights of the Ebon Blade.

Koltira and Thassarian are already going to the teleporter when my eyes meet something interesting. A grey two-handed axe is leaning against the wall next to the black anvils of Acherus.

The weapon is rather simple. One side of its head has a normal round blade, typical for an axe and on the other side there is a smaller one which has a pointy tip so it can also be used as a pike.

A large blue gemstone is inserted into the head of the axe where it connects with the handle.

Except for the gem it is a plain weapon, I pick it up and I instantly feel how good it lies in my hand. Additionally to that it is also not too heavy.

I wonder who this weapon was meant for.

I just take it with me as I step onto the teleporter.

Koltira and Thassarian are already talking to Mograine about the progress on the upper floor.

“Very well, indeed. The rest of the Scourge shall be dealt with soon and the rebuilding process will begin anew.” Mograine looks at us three.

“I have but one last task for you.”, he continues. “You are now, and forever will be, Knights of the Ebon Blade, but know this: you all were once heroes of the Horde and the Alliance. This order must establish allies for itself if it is to survive. You must represent the Knights of the Ebon Blade in Orgrimmar and Stormwind! I will open two portals for you so that you can travel there quickly.

Darion Mograine concentrates for a moment and two portals appear behind us.

“The left one will lead to Durotar, directly in front of the city gates of Orgrimmar. The right one will do the same for Stormwind. It is all up to you.”, his voice sounds almost pleading.

Thassarian and Koltira bow and step through the portals without hesitation, but I remain for a moment.

“I found this axe on the up...”, I want to ask, but Mograine interrupts me before I can finish the question.

“It is made of titanium-infused Saronitesteel. Basically the same as titansteel but with the advantages of Saronite. Not only is it hard and resistant like titanium, but also rather light and easy to shape while heated up. It also has a good affinity for magic. It's a test-subject, if you want to call it that way, not even a runeblade yet.”, Mograine swallows. “We figured that this material is closest to the metal Frostmourne is made of, yet it still is not the same.”

I think for a moment and then respond, “That is good to know, but I actually wanted to know whether..”

Darion interrupts me again. “Just keep it, neither I nor the Ebon Blade will mind, you have done a great deal to recover Acherus for us.”

He talks as if he already knows that I don't really want to be a member of their order.

I thank him for his gratitude and back off to the portal to Orgrimmar.

I feel the warm, dusty wind of Durotar on my face as I leave the portal. The first thing I see are two ice-blue elven eyes. Koltira is waiting for me. He says that we now can go see Thrall together.

But I just turn him down.

“Don't start to get wrong expectations. I don't want to get dragged into this. I don't want to be a part of it. You go to Thrall and I'll go my own way.” I answer him with a cold voice.

Koltira stares at me in bewilderment as I just summon my deathcharger and leave towards the tower where the goblin zeppelins stop.

The little bag at my waist thrums with every step of my steed.

'Lok'tar ogar' will never be my battle cry.