The Systemic Lands

Chapter LXXIII – Day ? – Sword of Ascalon Round 2

“Gregorovich. Your evil will be no more,” the newest hero said. My blood pressure rose. The constant fighting and rebellions were non-stop. Each one I stamped out led to two more. It was this blasted sword. It was the real enemy. Not whatever idiot was carrying it.

“Evil?! What evil?!” I roared out in pure rage. “I treat people under my rule fairly. I give food, shelter, and more. But no. You and that blasted sword, won’t stop!” I was panting at the end of my little rant. So many men dead, so many points wasted.

“You know the evil exists in your heart. That is all that is needed. For you will be stopped, by the power of righteousness.” I felt myself puke a little in my mouth. What kind of demented idiot created this horrible thing? I wasn’t a nice man, I wouldn’t lie to myself about that. I was hard. But I wasn’t stupid either. If you tortured and brutalized people, they would rise up. The war with the Indian Sultanate was one of nations and destiny. Not of good and evil.

If anything, those old men were far more evil than me. Caste systems, harems, and being wastes of oxygen. Not even being brave enough to come out and fight me on the field of battle. I was no coward. So evil, bah! I spat to the side.

“I am many things. But there is no good or evil, only stupidity and cowardice,” I said and rushed forward. Rapidly moving and focusing with my skill Slicing Plane. The human monster before me blocked my attacks, but I was ready. I had seen this play out before.

I pulled out a rapid fire crossbow, from over my shoulder and began firing it. Each bolt was enchanted and I used Disperse Energy offensively to disrupt the golden shield the sword created. Two of my trusted demons unleashed beam attacks at this idiot.

The woman was struck by a bolt in the shoulder and then the chest. If only I could have put a better enchantment on them, but at least these were guaranteed to penetrate shields. So expensive, but powerful. Even I would be fearful of these bolts, that I had unleashed.

The woman screamed and then changed directions towards me. I was ready and retreated from her. Her stats were low, even with the sword helping her. She was quickly dying from the three bolts that had entered her body, as I saw blood pouring from her wounds and her mouth.

She slowly came to a stop. “Ascalon, the hour has come!” she shouted out. A massive amount of energy was being drawn into her sword. I was ready for this, and knew what to expect.

“Null Shield Disperse Angled Reinforce Null,” I quickly chanted as I pushed all my energy into the skill. The golden glow increased.

“CURSED SILENCE!” What?! Golden energy enveloped me from all directions. It wasn’t a straight on attack.

Disperse Energy. I used my skill, but the sword’s attack was more powerful. Then the blinding golden light was gone. I patted my body with one hand, but I wasn’t injured. I let out a sigh of relief as my ears were still ringing. Still something felt off.

I looked at the woman who crumbled to dust. My hidden demons were already unleashing attacks on the sword. I had kept them in reserve just for this. Beam attack, after beam attack struck its location. I couldn’t see it from all the energy effects occurring. I didn’t retreat. I was going to see this stupid sword destroyed no matter what.

Just when I thought it was over, the sword rose up surrounded by a golden glow and took off. I tried to scream in rage, but nothing came out. I couldn’t speak? Well that could be fixed in time, it was probably just some curse damage. Annoying but nothing impossible.

My men were approaching me and my second in command, Dmitri came up to me. “You alright boss?” he asked. I shook my head and mentioned my mouth. “Ah? Can’t speak?” he asked and I nodded.

“A shame then. I was hoping to hear you scream. Now!” Beam attacks came at me. I dodged some and was struck with others. Slicing Plane. Dimitri’s head was cut off, but then his body crumbled into dirt. My eyes went wide.

A betrayal! I tried to retreat, but the attacks just kept coming. The real Dmitri keeping up the pressure with his skills. But my stats were nothing to joke about. I had been fighting a long time, a very long time. I killed one demon after another.

Soon, only Dmitri was left, missing both his arms and a leg. I gave him a questioning look, hoping to get some answers before I killed him. “You think I didn’t know? The reeducation camps. The constant deaths. When would it end? Never. Also, the Indian Sultantate offered me a couple of your cities,” he said with a weak chuckle. I would give him a quick death for telling me. Slicing Plane. His head was separated from his body.

I left the battle site and it just got worse. My forces were being routed across all fronts. I had concentrated my elite men here. Now they were dead. I was done. Trying to manage all of these people and create something stable was impossible. Without a voice, I couldn’t even salvage the situation.

With a heavy sigh, I turned my back on my nation. Let it all burn. Let those decrepit old men take it all. I was just done with it. The sword could rule instead. I mentally chuckled at that. Sometimes it was better to cut one’s losses and do something else.

I would travel. There were more cities out there than this little corner. I would get another power-point and visit them. Away from the blasted sword, the blasted Indians, and stupid Russians who would rather grovel in the dirt than stand proud under my banner.

One day I would come back, years from now, and get my revenge. I always preferred assassination. I would kill those old men in their sleep once their guard was down. I would run from that stupid sword that just wouldn’t break or be destroyed. It was the perfect plan. A plan I would see through until the end. The hatred in my heart would never die, but I would be smart about it. Rage and stupidity were for weak people, people who gave up and had no hope.