SK4 - Chapter 28 - The Clash of Paths

Nick was only a distance away from Lord Tagron, just moments after Fang crashed into Prince Tagron, his wives taking on the elites and the beast king. The front of the column of knights had just been crushed, and Nick could hear Lord Tagron complaining from the back.

Lord Tagron wore a frown. “Unbelievable. Such incompetence! My scouts never revealed that the diregators could… never mind.” He blew a horn suddenly, the sound echoing through the forest.

From the left side of his forces, a new army appeared. It was the bandits that Shak’terra scouted. Of course, Nick was aware of them, but seeing them appear was going to cause a lot of problems. He had an answer for the bandits, but he wanted to extort a question from Tagron if he could. He dashed forward and slashed through a mage and their protector as he stormed past them, charging his Soul Blade for the battle to come.

As Nick arrived close enough in front of Lord Tagron, three bodyguards rushed for him. “You use lawless bandits to do your bidding, huh? That’s not very lordly, nor does it show the pride of the elves. Wouldn’t your ancestors be disappointed in you, Lord Tagron?”

The men were strong, but they were not even at the level of Renzou. Nick bested one with his soul blade, cleaving off his arms and kicking the body away into another who was charging. He leaped forward and skewered them both, only barely twisting his body in time for the third to miss with his stabbing sword.

Lord Tagron snorted at that, uncaring about the loss of his subordinates’ lives. “All that matters is victory. Morality and principles crumble in the face of true power–power that I have by reaching the third stratum.”

Nick’s blade whipped out with a flick of his wrist, cutting down the final man. 

“You’re right. But it really shows weakness for you to struggle against a bunch of small kingdoms even after resorting to kidnapping a lord’s wife and attacking forces at an Orion-sanctioned battlefield. Your elven brethren no doubt find you pathetic. Do you have no honor, no pride?”

“I know what you are trying to do, trying to get a Case for War for Orion that matches your path, whatever it may be. But I deny that either of those attacks was my doing or by my order, and you have no proof. To swear on a whim can be very dangerous, as countless lords have foolishly done in our history.”

What Lord Tagron said was true. While a lord could swear an Oath and get a Case for War from merely correlation and gut feelings, such a thing often backfired. All it took was another lord or person making the order, and the lord would pay dearly for his Oath–often with his life. 

Orion was not meant to be used as a lie detector, and instead, desired establishing evidence of wrongdoing. Oaths were high risk, and each one weighed down on a lord. They were not meant to be used for everything. 

Nobody knew for sure the true reason for all of this since it seemed to favor Lawful Kingdoms for its benefits, but Irene had told Nick that while Orion desired order on some level, it required chaos on another. 

By forcing lords to strictly conform to too many rules in regard to using bandits or mercenaries in clandestine ways, it would stifle potential for conflict and growth, limit prospective paths focused on deception and sabotage, and more.  

It was normal and expected for lords to use mercenaries. However, a Lawful Kingdom of Orion had to hire them with the same intentions and restrictions they would use their own forces for or open themselves up to sanctions and Cases for War.

Thankfully, Nick was not working off of a gut feeling–he got what he needed from Lord Tagron’s words. He whistled, and an army of angels floated down from the sky, a wide barrier of light separating the bandit army and his army’s flanks.   

The almost naked angels called down to the bandits, “Instruments of chaos, please, reconsider your actions and your lives. Is what you are doing truly right, and what is best for you? Seeking profit in the harm of others causes an endless cycle of hatred and greed. If it is food and shelter you require, you may find it at our temple.”

Another angel added, “Yes. You must only attend a sermon for your allotted portions. And please, if you don’t get some help from us, just get help somewhere.” 

Lord Tagron’s mouth was wide open until he noticed that Nick was watching and closed it. It seemed he was completely dumbstruck. “Naked angels? Why…are these your people somehow? What is happening?”

“You really didn’t do any research on my people and me, did you? No wonder you have been a failure of a lord. You were expecting to win with just resources alone.”

Lord Tagron snapped himself out of it, his face morphing into a condescending scowl. “Me, a failure? You’re the one who willingly sent your people off to die. You may have done better than I expected, but there is something that you are forgetting. My people are simply stronger than yours.”

Nick wasn’t sure if these people were just lying in wait or if they had been ordered to hang back and only go all out once the battle was joined. But suddenly, Nick could feel a shift in the battlefield. 

Stronger warriors began cutting down Nick’s people, their swords biting into unprotected flesh. They spotted the weak areas in their front lines and cut them down mercilessly. Even some diregators were killed in the sudden chaos, their froglok riders joining them in death shortly after by the attacks of these elite warriors.

Not only that, but their waves of frost to create the wall had definitely stopped the front charging formation of the mounted knights. However, the ones unaffected in the rear had circled, and now, half of them sought to strike the middle of Nick’s formations, targeting the column of diregators at full speed once more.

And the shamans of Nick’s army had deflected the first volley of the enemy mages, but he could already see the mages drawing essence from the area, preparing for more powerful spells. His people may not be able to manage the defense again, especially if they were focused on handling the deadly, incoming knights.         

“Your people and you are skilled for their level, I’ll give you that. But you cannot surpass the fundamental difference. You and your kingdom are too weak!”

The beast king fighting his wives roared at this time, and the ground began to tremble. The earth at the back right side of the battlefield opened, and six smaller versions of the creature burst forward. At the middle or peak of the second stratum, these monsters were definitely a dangerous threat. 

However, from the right side of the battlefield came an army from the trees. Drums beat and horns blared as the armored soldiers carrying shields and polearms marched into the clearing.

It was an army of ratfolk and quilboar people. They stopped at the edge of the clearing without engaging in battle.  

And from behind the army of bandits on the left side of the battlefield, two more armies–Bronzebeard’s dwarves and Lord Regios’ jackalfolk marched out.

Lord Tagron called out, “You fools! You cannot break the Oath, you’ll kill this lord, and victory will soon be ours!”

Lord Regios laughed. “Who said anything about breaking the Oath? Unless you’re saying these lawless bandits that attacked us earlier are somehow your people? We are merely clearing out the trash.”

Lord Bronzebeard chuckled as arrows volleyed into the backs of the bandits, and they began scattering from the attacks. “You can protect your brethren, angels of Litiana. We shall eliminate these forces of chaos.”

Lord Tagron narrowed his eyes. “And Lord Brightclaw and Quillbane?”

Lord Quilbane and Brightclaw stood proudly behind their joint army. It was Brightclaw who spoke. “Orion, hear us lords. I have finally found the King I am willing to serve: Lord Noblefrost. I bequeath my kingdom unto him, with the hopes and dreams for me and my people to live under his crown, should he accept.”  

Lord Quilbane added, “And so I swear the same. For my people and I to serve under the heroic king, Lord Noblefrost’s rule. Do you accept our Oaths?”

Nick answered, “I accept your Oath, Lords of Orion. I swear that I shall return your fealty with duty and responsibility of my own while I am able.”

Nick had worded his Oath to save the hostages this way for this very purpose, baiting the other lords to take advantage. He knew that Lord Tagron accepted his wording because he wanted his bandits to interfere, and that was what opened the window for Lord Brightclaw and others to swear their allegiance and join the battle.  

At the same time, Nick hadn’t expected them to. The battle was going to be close without them, but he knew his wives would win their battle against the beast king soon, and things would turn around. That all four coalition lords showed up to help in their own way just meant that this was now going to be a landslide victory.   

The two armies charged in from the sides, causing even more chaos as they met the younger beast kings and cut a fierce line through the enemy forces. The knights were struck from the side with waves of arrows and crossbow bolts, the shield and polearm line ready to receive the large mounts and smaller beast kings. 

With the opponent getting flanked, Nick’s forces quickly shifted their lines, drawing them in and reforming, and taking on these stronger foes that pushed in. Lothar, Renzou and Myron now found their places, countering these stronger warriors. Since Nick’s wives handled the true elites, this meant Lord Tagron’s army was going to fall quickly.

And more attacks suddenly erupted–the mantisfolk had finally snuck into their position, their bodies camouflaged in the flowery meadow. The mages and archers were suddenly getting diced to shreds, the stealthy monsterfolk cleaving through their weaker, less protected bodies. There were nearly a hundred of the mostly-female warriors, and the archers and mages were completely unready for their deadly assault.

Lord Tagron asked, “Those lords, they’d truly give up their lordship, their Ordeals to you? I do not believe it. They are risking everything, trusting you to beat me and save them.”

“Is it that big of a surprise, Lord Tagron? You put their back against the wall and gave them little choice. They would rather not live chained under your rule. Among us both, they picked the true king to serve.”

“True king? You are forgetting something important, Lord Noblefrost. You have done well, but you have not solved the fundamental difference between you and me. Between two sovereigns, the only thing that matters is strength. All I must do to win this battle is the same thing it has been from the very beginning. I only need to join the field and slay all your warriors. Or, I only have to crush you, and your forces will fall apart. It looks like it’s time.”  

What Lord Tagron said was true. Even Nick, if he were left alone, could go about and slay countless warriors, tilting the scales in his forces’ favor with his sheer superiority–the power of a lord. In such a close battle, the same was certainly true of Lord Tagron. 

This was the reason Nick had taken the lord on rather than waiting in the back, because his people would needlessly die rapidly if he didn’t keep the man busy. He had put his people at risk; he was not willing to sit back and allow this lord to run roughshod over his people for even an instant. The same would be true of Blackthorne and any other lord who joined the battlefield. 

“I have not forgotten. But just like everything else, you will find that I am no easy prey.” 

“You know nothing since you foolishly stand against me. Behold! My sovereign will, my King’s Mandate. Before the true king, all must kneel.”

Essence converged as it was drawn up from the surrounding area, and a giant crown symbol appeared before Nick, glimmering gold and shining brightly. The word ‘kneel’ was written in Orion Common, and a weight pressed down on him, as if this word was a perfect command that he should obey. It held the weight of his kingdom, his sovereign strength. And it was formidable.

Nick was nearly brought down to his knees even though his body was empowered by essence, but he spoke Archaen, casting soul magic, as he flooded his body with light essence chains, empowering him in resistance. “I will not bow. I will not break. My will shall reign.”

With each phrase, soul magic wrapped around his Soul Core, and the weight was lessened allowing Nick to stand slowly. During this time, Lord Tagron had slowly drawn his sword from his scabbard on his waist, thinking Nick was as good as done for. 

But now, he rushed toward Nick as he stood. Nick barely countered the blade in time, parrying the man’s sharp cavalry saber away from cutting into his throat. But Tagron held his blade extended, pressing down into Nick’s blade with his strength to bring it back towards him.

Lord Tagron noted, “You are full of surprises. But my King‘s Mandate is not so easily ignored, not even by your strange magic.” He pressed further, pushing Nick’s blade closer to his body, before kicking Nick in the chest and sending him flying through the air.

Nick followed through with the momentum from his kick, flipping and landing back into a crouch, and realized that the elf was right. The weight had lessened from his soul magic, but the crown and the weight it represented remained, the shimmering spell and its command pressuring Nick. Lord Tagron was a powerful opponent all on his own, and Nick fighting with a heavy weight over his movements would bring about his end quickly.

Lord Tagron rushed toward Nick again, and his movements were fast and filled with deadly purpose as he stabbed and slashed at Nick, taking a practiced fencer’s stance. The essence billowing from him and his aura were dense. If not for Nick’s parries, quick twists, and unexpected whipping movements of his blade to deflect from odd angles, he would have been run through by the sharp blade immediately. 

His Frost Aura hardly slowed the powerful lord at all as his protective domain prevented it, and the frost billowing from Nick’s Soul Blade did nearly nothing to him. 

The man wasn’t quite as strong as Thresh, Nick guessed. Weaker than he was currently, Nick had managed to significantly wound the powerful arborfolk. However, this time, he was taking on the third stratum lord all on his own, without an, albeit weakened, Nascent Soul Myron to soften him up.

But Nick wasn’t quite alone. His wives were weakening the beast king, and even if they never joined his fight, they were with him. It wasn’t only Eirwen’s ability to use a spell through their Enhanced Pact Connection or the ring he wore from Rebecca.

He could feel it. As they fought, his wives’ many devotion cores were now feeding him the sparkling essence, covering his spirit. Within his Soulscape, his giant soul body was covered in glittering stardust. They had sacrificed much of their potential for these cores to empower their lord and husband, and now, it was culminating into…something.

Nick knew that one thing was true. For him to find victory over Lord Tagron, he had to surpass himself. And they were pushing on his back, driving him forward to do just that.

Essence converged, being drawn from the surrounding area. Along with it, the hopes and dreams of his wives and those in the army nearby, and the light and dark essence from his Concept were drawn into his hands as he donned the Heroic Cloak of Twilight. Mystical fabric unfurled behind him, the two-sided cape of white and black covered in an expanse of stars on both sides.

Nick’s body brightened, a white light covering him, the darkness chained within. The weight holding him down lessened, and his body sped up as he was filled with the strength and speed heroes required.

His burst of speed shocked Lord Tagron, going by his expression, and his speedy swings were blocked and parried by the lord, but he was being pushed back. Tagron activated some kind of skill where much of the deflection of the force was caused by the essence, rather than his physical strength. This enabled the elf to counter several quick jabs of his sharp saber at Nick in rapid succession.

He pressured Nick with minimal movements, presenting a calm defense even as Nick’s arm whipped and bulged whenever Monstrous Blow triggered. The lord’s essence carried with some of his stabs, lengthening his reach, making it more difficult for Nick to dodge. It was clear after a moment that the essence from these stabs somehow weighed down on Nick, even when he blocked.

It seemed that while Lord Tagron was using a fighting style that fit his path, he was not close to becoming a master at all. He practiced a form of swordsmanship that carried his sovereignty, and on some level, it did remind Nick of his dad’s. 

But rather than control and gravity stemming from unparalleled understanding and talented usage of the tools of a king and his nurtured subordinates, it was the weight of sovereignty wielded like a child holding a gun. The gun was unmistakably dangerous; even if a child was the one who pulled the trigger, it could still kill. 

This arrogant and ignorant elf used his overwhelming strength by picking on weaker enemies and then his kingdom’s vast resources to pressure an enemy until it caved in. Like spraying bullets from his deadly pistol and caring not whether he hit or missed with each individual shot, he’d land a deadly hit eventually. 

And his sword-fighting style was the same way. He merely pressed down the enemy with his will and his kingdom’s vast strength and stabbed into the enemy with his saber until wounds piled up and he was the victor.

Which was why when Nick’s swordsmanship clashed, he came out on top. His whipping sword strikes forced Tagron to block and parry, even his feints, controlling his pace and positioning. And Nick could merely twist his body and dodge, bringing his sword back powerfully and causing Tagron’s assault to slow as staggering blows had to be blocked or they’d strike unhindered. 

The cold also eventually built, Nick’s frostbound will working through Tagron’s domain. His domain was about the same as Elyra’s, pushed toward High Mastery of a singular Concept and allowing his aura to protect him significantly. Thankfully, it still wasn’t there, or Nick would truly have a challenging time. 

Their back-and-forth continued, and frost eventually began spreading up Tagron’s body from the billowing frost from Nick’s glyph on his Soul Blade. Nick could pressure him more with the chains of the fallen and his redeemed, but he was preparing a more important trap with this instead. 

Lord Tagron backed off from Nick’s range for a moment, frowning at the frost and shaking it off with a burst of essence.

He began surveying the battlefield, but Nick didn’t let up–his arm whipped at a length Tagron underestimated, causing him to stumble back from the block. Nick then mixed arm whips and Blade Waves, a series of slashes striking the elf in quick succession thanks to his inattention. 

Lord Tagron attempted to evade and parry, but several slices landed on his body. Unfortunately, these merely scratched him and spread frost onto his armor, unable to deeply penetrate the man’s sturdy essence-filled armor with his fast blows.

Nick’s wives had nearly killed the beast king, and the battlefield had changed significantly thanks to the reinforcements. Lord Tagron had no doubt noticed this, even as Nick continued his assault. The bandits had been surrounded and cut down or shackled by Lord Regios’ slavers, and the smaller beast kings and the flanks of the army had been crushed by the ratfolk and quilboarfolk armies. 

The angels had warded off the stronger knights, and now, it was becoming a rout–and Prince Tagron was now surrounded by a surprise–Councilor Robins had arrived. Soldiers on Lord Tagron’s side began to break and flee, their forces completely outnumbered.

Lord Tagron became serious, essence billowing from him as he blocked several slashes as he noticed the battlefield, speaking at the same time. “It looks like you got what you wanted, Lord Noblefrost. My reinforcements will not arrive in time, and our fight will have to come to an end. But I will take my price in blood, and as strong as you are, I’m forced to admit, you cannot stop me.”

The crown suddenly became heavier, once again pushing down against Nick as the man dashed off–directly toward Lord Brightclaw’s army in a blur. But Nick was ready for this–a net of chains rose from the frozen ground in front of him, and Nick blitzed in chase as he swung his blade at his back. 

The essence surrounding Tagron was dense, and it was flooding his limbs with immense power. He stopped for a brief moment to slash and slice through the chains, shattering them. However, he was forced to parry Nick’s downward swing over his shoulder, and two chains still pierced into him with their harpoon-like heads in the torso. The momentum and power behind Nick’s blow were more than he expected, bringing him down to one knee from the force, frost spreading from his vibrating soul blade being so close.

His eyes were filled with rage as he looked back at Nick, and he roared as he stood, shoving Nick’s arm back before he activated a skill, shattering the two chains that pierced him. 

Red essence and mana billowed off of him like a deadly smoke before he stabbed out at Nick powerfully. His sword transformed into a beam of violent red light and shot right at Nick’s chest. It was like Nick’s Essence Burst from his Soul Blade, but entirely made from the elf’s efforts.

Nick’s cloak of light wrapped around his weapon as he attempted to parry and redirect the oncoming essence, and he focused on controlling the light within him and its properties for deflection. However, the weight behind the attack was heavy, especially with the crown overhead impeding Nick. 

The beam followed his angled blade and sliced through his right shoulder. It cut fairly deeply, but thanks to his armor dampening the sharpness of the blow, the damage was rather superficial, barely harming the muscle beneath his skin as the beam ricocheted upward.

The man had dashed off, and Nick was forced to take to the air in an attempt to catch up. Dashing through the air, Nick’s speed from his Heroic Concept kept him from falling behind. He did close the distance before the man could cause serious damage, as he drew up some minor healing from Jasper and Ishkara for his shoulder as he did. 

He may regret what he was about to do, but it was the only thing he could do to prevent the man from killing Lord Brightclaw and Quilbane. Their men would simply be unable to do anything more than a token effort to slow the man down.

Of course, he worried about taking on this foe. He could tell that the man was mostly toying with Nick, not bringing out his full potential. If he brought out everything, could he really win? But it did not matter. He would have to stand up to the darkness this man represented, just as he would Blackthorne. If not now, then when? 

“Orion, hear this Lord’s words. I call for Case for War: Heroic Judgement against Lord Tagron. He uses lawless bandits to carry out terrible crimes across kingdoms, including breaking the sanctity of Conflict, kidnapping Heirs and Lord’s wives, and I have undeniable proof: his own words. I offer Trial by lordly combat as a means to settle this dispute, to the surrender of their kingdom or death.”

A Trial Barrier spread outward from Nick’s position, trapping Lord Tagron and himself inside before the man could get out of range.

[Orion is evaluating. Swear your case.]

Nick lamented that with just a little more time, his wives would have finished their battle, and they would have surrounded the man, and he would have been summarily defeated. However, Nick understood the truth. 

Many lords gather powerful and expensive escape artifacts, capable of shielding and transporting them a distance to safety. Outside of sanctioned Orion challenges where escape wasn’t available, few would ever die. 

Few treasures such as this were available on the Frontier Shard, but Nick was aware of them and even had a very limited, random one. It was actually completely useless in that Devilsaur Matriarch fight, since he would have been unable to choose which direction he was transported away–he could have been moved away from safety rather than toward it.

If Lord Tagron met up with his incoming army, the man would escape and cause all sorts of havoc within their kingdoms. As a hero, Nick could not allow evil to fester and grow. It must be defeated today.

Lord Tagron looked at him incredulously. “My words? Impossible. I deny involvement with any lawless bandits, and I refute your claims. A lord’s oath is sacred; I need not swear to prove my lack of involvement. For Lords of Orion, the burden of proof is on the accuser.”

“The world of Orion is vast, Lord Tagron. And I can hear the falsities of your words. Your denials are proof enough. Let it be known to all that Lord Tagron ordered the kidnapping of another Lord’s wife and heir and attacked an army during a Conflict using lawless bandits and mercenaries, and I swear it here and now that my words are true, or I shall be struck down where I stand.”

Nick paused as Lord Tagron’s face twisted into a mask of fury. He gripped his sword tightly, looking to the sky. 

Nick chuckled. “The plausible deniability of yours works only until another lord has sworn. You do not swear your denial? You underestimated your enemies once again. It’s not impossible to give yourself a layer of safety, but you looked down on us.”

The lights of Orion pulsed through the battlefield before the barrier increased in size slightly. It encompassed Nick’s Soul Servants, who he had guided to break off their battle with the beast king and follow. 

[Heroic Judgement granted for several lawless acts committed by the enemy lord and breaking the sacred principles of Conflict. Trial by combat is accepted. For Lord Tagron’s crimes against your coalition and in accordance with your Sanctioned Path, he must face you in one-on-one combat.] 

Lord Tagron was trembling with rage, the sword shaking in his hand. “You…dare? You have truly stained my name. I was merely toying with you, not even using my full strength. But now, you leave me with no choice. If I kill you, all my sins will be washed away.”

“You like to talk a lot. I will let my blade speak for me.”

“You say that…but what are those beasts?”

Nick grinned. Jasper and Ishkara howled and screeched, ready for battle. He pointed back at them with his thumb. “There a problem? They entered the Trial barrier. That can mean only one thing: these creatures exist under my strength. Why don’t you bring out yours? It’s a slave of some kind like that beast king, right?”

Lord Tagron’s eyes widened. “You know? You are truly too dangerous. If you had only a few more years, perhaps you’d have been my match.” He waved his hand, and from the ground erupted a creature of the earth next to him, but rather than a cloud of dust and rock from its emergence, it was like it phased through the ground as if it were little more than fine sand. 

It was a type of earth unicorn or deer, judging by its looks, but Nick wasn’t sure what the hell he was looking at, just that it was some type of fae creature. The beast was half spirit and flesh thanks to its almost transparent, scaled brown and green fur look, and rock and dirt were orbiting around it. With how Jasper’s hackles rose as he growled and Ishkara squawked in anger, Nick knew it was definitely a significant threat.

The monster also had an air of nobility, and Nick had a good guess of how Tagron had obtained it–by birthright. Just like Nick was given Jasmine meant to be his first Soul Servant, this man was granted some creature to bond with, and it likely was what helped him capture the beast king.

Ishkara flapped her wings and took to the sky as earthen missiles were launched from the earthen unicorn, and Jasper roared as he fired several icicles in counter and rushed forward. Nick was forced to dodge to the side, strafing the assault as he came at Lord Tagron. He instructed his two servants to both stay out of it and also prevent the enemy spirit from interfering with their fight.

Nick and Tagron traded blows for a moment, but Nick could feel the lord was different–he was pissed. His attacks were wild, and his essence was building within him. Nick punished him with several chains of the fallen wrapping around his armor, his frozen will slowing him further. But he drew in essence of his own, preparing for the man’s attack.

“I will make you pay for this, Noblefrost! My Sovereign Will shall cut you down!” 

A massive apparition of a sword was raised above him, straight up into the air. His own action with his saber mirrored the blade, and he prepared to bring it down with a swing. The amount of essence and mana contained within was immense, and Nick was alarmed as the giant sword towered over him. 

The man had used his massive stores of essence from being in the third stratum in an attempt to snuff him out. It was an amount he could not match–not on his own.

Sensing his feelings of danger, Eirwen used her Wish, and Enhanced Pact Connection to send something she shouldn’t be able to at all–Rebecca’s Blessing of Compassion: Might. However, it felt a little different from usual as it arrived within, like a pool of holy light energy instead of the buff. Perfect for what he needed at this moment.

In counter to Lord Tagron’s sword, Nick drew up the weight of his Path, shoving much of the blessing inside his ability, finding it miraculously working. His kingdom’s loyalty, gratitude, and respect they held for their heroic king became a tangible thing as the weight of the essence in the air increased. Nick’s Frost Aura became more powerful, and even the odd unicorn creature was slowed.

Chains of light and frost grew from the ground rapidly, twisting streams wrapping around one another and forming a giant gauntlet. It was a symbol of the king’s frostbound will, the Inexorable Grasp of Winter. Nick raised one hand above his head, controlling the gauntlet. 

Even without Eirwen’s Wish, it had grown and transformed with his mastery of his Concept and it looked somehow more metallic despite being completely comprised of frost essence. Thanks to it, it was also much larger than himself and covered in both light and sparkling starlight, likely from the devotion essence arriving inside him. 

Shoving it forward with his physical hand and his will, the gauntlet crashed into the incoming blade of essence, the two men’s paths clashing. On Tagron’s end, his sovereign will, his Concept along with the strength of his kingdom, pressed against Nick’s gauntlet. For Nick, it was the same, only his was rooted in virtue and true nobility. And thanks to Eirwen and Rebecca, somehow, faith.

Frost spread down the blade as the gauntlet gripped the blade tightly, the temperature in the clearing falling dramatically. Chains covered in starlight suddenly separated from the gauntlet, piercing into the man’s legs, and the apparition of a sword began to falter before cracking from the gauntlet’s might before disappearing. While Nick shoved what remained of the gauntlet his enemy’s way, it fell apart as the essence ran out. It was just barely enough. 

It was just a fleeting moment, but Nick knew that the unicorn creature actually tried to help Lord Tagron and hurt Nick during this clash. But thanks to the increased effect of Nick’s Frost Aura, Ishkara had managed to deal a significant blow and stop the strange spirit.

The three creatures tumbled behind them, and Lord Tagron looked at him in disbelief, the man’s breaths coming in ragged as pills appeared in his hand, and he swallowed them–some form of healing. 

“How did you…? You…walk two paths, and your class somehow supports it?” He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. You refused to kneel, but I can see the truth. You are almost out of strength. All will eventually yield to my sovereign might.”

The weight pressing down on him increased as the word beneath the crown changed to ‘yield.’ As the two restarted their deadly dance, Nick found the strength of his attacks lessened and the speed of his movements had decreased.

Nick cast more soul magic. “I will not yield.”

And the effect was reduced, but he could feel the weight remaining on each of his attacks. Thankfully, Nick had gotten used to dealing with the other, and this one was actually lesser–but he wasn’t about to tell his enemy that.  

Tagron utilized a skill where his stabs came in a frenzied flurry, like numerous sabers were stabbing out all at once. Nick twisted his body backwards and dodged each thrust as he kept his feet moving, and he whipped his sword in counter, but the fast-moving blade easily deflected his attack. The duelist lord kept pace with his steps easily as attacks struck Nick’s armor. 

The stabs pierced into his skin and were thankfully weak and didn’t penetrate deeply, but several wounds were added in quick succession. The speed of the attacks came at a cost to the power behind them, and Nick’s excellent armor took out much of the punch in them. Plus, Nick had dodged them enough so that they hadn’t hit anything vital, even if they penetrated further.

“That is some armor you have, impressive. Most would be–”

Harpoons of ice speared at Tagron from three directions, and Nick’s sword approached his throat in a slashing motion from the fourth. The man crouched and blocked one harpoon with his blade reaching behind his back–but Nick’s slash was merely a feint of dark essence. His actual attack slashed across his open chest, sending him backward, and a harpoon struck deeply into his back shoulder.

Nick had seen enough. His opponent was stronger and faster than him, and his single Concept had a strength above each of his individually. Nick had to burn his mental energy and essence just to stand up against the man’s ‘King’s Mandate’ using his Cloak of Twilight. Using both Convergence skills took a lot out of him, and while he was performing well, he wasn’t certain who would run out of gas first. He had to end this. 

The crown of ice appeared upon Nick’s head as he pushed the power of his Path, his kingdom, into his Frost Aura. His will pierced through Lord Tagron’s domain, frost starting to crawl up the man’s greaves despite him using essence to remove it.

Nick took a stance with his sword high and perpendicular to the ground and spoke the words for his Ideal. Once again, Nick’s swordsmanship would be the decider of his battle.                           

“I forge my body and blade with two vows; to rule and to redeem. That is why I draw my sword.”

The essence within Nick moved more smoothly as he dashed at Lord Tagron, each swing carrying his heroic purpose. His will pushed against the elf’s, the weight of his responsibility to his kingdom being added to every step. Nick resisted the enemy kingdom’s forceful sovereignty, the two paths clashing.

Lord Tagron’s pressure on Nick only tempered his conviction. The man represented everything Nick stood against: a tyrant who saw nobility as a birthright, a superiority to others that demanded obedience for no reason aside from his strength and his crown. 

Nick was strong and privileged, sure. But the crown came with a duty to his people. His strength was a means of protecting them, and his resources were a means of empowering them and bringing about prosperity, nurturing them to become more. It was not a means to merely collect more, his greed endless. 

With conviction, Nick’s swings came faster, his feints and counters more vicious. Tagron countered with quick stabs and halting parries with intelligent use of his essence, but now Nick was truly mixing all that he had learned in the past several months. 

In battle, his control came from his frostbound nobility–his Dominion of Frost and Fealty. His power and speed came from his Heroic Redemption. But through his swordsmanship, he blended both into one.  

“Crowned in duty and virtue I walk. The sword of my soul carries out dominion, judgement, and deliverance.”

It was as if the conviction in his path pressed against the King’s Mandate, Nick’s will shoving it back. He moved faster, and his blows struck harder, and chains of ice whipped from the ground with spiked tips or woven into a net. These caused Tagron to use essence in an attempt to shrug them off or use a skill to counter them, but he was being slowed by the cold, slowly but surely. 

“What is that gibberish? I suppose you are moving a little faster now–Shit!”

Nick did not let up, forcing Tagron to close his mouth. He didn’t need to speak to Tagron; his sword was demonstrating his will. The assault continued, Nick’s will to defeat the lord being carried out by his blade.

“My hero’s throne bears the burden of darkness, judging evil and redeeming the weak and the damned.”

The darkness was drawn up from the prison within him, his monstrous strength increasing. His Soul Blade vibrated with intensity, releasing a bone-chilling cold and having a deadly sharpness. The elf was on the defensive, being controlled by Nick’s offensive.  

Lord Tagron looked outright desperate now. He pulled out an item out of nothing–a spatial ring on his offhand, the same as where the pills came from, Nick imagined. It looked almost like a mortar firework, but it was made of intricately carved wood with golden filigrees inlaid. 

It screamed danger as the elf infused it with essence and brought the barrel of it pointing at Nick. The amount of essence he loaded it was significant, and Nick didn’t doubt the attack would be deadly. It was a special offensive treasure created by a true master, requiring a significant infusion of essence in order to function.

And Nick did the same with his Soul Blade, preparing his Essence Burst. From his kills, it had stockpiled a fair amount, requiring only a small addition of his own. Only to his surprise, an apparition, a spiritual presence, built around the hilt. It was the head of a dragon, and the glyph for his billowing frost activated all on its own. It seemed all his work to build his blade at the Soul Forge had truly built into something.

A domineering blast of flames roared out of the mortar, far larger than the item’s mouth, like a volcano erupting pointed straight at Nick. He had the intention of using the default Essence Burst, but now, his Soul Blade breathed out a powerful cone of frost, like the breath of an ice dragon. The frost was less focused, the ice spreading and even covering Lord Tagron’s legs as it pushed against the flame, and it eventually overcame the treasure and snuffed out the blast. 

Nick was nearly as shocked as Lord Tagron was, but he still activated his Power Strike, infused with his Heroic Concept. His essence surged with the strength of light and darkness empowering him, a halo appearing over his head for a moment. Despite Lord Tagron bringing up his sword to block, his swing cut down into his offhand shoulder downward, piercing through his armor and wounding him slightly before it got stuck in his body. 

Lord Tagron’s kick dislodged Nick’s blade as he flew back as a result, but Nick did not let up. His whipping arms became a storm of violent blows as he spoke the next stanza.

“The wicked break beneath my frost-bound will, chaos chained by faith and ice.”

As Nick’s sword strikes were blocked, parried, or struck the extremities of Lord Tagron’s armor, essence latched onto him–chains of spiritual darkness and frost. These slowed him, controlling his movements, and could not be seen by his own eyes. 

Something weighed down on the elf, he could surely tell, but removing the soul magic-infused chains with body essence was impossible. This was quite similar to what Lord Tagron was doing, but it was different. It was Nick’s answer to meld his two styles into one, and the physical chains of ice driven by his people and the redeemed only increased his control over his opponent further.   

They whipped out as Nick slashed and feinted, Lord Tagron finding difficulty mounting any kind of offense. He activated the flurry of stabs skill, but Nick was able to easily twist his body and dodge several and allow the piercing chain to stab into Lord Tagron’s shoulder. He tugged on it to deflect the others, as his whipping arm from an odd angle landed a slash into his shin powerfully. Each blow was only a flesh wound at best, but frost spread on his target, the man slowly being bound. 

As Nick’s will, his swordsmanship, clashed against Tagron’s, the conviction in his sword only increased. Lord Tagron was stronger than him; there was no doubt about this. His sovereignty by birthright and blood’s weight allowed him to destroy his weaker enemies, almost assuredly. But Nick’s talent and skill roared in defiance, bridging the gap between their strengths. When the weak suffered and heroes were called upon, Nick would walk the difficult and dark road if necessary.

The air changed, essence suddenly surging. The chains weighing down on Tagron tightened as the essence of Orion responded. The faith and loyalty of his people and followers pushed at his back, urging him onward against this enemy of good, this threat to his kingdom. A halo appeared above his crown once more, and his strikes hit harder, and his body moved faster. The cold nobility of his movements redirected his opponent’s blows, and his attacks carried the weight of his kingdom’s fealty.

“A Master? No! …How could it be? You were just an upstart!”

Every swing was a prayer, and every shift of his stance and step embodied the duty of the cold throne. The light of heroism protected and empowered, and the dark and the cold bound, carrying out his sovereign will and duty.

The essence surged with these movements and attacks, the weight of Nick’s Concepts carrying into them. Lord Tagron wasn’t merely blocking or parrying a sword; he was blocking the weight of Nick’s subordinates loyalty and the hopes and dreams of every redeemed citizen and damned bandit.

He had made this happen before, but usually as he reached the final stanza. He had two left, and Nick was elated because he could feel the difference. The conflict between Tagron and himself had tempered his conviction, and he was becoming one with the essence.   

“With my kingdom's light and my twilight blade, I shall kindle the beacon of heroes.”

The essence brightened as it congealed around him; the weight of each blow as essence was drawn in increased. Wounds piled up on Tagron, and now, he could only offer a token defense. He failed to parry most blows at all, and his body slowed as his essence ran dry, his body covered in blood and ice.

“In the darkest shadow we cast, I lead Orion toward its highest light.”

The light and dark within Nick went wild, his soul thrumming along with the vibration of his white and black blade. The essence wrapped around and finished crystallizing into his Concept of Hero-King Swordsmanship floating around his Body Core, his blade and his will becoming one.

His strength and speed increased to unprecedented levels, his sword screaming as it vibrated violently with black, frost, and white essence. His slashes scored deep furrows into Lord Tagron’s armored form. Dense, frosted blood scattered onto the now snow-and-ice-covered ground until his hand was cleaved from his arm, taking his sword with it.  

Lord Tagron was barely able to call out, his voice trembling and anxious as his body was frozen, “Wait, no! Please, I’ll give my Oath—” The chains of darkness Nick used tightened around his neck, cutting off his words.

“When evil is spared, it does not repent. It waits.”

With a powerful swing, he cleaved off Tagron’s head, the man’s body falling to the ground. A pulse of light ran out moments later, Nick’s breathing heavy as he turned to Jasper and Ishkara eating the spiritual deer’s body.

Nick hadn’t caught much of his soul servant’s fight, but he did see that they had trouble with its earthen, spiritual defenses at first. Jasper couldn’t shred through the earth well with his claws, and Ishkara’s frost had a tough time hitting the beast because it would phase through the ground in defense. Then leap out to try to ambush either of them.

Eventually, when Nick’s Frost Aura slowed the creature, Ishkara’s demonic frostflame was just too fast, and had struck a powerful blow. Thanks to the icy flame weakening it and bringing it to frozen corporeality, Jasper had slashed through the earth with its deadly claws, then bitten deeply into the monster’s chest, crunching down on its spiritual core.

And Jasper split the core with Ishkara as they both feasted on the essence. The creature, much like Lord Tagron, was early in the third Stratum. The fight had tempered his soul servants just as Nick’s battle had tempered him. 

He checked the prompt he received. Sure enough, Orion considered him a Master in Archaen Swordsmanship, and he had formed his Swordsmanship Concept.

[Congratulations. You have reached Early Mastery of your Supporting Concept: Archaen Hero-King Swordsmanship. At this time, it has become a deep part of you down to your very soul. Effect: +3 Body, +1 Soul]

Nick had heard about this. It was called a Supporting Concept because not only was it not his first Concept, but also because of the makeup of it. At this point, it was about swordsmanship and linked to his path as a hero and king.

As his father had said, most of the time, warriors and weapon users might establish a simpler Concept, and eventually evolve that into a sort of ‘sword’ Concept. And later, a swordsmanship Concept that might encompass more about who they are and what their desires or path was. Nick had sort of skipped to the end, for better or for worse.

Then, his Concept as it was now, wasn’t really able to be used on its own. It relied on the other two Concepts to function and exist but was still distinct and significant on its own. As he practiced his Ideal he formulated, new aspects might be added onto it, allowing it to be used on its own. For example, Kaya’s Sharpness.

Lastly, while swordsmanship was a path recognized by Orion, Nick’s usage of it was only to enforce his will on the world–his style or means of fighting. It was not how he intended to rule Frosthaven, and it was not his Path as a Lord of Orion. An example of someone who did would be someone that ran a sword sect or clan, where every climber and person who lived there was some kind of swordsman.      

The lights of Orion pulsed, running through Nick and the surrounding area as he received more prompts. Somehow he felt different, but he wasn’t sure in what way. An archway rose from the ground, indicating that the floor was now complete.

Nick had done it. He had tested himself and became more. And now, it was time to be rewarded and go home.

[Author Note - I gave this early, because I know I am giving the worst cliff of all - the loot! I hope everyone enjoyed the climactic battle!]