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The world is in a state of perpetual war with both the innocent and the guilty equally suffering due to incompetence and greed. To combat this unending violence, God sends Erasmus, a corpse-like man from Onocrotalus with a shady past and walking force of nature, to forcefully bring an end to it all.

Fighting Violence with Sacrifice: Chapter 4 – And the World Moves on

Chapter 4 – And the World Moves on

The ever-mysterious crimson mists drop Erasmus in the middle of a city. Everyone around him looks at him with suspicion and wonder, especially since news of his humiliation of Draco and Bernhard is common knowledge now. He heads towards a meeting hall of royals that is guarded by elves from every region of the Holy Land, various beastmen, and heavily armored guards all of which he walks through even as they warn him not to interfere with the meeting and hit him a few times to no effect. By the time Erasmus enters the main meeting hall, he has guards all around him who warn the inhabitants of the danger he poses.

Evander, king of the elves, who is in the room laughs and then says, “This man walked through you all even as you beat his head in and stabbed him. He is no threat. In fact, I like him. Let him do what he needs to. I already had a feeling God would bring him to us, this infamous man from Onocrotalus.”

The guards reluctantly listen to Evander and the lords of the United Kingdoms of the Americas who agree with him. Erasmus then steps into the center of the room so that all the leaders of this part of the world can clearly see him. The lords whisper among themselves about him while Evander smirks in anticipation of what he'll say. Evander, the oldest man alive, looks no older than a young adult, has golden eyes, golden and green eyes, wears a crown with twelve jewels in it, and robed royal armor that was made in the Holy Land. The lords of the United Kingdom of the Americas are different kinds of beastmen such as men with the heads and bodies of eagles, snakes, goats, and lions while few of them are normal humans. Erasmus grinds his teeth while carefully considering his words and controlling his anger.

“What is the point of this meeting? Aren’t there conflicts you are all involved with? Lords of the United Kingdoms of the Americas, I noticed you were absent when I was in the Far East. Explain yourselves,” Erasmus says.

Answering for his colleagues, the eagle man says, “We were scattered in that region after the Asiatic states turned on each other and fractured and we haven’t been able to do much for Phasianus after Draco focused their attention on us for supporting them and Bernhard.”

“You solved that situation for them, so it looks like they didn’t need to involve themselves at all,” Evander points out. “I’ve already heard of you covering that part of the world in blood thanks to my allies sending me a conjured messenger bird. We already also know of you humiliating both Draco and Bernhard, which forced both kingdoms and their allies to agree to peace. You’ve done a lot in half a month and I must thank you for all of it.”

“As for the point of this meeting,” the eagle man says, “We are meeting because of Evander’s want to increase trade and create a more formal relationship between us.”

“Yes, we’ve never had this kind of meeting before because of how dangerous it is to go from one side of the world to the world, we don’t have the same luxury of teleporting through the crimson mist as you do, so I thought since the other side of the world didn’t need my full attention thanks to your efforts, I could build my bond with these fine gentlemen and ladies. The world continues to move on and never rests, after all.”

“God isn’t on your side as much as you think, Evander.”

“What are you talking about? He has blessed this world with a sudden end to the wars that were consuming the world and brought peace to it in no time at all. I’d say we see eye to eye.”

“That’s what you think. You’d better wake up from your dreams before they consume the world.”

Evander smirks and says, “I’ll keep it in mind.”

“And keep an eye on your assistant, Priscilla, as well. She may become more destructive than you think.”

“She’s a great agent for me and her home of the United Kingdoms of the Americas. She’ll be fine.”

The United Kingdoms of the Americas lords start questioning Erasmus to explain what he meant by his warnings, however, he turns his back to leave the building, which makes the lords turn their questions to Evander since he seems to know what Erasmus was talking about. While he is walking out, Erasmus bleeds more than usual and starts to feel the effects of beatings and fights, and his age catches up to him. He begins to stumble around until falling to the ground and dying. His body then turns to a bloodied dust that flies into the crimson mist to become one with it. Now, after centuries of struggling, pain, and suffering, Erasmus finds peace in the arms of God having fulfilled his duty to its completion.

“Is…is it really over?” Erasmus says in disbelief. “There’s still so much more to do.”

“There is always more to do and plenty of workers who can fulfill those duties. Let tomorrow worry about itself. You have earned your eternal rest, my faithful servant,” the Lord says as Erasmus embraces love Itself and cries tears of joy for the first time in centuries.

 

The End

Fighting Violence with Sacrifice: Chapter 3 – Rebels No Different than Royals

Chapter 3 – Rebels No Different than Royals

Stepping out of the crimson mist, Erasmus finds himself not far from what looks to be a ruined city, but upon closer inspection, he discovers that it’s inhabited. Many of the scars of war have been crudely patched over with large blankets, pieces of wood, and metal beams. Damaged black and white flags with birds in the center fly above certain buildings denoting this place as belonging to some new kingdom Erasmus is unfamiliar with. Most of the people are dirty and many seem sick and malnourished. Five of these civilians emerge from the wrecked buildings, try to steal from Erasmus, and threaten to kill them with their rusty weapons.

Seeing that they’re no threat to him compared to what he just encountered, Erasmus simply grinds his teeth and then tells them, “I have nothing to give you other than the advice to not steal from anyone, especially people like me. You’ll regret it afterward.”

The five ruffians laugh at Erasmus calling him nothing more than a dead man walking before attacking him. As he is being stabbed and hit, Erasmus simply stands in place while barely flinching at their pathetic attacks. Seeing that their attacks don’t have any effect on him, they slowly back away now afraid of Erasmus, and don’t have time to do much else as they are swiftly killed by a gang of seven people that suddenly appear. These men and women are dressed in armor common to this Eastern land with some of them able to transform parts of their body into shields, weapons, and armor.

“Are you…” the man with a shape-shifting body notices that Erasmus is no ordinary man before finishing his sentence, “Okay, sir?”

The man watches Erasmus grind his teeth and the blood dripping from his body as if mesmerized by his rotting corpse-like appearance.

“I will give you the same warning I gave those thieves. Do not steal from anyone, especially men like me,” Erasmus says.

Snapping out of his trace, the man says, “We aren’t here to steal from you. We simply saw you were in trouble and came to help.”

“I know what you people are. You’re all bandits and outlaws. I see it in your mannerisms and the state of this settlement.”

“Bandits is what other people call us, but we’re simply an independent settlement that refuses to involve ourselves with the current politics and conflicts of the world. Is that such a horrible thing to do?”

“It is when you stab your kingdom in the back. The visions I’ve seen in the crimson mists and my time being whisked away from place to place before I started my journey revealed this to me, and I know that your emperors will want their land and resources back. They’ll be here soon so you’d better repent of your ways.”

The people around Erasmus ask him questions to which he just repeats what he said. They don’t have time to discuss among themselves what to do before a small group of twenty knights descends upon the ruined town most of which are the men that can transform their bodies. This group is led by their emperors and two flag bearers that have the phoenix version of a Phasianus on it. One of the emperors is dressed in Eastern armor that is colored black and red while the other is dressed in green and dull gold.

“Surrender peacefully and we can reason an agreement to improve your living conditions,” the emperor in green, Fujin, says.

“Or there will be bloodshed and justice,” the emperor in red, Raijin says.

The people who talked to Erasmus look at him who simply points ahead at the emperors and tells them to make their decision. They do so and talk with the emperors for a time about why they declared independence and their grievances while Erasmus stands on the side simply listening to them. Emperors Fujin and Raijin look at him with curiosity and plan to question him afterward. After debating for a couple of hours, the emperors come to an agreement with the leaders of the settlement that the settlement’s independence will be considered once the current conflicts are done away with. For now, the settlement will receive a detachment of knights to protect it and builders to fix the damage done by the conflicts.

Emperors Fujin and Raijin then approach Erasmus who the leaders of the settlement talked about and get him to come along with them to their capital, which he planned to go to next anyway. Erasmus is given a horse for this journey and when he reaches the capital of Phasianus, he finds that it’s in slightly better condition than the settlement he was previously in with the scars of battles being repaired, and temporarily covered by tarps, wood, and steel. Even the castle in the center of the city isn’t exactly in good condition with tiles missing from the roof and black marks from fire.

“Please excuse the condition of our home. Our priority is the care of our people and navigating the mess of our times,” Fujin says.

Erasmus doesn’t respond and simply nods. When he enters the castle and is given an audience with the emperors in their throne room, he is offered tea and bread, which he denies.

“I have no need of food,” Erasmus says.

“I’ve heard that the mythical people of Onocrotalus hardly have to eat to stay alive. I never thought I’d see one of you in person. It’s an honor to see you,” Fujin says.

“The honor is mine to meet the faithful sons of Emperor Ryujin. Excuse me for bleeding on your floors.”

“Plenty of blood has been spilled on these floors as of recently and the blood of the people of Onocrotalus is said to be the same of Christ, so I don’t mind. News of what you did to Emperor Jianyu, King Heinz, and their respective armies spread fast. We owe you much for giving our greatest foe a black eye they’ll never forget,” Raijin says.

“Their punishment was humiliation to cease their war, not to settle the rivalry between you.”

“I know, but I’d be lying if the news of their humiliation didn’t make me feel good and that justice has been done. Draco has always been a thorn in our kingdom’s side and killed our father who died covering our retreat. Even though Emperor Jianyu promised he’d let us have our independence and cease his war against us after our father’s death, he didn’t help clean up the mess he created.”

“The lords of the Asiatic states who had their own loyalties continued to fight among themselves with some states being glorified bandit holdouts for the self-righteous and depraved, some of which hoped that the lords of Draco would see their efforts and incorporate them into the kingdom,” Fujin says. “People declared themselves lords in the Asiatic states and our territory, which only complicated the situation. Few were like the state that you were in that could be convinced to become allies and make arrangements to either reintegrate into our kingdom.”

“Most had to be put down like the scum they were,” Ryujin interjects.

“Brother.”

“It’s true and it’s for this reason that I assume God has brought you here.”

“It is, but first, I must see your mother. Where is she?”

“In the graveyard praying the rosary, probably holding our father’s grave, like always. She prays for our father’s soul, everyone in the graveyard, and for those lost during the civil war.”

“We try to make her come home, but she stays in the graveyard most of the time and sleeps in the cabin there, so we can only bring her food and water and try to comfort her as much as possible. She blames herself too much for our father’s death and the deaths in the war.”

Erasmus goes to the graveyard with Fujin and Raijin and finds their mother exactly where they said she’d be. She is dressed in a black mourning dress, a veil over her face, tear marks permanently stained on her face, and a worn-out rosary in her hands. While in the graveyard, Erasmus feels the hands of the dead in Purgatory touch him, the heat in their hands feeling similar to that of the screaming man he previously saw.

While kneeling and touching Izanami’s shoulder, Erasmus says, “Be at peace, queen. Your husband never held anything against you for your choices nor are you guilty of the bloodshed that is currently happening.”

The spirit of Emperor Ryujin manifests at his grave to hold his wife to which she profusely cries even more than she previously was. Seeing their father, Raijin and Fujin also embrace him as well before the family says their peace to him before he disappears. After profusely thanking Erasmus for what he did, the emperors and their mother don’t have long to enjoy the happiness given to them as a scout runs to them bringing news of an incoming attack of about two hundred men.

“Bastards formed a coalition against us,” Raijin says. “We’ll have to employ every soldier and shinobi we have and ask the civilians to help if we’re going to win this battle.”

“There’s no need. I’ll go against them by myself,” Erasmus says to the shock of everyone.

“How are you going to do that?” Fujin asks.

“Don’t underestimate the power of Onocrotalus’ blood magic.”

“Can we fight with you, at least?” Ryujin asks.

“No. Your place is here, and don’t worry, you’ll get enough blood.”

Confused by his words, the emperors allow Erasmus to face the army alone. The opposing army themselves are confused at Erasmus being the only one to face them and even joke among themselves about how they think they overestimated Phasianus’ strength.

“Repent now while you can because none of you will be leaving here alive,” Erasmus says.

The soldiers in the army are even more confused now with more laughter breaking out among them.

“Seeing that you’re the fabled man from Onocrotalus, I’ll speak with you to see if we can’t reason with one another,” one of the lords of the armies says.

“What is there to reason over?”

“I’d like to convince you that you’re fighting on the wrong side. We are all poor, struggling people who have risen against powerful kingdoms such as Draco and Phasianus. We follow the example of Emperor Ryujin who did much the same as we did while taking care of the misfortunate and those who lack necessities such as food, water, and clothing.”

“You are no different than the corrupt men that you have created in your mind and are all like Judas. The poor are with you always and the powers and things you have will be taken away from you. The land and things you have taken in the name of charity and giving yourselves your due independence, but you only do it to inflate your pride in your non-existent virtue and give yourselves the power and resources you think you deserve.”

“What do you know about our situation and who we are? You’re nothing but a foreigner who just got here and judged us without seeing what we’re living through.”

“I’ve lived longer than most elves, seen your type pop up every decade, and have seen your situation in the visions given to me by God while I traveled in the crimson mist. What is the difference between a greedy poor man and a wealthy one? The only difference is in the methods they use to commit their crimes, get away with them, and the excuses they have to justify themselves, and in the end, they’re nothing more than two different sides of the same rotted coin.”

“If that’s what you think, then we’ll prove to you our virtue by defeating you.”

“As if I’ll let you try.”

Erasmus uses his blood magic to make spears appear from the ground and form out of his dripping blood impaling many in the armies. As the blood from the spears drips down, more spears are created causing a cycle of spears and shedding of blood that quickly kills most in the army and critically wounds others. To finish off this farce of a battle, Erasmus bursts open each soldier while blood spills out of himself, creating a flood of blood that not only reaches the capital of Phasianus behind him but also many places on this side of the world. As Erasmus goes back to the capital, many people run away in fear while few celebrate his victory. Emperors Raijin and Fujin stand with their mother with half of their body covered in blood and in a sort of fearful joy at Erasmus’ power granted to him by God.

 “Remember what has happened here and do what your father did if you don’t want it to happen to you,” Erasmus says to the emperors who are speechless. “Do not fear. You are doing well, so far.”

Erasmus’ words hardly give the emperors and the queen any comfort, and before they can say anything to him, he walks away into the crimson mist that has suddenly appeared and disappears within seconds.

Fighting Violence with Sacrifice: Chapter 2 – Nature’s Retribution

Chapter 2 – Nature’s Retribution

The crimson mist has teleported Erasmus to the kingdom of Leo. He is placed in a forest overlooking a convey of merchants guarded by the knights of Leo and Draco who are now suddenly being attacked by orcs and assassins from Serpentis. As this is happening, Erasmus attempts to use his blood magic, however, nothing happens. He grinds his teeth and sits down.

“If that is your will, Lord, then at least let the virtuous win this battle,” Erasmus says.

While sitting, he can’t help but feel an old tingling in himself that he’s been ignoring by grinding his teeth. The battle in front of him and the recent bloodbath reminds him of a past he is too ashamed to think about, and yet, he can’t stop the flashing of memories in his head. He grinds his teeth even faster now as they feel like they are growing again, his mouth begins to water instead of bleeding, and his stomach starts to hunger. Before he loses control and is about to get involved in the battle, the knights of Leo and Draco win it, pick up their dead and wounded, and continue on their way.

Seeing this fills Erasmus with relief, he crosses himself, thanks God, and walks his own way. When he gets to the location he feels that he is led to, he finds the remnants of an independent settlement that was recently attacked. Bodies lay in the streets, both soldiers and civilians savagely torn apart and many of the supplies, weapons, and armor have been pillaged. The culprit of this atrocity is unknown as both sides of the current conflict employ men who are beastmen or can turn into them and bandits can’t be ruled out as many groups have formed since the war started. While looking over the bodies, Erasmus finds bite marks on them reminding him of his past, so he grinds his teeth to keep down his old temptation.

“It could be them,” Erasmus says to himself. “No, I know it is.”

The confirmation of his suspicions comes when he finds black and crimson blood as if it were mixed with dark oil. It’s then that a different temptation gnaws at Erasmus who now feels more angry than hungry and thirsty, however, he is angrier at himself than the attackers. He holds out his hands and manages to drag over twenty of the attackers to him, which he had a feeling would still be here. These attackers are dressed in tattered royal garbs that are stained with fresh and dried blood and hardly hide their corpse-like bodies that are similar to Erasmus’. Unlike Erasmus, these people have sharp teeth, dripping with blood, and don’t hide their faces.

“I knew you’d people would be around here. You wouldn’t let this fresh blood and bodies go to waste,” Erasmus says.

“As if you ever did, Grand Count Erasmus,” one of them says with a grinning smile that reaches both ends of their face.

“I’m no longer a count or grace starved like you are.”

“Are you really? You, who was one of the first men of Onocrotalus to commit a mortal sin, didn’t repent, and become grace-starved or a vampire, as the mortals call it, as a result. You’re probably older than Evander, king of the elves, who is known to be the oldest man alive.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“It’s to put in perspective all the time you’ve been alive. You must’ve killed several hundred thousand people during your time and a majority of them probably weren’t killed in the service of God. No, no, no. I remember it was you who tried to use your powers to influence the politics of the land before humans mutated into ratmen, beastmen, and so on.”

“Continue to rattle your mouth and I won’t hesitate to show you why I was so feared by beating you all with your own limbs.”

“Oh! There’s the Grand Count I’ve heard so much about.”

Erasmus grinds his teeth.

“Look at my teeth and see how I’ve ground my fangs into stubs. Watch as I wield the blood that you’ve spilled and see that the color is a bright red rather than the black and red that’s indicative of cursed magic that is wielded in the name of evil and selfishness. You don’t stand before Grand Count Erasmus, a weak power-hungry man who couldn’t tell right from wrong. You stand before his killer and the Erasmus that is an instrument of God’s Destructive Will.”

“You’re self-indulgent as always. When will you rejoin us?”

Erasmus grinds his teeth.

“Never, unless you repent of your ways like I did.”

“Why did you choose such a dull life? You had so much power and influence. Some of the people under you even considered you a god.”

“Being grace-starved means being constantly hungry for the blood and flesh of those who have grace, but feeding on them only makes you hungrier with each kill and corpse eaten. This curse placed on us by God has revealed itself as a blessing to me, one that opened my eyes and allowed me not only to be allowed to return to Onocrotalus but to be able to follow God’s will wherever He leads me.”

“You’ve gone senile, old man. Perhaps after cutting you to pieces for the next week, you will come to your senses and rejoin us in the oily red mist, which brings us to where we want to go rather than where God wants us to go and brings us to a home we made for ourselves.”

The twenty vampires all charge at Erasmus at once who quickly counters their attack by using his own blood and the blood soaks into the ground to form spikes that instantly impale everyone including Erasmus, however, he is the only one who can move freely despite having to tear his skin off in the process as he pushes his way through and out of the spikes while everyone else is trapped, unable to even tears their limbs and bodies away to escape and reform.

“Ah. Another one of your classic moves. You’re still the same as you were before with the only difference being that you’re more self-righteous than you were and less honest about what you really are,” a vampire says.

The memory of using this power makes Erasmus grind his teeth while ignoring the vampire’s words.

“This life God has cursed the people of Onocrotalus with is full of unending suffering,” another one of the vampires says. “Why do you choose to suffer it?”

“A man from Onocrotalus dies when God allows it either when he is young or centuries old. It is only unending in your eyes and be thankful you still have a chance to save your soul. Suffering is a great reminder of our weaknesses and a teacher of love as to love is to willingly endure pain for the sake of another. I hope you use this opportunity to let it teach you this truth.”

After crossing himself, Erasmus walks away from the vampires and continues to wander the forests, led by a feeling in him, which is the Will of God. As he wanders, he feels a strange presence that makes him feel light-headed. He can see nothing strange in the forest until he keeps walking and sees black-robed figures standing around him. When he gets closer to them, he sees the words in a language he’s never seen before written all over the robes, faces, and eyes of these mysterious people who are all looking at him with a look of judgment in their eyes. Continuing to look at them causes Erasmus to stumble around as thoughts he can hardly understand enter his head as he begins to realize who they are.

“Are you the Speakers of Truth, those who can speak the absolute truth of God?” he guesses.

“We are,” one of them says.

The man’s words have an echo and power to them that slightly pushes Erasmus back.

“Why are you here? What do you want with me?”

The Speakers of Truth continue to look at Erasmus and begin to whisper something that causes the wind to stir, trees to break apart, and great pain for Erasmus. In this pain, Erasmus sees one of his most regretted memories where two of his close mortal friends were threatened.

“Make another step and they die! Only one can live, so make your choice!” Erasmus’ enemy at the time said.

Having had enough of serving God as a faithful member of Onocrotalus, Erasmus killed both of his friends with his spiked mace and then killed the villainous woman he was sent to kill. The townspeople he was sent to protect were horrified at this sight and became even more horrified as they watched Erasmus transform with his teeth becoming sharping, skin falling off in places, and his body becoming emaciated. Wanting to satiate the new hunger he had, Erasmus killed everyone in the town, drank their blood, and ate their corpses, leaving only broken bones and the entire place in ruins. This was only the first of many massacres that Erasmus conducted by himself and with the help of others from Onocrotalus who committed mortal sins without repenting. Many more of these scenes flash in Erasmus’ head as his old hunger grows deeper and deeper.

Immediately wanting to get rid of them, Erasmus throws himself on the ground to pray for strength and repeatedly repeats, “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner!” while banging his head on the ground and grinding his growing teeth. Soon after, the temptations slowly cease and Erasmus’ mind calms down. He thanks God and when he gets up and looks around him, he sees that the Speakers of Truth have disappeared. Before he can rest, Erasmus hears the echoes of a terrible scream throughout the now-destroyed forest that was a result of the speakers talking. Even though he doesn’t want to know the source, he can’t help but walk to the source.

The force of the screaming is greater than that caused by the Speakers of Truth and causes parts of the trees and grass to catch fire. In the screams, an unnatural anger could be heard, but what’s heard even more is sadness and the noise of an avenging lover like that of a husband defending his wife from her attackers or a mother violently lashing out against those who would harm her children. This is the first time Erasmus has felt fear in years, and yet, he continues walking towards the source of the screaming while his skin burns and tears away. He is not only still bleeding but is now bleeding even more than before.

“Is this it? Is this my end?” Erasmus says to himself.

Men from Onocrotalus who are centuries old like him have met more sudden ends in their sleep without obvious cause other than the Will of God. When Erasmus gets closer to the source of the noise, he now recognizes it as the same noise that he’s been following when listening to the voice of God lead him from place to place.

“It’s strange. The voice says so distant and so near,” he says. “Are you here to take your vengeance on this worthless sinner?”

Looking closer at where the sound of the screams is coming from, Erasmus sees that the entire area is on fire as if bathed in the flames of an apocalypse. A lone skeletal figure dressed in fire stands in the flames with fire coming out of its eyes and mouth. Around the figure are the many corpses of what seem to be soldiers and the remnants of a battle and castle. Whoever the man or woman is continues to scream and walk in the opposite direction of Erasmus. In the screams can be heard the additional screams of children and innocent like them that cry out for justice and help.

The next scream knocks Erasmus back and puts him inside a completely dark space with visions of those screaming out to God. In the distance, he sees the avenging love who screams back with such force that it feels as if the sound alone could wipe out all of existence. Erasmus watches in terror, and yet, he falls to his knees in acceptance of whatever God wishes to do with him. Before he knows it, he feels his entire body turn to ash and in the very next second he awakens in the ruins where he was. The skeletal figure is gone along with their flames. Most of the forest is gone and there is not a tree in sight for miles. All that remains now is Erasmus, ashes, pieces of stone from the castle, and the charred remains of the soldiers.

Immediately, Erasmus drops to the ground, kisses it, and prays in prostration, “Thank You, Lord. Through this series of events, I have heard Your message for me loud and clear. I was reminded of my past, why I fight to do penance for it, and your unending mercy and love for a vile sinner such as myself. You have erased from existence the man I once was. Now, Your servant lays prostrate before You ready and willing to do Your will. Lead me wherever You will.”

The crimson mist manifests and takes Erasmus to his next location who is gladder and more prepared to continue his journey.

Fighting Violence with Sacrifice: Chapter 1 – A World at Perpetual War

Chapter 1 – A World at Perpetual War

In the toxic lands of Eastern Europe, the armies of Bernhard and Canis have fought a battle against Draco and Phasianus for a city that sits in an area of strategic importance. The battle is at a stalemate with remnants of both armies crawling across the broken buildings and bodies of their comrades and enemies to find their way out and return home. An orc from Bernhard and a knight from Draco come across each other while wandering the streets and despite their wounded condition, they draw their weapons, ready to fight each other to the death.

“You and your devious kind will know justice for your manipulation! Let this defeat humble you before you die!” the orc says.

“Defeat? I don’t think this is a defeat. It is only a minor setback in our war against you barbarians. Your violent ways won’t scare the Church and other kingdoms much longer,” the Draco knight says.

The two knights compose themselves before charging as best they can with a limp at each other and clashing their weapons. They fight until they soon tire each other out and fall down. Still, they try to get up and resume their fight. The Draco knight tries to change into his animal form as a dog but finds that he lacks enough strength. Again, the two try to clash, however, a dark crimson mist is overtaking the battlefield they are on.

Both blame each other for the mist as some kind of trick by the other side until they see a lone and disturbing man walk out of it. This disturbing man is clothed in bloodstained black rags with red tear marks on his hood that covers his face. The skin on his lips is missing and his body is bloodied and torn open at places such as his body and his arms, both of which barely have any flesh on them. His entire body is perpetually bleeding, especially the palms on his hands, his bare feet, and his face, which seems to be crying tears of blood.

“State which side you are on,” the Draco knight says.

The man tilts his head, grinds his teeth, and then says, “I am on the side of God and His Church.”

Both the orc and Draco knight claim the man to be on their side and then argue against one another.

“Snakes like you are the furthest thing from a servant of God,” the orc says.

“I can say the same thing about violent animals like your kind,” the Draco knight retorts.

“Neither of you serves God correctly as I do,” the man interjects.

“Who are you to say such things? What is your name?”

“Erasmus and I am nothing more than a tool of God sent here to stop the wars and conflicts that have been going on for too long.”

As Erasmus holds out his hands, the blood in the two knights before him trembles, making them drop to the floor along with their weapons as the strength within them is sapped and they begin to bleed inexplicably.

“Cease your fighting and you’ll come to truly serve God rather than the god that approves of your false devotion. Help will be here soon,” Erasmus says.

He then moves on and takes in the destruction that the battle has wrought while grinding his teeth. The sight of the blood and bodies makes his blood writhe within him as if feeling all the pain inflicted on each soldier. The blood from his body is now spilling even faster and begins to intermingle with the dead and seeps itself into the ground and even breaks the concrete to do so.

“Sights like this is why I dread stepping outside of my home,” Erasmus says while crossing himself and praying for strength.

The crimson mist that brought Erasmus to the destroyed city teleports him again, this time to the front of an approaching army of Draco headed by Emperor Jianyu that was headed towards the city. Most in the army are caught off guard by Erasmus and his appearance, all except for the emperor who approaches him and gets off his horse.

After bowing his head, Emperor Jianyu says, “It’s an honor to meet a man from the mysterious land of Onocrotalus. Do what do I owe this honor?”

Erasmus grinds his teeth and then says, “Your flattery with do you no good to win my favor, emperor. I know of your attempts to enter my home kingdom to forge an alliance and strengthen your power over the world.”

“Is it so wrong to gain allies? We both fight for the same God, after all.”

“You may have done so years ago, but your tendency to employ questionable methods has sparked a war in this world that has swallowed it whole.”

“And what are you here to do? Stop me? Your people may be unkillable and the crimson mist may teleport whoever it wishes, but you do not have the numbers and resources that Draco has. I will see God’s will done in the way He has revealed it to me.”

“You can try, but you won’t be able to stop the inevitable.”

Emperor Jianyu transforms into a gold and red serpentine dragon with his armor still on his body. He breathes fire on Erasmus and cuts at him with his many claws tearing the corpse of a man apart over and over again even as Erasmus puts himself back together again and again. After a few minutes of what could scarcely be called a fight, Erasmus grinds his teeth and raises his hand to bend the blood in Emperor Jianyu, forcing him to transform back into a human and bring him to his knees. A lone knight, who has transformed into an ox-sized man, runs out from the ranks of his fellow soldiers and strikes at the head of Erasmus, splitting his head open, and yet, Erasmus continues to stand and cast his spell as if unbothered.

“Release my father from your spell,” Quon says.

“Foolish boy. Have you learned nothing from what your father has done to me or the stories that he’s told you about the people that come from Onocrotalus? Stand down or you will suffer a worse fate,” Erasmus says.

Quon looks over to his father who nods at him, making him do as he is told.

“Now, the real fun begins,” Erasmus continues.

Again, the crimson mist comes and descends upon him, however, this time, it teleports over an army of orcs and men from their fiery brother kingdom of Canis to where he is. Both opposing armies are surprised to see one another and are about to fight until Erasmus uses his magic to make them all stop talking and moving.

“Fight with words, not swords. The Lord above is beyond tired of your petty wars and grudges against one another. Approach one another like men or I will continue to treat you like children,” Erasmus says.

“I approach my enemy with the intent to kill him. That is the manly way-”

Erasmus makes the king of the orcs bleed all his blood out of his body through his skin, eyes, ears, and mouth in seconds, killing and leaving the king a dried husk. He then tightens his grip on the rest of the orcs.

“Whoever is next in line for the crown can speak for the rest of the orcs. If no one does, I won’t hesitate to give you the same fate as your leader.”

Immediately, one of the closest orcs volunteers, and space is made for the new orc king, Heinz, and Emperor Jianyu to talk.

“Since it seems that it is truly God’s will that we make peace, I am willing to stop this war and negotiate which parts of the land I’ll give back, however, I require certain securities to ensure that this peace lasts,” Emperor Jianyu says.

“We’re not here to negotiate anything, you silver-tongued snake. Just agree to peace or you will die by this monster or me,” King Heinz says.

“You are both allowed to make a trade to ensure peace. Do not shun engaging in politics and an exchange of ideas as your predecessors did. Your people are just as guilty as his,” Erasmus says.

“Guilty of what? Of pious zealotry? Of serving God with blood, sweat, tears, and the sacrifice of our lives? Of using the only weapon we can wield against an encroaching threat that uses the political power and support they have against us?”

“You are guilty of it all,” Emperor Jianyu says.

“And you are guilty as well, as the orc says. Parts of the world may be better under your rule, but others are worse off.”

“How can I come to an agreement with this man then?” King Heinz asks. “King Helmut and Emperor Kenzo of Phasianus were men that he worked with and died in battles he told them to be a part of.”

“They heroically died instilling peace in the land.”

“Would you call the land we live in peaceful?”

“It’s only at war because of men like you that refuse to cooperate with me.”

“Emperor Ryujin of Phasianus tried to cooperate with you and then started a civil war because of the men you had that watched over him and the lords of the Asiatic states. After he died defending his people and family, you promised that you’d change things for the Asiatic part of the world and you did, for a time, before things got worse.”

“Let’s not forget the promises we had between one another that you’ve trampled over in the pursuit of getting your way that you consider to be above reproach. How are you any different than the bandit clans that pillage the lands, claim the ruins of old cities as their own, and act outside of the union of kingdoms under the Church?”

“Because we are the ones who are actually doing what’s right. Kill me if you want, monster. I die knowing that I’m right.”

“I may have my faults, but these orcs need to be put down and the rebellions they lead need to be humbled,” Emperor Jianyu says to Erasmus. “Let us have a temporary alliance and get rid of the greater of two evils.”

“I think not.”

Erasmus raises his hand to use his magic, not to kill anyone, but to summon a tide of blood that comes from the destroyed city that washes both armies in blood and corpses. He then uses the blood to inject each soldier with the blood making them freeze permanently in place without his constant use of his blood magic.

“You are all to spend days like this with one another. Do try to become friends with one another, so that the magic will be lifted from you quicker,” Erasmus says before he sees that the two knights he previously saw in the city are still alive. “Ah. I am glad to see you two haven’t killed one another. This is a good sign.”

“Does that mean you’ll let us go?” one of the two knights says.

“No. It just means you may or may not leave sooner than your compatriots. Keep it up and you may save your soul.”

The crimson mist manifests itself and takes Erasmus to his next location while leaving the opposing armies frozen in place with blood and viscera around them as a reminder of the fruits of their works.

A collection of all my latest books is done and out today!

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Salvation is won through conflict. In a post-future world, humanity is mutated as a result of a war that stranded them on their planet of origin and reverted them to the dark ages, and yet, they continue to wage war and use their political power against one another for good and evil. The stories in this collection show some of these conflicts such as Draco, the largest kingdom on their side of the world, expanding through conflicts and manipulation, Phasianus, who rebels against Draco because of their overwhelming taxes and laws, and Bernhard, an orc kingdom that prefers violence over politics. 

This collection includes; Last Penance, Love Found Amidst Violence, Burdened by Legacy, and A Fight Worth Losing along with Behind the Story extras for each story that detail trivia and inspirations for them.

Another book is done and out today!

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The emperor of Phasianus, Ryujin, is a humble man who would rather help and feed the poor than get involved in politics, however, a meeting with the lords of Draco forces his hand as he would rather declare war against the larger and more powerful kingdom than make his people suffer further under their taxes and deals that suck Phasianus dry.

A Fight Worth Losing: Chapter 4 – Traditional Victory Unnecessary

Chapter 4 – Traditional Victory Unnecessary

The war has been wearing both sides down since no one has managed to get an advantage. We’ve managed to get some ratmen on our side to act as our scouts and informants, we got more support from European kingdoms, and Emperor Jianyu is finally turning his attention this way to see the corruption in his leaders and supposedly doing something about it rather than focusing on his conflict with the elves, orcs, and Canis. The United Kingdoms of the Americas’ armies hold their own and need little support from us. At the same time, the Asiatic states have finally cemented their stance on the war while also dividing into new states because of it. Izanami is starting to talk to me and my sons are just as supportive of me as they were when the war started, which is probably the brightest spot in this entire conflict.

I don’t see this war ending anytime soon despite the tides turning in our favor because of how much land and influence Draco has over the Church and the world. Maybe I’m just being cynical since I’m not helping the poor at this moment because Draco managed to turn most of them against me in the town I’m in. Some legitimately were against my rebellion because of the suffering it caused them while others said they were forced to fight me because Draco’s assassins threatened to kill their families, both sides were killed the same by me, my sons, and knights. Ever since then, I’ve been sitting in quiet isolation thinking to myself how to better end this war quicker to stop events like this from happening again. I’m not sure how much more pain my heart can hold, how many more times I can fight someone who was once an ally, or reassure a suffering family that they’re fighting for the right cause and that this war isn’t fought in vain. My sons, Fujin and Raijin, suddenly rush into my room with news of a surprise attack coming for us.

“They’re too many for us to handle and there are no allies around us to reach us in time. I suggest we retreat,” Fujin says.

“I hate to admit it, but Fujin is right, however, that doesn’t mean we can’t fight back while the civilians and you escape,” Raijin adds.

“I don’t need to escape. I need to help cover the retreat. Besides, the army is after me,” I say.

“Father, you can’t!” my boys say.

“I’ll do my best to catch up to you.”

“We’ll fight with you then.”

“You need to retreat with everyone else because you are the future of Phasianus. Don’t worry about me.”

Fujin and Raijin try to convince me to change my mind with their arguments and talking over each other.

“This is an order and I’m not changing it.”

The brothers look at each other, then at me, and then tepidly accept my orders. While the men man the walls and stand outside the gates with me, my sons are helping everyone else evacuate. By the time Draco’s forces arrive, most of everyone has escaped, so I order a barrage of arrows and bolts unleashed upon our enemy before telling my army behind me to cover the retreat of everyone else. We go back into the town and pretend to hold it against the enemy for a few minutes before retreating further and then blow up the explosives that we got from our allies in the UKA to eliminate a substantial part of the enemy’s forces. Still, there are too many for us to handle, so I tell the rest of my men to retreat.

Some of my men listen to me while others choose to fight with me until the end, which I can’t help but accept. Those who remain hold off the enemy with me until I am the last man standing. Switching my shield arm into a sword, I throw myself into battle against the army trying to take down as many as I can while not trying to let my injuries get to me until my body no longer listens to me. At the end of it all, I am still surrounded, but at least everyone else managed to get far away. Draco’s forces surround me as I lay kneeling on the ground broken and bloodied. Their lords come from the back of their units and look down upon me.

“With your death, the rest of your rebellion will fall and Phasianus will suffer for generations because of your actions,” one of the lords says.

“No. They’ll keep fighting until the end. You won’t force us to submit to unjust laws again. I promise you that,” I say.

“Then they’ll all be wiped out, such is the legacy that you have left. I hope your vain war was worth fighting for you.”

“I fought for God, my family, and my subjects. It doesn’t matter what legacy I left or how vain you think my actions were. All that matters is that I lived and died for God.”

The lord spits on me before raising his sword to strike me down, however, a dragon flying in the sky stops him from bringing the sword down. This same dragon transforms back into a man and reveals himself as Emperor Jianyu. All of Draco’s soldiers bow in honor of their emperor and give him praise.

“I didn’t know you would be here, my emperor. Would you like the honor of striking down this rebel scum?” a lord of Draco asks.

“Fools! I put you in charge of faithfully managing the Asiatic states and Phasianus and you let your power corrupt you so much that you caused them to rebel.”

“But, my emperor, they-”

Jianyu immediately cuts the heads off the lords of Draco.

“You all should be ashamed of yourselves as well!” Jianyu says while pointing his sword at all his soldiers.

“But they told us to fight-”

Again, Jianyu cuts down one of his own.

“You fight for and follow God’s commandments first, not those of corrupt men! Now, take off your weapons and armor and leave them in the dirt. They’re better suited to be there than on your disgraceful bodies. Go to the nearest Church for confession and penance. I might spare your lives if you do so.”

Jianyu’s knights frantically do so as he says and run away. He turns to me, holds me up, and gives me a gentle smile.

“I’m sorry for what happened to you. I’ll make sure your allies and people are treated fairly,” he says.

He continues to talk, but I can’t hear him. From the looks on his face, he appears upset and on the verge of tears. What Jianyu did was completely in character for such an honestly devious man. At least I know, if anything, he’s telling the truth, even if it means he’ll expect Phasianus to give back later in time. For now, I’m happy that my people will finally get some relief and the war will end. Izanami, Raijin, Fujin. Please, don’t grieve over my death too much. I’ll be praying for you in Heaven with the rest of its saintly royalty who are taking my soul to its proper resting place.

 

The End

A Fight Worth Losing: Chapter 3 – Betrayal on All Sides

Chapter 3 – Betrayal on All Sides

Many battles have taken place since we started waiting for reinforcements to come from the United Kingdoms of the Americas. Some we won, others we lost. The question of what to do with captives and turncoats comes up time and time again to me and my decisions are decisive as always. Those who fought against us in battles are executed while those who peacefully approach us, not during a battle, and offer up their service to us are allowed to enter our ranks or serve us by helping the poor and wounded. People wonder why I don’t take captives and force them to give up information about Draco’s plans, but I think it’s obvious why I shouldn’t torture captives for information or put them in prisons where they will be treated worse than the poor on the streets.

Currently, I am doing what I am always doing and helping the poor so I can get my mind off the bloodshed and weight of my decisions. I offer up my sweat and work up for my penance and those lost in battle from both sides. Izanami still refuses to talk to me, but my sons are still on my side and helping me out in the field. We are still waiting for our allies across the sea to arrive and they should be here today. While working, I turn to see a homeless woman approaching me and then shocked to see Raijin suddenly run up to her and stab her through the chest, killing her.

“Raijin! What is the meaning of this?!” I ask.

Raijin takes a dagger out of the woman’s pockets, shows it to me, and then says, “Our shinobi identified her as an assassin sent from Draco. Look at this dagger. It’s one made in Draco and too fine to be considered one left on a battlefield or a counterfeit.”

“Why were you informed about the assassin and not me?”

“The shinobi thought your assassin would reveal herself if you didn’t know and make any changes in your schedule. They also just found out not too long ago and that there are more assassins hidden among the poor. Draco is trying to use your love of the poor to get to you. We should find them as soon as possible before they can make their next move.”

“Get your brother and rally the guards and knights. Make sure all exits and entrances into this city are covered.”

“Yes, father.”

What a vile thing to do. Taking advantage of the poor and a man’s charity towards them to get to him. Heading to one of the poor houses, I immediately change my arms into a sword and shield and slam the door behind me.

“I know you’re hiding among the poor, assassins of Draco! Reveal yourselves now and stop using the misfortunate as a shield,” I say.

Everyone in the poor house looks around and talks to one another.

“I’ve never seen this guy here before. It’s this man, emperor!” I hear a poor man say before he is killed by the assassin.

The assassin leaps out of the nearby window and I chase after him. He changes himself into a man-sized rooster and crows, probably signaling to his allies about his cover being blown. I quickly sprint to him to cut his head off to silence him before letting out a cry of my own.

“I’m right here, assassins! If you want to kill me, then face me!”

Soon enough, ten or so assassins appear from the rooftops and streets of the city with their weapons drawn and in their bestial forms.

“Your rebellion ends today, traitor,” one of the assassins says.

I switch my shield arm into a sword since defense won’t be useful at all here and start the fight with the assassins by killing three of them before they can get a hit on me. As I keep fighting, my guards, knights, and sons come to my aid to kill the assassins, however, I am wounded as a result of the battle and brought to a healer.

“Our informants have told us an army is coming this way,” Fujin says.

“Tell them to execute our emergency backup plan. What of our allies from the UKA?” I ask.

“Our lookouts have said that their ships are approaching but are heavily damaged,” Raijin says.

“Take me to them. They may need our help.”

“You need help, father.”

I make shields form around where my wounds are.

“I’ll be fine. Let’s go.”

Going to the dock, we see that our allies’ ships are indeed heavily damaged. They’re able to make it to the docks, even though the mast on a couple of the ships fall apart as soon as they dock. I have my guards and knights help our allies unload their supplies and wounded while I find one of the lords from the UKA.

When I finally find one, I ask him, “What happened? Did you come across any trouble getting here?”

“Yes, we did, but it wasn’t anything in the sea. We had traitors on our ships who were doing Draco’s dirty work of slowing us down and picking us off one by one. What happened to you?” the lord of the UKA says.

“Draco’s assassins infiltrated the city by pretending to be among the poor and tried killing me. If that’s not enough, we have news that an army is coming this way.”

“Today just keeps getting better. Well, we came here to help you. There’s no point in going back now. We’ll fight with you until the end, Emperor Ryujin.”

“Thank you.”

My allies and I set up our soldiers along the walls and outside of it while we wait for the enemy. It doesn’t take long for them to arrive and our archers are ready to attack, however, we don’t fire on them just yet even though this is probably the largest amount of enemy soldiers I’ve ever seen.

“Did you get hit on the head or something?! Why shouldn’t we start firing on them?!” a lord of the UKA frantically asks.

“You’ll see,” I say.

The look on my face signals to him a trick I have up my sleeve which gets him to trust me. When the enemy army gets close enough, the men among them start turning on each other, thinning out their numbers and forcing the enemy to head our way. With the enemy stuck between two armies, they are swiftly dealt with and victory is won. As the men celebrate, the lords of the UKA approach me.

One of them asks, “That was an amazing trick you pulled. Was this part of your plan from the start?”

“Not really. We have sympathizers within Draco and the kingdoms of their allies, not all of which are in the area and can be called upon at a moment’s notice,” I say.

“I see, but it’s still a powerful weapon to use against Draco and shows them that they can’t even trust their own. Might you be able to pull the same trick in the battles to come? We were hoping to establish a base in a region since it would burden each place we live in if both our armies inhabit it.”

“It depends on the region. Show me what place you plan to take.”

The lords show me their target and it just so happens that I have sympathizers there, so I agree to utilize them to make taking over the area easier for us.

“Thank you, Emperor Ryujin. Once that area is ours, we can better help you win this war and once it is over, we will return it to its rightful owners, as promised,” one of the lords says.

“In exchange for goods and service from my kingdom?” I ask.

“Yes. We’ll, of course, allow your kingdom to recover before asking what is due to us. Is there a problem?”

“No, no, no. You should be rewarded for your help and given trade since you are a valuable ally. Just make sure your plans to have men all over this side of the world don’t turn corrupt like how Draco’s has.”

“We promise we’ll do our best not to let the power get to us.”

“Heh, I’ve heard that before, but your promise is all I can ask for and what I accept.”

For the next several days, my allies, army, and I fight alongside the foreign men of the United Kingdoms of the Americas. A lot of them are beastmen that have the bodies and heads of various animals and insects such as hornets, elephants, rhinos, donkeys, dragonflies, and crows. Some of them can conjure weapons from basic materials and send messenger birds out while others use simple weapons. The beastmen among them are either twice the size of a normal man or about the size of an average one. With their help and guerilla tactics, we are able to take the region they requested and establish it as their own.

The lords assure me that more of them will be on their way thanks to their conjured messenger birds that flew to their kingdom and back to them and that there are more of them on the European side of the world that are rallying support for us. Victory has never been so close yet so far. The betrayal that happened at the harbor city wasn’t the only one that we suffered in recent events as the Asiatic lords and their citizens continuously switch sides and Draco continues to use their underhanded methods and assassins to catch us off-guard, and yet, our victories seen to offset them, if but a little. While helping the poor and wounded soldiers of a previous battle, I am asked by the family of the wounded soldiers if their sacrifice is helping us win our freedom. The pain in their eyes relays the ache in their hearts to mine and I know that my words will not help them in the way they want.

Still, I say, “Yes. Every sacrifice helps us. I cannot thank you enough for your help and what you’ve done for us all.”

As I expected, they only cry in response and say nothing more. Whether I gave them any comfort or not weighs heavily on me, so I stand up to speak to everyone in the hospital thanking them for their help and giving each and every person as much attention as I can spare to make them know that I care for them. One of the wounded civilians who lost his home, family, legs, and eyesight while fighting against Draco grabs my arm while I tell him how thankful I am for his help and that his sacrifice won’t be forgotten by me or God.

“I don’t need reassurance of the virtue of my actions and neither do you, my emperor. You are doing the right thing. Hold your head up high and trust in God. That is all that is necessary because even in defeat, God wins in the end,” the man says with a slight gentle smile.

I smile with tears in my eyes, thank the man, feed him, dress his wounds, and clean the dirt and blood from his body in the example of Christ who I hope continues to steer my actions in the right direction regardless of what happens as a result.