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  ~~~~~~~~~~

  Away from Saintsport Village, a band of Necromancers made camp outside the Dwarven ruins of Bthzark. The ruins have a wide brass wall that separated the south-western part of the island from the south-eastern part where Saintsport is. That band of Necromancers was in the middle of an argument after the late accidents that kept happening this day.

  All the units spread around the southeast of Stros M’kai went off the grid and the village of Saintsport seemed to not have fallen yet.

  \"By the Worm King! Don’t tell me all those fools decided to party and drink all in the same day.\" A Worm Warlock spoke as he was trying to see anything from the top of the Brass Wall.

  \"Don’t bother. The best thing these lowlives can do is to die and feed the Soul Snare.\" A Worm Knight dismissed the other’s worries.

  \"We still can’t eliminate the possibility of any movements from the Governor of Port Hunding.\" A Worm Agent suggested.

  \"The Governor? No, our man on the inside has the Governor handled. The Hunding Chargers won’t cross the bay and keep defending the north where the governor resides.\" The Worm Knight dismissed it.

  \"I don’t want to be pessimistic but something doesn’t feel right.\" The Worm Agent couldn’t help but keep staring at the badlands to the east.

  Stros M’kai is a vast island with a big population. The native Redguards herd their cattle all around the island and so many villages were raided by the Worm Cult for the sake of harvesting souls. Still, the big cities are the Cult’s target for there are millions of lives to harvest in there and around all Hammerfell, no major city has fallen yet.

  Whoever brings down the first city will gain a lot of praise from the Leaders of the Cult as well as many benefits and rewards.

  Should Port Hunding fall to the plan the Cult Leaders in Stros M’kai planning on, things would go nicely for this branch of the cult.

  *Stomp* *Stomp* *Stomp*

  Suddenly on the brass wall, footsteps were heard coming loud and clear. The three cult officers turned around to see another one of them walking to the gathering spot.

  \"Hail Comrades.\" He spoke.

  \"Denning! Come join us.\" The Worm Knight stood up greeting his friend.

  Denning walked closer to the three showing a friendly attitude.

  \"How was your mission? Did you finally bring down Saintsport?\" The Knight asked.

  \"Easy. We are now chasing the locals and by tomorrow, they will fight for the dead.\" Denning said.

  \"And why didn’t you contact us?\" The Worm Agent asked with doubt in his eyes.

  \"You know how cornered dogs fight. They gave me some unnecessary trouble.\" Denning said as he picked a liquor bottle that was between the other three.

  \"Wasn’t the saying about Cornered Cat?\" The Worm Knight asked.

  \"Idiot, have you ever seen a cat get cornered?\" Denning replied in threatening tone.

  The others laughed at the prank Denning just came up with.

  \"So…… the plans will finally be successful at this rate. Cheers!\" The Warlock said.

  \"Tell me about those plans.\" Denning asked as he patted the warlock’s shoulder.

  \"We made plans to attack Port Hunding as the three elders commanded. First, we distract the Governor’s men by our activities in the north until we take down Saintsport and the ships in it. Once that is done, we will have access to the ships in Saintsport and make a covert trip through the Hunding Bay then go wild once we reach the city port. Our spies keep the defenses light.\" The Warlock spoke in detail.

  \"Hm! That’s a nice plan.\" Denning said.

  The Worm Knight and the Worm Agent looked at each other feeling strange about the Worm Warlock talking this much about the plans. Denning is one of them after all so he shouldn’t be asking.

  The Worm Warlock also felt a bit strange for speaking this much as if his tongue was sat loose.

  \"Feels nice, isn’t it?\" Denning asked.

  \"??\"

  \"Talking your heart out.\"

  \"Ah! Yes…… haha.\"

  \"Hahaha!\"

  Denning and the Warlock laughed then turned to the Knight and the Agent.

  \"You two, set and drink. Hahaha!\" Denning was friendlier than ever and invited the two as he simply poked them with his hand.

  The two loosened up and laughed too.

  \"Haha! Yes, let’s drink.\"

  \"Haha! Alright.\"

  The Knight, the Agent, and the Warlock felt all their tension go away as soon as they sat down to drin……

  *SLASH*

  Their heads rolled down onto the floor.

  Denning was looking at them as he wielded a jet black sword.

  \"Alright alright! I’ll kill more.\"

  Denning transformed into his true identity which is Jon. The real Denning was, of course, very dead and Jon made sure to trap his soul into a Black Soul Gem just in case.

  He did his favorite game of going in hostile places with a familiar face then murder all the persons of interest in that place. It would surely nourish the [Ebony Blade] and make Mephala pleased.

  ——————————–


  [The Ebony Blade]-

  Awakening 8/10-

  Absorb Vitality-

  Fortify Swordsmanship

  ———————————


  The [Awakening] finally went up a rank. Jon checked the blade’s edge and couldn’t help but let out a laugh.

  \"Damn! This thing is insane.\" He said.

  Maybe the [Ebony Blade] wasn’t his favorite weapon in the game but in reality, this artifact is broken. Jon could feel how dangerous the blade has become now that has reached this point.

  It is indestructible, extremely sharp and no one can use it like him.

  The blade has a will to its own and causes its users to go insane if they have weaker wills. Jon’s Tyrannical Aura helped him to dominate the blade not the other way around. Right now, if a normal person took the handle of this blade, their minds will be possessed by bloodlust and go on a killing spree.

  Also, the [Absorb Vitality] enchantment was superior now the Awakening reached passed the 8/10 threshold. A cut from the blade won’t be healed that easily and will cause a bleeding effect if it hits a blood vessel.

  The [Fortify Swordsmanship] enchantment was now on a new realm. This enchantment was the important one in Jon’s eye. He would train with the sword every day for at least two hours to sync up with the blade’s skill then go for another two hours on a training sword to keep up with the skill.

  Actually, the best way to control the [Ebony Blade] without being controlled by it is keeping up with its skill or being superior.

  In truth, Jon’s own skill without the Ebony Blade is very close to the skill with the blade. Eight paces from Ten to perfection.

  Jon is talented in whatever he does but he is a talent who works hard. His insane Swordsmanship and his Perfect Sword will prove to be of important use during the end of the Labour but the only one who could see that was Little Boethiah who was standing not too far away from the Brass Wall.

  Jon walked to the edge and gave a Telepathic signal for the others to come.

  Mirren and Miranda showed up out of nowhere, Isha walked to the Brass Wall from a place were some sentries started falling dead, Boethiah was lifted up by Jax as he conjured [Bound Flame Wings] and flew to the wall, Nefertiti came from the shadows and appeared on Jon’s shoulder.

  \"We should give this cool group a name.\" Jon thought.

  \"Totally!\" Mirren agreed.

  \"Right now, we have an Undead Horde to take care of.\" Isha pointed to the other side of the wall.

  \"With another Horde.\" Miranda looked back to the direction they came from.

  The Bone Colossus Samurai, Wrath, marched forward followed by all manners of undead. He went on a rampage for the whole day conquering the Worm Cells scattered around Saintsport and made an army of 500 Undead for his Master.

  He walked with a Bone Katana in hand while eating a big skull he came across. Lately, Wrath was developing a habit of eating bones and making weapons out of bone rather than using the ones Jon provided. This new way meant that he is evolving once again.

  The Brass Wall had two gates locked by the Necromancers so Jon had them open as soon as his army arrived. Beyond them, the Worm Cult had made an army of the dead and a camp for their ranks. They didn’t know what was coming as Mirren, Miranda and Isha took care of all the sentries.

  \"Kill.\"

  Jon gave the order and Wrath reacted.

  *HOWL*

  As a brass gate was opening, the [Howl of Wrath] hurled towards it pushing the two doors aside and crashing into the undead horde behind it. By the next second, Wrath and his legion were swarming in a wave of chaos.

  \"Master, should I join in?\" Jax asked.

  \"No.\" Jon refused, \"Go to Port Hunding city. If you find anything happening there, report to me.\"

  \"Yes.\" Jax spread the Bound Flame Wings and took the sky.

  \"Wow! Jax became so strong ever since he became your apprentice.\" Boethiah held to Jon’s arm and started jumping.

  \"Annoying!\" Nefertiti looked at her from above Jon’s shoulder then looked away.

  \"Okay okay, don’t start a fuss right now.\" Jon shook off Boethiah and turned to his team, \"You go ahead, bring whatever you can find. I’ll stay here with the brat and manage the fight.\"

  The three nodded and jumped into the fray seeking out the Necromancers at the end of the enemy camp.

  Jon took out his Light Screen and turned on the Eagle Vision mode to monitor his troops then started giving out commands.

  \"Miranda, a worm sending a distress signal, 76 meters, 2 o’clock.\"

  \"Isha, there is some big ass Flesh Atronach, 195 meters, 7 o’clock.\"

  \"Wrath, you are running low on numbers. Convert some fresh undead.\"

  \"Noisy bastard! Pride, Conjure Reinforcements.\"

  And that’s how he started fighting. For some reason, his old gaming ghost managed to make a Strategy Game out of this situation.

  Before dawn, the whole force of the Worm Cult to the south of Stros M’kai was annihilated.

  \"Now, teach me! Please please please!\"

  But Little Boethiah was still excited begging to learn from Jon.

  ***

  On the other side of the island, Jax arrived on the western wall of the city of Port Hunding. The western battlement of the city was crowded with defenders as they seemed to have just gotten rid of an Undead raid.

  Jax used his Flame Bound Wings to glide over the city and arrived near a tower where he hid himself from view because his wings were really visible. Also, no one will stay still after watching a flying cow with fire wings around.

  Speaking of the wings, it was something that he always fancied as it seemed that Morihaus-Breath-of-Kyne, Father of all Minotaurs, was a Man-Bull with wings in the culture of Minotaurs.

  Of course, this spell was created by consulting Jon who is Jax’s Mentor. Jon mixed up some of the Spells Jonrad used and taught them to Jax who was an enthusiastic Pyromancer.

  This [Bound Flame Wings] was a variation of many Archetypes but after testing, Jon decided it is best to make a spell that adds power to the normal [Levitation] spell which was [Bound Wings] and tweaked it with a Flame effect creating [Bound Flame Wings].

  Jax took pride in this spell that he created with the help of his mentor and devoted himself to the path of Combat and Pyromancy.

  Back to the present, Jax kept watching the situation in Port Hunding from afar.

  A young man stood on the wall blowing in his palms and rubbing them from the cold weather.

  \"My Lord, the scouts have returned! The undead are an hour away from the wall.\" An officer came running for the young man.

  \"Good job, are the pitch traps ready?\" The young man asked his officer.

  \"Yes, my Lord.\"

  \"And the mages?\"

  \"They are running low on Magicka but the Alchemists are providing them with potions.\"

  \"Then we just need to endure it.\" The young man said and returned to the watch.

  He was the Governor of Port Hunding, Lord Kareem.

  Nineteen years of age, the young Lord was the only reason why Port Hunding stood strong till now. He led the men, organized the refugees and spread his fleet to resupply from the mainland and the Empire.

  He was a fair and popular governor but he had a hard time dealing with the insides. What worried him now was the undercurrents in Port Hunding more than the Undead.

  And here it comes……

  \"Lord Kareem, you are still up on the battlements? How praiseworthy! The Late Lord must be proud of you in Far Shores.\" A voice came from the back as a fleshy man walked up to him.

  This walking mound of fat was his vizier, Zayed.

  Unlike Kareem who is from the Crowns, Zayed is from the Forebears. The two factions were always at odds ever since the founding of Hammerfell but the situation in Stros M’kai was different. Both the Forebears and the Crowns shared the power in this historical city with the Crowns as Governors and the Forebears as Ministers.

  Kareem looked at Zayed doubting his appearance on the battlement to be of any good. Zayed is corrupt and known to be filthy rich while Kareem was a warrior with a proud heritage and a noble bloodline that goes back to Iszara, sister of Cyrus, Hero of Stros M’kai.

  \"What is it, Lord Zayed?\" Kareem asked.

  \"Hehehe! My Lord, I think you are really taking this matter seriously. Monopolizing the food of the granaries and the organized distribution is harming merchants like me. If you want to help the city, you just need to kick these refugees out.\" Zayed said.

  \"Are you seriously asking me to abandon my people, Zayed.\" Kareem turned angry and dropped the honorifics all of a sudden.

  Zayed was displeased by the sharp reply but he still had to act his rule.

  \"Then my Lord, you need to face them with the Hunding Chargers.\" The vizier said as an innocent suggestion.

  \"Not the Chargers!\" Kareem made a firm refusal.

  The Hunding Chargers are the Cavalry force of Stros M’kai best known for their unrivaled attack. These were the elites that the house of Kareem nurtured for years.

  Using them against the Undead Horde is suicide.

  \"Then my Lord, if there is no reason to assure the rich of Port Hunding to stay, I’m afraid every family has a ship they are willing to get on and leave…… that includes the Hammad family.\"

  Kareem was about to hold his sword and kill that bastard but he barely held it. Zayed has a lot of influence and knows how to bargain, he can manipulate the opinions of many families and that includes the Hammads.

  To Kareem, the Hammads were his lover’s family. He was not engaged yet as he spent many years studying at the University of Sentinel and only returned when his father died. He met Faten, daughter of the Hammad family but he still didn’t arrange the engagement. Somehow, Zayed was aware of this relationship.

  \"Give me a day to decide.\" Kareem could only say so and return to the watch.

  \"You don’t have a day, my Lord.\" Still, Zayed stopped him.

  \"What do you mean?\" Kareem asked with a bothered face.

  \"Hm? Nothing…… I’ll see you later, my Lord.\" Zayed seemed to have magically changed his mind and turned around to leave.

  Kareem narrowed his eyes not understanding what this fox was plotting.

  On the other hand, Zayed’s face has twisted into a cruel grin as he reached the end of the stairs down the city walls. His servant came to him running and Zayed spoke quietly.

  \"That bastard has already run out of time, notify the others.\" He said.

  Later by a minute, an ominous feeling struck the city. Looking far to the west, something monstrous appeared.

  A walking seven meters of flesh and skin attached to each other. Its smell reached a mile and its dread made Stros M’kai shake with every step it took.

  A Gigantic Flesh Atronach.

  ~~~~~~~~~~

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