White hair and green eyes, a boy holding a sword as blood leaks from his hand, which was cut previously by a worshiper.
"... thank you."
It was surprising to see such a sword path from a child, but Orion had other matters to attend to as the boy nodded and charged at another worshiper with a sword that was probably from a dead worshiper.
"Orion, let go! You can scout that boy later!"
"Behind you, Orlog."
The knights fought in tight formation, cutting through the cult's protectors. One soldier screamed as a black spear impaled him. Another avenged him with a brutal axe swing that split the caster's skull.
Above the altar, the sky tore open, and a light descended in the middle of the circle with an airy aura, making the surroundings darker. Orion didn't hesitate. He stormed the circle, parried a wild strike, and kicked a cultist into the sigil, taking his sword in both hands and thrusting it in the middle to no avail.
"!!!"
"It's too late, Imperial dog... the knight of the lord is coming."
"Orion, move!!"
Orion dashes out of the circle as most fighting was over and most of the worshipers were dead as the light descends from the sky and hits the middle of the circle as a thunder, revealing something unexpected.
"!!!"
"That...!"
"Are you kidding me…?"
The dark knight stood alone inside the circle, armor black as a moonless sea, sword resting across his shoulder like it weighed nothing. Dark aura leaking from his body warping the ground beneath him. Behind him, nothing. Just silence, scorched earth, and the blood and bodies of the worshipers.
"You will die under my lord's command."
Orion tightened his grip on the handle. Blue aura surrounding his sword, flickering like lightning. Beside him, Orlog did the same, a green aura emanating from his sword, pulsing with steady, brutal force. The other knights six in total, and some soldiers stood ready. Only Orion and Orlog were able to bring out their aura since most of the knights were rookies never put in such a situation.
"You came to die,"
The dark knight raised his sword. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried. Like it was inside their skulls.
"We came to kill you."
Orion answered first, gripping his handle as the knights behind him and Orlog took defensive positions. In such silence, the dark knights dashed forward with incredible speed as the real fight had just begun.
The ground trembled beneath a storm-dark sky.
Orion stood at the head of the squad, blue aura flickering to life around his sword like thunder.Beside him, Orlog drew his sword as a surge of green aura exploded around it.
Six other knights stood behind them, armored and armed, but without aura. Loyal. Brave. Doomed. Soldiers flanked them—spears in trembling hands, eyes fixed forward. Some whispered prayers. Most didn't bother.
Orion raised his sword.
"We end him here."
They charged.
The black knight didn't move. Not until they reached him. Then—
He vanished.
"!!!"
A streak of shadow. A scream. One of the six knights crumpled, headless, blood spraying in a wide arc. Another turned too late, his shield cleaved in half, his chest opened like a rotted fruit.
"Arghhh!"
The soldiers broke formation. Screams tore through the chaos.
Orion crashed into the black knight, a blue aura erupting on impact. Their swords clashed—light against darkness. Sparks and smoke hissed through the air. Every blow Orion struck was met with crushing strength, the dark aura wrapping around the Black Knight's blade like claws.
Orlog hit from the side, a green aura blazing. His strike connected—finally—a crack across the black knight's helmet. He staggered but didn't fall.
"You two don't!!"
Two more knights died trying to flank. One was torn apart by a burst of shadow; the other was impaled through the gut, lifted, then flung into the remains of a stone pillar.
"Damn it!!"
Soldiers swarmed, desperate. Their blades barely scratched the armor. A wave of dark energy blasted them back—limbs shattered, bodies broken.
Four knights remained.
Orion's aura flared brighter. He moved faster, blue light burning in every strike. He ducked under a wide swing and slashed across the black knight's side. Sparks. Blood. But not enough.
Orlog roared, leaping high, bringing his blade down like an executioner. The black knight raised his sword to block—too slow. Orlog's green aura surged with the strike, slamming into him like a falling mountain.
"Good one, Orlog!"
"It's not time to celebrate; look!"
The dark knight hit the ground, cracks spidering out from beneath him.
But he rose.
Aura howled around him like a storm. Shadows erupted in every direction, engulfing two more knights and the last of the soldiers. Silence followed. Only three remained: Orion. Orlog. One knight, barely breathing.
"..."
The black knight turned to finish the survivor. Orion intercepted, a blue aura igniting as he drove his sword through the dark knight's thigh. The creature screamed—not in pain, but in rage.
"Orlog now!"
Orlog didn't give him time. He tackled him, green energy exploding in a blinding flash, driving him back. The two knights fought like twin storms. Orion struck high, fast, and relentless. Orlog hit low, heavy, and unstoppable.
The black knight staggered under the pressure, aura flickering.
One final blow—Orion's blade through his chest.
"Hah..."
"..."
The black aura burst in a flash of smoke and blood. The body fell.
Only Orion and Orlog stood when it was done, breathing hard, soaked in blood—most not their own. The others were gone. Burned. Broken. Forgotten. But the black knight was dead. And that was enough.