Conquerors Will 

Lepic staggered to his feet, gritting his teeth against the pain radiating from his scorched arm. The sorcerer, sensing vulnerability, smirked, his eyes glinting with dark amusement. With a swift motion, Lepic focused on reinforcing his strength with wind mana, feeling the energy surge through him. He gripped his daggers tightly, the blades shimmering with newfound power as he prepared for the next assault. The sorcerer unleashed a volley of fiery spears, but Lepic dodged and weaved, using his agility to avoid the worst of the flames whilst sending a torrent of daggers to break away the side's magical circles. As the sorcerer taunted him, Lepic charged forward, daggers raised, striking with a flurry of powerful slashes, each enhanced by the wind mana coursing through him but the sorcerer summoned multiple magical circles just from lifting his fingers. They met in a frenzy of parries and clashes but Lepics scorched arm hindered him, a wind infused string of fire bored through his abdomen, drilling through his ribcage. The impact caused him to stagger backwards, falling to one knee. The sorcerer moved in to deal the final blow. All Jahad could do was watch the battle unfolding before him too fast for even his inhuman eyes to catch up with. But he knew Lepic was in trouble. He ran in with his dull sword reinforced with the black wisps. "Fuck off" the sorcerer growled, he sent a strike of wind that sliced straight into Jahads shoulder, slamming him backwards, the strike infused with water, sent spikes of water through his arm, puncturing holes through, leaving it like a sieve as blood poured from every opening.

An explosive spell circle formed in front of him as he scrambled to get up. Behind the spell circle, ten more formed. The spells started to light up. It was over. "Wait" Lepic coughed. The spells halted, glowing with malicious intent as if they were waiting to cremate Jahad. Well they were. Jahad looked at Lepic. His other arm hung by tendons, almost severed off, his face marred with blood. His scorched arm was outstretched, in his palm a lapel. The sorcerer squinted, his smile flickered. Lepics voice bellowed whilst he limped forward "XORIS". He breathed out his next words. "Xoris clan. Don't. Break." He paused, each word he breathed out a wave of pain washed through his entire being. He breathed in then stood tall, staring at the sorcerer, eyes locked "Their promises". His hand was still outstretched. The magical circles faded as the sorcerer walked slowly towards Lepic and grabbed the lapel to inspect it. The lapel was golden, its symbol a beheaded bird with an arrow struck through. He kissed his teeth in annoyance, throwing the lapel to the ground before turning his back to him. "Just this once Whitethorne, the chief forgives Ron but I don't". He walked a few steps before saying "next time our missions cross, a shitty promise won't save you". Lepic clutched his severed arm with his burnt hand, he stumbled down to the ground. He let go of his arm, it hung by sinews and tendons, from the crevice of his jacket he pulled out a vitality crystal, crunching it whilst whispering. The severed mutilated arm started to reform, grotesque noises of crunching and squelching echoed the woods as it reformed. The vitality crystal seemed to work on the most grievous injury, once the arm healed enough to be usable he used it to crunch several Vestra Vials, the scarlet contents splashed onto his charred arm, seeping into the wounds, healing them. Jahad struggled to get up. "Use some Vestra Vials, I'm fine" Lepic coughed out to Jahad. Jahad slumped back, his head slamming into the tree. He felt drained and exhausted. From his inner pocket, he pulled out two vials, the glossy liquid swirled around, tinting the glass edges. He crushed two vials onto his shoulder, feeling the stinging pain as it worked its magic.

Jahad called out to Airus and Gladius, only Gladius came, both his arms still disconnected, he stood there, blood gushing out from each end. Jahad glanced towards Airus, his body laid there in two. He called over Gladius to help him up, but it seemed he was in no state. Jahad huffed, Gladius was going to die if he didn't do something. He used his own knee to hoist himself up and walked towards Airus's body, recalling his dream. He envisioned everything from that dream, the feelings, the taste of the air, the smell of human fear. Jahad's eyes closed. He could sense Airus's soul lingering in his corpse. His soul had an ethereal and fluid appearance, swirling like a gentle breeze, shimmering with translucent hues of blue and white. 

The soul seemed to carry traces of memories and emotions, manifesting as fleeting images or colors that swirl around it, giving Jahad a glimpse of Airus's past and his mastery over the winds. The dark chains tightened around Airus's soul, their cold, unyielding grip drawing in the essence of the wind sorcerer. As Jahad felt the soul drain away, a rush of power surged through him, invigorating his very being. The once gentle whispers of the wind became a cacophony of energy, filling him with a sense of strength and purpose. Each pulse of energy that flowed from Airus's soul was like a dark elixir, enhancing Jahad's own magic, making him feel invincible in that moment. The weight of the chains was heavy, yet the exhilaration of harnessing such raw power was intoxicating, driving him deeper into the shadows of his own desires. Jahad snapped his eyes open. The black chains retracted, dissipating into his body. He felt strong, he could feel the black wisps coursing through his veins. He used his other hand to summon the wisps, sending it spiralling towards Gladius, they tethered onto him, healing his arms. 

Lepic was standing next to him, "scary stuff right there" he said. "I could try to heal you" Jahad responded, but Lepic shook his head. "I don't want to be the test subject." Jahad nodded, smirking. He didn't know if it was safe to try to heal someone who wasn't conquered yet, though he'd have to test it out. As they approached the spectral steed, the air was thick with the acrid scent of soot and smoke, remnants of the devastation that had unfolded. The once majestic creature stood amidst the wreckage, its ethereal body now marred with ash, yet the vibrant blue runic symbols pulsated beneath the layers of debris, illuminating the darkness with an otherworldly glow. Around them lay the remnants of the carriages, splintered wood and twisted metal scattered across the ground like the bones of a forgotten battlefield. The echoes of destruction lingered in the air, a haunting reminder of the sorcerer's wrath. Smoke spiraled upward, coiling into the sky, mingling with the fading light of day, casting an eerie pallor over the scene. They saw only one group, out of the four carriages only their two groups had survived the wrath incurred by one sorcerer.

They turned their gaze towards Lepic and Jahad, the tension palpable in the air. The three figures stood resolute amidst the chaos, each marked by the battle they had just endured. The two knights, clad in battered armor, bore the scars of their confrontation with the sorcerer. Their once-shining plates were now dulled and scratched, remnants of the fierce clash. One knight wielded a halberd, its blade stained with soot, while the other gripped a claymore, its edge chipped but still glinting defiantly in the fading light. Their faces, partially obscured by their helmets, revealed eyes filled with determination and fatigue, a testament to the struggle they had faced. Beside them, the smaller figure cloaked in a hooded robe contrasted sharply with the knights. The black mask he wore concealed his features, adding an air of mystery and intrigue. His robe, while tattered and singed, still held traces of elegance, with intricate patterns woven into the fabric, hinting at a past filled with power. Despite his smaller stature, he carried himself with an undeniable presence, a silent strength that suggested he was no mere distraction but a vital part of their survival. 

Together, they formed a formidable trio, each bearing the marks of battle, their resolve strengthened by the chaos that surrounded them. The remnants of their encounter with the sorcerer hung heavy in the air, but they stood united, ready to face whatever came next. The group had also used the spearman's attack to get away, but they had their share of battle. That sorcerer was something else Jahad thought to himself. And a Xoris? He was part of Ron's clan, or Rons old clan. Lepic raised both his hands, walking towards them. "We were holding the backline." he exclaimed, easing the knights, they lessened their tightly gripped weapons. Jahad looked around as they trudged towards the last group. The knights stood tall, the robed figure was smaller than expected when Lepic and Jahad got close. He was around 5 '5, shorter than Jahad, at his side was a staff. The staff stood tall and imposing, crafted from ancient wood that twisted elegantly towards the sky. Intricate carvings adorned its surface, depicting swirling patterns that seemed to dance in the light. At its tip, a large crystal pulsated with a soft, ethereal glow, casting shimmering reflections on the ground below.

The knight with the halberd grumbled, "Did not fucking sign up to deal with a Xoris." The other knight muttered "Let's just get this over and done with." The small figure stayed silent. Lepic and Jahad joined the group, there was no exchange of names or small talk. Jahad knelt beside the spearman's corpse taking in the sight of the fallen warrior. The dullness in the man's eyes reflected a life extinguished too soon, forever fixed on the distant underground sky. His spear, though stained with the remnants of battle, stood as a testament to his bravery. "Use it, it's powerful," Lepic urged, his voice steady as he clutched the pocket watch, a reminder of the time slipping away. As the other group busied themselves with looting, Jahad felt a surge of determination. He reached for the spear, its shaft cool and sturdy in his grip. Despite the mangled state of the corpse, the weapon was salvageable, and Jahad twirled it expertly a few times, feeling the balance and weight. It was perfect—just what he needed to keep his distance against larger foes. This spear would honor the fallen warrior's courage, and Jahad would wield it with the respect it deserved.

He stood tall, spinning the spear with confidence, its shimmering broadhead glinting ominously in the dim light. The intricate etchings spiraled down to its handle, telling tales of battles long past. The grip felt just right in his hands, perfectly molded for his grasp. With a fierce focus, Jahad sent forth several strikes, each one slicing through the air with a sharp whistle, echoing the promise of swift death to any who dared to oppose him. The spear felt alive, responding to his movements, and in that moment, he knew he was ready for whatever challenges lay ahead. Lepic and Jahad followed the group, trailing slightly behind them to speak in confidence while Gladius lumbered behind them to watch their backs. "Xoris clan? Isn't that where Ron's from?" Jahad asked. Lepic nodded before speaking, "Xoris is a mercenary clan, that was one of their higher ranks, rank A minus sorcerer, Alaric Xoris. He must have taken this mission to take the cargo."

Jahad then spoke, "So he left us because we know Ron?". "Not so simple, kid. If the Xoris have a mission, it will get done regardless of the cost, be it the life of many others or their own. However, there's a caveat to this." He pulled out the golden lapel, it matched Alaric's one. "The Xoris never go against their promises, regardless of mission. The lapel signifies blood and honor; this is the only reason we got out alive. Alaric pulled out because of it, and we won't have to deal with a Xoris member for this mission." Jahad felt a mix of relief and apprehension. The intricacies of the mercenary world were more complex than he had anticipated, and their survival had hinged on the unbreakable code of the Xoris clan. Lepic spoke again. "Other hunters have probably heard of what happened here so we won't have to deal with many enemies going forward." "hunter?" Jahad questioned. "It's the usual name for people who take these missions, we are similar to them though we also export and import so we just stick with runners, sounds less threatening too" he smirked at the end. Lepic spoke again "for future references, if you see anyone with that lapel, just abort and run. No missions worth death, no coming back from that." he clicked his pocket watch and strode forward, Jahad followed and soon they were right behind the group.

Dawn broke, the atmosphere seemed more peaceful. To what they had been through, they had few encounters, much weaker forces then they had come across. A bowman sent a volley of arrows towards Jahad, but he raised his hand, and Gladius' sword sent all the arrows clattering to the floor. He drew another string of arrows, and the knight with the halberd's foot dug into the ground before he closed a 5-meter gap with a leap. The bowman turned to run, but his wide swing caught him, a large slash formed on his back as he fell to the floor. A man hidden by a large tree sent his spear forward, but it shattered once it hit the knight's armor, which was reinforced with earth magic—a hard mixture of clay and metal formed around his armor. The knight swung his hand, smashing into the man's face, crushing it against the tree. Lepic whistled at the sight before sending a wave of daggers to fleeing assailants, bisecting them. Jahad spotted another man behind the tree, he saw him chant, magical swirls of fire forming.

Jahad dashed towards him, eager to test out his spear, the bolts of fire slithered towards him, redirected erratically by wind magic making it harder to predict. Jahads boots dug into the course ground as he spun the spear expertly, reinforced with the black wisps the shimmering steel slashed and pierced through the spells, coating the spear in ash. The man cowered at the sight, Jahad closed in on him, flicking the ash off his spear. Another spell glowed, a short range burst of wind to throw him off course but too late, his spear struck the man's leg, the pain caused him to retract the spell, Jahad tore out the spear, he spun it around, using the pommel to smash into his jaw. The man reeled back, collapsing to the floor. Jahad darted towards him, Asper-Shah. He begged for mercy. Another one joined Jahads barrack. He seemed to be on Airus's level. Jahad recalled not long ago he struggled with fighting Airus, now he could take down someone of his level easily all be it, he had to use a lot of the black wisps. Jahad closed his eyes. He could peer into himself, sense his reserves. He had no mana, but in place, his soul had a pool of black waves. It was his reserve of energy for his abilities. Although he could easily handle someone on Airus's level, it came at a cost, already his reserves were halved. He tutted, he'd have to find someone to consume, just like he did with Airus though this time to restore his energy.

Jahad made his way toward Lepic, the two knights beside him engaged in quiet conversation, while the small figure lurking behind them appeared deep in thought. The spectral steed began to stir, its whirring sound resonating through the air as its centipede-like legs dug into the earth and propelled it forward with a sudden jerk. The movement was deliberate and slow, allowing the group to keep pace as they embarked on their journey. Each step felt like an eternity, but they pressed on, determined to face whatever lay ahead. Jahads new minion lumbered behind with Gladius. He decided to name him Agon.