Polymath Redux

Chapter 24: PROJECT: Hellgate Part 1

The king asked the only man who stayed silent.

"Your majesty I believe they both have merit in their arguments but if you were to ask me I must take Lord Anton's side. While I do agree that the only ones with enough resources to launch this kind of massive campaign may be none other than the empire, it is also true that with our worn out weapons we'll barely have any advantage over their scattered army. Not only that, to move our entire army across the continent would tire them out and by the time we arrived at their doorsteps our advantage would also be diminished."

The king thought about it for a moment as he nodded. That was true, in this continent only two countries existed and the only people with enough resources to pull of such a thing were either Xagontetia or Baliazoural.

"Mmm... you have a point. So you also propose the idea of sealing up the capital for a defensive maneuver?"

"Yes, your majesty."

The king nodded and decided to go with the idea of fortifying the capital for an attack.

"Then Lord Zandora I'd like to task you with being in charge of our defenses."

As the king spoke, Pierre Granate's eyes widened in sheer surprise and stupor. 'He was tasking a man in charge of the economy with the city's defenses?!' Pierre thought the idea was preposterous. It was he who needed to be consulted in matters regarding the capital's defenses or offenses. So why did the king not choose him?!

"What?! But your majesty! With all due respect, should I not be the one in charge of the city's defenses?" 

Pierre spoke out.

"You've had your chance, yet it is because of you our kingdom is suffering this harsh dilemma. You were the one in charge of making sure that our weapons shipment would arrive without fail. So for this disgrace I cannot trust you to be put in charge of our defense. Lord Zandora is by no means clueless when it comes to warfare, thus I have decided to put my trust in him."

"But, but your majesty!"

"Silence! Your task is to retrieve the stolen weapons. Do I make myself clear?!"

Pierre wanted to object but he was silenced.

"Yes, yes of course your majesty. I'll get it done right away!"

Feeling mocked and humiliated Pierre averted his gaze from the king and decided to leave the throne room. He would need some way to regain his honor but right now his first order of business was to retrieve the weapons. He didn't know who it was but they would soon feel his full wrath when he found them.

As he was about to exit through the large ornate iron doors it suddenly burst open, knocking back Pierre a few meters. Standing at the doorway was a single skeleton warrior, covered in a dark glow of the black mists, hunching over in an uncanny manner as though it was about to fall over but it did not, equipped with in a damaged black armor with a single steel tower shield.

Followed closely, the sounds of metallic boots clanging across the marble floor could be heard; they were the Royal Knight Commission that had rushed in to protect the king.

"Your majesty!"

The Royal Knights shouted out as they surrounded the sudden appearance of the skeleton warrior. After confirming that the king was safe they decided to destroy the monster and started attacking it.

"Kill it!"

One of the royal knights shouted. The men rushed towards it with swords and spears and stabbed it. However the skeleton appeared to not have suffered any damage as the swords and spears simply shifted through the gaps in the bone.

The skeleton warrior started to walk once more, dragging behind the knights that were still stabbing it. Its strength was far beyond any monster that they've ever seen, even its movements showed the signs of purpose. The royal knights had deemed that purpose was to get close to the king but of course they would not let it.

The tried to push it back and with the strength of at least 10 men they seemed to be at a stalemate.

"King... Nation... Hellfire... Burn..."

The skeleton started chanting ominous words, as though it was some kind of warning to them. That their nation would burn in hellfire.

"Who are you?!"

One of the knights asked the skeleton. The supreme commander of the Royal Knight Commission, Vladimir Zandora demanded an answer.

"Legion... Burn... Destroy... Annihilate..."

Those were the last words the skeleton spoke before disintegrating into a pile of bones and armor. It was apparent that its connection to its summoner had been cut off and simply ceased to be.

The remaining men could only stare back at the pile of bones in silence as the eerie warning had sunk into their minds. The air in the throne room grew tense as everyone had one question that lingered deep in their minds.
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'Just what was about to happen?'
Yeah, no more fun titles! it's serious time!