Light: Exploits, Book II.

Part 13. The Crusader.

Deep within the bowels of the caves; further within the Maw, the king who calls it home is perched at his throne.
He knows of the death of his Keepers. At the hands of Light, no less.
This Hive Knight is known only as, The Crusader.
Unlike Titox, The Light Reaver, The Crusader does nothing to draw the Light closer to him.
He waits patiently. His sword dripping darkness. His teeth hard, and anticipating.
He knew the Guardians would come for him.
One had lost its Dead-Raiser.
It had to find it; the source of its Light.
The Crusaders eyes shine black in the dimly lit throne room.
Knights line before him; each hallowed, 5 ranks down.
Find this Light. Test its temper. The Crusader commands.
The Knights all stand at the same time, taking their swords from before them.
They say nothing and turn to leave, determined to bring Light-stained swords back to their master.
* * *
I felt my head buzz as my bleeding ceased, but my legs were throbbing with each step Farah took.
Sorry Dylan, Farah winced as she continued behind Priest.
It's fine... I gasp softly and sigh, I'll be fine.
I held my focus on the lantern. It bobbed up and down, the small speck of white fire still burning.
We're getting closer. Can't say how close, Farah's Ghost chirps to us.
I didn't care, as long as we were getting close.
As we continued, the small cave etched out into a chasm.
I almost said something before Priest saw the light from my lantern drop away into nothingness.
See anything? Farah asks.
Priest bends to look.
Rocks jutting up, he responds.
Probably a Refuse Pit. He suggests.
I move the lantern and see there's a small path leading down.
I reach out my hand, press on the wall, and step from Farah's back and stand on my own.
Pain washes over my stuck knee.
My compounded shin throbbed. I felt the bone screaming in its place.
But I could move.
I'll take point, I say holding my sidearm tightly in one hand and the lantern in the other as I step in front on Priest.
I edge down the path. My foot slipped once and I thought I'd tumble down.
Like lightning, Priest moves his arm and clasps me.
My hand dropped my sidearm.
Great, no gun, I sigh silently and grip the lantern tighter still.
It's just your lucky day huh? Farah asks.
I sigh as she and Priest share a chuckle.
Granted, my 'luck' was shining through, but I was determined.
As we continue down, I begin to feel soft pangs.
I feel my Ghost.
We're close, I say.
As I do, I hear a thundering roar of boot stomps and bloodthirsty battle cries.
From where we came, what looked like at least a dozen Hallowed Knights charge at us.
I feel my legs shudder as I try to fight. But the pain soon settles my resolve.
Priest readies his weapon. As does Farah.
From behind us, a dozen more Knights run to us.
Have us trapped in this small little path that if we were to jump, we'd be at the mercy of Darkness.
We look out over the dark chasm, but it isn't so dark anymore.
No, instead there's an ethereal mass of what looks like black fire.
A face is burning in it. It looks like a knight.
I bare my teeth and ball my fists.
So, the Light does have temper, the Knight says.
You have come a very long way from your Traveller.
I muster as much courage as I can and snap out my hand, blooming purple fire.
The face laughs.
Kill them. He commands.
In a flash, the Knights all rush at us, swords angry and wicked.
Priest fires his rifle down one way as Farah does the other.
I try my best to throw bolts of Void light to any who advance beyond our barricade.
We hold for what seems like eternity, until finally we were overwhelmed.
Farah is kicked over and trampled. The Knights take care to stomp her legs.
Priest is slammed against the wall and swords are buried into his lower body. He tries his best to growl and fight. But his arms are soon taken, pinned to the wall, and broken.
I roar and rush to him despite my wounds. I'm knocked hard with a stony fist, and soon yolked up and choked by jagged fingers.
I feel my flesh tear and bleed as I'm lifted over the chasm.
The surviving Knights laugh lowly as I feel myself drip blood below.
I snarl and try to claw at the Knight who had me.
I soon feel his sword bury deep in my chest.
My fight left me. I knew I had lost it all.
I felt my fingers slowly uncurl, and I dropped the lantern.
The Knight pulled his sword from me, and I felt myself go limp and hang lifelessly in his grip.
He laughed, taunting me.
Where was my fight now, it wonders.
It didn't bother to wait for my futile attempt to reply.
I felt his fingers loosen from my neck.
I gasped for breath and felt myself drop into the cold dark below.
* * *
Dylan's Ghost was buzzing around quietly, looking for his Guardian.
It tried to hum a tune from some Golden Age music it had archived, but was drowned out by the roars of Knights.
Then, the little light flickered softly.
It felt its Guardian die.
Now it had to hurry.
As it buzzes through the air, it detects what is unmistakeable Light.
But not from Dylan, it's Guardian.
It's familiar. But definitely not Priest or Farah.
The Ghost soon sees a bright orange figure, burning in the dark.
The Ghost recognizes the figure, as does the Figure know the Ghost.
The Ghost leads the orange Guardian to its companions, determined to save them.
* * *
Priest's vision began to blur as he felt his arms throb. The Knights laughed as Dylan's body fell lifeless to the dark below.
Farah moaned in pain as she was lifted up and slammed against the wall.
Priest began to sob softly, knowing he failed to protect his family. His fellow Guardians.
The Knights began to laugh and taunt them. Goading them to fight.
After a few moments, though, the air began to grow hot.
So hot in fact that it could be seen. Heat waves in the dark.
Them a flash of orange fire erupted from the ground.
It sprang up, and traveled in a line down the path.
Unlike any fire anyone had ever seen.
It burned the Knights, but they hunkered down and took the flames.
It agitated them more than it harmed them.
Then a sound rang out in the dark.
To Priest, it was a familiar noise, only because of his studies of ancient weapon forging.
It sounded like a hammer, slamming against an anvil.
Then an arcing ball of fire crashed into the Knights, throwing them off balance.
A Titan was seen running toward them, fire burning all around her.
She held a hammer tight of fire in her right hand, and her left hand balled with a fist.
She threw the hammer and it appeared back in her hand as soon as it exploded.
She did this over and over until the Knights all burned away.
Orbs of Light poured from her body.
Priest and Farah looked in awe, as she dove off of the ledge.