Angel of

“You may leave us.” Hecate waves off the Barbazu who obeys without hesitation. “I have seen your intentions but do not understand them. You have offered your allies to me for your servitude? I had only existed here for a mere hour since your arrival so explain to me and I might consider letting you leave this cell.” Hecate was looming over the entrance of the cell. Ailmon stood from his position and looked her in the eyes, “As you know, I am Ailmon Zindove and I have come in service of the new Dark Lord which turns out to be you. I came here to Fortress Nardin with my ‘allies’ in search of something. They thought I was some Elvish Scholar in search of artifacts but it was instead of you. I had known for quite some time that a Dark Lord would appear here as I was told.”

Ailmon had begun pacing around his room, “I am one of the last followers of an ancient cult of darkness in this world. I am quite aware of the battle between Light and Dark and why you were sent here as you have not been the first. The Light in this world is far more powerful than you are prepared for. There may not be many of us left but you have support across this world, I was simply the one they sent here to greet you. My ‘allies’ were selected to be of most aid to you. Unlike most adventurers, they were already tainted with darkness despite what they may believe. They will easily join your cause if you give them what they desire.” Ailmon steps up to the bars and with a glow from his fingertips, he touches the cell and it becomes dust. Hecate takes a few steps back as he walks out.

“Now, if you don’t mind, we have much work to do.” Ailmon stands there looking at Hecate

This man isn’t one to make an enemy, I should tread carefully. “You are a strange one Ailmon Zindove but understand that you serve me above all else.” Hecate states, standing tall, “Now, shall we see your allies?”

“Lord Apollo.” The young boy bows, “There is news from the village south of Sarton, it was attacked by a roaming horde of beastmen. The guards and militia were slaughtered. The villagers, they were… It was the largest horde I’ve ever seen” “I understand.” A towering man with long golden hair stood from a throne. “I will handle this myself, tell Arkarion to stop the drills until I’ve returned.” Wings like snow unfolded from his back as he launched into the air, flying out of sight in but a few seconds. The damnable beasts, I must be quick if I hope to save any lives. I pray to any gods out there that I will make it… Never again will I be too late.

Apollo landed amongst the burning ruins of the village. He saw the signs of battle, bodies here and there. As he walked amongst them, he saw a body of a young girl, barely even a woman. He caused him to freeze for a moment before he shook his head and closed his eyes. It was only for a few moments though. There you are monsters. He flew off in a direction even faster than before. He came up over a dense patch of forest and stopped in the air. I see you… With a thunderous crash, he slammed into the forest. As he rose, he could see the various men and monsters gathering to their feet from the shockwave. Most of them were almost human but clearly had bestial parts. Horns, hooves, claws, and other horrendous things. A few of them were already dead at his feet from his landing, broken beyond repair.

When they began surrounding him, hefting their weapons, he instinctively clutched onto his sword still in its sheath. Yet he stopped and released it when he saw something about 300 feet into the forest. The villagers, mostly women, there were children too. He knew what they had planned for them. He also didn’t need to see to know the great number of the beasts around him. Several thousand were all throughout this forest, he would slaughter them as the beasts they were. His face turned into an almost wicked smirk as he let go of his sword, “I’m going to enjoy this.”

They charged him and without even taking more than two steps, he became a blur. He felt the body of the first splatter from his charge as he grabbed two others and slammed them into others. Their frail bodies breaking into pieces in seconds, he did not relent as he pummeled each and everyone, leaving behind a trail of bodies and blood. It slowly turned into a red haze as he simply kept fighting. He remembers a minotaur, he remembers using its horns as weapons for a while, until they broke. He remembers a few cowering in fear, they were given no mercy for today, Apollo had become their Angel of ****.

Apollo was now sitting on a tree stump, he had used that tree to crush quite a few of the beastmen. He wiped the blood from his face as he looked down at himself with a cold glare. There were a few spears and arrows piercing his body, he simply released a deep breath. He touched his side and looked at his blood, tasting it. I feel nothing… No pain, no love. Am I even human anymore? If only you were here, maybe you’d know what to do. He stood and began removing the weapons from his body, noticing his wings were red, he folded them against his back. He made his way to the captured villagers and found them hiding in their unlocked cages. He raised his hand, “Come, you are free now, they can’t hurt you anymore.”