Champion: A Songs Of War Fanfiction

Chapter Twenty-Three

Thalleous ran through the portal. "Make sure nobody is left behind!" he yelled. He prepared to deconstruct the moldy and old frame, taking out a diamond pickaxe. He waited a minute when the last person came through, then began the slow, dull process of chopping at the frame.

"Where are we?" Criordian asked.

Acchilean stepped forward and surveyed the land. Despite all that had happened, a smile covered his face, a boyish, ear-to-ear grin.

"Nestoria."

Sarrettus ran towards the portal at lightning speeds. It was ten blocks away, but the frame was breaking, they thought he had made it in!

The Nether pursued him, wither skeletons raising their swords, blazes shooting balls of fire, ghasts shrieking ominously. His every step brought him closer to the portal as his feet burned. Hell's fury was coming for him, their swordsmen were within a block of him–

He slid through the portal along with several skeletons, wither skeletons, and blazes. He drew his blade from its sheath and cut through a blaze. WIth a low, wheezing groan, it fell to the ground. He kicked it aside and slashed at a wither skeleton. Several Nestoris saw what was happening, and rallied behind Acchilean.

"Kill them!" he yelled. The Nether's force was quickly failing. Acchilean picked up his staff off the ground and blasted the skeleton archers with his Aggrobeam. Sarrettus cut through the last enemy, and the Sendaris Militia stood in a pile of bones and weapons.

"Welcome to Nestoria," Acchilean said with mirth.

That night, while the Sendaria Militia's Ghost Battalion settled in, Thalleous and Acchilean sat in chairs on a deck.

"None but the Sendaria Militia could pull off an operation such as this," Acchilean said. "We now know where the Nether does internal recon. From there, we can pinpoint their stronghold's location."

"It might not come to that," Thalleous said. "If we kill their king, their government will be in shambles. From there, it is a matter of exterminating the Voltaris–" Acchilean shifted imperceptibly at this–"and ending the war, no more trips to Hell needed."

Acchilean bowed his head. "Let us hope this war ends soon."

"Indeed," Thalleous said. He remained silent for a moment before turning to face Acchilean.

"You know, I met the Deathsinger at the Champion's tournament," he said.

Acchilean turned to face him. "You did?"

"He was remarkably humble to my face," Thalleous said. "One would assume the two were different people if not for Ingressus' reveal."

Acchilean sighed. "I don't know how so many Voltaris disguised themselves," he said, changing the subject.

Thalleous shook his head. "All forms of black magic are at the Voltaris' disposal. If not for our stringent borders and security, we would have spies running all over the place."

As Acchilean closed his eyes, Thalleous uttered one final request to the comforting heavens.

"Let us hope the Deathsinger's reign ends soon," he sighed.

"Indeed," Acchilean concurred slowly.

The two soldiers meant very different things.

Author's Note: Good evening to you!

I'm happy to bring you chapter 23. Chapter 24 will come out in 3-5 days, depending upon scheduling concerns. In the meantime, I encourage you give me your thoughts on Part Three: Destruction, so far.

Nothing else to report.

Godspeed,

-KOS