Swords Will

Chapter Twenty: Short rise, long fall

In the deep recesses of Arthur's mind, in the dark realm of dreams, he found himself in a surreal and ethereal space. A floating, luminous sword, the Sword of Divinity, hovered before him, its blade bathed in an otherworldly glow. It emitted a soft, haunting hum that seemed to resonate within the very depths of his soul.

The sword's voice, soft and feminine, began to speak, each word echoing with a mesmerizing cadence. "Arthur, chosen one, I am the Sword of Divinity, and I hold the power to reshape the world. Unity can be found through destruction, and sometimes, even friends must be sacrificed for the greater good."

Arthur's first instinct was to argue against the notion. "No," he protested, his voice filled with doubt. "Unity should come through understanding, diplomacy, and working together. Sacrificing friends is not the answer."

But the sword's voice grew more persuasive, its words seeping into his consciousness. "Consider this, Arthur," it continued, "what if those you trust and cherish betray the ideals you hold dear? What if they wield this power for darkness instead of light?"

As the sword's words resonated within him, Arthur's dream shifted. He saw a vision of Erlan, once his closest friend, wielding the sword with an air of malevolence. He watched in horror as Erlan commanded an empire of evil, sowing chaos and destruction across the realms. The vision was disorienting, unsettling, and the darkness in his friend's eyes left a searing impression.

The dream then shifted again, this time to Carlos, the black market dealer. With the Sword of Divinity in his grasp, Carlos led a gang of ruthless criminals, pillaging and burning innocent towns without remorse. The contrast between the Carlos Arthur had known and this new malevolent figure was chilling.

A third vision appeared, this time of Astrid, her once-kind eyes now filled with a steely resolve. She raised the sword high, and in a swift, brutal strike, she ended Arthur's life. The betrayal in her eyes was palpable, and the pain of his own death sent shivers down Arthur's spine.

Finally, the dream revealed Captain Hargrave, a once-loyal ally, wielding the Sword of Divinity, which glowed with a dark, ominous light. He commanded an undead pirate army, a terrifying force that swept across the seas, leaving a wake of destruction and despair.

The dream's unsettling narrative pressed on, with a nightmarish scene unfolding before Arthur's eyes. The beloved ship, the Golden Hare, was engulfed in flames, its once-glorious figurehead now twisted and charred. The air was thick with acrid smoke, and the agonized cries of their allies filled the air.

Astrid, Carlos, and Captain Hargrave stood amidst the chaos, their eyes vacant and lifeless, as though they were nothing more than mere shadows of their former selves. In the center of this nightmarish tableau, Erlan knelt before the ghostly figure of Captain Dredd, a legendary and malevolent pirate.

Erlan's hand extended the Sword of Divinity toward Captain Dredd, a gesture of surrender that sent shivers down Arthur's spine. The sword continued to whisper to him, its voice now almost seductive in its persuasive power. "Do you see, Arthur? This is the path that awaits if you do not embrace the power. This is the inevitable outcome if you do not wield the sword to bring unity."

Arthur's heart ached as he witnessed the betrayal of his friends and the devastation of the Golden Hare. His voice, filled with anguish and despair, quivered as he argued, "No, this can't be the answer. There must be another way, a way to save them and protect the realms without causing destruction."

But the sword's voice remained relentless, its words a haunting refrain in his mind. "The world teeters on the brink of chaos, Arthur. Unity can only be achieved through control, even if it means sacrificing those who stand in your way."