The Phoenix Order

A Familiar Face

After his defeat, Afleck was ashamed of himself for putting Cassaport at risk from another attack, and now, he was not going to let that happen again. He spent those months in training these new soldiers to become better and stronger that he intended them to be, and after three gruelling months of training, he was confident that his vision, was now starting to form.

In the west windy waves of the realm, Abigail and Silverback soared through the skies on a dragon's back, the wind rushing past them as they moved swiftly through the clouds. The sky was painted with golden hues as the sun began its descent. The world below them was peaceful, yet in their hearts, they both knew the realm was anything but. "So why did you ask me once more to join you in your expedition?" The exiled fire princess asked, "I needed your assistance, I have an old ally around these parts. His name is Gus and he could supply us with the weapons we will need to overthrow the now leader of your realm." Silverback responded as he swooped down from the clouds, "This will benefit you lady Abigail, after you and-" "Yes I know that Silver, but you dont have to call me lady, I helped you and now...Your helping me." "I did say I will pay my debt."

As they rode the winds, something caught Abigail's eye—a glimmering figure, cutting through the sky like a shooting star. She squinted, her breath catching in her throat. "Silverback, look! Is that. Afleck?!"

Silverback turned his head, and they both recognized the figure approaching—Afleck had his fiery wings shimmered in the sunlight, and his form carried the unmistakable grace of a warrior long accustomed to the skies. Afleck had believed they were dead, lost in the small battles. His wife, thought to had been casted and imprisoned in the depths of the underworld.

As the distance between them closed, Afleck's face reflected shock and disbelief. He halted in mid-air, wings beating, his gaze fixed on Abigail. The moment his eyes met hers, relief flooded his face. He rushed forward, enveloping her in a warm embrace, his flames flickering softly as if mirroring his emotions. "The Devil and Angel had reunited." Silverback said as he looked at Squal and nodded, he was about to play a joke on them. "Afleck!" He shouted, Afleck's eyes were now on Silverback and Squal nodded once more, diving fast towards the ground. This took both Afleck and Abigail by surprise and Afleck quickly swooped down as well to catch up to them. "I'm going to kill you Silver!" Afleck shouted as he transformed into fiery rage.

"Dont worry about it Afleck!" Silverback shouted as he controlled Squal to land down on the patch of grass that he saw and Afleck, followed as well.

"Abigail... you're alive," Taking off his battle helmet, Afleck breathed, his voice filled with wonder. "I thought—I thought you were all gone. And you're with him..." His gaze shifted to Silverback, a man once thought to be gone, defending Bushido's village.

Silverback, stoic as ever, gave Afleck a small nod. "We survived, but we haven't been heard from Kanok since the battle." Afleck's expression darkened at the mention of Kanok. He stepped back, looking between them. "Kanok... he's gone, isn't he? Because I saw him once, but now. He's different, the opposite person we all once knew."

Afleck lowered his gaze. "After the final battle... there was nothing. We all know that he died there. And I thought you guys abandoned me, after the war. I'm still glad that the both of you are alive." Afleck's shoulders tensed. "Then... then we must know for certain." His voice cracked slightly, and Abigail understood his need for closure.

Together, they decided to fly back to the mountain—the very place where Kanok fell, to give Afleck the peace he sought after the ambush that they suffered back home. But as they neared the mountain peak, an unnatural chill spread through the air. The once body filled wasteland of the mountain is now barren. There was not a single sign of life seen for many distances.

Afleck was now more confused and even more unsure if it was Kanok's doing or what. "What happened here?" Silverback frowned, his hand tightening on the reins of the dragon. "This is not natural. I sense a dark force lingering here."

As they descended, the full extent of the corruption became evident. Shadow Warriors swarmed the mountain, their numbers far greater than anything they'd ever seen before. They moved like a plague across the land, consuming everything in their path. Their eyes gleamed with malevolent intent, and their bodies writhed with dark energy.

Afleck's expression twisted in horror. "It is impossible!" His voice trembled with the weight of his suspicions, and the bitter truth settled into his heart. Kanok might have become something far worse than a dead body in the ground, he might be the one controlling them.

"We can't take them on," Silverback growled, eyes scanning the legion of Shadow Warriors below. "Not the three of us. This is an army."

Afleck clenched his fists, his fiery wings flickering as rage and sorrow warred within him. "Then we head to Cassaport. We need the Elder's approval. If there's any chance if you think we can still save Kanok... forget it, it's already too late... the Elder will know what to do."

Reluctantly, they turned their backs on the corrupted mountain, their hearts heavy with the knowledge of what they had seen. The flight back to Cassaport was quiet, the wind carrying their silent determination to face the next challenge that awaited them.

"So your telling me that it may be Kanok?" The Elder asked as he sipped on his tea, sitting beside his greatest men. "I do sense it, these things are sprawling out of his grave. It's unnatural to see it, it honestly....terrifies, even me." Silverback said as he leaned against the wall of the hut they were all in. "We cannot move in without the others." The Elder said, "These creatures had proven themselves to be adept to combat. From your soldier, Draven's reports, they fight like they were trained for combat, specifically; The Way Of The Magnus."

The room went silent. If their findings were true, then they are facing against the mightiest of the realms former defenders, founded by Bjorn Magnus, this was the first and most powerful generation of fighters that defended their realm, but now are serving the darkness. "I know where they were laid to rest." Silverback said as he removed his helmet.

"I was cursed to roam this planet for eternity after what I had done." All of them now had fixed their eyes on him, waiting for him to continue. "Many centuries ago. I was one with another tribe, the Tideborne Kin, we were once allies, united for a goal in mind; keeping the portal of darkness sealed at all cost. That was my mission, many years was that portal sealed, until I failed to do so." Silverback said as he came closer, putting down a ancient knife, "A knife?" Afleck asked, confused. "Not just any, the same knife that killed Bjorn. I was one of his men that was protecting the portal, but we were attacked by a dark mage, a wraithful one. He killed all of his men and including him, and as I scoured off, I was hit by a spell that cursed me to live for eternity." "I can understand that, I use to hear about you back when I was a young one," The Elder said as he stood up, "So, where can we find them?" "Only one way." Silverback said as he put back on his helmet, "Meet me here once more in the third night after we speak, and then I shall show you." Silverback said as Squal came after he whistled and flew away.

Two moons has passed and life was as usual, but apart now, Afleck has raised his army larger than even Bushido's faction, and on the third moon, they were ready. A horn blew far from Cassaport and they knew who it is. Silverback came back to inform them of what he found.

"He's here, sir" One of the Elder's servants said as he waited on his throne room. The glass roof of the castle darkened fast, not because the was going down, but because it was Squal flying by, Silverback jumped off of Squal to glide himself down to the right side of the castle where he made his way into the throne room with a roll that he landed straight in front of The Elder, "I have to say, for a legend like you, you never lost your stride." The Elder said as Silverback got up, "I found the location," He responded, removing his helmet, "Indeed, the hunt shall be on soon enough," Afleck said as he walked into the room, his armor on and polished to shine. "Rally A thousand of your men, we shall head there." 

The hours passed and Afleck assembled his men to head towards the forgotten land of the Magnus' and were ready for everything, "Let's show them who really is the true winners of this war," Draven said as he boosted the soldiers morale as he is now Afleck's right hand man, the general who would report to him, he was determine to not let this realm fall.