Chaos and war raged upon dune seas on a world ravaged by war. The final conflict was at last at hand, countless four armed warriors clashed in the searing heat of three stars. As the desert drank there blood, and carrions soared high above, the two generals sent wave after wave of warriors to die for beliefs not there own. They would have victory or death, and each had his sights set on one glorious prize, the death of a king, and a dawning of a new empire.
Amidst the thrashing bodies of the giant warriors, a portal silently opened, and a heavy cloaked figure silently stepped onto the battlefield. A smallish and slender being compared to the hulking four armed giants, he paid scant attention to them. He had his eyes for only one, a titan among titans, a single Kropcrat (as the race dubbed itself) fought off dozens of foes at once, and there bodies piled high, unable to bring a scratch to his exposed hide.
The silent figure approached the juggernaut, unafraid and undaunted by his size and strength. A sand storm picked up as the neared the Kropcrat, and the titan tensed whirling around all four of his blades posed, ready to kill more legions.
He eased though and spoke “At long last, the test has come, too long have I killed without challenge, killing these mongrel pups who have no idea what the art of a warrior is about. Bah!” He spat on a nearby corpse and spoke again “So, the guild has chosen. Let us begin.”
The sand storm raged flinging everything but the two warriors away, and creating a circle around them. The world that would never know peace vanished, and the true battle was about to begin.
The slender figure let his cloak slip off with a shrug. What was exposed was an elderly human being in face, but in body and eyes he was fit and young. His plate armor sparkled in the shimmering light of the swirling storm, drawing his sword he spoke.
“Aye, it shall begin. I salute you my opponent, and my fellow guildsman. I have been sent from my guild master to do combat with you so that one of us may ascend to being immortal, and the other to at last walk the next journey of our lives.” He brought the hilt of his sword to his lips and then lowered it; sadness welled up in his eyes.
The titan looked equally as sad as he spoke “And I salute you my opponent, and fellow guildsman. I accept this challenge.” He lowered himself to his knee and made an X with his swords, bowing his head.
Kael sized up his opponent as he took his stance, he may be human but he had speed, and hopefully not more skill. Deep in his heart he did not want this, but knew it was necessary for the guild. After countless battles across his life time, his heart had crumbled, while sharpening his mind and body. Taking countless lives was the sacrifice of the guild, and the guild was his life. His deadened soul had enough strength to shed one tear from his cold blue eyes, which disappeared into his short gray beard, just like so many before it.
