Fexius was utterly shaken when he heard the monster speak those words. Only William had ever heard them, and no one else had been present at the time. There was no doubt left: the creature wreathed in green flames before him was his own son.
"William... why... why have you become like this?" Fexius's voice trembled.
"I was once pure," William said flatly. "All I ever wanted was your approval, Father. To earn it, I governed the kingdom flawlessly. I passed every trial, pulled that sword no one else could, slew the dragon, and became a hero beloved by all. I earned the respect of everyone... everyone except you."
Fexius's face tightened. "I was harsh on you, yes. But it was to mold you into something greater, someone who could inherit my legacy and serve the great cause of the Voidborn. Come back with me, son. I can find a way to cure you!"
"No, Father, I've seen the truth now," William replied, his voice like the growl of a demon in a bottomless abyss. "The truth is, only power matters!"
"I am no longer William. I am the Voidhunter, the perfect creation of the Ghost Knight."
Fexius's face contorted with rage. "William, do you even realize what you're saying?Are you betraying your father!"
William, Voidhunter now, laughed, the sound echoing like thunder. "Betrayal? you? Don't make me laugh. You Voidborn seek to open a permanent portal to the Void and unleash its monsters upon this world in exchange for forbidden arcane power. You are the real traitors to humanity. Me? I simply chose a stronger master."
Fexius's fury simmered into cold hatred. "Then I, Fexius, shall pass judgment. You are hereby exiled from the Voidborn. You will be hunted without end. Feel the wrath of your people!"
"You think I care? You think I fear the wrath of the Voidborn? You don't even have the guts to face me yourself!"
Voidhunter stepped forward and raised his flaming rune sword. Instinctively, Fexius and his men stepped back and drew their weapons.
"I am the Voidhunter. My mission is to slay void-dwelling creatures and those who serve them. Tell me, do you really think any of you will leave here alive?"
With a flick of his blade, a ball of emerald flame shot toward Fexius's group.
"Look out!" Lyman shouted, diving forward and pushing Fexius aside.
The fireball whistled past them, soaring into the pit behind.
There was a moment of silence.
Then, from within the pit, a ghostly green glow erupted.
Haunting moans followed, the sound of undead rising.
Fexius and the others turned and saw the corpses of William's old guards, now reanimated, climbing out from the depths. Their rotting flesh burned with green flame. The fire had breathed new life into the dead.
"No... this can't be!" Fexius gasped.
"My servants... destroy them!" Voidhunter growled.
The burning dead charged. Fexius, Lyman, and the elite Nightmare Knight Saegas, along with the dark sorcerer Syndiga and the rest of the Vanguard, readied themselves for battle.
Saegas took the lead, cleaving through one of the undead with his massive blade. But the ghoul barely flinched. It grinned and ran him through.
"What?!" Lyman paled, but didn't panic.
Saegas, after all, wasn't so easy to kill. His body had been augmented by dark magic, he was practically immortal.
Sure enough, Saegas retaliated, sending the undead sprawling. But it didn't end there. Dozens more undead swarmed them.
Though the Vanguard was superior in skill, they quickly learned these creatures were nearly unkillable.
"Damn it! These monsters won't die!" Saegas growled through gritted teeth.
One by one, the Vanguard fell. Only four held on.
Then, in the chaos, Fexius cried out, an enchanted blade had pierced his chest.
Voidhunter had struck.
The dutiful son had just slain his father.
"Nooo!" Lyman screamed.
The battlefield dissolved into madness. In the moment of shock, Saegas and Syndiga were overwhelmed and slain.
Lyman acted fast. Unleashing a powerful magical blast, he flung the attackers away and transformed into a swarm of ravens, fleeing the scene.
"Coward," Voidhunter sneered.
He surveyed the carnage and laughed. "Now you all belong to me."
The green flames spread. One by one, the bodies of Saegas, Syndiga, and the fallen Vanguard ignited and rose again, undead soldiers reborn in the Voidhunter's lead.
Only Fexius did not rise.
Voidhunter turned to his father's corpse.
"As for you, Father...."
He incinerated the body in emerald fire, reducing it to ash.
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