The king stood amongst the dead knights and Black Group members mingled in the piles of corpses. The surviving Black Group stood opposite the knights waiting for the boss. Con Man walked towards them saying nothing. "Hmmm, I expected more of you to survive. But it seems only twenty out of sixty remain" he crossed he rested his hands on his two blade's hilts. The king stood in front of the surviving knights that were thirty in total. "Yes I seem to be in agreement with the survivors of my knights? Seems the hundred thousand what remains left in my city is now forty thousand and thirty. You lot will have your wounds treated if you submit here to me and train yourselves to become stronger than this day?" The king looked after the Black Group survivors and saw a hooded man dragging two bodies forwarded wrapped in chains. Con Man giggled, "Eldritch always delivers," he said with joy. "Well done, this one king is a special kind and he is a great asset. I found him in a dark dungeon, having been there for decades feeding on the minds of fellow prisoners wiping out an entire block without leaving his cell" Con Man spoke of Eldritch with pride. Eldritch bowed at the king with respect.
"This one is quite strong and a bit of a mystery? How have I not met this subordinate before? Who else have you been poaching from the knight ranks?" The king glared at Con Man; he merely shrugged. "My apologies your majesty but you left me the duty of creating this group. I scrapped the criminal underworld for the best at what they do. In the eyes of the public these actions would be seen as unworthy of such honors. And in doing this in the shadows I have kept your name untainted site" he bowed. The king nodded, "Your logic is sound. Well I think I'm more mad at myself for not seeing these individuals as true knights that I needed" he looked at Gust and Bruce chained on the ground. "Stoic Blade and Gust Staff? How did they fight before you took them down?" He asked the Eldritch, "The man put up more of a fight than the woman. She seemed distracted, focusing on the carnage over fighting for her life. The man had blind rage that weakened his reasoning" the king looked down at them. "Well the chi you give of Eldritch tells me they were out of your league. But the potential is there if they submit. Lock them up I'll talk to them when they awake" Eldritch nodded and grabbed the chain. He pulled them away down a corridor.
The king then looked at Sara and Zerrick, "Those two? What's their story?" Con nodded. "Sarah the Battle Queen is a gifted fighter with a unique ability. More she fights, the stronger she gets. Found her in an empty strong hold known to house one thousand mercenaries called the Thunder Hawks" the king perked up. "Ah yes I remember their reputation, but rumors turned to legend of them being wiped out by a mythical beast?" Sarah grinned big, "Forgive my interruption your majesty but they weren't that tough I enjoyed their storage of wine" Con chuckled. "Correct, I found her passed out drunk on empty barrels of wine" the king nodded. Didn't show emotion as he looked at Zerrick. "Him?" Con nodded, "Zerrick the One Eye he found me. He is also blind and can also see at the time. Incredibly gifted with the sword, not as good as your highness, but still a master. One of my other gifted assassins who can take on an army" Zerrick bowed. "A blind swordsman? Fascinating, and who else among this lot stands out to you Con?" The king scanned the group. Seeing the tall bald woman with black eyeshadow and lips. He looked at another with a tattooed face and a hoop upon his lip. He had dark eyes and looked bored. He then broke up sitting down and began to draw in a book.
Another he looked at another playing with a flame in his hands. He wasn't standing with the group and was burning a dead knight's body. He watched it burn with delight as he stared at the flames. "Sire I would suggest you take my word for it all here are worth your time. Even the insane pyro Burning Man over there who is quite...eccentric. Which of the knights would you like to keep your grace?" The king nodded and looked at the beaten knights who were all staring back him. A few glared at the king with hatred and others just looked scared not knowing what was to come next. "So which of you knights would like to join my new army?" None spoke and silence covered the courtyard till a man groaning in pain was being dragged out of the palace by a Black Group member. He was thrown to the ground and revealing Lord Tupper who was beaten. He lay upon the ground dazed, "Seems this one was hiding out boss" the group member addressed Con with his prisoner. "Ah Lord Tupper seems you survived" Con walked over to him and knelt down. They were now eye level as he spoke to him "You were good at the day to day Lord Tupper the kingdom prospered when you were in charge of finances. How about you willing to put aside today's events and start fresh with King its a new era after today" Lord Tupper lifted his head up looking at Con Man with one good eye. He was silent for moment looking at Con then the king. He looked over his shoulder at the knights. He coughed and wiped a tear away as he looked to be in contemplation on what he said next.
"Lord Mills...my greatest friend since we were young...he died by your hands" Tupper glared at the king with a cold expression. He then spit blood on the ground, "I shed my blood with the fallen littered here. They werent fighting against the king they knew and loved for years. No...they fought to preserve the ideals you instilled on all of us during your rule. A good and strong king we looked up to for leadership and guidance. You shed that trust and love for power. I will go to the underworld with Lord Mills. You will get no help from me, you abominations. I served with distinction and loyalty. You insult me thinking I would turn my back on the people who will have to live under this new tyrant. You are nothing but a liar and a monster, my former king is dead!" his words echoed in the courtyard. No one spoke as they listened to his words of defiance and tears ran down his face as he held himself erect while on his knees. Ready for his execution. A knight stepped forward and knelt beside him, throwing his sword to the ground. "I too will not join you. I stand with the Lord Tupper. He speaks true" then another knight and then another. All kneeling next to Lord Tupper willing to die alongside him.
The king said nothing as he stared at him showing no emotion. "Do any other knights feel this way?" he asked, looking at them with his yellow feline eyes. Two more said nothing as they walked forward and knelt as well. King nodded, "Shame. You all survived the ordeal I set in motion. This act of defiance even shows your strength such a waste. Even though Lord Tupper showed more strength then the Silent Knight did. Tupper your friend, he was willing to join me if he could prove himself. He failed with his sword, but your words have always been your weapon of course. Silver tongued and full of wisdom. Your service to me has been invaluable, so now it's come to this?" he shook his head in annoyance at the situation. "Very well I honor your requests. Burning Man!" the pyro turned abruptly as he whipped his head around from staring at the burning body. He stepped forward and presented himself to the king bowing "Yes your grace?" he said with a gleeful tone. "Burn the traitors alive" the knights kneeling scowled along with Tupper. But they saw the lord still look resolutely ready for the consequences. Flames ignited on Burning Man's hands as he then sent a wave of fire over the defectors. Tupper's last sight was seeing the orange and yellow flames over take him.