In the distance he could see them darkening the skies

knights that flew on wyverns, all with evil glowing eyes

giant beasts like monstrous bears were marching on the ground

every step they took soon followed by a heavy sound

Riding on the giant creatures, mages dressed in black

summoned clouds of poison and made ready to attack

an infantry of twisted men and monsters all insane

smiling while they made a wasteland of the grassy plain

In time they’d reach the nation were he’d almost been a king

his friend would die along with everyone and everything

he asked the mercenaries if they’d stay behind and fight

but like the merchants they were more intent on taking flight

Panic struck the caravan, and chaos filled the air

the army, fast approaching, seemed to radiate despair

“if you fight that army, there is no way to survive

once they find you, they don’t leave a single soul alive”

The merchants took their horses and whatever they could hold

the mercenaries ran without a second thought for gold

all the slaves were bound and left behind to act as bait

the hero sighed at how his friends all chose to meet their fate

The hero wanted badly to rebuke his fleeing friends

but he knew well the way a hopeless battle often ends

he ran ahead to meet the army’s forces right away

sure that fate had brought him to this place to save the day

All the armies he had ever seen in any war

wouldn’t be a fraction of the force he stood before

then he noticed, when they saw him, all their movements ceased

and how the army looked at him was strange to say the least

Wyverns landed near him and the giant monsters bowed

the hero found himself the centre of a kneeling crowd

the hero put away his magic sword and looked around

then a single, elder mage approached without a sound

“We are all but humble servants of the king of death

since our kingdom’s birth, we’ve served him with our every breath

though we feared we may not live to see our king revived

now we may be sure the promised moment has arrived”

The hero didn’t understand a word the mage had said

“why do you all bow to me, and not your king instead”

the mage looked slowly up and held the hero in his view

“we could only hope to be as blessed by death as you”

The hero summoned two great swords of fire and then cried out

“I’m no king and never will be, let there be no doubt

leave this place and go back home or face my righteous blade

heroes spare no evil, so declare the choice you’ve made”

The mage stood up and smiled with adoration in his eyes

“we had only known of you from rumours heard by spies

you shall be essential to the sacred one’s ascent

none could be more worthy of this holy sacrament”

The hero’s sheer confusion had become a blinding rage

and just as he had had enough the army set the stage

since he’d been surrounded they could quickly pass him by

if he didn’t stop them now his friends would surely die

He jumped into the air and cut the wyverns in their flight

and threw his fiery spells at every living thing in sight

as he fought them desperately to hold their forces back

he worried that his friends could all be killed in one attack

Many knights were strong enough to take a hit or two

and archers hid among the shadows, somewhere out of view

since he’d found his magic powers in the woods that day

never had he worked so hard to keep his foes at bay

He struggled, fighting harder, shrouded in a cloak of fire

a raging battle shook the land as flames kept burning higher

after several hours and battles, he could barely see

he just hoped he’d keep his friends from harm til they were free

While a swirling storm of fire was circling all around

turning everything to ash, the hero heard a sound

the elder mage with twisted eyes was walking peacefully

like strolling through a park without a sense of urgency

The hero looked at him and then demanded he explain

“why should all you madmen live for suffering and pain”

the mage’s eyes were nothing like he’d seen in any wars

“we would all be honoured to exchange our deaths for yours”

The mage then cast a spell which turned the hero’s fire to smoke

the hero tried to cut the mage but he could only choke

“thank you for your service to our cause, but we must go

I cannot express the debt of gratitude we owe”

The hero caught his breath and used a minor healing spell

then he made a gust of wind before he tired and fell

from his knees, he looked around once all the smoke had cleared

but when he looked behind him it was just as he had feared

Though he’d sent a half of all those monsters to the grave

many more had caught up with the friends he tried to save

the army had no trouble catching up to those who ran

everyone’s escape had failed as fast as it began

Overcome by chaos while he fought with all his might

the army’s remnants now converged at once to end the fight

sorcerers and cavalry attacked him one by one

leaving him without a chance to counter or to run

The mage who seemed to cherish every moment of their war

made the hero sick with the expression that he wore

every time he killed a monster or some ghastly knight

the mage would only smile a little wider in delight

“Though this sacred act has been a pleasure and a joy

it seems as though we’ve reached the end of what you can enjoy

die now, and we’ll go ahead to carry on your will

thank you for this dance of death, it’s truly been a thrill”

The mage directed all his forces to attack as one

then the hero’s long and brutal battle would be done

the hero knew he’d failed to save a single person there

but as the army closed around him, he became aware

Somehow during battle, while the world was all a blur

a smile had crept across his face, though when he wasn’t sure

maybe it was fate, but even if that wasn’t true

all he knew was he was free to see what he could do

The mage was well impressed the hero hung on for so long

he’d never seen a single swordsman even half as strong

but as he watched the man before him facing his demise

he felt a slightly different power starting to arise

Since he’d left the forest where his powers were acquired

he’d fought so many battles but he’d never once grown tired

now he felt he’d found a way to let go of control

and let the fire consume his weary body, mind, and soul

The twisted, evil mage in black was overwhelmed by joy

“it is certain, death itself has blessed this righteous boy”

the hero could no longer hear the mage’s strange remarks

all the air around him filled with dancing flames and sparks

He didn’t even notice in the flaming clouds of dust

the army and its weapons turned to charcoal, ash, and rust

he simply walked toward the mage, whose smile was like his own

a feeling coming over him like he had never known

The mage began to chant a spell that made his eyes turn red

and summoned forth the souls of knights, an army of the dead

basking in their power he unleashed a fierce attack

but all the hero had to do was punch the wizard back

The mage was cloaked in darkness, and impervious to heat

he could walk through any fire and never fear defeat

but now the hero took the mage and held him by the throat

striking him repeatedly through his protective coat

He struck the mage who simply laughed despite the blood he shed

the hero was surprised to see the blood was mostly red

the mage no longer had the strength to cast a single spell

and when the hero let him go, the old man simply fell

Looking down upon the man whose army he’d destroyed

he didn’t think of all the lives with which the man had toyed

the old man rose up to his knees, and once again proclaimed

“you truly are the saviour who will see this world reclaimed”

The hero was too tired to even listen anymore

his eyes and ears and every other part of him were sore

before succumbing to the flames, and with his dying breathe

the smiling mage just whispered, “see you soon, oh lord of death”

The hero held his head and laughed until he couldn’t see

the battlefield was his alone now, roaring endlessly

as he laughed he thought he heard a whisper in his ear

a chilling voice that said “well done” but it was hard to hear

The hero stumbled awkwardly, and felt a gentle breeze

feeling such a soothing wind while falling to his knees

he looked around to see the hell he’d made then closed his eyes

and fell into unconsciousness while his fires touched the skies