Whoever this guy was, he was extremely dangerous. If the murderous aura wasn't proof enough, then the dead King at his feet would convey the message.

Kaden felt a strong sense of familiarity even though he couldn't remember ever meeting the man. It would be hard to forget someone who looked like that.

Turning to them the figure spoke. "So this was the best Vyrmm had to offer, eh? Not bad."

"Memphis!" Shouted an outraged divine knight and suddenly realization dawned on him.

Kaden remembered everything he was told about the Darkness Tamer. He was a former knight that had turned his back on his nation and daughter. The man Aya called 'father'.

He had one of the largest bounties on the knight's Bingo Dashboard. The two stars that danced on his black armor indicated he was as powerful as a holy knight.

Kaden recalled a time he attacked Iris in the middle of a mission. Hunting for her lifeforce. Kaden wanted to help his master but Aya refused to let him. She'd went so far as to knock him out cold. When he came to he'd been hidden in a cave. He found his teacher nearly a day later carrying Aya and her severed arm. Iris had to be hospitalized for over a week.

He became part of the history books as the man who lead the attack on the Nadire branch. Kaden tried to control his panic. Memphis was why the knight never questioned why Iris gave him a sword with the Nadire crest on the earliest birthday he could remember.

Focus! He remembered his master's voice telling him once on a mission when is sense of justice was getting in the way of their assignment.

Kaden looked around for Rygilya, Memphis' protege and a thorn in his side since they fought on the same team. He was nowhere to be seen.

The divine knights dashed at the darkness tamer. He would have done the same if he saw his queen dead at her murders feet.

The knight who'd saved his skin earlier swung his sword and a large arc of fire rushed the darkness tamer.

Memphis dodged and barely had time to block a barrage from the other divine knight's spear.

The attacks held so much weight that shock waves shock the school grounds. Kaden could feel the thickness of mana in the air.

A divine knight hit Memphis hard, sending him sailing through titanium-4 walls.

Kaden and the other Master knights followed. He looked on in admiration as the divine knights seemed to have the upper hand.

"Iron craft: Sword of the iron giant!" Called out the divine knight with the spear. A large sword made of iron appeared above him.

The mana coming from the attack was incredibly dense. Memphis was forced to dodge which left him open to an attack from from the flame craft user.

With a mighty yell he slammed his flaming back into the darkness tamer's shoulder, forcing Memphis to his knees. A giant pillar made of fire engulfed the darkness tamer. The walls might've melted completely if the flames hadn't disappeared.

Kaden felt the spike in mana coming from Memphis. The air was so heavy with the sinister feel of dark mana it was almost hard to breathe.

Memphis laughed as he stood. The knight struggled to hold him down using his sword.

"That was close! If you'd been faster or I slower, I'd be dead! You are worth absorbing!"

The criminal then proceeded to thrust his mana covered arm through the mana hull and pierced his chest. His hand stuck out of his back. He then yanked he's head from his body almost with ease. A geyser of blood spat from the man's neck.

"Damn you!" Cried the other divine knight. "Iron craft: Great iron sword barrage!"

Multiple giant iron swords appeared around her. They went hurtling towards Memphis who dodged a few and used a barrier of black mana to destroy the rest.

The divine knights were skilled, Memphis was more so.

He thrusted out his hand and a turret of black icy spikes tore the ground as they traveled towards the knight at a speed Kaden couldn't track.

She summoned a large hand made of iron to hold the attack but it was no use. The ice tore through the iron and forced the knight to use her spear to block.

The attack pushed her out of the area then completely tore through her. The sight was so gruesome Kaden almost couldn't stomach it.

"You bastard!" Spat one of the master knights behind him.

Two master knights rushed him.

"Shit!" Kaden swore and followed after them knowing what the outcome would be.

Memphis caught Kaden with a punch and sent him flying even with his flaming avatar arms surrounding him. Upon impact, the arms cracked then turned into embers.

Kaden was outclassed. He could hear his heart pounding away in his chest. They needed to get out of here. Fast.

The young man looked around. They were in the courtyard now. Lyzria was slowly coming to ruins from the intensity of the battle. Two more knights lay dead, leaving only three of them remaining in the battle. If Kaden didn't do something, they all would die here. The master knight made a choice. He knew it was a selfish one.

He stood, fire in his eyes. "Get outta here! Bring back reinforcements!" He called out to remaining officer knights before following Memphis and the remaining divine knight outside the building.

Kaden excited in time to see multiple spikes made of black ice impale the divine knight.

He fought back tears as his eyes burned. His fury burned more ferociously.

"I'll bring you to justice!" Kaden blurted out as he lunged at the darkness tamer.

None of his attacks were landing.

After getting kicked hard in the stomach, he stumbled backward in pain. The Knight tried to gather mana but he didn't have enough lifeforce shape it so the energy exploded' sending him sliding along the ground.

Memphis smirked as he beckoned Kaden to attack.

"Damn you!" Kaden shouted, pushing himself to fight harder. "Stop mocking me!"

The Darkness Tamer dodged an attack and countered with a knee to the gut. Spit escaped Kaden's mouth. He felt a force hit his face so hard he was sent flying

His hits siphons off Lifeforce. Kaden thought moments before he slammed through a sturdy pillar titanium-4.

Through dazed eyes, Kaden saw the man walking towards him. He could also see two Knights try to flank the Darkness Tamer, thinking he was off-guard.

"No," Kaden croaked weakly. "I told you to scram-"

Without turning to face them the darkness tamer swung his large ax made of black ice and cut both knights in half at once.

Kaden watched horrified as their bodies hit the floor, red liquid spraying everywhere. He couldn't help the wetness that formed in his eyes. They were honorable warriors and not only wanted to avenge their King, but protect their fellow Knight.

The young man felt drained. His breathing was heavy and so was his body. Still, he stubbornly tried to stand.

Pain exploded across his cheek when his face met darkness tamer's fist. Another vicious blow to the face and Kaden saw stars before a headbutt cleared his vision.

So fast, Kaden thought as drool trickled down his chin. Couldn't even see him move.

His mana hull shattered and Kaden's legs buckled beneath him, but the darkness tamer kept him upright by grabbing a handful of his hair. "You were willing to die to protect them and they threw their lives away," Memphis mocked moving Kaden's head as if to study his features. His hands were cold on the young man's scalp. "They ended up dying to protect you. Too bad you're gonna die anyway, eh, boy?"

He rose his sword, pressing the cold blade against Kaden's throat.

"Don't worry." Memphis added with a sinister grin that showed off his jagged teeth. "That sister of yours will join you, eventually."

Sister? Kaden didn't have a sister. As far as he could remember, it had always been him, Aya and Iris. Neither of him ever mentioned a sister so what was this guy talking about?

Kaden yelled defiantly while staring into the man's eyes. His own held a fire that even fear could not extinguish. He really didn't want to die but he knew the risk of becoming a knight. If he was going to die, Kaden was glad he would die on his feet.

Kaden felt the blade slide across his throat and his heart thumped wildly in his chest. He fell, gargling on his own blood. A vision appeared.

It played like a movie.

A dark silhouette resembling the man in front of him had smacked a young boy hard through a wall. The dark silhouette of a little girl ran to the man, desperately trying to stab him with what looked to be a fork.

The man violently slashed her with his sword.

Everything went black...