Chapter 346: The Sword Of Vesir

…In the eastern hills of Dusk Valley…

Countless tents dotted the green hills of the valley as far as the eye could see. Marek Helene stood on a nearby hilltop and surveyed the large assortment of valley tribes that had gathered. He was once again reminded of the potential sheer might of his people if only they would gather together like this for more than just a meeting.

“We’re finally here,” he muttered.

“And just on time, my lord,” Vaughn said as he joined him on top of the hill.

“Yes, you’re right,” Marek glanced at the golden sun hanging high in the sky.

Despite the name, ‘The Meeting of the Dawn’ was held at noon when the sun was brightest. Every chieftain of the valley tribes would gather to decide on a matter of grave importance that would affect all their people.

“I didn’t think we’d arrive on time,” Dawn called out from the backside of the hill. “We only received the call for the meeting last night, those obstinate chieftains were hoping we wouldn’t make it.”

“Yes, I suppose you’re right,” Marek glanced down at Dawn and what lay behind her; a gigantic custom-built wagon was slowly riding up the hill.

The wagon was 8 meters wide and 10 meters long, with a leather tarp covering 9 meters high. There were ten large wheels on both sides. The wagon was practically a siege weapon and the whole thing was pulled by a dozen robust centaurs that even now seemed to be struggling to climb up the hill.

“Are you sure this will work?” Marek whispered.

“Do not second guess yourself. It has to work, there is no other path at this point,” Vaughn said.

“I understand,” Marek nodded solemnly.

Dawn stared at the large leather tarp covering the creature hidden inside the wagon, “The Unildyr have been more docile the last few months. This one in particular. We should be fine.”

Dawn reached the top of the hill and saw the multitude of tents waiting below. She frowned, “I see the other chieftains did not only travel with their guards, but with what seems to be a quarter of their armies.”

“I was worried something like this might happen,” Marek sighed.

“The tribes are afraid of Hollow Shade’s armies,” Vaughn noted. “House Goldelm, Glaz, and Veres have been scouring the lands, searching for any tribesman they can find. They have burned down dozens of tribal villages and killed over 2000 of their people.”

“My people,” Marek clenched his fists. It hadn’t just been the men. Innocent women and children had been slaughtered under the iron grip of the City of Shades. And now the armies of Undergrowth had begun to move against them as well.

Marek once again wondered to himself if Crow’s plan had been worth it.

As if reading his mind Dawn repeated her brother’s words, “Do not second guess yourself, Marek. We’ve already come this far.”

Marek slowly nodded and steeled his resolve. “…The chieftains did not just bring their armies for fear of a Hollow Shader’s attack. They brought their armies so that when they condemn our Cairn Tribe to exile, which they will, the tribes’ armies will move to wipe us out in one clean stroke.”

“So they’re out for blood, is it?” Vaughn muttered.

Dawn smirked, “Then let’s give them a taste of what blood really looks like.”

“Agreed,” Marek grabbed his orichalcum spear and straightened his back, standing at his full towering 7 feet, then marched down the hill towards the multitude of tents.

Dawn smiled and followed behind him, as did Vaughn.

The rugged dire human and the two hybrid archmages at his side drew the eye of every man and woman they passed. Warriors stopped their training drills and others stepped out of their tents, each eager to catch a glimpse of the soon-to-be outcast chieftain.

Some of the warriors, the younger and foolhardy ones, stepped in front of Marek and tried to block his path. Marek didn’t hesitate, he swept his spear in a wide arch. The dense black metal smashed into the warriors, shattering shields and bones in one clean sweep. It had all happened so fast; Marek had swung his spear in three swipes, foregoing any sort of attack with the sharp-edged spear tip. Yet all four warriors were left on the ground, their bodies broken, blood seeping from cracked skulls and smashed ribs.

The other tribesmen quickly backed away and opened a path for Marek, the twins, and the eerily large wagon behind them. No other warrior blocked their path. The other tribesmen gave Marek and his companions a wide berth, and simply stared and whispered to themselves.

“They’re afraid of you, my lord,” Vaugh noted quietly.

“As they should be,” Dawn said.

Marek glanced back at the wagon, “...They should be scared of what’s sleeping in there.”

“Yes, the Unildyr beasts have grown far more quickly than I would have ever imagined,” Dawn said thoughtfully. “It’s only been a year and a half and they’re already almost 30 feet tall.”

“I’m more surprised by how quickly it’s gained muscle mass,” Vaugh noted.

Marek nodded grimly. It was hard not to notice. The void creatures had cloudy translucent skin. Their pale white muscles could be seen rippling underneath their smooth, yet thick skin. Where other creatures were lean and supple, the Unildyr beasts were covered in corded muscles, particularly around their arms and legs.

Marek remembered watching the pen keepers feeding the beasts. They had brought in over 30 root-bison from the nearby hills. The bison were as tall as centaurs and twice as wide. Yet the twenty Unildyr had ripped them apart with their long black claws as if the bison were made of soft butter. The beasts had devoured the bison down to the very last bone, nothing was left on the grass but splatters of blood.

In the end, the Unildyrs’ black eyes stared hungrily at the pen keepers, waiting for more. A shiver ran down Marek’s spine just remembering the sight.

Recently, to the horror of the pen keepers, the beasts had begun to grow a second pair of arms from their backs. The arms were narrow and covered in corded muscles, with long webbed fingers that seemed to form wing-like appendages. Thankfully, none of the beasts had shown the ability to fly… yet. Though Marek wasn’t sure if that would last. As for now, the beasts were simply content to use the prolonged black claws on their wing-like fingers to pierce and stab whatever prey wandered into their pen.

It was a wonder to Marek and his war council why such terrifying beasts hadn’t simply escaped their pens already and gone on a rampage.

Could we even stop them if they did? Marek swallowed hard at the horrifying thought.

Even as babies, Marek had learned the beasts’ flesh was practically impenetrable. Their claws and fangs could tear through the toughest of armor with ease. But it was their ability to absorb and devour magic that gave him chills. If not even the mages could stop these creatures, then what could?

“What killed the Unildyr?” Marek muttered.

“What?” Vaughn raised his eyebrow questioningly.

Marek stared warily at the wagon behind them, “The Unildyr, these… monsters, they are more powerful than anything I have ever witnessed. If such creatures existed long ago, how is it possible they ever went extinct? What killed them?”

“That’s…” Vaughn stopped, unsure of what to say.

Marek sighed in frustration, “Crow said the Unildyr was a void species that hunted literal dragons as prey. If not even dragons could stop them, what did?”

“The Vesir,” Dawn whispered.

“What?” Marek asked.

Vaughn frowned, “Sister, we’re not supposed to talk about that.”

“If he is to help us, then it is time he knows,” Dawn said solemnly. She stepped closer to Marek and whispered quietly, “You’ve heard of the Age of Titans, yes?”

“Yes, but only very little,” Marek admitted. “You once told me it was the era before the Sundering Age, right?”

Dawn nodded, “Yes, it was the time before the Sundering changed the world as we know it. Things were very different back then, the world was different… when the titans existed.”

“I’ve heard you speak about the titans before, but who were they really?” Marek asked warily.

“Sister, that’s enough,” Vaughn admonished in a stern voice.

Dawn ignored him and continued, “The titans were the wardens of the land, they were the self-appointed protectors of mortals, and the Vesir Queendom was their nation; a place where titans walked among mortals, one in blood and fate.”

Vaughn sighed in defeat and added, “…If the ancient stories are to be believed, Vesir was the greatest kingdom in the world. No other nation has ever come close to their knowledge or power. What little is left of them has lasted through the ages with tremendous power. Like your spear.”

Marek glanced at the orichalcum spear in his hand, even now he could feel its power thrumming quietly. His fingers burned with pain just holding it. He threw the spear over his back and cleared his throat, “…What does this have to do with the Unildyr?”

“It is said the Unildyr creatures came from beyond this world, from the darkness of the Null itself,” Dawn whispered. “And when the Unildyr monsters began to murder and feast on dragons and mortals, it was Vesir that answered their call for help.”

“The titans rose to face the otherworldly threat,” Vaughn said. “They gathered the other kingdoms and formed the greatest alliance the world had ever seen. Together, they waged war against the Unildyr.”

“And they killed the monsters?” Marek surmised.

“No,” Dawn shook her head. “The people of this world were losing the war, until, if the ancient records are true, the queen of the titans, Ananta, used some sort of weapon.”

“The Sword of Vesir,” Vaughn said. “We don’t know much about the weapon. The old records barely hint at its existence.”

“All we know is that Ananta and the king of the dragons, Vismarya, used the Sword, and in the end finally managed to defeat the enemy,” Dawn said.

“That sounds like a pretty damn powerful sword,” Marek said with a grin. “I could really use something like that right about now.”

“You speak lightly of things you do not understand,” Vaughn glared at him.

“What?” Marek furrowed his brow.

Dawn nodded reluctantly in agreement with her brother, “The Sword of Vesir was said to be powerful not merely because of its physical form, but because it embodied the hopes of the titans, their collective will given shape.”

Vaughn’s expression turned grim, “The ancient records state that the Sword of Vesir was our world’s last bastion against the darkness lurking in the Null.”

Dawn bit her lip, “Brother, you don’t have to—”

“—You’re the one who wanted him to know, Sister!” Vaughn snapped. “The Age of Titans is over, Lord Marek. Vesir is gone and their Sword lost long ago. You asked what killed the Unildyr monsters, but what you really wanted to know is how to kill them if they run rampant, isn’t that right?”

Marek narrowed his eyes, “And if it is?”

“Then you’re a fool,” Vaughn snarled, “We both already know the answer… You can’t stop them. Our fates were sealed the moment the Unildyr monsters crawled out of those silver eggs. No matter what happens now, we can’t change the future. No matter how much my sister wants to.”

Marek frowned, confused. A feeling of uncertainty curled over his back.

“Silence, Brother! You’ve said enough!” Dawn said angrily.

Vaughn shrugged and pointed at the large tent in front of them. “We’re here. The meeting of the chieftains will soon begin.”