//------------------------------// // Chapter Nine: The Hunt Ends, and the Slaughter continues // Story: The Warriors of Chaos II: The End Times // by The Warmaster //------------------------------// ”Report, vermin.” Archaon growled as he loomed over the survivor griffin and Pegasus. They had managed to find Archaon’s detachment, and the group had stopped to hear what they had found. “Lord Everchosen, we discovered the mangled corpses of the traitors we were looking for.” The Griffin spoke, kneeling before Archaon. “It would seem that something within this cave did not take kindly to their intrusion, an dhad slaughtered them all. We have no more reason to be here, Everchosen, so-“ The Griffon wasn’t able to finish his sentence, as Archaon’s flaming blade had been rammed straight through the soldier’s head, splitting it down the middle. The Pegasus scampered back, looking up at Archaon in abject terror as its claws scratched against the ground. ”So this creature dares to take our vengeance from us?!” He growled, turning to his corrupted warriors as he pulled his sword out from the dead griffin. ”And this coward expects us to just leave it to its own devices? What a fool! I am Everchosen of Chaos! I do not let others take what is rightfully mine, I crush them!” He held up the dead Griffon, before tossing it to the side. ”My minions! We will not be like this coward, and flee in terror when something kills our enemies for us! We will kill that wretched thing, and mount it’s skull upon our banner for its arrogance!” The warhost cheered and roared in response. ”The enemy of our enemy, is not our friend! They shall die next! For all shall be crushed before the Herald of the End Times!” With another roar of rage from his soldiers, Archaon began to once again march forward, the Pegasus slowly Fallon back in line with the others marching behind him. Archaon growled in anger, the orange flames of his sword swelling in response to his unrelenting rage. Killing the thing that dared to kill those that betrayed him was a secondary reason for continuing, though it did make his blood boil that he couldn’t slaughter the traitors as a sacrifice to the Gods. No, he could feel something, deep within this cave system. Something was calling him to it, and he could feel the taint of Chaos upon it. He would kill whatever lurked in this cave, and then take whatever treasure laid within. Thirty minutes later Archaon had regrouped with one of the other parts of the Horde, and they too had reported finding gory corpses and flayed skins dotting the caverns. The faintest echoes of screams would occasionally find their way into Archaon’s ears, and he assumed that the other group’s scouts probably met whatever was dwelling in the caves. Now it was killing his minions? Archaon would flay it alive for its continued transgressions against him. First his prey, now his soldiers? “My lord, I believe we are nearing a massive chamber.” One of the corrupted Pegasi trembled forward, looking up at Archaon with fear. ”It is near as well… I can feel it. Archaon growled, the Slayer Of Kings lighting his way as the veritable army slowly marched into a massive cavern. High above them was the thunderous and cloudy sky, revealing to them that they were at the bottom of a massive chasm. Incredibly steep cliffs meant that they wouldn’t be climbing out, and the harsh winds also aided in that assumption. In the back of the gorge was an altar, with a blazing eight-pointed star seated upon it. Archaon could hear whispers in his mind, Dark promises that he could have the blessings of all four Chaos Gods. All he needed to do was to claim the Star for himself. ”I am Archaon! Whatever foul beast lurks here, show yourself!” Archaon roared, planting his sword into the ground. His declaration echoed throughout the chasm, fading with time and bringing forth no response. One of the corrupted Chaos ponies shivered, his eyes glued to the burning Chaos Star on the altar. Taking a quick look at Archaon’s back, he broke from the lines, rushing to claim the Star for himself. Everyone, not just Archaon, could hear the whispers of power. And this pony’s fear of Archaon was clearly not as strong as his desire for power. As the pony galloped across the chasm floor, his mutated and utterly useless boy wings flailing behind him, a guttural and inhuman screech suddenly erupted from everywhere at once. A flash of bright purple flared from up above, streaking down towards the pony, who had enough intelligence to look up at his impending doom. The massive creature sank its giant, scythe- like appendages cutting through flesh and bone with ease, rapidly tearing the foolish pony asunder as his wet screams were drowned by the black blood practically bursting out of his body and throat. Vital organs, legs, and gore flew into the air, practically showering the area in his entrails. This all happened within three seconds, and the beast immediately turned to the rest, its clawed hands curled and ready to pounce. It hovered above the ground, a mass of tendrils trailing behind it as the beast circled Archaon’s army, occasionally switching directions faster than mortal eyes could follow. ”So this is what slaughtered my prey and my minions?” Archaon pulled his sword from the bloodied earth. Unnoticed by him,  most of his minions seemed disgusted and even horrified at that brutal display of slaughter, and the absolutely eviscerated corpse left behind. ”I am Archaon, Everchosen Of Chaos! And your demise, vermin!” Archaon ran forward, straight towards the creature, which paused momentarily. The creature, likely surprised at the forward assault, lunged forward to claim another victim, it’s horrible screech making several ponies bleed from their ears. It’s scything talons ready to claim yet another easy victim. So when the beast found its strikes matched by the heavily armored Everchosen’s shield and blazing sword, it faltered in complete surprise. And that momentary hesitation allowed Archaon to drive The Slayer Of Kings into the beast’s hide, to which it screeched and seemingly phased backwards, as if t were some sort of incorporeal wraith. It scampered into the darkness of the chasm, howling in pain before all was quiet. Had Archaon a visible mouth, he would have been frowning. ”This is what slaughtered my servants?! Pathetic!” Archaon growled, moving to claim the Chaos Star symbol for himself. As he drew near, however, yet another ear-piercing screech met his ears, and he turned as the beast re-emerged, grabbing him with all four of its arms and dragging him back into the shadows with him. Archaon’s army, like any scared morons, stood there and watched as their leader was dragged into the shadows, his flaming blade being the only thing they could see. Once it was far enough away, and before Archaon could stab it, the beast released him. He dropped to the ground, quickly getting to his feet and slashing at the beast behind him. But the Slayer Of Kings kissed nothing but air, for the beast had already vanished. Archaon roared angrily, his sword the only light source he could see. How far did the bastard take him? ”Cowardly creature! Too terrified of my might to face me in the light?” Archaon taunted, slashing when he heard the slithering sound the creature’s lower body made as it dragged along the ground. Once more, he hit nothing. The creature was obviously not intelligent enough to understand taunts. Just as Archaon turned to try to locate his horde, the beast’s twin talon-scythes lunges at him from the shadows, it’s screech barely giving Archaon any warning as the beast tore away at his back, ripping his cloak to shreds and denting his armor from the sheer strength of the blows. Archaon roared as he swung around, backhanding the beast with his shield before driving his sword into the abomination. It screeched loudly, before its body turned to purple energy, before dissipating entirely. Archaon could still hear the beast slithering about, looking for an opening as he angrily roared in challenge. Archaon fumbled about in the darkness, the beast lunging in every so often to claw at his nigh impenetrable armor, actually doing damage, and fleeing back into the shadows. It was after at least ten minutes of this pattern that Archaon was completely fed up. ”You like to hide in the shadows, do you?! Then feel the flames of my wrath and tremble!” Archaon roared, channeling the magical energies around him, focusing intently on one thought; Fire. The winds of magic bent to his insurmountable will, and a massive, fiery tornado  erupted in front of the Everchosen. The flames roared, lighting up the darkness and revealing the horrible creature. It screeched, clawing at its head and fumbling backwards, it’s spines standing straight up as it tried to blindly escape. But Archaon wouldn’t let it. With a mighty roar, Archaon chased after the beast, the sound of his minions running towards the flaming tornado lost to him as he leapt up onto the creature’s back, deflecting its flailing arms with his shield as the beast tried to swat him off as he crawled closer to its head. ”Know now, you despicable worm, that it was Archaon who has slain you this day!” Archaon declared, before driving  his now blazing blade into its neck. The Slayer Of Kings cut deep, tearing through flesh and separating its spine from its skull. The wraith like beast howled, the mere sound killing several of Archaon’s minions as they drew near. It died soon after, its claws fallen to its sides as it stopped breathing. Archaon pulled his sword out of the now-dead creature,  jumping off of its corpse and pointing at one of the corrupted griffons in his ranks. ”Remove the beast’s claws, scythes and it’s skull. We bring it back to the surface!” He ordered, and they rushed to obey. He soon found his way back to the altar, looking at the symbol of chaos Undivided, before taking it, putting it in a small pocket compartment in his armor. He could hear the whispers clearly now, praising his title and promising him untold powers for his service to the Chaos Gods. A month later Archaon roared as he lunged forward, driving the tip of his blade right between the eyes of a griffon and splitting his entire skull in two. The rush of battle surrounded the Everchosen, griffons and mutated warriors slaughtering each other in a crescendo of blood and death. Arrows pinged off of Archaon’s armor as he whirled around, swinging the Slayer Of Kings in a wide arc and ending the lives of the griffons charging him from behind, armor and flesh no match for the flaming blade’s hungering edge. ”More! More slaughter! Let this entire kingdom be an offering to Khorne’s unquenchable thirst!” Archaon declared, breaking every bone in the griffon’s body as he slammed his shield into him, crushing armor plates and forcing it into the bird-like creature’s chest cavity. One of Archaon’s more heavily armored minions, the amount of armor signifying his status as one of Archaon’s elite (longest living), tore through three Griffons coming towards the Everchosen, his axe burning with daemonic energies as the blood on it was absorbed by the hungering conscious within. “For the Everchosen! May the Gods grant us their blessings for this offering!” He declared, his voice a guttural roar as he launched himself at another group of Griffons. He soon found his neck impaled upon a spear, black blood trailing down as his life left him, his soul to be later consumed by his gods. Finally. This was what Archaon had been hoping for. After a three months of invading the Griffon Kingdom with minimal resistance, he finally had something that at least constituted as a challenge. All around him, soldiers on both sides died for their causes, some looking to defend their home from these invaders, some to bring nothing but destruction to everything, and some feebly trying to gain the attention of the Dark Gods. The Everchosen blocked an axe with his shield, crushing the poor bird-pony’s head with a hard hit with the pommel of his sword. The Griffon’s helmet crushed his skull from the force, as well as pierced his neck and cut through his spine. Archaon laughed, the air seeming almost crimson, and blood in the wind. Was this how the End Times would be like? Thousands dying, butchered and slaughtered like the animals they are, all to satiate Archaon’s mission? The Everchosen truly hoped so as he decapitated another griffon. “Lord Everchosen! The enemy begins to falter! The sorcerers belief they will soon break!” One of Archaon’s minions called, this one having once been a soldier from Equestria. His claws were wrapped around the handle of a broadsword, as well as a griffon’s neck, which soon snapped. ”Excellent! We move to surround them!” Archaon roared, crushing a fallen enemy’s rib cage with his shield. ”Kill any that surrender, then move on to the village! I care not what you do to the inhabitants, but I want this place to burn!” And so, once the remaining soldiers fell to the bringers of death, Archaon’s horde rushed into the village before them, that the army had so desperately tried to defend. The abominations slaughtered many innocents, but raped and imprisoned many more. These poor souls would be used as sacrifices to the Dark Gods, or kept as slaves. Even worse still, some were used as vessels from which many Daemonic weapons were forged. Archaon’s horde would pillage three more  villages, until the death cries of one of their oracles would see the Daemonic warhost returned to Equestria. The Griffon Kingdom, with many of its villages lost, and farms destroyed and unable to grow food, would suffer greatly for a thousand years after Archaon’s departure. But fate is pulled by those in power, and soon, Archaon would face a challenge far greater than any that he had faced before...