(Third Person POV)
In a massive chamber, decorated with massive stone pillars that held the roof up, Zarias was seen walking towards the steps that led up to a large pedestal. He had a serious look on his face, a bit of blood had been smeared on his cheek.
Behind him, the massive body of a grotesque creature was seen, ripped apart completely by an unknown entity. Blood had pooled all around the creature, giving off a horrific stench. Zarias was a bit bothered by this, his nose scrunching slightly.
As he reached the top, there were two cloaked figures that were standing next to the large pedestal.
"Is that it?" He asked, stopping behind them, "The Skull of Brightdawn."
On the pedestal, a large horned skull, which was gold in color, adorned with various jewels and gems, was sitting. The eye sockets of the large skull were empty, with enough space for something to be slid in.
One of the cloaked figures nodded, "Yes." The feminine voice was heard, "The Skull of Brightdawn. The Brightdawn Lord's most powerful artifact."
"And what would this do?" Zarias asked, "Is it even worth the trouble? We're too close to the capital of Abaddon. The risk of getting Asothia's strongest warriors to jump on us is high."
The taller of the two cloaked figures merely chuckled, "You? Worried?" a male voice said, "Weren't you toying around with the rats at the entrance?"
"Watch your tone with me, boy." Zarias narrowed his eyes, "Rats and nuisances are different things. Asothia will more than likely send her Commanders if she discovers our presence here."
The cloaked figure pulled his hood down, revealing a tanned-skinned human man with black dreadlocks and orange eyes. He had a very prominent scar on his right cheek, which ran down to his neck.
"Zarias. His Majesty only sent you to be our Guard Dog." He said seriously, "Make no mistake, you are nothing but a servant of the Duskrend King."
Zarias narrowed his eyes, "I have been His Majesty's loyal soldier far longer than you have ever been alive, boy." He said, "While you were in your father's balls, I was bending kingdoms to His Majesty's whim, destroying his enemies and obliterating the threats to the Kingdom!"
"Relax." The woman said, pulling her hood down, "Zarias, my Senior...."
The woman seemed to be of human descent with red eyes and prominent vampire fangs. She had fair skin and white hair, with a single purple streak running down the left side. She had a red mark on his neck, which resembled a spider.
Zarias looked at her, "Anessa." He said, "You were naught but my compatriot's thrall for the longest time."
"I am aware, Zarias." She said, a slight smile on her face, "I have nothing but respect for The Scourge of Abaddon. But you must remember, Old Friend, that in the Duskrend Kingdom.....ranks matter the most. His Majesty has placed you below us, so you will do what we tell you."
Zarias scowled, "I...."
"Do not disobey His Majesty's will." Anessa said, "Obui and I were sent to find the Artifact. You are meant to be our guard, that is all."
"Tch....." Zarias said
Obui nodded, "We got the Artifact." He said, gesturing at the skull, "All we need is to find the Demon Eyes. With those, we can activate it, and it'll give us an advantage in the War-Torn Lands. That being said, it could prove rather difficult. My Portal Spells require great focus and I only have enough magic power to send us back to our base."
"Grab the Skull and let's go then." Zarias said, turning around, "Don't bother me with this."
"We have to make use of the treasure you've been hoarding." Obui said with a smile, "And it works best the higher we are to the surface. So make sure that those rats are exterminated."
"If you two weren't so lazy and begged for me to deal with the Guardian, I would've dealt with those rats by now." Zarias began to walk down the steps, "You imbeciles."
"Well, if you're so angry about that...." Obui said, pointing to a cage to the side of the chamber, "Use that one and have him take care of them for you."
Zarias looked to the cage, seeing the mangled body of an Orc lying in a pool of blood.
"That is not how my Necromancy Works, you fool." He said, "But I won't mind having its blood."
"I don't mean the Orc, you idiot." Obui said, "The Beastblood."
Zarias stopped, looking at the cage once again and seeing a hunched man with grey spiky hair, covering his face.
"Hm...." He said, "A Beastblood...?"
"Yes." Obui said, "Use it."
"Tch..." Zarias said, "Very well."
Obui chuckled as he turned and reached for the Skull, "Good." He said, "We shall wait for you to complete-"
His hand exploded with blood as a projectile shot through it, causing him to widen his eyes in pain and shock.
Anessa turned to the side, "Who the-"
A hole appeared in her forehead as blood splattered on the Skull, causing her to stumble back, a loud grunt exiting her mouth.
Zarias looked over to see that Samuel was rushing him, "You...." He said, "Boy...!"
Samuel blurred past him, hitting him with his hand and marking him once again.
"Gunslinger's Mark"
"This again?" Zarias said, "You won't-"
He was kept in place by a magic circle on the ground below him, his caused his shield to shatter immediately.
Samuel then fired his gun three times, hitting him on the mark and causing the Critical Damage to proc. The shockwave erupted and ripped apart Zaria's left shoulder, where he was marked. Before he could react, Zarias was then hit with a massive barrage of spectral fists, forcing him down on the ground as shockwaves erupted.
"Meteor Fist"
Obui and Anessa looked down to see this. The gunshot wound on the Female Vampire's forehead was slowly closing, with her letting out a pained grunt.
"What the fuck....?" Obui said as he clutched his hand, which was still bleeding, "They got here already?"
"Runepowder Rounds...." Anessa said, an angry look on her face, "That.....fucking..."
Sharn had landed next to Samuel, her head immediately turning to see the Orc's corpse in the cage that was far from them.
Her eyes widened in horror, "F-Father.....?"
Samuel was reloading his gun, "Sharn!" He said, "Focus!! We have more problems to worry about!"
"But....!!" Sharn said
"I know!" Samuel said as Zarias began to emerge from the dust cloud, "But he's right in front of us!"
"Focus!!"