Nearing the end of the path leading into the basin the Crusaders spot demonic gatekeepers. Challenge without notable concern had their energy to spar not been exhausted during their journey. All except for the veteran gladiator -- Drained of patience he lept into the air with blades eager of combat.

Executus charged forth onto the gatekeeper like a wolf striking down an unsuspecting calf. His weathered status held great merit to his party; A peaceful man turned back to violence -- There was need for peace in torn land, thus, his expertise was at hand to eliminate the tormenter. But, also to teach the young knights the manner of being a crusader during dire times. This heroism centered the mind of the headmaster, as well, whom now felt the urge to compete for glory.

Headmaster Damien followed into combat; Sliding down the mountain-side less gloriously, but, still honorable as the Champion's Apprentice, Executus; Whom engaged with the opposing gatekeeper; Jumping into the air and plunging into the demons neck he swung from the handle as the gatekeeper flailed about.

Damien struck the opposite after ducking from the swinging blades. Striking the large ankle of the demonic monstrosity. 

The Crusaders unite outside of the colossal fortress, preparing for the fight that could finally bring peace to the war-plagued land. Each of the knights extend their hand and close their eyes bringing their focus to the fortress doors. A dim light radiates from their palms as the ground trembles from the splitting barrier. After an exchange of determined looks pass the young knights; they proceed into the darkness that awaits them.

"Move with caution," Turalyon said with his eyes forward. "And, have your wits about you; this is no place for error." He said, attempting to encourage the young and frightful knights.

Proceeding into the dark fortress, the knights are met by a narrow bridge. Even the slightest hint of light is being devoured by the endless pit of darkness beneath. As the knights began to make their way onto the bridge an apiration emerges from the depths of hell. Flying around the room, and hiding within the shadows before plunging down towards the knights; whom gallop in a panicked sprint across the narrow bridge.

Lord Lucious slows to a halt and turns to the fast approaching apiration. Drawing his blade, and planting his feet, he stares with intensity at the shadow. The dark energy let out a pulsating screech, when the Champion of Light split the apiration with his blade, seemingly with ease.

On the other side of the bridge, the knights were faced with two corridors. Unsure of their direction, the knights seek guidance from their Champion.

"We must divide," Lucifer said confidently shifting only his hood slightly to the right direction.

The courtyard met a large opening encasing the darkness of endless hallways extending into such. On the opposite side lay a network of small corridors consumed in darkness.

"Have you gone mad?" Turalyon responded quickly, beginning to speak again "We sta--"

"You dare defy the Champion?" Executus interrupted the master knight. Staring into the eyes of Turalyon, as his annoyance for the throne's heir was incessant.

"We stand NO chance if we divide!" Turalyon repeated himself, overcome with irritation. "We must think rationally if we want to defeat the Dark Lord." he said.

"We must divide," Lucious turned in an authoritative motion. "We must stay focused on the task at hand." He calmed his apprentice, "Besides," Lucifer turned to the agitated Turalyon, "We have prepared for this moment for quite some time." He assured the master crusader

"They have not!" Turalyon responded with haste; pointing in the direction of the young knights gathered around Clugaol.

Each of the knights held the same anxious expression silently praying to stay in a group together. Brother's Rhegar Durotus and Rulgar Koldrig had a conversation with their looks of concern and angst.

"If you have trained them well -- there is nothing to fear." Lucious told Turalyon with a steady look peering through his mind.

"This was not their path!" Turalyon then recited the code of crusader's

First I must achieve balance before deciding selfishly what is righteous. I gain strength through wisdom, and knowledge I am prepared to fight selflessly for the uni--"

"Silence!" Executus howls to the command of Lucious. 

Over the commotion, the headmaster began to focus on a feint noise of the background. Damien began to follow the calls of the voice -- trying to decipher the whispers for himself; so was he lost in focus with the shifting of his balance.

"Come... ... Closer..." Damien could decipher the voice of long past gripping his aura.

Light's Hand separated. Lucious led his group through one corridor, and Grand Master Clugaol, led the younger knights through the other.

Metamorphestra - Toxicity (System Of A Down).

(Thought this provided a nice atmosphere when reading the finale of the combat in this chapter. If you are mobile you can find this on YouTube. But, I definitely recommend listening to this in the background, you can find the link in the Prologue)

The endless hallways of darkness only led to brief corridors to chose which endless hallways of darkness to wander. The Grand Master focused his attention forward peering through the thick of the shade, and knowing he must lead by example and not allow fear to overcome him. A voice called out from behind him but did not slow the charge.

"Are you sure we should have divided, Grand Master?" Rulgar Koldrig curiously asked.

"It is far too late to ask that question." Clugaol responded. "Keep your faith in the light, and she will guide you through any darkness." the Grand Master said giving insight to the younger knights; looking at each of them, and understanding the fear they face. Not all of the knights were present, as he counted heads once more. He double took, and the other knights understood from his concerned motions.

"Where is Master Damien?" he asked.

The knights looked around, confused and worried at each other. Looking back into the darkness for a sign of their comrade. The apprentice of the missing knight ventured back into the murky hallway without hesitation.

"Tirion!" Clugaol interrupted the young knight proceeding backwards. "Patience," he said making his way to the front of the group, and standing next to Tirion.

"Have faith in your Master, he is powerful and wise." the Grand Master said extending his hand to the knights shoulder calming the anxious crusader.

"Yes, Grand Master." Tirion nodded his head, then followed Clugaol back through the hallway.

Retracing his steps as the young knights followed; Neither one of them knew the direction of the unfamiliar darkness. Once more, feint whispers could be heard echoing through the shadows, but, now all of the knights could heed the warning. They each looked around at each other with young, and worried eyes.

"Stay vigilant." Clugaol reminded his knights. "I sense the Dark Lord is far more powerful than we realize." He said ominously.

The knights regrouped outside of the hallway back where they started.

"We've been walking in circles." Rhegar stated. "And, still no sign of Master Damien." He said defeated by exhaustion.

"Have faith, my apprentice," Clugor calmed the young knight. "We will find him." He said with certainty.

Sudden cries of desperation echoed from the corridor that Champion Lucifer traveled. The scream of a woman haunted the young knights, and the recognizable voice sent shivers down the Grand Master's spine. He paid no mind to any else, but, the cry of his beloved.

"Priestess." Clugaol whispered to himself. "Come!" He commanded the knights.

They rushed through the courtyard to find the cause of terror. The other knights were not as attuned with their senses, yet, they trailed after hesitant steps. Clugaol ran with purpose to the source of the noise feeling the presence of Uriel driving him forward.

Light glimpsed through an opening where a balcony positioned itself to face the small platform. Executus tightly clenched his blades as he towered over Turalyon. Behind him, Lucifer; Critically wounded and crawling on the narrow bridge away from the fight.

"Executus!" Clugaol shouted from the balcony above his fellow comrade.

The Champion's apprentice paid little mind to the grand masters cry. Piercing his blades through Turalyon's chest whilst gloating above the son of Tiberius, fiercely staring into his soul then pulling the blade from the limp knight.

"NO!!" Tirion Fordragon howls desperately.

Grand Master Clugaol lept from the balcony and onto the small platform to face Executus. With his sword drawn, Clugor rushed towards the betrayer entering a frenzy of vicious combos. The two mighty warriors danced around the platform. Nearby, Aiden Lochard runs to his masters corpse and drags him away from the platform rallying with the younger knights.

Letting out a thunderous roar and unleashing his ferocity. Executus lets loose a barrage of assaults with his twin blades, driving Clugaol to the edge of the platform -- his heels hang off the edge as the Grand Master glances down to the endless pit of darkness. Clugaol spins away from the following swing, and readies his stance from the middle of the platform.

"What have you done?!" Clugaol demands an answer for this atrocity.

"Your crusade will fall!" The bloodthirsty betrayer responds with so much force his body shook, and from his wound a river of crimson ran down his leg.

"Your god lies -- This world is crumbling!" Executus cut the air with his blades; Splashing the blood of Turalyon about the platform.

"So you resort to murder!?" Clugaol cries of disbelief. "NO god would commend such heresy!" Clugaol kept the focus of the legendary gladiator whilst the knight carries the wounded away from combat. "Where is your sense?" He questions quietly, and more personal as he puts away his blade.

The other crusaders gathered around the entryway to the platform. They silently assigned each other a comrade to rescue, but, they stayed frozen from the argument of their superiors.

"You have ignored the signs far too long," Executus barked across the platform. "Action had to be taken to save our people." He said shifting his focus towards the crusader carrying the decaying son of Tiberius.

"You have abandoned your people," Clugaol sternly responds after taking a glance over his shoulder to his fallen comrade.

"Do not lecture me!" Executus whined; rushing towards the Grand Master once more unleashing another barrage of swings and strikes.

Clugaol is driven back once more by the unrelenting assault. He parries each sweeping strike, having practiced combat training with Executus many times, in the past, but now it was a true test of strength. Now clear where Executus stands; Betrayer. Clugaol managed the wrath of Executus with aide from the younger knights.

Rulgar Koldrig ran across the platform to assist his brother with the priestess. Catching the eye of Executus in the midst of combat and bloodlust -- the monster unleashes another swing on the unsuspecting knight. Koldrig drops to the ground avoiding the strike sliding under the blade.

Rhegar Dorutas charges into combat to aide his brother narily avoiding a back swing by the monstrous, Executus.

"The Priestess!" Clugaol says, pulling the young apprentice back. Then, parrying another strike from the legendary combatant.

Clugaol stared at the blade inches from his face; his own blade had stopped one of Executus's strikes. But, the second had been stopped by the blade of Tirion Fordragon. The thankful grand master glanced down at the young man, then quickly back to Executus; whom let loose another barrage of strikes. As the monster lost his pace -- Grandmaster Clugaol swings his blade at the opportune moment leaving a gushing wound to the mighty Executus.

"AH!" roars the tyrant Betrayer.

"You must run," Clugaol selflessly positioning himself in from of the young knight.

Tirion retreats to safety off of the platform, gathering with the surviving knights of Light's Hand.

"We must leave immediately" He says while swinging Turalyon's limp arm around his shoulders. He, and Aiden lead the other crusaders down the hallway. 

"The Grand Master," Rhegar says turning back to Clugaol with Uriel's arm around his shoulder.

"We must leave." Koldrig responds to continue moving with the other arm of Uriel around his back.

Executus battled with brute strength throwing heavy punches, and his old sparring partner knew this. Clugaol used his cunning, and precision although he was forced into a defensive stance.

Only by chance the grand master would suffer a slash across his face from the mighty swing of Executus. The Betrayer stared at the young knight with a sinister grin while standing above the motionless body of the grand master, then, making his way towards the escaping knights.

"NO!" Rhegar Doratus cried out letting Uriel free from his support.

"Stop!" His brother dropped the priestess and grabbed Rhegar's cloak; pulling him back from recklessly charging into combat. The two share a glance of understanding, and are forced to leave Uriel behind as Executus narrowed the distance.

With each step their feet lift higher from the ground, and their stride reaching further. Full of fear, the brothers escape the grasp of Executus and rally with their comrades whom are engaged in combat, as well.

Tirion and Aiden wait outside by the bridge, laying Turalyon safe against a wall to help Master Damien defend himself from shadowy figures. The knights of Light's Hand bravely destroy the swarming apparitions.

The knights held wide eyes of fear at the mere sight of Executus, as they were no longer protected by the grand master. Aiden Lochard narrows his eyes and heroically charging to slow the betrayers advance. Tirion joins the brave knight in combat as the other knights make a panicked escape across the bridge, and out of the Dark Lord's Lair.

The two knights worked in tandem allowing for more protection. Eyes to attack, and eyes to defend; Miraculously halting the betrayers assault. A radiant light shined from behind them. Stunning all of the combatants for a brief moment. Executus turns to the source; Clugor, carrying Uriel in his arms proceeds towards the beast.

Executus narrows his eyes and charges towards the vulnerable grand master. But, missing the nimble grand master whom spun around, and under his blades with the priestess cradled in his arms. Executus turned to Clugaol with a shocked expression. The Grand Master gave a short look of disappointment before running off with the knights -- leaving Executus on his trail.

"He lives." Rhegar's says completely stunned by the miraculous endeavor. The idle knights watched as Clugaol ran valiantly out of the fortress with The Betrayer close behind.

Clugaol dropped his head, and tightly held unto his beloved. Executus swung at the air above the nimble grandmaster, and engaged once more in combat. The witty grandmaster swung at the weakened leg of Executus. He dropped to his knees, and let a thunderous roar to the heavens. Clugaol escaped along the trembling ground, and the young knights hiked back up the steep mountainside.

Executus stared in his defeated position. First his head dropped then his back relaxed, and soon enough the legendary gladiator begun his expiration.