Zentmeister

An Apocalypse descends—as a lethal super-virus wipes out most of the human population. It took less than a day for the world to change forever—bringing mankind to its knees. 

It’s a time of misery and death for most, however, there are some who are lucky. Zane Graves, who came across a “Blood Crystal” is given an ability: [Dead Man Walking]—which grants him a special power, and so setting him off on his path to the top!

Dead Man Walking: Living By Day, Dead By Night

The battle between Elysium and Gravestone ended shortly after the death of Carolus. Zane gave the cultists an out, despite the fact that their infantry was surrounded by his horde, and had sustained heavy losses.

Not only that, but the number of casters and archers that had survived among the crusader's forces had been nearly devastated in their entirety. Out of the 5,000 soldiers brought to Tahoe by the Cult of Elysium, maybe a tenth of them had survived.

The only reason the cultists surrendered was because Zane showed them the head of their commander. After enduring such a loss, the more rational members of the crusading army threw their weapons by the wayside and got on their knees, fully accepting that they had been defeated.

Why had Zane not entirely finished off the enemy army, despite his own forces being reduced to around 20% of their original numbers after emerging with a Pyrrhic victory? Because he didn't want to start a blood feud with Elysium.

The Aftermath of War