Drums Of A Heart Beat

Chase sat up in the dim light of his own tent, the cold air sneaking its way into the cracks of the poorly built shelter.

He stood up, and dawned his armor. Mainly because it was the warmest piece of clothing that he had on him.

But also because the time was almost near, and he would have to become something entirely different from what he had always been.

Lifting the curtain of his tent, he ventured into the darkness of the allied camp at night.

Hundreds of soldiers were gathered in different areas, either by fires or in the dead of night, having one last drink with their good friends.

Chase and his friends had no need for such extents, or even last greetings. In fact, they were all quite confident in their chances of survival, and that was only the first chapter of this long life that had plenty in store for them.

Looking down at his Vox, Chase finally got the chance to not only study his new abilities, but actually get the chance to realize how far he had gotten in such a short amount of time.

Output: Four Stars...

Potential: ???

Elemental Arts: 

Passive: Aura Of The Phoenix Flame...

Active: Feather Flare...

Active: Ember Draw...

Chase's thoughts paused.

There is no description on the two new abilities that he had gained in the recent weeks, but he had a vague idea of what they did.

Before he could finish his thoughts, loud chants took up the entirety of the camp.

He slowly made his way toward the sounds, where he found hundreds of soldiers gathered as two men dueled at the center of it all.

Somehow, Justin of House Pice, and Onyx of House Dragon had found themselves in a mighty duel.

Not a duel to the death of course, as that would be foolish for the allied armies to cut down its own generals over mortal affairs. 

Chase watched, as Onyx showed a level of skill that he had not even dared to use against him, which showed just how much power The Black Dragon had been hiding this entire time.

'What is he playing at...'

Chase thought, as he studied the duel.

Justin was just as powerful, his crimson blade deflecting each and every attack from the child of the dragons.

His sword left a trail of blood red haze at it traveled faster than Chase could even see, and Dragon was just as amazing.

The purple hue of his sword left a rainbow-like aesthetic in the night time air of the allied camp.

Crimson and violet overpowered each other under the grand constellations of Vallmora.

Then it happened, Dragon had launched quite a convincing faint of his sword, and Justin had fallen for it prematurely, causing Dragon to land a bitter cut on the cheek of the general.

And with that, the duel had ended.

Many spectators sounded disappointed in the pathetic end to the fight, but in a real fight that would have been the deciding moment.

Chase found that many of these soldiers were fools, as most close combat fights usually ended in the span of a couple moments, as when one is constantly going for the kill, the fights tend to end quite quickly.

Even one mistake could make for the end of a mighty battle between two powerful opponents. 

Justin shook his Onyx's hand, and gave mutual respect to each other, as both were honorable men that would take the battlefield side by side in the coming days.

After the people cleared out, Chase met with Dragon.

They stood under the veil of stars in silence, as in the distant horizon the sun had began to crawl over the vast blanket of snow.

"Are you prepared."

Dragon asked, as he drank from his pint of ale.

"No..."

"Good, it means you won't foolishly die at the hands of a frontline soldier."

Chase sighed, and gazed at Hero's Fang, which rested on his lap.

"I am fighting with the southern army, along with few other of our Task Force Unity allies."

Dragon nodded.

"You will have to force your way to The Wendigo... But steel yourself... And remember that there is no greater sin than rejecting a sacred duel."

The words had confused Chase, causing him to raise an eyebrow.

Just as he was about to ask what Dragon meant, terribly loud drums began to echo throughout the valley.

Chase's blood ran cold.

"So the time is nigh..."

Dragon grinned, and picked up his blade.

"Chase, may the gods of war bestow you with great fortune in the coming battle."

"I'm not ready..."

Chase quietly muttered, as he felt his knees start to shake.

"A true warrior never is..."

Chase figured that there was no better time than now anyways. He stood up, with Hero's Fang at his side, and the six thousand men and women of the southern army taken arms at his side.

As he stood in the cold and frigid air of the Frostfang wilderness, the opposing army began to show itself over the cold horizon.

Chase felt the rune on his neck begin to glow with a terrible rage.

Then out of thin air, the mask of the grinning devil slowly became tangible over his numb face.

Then he whispered.

'Sazir... I hope that you await me on the other side of this hell...'

Then the horns of war triumphed in the morning light, as both armies began to charge forward.