War of The Valley of The Dead (Part 1)

As the swords clashed like a steel song, Lordhair's breath mingled with the dust on the battlefield. The Draugr army surrounded him with shadows leaping from their bones, and suddenly everything stopped. A blue aura rose from the broken armors; the Draugr King, in a cold and deep voice, commanded his army: "Enough."

Draugr King, surrounded by a blue aura, walked towards Lordhair. The sparkle in his eyes reflected the determination of a king

Draugr King: (In a cold and deep voice) "I've been waiting a long time to face you."

Lordhair was surprised at first glance but he recognized him, it was impossible not to recognize him, even the strength with which he walked explained who he was.

Lordhair: (Resolutely) "Yes, Draugr King. This moment was inevitable."

The Draugr King extended his hand for a handshake and looked into Lordhair's eyes. Lordhair also extended his hand. Just as their hands touched, they felt a powerful energy surge. An invisible force pushed them back, and the stone columns in the valley vibrated, filling the air with electricity.

Lordhair: (Astonished and curious) "What was that? Can you feel this thing pushing us?"

Draugr King: "It must be because you are my other half. Do you think it is fate that brought us here, or is it our actions?"

Lordhair: "I don't think it's fate that brought us here; we all made choices. Besides, I'm not even from this dimension. By the way, do you have a name?"

Draugr King: "You might be right. My name is Varys, but no one has called me that for a long time. They call us Draugrs. When they were on their side, they saw us as emotionless soldiers with constantly healing wounds, so they named us the Army of the Dead."

Lordhair: "I am Lordhair. But you knew that without me telling you. How?"

Varys: "I've been aware of your presence since I felt it. I've been observing you on your missions. By the way, demonic creatures can be defeated without dark magic; you just need to know the right magic. Also, not everyone should use dark magic. Over time, human emotions can fade."

Lordhair: "All this... it's not for talking, is it, Varys? What do you want from me?"

Varys: "Yes, you will stay at my headquarters for a while. Don't worry, the dead serve well."

Lordhair: "Are you going to make me your prisoner?"

Varys smiled faintly: "No, you're just our guest." I will take you to the depths of this valley, to our main headquarters, 'Valley of the Dead.' I hope you like it. "I have special plans for you."

Lordhair instinctively grew suspicious and said: "Why are you approaching me so friendly? Aren't we supposed to be enemies?"

Varys: "If you want everything to repeat, we can be enemies. Why not."

Lordhair: "If we are not enemies, then what are we? (Pauses) For now, I will follow you, but I will keep an eye on you."

Lordhair, Varys, and the Draugr army started moving towards the depths of the valley. They followed narrow and rugged paths descending from the cliffs. The cold wind blowing between the rocks made the journey even more challenging. As they looked around, they saw massive columns adorned with black obsidian and gold veins. These columns looked as if they were once built by gods but later abandoned.

As they continued to move forward, Lordhair's already existing suspicion grew. Why are they taking me? Where are we going? Everything is filled with uncertainty. But on the other hand, I want everything to happen quickly and return to my dimension. I guess the reason I quickly adapt to everything is because of this; I had to hide the machine. But on the other hand, I met a very beautiful girl here, one of the few people I could always want to stay with." He thought to himself and continued the journey thoughtfully.

Along the way, they walked on the ground covered with bright red sand. This sand glowed like blood when the sun set and sparkled like ruby dust in daylight. In the middle, there was a giant crystal lake; its water was so clear and deep that the silhouettes of sunken cities from ancient times could be seen at the bottom. However, the surface of the lake never rippled, reflecting everything like a dead mirror.

A golden and purple mist hung in the air; this mist added a magical glow to every corner of the valley while also hiding the distant areas. As Lordhair watched this enchanting and eerie landscape, he turned to Varys and spoke:

Lordhair: "There are no places like this in my dimension. Everything there is very different. People, cities, technology... Everything is far from what I see here."

Varys: "Tell me about your dimension, Lordhair. What's there? Why did you come here?"

Lordhair: "In my dimension, there were constant wars. Technology had advanced, but this progress led to conflicts and wars among people. As everything changed rapidly, people became alienated from each other."

Varys: "Were there wars there too? Do these wars have anything to do with the events that brought you here?"

Lordhair: (Sadly) "Yes, there were wars there too. My mother also lost her life in one of those wars. She was someone who fought for peace. But one day, she lost her life in an enemy attack. This event deeply affected me, and I constantly worked in my world, searching for modern solutions and training in swordsmanship. But a world without war is impossible. What brought me here was a complete coincidence; I hope I wasn't noticed while passing through the dimension."

Varys: The emotionless Draugr King's eyes seemed to fill with tears, "Your mother's loss must have deeply affected you. But here, maybe you can find the answers and solutions you're looking for. My mother also died in the war, 'while protecting me.'"

Lordhair: (With teary eyes) "Really? My mother also sacrificed her life to protect me. I will never forget her death. That's why I will take my revenge. I will fight to keep her memory alive and to uphold the values she fought for."

Varys: "Look at me, how pathetic I am. I have an army, but I don't even want to use it. All I want is for no one to use me to take lives. Don't be like me. Fight, strive, learn. But don't let anyone use you."

Lordhair nodded and said, "I won't let them."

The wind was cold and sharp. It whistled through the rocks, echoing like a song carrying the soul of the valley. Lordhair felt a sense of curiosity mixed with the doubts inside him. The mysteries and challenges he would face in this valley were drawing him into a new adventure.

Finally, they reached the headquarters in the depths of the valley. Massive arch structures made of what seemed like bones stretched towards the sky. On the sides of the valley stood giant statues carved out of stone. These statues looked like worn-out warriors, kings, or perhaps forgotten gods. Each one stood tall as if cursed to guard this valley forever.

Varys: "Welcome, Lordhair. This is the headquarters of the Valley of the Dead. You will stay here and we will talk more."

Varys arranged a special tent for Lordhair in the depths of the valley. Among the dazzling statues and massive arch structures, Lordhair found his own sanctuary. This tent was made of high-quality fabrics and comfortably furnished. As Lordhair settled into his tent, Varys reassured him:

Varys: "You will be safe here, Lordhair. This tent will be your place to stay. You can have your dinner here."

After settling into his tent, Lordhair listened to the echoes resonating in the dark valley. The wind whistled through the rocks like a melodic song. In the evening, Draugr soldiers brought Lordhair a delicious meal of meat.

Draugr soldier: "This dinner was prepared for you, Lordhair. Enjoy."

Lordhair thanked them and enjoyed the meal. The meat was perfectly marinated with spices and was a delicious meal that melted in the mouth. As Lordhair savored the meal, he thought about how the Draugr soldiers and Varys were truly treating him as a guest.

Lordhair: (Thoughtfully) "Were these soldiers once people like me? If the only thing that set them apart was their desire not to be bound to a kingdom, did that make them enemies?"

Lordhair realized that the Draugrs were not just emotionless creatures; they were still human, not just once, but even now. What Varys said and the behavior of the Draugr soldiers increased Lordhair's desire to learn more about this valley. During his stay, he would observe every move of the soldiers and participate in every task, observing closely.

Meanwhile, Solve and the other retreating soldiers:

Following Lordhair's order, Solve and her soldiers retreated to a safe area near the Black Fortress. They moved quietly through the night, carefully avoiding detection by the enemy. Finally, they reached a sheltered valley and set up camp.

As Solve retreated, she worriedly hoped that Lordhair would survive no matter what, and reluctantly pulled back.

Solve: "Everything is going according to plan. We will be safe here. Now we need to regroup and prepare for a counterattack. Everyone rest and tend to your wounds."

The soldiers explored the surrounding area and chose suitable spots to set up camp. Fires were lit, the wounded were treated, and supplies were organized.

Solve: "We all survived this attack. This is a great chance for us. Now we need to rest and gather strength. We will wait for news from Lordhair."

One of the soldiers: "Yes, but how safe are we? Can't the enemy find us here?"

Solve: "This area is out of the fortress's line of sight and quite sheltered. However, we will place sentries just in case. Also, we need to buy time to plan our next move."

After placing the sentries, Solve and her soldiers gathered in the center of the camp. Solve set up a table filled with maps and notes and began devising a new strategic plan for her soldiers.

Solve: "We need to find the enemy's weak points and use this information to our advantage. Also, we need to replenish our missing supplies. We will send out a few scouting teams."

The soldiers took on various tasks and began preparations. Some explored the surroundings to find supplies, while others went on reconnaissance missions to observe enemy movements. During this process, Solve organized training sessions to strengthen both herself and her soldiers.

Solve: "We need to get stronger. We must be better prepared for the next encounter. We need to improve ourselves both physically and mentally."

The soldiers received tactical training under Solve's guidance and enhanced their combat skills. Meanwhile, they continued to discover the enemy's weak points and make strategic plans. While waiting for news from Lordhair, they completed their preparations and gathered strength for the counterattack.

Lordhair was resting in his tent when Varys called him to the campfire in the headquarters square.

Varys: "Lordhair, I invite you to the campfire in the headquarters square. Come, let's sit and talk here."

Lordhair left his tent and headed to the headquarters square. Surrounded by the gazes of the Draugr soldiers gathered around the burning fire, he sat next to Varys. The warmth and glow of the fire seemed like a beacon of hope in the cold valley's darkness.

Varys: "This fire is both a source of light and a symbol for us. Gathering around this fire represents unity for us."

Lordhair: "It looks good. My family's symbol, 'iron,' represented strength and determination. It truly fits."

Varys: "A long time ago, I also had a family name; they called us 'Ephesus.' We were a noble family, but there was no reason for us not to be destroyed in the war."

Lordhair: "Why? What happened?"

Varys, absentmindedly playing with a stick in the fire: "In all the wars, I lost my favorite people one by one—my friend, my lover, my sibling, my mother, my father, everyone else... Everyone kept saying there were still things worth valuing outside, but was it really that simple? I was under their influence for a long time, and as time passed, I became a ruthless warrior. They called me 'Ephesus's Wrath.' Time went by, and King Moranths, hearing of my reputation, came to me with an offer. He said they wanted to conduct a cursed experiment involving dark magic and were looking for a heartless and ruthless leader. I accepted. Among all the mistakes I made, this was perhaps the most irreversible one. We were used for decades, slaughtering people."

Lordhair: "You've had a very hard life. Is that why you retreated to this deep valley, so that such tragedies wouldn't be repeated?"

Varys: "Yes, the day I regained consciousness, we were in a village, and everything was burning. That day, the memory of losing my mother and the entire castle burning came to mind. Something needed to be done. At that moment, I felt the entire army obeying me, and I commanded them to retreat. For years, they wanted to replace me and use my army to regain the kingdom's former glory. But I will never allow it."

Lordhair turned to Varys and asked: "You seem like a very peaceful leader. Why haven't you made peace all this time?"

Varys: "Everyone wants peace. Years ago, I demanded peace, a peace where no one was harmed or used. But they thought we were scared, and they said if we fought like dogs for them again, they would spare us. Eventually, after years of fighting, both armies no longer wanted war."

Lordhair: "If you still want peace, I can try to negotiate for you. One side doesn't have to be wiped out."

Varys: "This matter can no longer be resolved with words, but it was a good attempt nonetheless."

Lordhair: "I understand, human nature may not change. I need to sleep now. Good night to you."

Lordhair quickly and quietly went to his tent and took the ancient artifact in his hand, saying,

 "The time has come."

Lordhair held the ancient artifact "Alter" and felt its power. The power of "Alter" allowed him to turn his body into a silhouette and travel. Lordhair, visualizing the places he wanted to go in his mind, prepared for travel. He left his body in the ancient artifact and, with his soul, imagined the places he would visit to send messages to Vermithor at the Black Fortress and Solve near the Black Fortress.

In an instant, Lordhair found himself at the Black Fortress, and like a ghost, he glided through the corridors of the fortress and found Vermithor. Sensing his presence, Vermithor focused. Lordhair mentally connected with Vermithor and conveyed his message:

Lordhair: "Vermithor, it's me, Lordhair. I'm currently with the Draugr King in the Valley of the Dead. Their headquarters are here. We will defeat our enemies here. I will also send a message to Solve. Be prepared and trust me."

Vermithor smiled and said, "You survived. That's what I expected from you."

Lordhair: "I didn't survive; the Draugr King allowed me to live."

Vermithor: "Strange, normally he wouldn't let his other half live. Be careful."

Lordhair: "Understood, I must go now."

Vermithor, receiving Lordhair's message, immediately started preparations, seeing it as an opportunity despite not being fully healed. Lordhair then continued to reach Solve, who had retreated to a safe area near the Black Fortress. Solve, sensing Lordhair's presence, focused.

Lordhair: "Solve, it's me, Lordhair. I'm currently with the Draugr King in the Valley of the Dead. Their headquarters are here. We will defeat our enemies here. Make your preparations and trust me."

Solve, happily, said, "You survived," and tried to hug Lordhair, forgetting he was a spirit, but her hands passed through him. Without showing her disappointment, she turned to Lordhair and said, "Take care of yourself."

Lordhair smiled and said, "We will have plenty of time to hug when this is over. You take care of yourself too. I must go now." And with that, he disappeared.

Solve, receiving Lordhair's message, immediately sprang into action. She informed her soldiers of the situation and began preparations. Solve was determined to act based on the news from Lordhair.

Lordhair, completing his astral travel, returned to his body. Thanks to the power of "Alter," he had conveyed important information to Vermithor and Solve. Now, he left the artifact to rest and lay down in his prepared tent to sleep.

Before the Operation at the Black Fortress with Solve and Lordhair:

Before the mission began, Lordhair thought that Vermithor and Solve were not bad people for him; they just had to fulfill their duties. He thought he had observed enough and designed everything in a way that he could stay and observe the Draugr King's army. He discussed the mission details with Solve. While Solve was discussing tactical plans for the operation with her assistants, Lordhair approached her and asked, "Can we talk privately for two minutes?" Solve nodded with her eyes, and together they went to an empty room.

With a curious and calm voice, Solve asked: "What did you want to talk about, Lordhair?"

Lordhair, aware he was taking a risk, said: "I need to show you something, something special, an artifact. Its name is 'Alter.' It allows my body to move solely through my spirit by thinking about the place I want to go."

Solve, surprised, said: "This is an artifact created by a legendary wizard hundreds of years ago. It was supposed to be destroyed by now. Where did you find it?"

Lordhair: "It emerged after I killed the dragon on my first mission. I thought I should not show it until I knew you well enough. I had no other purpose. We can use this artifact for espionage in this mission against the Draugr King. I can deliberately get captured while fighting the Draugr King. You can retreat around the Black Fortress and wait for me to inform you through the artifact. In the morning, you and Vermithor can come with a large army and start the real battle. What do you think?"

Solve, angry, with her green and beautiful eyes blazing, said: "Are you kidding? This is a suicide mission for you. We can't take that risk."

Lordhair: "You've seen my strength, Solve. If I want, I can come out of them alive. Trust me."

Solve: "Yes, you are strong, but you shouldn't be a bait, and Vermithor's approval is also needed for this."

Lordhair: "Alright then, let's ask for his approval, princess."

Solve and Lordhair went together to Vermithor's resting room, and Solve spoke:

"I need to inform you about something. The artifact of the legendary wizard, now called 'Alter,' is currently in Lordhair's possession. He says he found it on his first mission and didn't want to inform us until he knew us well enough. He also wants to use this artifact against the Draugr King, aiming to inform us from the inside through espionage. I'm seeking your approval for this mission."

Vermithor silently studied Lordhair for a while and said he wanted to see 'Alter.' Lordhair handed it over.

Vermithor silently examined the artifact; it had shiny, old but beautifully crafted motifs, and the magical power inside was palpable. Vermithor calmly turned his face to Lordhair and said, "I approve."

Solve tried to object, but Vermithor said, "He, Nira, and you call him the prophesied prince. Let's listen to him this time."

Solve bowed her head and said, "Alright then, let's continue with the preparations, Lordhair," and they left Vermithor's room.

Currently:

The hours had passed, and it was slowly approaching midnight. Lordhair was sleeping in his tent when suddenly the sound of many footsteps began to echo. Draugr soldiers and the Draugr King were coming to Lordhair's tent. Lordhair quickly grabbed his weapon and stood on alert.

Draugr King: "Capture Lordhair!"

The soldiers quickly entered Lordhair's tent. Seeing the Draugr King and his army standing before him, Lordhair was surprised. However, he immediately composed himself and took a fighting stance.

Lordhair: "Varys, we had an agreement. Why are you betraying me?"

Draugr King (Varys): "This is not a betrayal, Lordhair. It's just mercy."

Lordhair, with swift movements, avoided the soldiers' attacks and drew his two swords. His swords, imbued with microdeath, glowed with a purple energy, delivering deadly strikes to the Draugr soldiers. The purple energy shimmered around his swords, instilling fear in his enemies.

Lordhair continued to fight agilely and determinedly, striking down the Draugr soldiers with every blow. His impressive maneuvers with his swords left the soldiers stunned.

However, in the midst of the battle, the Draugr King suddenly appeared behind Lordhair and said, "This war has come to an end," as his voice echoed like a shadow in the valley. His sword glowed like a dark lightning bolt and with a single strike, he plunged it into Lordhair's chest. Leaving the sword embedded for a moment, he said, "Verschwinden."

Lordhair, groaning in pain, fell to the ground, but there was still a light of resistance in his eyes. The Draugr King leaned down and spoke coldly to Lordhair:

Draugr King: "But this is not the end."

However, before the Draugr King's sword could finish its job, Lordhair decided to use one last bit of his strength to cast a powerful dark spell. He clasped his hands over his chest, summoning dark energy. The air around him thickened and darkened, and a powerful explosion of magic occurred. The Draugr King and his soldiers were thrown back.

The Draugr King looked at Lordhair with arrogance: "These are futile efforts, Lordhair."

Varys, as he sheathed his sword, his blue aura rippled slightly.

Lordhair, despite the pain, struggled to stand and spoke determinedly: "I feel something in my body, what have you done to me?"

Varys: "This is just the beginning, Lordhair. The fate of the valley will change with you. For now, good night, Lordhair."

Meanwhile, Vermithor and Solve completed their preparations and were ready to take action. Was a great war on the horizon?