The Tale of the Great Betrayal

It was somewhat peaceful at this time of the night, the Group decided to take a rest. Zayne then asked a question. "Hey, Stefanos. If it's alright with you, Could you explain what happened? Like You were Strong right? How did you die?" Zayne asked. "Yeah dad, Please tell us. Brooke and I need to know." Azuris said as he and Brooke looked at him.

{BGM: Forever Lost}

"Lieutenant, sir.. With all due respect, I don't think i should listen." Grantose said as it showed he still had survivor's guilt. Stefanos sighed as he had his pipe in his mouth and took a puff. "I don't blame you, Soldier. It's... It's a dark time for you and me both." Stefanos said as he and Grantose looked down. Grantose then quickly ran away to a nearby hill so he wouldn't hear. Renari quickly got up to follow but was halted by Brooke. "He needs some time alone. Honor his wish. Alright?" Brooke asked as she looked at Renari. Renari sighed and sat down. "I don't blame him for this. I mean My Leader and I did all we could to make sure at least ONE knight survived. There is some light within this bitter moment. It's thanks to our death that Grantose grew up. He matured into a fine knight. Anyway you asked about my death correct? Well I will do my best to explain." Stefanos said as he took another hit from his pipe and blew out a puff of smoke. Brooke and Azuris' breathing wavered a moment as they waited to learn the truth.

**"It was a dreadful night... A calamity befell the Kingdom of Kotone..."**

"Zenovia... To think..He'd go through with it..." Stefanos said as he and his leader ran up to where the castle was. "He's a bumbling idiot. He shouldn't have been promoted to the Viceroy's personal knight. Truthfully? I think i would suit that role better than him." Zenovia said. "Couldn't agree more, Captain. I just...hope we aren't too late." Stefanos said as a bell rung. It began to rain shortly after. "Stefanos, Go, Summon the Knights. I fear the worst just happened. Go! Now!" Zenovia said as Stefanos nodded and ran to get the knights.

**"Zenovia and I were going to assess the situation at hand, but things got dire. The only thing we could come up with was to gather our forces, and prepare for an assault...So Once i got to the Barracks where the Knights stayed, Boy what a headache that was..."**

{BGM: Unexpected Impact}

"Lieutenant sir. We stand ready. What transpired...?" Myron asked as he straightened his glasses. Ilias stood up and punched his fists together. "Trouble it looks like. Why else would the Lieutenant grace us with his presence?" he added in with a sarcastic tone. "Things are dire. Captain Zenovia thinks the worst has happened." Stefanos said as the thunder roared outside. "Stop speaking riddles Lieutenant Sir. What happened?" Grantose asked. "The Gold Knight may have attacked. So Im ordering that The Knights are to report to Zenovia. We have to be there for his Radiance. Got it?" Stefanos asked. The Knights got into position and saluted him. "Sir yes sir!" They all said in unison. "Move out!" Stefanos said as he left the Barracks and ran to Zenovia.

**"With my forces right behind me, We were prepared to do this. With the rain soaking us as we ran to the Captain... Not pleasant."**

"Status report." Stefanos said. "Just as i thought. I snuck inside and saw the Gold Knight. He is indeed here." Zenovia said as she heard footsteps. "Right you are, my dear." A voice said as the Gold Knight walked out with a limp bloody body over his shoulder. He then raised his hand and a Sword of Darkness manifested. "Vile Black Magic..." Stefanos said as Zenovia gasped.

{BGM: Night of Tragedy}

"He..He has the king!" Zenovia said as she leaped up and rushed towards the Gold Knight. The Gold Knight just used his sword to swing Zenovia away. "I'll wipe him out. Give me cover!" Stefanos said as he pulled his arm back as his fist glowed. "Your Vaunted Final Heaven, correct? Such an arte will not work on me. You should just drop your weapons, and give your souls to me. Or I can take your souls by force. Your choice." Gold Knight said. The Twins, Photios and Stellios rushed to block the Gold Knight from both sides. The twins then rushed at him with their swords pointed at him. "Cross Thrust!" The twins said in unison as they left a shockwave behind them. Myron flipped through his Tome of spells and recited an incantation."From the land of the living, I call upon thee in the land of the dead to unleash the fury of thunder. Indignation!" He said as he glowed purple and made a huge dome of Electricity fall down on the gold knight. The Gold Knight laughed and shrugged the attacks off. He then quickly dashed towards Myron and impaled him. His glasses shattered and fell. Thereafter, He shined a bright light as a blue haze which was his soul left him, and went straight into the blade. Myron then collapsed. The twins shortly fell the same way. Adam, Eleni and Kassandra gripped their weapons and rushed in. Adam swung his staff at The Gold Knight which the Knight tried to block. Eleni used her chain sword to distract him from the right while Kassandra used her spear and went for the back. The Gold Knight stuck his sword in the ground and caused a dark explosion to surge around him. He then glowed white. "O divine spear, run my enemy through. Holy Lance!" The Gold Knight said as he raised his sword, and made holy lances rain down on Adam. Adam was impaled shortly after and pinned on the floor. "O twisted door of distortion open wide... Negative gate!" The Knight said as he glowed purple, and made a huge dark sphere crush the bones of Eleni and Kassandra. The two girls then fell down in sheer pain. The Knight then raised his sword and extracted their souls. "T-this isnt looking good. Whats the hold up on your arte, Stefanos!?" Zenovia asked. "I-I'm...almost there!" Stefanos said as he was beginning to shine bright. "This looks like a losing battle. We should withdraw...!" Ilias said as he looked around but then the gold knight made a barrier appear around the battlefield. "I took the souls of Adam, Eleni, Kassandra, Photios, Stellios, and Myron. They scream in agony, and their screams fuel my desire to crush you. Please, dont mourn your fallen comrades, You'll be joining them soon enough!" The Knight said as Ilias and Cassius rushed forward. "Demonic Chaos!" Cassius said as he sent three shockwaves towards the Gold Knight. "Tempest Strike!" Ilias said as he flipped up with his blade, striking the Gold Knight but causing no damage. "A Pity.. you show bravery, but it is foolish." The Gold Knight said as he extracted Cassius and Ilias' souls as well, leaving three knights left. Zenovia yelled in anger as she shined white. "O sword of conviction, loose the might of your brilliant colors! Prism Sword!" Zenovia said as she raised her rapier up, and making Six crystal swords to strike around the Gold Knight, trapping him. A 7th sword then falls down ontop the knight, cracking the helmet. "Now...you've done it....!" The Gold Knight said as he dropped the beaten king and then gripped his sword with two hands. "I-It's finished! With this fist, i banish the darkness! Final Heaven!" Stefanos said as he rushed towards the Gold Knight. He then 'Blinked' through the Gold Knight, causing a huge explosion of light to erupt within the Knight. The Gold Knight coughed up a small bit of blood within his helmet. "Is that all?" The Knight asked. "Sir Grantose, you must flee from here! This is turning into a murder. We're the remaining knights left. Go, run!" Stefanos said. "But Lieutenant, I-" Grantose was then cut off. "ITS AN ORDER! Go! Get to safety! We'll catch up soon!" Zenovia said. "U-Understood!" Grantose said as he fled by burning himself through the barrier and running away. The Gold Knight then raised his left hand and a shining light appeared which blinded Zenovia and Stefanos. "This little arte, is of my own creation. I call it, Solar Flare." The Gold Knight said as he then impaled Zenovia and ripped her soul out. The Gold Knight's blade now surged with the other knights souls. The Blinding Light faded and Stefanos then rubbed his eye. He then was shoved onto the floor. "Your knights posed no challenge to me, But you on the other hand? You've caused so many problems. If you weren't here, then your little band of Knights would've survived." The Gold Knight said as Stefanos glared at him. "Well, im at your mercy, finish me off!" Stefanos said. "Oh no no, before i kill you, i have to do one thing first." The Gold Knight sliced off Stefanos' arms, and shortly thereafter, his legs. Now Stefanos was nothing more than a armless, and legless torso with a head. Stefanos then was impaled once more and his eyes and mouth gaped open, they shined a bright blue as his soul was being ripped out. Now out of his body, His soul looked down at his mangled corpse and screamed in agony as his soul was now trapped within the blade.

**"I was now in a prison for the damned."**

 {BGM: Overcome this Hesitation}

"So for years, you were in a prison of souls... That's dark." Zayne said as Brooke and Azuris, who had sorrowful looks on their face quickly hugged Stefanos. "For Ten years you were tortured." Brooke said. "Father, how did you remain yourself? Surely your spirit would've broken." Azuris said. "Because of this." Stefanos pulled out a locket that was made for him and opened it. It showed a picture of Stefanos with Brooke and Azuris. "You two were the only thing i was thinking of. Not being there for your childhoods, Missing almost everything. I hated not being there. But... There is some merit to being a Revenant... I get to be with you two once more." He said as he held Azuris and Brooke close. "But my pain is nothing compared to Grantose's... For ten long years, he lived with survivor's guilt. I feel it was cruel of me to order him to flee." Stefanos said. "So this Gold Knight struck the knights down, and struck the king down. A Nasty person indeed." Renari said. "He still lives.... he still is somewhere. I'll personally destroy him." Grantose said as he returned. Stefanos then stood up and placed his hand on Grantose's shoulder. "No... We'll destroy him. I may be an undead puppet now, but i am still a Knight of Nstari. We're equals now. So keep your chin up, yeah?" Stefanos said as he smiled. Grantose smiled and nodded. "Yes sir!" Grantose said. "It's getting late, we should get to sleep. We have a busy day ahead of us." Sakin said.