The King Among the Undead
1245 Words
Valdemar Forest became a battlefield.
The Cursed Knight charged first. His attack was merciless—his sword whistled through the air like a storm of death.
Edric barely dodged! Sparks flew as the blade struck the stone behind him.
He spun swiftly, slashing at the knight—but the monstrous warrior deflected it effortlessly with one hand!
They clashed at a speed no ordinary man could match. Magnus and the human soldiers could only watch, frozen in tense silence.
Until finally…
"HAAAARGHHH!"
Edric swung with all his might. His sword pierced through the dark armor, sinking into the flesh that should have long been dead.
The knight staggered. His burning eyes flickered… then dimmed.
"I… acknowledge you… as my king…" the knight murmured before his body collapsed, lifeless at last.
Silence fell upon the forest. Then…
The rest of the Cursed Knights dropped to their knees.
Their voices rang in unison, chanting in an ancient tongue that echoed through the trees:
"Long live the King of Darkness."
Magnus stared at Edric, horror flickering in his eyes.
"What have you just done…?"
Edric exhaled, his blood still roaring with the thrill of battle. He looked at the kneeling Cursed Knights.
"I have just claimed a throne far greater than we ever imagined."
Valdemar Forest – Moments After the Battle
The night wind howled, carrying the scent of damp earth and blood yet to dry. Before Edric, dozens of Cursed Knights knelt, their crimson eyes burning through the darkness like torches from the depths of hell.
Magnus stood rigid, his fingers clenched tightly around his sword. He could hardly believe what he was witnessing. His comrade-in-arms, Edric, now stood as the leader of an army that should have been long dead.
Magnus swallowed hard, his voice trembling.
"Edric… do you realize what you’ve just done?"
Edric turned to him casually, a faint smirk on his lips.
"Of course, Magnus. I’ve just gained the strongest army in this world."
Magnus shook his head rapidly, his eyes darting toward the kneeling Cursed Knights surrounding them.
"This isn’t an army, Edric! These are monsters! They’re not alive!"
One of the Cursed Knights lifted his head. His voice was heavy, as though it came from another realm.
"We live… in our own way."
Magnus recoiled, stepping back, his grip on his sword tightening.
"By the gods, what is this?"
Edric stepped closer, his eyes filled with an unsettling calm.
"This is the future, Magnus. I will not be a king without an army that guarantees my rule."
Magnus let out a bitter laugh, his voice laced with anger and frustration.
"Power? Is that what you seek? I thought we were fighting to free the kingdom from tyranny, not to replace it with something even worse!"
Edric’s gaze darkened, his voice turning cold.
"Tyranny? Magnus, this world knows no justice. The strong will rule. The weak will be erased. You can accept that… or you will be destroyed."
A chill ran down Magnus’s spine.
"You’re not the Edric I once knew…"
Suddenly—
"AARRGGHHH!!"
A human soldier screamed. A gauntleted hand had seized his throat! One of the Cursed Knights had moved without command!
Magnus instantly raised his sword.
"LET HIM GO, YOU BASTARD!"
The knight turned toward Edric, as if awaiting an order.
Edric raised his hand slowly, his voice calm yet filled with authority.
"Release him."
The knight obeyed instantly, letting go of his grip and allowing the human soldier to collapse, gasping for breath.
Magnus stepped forward, his chest rising and falling with barely contained fury.
"Do you think you can control them forever, Edric?"
Edric met his gaze without hesitation.
"I don’t just control them. I am their king."
Magnus gritted his teeth, his eyes narrowing.
"And what if I stand against you?"
Edric’s smirk returned, barely perceptible.
"I would hope you wouldn’t, my friend."
Magnus stared at him for a long moment before exhaling sharply.
"Friend? I don’t even know who you are anymore, Edric. You’ve chosen your path… and I won’t follow you."
Edric nodded slightly, as if he had already expected that answer.
"Then we shall meet on the battlefield, Magnus."
Silence.
Amid the thin mist that blanketed the forest, Magnus knew—
The Edric he once knew was gone.
Standing before him now was the newly crowned King of Darkness.
A Throne Trembles
Royal Palace of Draven – The Throne Room
Inside the grand throne room, King Aldric sat upon his throne, his fingers tapping against the armrest of pure gold. His expression was grim, his eyes narrowing as he read the letter just delivered by his spies in the north.
A man clad in black armor stood before him—General Varian, the highest commander of the royal army. His voice was firm as he spoke.
"Your Majesty, this news… is hard to believe. Edric has seized control of something that should exist only in legend."
Aldric’s gaze sharpened.
"The Cursed Knights… I thought they perished centuries ago."
Varian nodded, his face dark with concern.
"So did we all. But now, not only have they returned… they serve Edric."
Silence gripped the room.
The royal advisors exchanged uneasy glances, fear creeping into their hearts. An elderly advisor with a long beard spoke in a trembling voice.
"Your Majesty… if an army of the undead truly exists, then this is a threat we cannot ignore."
King Aldric let out a heavy sigh and tossed the letter onto the table before him.
"Edric… I once knew him as a knight. But now… he has become something else."
Varian clenched his fists, his jaw tightening.
"Your Majesty, we cannot allow this cursed army to grow stronger. If they march upon us, we will all become corpses under his command."
Aldric studied him for a long moment before finally rising to his feet, his golden robes shimmering in the torchlight.
"We will not wait for him to attack, General."
Varian raised an eyebrow.
"Your Majesty… what do you mean?"
Aldric’s lips curled into a cold smile.
"We will strike first."
The advisors whispered among themselves, some in shock, others nodding in agreement.
A young nobleman stepped forward—Prince Kael, Aldric’s son, a young man with sharp eyes brimming with ambition.
"Father, allow me to lead the first army to the north. I will have Edric’s head before winter arrives."
Aldric examined his son carefully.
"You wish to prove yourself, Kael?"
Kael nodded, his expression unwavering.
"This is the perfect opportunity. I will not fail you, Father."
Aldric pondered for a moment, then nodded slowly.
"Very well. You will lead 10,000 elite soldiers to the north. Do not allow Edric to grow stronger. If necessary, eliminate him before he reaches our borders."
Kael smirked in triumph.
"I will not disappoint you, Father."
Varian glanced at Kael with slight hesitation. The prince was ambitious, but was he cunning enough to face Edric?
Regardless, the order had been given.
War was coming.
---
Meanwhile – Edric’s Stronghold
Within an ancient, long-abandoned castle, Edric stood on the balcony, gazing down at the legions of undead soldiers assembled beneath him.
Beside him, the eldest of the Cursed Knights, Lord Varkas, spoke in his heavy voice.
"They will move soon, my lord. The Kingdom of Draven will not allow us to expand further."
Edric smirked faintly.
"I hope so."
Varkas frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Edric turned to him, his eyes gleaming in the darkness.
"Because I’ve prepared a surprise for them."
- Writer
