Cult of the Abhorrent

Grigori looked upon the desolate wasteland they called a battlefield. Corpses of friend and foe alike strewn about from the battle that was currently raging. The Imperial army was crushing any resistance the Cult of the Abhorrent could muster. In the distance, he could hear the dying screams of many of his comrades. The amalgamation of corpses and viscera was like a violent portrait of beauty. "This, this is true art", he thought to himself. The sound of lightning cracking beside him broke him free of his thoughts. Viktor and Arleya, two other anomaly users appeared as the dust settled. "We aren't fairing quite as well as I had hoped" Viktor mused, watching the disarray in front of them. "No, we are not" Grigori replied flatly. Without another word, Grigori summoned his prized piece of art, Ars Mortis. The demonic construct was a mixture of corpses of his most powerful enemies over the years imbued with his blood. It stood just under ten feet tall the massive mixture of flesh and bone was imposing in its own right, but when coupled with its skilled and sadistic master it was just about an impossible opponent. With blinding speed, Grigori and Ars flew into the thick of the battle. Twisting and slicing the air with his hand, Grigori manipulated the soul threads connecting himself and Ars. Together they cut a bloody swathe through the Imperial forces. His focus on one thing and one thing only, the High Emperor Vokin. Vokin had been a sworn enemy of Grigori since they had first met nearly a century ago. Vokin had killed the only thing he had truly loved, turning Grigori into the demonic being he had become. Manipulating his construct, Grigori had slaughtered those that stood between him and his prey. "Vokin," Grigori shouted, "I command you to face me man to man." "You pathetic worm, you do not stand a chance against me. Leave now and I may just let you live." In the blink of an eye, Ars and Grigori were upon Vokin. Ars swinging his blade with deadly precision. Vokin, impressed with the ability of his foe, dropped into stance blocking the attack with ease. "So this is how we are going to resolve this, with your death? I had hoped you were a more intelligent man, but it seems you are as animalistic as your egregious power." Vokin snarled. "Then I shall have to put you down like the rabid beast you are." "I have nothing left to lose, you have taken it all, you pompous scu-" All the air instantly left Grigori's lungs with an audible crack as Vokin's mace landed against his chest lifting him off his feet and dropping him hard. Blood trickled from Grigori's mouth as he gasped hard for air but found none. "Ah yes, now I remember you. You're the 'Puppet Master', tell me again what I took from you." Vokin smirked. Grigori attempted to open his mouth but was quickly subdued by a gauntlet to the jaw. "I don't rightly care what makes you believe you are my equal but let me put an end to the insanity now." Vokin raised his mace above his head bringing it down viciously toward Grigori's head. "Die dog!" Grigori closed his eyes, seeing his family once more before darkness took him. It never came. As Grigori opened his eyes once more he saw a flash of leathery wings and Vokin's head fall to the ground. Arleya stood to the side, blood sprayed over her short battle dress. "I thought the Emperor was supposed to be a God or something." She giggled, "Not much more than s**t if you ask me." As Vokin's body fell to the ground, Viktor made his way over to the two. "You seem to be much more pleased than you should be, Arleya, considering the devastating amount of people we lost." Arleya surveyed the scene before her with a look of disgust. "Were you not the one who trained them, 'Oh mighty Viktor'?" she mocked. Viktor shook his head as he pulled Grigori to his feet. "You took one hell of a beating, my boy." The old man smiled, happy to see his longtime protégé still alive. "You don't get to add me to your collection just yet old man." Grigori spat blood as he spoke, then looked over at his collapsed ghoul. "Ars is at least still in good shape." "You rely too much on that abomination, it's a bit eerie." Arleya eyed Ars with disgust. Grigori feebly waved his hand towards Ars "Dissipate." The ghoul dematerialized into a glob of viscera. "We should be going soon, those that got away are sure to return with more." The unease in the old man's voice was strong. There was a flash of white and then there was nothingness.