Just being a dark elf in Warhammer

Darkius strode across the misty plain, his pace turning into the mile-eating jog of a warrior marching across a battlefield. He chased the fading light, across windswept lands, around abysses of strange smoke and strange energy.

It was a faint glow hidden by the mist, a fading corner of a sky filled with heavy clouds, and the invisible sun drew him like some celestial magnet. The feathery lizards crawling on the rocks and the carrion flies buzzing in the gray bushes did not witness his passing, nor did they flee when he approached, because these creatures did not exist, and the surroundings were empty.

Gradually, darkness enveloped the plain, and the mist obscured any light that might have been cast.

When he reached a haphazard pile of stones, Maranur tried to fly into the sky, clinging to the jagged peaks, using the broken peaks to hide his figure. However, even flying close to the rocks still exposed him to unexpected dangers.

A sudden downdraft pushed him toward the blade-like rocks, and he saw huge multi-limbed shapes stuck between them, strange growths that had characteristics of both fungi and minerals. The growths expanded and contracted, like giant bladders, sucking large amounts of nutrients from the air.

Maranul struggled to resist the pull of the fungal growths, and the chaotic air currents weakened his resistance. Fighting the attraction of one fungal cluster would cause him to spin and fall into the pull of another. His armor made a sound as it scraped against the jagged rocks, and a small stream of broken rocks rolled down the cliff.

Daquus was speechless. He was just looking at the scenery, and his brother disappeared before his eyes.

The trident provided Maranul with a foothold, no longer floating in the air like before, and he grabbed the rock with the help of the trident.

Without Daquus's instructions, Kerillian and Kallion removed the ropes hanging from their bodies and threw them down. However, Maranul did not rush to climb up immediately. As he fought the pull of the fungus, he observed, his keen senses picking up the clatter of loose rocks somewhere below, and he was pretty sure the sound wasn't coming from below him, but somewhere else.

He held onto the rope for a moment, waiting for any new sounds that might appear. But a few minutes passed, and no new sounds came, and he wasn't sure if the sounds he heard were pure imagination, or a whim after inhaling the fungus's gas.

"What's wrong?"

Maranul frowned and shook his head, saying nothing. Just as he was about to climb up the cliff, he looked back again, and in a split second, he caught a glimpse of a shadow floating in the rock from the corner of his eye. The shape had begun to move forward, but then quietly retreated.

At the moment the shadow suddenly retreated into the rock, a painful cry rang out. The cry was full of fear and despair, but there was something more.

Daquus's hair stood on end when he heard the cry, because the cry was most likely made by humans or elves, but the problem was that in this ghost place... this was a bit weird.

"Go and have a look." He gave the order without any hesitation.

More ropes were tied to Nakai's strong arms. This time, Maranul did not choose to act rashly. When he saw that the elves who were ready to go down were in place, he loosened his arms that were supporting the edge of the cliff.

A moment later, his sharp eyes penetrated the shadows below, and he saw a thin figure in a gray gauze cloak trapped on a platform. The figure was being caught by a scaly, monster-like thing that seemed to have some kind of kinship with the fungal growth body, but was endowed with terrible vitality.

Countless fibrous substances stretched out from the monster, wriggling like tentacles, wrapping the cloaked figure into a tightly bound net. The monster's tentacles pulled its prey inch by inch towards a huge mouth dripping with saliva. The trapped figure uttered helpless wails and desperate cries, struggling desperately, trying to break free.

As the arrow fell, the monster burst in a burst of purple pus and pulp, its tentacles slackened and drooped as its vitality dissipated.

Under the gray spider-web-like cloak was a slender human. Although he was thin, he had a toughness that showed that he had considerable strength and endurance. He quickly pulled back and threw the wreckage away with disgust. The face that emerged from under the hood was thin and tense, and his deep eyes sparkled like gems. His expression was full of despair, and his forehead was engraved with countless wrinkles of worry.

"Glory to you, noble heroes, you actually saved such a pitiful life." After doing everything, he raised his head and focused his eyes on the elves who fell from the sky. He crossed his hands on his chest and knelt down.

Kerillian's eyes were originally widened when she saw the human, and they widened even more when she heard the words. But she only widened her eyes. She stopped at the first time, fixed herself on the rope, and aimed the arrow ready to shoot at this human who suddenly appeared.

When the archers were in position, Ryan and Kallion slid down. Ryan held the Reality Blade drawn across his chest. Kallion chose a relatively safe position and aimed the Silver Owl Crossbow in his hand at the human. When Flanais slid down, he and Ryan tied the human to the rope regardless of the human's wailing and pleading.

"Who are you?" Daquus asked condescendingly after a moment.

"Please calm down, great master! I have no malice towards you! Absolutely no malice!" the man replied hurriedly.

"Then answer me, how did you survive here? You either have an extremely cunning mind, or you have some inconspicuous power."

"Smartness and strength can't save me today. As long as I'm not careful, I will attract that terrifying attention." A somewhat embarrassed look appeared on the man's thin face.

"Please introduce yourself." Darkus said while putting his hands behind his back and waving to Shakspati who was sitting on the bench in the distance and watching everything.

"My name is Roll." Although the man's voice was shaking with fear, there was a hint of pride in his tone when he mentioned his name.

"Continue." Darkus stretched out his hand and made a gesture to please continue the performance.

"This was an invincible realm, with crystal palaces and golden cities, with towers of diamonds and rubies soaring to the sky, with white avenues laden with treasure and imperial splendor. Now it's all gone, destroyed by the Destroyer, All miracles and beauty, all craftsmanship and art were shattered under the claws of the Destroyer." Roll pointed at the surrounding fog, shook his head as he spoke, and closed his eyes that were suddenly filled with tears at the end.

Darkus was a little overwhelmed when he heard this, but he reached out his hand in time to stop the elves from making noise.

"I am now the only remnant, Roll of the Onyx Throne, the greatest wizard in the empire. The dignitaries and ministers who once prostrated themselves before me were willing to exchange their wealth for my magic. My former palace was more brilliant than the sun, Thousands of pilgrims have traveled thousands of miles just to witness its magnificence before they die, and princesses from a dozen kingdoms serve me... Now I live in the swamps among newts and poisonous snakes, living on rats and snails, "Escape from the new master of this land." Rohr waved his hand helplessly at the end.

"That is to say...there is no one else but you?"

"Yes."

"Then you are very successful."

"This is not success, I have enough magic to reflect the power of the Destroyer, which is why I still exist as the last echo, the last shadow of my people.

But what's the use? The Destroyer's power comes from the Nest of Illusions, and nothing in this land escapes the Destroyer's reach.

The Destroyer is the master of this desolate land, and corruption emanates from his fortress like a cursed tide, tainting everything but me. "Rohr smiled bitterly, and then he raised his head and pointed at Veszar, who was hanging on Darkus's belt, "My soul is still pure enough to recognize the power rushing in this weapon. I imagine just gazing at this power would be enough to cause any of the Destroyer's minions to feel pain. "

"Veszar." Darkus declared nonchalantly.

"Now I understand why you are here. I regret that I did not witness your battle with my own eyes. I only saw the consequences. I thought it was a whole battle group, but I found... you can tell me, with such a Who are you, great weapon?"

"This weapon is an extension of my will. If you must call me, call me by the name of the weapon I hold, Veszar!" Darkus said nonsense.

"The name contains power. In the realm of the Destroyer, the name is something that needs to be carefully protected." Rolle sat on the ground sadly, the power in his voice disappeared, replaced by a sad bitterness, "I once hoped that Revenge, but that hope came to nothing..."

"continue."

"When facing the Destroyer, there are things more terrifying than death. His fortress is a trap, a maze. It was built when he appeared here. There is a great treasure hidden in the maze with enough power to break it. All power. In the early days of his invasion, warriors tried to break through the maze and seize the treasure, but they never appeared again. Powerful wizards and cunning thieves both challenged the maze with their skills, but never again. Show up." Rolle waved his hands in vain.

"Is this labyrinth safe? No...can you take me there?" Darkus was silent, quietly watching the performance of this being named Rohr. After a moment, he said slowly.

"Why? Do you want to join those trapped in the trap? He is invincible, he is too cunning and too smart to overcome, and this land has been taken over by him."

"Only a coward would say these words. These words are not worthy of your status." Darkus raised his eyebrows and his tone was feigned anger.

"No! Those are the words of a man who has held on too long. Hope can only deceive a man so long, until he understands that it is nothing but a cruel illusion. Only fools and dreamers refuse when hope abandons him. Give up. I had hope when I saw the armies marching toward the Destroyer. Forgive me, but I have no hope left to share with you, Veszar."

"A guide will speed up my journey. I don't ask you to venture into the labyrinth, just show me the way." Darkus's voice was calm and unquestionable, as if he had mastered everything, even Rohr's fate. It's also under his control.

"If you want to find the labyrinth, go over there." Roll turned his head, his eyes wandering in the misty bushes, and finally fixed on a place covered by shadows. A trace of uneasiness and hesitation flashed in his weathered eyes, and his voice was low and hoarse, as if squeezed out from the abyss of silence, revealing a sense of helplessness and fatigue.

"Aren't you going to go?" Dacus' tone was obviously provocative, and his eyes were as sharp as a knife, as if he could penetrate Roll's heart and see through all of Roll's fears and secrets.

"That would bring me closer to the Destroyer's Labyrinth, and only fools would challenge fate so rashly." Roll's words were filled with a deep worry, which was the alertness that only people who had been with danger and death for a long time would have.

"It seems that you are no different from the beasts that occupied your land?" Dacus smiled slightly, with a cold sarcasm in his smile, and his voice was like a sharp blade, piercing Roll's self-esteem mercilessly.

"You saved my life, but you want to throw it away." Roll's face darkened instantly, his fists clenched, he stared at Dacus angrily, his eyes flashing with anger and unwillingness.

"Is the life of hiding in the swamp and eating snails really so precious to you?" Dacus still maintained his cold attitude, he shook his head contemptuously, as if Roll's anger was meaningless to him. His voice was cold and disdainful, every word was hurting Roll's self-esteem, forcing Roll to face the deepest fear and weakness in his heart.

"People can't choose their own lives, they can only choose how they die." Roll was silent for a moment, as if thinking about Dacus's words. He lowered his head, his eyes revealed a complex emotion, both anger and a deep helplessness.

"Very wise, isn't it? Wizard, you are too scared to recognize this." Dacus chuckled disdainfully and spread his hands. His voice was full of sarcasm and provocation, as if he was mocking Roll's cowardice and incompetence.

"You want to humiliate me and force me to follow you!" Roll's anger finally couldn't be suppressed. He suddenly raised his head and glared at Dacus, with angry flames burning in his eyes.

"I need your understanding of this land. Shame and dignity are puzzles in your own conscience."

"Okay, I will show you the way, but I won't enter the maze." Finally, Roll took a deep breath and seemed to have made up his mind. He nodded silently. Although there was still reluctance in his eyes, he revealed a helpless obedience.

"By the way, I'm curious. In the land where the lizardmen live, a human trapped in the cracks speaks the language of the elves. As far as I know, when your shitty empire was still there, the elves didn't seem to appear? Why do you speak Elsalin?" Dacus' words were full of disdain and ridicule. He thought of the joke about the changelings. Now, the existence in front of him was similar to the changelings.

"I..."

"No matter who you are, you shouldn't appear here at this time. You or your master behind you are too anxious. Thank you for the nine true and one false intelligence. Now, let's be more decent, okay? It's our first meeting, don't make it so ugly."

After Dacus finished speaking, he saw that Roll was trying to say something, so he shook his head speechlessly, then stepped on his feet, raised his leg, and kicked Roll in the stomach.

Roll fell off the cliff. He let out a painful roar as he fell. His hands instinctively wanted to grab something to stop his fall, but the edge of the cliff was smooth and steep, and there was nothing to grab at all. His body rolled helplessly in the air, like a dead leaf swept away by the wind, powerless to resist.

Standing on the edge of the cliff, Maranul raised his head and looked down coldly, without any mercy in his eyes. He watched Roll's figure disappear gradually under the cliff, as if the life and death of this person had nothing to do with him. His eyes were cold and ruthless, like looking at a prey caught in a trap, without any emotional fluctuations at all.

There was no scene where the body finally hit the rock under the cliff and made a muffled sound. In his sight, Roll disappeared before he fell to the ground. He shrugged at his brother and spread his hands.

"Let's go and meet the destroyer." (End of this chapter)