Beware the Butcher: So long, my love

Grovar ran as fast as he could, drowning out the screams behind him. He could hear the impact of it's feet against the ground, closer and closer. It shook the earth with each step, it was both faster and stronger than he could ever hope to me. They patrolled the road near the old forest with forty men, now he doesn't even know how many of his Wildling brothers still live. In all the battles he fought, all the villages he burned and fortresses he besieged, he never once felt fear. He longed for battle, craved the joy of killing his enemy. But now he couldn't bear it, that vicious grip at his heart shrieking at him to run.

Finally, he lost the feeling in his legs, his chest pounding an unbearable pulse, his exhaustion overcame his terror and he fell to the ground. Grovar rolled to his back and tried to scurry away, but felt a new stinging pain in his chest as the giant boot planted itself firmly against his chest. He gasped for air, he felt a few of his ribs break under the pressure. He could see, very faintly, his comrades behind the giant beast, crushed and ripped apart by its bare hands.

“Your name.” The creature demanded. Grovar's gaze of horror turned upwards towards the face of the beast, It concealed it's visage behind a cloak that hung from the shoulders, his muscles visible.

“G-...” He wheezed, either through fright or through pain, he struggled to answer.

“Name.” The Titan demanded again. “I won't ask a third time.”

“Grovar!” He found the power to speak. “My name is Grovar!”

“Grovar, then.” The giant continued. “You answer to Solar Khan then?”

“Y-yes!” Grovar nodded.

“Then return to your master.” He continued his instructions. “And tell them I am coming.”

“I-I can't tell him I fled from battle!” Grovar cried. “He'll kill me!”

The giant grunted, pressing his food down harder against Grovar's chest. The Wild man cried and struggled under foot.

“What makes you think I wont?” He asked, twisting his foot against Grovar's chest until the Wildling coughed blood.

“Please! Please don't kill me!” He wheezed. “I'll do it! I'll deliver your message!”

“Then go.” The giant ordered. “Before you bleed out and die.”

Grovar struggled to his feet, his legs buckled under his own weight but he still found the strength to limp away, refusing to look back at the beast and the carnage he left behind him.

Wilhelm watched the man limp away until he disappeared into the foliage. With the Wild men killed he turned his attention to the feint sound of whimpering coming from his left. He followed the sound until he stood in front of a tree with a hollowed centre, the whimpering and sobs being hushed as he approached. He placed his hand on the tree's side and crouched to a knee, looking into the hole.

It was a little human girl and an even littler wererabbit, embraced in one another's arms and shivering in fear. They looked at Wilhelm with terrified eyes, pressing themselves harder against the tree in a vain attempt to gain distance from him.

“Its okay now.” Wilhelm said as softly as he could. “You're safe.”

“You're...” The little human girl spoke up, holding to her monster friend even tighter. “Now going to hurt us?”

“No.” Wilhelm answered bluntly. “All the bad men are gone, you can go home now.”

The girl and the wererabbit looked at one another and cautiously began to crawl out of their hiding place. Wilhelm brought his hand up to shield their eyes from the carnage he had left behind. They couldn't be older than seven, they didn't need to see this.

“You're a good guy then?” The wererabbit asked, her arms locked behind her back.

“It doesn't matter what I am.” He answered. “You need to get home to your families. They're most likely worried.”

“Okay, we will!” The human girl answered, grabbing her friends hand. “Thanks, mister!”

Wilhelm watched and made sure they were long gone before going his own way, the bodies can be left for the ravens to feed on. The Smiling General's crusade was ground to a halt by the brave defence of both the Zant and Estonian armies. But even though the crusaders of the Ecclesiarch could no longer advance, they held the ground they took with a defiant stubbornness.
--
“Hear ye! Hear ye!” The crier shouted on the side of the road just outside the inn. “The Butcher strikes again! Wild men found dead and maimed in woods outside Corwick!”

He continued to shout out to the small groups of passing travellers that either stopped at the inn or went on their way, stopping only when there was a sizable gap in between travellers. He sighed to himself and sat down for a few minutes until he saw another figure appear from the darkness and into the lantern light.

“Hear ye! Hear ye!... Oh no...” The crier gulped and stepped off his podium as the giant marched passed him, each step shaking the ground near him.

Wilhelm gave the crier a passing glance before continuing, taking a left towards the inn just up the little road. There was a forum board standing just outside the inn's front door, kept lit by a lantern maintained by the inn itself. One of the many posters stuck out the most, a large WANTED poster with a portrait of a large muscular man with demonic features.

“DEAD OR ALIVE: THE BUTCHER, 10,000 COIN REWARD”  It read in bold painted letters.

Wilhelm looked over the portrait of himself, the eyes of the painting were coloured a bright red and he grinned a wicked fanged grin. Whoever painted this had a strange interpretation of Wilhelm.

“Butcher, huh?” Wilhelm mumbled. “I kind of like that.”

Wilhelm opened the door, doing his best not to tear it from its hinges. He turned to the side and squeezed inside, both the clerk and the patrons of the tavern attached to the inn went silent as soon as they spotted him.

His eyes scanned over the dozen or so armed men that glared back, hunting the one man he was looking for.

“Looking for me!?” A voice called from the very back. Wilhelm followed the voice, spotting a man that fit the description.

He came looking for a man with information, someone who was well informed of the happenings in the underworld. And here he was, shaved head, bushy black beard, and a scar across his chin: Sly Muldoon.

Wilhelm returned the man's glare for a moment, looking over Sly's companions once more before stepping deeper into the inn.

“So you must be the Butcher.” Said Sly, standing up from his chair. “Honestly, I thought you'd be taller.”

“You have information I need.” Wilhelm announced.

“I have a lot of information people need, Butcher.” Sly shrugged and stepped around the table, standing beside the majority of his heavily armed men, each of them brandishing a sword or an axe. “But what's in it for me?”

“You get to keep living...”

Sly paused, looking to each of his men before rubbing his chin. “That's certainly a gracious offer, mister Butcher...What is it you want?”

“I'm looking for an axe.”

“Going to have to be more specific. Lots of axes circulate around.”

“It's a minotaur's axe.”

Sly glared at Wilhelm for a few more moments, his frown slowly turning into a crooked smile. “Ah. See...Now you've gone and said something interesting.”

Sly's men followed him as he made his way back to his chair, putting his feet down against the table and lifting his mug of ale into his hand. His men followed him and made a pseudo shield between him and Wilhelm.

“A minotaur's axe is always fine craftsmanship, its a wonder why they don't make a business out of it. Though a minotaur's axe without an owner is very rare to come across, but I have good news for you.” Sly shook his finger and took a drink from his mug. “There's a danuki, goes by the name of 'Ki', rather popular business lady in the south. She gives a good number of people jobs in return for her pickings of trinkets and whatever man she fancies. She just so happened to have picked up one such axe from a scavenger a few months ago, has it hanging on the wall in her bedroom.”

Sly laughed to himself a took another drink. “Don't ask me how I know its in her bedroom.”

“Where is she now?” Wilhelm asked.

“Where she always is. In the little keep she bought for herself in coin a few miles outside of Kenwall.”

Wilhelm didn't acknowledge his words, he didn't thank Sly or even give him nod. Without another word, Wilhelm turned around and made his way to the door, the innkeeper doing his best to keep his distance from the giant.

“Oh, Butcher.” Sly's words rang through Wilhelm's ears alongside the familiar rasp of a blade leaving its sheathe. “I believe I found another method to pay me for my information!”

Wilhelm stopped and turned back to Sly, seeing him now standing in front of his table once more with his sword drawn and a wicked grin on his face.

“You have a ten thousand bounty on your head, don't you?” Sly asked, swinging his blade in his left hand. “I intend to collect.”

“Better men have tried.” Wilhelm informed him.

“Well...” Sly sighed, brushing his hand through his hair. “I was hoping you would come peacefully.”

Wilhelm cracked his knuckles as the first approached, his sword high in the air. He groaned in what could be deciphered as frustration before pulling his right fist back and swinging it overhead, bringing it crashing down on top of his attacker's head.

Sly's goon crashed into the wooden floor with a sickening crunch, leaving a mangled body in a splintered crater. The rest stopped their advance and backed away, some even going as fair as dropping their weapons and raising their hands into the air. They panicked and scattered to the sides of the room as Wilhelm advanced, stumbling and falling over chairs and tables in a mad dash to get out of his way. Wilhelm targeted only Sly Muldoon, closing in the distance before the poor bastard could even raise his sword. His scream was muffled quickly as Wilhelm's hand engulfed his head, and with one twist of the wrist, Sly's neck snapped and he was gone.

Wilhelm released his grip and Sly's body crumpled lifelessly to the ground. His gaze turned to the others who raised their hands in defeat.

“We weren't getting paid enough for this, mate.” A bald man in a leather laminar spoke up. “If Sly expected blokes to die for him, he should have invested in mercs instead of us.”

“Smart.” Wilhelm stated bluntly, crouching over and plucking a purse from Sly's belt. He once again headed for the door and dropped the purse in the frightened innkeepers hand. “For the mess.”
--
From what he could gather, Ki was rather well respected in this area. Until she arrived, Kenwall was suffering from a rather depraved economy, many business had abandoned the out-back town years ago in favour of more lucrative business opportunities. This left Kenwall with very few jobs and people too poor to leave. This was until Ki came along, who decided to purchase the old abandoned keep that was once a strategic position many many moons ago. Like most danuki, Ki is a well established merchant in the east, and with her money and company she also brought jobs and welfare for the townsfolk.

But to say its charity would be a naive outlook. Ki's profit has sky rocketed ever since she moved her base of operations from Zipangu to Estonia. Ki saved thousands alone on the meagre taxes compared to the ones instilled by the Shogunate, as well as being able to hold on to her profit instead of handing sixty percent as tribute, not to mention how popular many of her products are further west.  Ki is also notorious for her sexual appetite, which is ferocious even to monster standards. She regularly finds new meat to take to bed with her, and victim reports can tell you that not much sleeping is done that night.

Still, her employees are grateful and loyal, and her guards stalwart and brave, something Wilhelm wasn't too fond of. He spotted the two under torch light at the front gates of the keep, wearing padded armour on their chests and kettle hats atop their heads, they each branded a bill hook that was well kept  and sharp. They didn't have the look of cutthroats and scoundrels. No, these were simple men who were doing their jobs to feed their families, and unlike Muldoon's men, these ones will most likely die for Ki, something Wilhelm did not intend on happening.

“Halt!” The guard closest to Wilhelm raised his arm. “Who goes there?”

“I am a simple traveller.” Wilhelm lied between his teeth, not that he expected anyone to believe him. “I was told of Ki and her enterprise and wish to seek work.”

The guard eyed him up and down, his fingers around his weapon gripping tighter.

“You really expect me to believe that, Butcher?” Wilhelm cringed for a split second at his title, he was hoping his infamy did not reach out this far east. “What is your true business with Lady Ki?”

Wilhelm looked down at the man, his face still concealed behind the rags he had turned into a makeshift mask.

“Your employer has something of mine. It is vital that it is returned to me.”

The guard looked back to his partner, and then back to Wilhelm, he licked his chapped lips and took his  weapon in both hands. “There is no way in hell I'm allowing a wanted criminal anywhere near Lady Ki! I know better than to try and take you in, but you go no further!”

“Please.” Wilhelm spoke in a softer voice, at least as soft as he could manage now. “I don't wish to hurt you. I come unarmed and I bare no ill will towards your lady. It is very, very important to me...”

The guard licked his lips again, making a double take at his partner again. “Go. Tell Lady Ki of our guest!” he ordered him.

The other guard nodded and ran off, going through the door attached to the left side of the gate. The first guard stood with his weapon pointed to Wilhelm, the two in a stand off for what felt like an eternity to both of them until the second finally returned.

“Lady Ki wishes to speak with you.” The other guard announced. “Come with us, Butcher...”

Wilhelm was led through an impressive courtyard. What was at one point nothing but mud and tracks now had paved roads surrounded by beautiful beds of flowers leading towards a grand keep.

“Mind your manners.” The guard advised before banging on the large, silver sparkled door.

The sound of locks clicking came moments later and the two doors were pulled open from the inside. Wilhelm followed the two inside, greeted by a enormous grand hall with green banners and silk drapes, the stone floor was adorned with a scarlet red carpet that seemed to go on forever.

Wilhelm noticed them the instant the doors were opened, armed men at each of his side, at least fifty in total, standing shoulder to shoulder left and right of the carpet, their weapons at the ready.

“This way.” The guard that escorted Wilhelm ordered, leading him into the keep and down the hall.

Wilhelm's naked feet landed on the carpet with a loud thud with every step, the armed guards stepped away as he closed in, keeping their weapons pointed at him while he walked down the hallway. They followed carefully behind him, just out of his arms reach. Each guard followed along with the last until they made a large grouping semicircle around him. The tense trip continued until they reached another set of doors, this time simple reinforced wood.

The doors were opened and Wilhelm was led inside, followed closely by the armed men that watched his every step.

“Morty...” A feminine voice called out, it was soft and pleasant to the ears. “Is this how you treat a guest?”

Wilhelm saw her at the other side of the large room, a woman standing in front of the main table of the banquet hall in traditional Zipangu dress. A blue yukata decorated with a stitched image of cherry blossoms down her chest and waist. A large, fluffy brown striped tail hung from a hole made in the back of the dress and a leaf sat atop her head between her two furry animal ears sticking out of her hair.  She looked into Wilhelm's eyes with a smile, a gesture he returned with his, now usual, tired gaze.

“I don't remember asking you to point weapons at my guest, Morty.” She said to the guard that led Wilhelm along.

“Apologize, my lady.” 'Morty' bowed. “But I would take no risks with the Butcher.”

“It's quite alright, I thank you for being so protective of me.” She said as she began to step closer. “But if the Butcher wished any of us harm, he would have done so already...”

“So you are Ki, then.” Wihelm spoke up.

“Correct, but you have me at a disadvantage.” Ki stepped past Morty, waving him off as he attempted to stop her. “I don't like calling a guest “Butcher.”

Wilhelm's eye twitched, he knew he wasn't going to get what he wants without cooperating, and the last thing he needs right now is more enemies.

“Will...” He answered, the name dripped off his tongue like burning hatred. Even the nick name reminded him of a man too weak to protect the one he loved.

“Will?” Ki looked surprised. “Not the name I would have given you, but it will do.”

Ki's ear twitched and she stepped closer again, placing her hand against Wilhelm's iron stomach. Her touch made him flinch, but he refrained from doing anything brash, even the most restrained of his attacks would cripple someone as small as her, monster or no. Ki stood just below his waist, eyeing him like some sort of work of art or Greek sculpture.

“How did you get so big?” She asked him with a quick bite of her lower lip. “What else on you is big?”

“I came looking for something.” Wilhelm stated bluntly, ignoring her advances.

“And what would that be?” Ki asked, placing her other hand against his body and moving her fingers along every rock-like ridge of his stomach. “Perhaps we can make a deal...”

Wilhelm moved his hands slowly to grab a hold of her arms, his fingers wrapped around and engulfed her wrists and forearms. She gasped with pleasant surprise at how gentle he managed to be, but pouted when he pulled her hands away from his body.

“Not a intimate person, I see...” She sighed. “Well, you're going to ask me for something, I expect -something- else in return...Unless you have the coin to pay.”

“I can pay you.” Wilhelm informed her. “But the information I gathered led me to you...”

“And, pray tell, did you get this information?”

“Sly Muldoon.”

“Sly...” Ki growled his name with venom. “That's what I get for giving a whoreson like him my attention! Remind me to make sure he never works in this country again...”

“Don't bother.” Said Wilhelm. “Sly Muldoon is dead.”

“I had a feeling that was the case.” Ki marched her way towards the main table and poured herself a glass of wine. “And yet, I don't care... So what are you looking for, exactly?”

“I'm looking for a minotaur's axe.” Wilhelm told her. “Muldoon said you had one in your possession.”

“Correction. I did have one in my possession.” Ki's words rang through Wilhelm's body like a thousand arrows.

“Where is it now?” He asked, steeling himself for an answer he did not want to hear.

“A dragon landed in Kenwall a few days before you arrived.” Ki explained before drinking from her glass, she dragged her finger along the brim before continuing. “She demanded tribute and I wasn't ready to allow her to burn down the town I call my home over something as petty as pride. I happen to like the people here.”

Monty stood up straighter and smiled at her words. Ki patted him on the arm when she walked passed him back to Wilhelm. “Settle down, Monty.”

“Sorry, M'am.”

“Where did she go?” Wilhelm asked, his words were unconsciously more aggressive.

“Why do you care so much about some axe?” Ki picked up on the tone of his voice. “Can't you just pull a tree out of the ground and call it a weapon?”

“Its...” Wilhelm stopped and looked away. “...Important to me...”

“You some kind of minotaur mutant or some-” That moment, everything clicked for her. And for a split second, just for a brief moment. Wilhelm saw a twinge of sympathy and pity in her eyes.

“Fine...” Ki sighed. “She made her home a few miles north of here in the Estonian mountains. The dragon made it her mission to horde as many treasures as she could, the entrance is pouring out gold and trinkets, you can't miss it.”

Wilhelm turned away from her without another word, the other guards still had their weapons pointed at him until Ki barked at them to stand down.

“You want to pay me back for my info, Will?” Ki called out. “Come visit sometime. I like to look at you.”

Wilhelm stopped and looked over his shoulder. He turned back to face forward with a humoured chuckle. “Maybe I will...”
--

As Ki informed him, the entrance into this dragon's nest was not hard to miss in the slightest. It overflowed with treasure, enough gold, minerals, and heirlooms to fun a nation ten times over. Jewel encrusted swords, silver candle sticks, entire suits of armour and other untold treasures greeted the giant Wilhelm as he climbed his way into the cave.

It was enormous, impossibly so. An endless cavern held stable by an uncountable amount of crude stalactite pillars. It wasn't dark either, the hills upon hills of treasure shined against the modestly dim orange light that hued the entire complex. How the dragon moved all her treasures here is beyond Wilhelm, but judging by the size of her coffers, she is very old, and has been very busy.

Wilhelm slid down until his feet touched the cold stone, kicking through the coins and scanning the hills to find what he was looking for. He heard something off the distance, almost like air being sucked from a vacuum. His eyes narrowed, awaiting an attack that never came. After a few moments, he continued his search, entering deeper into the cavernous deeps, unflinching at the task that may await him.

Hill after hill of gold he climbed, he searched for hours, with the bellowed roar becoming louder and louder with each passing. He continued until he could no longer see the entrance to the cave, and then continued even further until he lost all sense of direction. Still he pressed on, until finally he slid down one last hill and once again his bare feet touched cold ground.

He found himself in an opening, at least a football field wide, his feet slapped against the ground with each step. Wilhelm wondered if he had found the centre, he noticed that the roaring noises ceased a few minutes ago.

Then he saw movement in the corner of his left eye and turned his body to face it. The mound of valuables rose and parted, giving away to a woman covered in green scales and claws on each arm and leg. The wings on her back spread open and the gust of force from them parted the treasure around her. She wore a red shirt that clung tightly to her chest, ending at the mid section and revealing her navel. Her red hair was long and flowing, and like all other reptile folk, her eyes were a piercing gold. They glared at Wilhelm, like that of a cat's that had just spotted an intruding mouse.

With a flap of her wings, she launched into the air, flying in circles overhead. She circled Wilhelm thrice before stopping herself with a spin, wrapping herself in her wings and descending slowly and gracefully towards the ground. And with another gust of air, her wings opened, shaking the endless mountains of treasure around the two, she stood a few yards from the unfazed Wilhelm. She was slightly shorter than he was, but still towered over any other man.

“And what have we hear?” She spoke in a booming and authoritative voice.  “A little worm has found its way from the dirt into my domain?”

“I am no worm, lizard.” Wilhelm spoke.

“I would advice you to show respect, worm.” The dragon growled. “You stand before Draconica the Unbound, ruler of all the lands she sees and owner of every man she wants.”

Wilhelm did not speak again, he only looked back into her golden eyes, not blinking or looking away even once.

“You have the nerve to not bow before me!?” Draconica bellowed. “Has the killing made you dull in the head? You stand before perfection!”

Wilhelm raised a brow at her words, something she picked up on instantly. A smile came across her face.

“I know who you are, Butcher.” She announced. “Draconica sees and hears all. I know of the men you slew, and the price on your head.”

“Then you know why I am here.” Wilhelm stated.

“No. That fact eludes me.” Her glare narrowed and her lips turned into a frown. “All that enters my domain is my property, willingly or not. I do not care why you came, for you will never leave.”

“An axe.” Said Wilhelm, ignoring her last comment. “I've come for the minotaur's axe that Ki has given you. Then I will leave.”

“Did you not hear me!?” Draconica roared. “You are mine now! You will never leave!”

Draconica parted her lips and moved her tongue across her jagged fangs and lips, as if savouring the taste that was to come. “I have been looking for a mate for a very long time. And you seem to be the perfect specimen...”

“I'm not interested.” Wilhelm stated bluntly. “Give me the axe, and I'll be on my way.”

Draconica bared her teeth furiously, spreading her wings once more. “Do you not understand, you blubbering idiot!? You ar mine! I am one of the high dragons! I take what I want! I sleep with whom I please! You are mine now!”

Wilhelm stood in silence, he had hoped it wouldn't come to this. He rolled his shoulders and cracked his knuckles on each hand.  Draconica watched his actions closely, glaring at him with a big toothy smile.

“Is this really happening?” She asked with a laugh. “It has been a very long time since I have established my dominance over my new husband!”

Wilhelm began his advance, starting in a slow walk forward. Then he picked up speed, faster and faster until he was in a jog. Every step shook the ground, every contact his foot made with stone was loud and thunderous. His jog turned into a run, and then into a sprint. Draconica couldn't stop herself from laughing while she mockingly brought up her claws as if to defend herself from Wilhelm's attack.

His hands locked with hers and Draconica made a very audible yelp when her knees almost buckled. She managed to regain her balance, the claws on her feet digging deep into the stone ground under them. They cut and ground through the rock until the dragon finally managed to regain her composure and stand her ground, the two were now at quite a distance from where they started.

Their hands shook and trembled in deadlock, but Wilhelm still inched his eyes closer and closer to hers until their faces almost touched.

“Where is it?” He demanded, his grip on her claws tightening.

Draconica felt a flutter in her heart, her eyes widened and her lip trembled only for a second in the closest thing a dragon could feel to panic. She dug the claws of her right foot firmly into the ground and raised her left, pressing it against Wilhelm's chest and forcing him away. Their fingers separated and Wilhelm stepped away, Draconica took the moment to catch her breath and move the hair away from her face.

“I must admit.” She panted. “I underestimated y-”

In the blink of an eye, Wilhelm was upon her again, fist raised and ready to strike. She yelped and backed away, ducking under the strike that came down against her the same moment Wilhelm closed the distance. She felt the air of the attack sway her hair to the side, stumbling against the ground to regain her balance. But another strike reared itself towards her head, she twisted and pivoted to the right, the skin of Wilhelm's knuckles just grazing against her cheek.

She balanced herself with her palms against the ground, spinning back to her feet to face her attacker again. During the spin, she took in a deep breath. Her teeth glowed a bright orange and smoke poured from her nostrils. She opened her mouth to engulf the giant in flames, raising her head and letting out a mighty roar, but instead of consuming the man in fire, she gagged and wheezed.

Wilhelm's fist crashed into her stomach, she could feel the blow through her entire system. Time stopped for Draconica for what may as well have been an eternity, the world was frozen around her, for the first time she had felt pain unlike anything she had experienced before. The blow was enough to push her off her feet, pushing her into the air and forcing her body to go limp. In the moments between the second, her mouth opened fully and she released a long, exhausted growl. Flames poured from her mouth and licked over Wilhelm's shoulder, turning the stone under them a bright yellow.

Wilhelm had followed her motion and caught her in a devastating upper cut to the stomach, and when time finally returned to Draconica, she flew from the ground like a rocket. She spiralled through the air unopposed until her back crashed against one of the many piles of treasures, creating a volcano of gold, silver, and emerald. Her eyes were still and pale, her entire body trembled while she unconsciously rolled on to her hands and knees. And then moments later, the pain set in and she clutched her stomach, struggling not to vomit more flames.

She fell to her side and moaned in pain, her eyes fixed on the giant that had struck her, still standing in the area of the incident. Draconica hissed with each breath, flames spewing from between her teeth while she finally found the strength to stand on her legs once again. With another growl of anger, she spread her wings and fired herself forward like a bullet.

Wilhelm raised his arms and prepared himself to defend himself or catch her mid flight, but the giant grossly misjudged the dragon's speed. Before his arms could even react, ten scaly knuckles crashed into his chest and launched him from his feet. Wilhelm flew and then bounced off the stone ground, leaving nothing but rubble and dust with each landing until he finally crashed into a different pile of treasure, making a rather similar eruption in the progress.

 “Hurngh...” Wilhelm grunted under his breath. The attack struck him to his very core, he could feel every muscle and bone in his body shake and struggle under the pressure of that last attack. It was the first time since his mutation that he had felt true pain.

He pulled himself to his feet, and pressed his hands against the top and bottom of his neck. He twisted until he heard that loud, satisfying pop, and brought himself at the ready. But it was again too late, he saw Draconica before he heard her and the Dragon crashed full body into his chest.

He coughed and tasted blood, staining the brown fabric that covered his face a dark red. Draconica smashed him through her mountains of treasure, parting them like Moses parted the red sea. She finally lost momentum and ceased her charge, stopping herself with a flap of her wings while Wilhelm continued to crash through the gold until he finally came to a stop, lying on his back while being buried in an avalanche of valuables.

“Do you see now!?” Draconica taunted with a flap of her wings. “All who defy me will know my strength!”

The pile remained motionless for another second before Wilhelm's arm emerged from down under, followed by the rest of him. He rolled both shoulders and flicked off whatever trinket was still clinging to him.

“How!?” She cried out. “How do you still stand!”

“The axe...” He grunted. “I want the axe...”

Draconica went silent, left dumbstruck by his blatant disregard for her power. Even after such a show of strength, he still has his mind on one goal. Her bafflement quickly turned to anger, and the dragon bared her fangs once more. She clenched her teeth until blood poured from her gums, her eyes turning from a beautiful gold to a bright, frightening red.

“How dare you...”  She growled as she lifted herself into the air. “How dare you cast me aside!?”

The very earth itself trembled at her roar, an beastly, godlike roar that would frighten the demon lord herself. She continued to roar until her entire body was consumed in flames,  pillars of fire erupting from her form and expanding larger than she stood. The flames stood higher than Wilhelm, nearly touching the ceiling of the massive caverns. And then the fire gave way to scales and teeth and claws and hellish eyes of a beast of the old world.

“I grow tired of you, Worm!” The new beast bellows, its maw erupting with flame.

Wilhelm stood his ground, though his heart pounding deep in his chest. His eyes were blood shot and moist, he wasn't furious or steadfast. This was the helpless frustration of little Wilhelm from Hanover, Germany. His fists clenched so hard he thought his fingers would snap and his entire body trembled with a pitiful, impudent anger he had not experienced since the day he lost the only thing that mattered.

“Begone from my world, Butcher! Die!”

The dragon's mouth opened wide, and out came a cyclone of fire and death. It crashed and engulfed Wilhelm before spreading further through the cavern, creating a tidal wave of gold in all directions. She continued to pour destruction from her maw until her throat stung and her voice went hoarse. She closed her mouth and gasped for air as the entire cave went dark.

The form of a mighty god burned to ash and Draconica fell from its centre, landing on her knees in a pile of embers that was a dragon of the old world. She gasped for air and wiped the blood from her mouth,  waiting for light to return to the cave before looking at her handy work. A wall of flame still remained, slowly dying out with no place to go. Much of her treasure was melted down or crushed in the force of the blast. With a smile, she returned to her feet.

“You see, Butcher!” She called out. “This is my domain! And mine alone!”

She laughed to herself long and loud, admiring her handy work like it was art. But that sense of victory slowly turned into agonizing defeat. For out of the flames walked a man. She watched as Wilhelm stepped through the dying wall of fire, his clothing burned away from his body. Fire still clung to his shoulders for a short while before diminishing. Draconica had no strength left, she could barely stand, and here came the Butcher, fists clenched and still able to move, let alone still alive.

“How?” She muttered. “How are you still alive...?”

She took a single step back while he approached, the one called the Butcher now looked like a sky piercing mountain of muscle and wrath. He stood over her, his body smoking with the heat of her attack. Her legs refused to move, her body was numb and unresponsive, and her eyes struggled to stay locked on his. Was this what humans call fear?

The Butcher looked down on her. She opened her mouth to speak, but no more words came out. He raised his hands and they came closer and closer to her person. Finally, Draconica closed her eyes and prepared for the worst.

But instead, she felt the tremor and the sound of defeat. She opened her eyes and saw the Butcher before her, on his knees with his hands clinging to her top.

“Please...” He begged. “I don't want to do this anymore...I just want her axe back...Its all I have left of her...”

Draconica stood in confusion, his voice sounded different, almost pitiful. It was a far cry of the deep, stalwart voice of the Butcher that had spoken earlier.

“...Her?” She finally managed to answer.

“I'll do anything...I can't keep doing this...  I thought I was stronger now but I'm not...Just give it back to me...Please.” He continued to beg, the top of his head now pressed against her stomach like a beggar pleading for scraps.

Draconica swallowed the lump in her throat, she pondered on her words before they finally clicked.

“Her.” She repeated. The axe belonged to a minotaur that he knew...That he loved.

“What was her name?” She asked in a soft voice, one that even she didn't know she could conjure.

“Liliana...” He answered meekly, his arms falling to his side.

Draconica looked down at the broken man, the man who struck with enough force to weaken her knees. The man who endured her most vicious of attacks. And here he was, not even able to look her in the eyes anymore. She felt no disgust or pity for him, but sympathized, for as long as she dwell in this realm she too had lost many she had loved. The dragon stepped away from the one the mortals call the Butcher and flew off deeper into her cavernous keep.

She returned only minutes later, in her arms she carried a weapon forged by a woman that was wrongfully taken from the ones she loved. Draconica landed where she stood before and knelled in front of Wilhelm.

“This is Liliana's axe, correct?” Draconica asked, presenting the weapon to him.

Wilhelm raised his head and recognized the axe instantly, it looked so much smaller than it did the last time he saw it. Every nick and every mark left from the hammer blows that forged its head, he recognized. The blade and head were forged into the iron haft, made from the best material available in the eastern lands.

“Crom...” Wilhelm gasped, he could barely believe it.

“It is yours.” Draconica announced, placing the weapon in Wilhelm's hands. “It would sully my honour to hold on to a keepsake from your lover...”

Wilhelm gazed at the weapon in his hands, he could barely feel the weight of it in his massive arms when before he couldn't even lift the thing from the ground. Its blade was as sharp as the day it was forged.  Wilhelm's gaze reluctantly left the blade and met with Draconica's eyes once more.

“Thank you...” he managed to whisper. “I can't offer you anything in return--”

Draconica cupped her hands against Wilhelm's cheeks and pulled him in for a kiss. He remained silent as she held her lips against his for over a minute before pulling them apart.

“You believed yourself weak, yet you stand against a dragon to retrieve a possession close to the one you loved so dearly. The world would smash against you like a tidal wave and yet you stand strong and push forward. You are not weak, not in the slightest.”

Wilhelm eyed the axe once more before standing up.

“She had a dream...” He began. “A dream where humans and monsters could live together without either the church or the Demon Lord instilling their will. Where everyone could just live out their lives the way they chose...”

Draconica stood to her feet as well, look up towards the man she thought her enemy. “So, what will you do now?”

“There are some things I must do.” Said Wilhelm.  “But when you hear from me again...Come find me.”

“Come find you?” Draconica asked, tilting her head. “What for?”

“The next time you hear news of the Butcher, you won't have to hide in the shadows any longer.”

The two parted ways and Wilhelm made his journey back to the entrance of the caves. He escaped before sun rise, finding his way back into civilization and stealing a few sheets to fashion into a robe to hide his privates from plain sight. His journey would lead him back to a place he had no visited in quite some time, a place he once called home. But first, he found himself alone looking over a river that ran through almost all of Estonia, sitting atop a stone and examining Liliana's axe: Crom, once again.

“I survived a dragon's assault.” He told himself, not believing his own words. He looked at his face in the reflection of the axe's head. He didn't even recognize himself anymore.

“...I have survived arrow volleys, swords and spears and axes in my flesh. Maces shatter and cavalry charges crash against me like infants... And I stood my ground against one of the most powerful creatures on the planet...”

Wilhelm stood from his seat and held her axe in his left hand. He looked into his right palm before clenching it into a fist. And finally, with a shout of anger, he smashed his fist into the large stone he sat upon, splitting it in two.

“Why couldn't I have found this strength when Liliana needed it!?” He demanded answers from himself, turning to gaze into his reflection in the river. His once frilly and messy brown hair was replaced with long, broken strands of black hair that went against his shoulders. His beard was bushy and unkempt, even the colour of his eyes had changed.

“I could have saved her! I could have been there for her! I could have been more than just a weakling that got himself into a mess he was too pathetic to get out of! If only I was strong back then, I could have killed that bastard where he stood and saved her!”

He fell to his backside and sat down, his head towards the ground. “I could have saved you...”

Wilhelm's eyes trailed from the ground towards the axe in his left hand. He raised it and held it straight in both hands before pressing its blunt back-side against his forehead.

“No...You wouldn't have wanted that...” He whispered. “I'm so sorry...You wouldn't have wanted any of this...”

“But...” Wilhelm said to himself, looking at the muscles in his arms as he clenched his fist. “There's one thing you've always wanted... One dream I can use this strength to make true...”
--
Maximilian found himself in the fields more and more these days. Planting, harvesting, toiling, fixing, whatever he could do to keep his mind off the world around him. Clementine still comes out to see him, brings him a drink or something to eat. She talks to him and smiles and laughs, anything to help take his mind off everything. And he responds kindly, he gives her a warm smile to not dishearten the kikimora any further.

He was once again lost in his work, digging into the soil to prepare it for the next planting season. He didn't even hear or feel the heavy foot steps or even notice his visitor until a shadow was cast over him. He recognized the giant right away, back when he first saw him, the giant carried Maximilian's daughter in his arms, her lifeless body wrapped in a white cloth.  He didn't even realize who it was until the giant spoke, there is only one person he knows with that accent.

“Will...” Maximilian looked up at him with tired eyes. “It's good to see you again.”

“I'm glad you are well, sir.” Wilhelm responded. “How's Clementine?”

“She's well.” Maximilian told him. “As well as she can be.”

Maximilian's eyes trailed from Wilhelm's and to his left hand, spotting the weapon he was gripping as if his life depended on it.

“Will...Is...Is that?”

Wilhelm didn't say a word and dropped to a knee. He lowered his head and presented the axe to Maximilian in his open hands.

“It is.” He finally spoke. “I brought it back for you.”

Maximilian touched the razor edge of the axes blade and brushed his finger against it just enough to cut into his skin. He gave it a good long look and then sighed, pressing his hands against the belly and pushing it back towards Wilhelm.

“No.” he rejected it. “Its yours. She would have wanted you to have it.”

“But, sir.” Wilhelm protested. “She was your daughter...I have no right.”

Maximilian beckoned Wilhelm to stand. “Follow me.”

Maximilian led Wilhelm into the manor, Clementine was sitting in a rocking chair and knitting. She gave Wilhelm a weak smile and returned to her labour without a word. Maximilian led him upstairs, Wilhelm stepped lightly in fear that he would fall through the wooden stairs.

He was finally brought to the room he had called his own for quite some time, it was also Liliana's before she grew up. Wilhelm's books still sat beside the bed, unused and gathering dust.

“I remember the first time I caught Liliana sneaking into your room.” Maximilian chuckled. “She turned bright red and said she forgot where the bathroom was and ran back down stairs.”

Wilhelm couldn't help but laugh at the story.

“She always found some way to get alone time with you. I was angry at first, you know, I felt like you betrayed my trust.” Maximilian continued. “But the way she smiled around you, that sweetness you two shared. I knew you were right for her...”

Maximilian turned to look at Wilhelm again, his eyes now red and puffy. “I have one last request of you, Wilhelm. I know I have no right anymore, but please...”

“Of course.” Wilhelm accepted. “Anything.”

“News spread fast that the crusade was a failure, the Smiling General's army is retreating and Khan himself was last seen heading north west into Vellond.”

“Vellond?” Wilhelm raised a brow. “Why Vellond.”

“I don't know, and I don't care...” Maximilian walked further into the room and stood in front of the closet. “I went to the town smith, the very same that helped Liliana forge her axe... And I made a request.”

Maximilian swung both doors of the closet opened and revealed a set of massive armour hanging against a mighty stand. A chest plate too large for a normal man to wear with gauntlets and greaves that could cover the entire limb. At the top of the stand rested a helmet, large and imposing, its front resembled that of an ogre of the old world, roaring and ferocious.

“I knew you would be coming back. When he asked why I would need a suit this massive, I gave him your title. He didn't ask any more questions after that.”

Wilhelm stepped closer and inspected the armour. He pulled the chestplate from the stand and tried it on with Maximilian helping with the straps. It fit perfectly, much to Wilhelm's surprise. And then came the rest of the set before he placed the helmet between his side and his right arm.
“I have one last request for you, Will.” Maximilian choked. “You go to Vellond. You find that rat bastard that took my little girl from me...And you put him in the ground.”

Wilhelm looked away, noticing the book that was left beside his bed. It was the book on Roman history that he would spend hours reading to Liliana. He remembered a name that stood out in his mind, one that he was always fond of.

Wilhelm placed his massive hand on Maximilian's shoulder and gave him a nod. “I promise you...The next time you see me, it will all be over...”

Wilhelm made his way down the stairs with Maximilian right behind him, he heard humming from his right before Clementine bumped into his side.

“Oh!” Clementine looked up with a trembling smile. “Sorry about that, Wi-”

He didn't hesitate and pulled her into an embrace with his left arm.

“Please, Clementine.” Wilhelm whispered to her. “Be strong, for him...”

Clementine's eyes were wide with surprise before they brimmed with tears, she dug her face against his shoulder. “I'll try...”

He gave his final goodbyes to his adoptive family, some of the few people in his life he still loved dearly. This time, we walked down the road, not hiding himself from the rest of the world. He took the roads north west, and began his mission.

The roads soon again became lively with the retreat of the Crusaders, victory parades and celebrations were held in both Zant and Estonia for those soldiers lucky enough to survive the fighting, and well enough traders and travellers once again took to the dirt roads.  And on a road between the boarders of Cartuga, Estonia, and Zant, there was the Three-way trade post.

Those who came to stay at the post expected to find new products or make a profit from the roads being opened up once more, but instead they all stood in silence as the Butcher strolled past their trade stands and tents.

“Oi!” A voice called out.

Wilhelm turned his head towards the noise, a man and eight others stood in a cluster, their weapons drawn. They were visibly shaking, its not every day that you come across a living urban legend.

“What do you want?” Wilhelm asked, his axe resting on his shoulder.

“Pretty...” The man stopped to calm himself before speaking again. “Pretty big price on your head, Butcher. Me and my boys could use the money.”

“Don't fool yourself.” Wilhelm told him, he looked around again and noticed that others were gathering, including a few of the post guards and some guardsmen from Zant and Cartuga. There were twenty in total, each one of them had a weapon drawn.

“Are you really willing to die over a few dead wild men?” He asked them, raising his free arm with a shrug.

“Its not just wild men!” a new voice spoke up, Wilhelm turned to see a Zant Man with adorned armour, the captain of this particular unit. “Estonians and Zants are dead by your hands!”

The crowed that had gathered spoke up in agreement.

“Am I not allowed to defend myself?” Wilhelm asked. “Every man I put in the ground, I did so for one reason or another...”

“Your reign of terror ends here, Butcher!” Another voice added, the confident force of men approached closer with their weapons drawn.

Wilhelm rolled his neck and swung his axe from his shoulder with enough speed to knock the ones closest to him on their backsides, some weapons even splintered on contact. He no longer felt that lingering doubt in his chest, neither the weakness in his knees whenever he went into battle. It was no longer a facade, no longer an act. The fear he had always felt was gone, he no longer had any tears to shed. The name Wilhelm was dead to him, all he had no was a goal and a title.

“Believe me.” He growled. “Better men have tried.”

The mob stood hesitantly, second guessing their chances against him. They jumped when Wilhelm raised his axe and pointed at each of them separately.

“All who wish to die, come forward and I will grant you a swift death... All who wish to live will carry my legacy with them. Tell everyone what I am about to tell you.”

Each man looked at one another, confused and intrigued at the Butcher's words. They all stood in silence while he raised his axe into the air.

“The Butcher has a true name!” He began. “He who will remove Soltar Khan's head from his body! He who will bring entire nations to their knees! The unkillable monster that has plagued your lands like a spirit of wrath!”

“I am Tiberius Crom!!! And you shall remember my name!!!”