Lowly Ascent

Anders pulled out his Estoc and pointed it towards Cain.

"MEN! KILL THE ENEMY OF OUR EMPEROR!"

Anders's men pulled out their weapons and charged with their leader. Cain let out a laugh and grabbed his maul from his waist.

He swung it around a few times indiscriminately as practice and began his attack as well.

One of the hunters ran at Cain and went for his neck using a battle axe. Cain sidestepped and swung his maul downwards; however, before Cain's maul could crush the hunter, Anders intervened and blocked the attack with his Estoc.

Anders was forced to the floor on one knee and groaned in fatigue, that one attack already draining his strength.

Cain scoffed and dashed at the hunter who Anders blocked for, he appeared behind him and swung downwards once again. The hunter didn't seem to notice and in an instant, his brain matter scattered into the surroundings.

Cain's swing was so strong his maul didn't stop and the skull went halfway into the body, only stopping around the last few ribs.

Everyone in the room looked at Cain, his priest, his believers, and the Hunters, they all looked at him in fear, and all had the same thought pop up in their heads 'Monster!'.

"You know I didn't really know what this maul did but since I had a rune smith following me I had him take a look. I must say this thing's abilities are quite amazing, to say the least."

Cain caressed the maul and wiped the blood of the man he just killed all over it, the maul then hummed in appeasement.

He then charged at the next enemy in his line of sight. Anders was still where he was, exhausted and recovering. Unable to move, he had to watch as Cain slaughtered his men.

Cain laughed incessantly, his laughter echoing through the room, a maniacal sound that sent chills down their spines.

Twirling his maul around like a toy before each of his swings. The hunters fell one by one, their heads soaring through the air, bodies collapsing with mangled chests and corpses becoming grotesque bundles soaring through the air.

This monster before them was like a child killing insects. Fear began to hold them in place, like dark hands grabbing at their ankles. It only made it easier for Cain to pick them off one by one. As he neared each one, their thoughts became erratic, the fear rose and their minds trembled.

'Am I going to die? I don't want to die!'

'Why can't I move?! Move damn it!'

'Save me, anyone please save me!'

As silence prevailed, all that could be heard in the church was Cain's heavy footsteps. The dead were plastered all over the floor, their bodies sprawled in gruesome positions.

The pews lay broken, reduced to splinters strewn across the room's corners. It was as if the Grim Reaper himself had paid a visit—an insane, crazy, bloodthirsty, and cruel Grim Reaper.

But there was still hope, the only one not petrified by fear stood up. His footsteps clashed with Cain's bringing the rhythmic tapping to an end. Cain looked at Anders and simply stopped, he raised his maul over his shoulder and grinned maniacally.

"My dear lost apprentice, you have been a naughty little one, haven't you? You betrayed me after I gave you my teachings, going down the path of....whatever you are now...but! I am here now. I shall free you from ignorance, perhaps you may even join my side once again!"

Raising his Estoc, Anders's body glowed as flashing lights brightened and dimmed over and over.

"I will never do any of that! My only purpose is to free the world of you—to kill the monster who resides in my master's flesh!"

"Well then. Just die." 

Cain dashed to Anders, the headhunter stayed in place waiting for Cain to near him. Once Cain was in attacking distance he raised his maul and began to swing down.

It was like time slowed down as the maul neared Anders's head, but at that moment, Anders disappeared. Cain was surprised, he looked around but he didn't find him.

Instead, he saw his arm holding his maul spurt blood and detach from his body falling to the floor, gushing out blood. Cain continued to look around the room and finally spotted Anders, he was already near the altar, watching Cain with triumph.

"My ignorant apprentice, it will take more than that to harm me."

Cain's arm began to decrease in size, the skin formed blisters that began to pop one by one. The arm then turned into a red mist and entered the wound where Cain's arm fell off.

In mere seconds, a new arm grew again and Cain grabbed the maul and twirled it around, confirming the arm's full recovery.

His focus then locked back onto Anders as he heard his trembling voice.

"H-how...w-what have you become!"

Cain was happy to hear such a response to his actions, with a proud voice his words echoed throughout the halls "Immortal my apprentice. I have gained immortality."

Anders dropped his weapon in astonishment, his mind reeling at the mention of 'Immortality'—a concept anyone would dream of but have no thoughts of pursuing.

To live forever, to exist forever, and yet Cain said it with such ease!

Just then a new voice entered the ears of everyone present.

"That isn't true, anything can die. Even a false god. Cain, God of the Church of Pestilence. I have been sent by the Emperor to execute you. Accept the royal degree."

"I don't think I will."

"Then you leave the Empire no choice. We declare war on the Church and I will personally kill you where you stand."

Anders immediately recognized the man who now stood before Cain. It was Augustus, he was the Emperor's confidant and a servant of the Royal Family.

Augustus took out his gladius as he stood between Cain and the exit.

They looked each other in the eyes. Augustus was serious, while Cain remained aloof. Augustus stayed still for a moment before sighing.

"To think you were able to gain such power in only a decade. Let us finish this."

Cain's mouth crept up into an excited smile "Lets!"