Death Knight - Volume 1 - Chapter Prologue

Prologue – Black Tide

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A vast plain stretched as far as the eye could see. Spring quietly descended upon this ground looked after by Lewis [TN: 路维丝, no idea what it is], and eye-catching new greenery spread to the end of sight, that eye-pleasing color as if alive, rolling and stretching under the stroking of the gentle spring wind. Even the originally cold air, had also become fresh under the grass’s caress.

A raging river flowing towards the distant blurry horizon, winding away, that azure-blue tortuous figure, shining the entire sky into its own bosom.

Everything was like a beautiful scenery in a painting.

“Beautiful Elazeya [TN: 艾拉泽亚  don’t know how to translate this]”, an observer perched on top of a high cliff whispered, an exquisite water-colored pupil taking in the entire plain.

“Finally, I’m back…”, the bone-engraving tone repressing the trembling that could not fade, and his elegant face also lost the mask of indifference in an instant.

It was a knight, but it was alien to the realm of the living.

Whenever warm air blew through his hair, it would carry up glistening crumbs of ice. A pure-black cloak flapping in the wind, like a banner carrying death, the northern air coursing through the bright silvery armor reflecting the dazzling sunlight. Likewise the knight’s mount’s entire body was also wrapped. Under the black nightmarish hooves, the power of snow and ice stripped away the green color, and then squeezed out every trace of vitality from the ground, the cold air rippling outwards.

It was a fanatical warrior given existence by a stubborn conviction, possessing a flame-like soul and icy eyes, called a death knight by the people in this world.

“It’s been a decade, Wendam [TN: 温达姆 no idea how to translate it], but that day is still branded in my mind, as if it was a tragedy that only happened yesterday.” The death knight’s pupil suddenly ignited a water-colored flame, dazzling light pulsing frantically, like magma about to overflow, “maybe other people have already forgotten, but I will never forget~! an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, soon you will taste that kind of soul-burning despair…just like I did back then.”the words interspersed in the cold winds whistled as if they were sharp blades, tearing apart invisible enemies.

“Come~! knights of Ishtori~!” He loudly shouted, pulling the reins and turning around.

2500 high-ranked death knights were waiting there silently. Cloaks with the same pattern [TN: How can a pure-black cloak have a pattern? That makes no sense], the same bright silvery armor, the same pursed lips drained of the color of blood, as well as the gray hair flowing in the wind. Fierce northern winds raging in the air, the frozen earth rapidly spreading under the nightmarish hooves, even the groaning from the ground shrinking and hardening was clearly audible. Attracted by that powerful soul force, a variety of dead souls circled around them, even daring to appear under the sunlight.

“Do you see that? That is the territory belonging to God, a dazzling dream was born and grew up there, eventually becoming a brilliant palace. However, light is built on ruins counted in the millionfold, and we are the owners of the broken pieces.” The death knight steered his mount patrolling back and forth, speaking in a slow but clear voice, “but now it’s different, fate has given us a chance at compensation, and whether or not we can obtain it, is determined by whether or not the swords in our hands have enough power.”

The young leader violently pulled out the huge sword carried behind his back [TN: I’m going to assume that there is no sheath], raising it high in the air directly facing the Sun, immediately the freezing cold blade cut the golden light into uncountably many filaments.

“This is where our dreams were once ended, but now, it will become the start of everything, a new calendar.” He said while “swoosh” pointing his weapon to  the horizon ahead, “we will destroy all the defenses of the Lewis Alliance [TN: 路维丝 again, Lewis Alliance definitely doesn’t sound right], opening up the road from here leading to the Jahweh [TN: 雅赫维, again don’t know what it’s supposed to be] mountains, realizing Ishtori’s desire to become God~!”

“I can hear the desires deep inside of you,” the death knight’s voice lowered, but was exceptionally clear, “just like how you can feel my burning soul. This is not only our desire, it’s also this world’s request, only Ishtori, can allow this world to free itself from the chains of Lewis, returning anew to progress and development.”

The knights receiving the exhortation were motionless like obsidian statues, but the heavy bright silver armor and the ice-cold bodies could not suppress the cries of the soul. The fiery conviction was searing their hearts, filling the freezing cold blood vessels with boiling and painful reminiscences. The entire formation was like a burning sea of ice-blue fire, the dead souls wailing and fleeing in the blazing hot soul fire were suddenly ignited, turning into scattered ashes.

“Remembered yet, those unforgettable brands?” The exhorter shouted loudly, “Charge, knights of Ishtori, for Ishtori’s dream…and our shattered memories.”

The death knight again gazed at the vast grasslands in front of his eyes. Towards the dark expanse and clear sky painted by the soft sun-gold light, the stripe of clear horizon in between hiding everything he wanted to obtain.

“Yes, long ago[TN: 久远, not sure if it’s a name or just means long ago/faraway]…” he called out these beautiful syllables, voice full of love, “did you see? did you hear?” the line that sketched out the death knight’s ice-cold expression instantly melted, his expression of hatred gradually disappeared, replaced by loneliness, sadness and regret.

With a gentle and familiar breath surging in his chest, the death knight pressed his left hand on his chest, even though his heart was no longer beating, the flood in his memory extinguished the cold fire in his pupils.

“……I came back……”

After a long silence, he suddenly lifted his head like a bird startled by the mere twang of a bow-string, causing innumerable pieces to fall from his elegant and long gray hair.

“Entire army advance~!” The death knight loudly ordered. Pressed by its master, the black nightmare broke the silence, gave a long neigh, and jumped down from the cliff.

The black shadow completely free from the influence of gravity, was running on the vertical cliff face. The lithe movement brought up strong winds, the black cape consequently swirled open, dragging out a thick black trail behind the death knight, and the ice-cold iron hooves of the horse spilled white pieces of ice crumbs on the cliff face.

He looked like an eagle swooping in on its prey, with a pair of black wings and eyes drawing a stream of light [TN: 划出流光, not sure how to translate].

The stationary formation instantly accelerated, charging down the cliff following the leader without any hesitation, these skillful knights swept past the rocks as one, the densely packed knights completely covering the color of the cliff itself, like roaring flood water gushing from the river bed.

A black tide enveloped by an air of fear, death and vengeance….