“K-Kaparis? I…don’t know if I can do this…” Y’amis’ voice trembled upon seeing the runic blade held by Kaparis.

This was it-Her final phase before becoming a Demon Hunter: to burn her eyes out to gain spectral vision and tap into her demonic powers.

Y’amis started breathing anxiously whilst staring at the runic blade. “One final step, Y’amis” Kaparis assured. He uttered an incantation and the dagger ignited. “This will hurt…a lot” He said bluntly.

Kaparis made sure her restraints were on properly; he didn’t want her squirming around while burning her eyes. “Ready?” Kaparis asked.

“Y-yes” Y’amis said hesitantly. As the runic blade inched closer to her eye, the shorter her breaths became…

***
“Huh? Ooh, Kaparis” She said drowsily. She woke up and felt the carriage moving-they were still on the road.

“Hey Kaparis!” She said, getting his attention. “What?” Kaparis asked.

“I was having that dream again” She answered. Kaparis took sometime to think about her dream why did it still haunt her?

“The night of your final ritual?” Kaparis said, keeping his hands on the reign of the carriage.
“Yeah, that” She answered.

Y’amis waited for any questions Kaparis might ask, but seemingly the silence was her answer.

“Do you know what might be the cause of it?” Y’amis asked, making her way up to Kaparis.

“Well, I’m no Shaman, but perhaps your spirit hasn’t adjusted to your transcendence to a Demon Hunter?” he replied.

Y’amis pondered at the thought, but she’s been a Demon Hunter for ten years and it was only recently she started experiencing these dreams.

“Get some more rest” Kaparis instructed. Y’amis scooted close to Kaparis and rested her head on his shoulders. “Hmm, good night” She said.

Kaparis kept her close by; the carriage wasn’t stable on these roads. He looked up towards the moon.

It has been, to him, ages since he saw the moon’s beauty. Though he could still see the moon, under his spectral vision it was only a ball of white and blue haze.

He returned his focus on the road and noticed a crude sign merely a few feet from the carriage. The sign’s message was engraved in orcish he knew what it meant; he remembered the sign.

“This way to The Crossroads”

He has not laid his eyes on this nostalgic piece for ages. He could still remember the pointless raids on this innocent town. The memories of the battles were still etched in his mind. However he’s back to the very grounds he helped pillage all those years ago, but this time he was going to save it.

Again he returned his focus on the road. Dead-ahead he saw the town and several platoons of Orc and Tauren warriors, and smaller bands of Trolls. The perimeter of the town was secured by their air-tight phalanx-It consisted of a bulwark of shields in front followed by spear throwers, and archers. The watchtowers overhead housed more ranged support.

The phalanx temporarily broke ranks to let an elderly Orc shaman get through. The shaman, along with two guards approached Kaparis and Y’amis.

“What business have you here?” The shaman questioned. Despite his age, his voice was strong-he certainly was no bureaucrat.

“We’re Demon Hunters, old one. We’ve come to aid your front” Kaparis said in a straight-forward manner.

“We require no mercenaries to help us” One of the bodyguards said.

“Silence!” The shaman spat. “Our numbers have already dwindled enough as is”

“Do we have your permission? I sense the demons are coming” Kaparis said with a firm voice.

“Yes Night Elf. Are there anymore of you coming?” the shaman said.

“We are all you need” he said bluntly. The shaman walked back to the town and signaled the phalanx make way for the demon hunters.

“Wake up Y’amis!” He ordered.


The town’s defense did not budge since the phalanx reformed. Apart from sparse conversation of the upcoming battle, all was silent.

The shaman slowly walked towards the Demon hunters stationed outside the phalanx.
“I have only heard tales of your kind” The shaman said.

“What have those tales told you?” Y’amis replied.

“Well, it all sounded like exaggeration to me since the majority are elves, mind you” He said

Kaparis turned his attention to the shaman. “Elves? I’m not so sure we’re what you call elves now” He turned his attention back to the horizon. “We are still mortal, but more potent”

A younger shaman walked up to them. “Grandfather Ga’bar, who are these people?” the young shaman said.

“These are Demon hunters young Ga’koh. They are here to aid us in battle” Ga’bar said.

“What?! You’ve enlisted fel magic using…warlocks to aid us?!” The young shaman blurted out.

“We use the powers of evil against itself. Warlocks study and bend fel magic to their will” Kaparis corrected.

“So do Demon Hunters” the young shaman said.

“…Only to clean up unnecessary beings” Kaparis finished the pointless conversation by unsheathing his warglaives-The demons were coming.

“Ready your men, Shaman!” Kaparis said. The shaman and his grandson made their way back into the town. The warriors fortified their defenses and prepared for the onslaught.

“Y’amis, make sure none of their shaman falter!” He ordered.

“Alright…” She surveyed the number of shaman she would have to aid. There was only around six shamans plus the elder and the young one, among the couple hundred warriors.


Within moments a nether gate ripped open in the horizon and out poured a mass of burning boulders-Infernals. The monstrosities emerged from their meteorite forms to their familiar bipedal form. Before the nether gate closed a demon slowly floated down from the portal. It was not an infernal, but a wingless Doomguard.

The Infernals quickly made way for their leader and awaited orders. A massive sword materialized in his hands while slowly walking to the town. Kaparis could see the Doomguard’s full aura and the sound of his armor made a distinct “Kulank” sound as he moved.

Within fifty yards from Kaparis he stopped. Y’amis could see the demon’s aura blazing at the distance. Never had she seen such an aura with that magnitude.


Kaparis gripped his warglaives tighter as the Doomguard looked straight at him and the town.

“I am Kalinnoth, brother of the fallen Azzinoth” He introduced with a thunderous voice. This, in a way, shocked Kaparis. In front of him was none other than the brother of the demon whom Illidan slain ten thousand years ago.

“You mortals slew my brother, but I am a much more formidable” said Kalinnoth, spinning his sword in a graceful stroke. He turned his attention towards Kaparis and his weapons.

“You, your weapons resemble my brother’s. You shall pay for this blasphemy!” cried the Doomguard, spinning his sword in a deadly arc as he charged at Kaparis.

The demon hunter evaded the attack, but just barely. The tremendous force caused by the downward slash was demoralizing. Never had Kaparis been shocked by such raw power.

Kaparis regained his bearings and engaged the Doomguard. The demon’s lightning fast reactions were hard to anticipate, but he managed to deliver some hits. Kalinnoth cursed in eredun as he seized the demon hunter. He slammed Kaparis to the ground and as Kaparis recoiled back into the air after making contact with the ground Kalinnoth executed a sweeping slash across the ground, sending Kaparis across the field.

A wave of warriors charged at the Doomguard, but in one flawless stroke of his sword, he dispatched the group. He rested his great sword upon his shoulder and signaled his Infernals to attack.

An infernal advanced toward Y’amis. She saw the monstrous blaze of burning rock and uttered an incantation, engulfing the infernal in shadow and fire. (The damage was not great, for Infernals are already burning and are resistant, if not, immune to fire)

“Your energy is mine!” She taunted (Her spell utilized the Infernal’s fel fire). She blasted the infernal with its own energy along with her own, destroying it.

Another Infernal emerged from the carnage, charging straight at the blood elf Demon hunter. Luckily the demon was intercepted by a blazing fire elemental. The shamans called upon the spirits…and they answered.

Amidst the chaos Y’amis could see the elementals emerge. In spectral vision, their auras varied with each different elemental. From fiery blazes to hazy solidus, solid, rocky tones and vivid watery blue.

Backed up by the remaining warriors and support, the elementals and shaman beat back the demons. To his disappointment, Kalinnoth once again sized his sword and charged into the fray. His first target was a mighty earth elemental. He leaped into the air, and struck the elemental. His sword pierced right through it, destroying the elemental. The other elementals shared the same fates and the remaining forces of the defense retreated. Kalinnoth, however, refused to accept victory with the enemy still living. Group by group he struck down the retreating warriors.

Y’amis attacked Kalinnoth as he killed another warrior. The demon, in a whirlwind if steel, knocked back Y’amis. “Ha, is this all this little world has to offer?” the demon chuckled.

Y’amis stood back up and focused her fel magic on the demon. Her fel missiles failed to bring down Kalinnoth. “Your kind will never win” She rebutted, evading the demon’s blade.


Kaparis struggled to get up. The force of the strike nearly caused him to black-out. He ignored his wounds and made his way to the demon.

As the demon was in range, Kaparis leapt into the air and mustered enough strength to throw his glaive at the demon, causing great injury.

Kalinnoth howled in pain. The elf’s glaive blade struck deep into his arm, enough that the blade’s tip was protruding out of the other side of the wound.

With great vigor he tore the glaive out and charged at Kaparis. Kaparis too, charged straight towards the demon. Kalinnoth swung his sword, but to his surprise Kaparis intercepted the attack, blocking it with his other glaive.

His bones shuddered under the strength of the blow and his arm instantly became numb. The demon retracted his sword and with another strike, he overwhelmed the night elf’s defense. Kaparis recovered from the attack and channeled hellfire from the palm of his hand. The flames swallowed the demon.

He continued his fiery assault until Kalinnoth dropped to his knees with a thud. Kaparis took his glaive and struck several blows to the demon. Bloodied, the demon struggled to retaliate, but Y’amis struck from behind, causing him to drop to the ground.

Struggling, Kalinnoth spat out blood and glared at the demon hunter duo.

Kaparis sheathed his glaives and removed a runic dagger from its scabbard. “This one’s strong. I’ll be glad to absorb its soul” Kaparis said grimly. Alarmed at the statement Y’amis gasped.

“What?! You honestly think you can control this demon?” She said, confronting him.

“A portion of his soul is all I need. With that, we’ll be able to stop these intruding demons!” Kaparis stated. Y’amis struggled to argue further-Kaparis might have a point, but she was still hesitant.

Kaparis anchored the Kalinnoth’s hands to the ground with his glaives. He walked infront of the demon and grabbed his horn. He slammed the blade through its eyes and began siphoning its soul. Just when his share of the soul was finished, he could not stop absorbing.

“Y-Y’amis…!”

She grabbed hold of the runic dagger and struggled to pry the blade from the demon’s eye, but try as they could it was futile. Within minutes Kaparis siphoned off all of Kalinnoth’s essence.

The demon’s hide eroded in hellfire and all that remained was his shackles and plate armor. Overwhelmed with the demon’s soul within him, Kaparis expelled his older demon spirit to make room for his current.

He saw that Kalinnoth’s sword was still lingering around. He remembered the tale of Illidan when he slew Azzinoth ten thousand years ago and how he obtained his warglaives after Azzinoth’s defeat.

“Kaparis, what are you doing?” Y’amis asked in a meek voice. She was not sure if Kaparis was still the same. She’s heard tales of demon hunters absorbing an entire demon soul-they became corrupted shortly afterwards and, in a sense, become the demon permanently.

Kaparis held the sword and was amazed by how light-weight it was. He spun the sword several times before examining its properties. He was amazed by this masterpiece and seized the weapon as his own. Just as Illidan seized the warglaives of Azzinoth he seized The Warblade of Kalinnoth.

“Kaparis?” Y’amis said, trying to get his attention. He heard her voice and said “It’s nothing Y’amis. I’m just following…tradition”

He sheathed his prize, but soon collapsed.

"Kaparis!!!"