The sound tore across the empty waste, a rending of matter as a form coalesced. He dropped to the ground, startled. He didn't know where he was, or even who he was. It was silent, so so silent, that it deafened him. He could see nothing but flat ground all around him. He had this odd feeling, like this was all his, that it could be whatever he wanted. And so, he shaped. He formed a world of his own, making something familiar, but subtly different. All this he did, with one thing on his mind. A face, a face he loved with all his heart but did not recognize. ---------- He sat back and admired his work. What was once an empty plane was now a piece of art. Tall, majestic mountains soared over beautiful plains, surrounded by a grand forest. Quaint little settlements were scattered here and there. Above it all, a mighty fortress was embedded within the largest peak, jet-black with streaks of crimson. He alone stood at the tip, overlooking this grand world. He felt that there were still things missing though. Guards were needed in a fortress, and settlements required inhabitants. At the thought of this, he felt a power stirring within him, raw and ancient. He knew what to do to begin. In the center of his fortress, deep within the mountain, a large, empty room was where he stood. He focused, bending the power to his purpose. A rend appeared before him, a way to a different world. He smiled as he stepped through, the power leading him onwards. ---------- The pair of knights stood, bored with their duty. Not much of interest happened on the Dreadnought anymore, and they missed the thrill of fighting Lights. In front of them, a rift appeared. They knew of this, and stood back, waiting those blessed with a new form. Out of it came a human, and the knights looked on in confusion as it drew near. "You two will do perfectly" it said with a smile. ---------- An acolyte heard screaming, and wished that it could have been one of those blessed with a new shape. It heard sounds behind it, turning in time to see a human walking through a rift, two Taken knights following. It pondered on that for a little, then moved on with its work. ---------- His first two soldiers he named Hul-Ak and Karz. They became the leaders of his guard as it grew with each soldier he converted. As time passed, he grew more familiar with his powers, and no longer needed to be on the same plane as his targets. Instead, he reached through his friends, converting them as they came across. Of course, his soldiers were not the same as the others Taken by the powers he had gained. Instead of being black and fading to blue-white, they were completely black with swirls of crimson light shifting across them. His army grew in strength and number, becoming enough to patrol his whole world. There was still the problem of finding inhabitants for his villages, but for now he let himself rest. He had done good work, and all things came to those who waited.