Chapter 25
A Clash of Gods

Colby spun his axe in his hand, and knocked aside the soldier's spear. With the flat of his weapon, he cracked the man's skull.

Beside him, Volug ripped his foes apart in his wolf form. In his wake, bodies lay strewn with their throats exposed in a bloody mess.

Micaiah stood in the back, flinging bolts of light at the Valmese soldiers. Every single spell his the red clad soldiers in their eyes, blinding or killing them.

The last few Valmese began to run away back to their central army. Volug refused to let them flee, and chased them down.

"Foolish raiding party," Micaiah spat. "We wasted valuable time here."

Colby shrugged, "I don't think we would have gotten much further. At least not in time."

"What do you mean?" Micaiah asked as Volug ran back to her side.

"That," Colby pointed at the dark looming shape that steadily approached the Ylissean army.

『』

"They're retreating inside the capital," Hugh said, putting a hand over his eyes to ward away the sun.

"At least we have them in one place now," Marisa muttered. "Bastards just keep on running, don't they?"

The mage nodded, and looked over his shoulder at their army. The Ylisseans had regrouped from their recent battle, and the loss of the Lord General.

The Mantled General had been forced to take his place.

Across the skies, a reverberating sound echoed. It pierced the clouds, and every ear in the vicinity.

"What in Naga's name was that?" Hugh mumbled, his hands over his ears in pain.

Clouds gathered above, and a winged beast descended in regal majesty.

Bahamut.

『』

It took the majority of Heather's concentration to focus on the task at hand. Ever since her beloved's return, the noblewoman couldn't keep her mind off Emm.

Now was the worst possible time for her mind to be focused on other things. Igrene was riding up the street surrounded by a regiment of guards.

It was as good a chance as any, at this point.

Heather had perched on a roof, while Roy's remaining soldiers were between buildings below. They only had one shot.

As planned, they let the group pass. But just as Igrene was directly in front of Heather, she leapt off the building.

The Shadowstrider made use of her dark armor as she tackled Igrene out of her saddle. The Valmese drew their weapons, but at Heather. They quickly were distracted by the Ylisseans, led by Roy.

It was fortunate that Igrene did not know how to use any weapon aside from a bow. Or else Heather's cousin would have resisted far more to the knife at her neck.

Without sparing a thought for the traitor, Heather cut her kin's throat.

『』

Frederick paused in his thinking at the sound from down the hallway. Footsteps.

Heather and Roy had left not too long ago, and Emmeryn was in Lissa's room with Frederick's charge. That left no one welcome that could be stepping down the hallway.

Reaching to the back of his belt, Frederick retrieved his knife. He began to creep down the hallway towards the looming sound.

A woman was looking around the meeting room. Frederick sighed in relief when he identified her. It was just an Anna.

"Can I help you?" Frederick asked. He was relieved, but still suspicious. Why would an Anna be here?

"Oh!" Anna said, gasping in surprise. "I'm sorry, I didn't know anyone was up here."

"It's all right," Frederick replied evenly.

Hoping to ease the situation, Anna extended her hand to shake Frederick's. The servant complied, giving the merchant a firm grip.

Anna smirked. Less than a second later, she plunged a knife into Frederick's heart. Her hand that had previously held Frederick's latched over his mouth to silence his screams.

"Shhhh…" whispered Anna, as her face, voice and gold eyes changed to Frederick's. "It'll all be over soon."

『』

"Do you hear that sound?" Henry whispered, arching his neck to see as much as he could out his window.

"I do. So it isn't just in your head…most likely," the dead man admitted.

Ignoring his cellmate, Henry strained his hearing as much as he could. "It sounds like armor hitting stone…as if someone was invading the city."

"Perhaps someone is," suggested the dead man. "After all, you wouldn't know."

"Your sarcasm is appreciated, as never," Henry hissed. "I think I can hear them getting closer…"

"I think that's on our end," the dead man chuckled.

Henry turned around to see Gangrel standing at his door. Henry's brother sighed, and said, "Unless you're ready to tell me where it is…?"

Henry laughed. He laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and—

Something heavy hit his head.

『』

"Relax," Hector advised, drinking his wine. "It's a wedding, and our enemies have been defeated."

Pelleas nodded, though he didn't feel at ease. Innes and Guinevere had been wed, and had long since left the reception.

"Go watch the doors," Pelleas quietly commanded Ursula.

The spot she had occupied behind him was quickly assumed by his spy, Leen. Never alone, Pelleas thought.

Hayden was the only remaining man at the high table. Alvis was skulking in the corner, away from most of the attendants. Joshua had gallivanted off to Naga knows where.

Hector and his bodyguard Geitz drank heavily. Pelleas wanted to join in, but the shifty gaze Hayden kept looking about with stopped him.

Pelleas was broken out of his trance by Hayden. The King of Frelia stood up at the high table and loudly announced, "As of this day, I declare war on Daein."

"Are you drunk?" Hector asked, all mirth gone from the room.

There was a maniacal glint in Hayden's eye. "Not in the slightest," he responded. And he snapped his fingers.

A woman screamed. Pelleas turned to see on of Hayden's men stabbing Ursula. Another scream, and Leen collapsed behind him.

The High King leapt up and with his sword, murdered the assailant. But Hayden's men were everywhere. Geitz, drunk as could be, barely felt his head being removed.

Hayden himself picked up a crossbow, and shot Hector through the heart just as the King of Ostia stood.

Pelleas saw red, and staggered back from the Frelians. He murmured several words under his breath, and the darkness came to his hands.

A swirling vortex encompassed the room, swallowing the Frelians. The darkness engulfed them, decaying their flesh so that only skeletons remained.

When it cleared, Hayden was missing. Alvis stood in the middle of the room, a fireball in his hand.

He flipped his hood back, and spoke, "Hayden went ahead. I've been ordered to stop you at all costs."

"Such a lapdog," Pelleas spat, shaking in anger. "You won't stop me."

The Devourer was at the ready before Alvis even threw his first attack. Pelleas smashed the fireball aside when it came, the black flames of his sword proving to be superior.

Alvis attacked with more ferocity, his flames nearly swallowing Pelleas. The High King's cloak caught on fire, and he was forced to abandon it.

Pelleas threw the cloak at Alvis' face. The King swatted it away, burning the fabric away.

And giving Pelleas enough time to let his sword find its way into Alvis.

He withdrew the blade, and fled his own castle through the bodies of his soldiers and servants. He could only hope Lara escaped.

『』

Luck would have it that Cath awoke as they arrived at the entrance of the citadel. However, fate being the bitch it was, put a robed figure there.

"The ceremony is not yet complete," he whispered, his voice carrying to the five companions.

"Ephidel?" Cath spoke, rubbing her eyes.

The golden eyed man turned on the spot, fixing the companions with a haggard stare. He waved his hand, muttering under his breath.

"Oh, shit," Cormag said as the platform began to shake. Ephidel fled inside as stone hands gripped the side of the floor. The rest of the creature was hanging off the side, still pulling itself up.

"I've got a bad feeling about this." Matthew drew the Avvenire.

"It's Titan," Cath quickly spoke. "A golem made of stone."

"Oh, lovely," Leila said drily.

"Much like yourself," Sain quipped.

Matthew glared, "Watch it, Sain."

Titan pulled himself up onto the platform. Sizing in at four times the height of Cormag, the stone creature roared. The five humans put their hands over the ears awkwardly while holding weapons.

They exchanged glances, and Cormag took several steps forward. He lit his body on fire, and held his blade up.

"Sain, get behind him. We need to make this quick," Matthew ordered. The green knight began to edge around.

Titan seemed to focus on Cormag, given the flashy display. Matthew and Leila backed him up, though neither could do much against such a foe. Cath hung behind, understanding only part of the plan.

The golem struck, his large fist arching toward Cormag. Matthew stepped in, and stopped the strike with the Avvenire. The unbreakable blade didn't fail him, as Titan roared angrily. Leila tackled Matthew out of the way of the second fist that the brown haired man had not seen coming.

This gave Cormag enough time to ram his sword in between two of the stones that comprised Titan. "Now!" he shouted, cueing Sain.

The Lurcher pulled on the sword, pulling it further into the creature from behind. He continued to pull in an attempt to either knock the golem off its feet or off the platform.

Titan did not move until Cath joined in, pushing on her side. Titan tumbled, magnetically getting tugged backwards.

Sain jumped aside at the last moment, letting the golem fall down to his dark doom in the Chasm.

"That was surprisingly easy," Matthew commented, observing how far they had come.

"No time to chat," Cath said. "Ephidel's inside."

『』

Ephidel sliced the knife across his hand, letting the blood drip on the altar. The room he had constructed the ceremony in was the antechamber of the citadel. An entire room, completely open with the altar he'd constructed in the middle.

No time, no time…

His hair was disheveled, and his Morph body was wracked with wear for the first time. He murmured the words of power he needed, and gasped as his Mantle was sucked out of him.

No longer a Summoner. Ephidel felt empty, the first time feeling something since his transformation.

"Now or never, you fool," Ephidel spat at himself. Footsteps rang out against the dust covered floor. The Morph made a decision, and slammed his cut hand down on the altar.

Ephidel felt power lash out at him, and knock him backward off his feet. He slid across the floor, ending up only a few dozen feet away from Cath's group.

A bald man had appeared on the altar. He stood from his kneeling position, and flicked his purple eyes open. Breathing deeply, he looked at Ephidel.

"Abomination," he intoned, the deep voice carrying a subtle power. Raising a hand toward the Morph, he declared, "I am Grima, god of destruction. Naga did not create you, and nor did I have a hand in your fell magic, abomination. Your time is at an end."

A bolt of purple struck Ephidel in the heart.

『』

"Knoll," Grima called, still standing on the altar. "Julia, Tormod, Levin, Ishtar, Lyndis, Devdan, Bartre, Wolt and Robin. Your master needs you, my Hunters."

One by one, each Hunter appeared in a flash of darkness. Each wore identical cloaks, the color of purple that obscured all features sans their face.

"You called, my god?" addressed the one who seemed to be their leader.

"I am weak, Robin," Grima spoke. "I have need of the power of a god that has been taken from me."

"We are prepared," Robin said, kneeling before his god.

Grima waved his hand, and the mystical aura that surrounded the Hunters vanished, leaving them no different from Matthew or any of the others.

Luckily, only Grima faced the doorway. A flash of light in contrast to Grima and his Hunters radiated throughout the room.

All eyes turned toward the doorway, to see a woman and a man. One was an Anna, yet another of the many identical sisters. And the other was priest who had the longest yellow hair Matthew had ever seen. In fact, he reminded him of Heather from early on in their journey.

"Grima," the priest called out haughtily. "You finally show your face."

"And you have a new face," Grima responded, stepping down from the altar. "It suits you, Naga."

Naga frowned, "Don't play nice with me, you fiend. You will not leave here alive."

Grima laughed, "You're such a treat. How I've missed you over the millennia."

The god snapped her fingers, and the sword that was in Matthew's hands vanished. Mere moments later, it was in Naga's hand.

"Avvenire," she said, "and Prima." In her other hand, was the sword Heather had taken inside Mount Prism. Each was the opposite of the other, two sword forged to be halves of a whole.

A sword for each god.

"I will enjoy prying my weapon from you dead hands," Grima swore, no longer holding the tone of mirth he'd had previously.

Naga crossed the blades, and smirked, "Since you no longer have need of them, I'll take your Hunters off your hands as well."

As the god in a human body moved to do so, Grima tried to stop her. A bolt of purple shot from his hands, but unlike Ephidel, Naga was ready for it.

She threw Anna in front of her with magic, letting the redhead take the hit. The Hunters fell to the floor at the same time, no longer protected by Grima's blessing.

Growling, Grima summoned a scythe of black metal. He leapt at Naga, and she did the same with her swords. The two collided with a collage of light, and disappeared.

All but one of the Hunters vanished as well.

"Tormod," Cormag grunted, readying his weapon.

The red haired man grinned, and began to juggle three fireballs. "Ready or not, here I burn," he said.

『』

Thousands of miles above Mira, Naga and Grima clashed.

The Avvenire and Prima met the scythe, each exchange having the power behind it to destroy cities.

Neither let up, each furious with the other for deeds centuries old.

Had any human been looking through a spyglass at the sky, they might have seen the battle as shooting stars.

Little did they know, that the fate of the world depended on the battle of gods above.

『』

Mant breathed cold air as the heat of body left him. It was done.

He looked at the Chasm, and the citadel within the center of it. There was his journey's end, and the start of the next.

He needed to move quickly. A god he might be, but one of speed he was not.

"I hope Yune's doing better than I am," he muttered, as he began to arduous journey to the citadel.

『』

Mira was hardly void of strange happenings. Such things were to be expected with a world of Mantles.

But in three separate locations, something odd happened. Something that even the people of Mira ran in fear from.

Just outside the capital cities of Valm, Plegia and Ylisse, towers erupted from the ground. Black structures made of obsidian, as ugly as a dead tree's presence in an orchard.

They stood stalwart, awaiting their destiny. Waiting for a god's chosen to venture within.

Waiting…

Author Notes: That…was much shorter than I expected. Oh well, I think I can be fine with a shorter chapter this time. It was pretty plot important, after all.

Trivia! Many things about this fic have changed, but this is the one part that didn't. The scene with Grima's resurrection played out just as I planned.