As long as I have breath in my body…my fate is my own…
Adventure Universe, Town of Tales, Mythos Hearts Guild Hall…
The interior of Mythos Hearts was predominantly empty today, save for a few individuals. Ever since the fateful call from The Ultimate Imposter that the time of the Raid on Kaido was near, most of the guild had returned to their worlds to prepare for it, gathering resources and allies.
That near empty sight was what Johnny, Sally and Mr. B walked into as they entered the hall.
"Daddy, where are all the people?" Sally asked her adopted father.
"I dunno, Sally. After the hall came back yesterday, almost everyone left in a hurry." Johnny remembered. "Wasn't there when they got lifted, so I'm pretty lost here."
The three looked around the hall: the only ones in seemed to be the interns and the Fatebreakers.
"Oh! Johnny!" Catarina called out as she walked over to them. "Perfect timing. Something big is happening!"
"What do you mean, Cat, what's going on?" Johnny asked.
"Oh, right… you're relatively new here, so you don't really know, do you?" Amity asked.
"Know about what?" the Rapture native asked.
"About the Raid on Kaido's turf in Wano?"
"Kaido…" Johnny repeated, racking his brain. "Oh, wait, I think I've heard of him! One of the Four Emperors of the Sea, turns into a dragon, jumps off of clouds as a hobby?"
"Yeah, that's him." Luz said. "Just as soon as the guild returned, one of Theo's friends got a call that sprung the guild into full on war prep mode."
"Everyones getting ready to journey to Wano by preparing the armies in each guild branch." Catarina said. "Almost everyone went back home to get supplies and help and stuff."
"I see." Johnny nodded his head. "Well, that explains the empty hall."
"Well… almost empty." Amity said, pointing to a table where the Fatebreakers were sitting at.
"Huh. Better go see what they're up to." Johnny said they all walked over to where the group was sitting.
"...The Empire is busy planning for the next war, but they should be willing to send… a couple thousand troops, at most." Tanya said as the group looked over a chart of their worlds. "Sato, what about your world?"
"Well, I don't know about the Adventurer's Guild, but Wiz will probably be willing to help-" Kazuma guessed before he saw Johnny's family and the interns. "Oh, hey guys!" He welcomed them, letting the rest of the group onto their appearance.
"You guys seem busy." Johnny said.
"We're going over any possible way we can contribute troops to add to the Raid forces." Viktoriya said. "All we have so far is the rest of the 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion. The Major's hoping Command will grant permission to us to command some more Empire forces, but…"
"We're pretty much out of ideas from there." Ristarte sighed. "Gaeabrande has its own problems, there's no way to convince anybody in Axel to join, The Guild in Goblin Slayer's world won't post a mission outside of its borders…"
"We have a couple friends in other worlds we could call, but it's not nearly enough." DJ said. "We'll give them a call, of course, but we need to find a big boost to the forces."
"Considering Kaido's rep though, those friends won't probably wanna jump in." Johnny said. "What you need are more forces to add to the army."
"But where would we even find those forces?" Tida asked.
Everyone thought as hard as they could, but no one had any ideas. Just when it seemed like everyone had decided they'd drawn a blank, the doors to the guild opened, letting a man in black walk in.
The moment he pushed the doors open, a deathly chill blasted overy everyone, putting them on edge.
"Uh…who is that guy?" Kazuma whispered. "You think it's one of those Apostle guys?"
"No, this feeling is different from that." Ethox said. "Don't attack, but be ready, just in case."
The figure looked around the hall, noting its lack of adventurers before he made his way towards the group. Up close, the man was quite the intimidating one. In all black with a hood over his head, he was adorned in sinister looking armor which was also black with gold linings. The armor was wrapped in a pale purple, tattered-looking cloak. On his right hand, a gold-colored ring, the main source of the chill the group felt, was on his ring finger. The other most striking feature, however, were his eyes: they glowed orange and were surrounded by black veins that broke up the man's pale face. If this man was human, it was clear that something was happening to him.
"Which one of you is the leader?" the figure asked in a strangely humble voice.
"Uh… that would be me." Ethox raised his hand. "Can I help you?"
"That depends. This is the Mythos Hearts guild, correct?" the man asked. "I seek aid."
"Whoa, slow down there, buddy!" Aqua said. "Everyone, this guy looks like he's working for a demon. We can't trust him!"
"Let's hear him out, Aqua." Ethox chided her gently. "Sorry, about that, Mr…?"
"Talion." the man introduced himself, as his eyes shifted to a normal human color. "I'm of no harm to any of you."
"Really? You look like some sorta Dark Lord with that getup and ring on." Seiya said, as usual, being skeptical.
"My appearance may say so, but it is not true… not yet, anyway." Talion said. "It's…complicated."
"Well, that sums up most of us to a T." Nemo said.
"So, what brings you here?" Amity asked.
"I've come to personally request this guild's services. And in exchange, I cannot offer you money, but I can offer you my forces." Talion explained.
"You've got an army?" Michiru asked, she and the others perking up at that.
"Yes. I've heard of the oncoming threat that this Kaido, the King of The Beasts poses." Talion said. "His desire to plunge the worlds into endless war cannot be allowed to become reality. I am unable to intervene myself, but my forces may still be of use to others. I have much in the way of what you need. Ground forces, Siege Artillery, my own beasts of war… even the means to build sea vessels."
"You mean ships? What would we need those for?" Kazuma asked.
"Uh, Kazuma? You know Onigashima is an island, right?" Luz said.
"...Oh." Kazuma said. "Well, I'm an idiot then."
"Well Talion, I think I speak for all of us when I say that we're up for the help." Ethox said. "What exactly do you need us to do for you?"
"Come with me to Minas Morgul in my world. I'll explain everything there." Talion explained.
"Minas Morgul? That sounds familiar…" Tanya remarked.
"Wait a sec." Kazuma said. "The ring, Minas Morgul, the aesthetic…oh my god, you're from Middle-Earth!" the boy realized.
"Ah, yes, that's correct, how do you-?" Talion started to ask.
"Oh yeah! It's one of the Magic Universe's most popular sightseeing spots!" Ultra said. "Tours go there all the time! Well, invisible and in the air, of course."
"...I see." Talion said, with an expression that said 'I'm confused, but I'm just going to move on.'. "In any case, time is of the essence. We must be off." he said before he turned to the interns and Johnny. "You are free to come as well, provided you can fight."
"Uh… no thanks. We're good." Luz said. "We gotta hold down the fort here. Besides, I'm only still just learning how to do magic. And Catarina here's not much of a fighter."
"(Phew! Thanks, Luz! I did not wanna go there and trip any death flags!)" Catarine said internally.
"Well I'll go." Johnny spoke up. "Might as well make it my first mission as part of the guild, right?"
"Great that you're coming, Johnny." Legolia said. "Sally, B, wanna come too?"
"I'll go where Daddy goes!" Sally said determinedly, Mr. B giving off a roar of confirmation.
"Alright, then we're all working together!" Ethox declared, standing up. "Let's go!"
Magic Universe, Middle Earth, Minas Morgul, Great Hall…
Nightfall in the once proud Outpost City that defended Gondor from invasion from the Land of Mordor. Everyone was creeped out by how gloomy the city was, and it wasn't just because it was night when they arrived.
"Brr, you need to get a new decorator in here…" Koeing remarked as they walked into the great hall.
"I didn't choose this scenery. It was once much more grand." Talion said. "This all fell to the shadows when the Nazgûl took this place."
"Oh right, the Ringwraiths." Ultra said. "I've heard of them. Nine mortal men, doomed to die… though that line is kinda misleading when you think about it. They aren't dead, they're corrupted. Totally different."
"There's more than one way to die, Ultra." Johnny reminded the boy. "It happened back in Rapture too."
"Anyway, now that we're here, can you tell us what you needed us for?" Aqua asked.
"Of course. I will show you." Talion said, leading the group to a pedestal on which a black sphere was placed.
"Whoa. Is that… the eye?" DJ asked.
"I'm surprised you know of the Palantír." Talion said. He reached his hand out to the sphere as it started radiating inside with flames. Talions eyes regained their orange color as he looked into it. The others prepared to look into it. But then, Legolia's ears twitched as she heard someone.
"He is changed…" she heard a woman's voice say from above.
"Hey Talion, did you invite someone else?" Legolia asked. "Because there's someone else here."
"...I fear I know of who you speak." Talion said, teleporting away in a black and green smoke just as an elf dressed in moderately plated body armor holding twin blades jumped down from above and hit the place he had been standing mere moments before.
"Your time has come, Nazgûl." the woman declared as she turned to face Talion. "Now you bring those from outside our land to share your fate? You've fallen far, Talion."
"Let me guess, ex-girlfriend?" Nemo asked Talion.
"No. An assassin sent to kill me, and she almost succeeded." Talion said, drawing his sword. "And she will not kill me again!"
The two then clashed their blades, Talions one sword and daggers supported by his dark powers, against the mysterious assassin's twin blades, bow and light emanating from her right hand.
"You should have died." the woman said as she parried some daggers thrown by Talion.
"Celebrimbor deceived you, Eltariel! As he deceived me!" Talion countered as he fired more daggers at his opponent, the woman leaping out of the way.
"We should stop this." Le Kraken suggested.
"Yeah, this is getting in the way of our job." Seiya agreed, taking out a bangle with a blue gem on it. "Let's put this assassin on ice. Cube of Cold!"
From out of the bangle, a blast of snow and ice emerged, hitting the mysterious assassin. When the mini-storm cleared, the woman was frozen up to her neck in a large ice block.
"What?!" the woman named Eltariel asked, Talion sensing an opening and getting ready to strike, but Ethox intervened.
"Whoa, Whoa, whoa! Talion, hold on!" Ethox asked. "We're kinda lost here, why is she trying to kill you?!"
"He is a Nazgûl, a dark servant of Sauron!" Eltariel proclaimed. "And you defend him? He wears Isildurl's ring!"
"Hey, for your information, he hired us!" Aqua said. "Yeah, he's creepy looking and has a dark, cold aura, and he's kinda vague and-"
"You're not helping, Aqua!" Kazuma said. "Look, lady, Talion's not a Ringwraith yet. He came to us because he wants to do some good…I think."
"The boy speaks the truth." Talion said, sheathing his sword as his eyes returned to normal. "I may wear Isildurl's ring, but I am not yet a Nazgûl. Shelob saw the future that came to pass. She saw the Great Eye above Barad-dûr."
"Wait…Shelob? You mean the huge spider that came straight out of Tolkin's nightmares?" Kazuma asked.
"And by Great Eye, you mean…" DJ said.
"Yes. the Dark Lord Sauron himself." Talion said.
"Okay, just what the hell is going on here, Talion?!" Nemo asked. "This is not the Middle-Earth we've heard about."
"It is a very long story. But in short, Shelob saw the need for a counterbalance to the Dark Lord." Talion explained, before looking to Eltariel. "And we will be that counterbalance. All of us…including her." he said, pointing to Eltariel.
At that, Legolia used a fire arrow to melt the ice imprisoning Eltariel, who picked up one of her fallen blades. "I was sent here to kill you." she told Talion. "What makes you think I'll help you?"
"You once told me that in the war against darkness, stalemate is victory." Talion said to his assassin. "Do you still believe that?"
"I believe Mordor and the Nazgûl must be contained." Eltariel said. "But how long can you fight this war before you fall and join them?"
"I don't know." Talion said, handing Eltariel her other blade. "So perhaps you all should stay close. Come, let me show you something."
Talion returned to the Palantír, using it once more to show images of orcs fighting each other. "At the end of my previous campaign, I managed to defeat the Witch-King. However, many of my fortresses were attacked not long after his defeat."
"Led by who?" Eltariel asked.
"That is what we need to find out." Talion said, before motioning to the Fatebreakers. "And what I hired these adventurers for. You must find the ones behind these attacks, then help me defeat them. As one power falls, another one rises. That is the way of Mordor."
"I see, Sir Talion." Necroapache said. "Then that is what we shall do."
"Where exactly should we begin our search for these attackers?" Gimilor asked.
"We'll have to draw them out first. To do that, we must gain power." Talion explained. "We make for Cirith Ungol. It's time I showed you all just what kind of force you will be taking command of should we succeed."
Mordor, Cirith Ungol, Darz-ghûrum Fortress…
Talion led the group into a fort, the group noticing two things: the orcs present weren't attacking them on sight, and there weren't enough to hold the fort.
"Uh… Talion? Not to sound like a downer but…" Kazuma said. "This fort sucks. There's no way you can hold it."
"We'll fix that soon enough." Talion said as they were approached by a nervous looking orc. He was dressed in ragged cloaks over heavily plated armor at the chest area, hood over his head like Talion which only showed his pale face, and adorned with sandals. Spears were on his back as his clothes had the shade of blue.
"My lordship." the orc bowed to Talion.
Akoth, Slayer of the Dead
Marauder Commander
"Your army is made of Orcs?" Legolia asked.
"Uruks, if you prefer to be technical. They are loyal enough, using the right methods." Talion said before he turned to Akoth. "Akoth, attacks have commenced against the other forts. We must prepare."
"Oh, this is unfortunate." Akoth said. "If attacked now, we…will fall."
"How bad is it?" Talion asked.
"Az-Rans departed a week ago to avenge his blood brother. Took his Drakes with him. We have not heard from him since." Akoth explained. "Yesterday, Thrak… was Poisoned. He confronted Ar-Hissu who denied responsibility. Thrak, perhaps deranged by poision, stabbed Ar-Hissu. Who then bled…"
"That doesn't sound so bad…" Michiru started.
"...to death." Akoth finished.
"Oh…" Rista cringed.
"You've gotta be kidding me!" Kazuma said. "Your forces can't hold this fort, let alone help us take on Kaido!"
"Which is why we need reinforcements." Talion said. "Akoth, any suggestions?"
"Oh, I know of a few Orcs who could provide the defenses we need." Akoth said. "They are…unique."
"Very well." Talion nodded before he turned to the group. "I must attend to my fortress in Seregost. You all must bring these Uruks back here."
"How? Uruks aren't exactly known for being…well, nice." DJ said.
"Eltariel now wears Celebrimbor's ring." Talion said. "She can dominate the minds of Uruks, bringing them under her control."
"I will not dominate these orcs!" Eltariel argued vehemently.
"...I see." Talion said, actually sounding…relieved? "Then you'll have to find another way."
"I said I wouldn't dominate these orcs." Eltariel said. "But we will bring them back. One way or another."
"Do what you must. And do not be afraid to rely on the adventurers." Talion said. "You can trust them."
With that, Talion walked off, on his way to his other fortress.
"So, uh… good to be working with you." Ethox said. "No hard feelings about the whole ice thing."
Eltariel looked at the group before she sighed. "I suppose I have no choice. I am Eltariel, Blade of Galadriel."
"Galadriel? You work for Elven Royalty. Which means you're an Elf yourself." DJ said. "Though from all the athletics you showed off back in Minas Morgul, I guess that's obvious."
"Pleasure to be working with you." Legolia said. "I'm Legolia, I'm the Fatebreaker's archer."
"You're a High Elf." Eltariel noted. "(And her name is like Legolas's. That cannot be mere coincidence.)"
"It could be a simple name, or she is a version of him." Galadriel spoke from Eltariel's mind. "But is it wise to assist these adventurers with this task the Nazgûl has given them? With every hour you wait, he falls further into darkness."
"(You sent me to kill Nazgûl. I will do what is needed when the time comes.)" Eltariel promised. "We must begin as soon as possible. You, Uruk." she said to Akoth. "Who are these unique orcs you spoke of?"
"Oh, well… I know of only their titles. The Architect, the Bow of Morgoth, and the Thrall. They're all situated around Cirith Ungol, you won't have to look far for them… provided you can convince them to help."
"We'll do our best. Thanks, Akoth." Johnny said.
"Well, if I can say… there is something else." Akoth said. "Lately around Mordor, Warbands of Uruks belonging to the same tribe have been vying for territorial control. Perhaps if you can defeat them in trials of combat, perhaps they will agree to work under you. That would bolster our ranks…considerably."
"We'll keep that in mind." Ethox said as they left Darz-ghûrum to search for the Uruks Akoth mentioned. "So, who's first to find?"
"You even gotta ask? We go for the Architect." Seiya said. "A name like that means he builds things, which means he's our guy for helping build ships to use in transporting everybody."
"An Orc who builds rather than destroys…" Eltariel said. "Mordor is full of such wonders."
"You're kinda cold, has anyone told you that?" Neumann asked. "But you're right. Let's go find this Architect."
Eltariel, Tanya and her team ventured together deep inside caves into the region, going to the exact location Akoth mentioned where this Architect was doing his work.
Upon arrival, they saw many slave Uruks in attendance, as well as a few archers with crossbows stationed up high. Leading them all was an Orc much bigger than the rest of them. Eltariel told them it was an Olog-hai, a war troll. Strong, fast, very intelligent, and immune to sunlight. This particular Olog had a grey beard and wore an outfit that made him look like a monstrous Leonardo DaVinci. In his huge hands, he held a large hammer with spikes on one side.
"Get ready boys!" the Olog laughed with an unexpectedly hearty voice. "This'll drive the buggers out! MEET THE BONESHAKER!" he declared as he slammed the hammer onto the ground, shaking it.
Ar-Kaius, the Architect
Marauder Commander
"This guy sounds like he's fun at parties." Nemo remarked.
"Yeah, and it looks like he's got party crashers." Koenig said as dozens of small, humanoid creatures with rat like faces burrowed out of the ground in response to the Olog's mighty blow, swarming him and his forces.
"Ghûls." Eltariel remarked. "If we save enough of the Architect's workers from them, we will gain his favor."
"Sounds like a plan. My team and I will go with Eltariel to back up monster Davinci. The rest of you stand by." Tanya said.
"No complaints from us. I don't wanna be near those things." Aqua said.
The seven of them then jumped into the fight, cutting and shooting down any Ghuls they saw.
"Thought you could use an assist!" Neuman said to the Olog.
"Allies? Ah, you've heard of my work then!" Ar-Kaius realized as he swatted a few Ghûls away.. "You must protect the workers! We're months behind schedule!"
"Not to worry, that is our intention." Weiss said as the soldiers quickly shot down the Ghûls in the area. "We are the 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion."
"Very interesting unit name for men like yourselves. I won't pay it no mind. You can call me Ar-Kaius, the greatest industrial mind in Mordor!" the Olog introduced himself. "Glad to finally meet people who appreciate what I'm doing here!"
"Er… what is it you're doing here exactly?" Vicktoryia asked as she shot down a few Ghûls in rapid succession with her Mondragon.
"Only the greatest architectural achievement in Mordor! An Underground Fortress, the first of its kind! Impervious to all forms of attack!" Ar-Kaius explained proudly, interrupted by some Ghuls climbing on his back as he shook them off and crushed them. "Er, once we clear these damn Ghûls out of course! Are you with me?"
"Let's say: we're not against you." Eltariel said, using Galadriel's light to burn away the rest of the Ghûls as they moved with Ar- Kaius to the next spot.
"Here we are." Ar-Kaius said. "I can feel the little buggers crawling down below. Get ready for a fresh crop of Ghûls, boys!" he said, slamming the ground with the Boneshaker, making the monsters crawl out and attack, the group responding in kind with another battle.
"You certainly got some big aspirations. Can see why people call you an architect." Koening said shooting a group down with an artillery spell. "I mean, an underground fortress? Who else thinks of that? (Well, Nazarik, but they're a long way from here, so…)"
"Oh, just you wait, my friend. Underground fortresses will be the next big thing!" Ar-Kaius promised as he swatted Ghûls away. "Once this one is finished, all the Overlords will want one!"
"Built a lot of fortresses in your day?" Grantz asked as he thinned the crop of Ghuls.
"I have, and word of my work has spread far." Ar-Kaius said. "Barad-dûr? The Machine and Marauder forts? I did them all!" the Olog boasted. "Well, except for the Outlaw forts…those are rubbish."
"(Well, he's certainly boastful. But there's really no denying he has talent.)" Tanya thought. "(Talent that I'm sure he'll be happy to put to use for us…)"
"Major!" Weiss called, taking notice of some Ghûls attacking on the archers. Ar-Kaius also took notice.
"Oh no! My archers!" Ar-Kaius said in distress as he couldn't do anything but watch as they were being slaughtered. "They were on loan from Ar-Karo! He's not going to like that."
"They're dead." Tanya stated as she flew up, muttered a quick prayer, then fired a bullet that split into six, taking out all of the Ghûls at once.
"Well done, little one! Stay right up there!" Ar-Kaius directed. 'I'll give these buggers another taste of the Boneshaker, then you and your men target the Grog barrels spread about! That'll give the vermin something to fear."
"That sounds like a plan." Tanya said as her soldiers joined her up top, giving them a view of the entire area.
"Alright elf, follow me!" Ar-Kaius directed Eltariel as the two, followed by Ar-Kaius's workers, stopped next to a statue. "Right now, we're directly above the fortress…main courtyard. Beautiful, isn't it? There's another of these statues down below…much bigger than this one, of course!"
"Man, when this guy builds, he sure goes big." Neumann noted.
"That's just what we need. Our combined army will be large. Not as big as the millions the Beast Pirates are made of, but we'll need lots of big ships to ferry everyone." Tanya said.
"You all have a good view from up there?" Ar-Kaius called up to the soldiers.
"Yeah! Good work you're doing down here!" Neuman said.
"Thank you! Now, let's finish off the vermin!" Ar-Kaius said as the last of the Ghûls, backed up by a few Matrons, came up. That was when the 203rd blasted the barrels Ar-Kaius pointed out, and blew them all away.
After that, Ar-Kaius led them all to the statue he was talking about before. Definitely bigger than the last one.
"This is my masterpiece, friends. My shrine to orc greatness. To Mordor itself!" Ar-Kaius said.
"It's a shrine to something." Eltariel said.
"So, Ar-Kaius." Tanya spoke up. "With your forces cut back a bit, would you have any interest in joining our forces? We work with the one known as Talion."
"Talion? Ah, I've heard of him." Ar-Kaius said. "Rest assured, my allegiance is to Mordor, not the Dark Lord. And joining with you all is to my benefit. You did great work here today, and with my archers gone, I'm going to need protection. I don't pay much…"
"Your services will be payment enough." Tanya assured. "Especially if you are capable of building large boats."
"Hah! Child's play, but what would you need ships for?"
"We're about to be part of a huge Raid operation, and we need sea vessels to ferry everyone in our army to an Island Fortress. After we complete our job for Talion, would you be interested in a job like that?"
"Interested? Ah, don't be so humble! We in the Maradder Tribe live for raiding! And with myself in your band, you'll have no shortage of glory!" Ar-Kaius assured. "Consider yourselves hired!" he laughed as he walked off to resume his work.
"We won't disappoint you." Eltariel said. "What he lacks in humility, he makes up for in strength."
"I agree. We made the right choice scouting him." Tanya said. "Let's hope the other two Uruks are just as impressive."