Italy, October 1494
After Perseus had returned to his manor in Italy, word had reached him of an invasion from France into Italy. He had immediately gathered up his weapons and gear and had gone to aid the army that would defend Italy. To Perseus Italy was his home. He had lived in many location, but Italy was where he had lived the longest.
This brings us to the here and now. Perseus stood with the rest of the defenders of Italy. They were all prepared to fight and die to defend their country, they would make the french regret invading. Perseus drew his steel blade and prepared for his next fight.
The fortress he stood in was known as the fortress of Mordano. For those not versed in history the fort was besieged and the Italian forces within refused to surrender. With that the french would bombard the fort and take it as their own.
As the bombardment began, Perseus and many of the other fighters realized what would happen to them. The french would slaughter them and take the fort because of their refusal to surrender. Taking several men with him Perseus and ten others were able to flee through the sewer system beneath the fort. The rest were not so lucky.
As the french bombardment ended and the true fight began, the Italian forces had no hope of victory. All were slaughtered and the fort fell into the hands of the french. The first Italian war had begun. And it had begun with a french victory.
Italy, March 1495
The league of Venice had been formed and Perseus was a part of it. The league had one objective, to drive the french out of Italy. The french had taken much of the country, including Rome. The league would make sure that they left, and that they left with many dead.
Perseus had joined so that he could help those who would drive the french out of Italy. Many major groups had joined the league. From the King of Sicily, to the republic of Venice, the people of the Italian peninsula had banded together to fight a common enemy. Never had the countries of Europe banded together in such a way. The league was the first such alliance, but it would not be the last.
An army was being raised by the league under the command of condottiero Francesco II Gonzaga, Marquess of Mantua. Perseus had joined this army to help the Italian people defend their, and his own, country. He would partake in many fights against the french. Starting with the battle of Fornovo.
19 miles southwest of Parma, July 1495
Perseus was in the midst of battle. The battle had been about to turn to the Italians favor, until some of the soldiers left their assigned posts and turned the battle into a bloodbath. The reason these men had left their posts was to loot the french baggage train. This baggage train had all the spoils of war from Italy that the french had taken.
Perseus was in the center of the bloodbath. His steel sword swinging through the air. With every swing of his sword, Perseus' enemies were either killed or wounded. He was merciless in his killing, none of these invaders would survive his wrath.
As Perseus cut his way through the enemy, he came upon something he did not expect, a son of Hades. Perseus had never fought a son of Hades and the fight that he was about to enter would be a fight to remember. The son of Hades walked forward, his black sword seeming to absorb light.
"I am Girard Crozier, son of Hades. Who am I facing? So that I may know the man that I am about to kill."
"I am Perseus of Novigrad."
"A simple title, and yet I know that name. You participated in several wars. You must be immortal. You will be a great kill."
To Perseus it was sad that his name was no longer associated with the title of witcher. The world did not know what a witcher was anymore. They had become fairy tales, stories to tell children. No longer were they known as the fierce warriors who hunted monsters. How sad.
Bringing his blade around to block the dark sword of Girard, the two began a dance of death. With each hit of their swords against each other, a loud clang was heard. The strength of these two was amazing, and to the few soldiers who could watch the fight, they were amazed that the two's swords did not break.
Perseus moved his steel blade in an overhead swipe, only to have it blocked by Girard. It was increadible, the young french demigod could keep up with the witcher's lightning fast attacks and movements. As the two continued to fight the few soldiers, both Italian and french, could only see the blurs that the two had become.
Perseus went on the offensive, attacking everywhere he could. Attacks to the head, the torso, arms, legs, even the feet and hands. All of it was blocked by the demigod's black blade. As Perseus went for a stab at the demigod's torso, Girard dodged and swung his sword, scoring a small cut on the witcher's cheek.
The two disengaged, and Perseus brought his left hand up to the small cut. He was surprised, it had been a long time since anyone, demigod or otherwise, had scored a blow on him.
"You have talent, to be able to get even a small cut. It is impressive."
"Thank you, now die, Perseus of Novigrad."
The demigod charged Perseus and swung his sword at the witcher. As the demigod went on the offensive he tried everything to break through Perseus' defenses. But nothing that he did would work. It was like the witcher could read his mind. 'This man is incredible, to be able to have such good skill with a blade. I have trained all my life and yet I can not hit him.'
As the demigod continued his assault, Perseus noticed a flaw that would soon end the demigod. 'When he blocks my overhead blows, he is not ready for a punch or kick. That will cost him.' Swinging his blade over head with one hand, the witcher punched with the other. And the demigod, not expecting such an assault, was caught in a death trap.
As the witcher's fist connected, he pulled his blade back and stabbed it forward, right into Girard's chest. The world seemed to stand still for a few seconds, and then Girard looked down. In his chest was the steel sword of the witcher. Looking back up at the witcher he could only nod his head, impressed by the witcher's skill and ability.
Ripping his blade out of the body of the son of Hades, Perseus looked around at the raging battle. He was saddened by the loss of life for both sides. Caught in his moment of philosophy, Perseus almost did not notice that the two sides were retreating.
The french had been pushed back onto a hilltop and both the french and Italian armies were making camp. It was over, for now at least. And during the fighting the Italian army had been able to take back the money and spoils that had been taken from them. Now it was a waiting game.
Italy, August 1498
It had been three years since the battle of Fornovo. During this time the Italian army had attacked the french as they fled Italy by land. In that time many had died, but there had been no massive battles like that of Fornovo. In the end the Italians had regained most of the spoils and the french had been pushed out of Italy.
This small victory came at a cost however, as the Italian army had lost twice as many men as the french army. With the french now out of the country, Perseus had returned to his vineyard and his servants. This latest war had shown him the brutality of man's newest weapons. Firearms and artillery were coming to be more used than blades. And so Perseus decided to train a skill witchers had been famous for to a new level. He would train his arrow deflection skills so that he could deflect bullets.
He began by having one of his servants who had fought in the war fire a gun at a target. After getting a feel for how fast the bullet would travel he then had his servant fire past him. Once he was used to that he tried hitting the bullet. Then he had the servant shoot right at him. Within weeks, he could block the bullet quite easily.
Even after coming home, the demigods always wanted the witcher for hunting monsters. Because of his background in monster hunting, he readily accepted these contracts and would hunt the beasts for the demigods. As of now, he was hunting a large group of cyclopes that had killed many demigods and had been stirring up trouble in the region.
The cyclopes were reported to be about five miles from the witcher's own manor. So he went out to deal with them. Coming close to the area where the cyclopes were last reported, the witcher looked for evidence of where they could have gone. He quickly found it, several tracks leading to a large cave.
Drawing his silver sword, the witcher entered the cave. And as he entered a large wooden club swung and hit him in the chest. The witcher went flying out of the cave and into a tree. As he landed in pain, five cyclopes exited the cave. There was the one that had hit him, wielding a club. Two were unarmed and the last two had metal chains wrapped around their arms and hands.
Standing and picking up his silver sword, the witcher readied himself for a fight. The cyclopes with the club charged him, and simply dodging the large monster, the witcher cut the cyclopes' arm off. The monster looked at its now stump in surprise, even as the witcher stabbed it through the stomach and ripped his blade clean through, killing the monster.
The other four looked in surprise at the easy death of their comrade and all charged the witcher. Perseus easily dodged all of the beasts strikes. As he dodged one of the chains, he grabbed the chain, and in a great feat of strength, redirected the beast's strike into one of the other monsters.
The monster was hit with all the power of a cyclopes' punch and was knocked unconscious. With that Perseus quickly severed the head of the cyclopes with chains that he had used. As it fell, disintegrating into gold dust he turned to the last two. He charged the remaining one with chains, and dodging its strikes, cut a long diagonal cut through its chest.
As the monster fell into two pieces he turned to the remaining one. It charged him hoping for an advantage, only for him to use the Aard sign on it. This stopped it charge, and using his ability over water, Perseus ripped all water from it body. It blew up in a huge explosion, throwing blood and gore all over.
Perseus walked to the final one that had been knocked unconscious. He took his silver blade and severed all the limbs from the monster in a bloody fashion. Then he cut open the monsters head. This turned it to the golden dust monsters were known for.
His job completed, Perseus walked to the camp of the demigods that had hired him. He was paid in simple gold coins. Having been paid the witcher returned to his manor. Once there he found a messenger waiting for him. This was a message he had dreaded, the message that Geralt of Rivia was on his deathbed.
Geralt's vineyard, August 1498
Geralt layed on his bed, weak and dying. Perseus and Ciri were the only two there, the only two friends from so long ago left to say goodbye to the old witcher. Both were saddened at the state of their friend and father figure. This was to be their last goodbye.
"I always knew this day would come. We can't all live forever." As Geralt finished this sentence he went into a fit of coughs.
"I wondered which of us would die first Geralt. Never thought it would be you."
"Well not all of us are immortal, Perseus."
"Goodbye Geralt." Both Ciri and Perseus said this as the old witcher began to draw his last breaths.
"Goodbye you two, and... always remember... the oaths...you... made." As Geralt said this he passed into the afterlife. The legendary witcher, the butcher of Blaviken, Geralt of Rivia had died. For Perseus it was a dark day as Perseus had looked up to the witcher. He had made Geralt his role model. Not only that but he had been one of Perseus' best friends.
Perseus looked to Ciri, who still looked as young as she did two centuries ago, and thought of what he should say to her. "Ciri, I..." He stopped not knowing what he should say to the only other remaining witcher. Luckily for him, he would not need to say anything.
"Perseus, you don't need to say anything. Both of us were his friends and family. And you and I are all that remain of the witchers of old. And you are the true last of the witchers."
"What do you mean, Ciri?"
"I am leaving this realm once again Perseus. I cannot remain in only one realm. It is my duty to protect as many worlds as I can."
"So be it. In that case, I suppose this is our goodbye as well."
"No, we may meet again. Until then though, farewell, Perseus of Novigrad."
"Farewell, Ciri."
With that, Ciri formed a portal and left their world. Perseus turned and left the room going to close the last of Geralt's affairs. The old witcher had left Ciri the property and his weapons. For Perseus he had left gold and silver as well as the old man's armor.
Perseus had Geralt buried next to Triss, who had died of old age. She had given up immortality to be with Geralt. Now the two would be together, in death, just as they had been in life. As Geralt's body was lowered into the grave, Perseus stood there. He shed no tears, his friend had died a peaceful death, a death Geralt had wanted.
With the service over, Perseus turned and left the area. He would do as Geralt had said. He would remember the vow he had taken and he would never forget his friend. He would never forget Geralt of Rivia. And so it was that Perseus of Novigrad became the last witcher of Earth.
Geralt has finally died. So for those of you who ask, sorcerers and sorceresses take a potion to stay young. Triss would only take enough to keep up with Geralt in age and die at around the same time. And yes witchers do age, Perseus is a special case. Ciri will be showing up again, and she is immortal like Perseus, she found this in another dimension. Last thing, for those of you who didn't know, I have released the next installment of the darkverse, The vengeful hunter. There will eventually be a crossover between my fics. Other than that read and review.