Shearpoint. Hmph! I remember when this place was nothing more than a mountain top. I like what they've done with the place. Tall walls, imposing battlements, plenty of shadows, and plenty of blood. I wonder how strong their forces are. There're no archers. Plenty of fodder though. "Laas Yah Nir!" That is a lot of soon-to-be-dead cultists. I should keep to the shadows, for now, sow chaos in their ranks, maybe summon a few Daedra for good measure.

In the shadows, I'm invisible to all but the most discerning. This will be fun. "Tiid Klo Ul!" I summon a bow to my hand as time stagnates, launching four shots at the sentries that stalk the battlements before moving to the guards by the main gate. Replacing my bow with a wickedly sharp dagger and slashing their throats open. A pity that they won't feel a thing. I push the heavy doors open and am greeted by rows of armed soldiers in neat and tidy formations. I close the gate and casually lean against it, Don't want things to be too easy. The familiar rush of time resuming is quickly followed by the always satisfying sound of arrows burying themselves deep into their targets. The smell of their blood is intoxicating, and I find myself wondering when I last sated my hunger. Centuries. At least. Maybe even a full millennium.

The legion turns to face me, drawing their weapons in near-perfect unison. My ethereal blade manifests in my hand as I give a deep bow.

"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Wolf, but for the few remaining moments of your lives you may call me Dragonborn."

I can't help but scowl at the blank faces of these soldiers. Thralls, nothing more. Mindless fodder raised to die in battle. How… disappointing.

I launch into a vicious dance of gore and viscera, slashing, impaling, or beheading anyone foolish enough to get too close. The first detachment falls in seconds, with most oblivious to their fate. The second detachment reacts quicker. Are they… Learning?" Interesting. I slash at the two nearest guards before bringing my blade into a heavy downward blow, my sword changing to a heavy battle hammer mid-swing. The force of the blow crushes three more and staggers the few that remain. A wild swing forces me to turn and I use the momentum to deliver a massive blow to the side of the guard's head. The third detachment moves as a unit. Heavy blows mixed with quick slashes and stabs while a few move to flank. I shed my physical form and explode into a swarm of bats to avoid the snare, materializing a few feet away "Zun Haal Viik!" Such little effort rips their weapons from their hands. My weapon fades away and lightning dances from my fingertips, a slight charge before it erupts into the poor sods releasing a deafening thundercrack, the sudden brightness is nearly blinding, and I almost miss the dance their spasming bodies are performing before disintegrating into nothing.

A slow, methodical clapping echoes behind me, "Most impressive, Dovahkiin. It has been quite a long time since last I faced a worthy opponent."

"Konahrik. I've been looking for you for a very, very long time. Tell me, what good is a Dragon Priest without his mask? It's a shame that I won't be facing you at your peak. Try not to die too quickly." I say with a malicious grin.

"Ah, so, you found my mask. I assure you, I am more than your equal even without it." He retorts as he draws two massive greatswords. He keeps one slung over his shoulder while pointing the other at me. "Unlike some of the others, I earned my place as the head of the Priests."

I can feel the strength radiating from him. I draw the blood of the fallen thralls to me and let it soak through my skin, restoring my strength and stamina. Not nearly enough to sate my appetite, but it will serve as a wonderful appetizer. I summon a sword and shield and ready myself for his attack. It isn't a long wait as he rushes forward with Whirlwind Sprint, using the momentum to deliver a devastating blow that shatters the ground. I barely avoid the attack, the shadows manifesting at my feet to shift my position. I slam my shield into his back and slip my blade under his arm before dragging the phantom edge across his chest. First Blood is mine! To my surprise, he slams his shoulders back into me with enough force to send me back a few inches and follows up with a wicked swing that could easily sever a man in two. I rush forward and throw my blade at him, the unexpected move catches him off guard and I slam into him with my shield, trapping his main-hand blade between us and deliver a stiff punch to his stomach doubling him over before driving my knee, deep into his ribcage, the sickening sound of ribs fracturing is my reward. I toss him to the ground and try to deliver an Unrelenting stomp to his back which he barely avoids.

I can feel my bloodlust threatening to take hold. I must be cautious! My bloodlust increases my strength and speed to unprecedented levels but makes me sloppy. I can't afford to give him an edge.

I throw my sword away and bite deep into my hand, drawing blood. If this is going to work, I need to move quickly, before I start healing. "Wuld Nah Kest!" I rush forward, shield first, and slam into him, and his nose crunches from the blow, stunning and blinding him. I feel my claws burst from my fingertips and I stab into his open wound. For the briefest of moments, I allow my blood to run freely into his. The impact is instantaneous, as the potency of my blood overwhelms his, I take control of his entire body, leaving only his waking mind as his own.

"You're beaten. Die with some dignity. Yield, and I'll end it quickly."

"Never! I am not yet beaten!" He roars.

"Yes, you are. My blood now flows within your veins. I have absolute control over my blood." I summon a spike of hardened blood to illustrate, "Ergo, I have control over yours." I tighten my fist, causing jagged spikes of blood to erupt from his body. "I can keep you alive for weeks and make sure you feel… every… single… second. Your only escape is death." I splay my fingers wide, and his arms shoot out to his side at unnatural angles, with a gesture, I raise him into the air before breaking his legs and folding them under him. His screams echo across the mountain as he curses and raves. "At last, your façade breaks, and the rabid cur is revealed."

"Master! Please!" He cries, my senses attuning just in time

"Feim!" My body fades from this realm just as the blade passes through the upper layer of my armor. I explode into a swarm of bats to avoid any follow-up attacks. "Well, looks like you're no longer needed." I roar before snapping my fingers and causing the imposter's body to explode into a bloody mess. "I should have known better. Even 4,000 years later the Dragon Priests are cowards still!"

"Bolag aaz, mal lir! Sovngarde saraan!" The Lich roars before unleashing a lightning storm.

I catch the storm and return one of my own creating a current that keeps the priest from ending the spell. I draw his power into myself, draining him and decaying his undead form.

"Faaz! Paak! Dinok!" he chokes out before crumbling to dust.

"How disappointing. The pawn put up more of a fight than the master."

I walk over to the battlements, and one by one, ignite the wood frames. I summon Arvak and begin the trek to the Raldbathar lift. The flames and smoke rising into the night sky cast an eerie haze over the twin moons. If the Dragons don't notice this, then they want to be beaten.

The elevator is quick to descend and when the gates open sword and shield are raised in defense.

"I'm expected."

"Let him through!" Serana yells as she breaks through the crowd. "Thank the Gods! We saw the smoke rising over Shearpoint, you're doing, I take it."

"Who else."

She rolls her eyes before motioning over to a small room. "You should probably go and talk to Grayson. He was convinced that you were going to get yourself killed."

"He underestimates me. A bold decision."

"You can hardly blame him. They've spent years looking for you with only the vaguest of notions as to your abilities and then you go and decide to attack one of the largest strongholds by yourself. If I didn't know you so well, I would have been nervous too!"

"Grayson."

"You're alive! Thank goodness!"

"Of course, I am. I have to admit the dragons are much weaker than I anticipated. Konahrik was an easy victory, his puppet put up more of a fight than he did. Shearpoint has been destroyed. Razed to the ground. I want you to get me the locations of every stronghold, prison, and point of interest that the dragons or their cultists control. I intend to cripple their forces by month's end." I report as I sink into a nearby chair, the cold stone working to ease some of the aches from the battles.

"You… You killed Konahrik?! You can't be serious!?" He says as he drops into the opposite chair, "He's been a constant terror for decades! He's slaughtered Thousands of innocents!"

"Then, I regret that the true Konahrik died rather quickly. His pawn, on the other hand, suffered greatly. The monster you knew, did he appear as flesh and bone, or as undead?"

"He looked a normal man. You're saying that there was another? An imposter."

"A Pawn. Not an imposter. Without his Mask, Konahrik's power waned to be almost nonexistent. He used a pawn to act as the public terror that you were familiar with."

Grayson suddenly rises and motions to his man Caulder, "Spread the word. Konahrik is dead, as are three dragons! Killed by the Dragonborn in one day. Make sure everyone knows. And tell the cooks to prepare a feast. Tonight, we Celebrate the first blow against the tyrants!"

Caulder nearly falls upon hearing the news and begins spreading the news. Long after the doors close, cheers can be heard as everyone begins to spread the news.

"You may regret that," I say plainly. "While I am more than willing to fight the dragons and their acolytes, they are far from the only threat we face. I will need an army if I am to vanquish the dragons and free your people."

"That won't be a problem. Everyone here is willing and ready to take up arms in your name. And as we free more of our people from the cultists grasp our numbers will grow."

"Good. But know this. I will do everything in my power to limit casualties, but not even I can prevent them completely. There is something else. You may not like it."

Grayson clears the room, and the mood weighs heavy in the air.

"I know you have… Reservations about me. You fear that I will take control of the land. There is nothing I can do that can assuage your fears, and what I am going to ask you next, will only worsen them." I wait for him to process my words before continuing, "I need you to grant me control over your forces. I need to ensure that they are properly trained and will follow my orders without question. And what's more, is they need to know that I am in command and that they will answer only to me until the dragons have been eradicated."

The silence hangs in the air like a heavy shroud as he tries to wrap his mind around what I'm asking. He shifts in his chair frequently, hoping in vain that it will help. I say nothing while he processes my request. After nearly five agonizing minutes, he finally speaks.

"That is… a troubling request. You are right. I do fear you. Your power is unlike anything we have ever seen or dreamed of and the ease with which you killed the dragons implies that if you were to become a threat, we couldn't stop you, or even slow you down for that matter." He pauses for a moment to put together his thoughts, "In the legends, you are described as being a man who reveres his word and his oath. Is that true?"

"I value my word more than any gold, or jewels, or title."

"Then promise me this. When I say that the Dragons are defeated and we are free, you will yield any power, status, or rank you have."

"I will do more than that. When I told you that I am going to free your people, I meant it." I rise from my stone chair and set my shoulders, "I give you, my word. When you feel that your people are free from the dragon's cruelty, I will not only surrender control of your people and any authority I have back to you, but I will also return to Dimhollow Crypt, and I will only return if you or your descendants come for me. I give you my oath as Dragonborn, I give you my oath as the former Emperor of Tamriel, and I give you my oath as a friend. Will that suffice?"

An illusionary burden lifts itself from his shoulders and he extends his hand, "It most certainly will. Thank you, Dragonborn."

I take his hand happily, "Call me Wolf. Now, I believe you mentioned a celebration, did you not?"

From the Writer

I'm sorry for the delay with this chapter. I wrote this shortly after the release of the last chapter and completely forgot about it. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and a joyous Holiday season! I hope you all have an amazing New Year!

Stay Safe and Stay Healthy! - Gravix