Wow… It's been…what, a year since the last update? If you are among the readers who have awaited the next update for this fic, then I applaud the patience you have shown. That goes especially for you longtime followers. Your patience shall finally be rewarded. Enjoy.

Copyright disclaimer: I only own the plot of this fic. For a full copyright disclaimer, please read chapter 1.

My purpose is to conquer! To expand my domain until all is laid under my heel! – Walhart


Chapter 34

Everybody gangsta 'till Walhart shows up!
The conquering stampede mows down all.

I sweep my gaze over the sunset hills of my Reality Marble. As peaceful as always, I see. Then again, there's only one resident living in here. Speaking of which…

"Hey there, Sparrow. You holding up well?" I greet my Hollow spirit in a cheerful tone.

"Piss off, you prude!"

I smirk. "Aw, still salty over the fact that Nah got the drop on you?"

"All that half-breed brat did was one little trick with a burning weapon!"

My smirk grows wider. "Indeed. And said little trick gave me the opening I needed to sneak up behind you and assert my dominance. Again."

A storm whips up around Sparrow. "I swear to whatever it is that brat you call a daughter refers to; I will get my freedom and claim dominance over you! I just had a taste back then, and now it's the only thing I can think of! And you just keep denying me that!"

"You know, I would probably be more inclined to hear you out if you learned some manners." I reply while cleaning my ear with my pinky. "Until then, I have some other business to attend to."

"Don't you dare ignore me!"

I give my Hollow spirit a dry look. "Considering we're connected and how loud you've been these past few days, I find that hard to do. Now, are you just going to stand there and throw a fit, or do you want to join me on inspecting the newcomer?"

The winds die down. Sparrow clicks his tongue.

"Feh! Whatever. Might as well make the most of when I'm not alone in this place."

My smirk returns. "I knew you cared."

"Shut up."

Sparrow and I walk past dozens of weapons sticking out of the ground. All of them given form by my own Gamer powers and shaped after my own memory. But there is one weapon that (figuratively) sticks out among all of these instruments of combat. The one weapon stored inside my soul that did not end up in here as a result of any Tracing.

The weapon that I received as a reward for clearing that side quest with Nah at the Wellspring of truth.


Blazing Heartbreak, Keyblade, Base damage: 31, Unique
No matter how hardened it may be, the pain of loss can melt through even the toughest shell and expose the heart for the vulnerable core of your being that it is. This keyblade was forged in the burning agony of such loss and even infused with it. Anyone unworthy who touches this weapon will be seared by the heat infused within and give them a taste of what the creator felt in that moment. Be warned. Stronger men than you have been brought to their knees over a broken heart.


Unnerving description aside, there's a lot about this keyblade that seems unusual, even by the wacky standards of Kingdom Hearts and its story. Especially the story.

The first thing is the general shape. The guard forms one third of a circle, starting from where the hilt meets the blade and then going under the hilt in the shape of an arc burning on the outside. The hilt is made of a thin metal rod with black blocks sitting in various places. The blade looks like a solar prominence that exits the hilt and twists around some unseen focal point before it ends in a hook shape at the end. Based on other keyblades resting within my reality marble, the blade on this one is unusually long. Like Terra's keyblade levels of long. Maybe even longer. But the most notable feature of this particular keyblade?

It's incomplete.

The first hint of this feature is the hilt. A metal rod even thinner than Maribelle's finger would be way too flimsy to give a proper grip on a weapon, which leaves the black blocks to shape the outside of the hilt that comes into contact with the hand. But those blocks don't form the whole surface of the hilt, only parts of it. The grip afforded by such a shape could be even worse than if it was just the metal rod.

The second hint is the shape of the guard. Keyblades usually have a guard that circles the entire hilt, but this one only goes one third of that distance.

And the last hint is the blade. While the prominence-shaped blade looks impressive with its twisting shape, I can't ignore the feeling that the shape looks like it's supposed to coil around something with a physical shape, rather than some unseen focal point.

All in all, this keyblade looks more like it's a part of a whole, rather than a weapon in its own right. Save for that one keyblade that forms in one of the reality shifts in Dream Drop Distance, I don't think there is any keyblade in existence that is meant to be combined with another one.

But all of this raises a few different questions. Such as; Where are the other parts of this supposed whole? And how do I find them? Don't get me wrong; I feel like I have plenty enough weapons at my disposal already, between Harvest Moon and my entire reality marble. But…just leaving an incomplete keyblade here seems wrong.

"Sooo… Are you going to pick that keyblade up sometime this century, or did you just want to stare at it?" Sparrow asks.

I shake my head and approach the strange weapon. "Was just getting there, Sparrow. Just tried to get my thoughts in order.

"Sure you were…" my Hollow spirit remarks sarcastically.

I'm about to answer to that when my hand grips Blazing Heartbreak. The words die in my mouth as my mind is filled with images and thoughts that I don't recognize.


An older Robin slowly walks towards a pitch-black void. Right as she turns back to me, A sad smile forms on her lips. But that's also when six giant, red eyes light up in the void and my wife is enveloped in darkness.

"Jack…" my wife's voice echoes. "Did I make the right choice? Even now, I wonder what would have happened if I chose otherwise. Though I suppose that is something I will no longer find the answer to. There is no more room for doubt. There is only the Void. Unending hunger…and unlimited power."

No… Not her! Anyone but her! Stop! Get out of there!

ROOOBIIIIIIN!


*Szzzt…*

"Gah! What the-?!"

I pull away from Blazing Heartbreak with a hiss. I look at my hand and find burn marks in the shape of how the blocks on the hilt are arranged.

"That keyblade…just burned my hand." I remark in disbelief.

Sparrow squats near the keyblade and looks at it with his chin in his hand. "Huh. This thing's weird, even by the standards of what you've been through in your journey. Think it would work if you Traced the thing and threw it at your enemies with Telekinesis? Or maybe just float it around with Telekinesis and use it as some kind of side weapon."

I gingerly rub my burnt hand as I let Pure Breeze heal the burn. "Might work. Actually, I might get a surprising amount of utility out of it so long as anything flammable is nearby."

Sparrow smirks. "Oh, I like the sound of that."

I shake my head. "More importantly, what is even up with this thing? I got it as a reward for clearing a side quest, even though keyblades shouldn't even have any connection to this world. So how would it make any sort of narrative sense for me to receive it in the first place?"

Sparrow gives me a dry look. "You gonna question the stuff you get for free or just roll with it?"

"Sparrow, I'm serious. Didn't you see those images and feel the thoughts that I did when I held that keyblade?"

My Hollow sprit nods. "Oh, definitely. Felt as real as the two of us talking right now."

"And that's exactly it." I point out. "None of what went through my head when I touched Blazing Heartbreak has happened, and yet it felt like a pivotal moment of my life. There's something unnatural about this keyblade. You said so yourself."

"Not an exact quote, but I get'cha."

"Maybe I should leave it here for now. It's not going anywhere. Don't stab it into the grass willy-nilly."

A tic mark pulses on Sparrow's forehead. "What do you think I am, a pyromaniac? In case you forgot; I live here! Starting a fire on these hills will make this place suck even more than it already does."

"You make it sound like my soul is boring."

"Because it is! The only thing I can entertain myself with is swinging whatever weapon around that happens to catch my attention!"

I raise an eyebrow. "Nothing else?"

Sparrow pouts. "Anything outside of that nets me an anvil to the head."

I rub my chin. "Considering you have all my skills, can't you just make something yourself? It's not like I intend to drag too many enemies in here to wreck them with all manner of things sharp and deadly."

With that, I leave my inner world to return to the outside reality.


I twirl the wooden staff a few times before I settle in a loose stance. A few paces ahead of me, Owain has a firm grip on his practice sword as he gets ready to engage.

"Remember, this training is to help you learn to get a better grip on your sword hand." I remind my student.

Owain grins. "'Course I remember, Sensei!" Then the blond prince abandons his stance in favor of one of his ridiculous poses, complete with shining fingertip pointed at the sky. "With every training session that I take part in, my strength grows ever greater!"

"Focus." I chastise Owain.

"It doesn't matter how great the power that I wield is! I shall make it my own, and the wicked shall tremble at the mere sight of-"

"Focus!" *Bonk*

Owain staggers as he rubs his forehead. "Ow! What the heck, Sensei! You can't just interrupt a man holding an awesome speech!"

"Were I an enemy, I would've stabbed you right through your head and whatever is inside it – which is a mystery in and of itself." I retort dryly. "Just start concentrating already."

Owain grumbles before his expression gets serious and he settles in a stance that looks like he gets ready to swing. The Myrmidon's grip on his weapon tightens as the mark on his hand starts glowing red.

Wait a minute. Red?

"Owain, are you sure this is a good idea?" I ask wearily.

My question falls to deaf ears as Owain starts yelling. Winds whip up around his feet as the glow around his right hand grows brighter.

And then it dies down as quickly as it appeared. Wait, how does that even-

*Growl*

Owain slumps forward with a hand on his stomach. "Ugh. Hungryyy…"

I barely manage to stop a face vault. "You have got to be kidding me! First you hype yourself up for something that I might have to get serious for, and then you just quit halfway through because you need food?!"

"Come on, Sensei. Cut me some slack here. How is a man supposed to fight on an empty stomach? That's just running on empty." Owain replies weakly.

I pinch the bridge of my nose. "*Sigh* I can't even decide whether you're that sensitive or just plain stupid. We won't make any progress in your training if you stop for reasons like these, Owain."

"Um, maybe I can help?" a meek woman's voice asks.

Owain and I turn to find Noire approach us with a covered plate.

"Noire? This is a surprise." I remark. "And what's under the cover?"

"Well, I thought I could help Owain if his only problem is hunger. After all, he agreed to be my taste tester." Noire explains as she removes the cover to reveal a small chocolate cake with whipped cream and some sliced bananas on top.

I raise an eyebrow. "Taste tester?"

"Ah, your timing is perfect, Noire." Owain replies and accepts the cake gratefully.

As Owain wolfs down the cake, Noire elaborates further.

"Remember back at the harvest festival when I mentioned that I had decided to try my hand in baking? I found all the ingredients I needed and plenty of ideas for recipes. But I had no one who could give me an honest opinion on how good those cakes would be." The Archer shuffles her feet. "I had just finished my first confection when Owain came by and snatched it up without even asking. I was about to give him a piece of my mind – dark side included – when he started waxing poetic about the flavor and even gave the treat one of those weirdly elaborate names he likes to give…well, anything."

"Out of curiosity, what did he name it?" I ask.

Noire is about to answer when she yelps as a sudden gust of wind blindsides her. Oddly enough, Owain is its source. If I didn't know better, I'd swear the guy is brimming with power. Seriously, how animé can this guy get?

"This… This is it!" the theatric Myrmidon exclaims as he strikes a pose with his right hand in front of his face. "The base of the cake has been baked to build a mellow, fluffy foundation that the filling can be built upon! The filling, in turn, unleashes a torrent of liquid delight in the form of vanilla cream with a hint of caramel! The flavors of base and filling alike meld in a vortex of sweetness with the banana topping serving as its focal point! Yet in the middle of these vicious motions of the senses, the grated lemon peel infused in the base provide a counterpoint to the overwhelming sweetness and keeps my tongue grounded! With my tastebuds firmly anchored in this confectionary twin helix, my body and spirit can fully embrace the invigoration of taking part of this sustenance. Henceforth, this delectable confection shall be known as…the Galactic Invigorator!"

"That's what you named the first confection I baked." Noire points out dryly.

Owain nearly falls over in surprise, enthusiasm completely gone. "Wait, really?!" The blond prince scrunches his face in thought. "Alright, how about…the Herald of Ecstasy!"

"That's what you called the last recipe."

Owain begins to sweat nervously. "Um… Graceful pick-me-up?"

"The one before that."

"Splendor of Frelia?"

"The one before that."

Owain shifts his gaze this way and that as the sweating intensifies. "…Choco Regalia?"

"You already know what's coming."

Owain falls to his knees and hands in horror. "How? How is this possible?! Does my epic creativity in bestowing glorious names and titles to all that exists under the sun…have a limit?!"

"Maybe you should leave it be." Noire suggests. "I have the recipe memorized, so it's not like I will forget how I did it."

Owain shakes his head. "No, that won't work. How am I supposed to find the inspiration for a name if I'm not in the moment of experiencing the flavor? It's impossible. Impossible, I tell you!"

I give Owain a dry look. "And since when did you, of all people, see the impossible as a reason to stop?"

That makes the blond Myrmidon perk up. "You're right, Sensei. I can't let something like this stop me. If I can't find inspiration in the flavor, I need only look elsewhere."

I nod in approval. "That's more like it. Just because thinking's not your strong suit doesn't mean you can't use your head in more creative ways."

Owain grins as he gets back up. "Indeed! And I have decided that the source of inspiration shall be…my training!"

I blink. "Your training?"

Noire blinks. "Your training?"

Owain thrusts a shining finger skywards. "My training! Let us resume, Jack-sensei!"

I get back in my combat stance. "Noire, you might want to step back a few paces."

While the Archer finds someplace safe to hide behind, Owain goes back to his stance from before. And we're back to right before hunger struck my (arguably idiot savant) student. Only this time, the winds whipping around him are even stronger, and the mark on his right hand glows brighter. I shift my stance to better prepare for Owain's approach. Looks like I have to take this one seriously after all.

The winds around suddenly still, and the glowing mark dims, though the red glow is more prominent. It's like the calm before a storm.

Owain's war cry returns full force. That's all the warning I get before he dashes right at me and swings.

*Bam!*

Owain slides to a stop behind me. The grass around us rustles in the wind. Cracks form on my training staff before it explodes in a shower of splinters. Moments later, the same happens to Owain's practice sword.

I gingerly brush some wood splinters off my body and turn to face Owain, whose shoulders sag. He's not tired. Just relaxing.

"Phew. For a moment, I thought I was gonna go overboard." Owain sighs.

I look at the shattered remains of my training staff and then back to Owain. "Your hand was glowing red back then. Isn't that a step in the wrong direction?"

Owain waves his hand. "Not really. If I keep rejecting the malice within, I can never learn how to deal with it. Trying to just keep it under wraps was how I used to deal with it, and that always failed sooner or later." The Myrmidon clenches his hand. "Just a little more. I can feel it."

With that, Owain leaves the field.

"Wait! You never named my new recipe!" Noire shouts as she runs after him.


A gentle breeze blows over the sprawling open field in front of me. I can see Valm castle in the distance. Dear me, and I thought Castle Ylisstol was huge. Walhart's place trumps that building by a notable margin. It's a surprisingly calm scenery, especially with the sun high in the sky. But I know that it's just a minor lull before all hell breaks loose on the plains come tomorrow. And it's all brought home by the fact that the Conqueror himself and his personal army are sitting inside those walls and waiting for us. Knowing Walhart, he'll probably gather the whole squad to greet us on his doorstep – and make sure we never set a foot beyond that.

"Ah, so this is where you were. A number of our allies were wondering where you had wandered off to, Jack."

I turn around and spot Say'ri approach me, Amatsu fastened at the small of her back.

I nod and turn back towards the field. "I wanted to have a look on the field before the battle breaks out tomorrow. Not to survey the terrain, mind you, but more along the lines of…clearing my head."

Say'ri stops by my side as she takes in the scenery herself.

"I can understand why." Say'ri remarks. "I have fought what I thought was a losing battle for so long. And these past months have shown me so much change. Meeting the Voice of Naga. Seizing key points in the empire's sphere of influence. Confronting my brother. And now, I stand on the brink of facing down the man who took my home and family from me." The Swordmaster swallows. "It is…overwhelming how far I have come. I had feared this day may never come. Yet here I stand, with allies at my side to fight the Conqueror and end his rule once and for all."

I smile a bit. "I could say the same. The moment we set foot on this continent, we were pulled into one hectic incident after the next. If not for our first meeting in that port, we may never have gained any foothold against the empire on their own home turf. And now, here we are; at Walhart's doorstep, with no certainty of anything, save for a grueling battle awaiting us tomorrow."

Say'ri lets out a shuddering breath. "Mercy, the thought alone of this incoming battle has me high-strung, and the only one here besides me is an ally. Is this what Prince Chrom and the rest of you felt in the last war you were involved in?"

I nod. "Something like that. The last time this happened, I stood in front of a field such as this one with Robin at my side and the sun setting in the horizon. Back then we were merely lovers, having confessed our mutual feelings for each other just recently. We both knew a harsh battle awaited us and the rest of our allies, and so we vowed to stay safe in that upcoming battle for the sake of the other."

A wistful smile grows on Say'ri's lips. "What a splendid tale. I can imagine bards singing about your love story for generations to come, should it become known to them. I find stories about love blooming on the battlefield to be quite exciting."

I shift my gaze sideways. "I think I'll pass. As nice as it may sound, I doubt neither me nor Robin want our mutual love life to be turned into a story to be told to others. Especially since I know quite a few people who would throw around strong opinions where they have no business other than keeping it to themselves. Besides, such love stories rarely work out in reality, and even then, they often come with their fair share of baggage. It's not something I would recommend to others, even though I believe Robin and I make it work – somehow."

Say'ri's smile turns amused. "So you might say, but those who write history rarely ask for the consent of the ones it may concern. If anything, the bards may exaggerate a few parts for better story telling. I can name a few times when I have found their poems and songs to describe battles more spectacular than should be possible. But I suppose such is the nature of bards."

Great. Next she would suggest someone write a play about mine and Robin's love life. Though I guess Chrom and Cordelia would be first in line, seeing as Chrom is a more prominent figure. Thanks in advance, buddy.

"Interesting food for thought, I guess." I reply. "But maybe we should head back to camp. If I recall correctly, Robin, Chrom and Flavia want one last strategy meeting before the end of the day so they can make some final adjustments to troop placements and battle formations."

Say'ri nods. "Aye. The sooner we finalize our plan for tomorrow, the sooner we can prepare for the battle."

We're about to turn back and leave when a heavy sensation fills the air. Say'ri and I stiffen in response.

Say'ri shudders from the thick tension. "Th-this feeling… He's here… But why?"

Wait, who is she referring to? Now that I take a look around, I notice a big, red blinking dot on my mini map. And it's headed our way.

Warning! Warning! Boss level enemy approaching!

It's about to crest the hill we're standing on. But the only one I can think of who would present such a massive threat would be-

Oh. Oh, screw me sideways with a rusty iron pole…

BGM: Awaken (Pillar Men's theme), JoJo's Bizarre Adventure OST

The sound of heavy footsteps reaches our ears. A stoic face framed by a mane of white hair is the first thing Say'ri and I see. Next is the hulking figure clad in crimson plate armor, polished to a shine and moving smoother than one would expect for something so heavy. A white cape billows from the shoulders in the gentle breeze. In his right hand is a war axe that easily dwarfs anything I have ever seen Vaike swing around. And to add insult to injury, the mere presence of this man – if you could even call him that – makes him seem even bigger than he is physically.


Walhart Lvl 85 Class: Conqueror (+ 10 % to all stats)
The dauntless ruler of the empire of Valm. Proud and ambitious, Walhart has a dream; to subjugate every nation in the world and unite all mankind under a single ruler – which would be himself. Anyone who would oppose his conquest for world domination either finds their knees bent by force or outright shattered under the merciless weight of his might. Though there is more to this giant of an emperor than sheer, brute force. Walhart has swayed many an adversary to his side using nothing but his overwhelming charisma and presence. At the end of the day, Walhart is a man of action, walking the walk before he talks the talk. Is also rumored to be a devoted vegetarian.

Titles:
Overlord of the Imperial Triad (+ 15 % STR, - 5 % damage taken)
Emperor of Valm (+ 20 % CHAR)

HP: 20 500 / 20 500
MP: 8 000 / 8 000

STR: 246.7 (195*1.1*1.15)
VIT: 264 (240*1.1)
DEX: 127,6 (116*1.1)
INT: 55 (50*1.1)
WIS: 44 (40*1.1)
CHAR: 198 (150*1.1*1.2)

Items:
Wolf Berg (equipped)
Sol


A bead of sweat runs down my face as I try not to freak out. Forget going up against Yen'fay and living to tell the tale. How the heck did Yen'fay and Basilio both manage to survive a swing from this behemoth of a man?! Walhart wasn't joking when he said only Yen'fay had survived the first hit when he first met Basilio. Those raw stats alone make Walhart a game changer on the battlefield!

Walhart stabs his massive war axe into the ground a few paces away from us. "I thought I sensed some maggots crawling around outside my castle."

Say'ri clenches her shaking fists. "Walhart!"

The emperor turns to her. "The princess of Chon'sin. So you still live."

"I have survived your gauntlet of betrayal and death, tyrant. Shall I describe to you now the searing pain of it all?" Say'ri growls as she reaches for Amatsu. "The torture of watching friends, family…my entire kingdom vanish? The fresh hell of each new day, with no respite in sight?"

Walhart eyes the branching sword with interest. "Amatsu, eh? So you would even cut down your own brother for the sake of your vengeance?" The emperor smirks. "It would seem I underestimated your mettle, little princess."

BGM ends

"And what would you know about mettle?!" Say'ri snarls as she crouches into a stance.

Walhart pulls Wolf Berg out of the ground and settles into a stance of his own. "Enough to know that such concepts are no concern of mine. My power can bring the world to its knees. My command is absolute. I have risen to a higher plane and now stand above all children of man. If you refuse to accept this reality, then I shall remind you of your place."

I place a hand on Say'ri's shoulder and walk in front of her. "Bold words for someone who is just as human as Say'ri and I. You put one continent under your reign and suddenly see yourself as something above the rest of humanity? All I hear are the ramblings of a man who let all that power go to his head."

The Conqueror scowls at me. "That garb and the sword on your back. So you are this "Reaper" I have heard about from my messengers. Have you come to claim my head, just like countless others among my soldiers? Or are you just going fall like the rest for defying me?"

"There's nothing wrong in stating a fact." I reply. "And the fact still remains that you're no more exalted upon any higher plane than anyone else around here. Doesn't matter if it's by my hand or anyone else's; no one can escape the inevitable fate that is death."

"Not even the rumored harbinger of death himself either? It would seem there is less to you than your reputation says." Walhart scoffs. "And you would dare put me on your level? 'Tis almost laughable."

I scowl. "Yeah, laugh it up as much as you want. It won't change the fact that there is finally an enemy force that both wants you put down and has enough power to do so."

"Is there now? And how is that any different from those who have tried before?"

"Let's make a headcount, shall we?" I reply as I count off my fingers. "We have the prince of Ylisse – who wields a virtually indestructible sword and has a penchant for smashing anything solid in his path – the greatest tactician that our home continent has ever seen (and who surpasses yours by leagues), the reigning khan of Regna Ferox, a princess with a sword that can summon even more swords, and lastly, there's me; arguably the most powerful warrior in the history of Yilsse." I point at Walhart. "And you, big man, have made an enemy out of every single one of us. How you are not shaking in your boots against odds like these is beyond my understanding."

"You mean to tell me that I can be defeated by mustering such a meager force? Ridiculous!" Walhart snarls. "I have an army!"

I grin. "We have Donnel."

"And who might that be?"

I chuckle. "Oh, no one special. Except that he's the world's strongest country bumpkin."

"If I fall in battle, it will be at the sword of a warrior, not a farmer's pitchfork!" Walhart declares. "I cannot discern whether you are trying to intimidate me or just mock me."

I shrug. "Take it whichever way you like. Come tomorrow, you will find that you have finally met your match and you will see your empire crumble to pieces – provided we don't kill you before then."

Walhart growls as his hold on Wolf Berg tightens.

Say'ri swallows nervously. "Jack, why have you not drawn your weapon yet? At this rate, you will be defenseless when he attacks."

"Because he won't attack." I reply.

"…What?"

"Think about it, Say'ri. Right now, it's just the three of us out here." I explain. "So long as neither of us make the first move, Walhart won't make so much as a single swing. Of course, Walhart could try to kill us right here and now, but what would he gain from that? There won't be any eyewitnesses. Even if he took out the central figure of the last rebelling force that can threaten his empire, alongside its strongest fighter, there would be no one who could confirm his victory." I give Walhart a knowing glance. "And besides, you wouldn't want to do such a thing in the first place. I can tell that you're the kind of man who wants his victory to be absolute and unquestionable. That demands that we face off on the battlefield, where everyone can witness the moment you strike your opposition down and spread the word like a wildfire. In other words, you won't attack us today, no matter how badly you want to. Isn't that right, Conqueror?"

Walhart slowly eases out of his stance. "Though your words grate on my nerves, I cannot deny the truth in them. I shall stay my hand for today. But know this, Reaper; when the battle begins tomorrow, yours will be the first head that I intend to claim."

I smirk. "Not the first time I hear those words, and it won't be the last. Do your worst, Walhart."

Walhart grunts before he turns around and walks back to his castle, heavy footsteps echoing across the plains.

I smile and turn back to Say'ri. "Well, that went smoothly. What say we go back to camp?"

Say'ri gapes at me. "Jack, what in the world did you just do?!"

I shrug. "Something that I'll explain to the others once the war meeting starts."


Timeskip: the war meeting

"You did WHAT?!" my wife yells to my face.

I raise my hands in front of me. "Hey, how was I supposed to know Walhart himself decided to take a stroll on what he thinks of as his front yard?"

"You provoked the Conqueror into single combat during tomorrow's battle!" Robin stresses exasperated. "Do you even realize what that means?! You will be the first one he aims at!"

I nod. "That was my plan all along, Robin."

Robin looks at me in disbelief. "But…why?!"

"Think about it, Robin. Out of everyone among our ranks, I'm the best at single combat. That means I, at the very least, have the best chance at holding Walhart off so the rest of you can focus on the rest of his army." I explain.

"And you expect me to just go along with a plan that could easily make me a widow?!"

"Robin, I know it sounds painful, but I have to agree with Jack on this one." Flavia interjects. "He may boast, but no one else in our army can beat Jack in single combat. And knowing Walhart, that's exactly what he wants."

Robin purses her lips. "How long do you think you can hold him off?"

I raise an eyebrow. "Long enough to kill him."

Flavia scowls. "Those are some bold words. Too bold, perhaps. That's what got Basilio killed. While we'd appreciate having Walhart off our backs, it's not worth it if you die in the process, Jack."

"Jack, I will not accept this as a viable strategy." Robin objects. "As your superior, I order you to have at least one ally by your side throughout your battle. I refuse to let you suffer the same fate as Basilio because you bit off more than you could chew."

I scratch my head. "And who would fit the bill? Now that I've looked Walhart in the eye, I can tell that he's the sort of man who can cow lesser men with just a simple glare. It would take someone fearless and determined to at least remain by my side by the time the big man shows up instead of just running away. That narrows the list down to a dangerously short piece of paper."

"Wouldn't you be the best choice, Robin?" Chrom suggests. "You know Jack the best, so you know how to keep up with him in battle."

My wife shakes her head. "No. Jack runs around the battlefield too much for me to give clear orders to our allies on the fly while staying close to him at the same time. We could afford letting everyone act on their own in the past battles, but this one requires a more direct approach if we're to coordinate our troops effectively."

"Then how about you, Chrom?" I ask.

The prince shakes his head as well. "I'll be too busy coordinating the other Shepherds. If Walhart is as dangerous as both you and Flavia claim, I don't want the other Shepherds too close to the battle."

"Then perhaps I shall join him instead?" Say'ri suggests.

Robin rubs her chin. "I'm not that sure. As far as I remember, you have hardly fought alongside Jack in battle. At most, you two have only sparred."

Say'ri nods. "That may be true, but I was beside Jack and stared the Conqueror down alongside him." The Dynast princess scowls. "I will not cower before that tyrant. Moreover, I will not be satisfied until he has felt my wrath."

Flavia puts a hand on her shoulder. "If you're so determined, then tell him I said "hello" before you cut him down. And that's assuming I don't cut Walhart down myself before any of you reach him."

"All right, calm down." Robin interjects. "I understand that you all want to kill Walhart. But you have to remember that this is an enemy unlike any other we have fought before in this war. If killing him was that easy, he would be long dead. But he's not. We cannot afford to be reckless in this fight. That especially goes for you, Jack."

I'd probably take offense to that, if what she just said wasn't spot-on.

Chrom takes a closer look on the map that displays the terrain for our battlefield tomorrow. "If there are no other suggestions for who needs to team up with someone specific, we should go over where we will station our troops. What do you suggest, Robin?"

Robin rubs her chin. "The terrain is mostly open plains, which means we will be facing the full might of the Conqueror in an area where his army excels. Our first priority is trying to come up with a strategy to limit the mobility of his cavalry."

"I would suggest we find means to wrest control of the skies from him first." Say'ri suggests. "Besides soldiers on horseback, Walhart has a sizable number of soldiers on wyverns and pegasi as well. They are often the first that he sends into the fray to weaken his enemies' frontline. And then he sends his cavalry in to smash through the weakened front and trample the opposition before they can regroup."

My wife nods. "That's a common strategy used when emphasis is put on mounted warfare. Which means our lineup must first focus on mitigating the damage from that initial attack." She requests the usual chess pieces. "All right, how about we do this?"


The next morning

That's…a lot of imperial soldiers.

I mean, I already knew that Walhart has a big army under his command, but this is almost unfair. The Conqueror has so many soldiers deployed on the field that their starting lineup forms a wall that seemingly stretches from one end of the field to the other. And it's no thin wall by any means either. If we're not careful, Walhart could have us surrounded using nothing but sheer numbers. How did Flavia and Basilio hold their own against this army again?

Flavia scowls. "Great. There's even more of them than last time I faced off against this army."

Chrom turns to the khan surprised. "Huh? You're telling me Walhart's army wasn't always this big?"

Flavia shakes her head. "No. The army I fought alongside Basilio was definitely smaller. Not that it mattered when they still outnumbered our troops by a wide margin."

Say'ri grips Amatsu with a trembling hand. "Blast it. Walhart must have called his soldiers from all over the continent to his capital in preparation for this battle. Between the wounds he suffered at Basilio's hands and our victory over Yen'fay, he may no longer want anything left to chance."

I blink. "Wait. You're telling me Robin's strategy worked a little too well?"

Robin sighs. "And what a time for that to happen. Here I thought our odds had evened out, only to learn that things might have only gotten worse instead. Now we may face the literal full might of Walhart's imperial army."

Chrom rubs his chin. "But I don't get it. Wouldn't Walhart need soldiers spread out over his empire to keep the Resistance in check? With the imperial soldiers gone, there may be uprisings springing up all around Valm as we speak."

"Unless someone made sure to cow the Resistance and prevent the uprisings from ever happening." Say'ri points out with a scowl. "This reeks of Excellus' handiwork. I would not be surprised if he was the one to suggest mobilizing the entirety of the empire's army to this place for today as well."

Chrom turns to Robin. "So what do we do now, Robin?"

Robin scowls and draws her sword. "Even if the enemy army is bigger than we anticipated, our strategy remains the same. Stop Walhart's initial charge, force an opening in the enemy's front and prevent his cavalry from gaining momentum. Send word to our forces to get ready to charge."


Quest alert:

Main quest: The might of the Conqueror
At long last, the time has come to confront the Conqueror himself. Before you stands the big man backed by an army so big, it makes anything you've faced up to this point seem inconsequential. But you also know that this is the one remaining obstacle before you can achieve your much-coveted peace and for Say'ri to reclaim her kingdom and its freedom. Walhart has been defied in the end. He has even be stopped. But this is the day when tastes defeat. It's victory or death. Move out!
Objectives: Defeat Walhart. Don't let Say'ri or Chrom die
Rewards: 19 000 EXP, 19 000 gold
Failure: With your defeat, the last remaining resistance against Walhart's rule is stamped out. It's only a matter of time before the entire world falls under his dominion.


As word is passed around, we steel ourselves for the coming battle. We're all lined up and ready to go when Chrom, Flavia and Say'ri walk a few steps out and turn to us.

"Everyone, it's been a long and harsh fight against the empire." Chrom begins.

Flavia continues. "We've lost many good men, several of which I knew personally."

"Many were the times when victory seemed out of reach." Say'ri adds. "But look where we stand now! Two of the empire's strongest forces lay defeated at our feet, and the third one is right in front of us."

"Now is not the time to cower! The end is finally within sight!" Flavia proclaims.

"So join us! It all comes down to this battle, and by the gods, we will emerge victorious!" Chrom adds before he turns to the battlefield.

Say'ri draws Amatsu. "For freedom!"

Flavia draws her sword. "For our fallen comrades!"

Chrom draws Falchion. "For our homes!" The prince points his gleaming sword at the imperial army. "Ylissean league! CHARGE!"

An Obstacle in our Path, Xenoblade Chronicles music

The once quiet field is flooded with the noise of thousands of feet and hooves pounding the ground as both armies charge to meet each other head-on. But even through the increasingly louder noise, the piercing screech of wyverns and shrill cry of pegasi cut through everything. Walhart's flying troops are taking the lead on the imperial side, just like we anticipated.

And fortunately, that's the exact reason why I'm at the very front of our own army.

I run ahead of our army and cross my index and middle fingers in front of me as I concentrate my mana. The green rune circle of one of my more widespread wind spells forms in front of me.

"Emera Baram!"

The massive vortex of razor-sharp wind roars out of my rune circle and slams right into the middle of the incoming Valmese aerial assault. But unlike how I usually perform Emera Baram, this new version has a twist added to it. A few gestures with my hands cause the rune circle to spin in segments at different speeds and directions. The massive vortex coils like a serpent and then lashes out to the sides, blindsiding any enemy flier that thought they were safe. In just a few turns, Walhart's flying shock troops have been torn out of the sky in more ways than one.

Which is good, 'cause this is where the literal cavalry arrives. And that means it's time for phase two of our attack plan – which includes Brady.


Flashback

"You want Brady with you on the frontline?" Robin asked in disbelief. "Why? Brady's a healer, not a frontline soldier."

"Because I have a trick up my sleeve that could stop Walhart's cavalry charge cold in its tracks. But I need Brady to pull it off." I explained.

"I don't know what new madness you have brewing in your head right now, Jack, and I'm honestly a little afraid to find out." Flavia interjected. "What in blazes could a healer contribute with when going up against a cavalry battalion in full charge?"

"You guys have seen the kind of stuff I can do when I team up with people that I share a strong bond with, right?" I asked.

Chrom and Robin nodded.

I smirked. "What I have in mind with Brady is right up there – only a little scaled up. Trust me, it will work out."

Robin sighed. "Fine, but if Maribelle finds out you were the one who convinced me to put her dear son on the frontline, you're on your own when she comes for your head."

I shrugged. "She can try."

"She will have her parasol." Robin added.

I suddenly didn't feel so confident anymore. Still confident enough to push for my idea, though.

Flashback end


Union Strike: Rock n' Roll

"Brady!"

"Let's do this thing!"

Brady claps his hands and them puts them on the ground. Sparks race across the field and pillars of rock and tightly packed dirt shoot up from the ground. I draw Harvest Moon and shift it into scythe mode in an instant. A single slash backed with wind magic slices the pillars into head-sized chunks of rock that I control with Telekinesis. A few flicks of the wrist turns the floating rock formation into a swarm of earthen projectiles aimed at the incoming imperial cavalry. While effective in slowing the cavalry down, it doesn't stop them. That's what the next stage is for.

"All yours!" I shout as I slap the ground next.

More pillars shoot out of the ground, only this time it surrounds the imperial cavalry and pierces through their ranks like needles into a pincushion. Brady jumps onto a particularly thick pillar as it shoots out of the ground, riding it into the fray as an improvised platform. Then he jumps from pillar to pillar, punching any imperial rider he can reach with hit-and-run tactics or Transmuting the pillars he bounces between to send fists made of stone at the riders instead. By the time he finishes his lap through the ranks and returns to me, he slides to a stop, hands already poised for another Transmutation.

"Time to bring the pain!"

Brady's next Transmutation is far larger than the previous one. The pillars that I made from the ground rocket into the sky much larger than before, and with enough force to briefly throw the imperial riders into the air. I stab Harvest Moon into one of those giant stone pillars and hitch a ride to the top. Right as I reach the apex, I flip on top of the pillar while sending Shadow clones to the others. We all clap our hands in sync. The following Transmutation turns Brady's stone pillars into boulders, each of which are caught by a clone and accelerated downwards on the hapless imperials.

"Rollingu stones da!"

A cacophony of dust and noise is kicked up as Walhart's first cavalry division is buried alive under a landslide.

You have leveled up!

As the dust settles, my clones all bend backwards with their arms spread out.

"Wryyyy!" *Poof*

I rub my temples. "I'm usually not like this. I swear."

Brady gives me a dry look and backs away slowly.


Not only did that Union Strike foil Walhart's first attempt at mowing us down with his cavalry, the remains of those broken stone pillars now also serve as a sort-of stronghold for us to use. The winding paths between the fallen rocks and dirt are too tight for cavalry to fight to their full potential, but infantry (which is the majority of our forces) can fight in there just fine. What's more, the open top side and winding corners provide ample opportunity for ambush tactics against any imperial cavalry that tries to break through, something which our archers and Assassins alike are quick to exploit.

I offer Say'ri my free hand. "Ready to go up top?"

"Why?" the Dynast princess asks confused.

"*Screech!*"

"The imperial fliers have regrouped after my first strike. We have to keep them busy, or else our allies on the ground will have too much on their hands. Even that stone fortress only gives us a solid line to work from at best. We need something to push the line forward." I explain.

Say'ri nods. "And that means we must conquer the skies."

The Swordmaster takes my hand, letting me toss her up before I join her on top of the rock formation a moment later. Our own fliers are already engaging the imperial air forces in the sky.

"We'd better aim carefully." I tell Say'ri as I concentrate mana for a wind-element spell.

Say'ri readies Amatsu in response, pointing the branched sword downward with one hand and putting two fingers at the base of the blade with the other. A quick swipe with her off hand sends a flicker of blue mana from Amatsu to form a Spirit blade beside the Dynast princess before it darts off and hits an imperial Falco Knight dead on.

"Okay, that was impressive." I remark.

"Thank you." Say'ri replies with a smile. "I am still training to master this ability, but I can at least apply it in battle somewhat."

I grin as the mana on my hand swirls to form a Rasenshuriken. "No place to train like on a battlefield. I'll provide an opening for you." I settle into a throwing stance. "Ladies! Incoming!"

The Falcon Knights / Dark Fliers on our side react to my shouting, see my Rasenshuriken and then get the heck out of dodge with a panicked look on their faces. Right as their wyvern riding fellow fliers follow suit, I hurl the sphere of hyper-condensed wind-element mana.

*Boom!*

A few imperial fliers are caught in the blast radius and shredded to dust. More importantly, the shockwaves disrupt other nearby enemy fliers enough and give an opening for our fliers to hit them while they're off-balance. By this point, Say'ri has half a dozen Spirit blades floating around her.

"What happened to "aim carefully"?" the Dynast Swordmaster asks dryly as she sends them at an equal amount of Wyvern Lords with unerring accuracy.

I shrug. "Have to avoid friendly fire, and I can do that by warning our allies too."

Say'ri shakes her head. "Your concept of strategy honestly baffles me sometimes."

Arrows fly from behind us in the sky. Looks like a sizable number of our archers decided to use the top of the rock formation as a vantage point for sniping.

"Jack, you may leave clearing the skies to us." Virion tells me as he notches another arrow. "Our comrades-in-arms on the ground are in greater need of aid."

Say'ri nods. "He is right. We can hold off the Conqueror's forces from here, but we have to push forward if we intend to seize victory".

"Down on the ground it is, then." I agree. "And mind the blast radius, Noire!" I call out to my student as Say'ri and I head for the frontline.

"Yes, Sensei!" The meek Archer calls back before a Dark Flier is literally blasted out of the sky. "Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha!"

The frenzy of the battle on the ground has whipped up dust everywhere in front of the impromptu stone formation. Mind's eye is the only thing that lets me see an incoming arrow and intercept it before I get surprise sniped in the shoulder.

"Is there any way for us to make headway in all this obscuring dust?" Say'ri asks. "I cannot discern friend from foe here."

I toss Harvest Moon into the air and clap my hands while pointing them forwad. "Cover your eyes!"

A stream of wind magic fires from my fingertips and pierces the massive dust cloud. With a shout of effort, I swing my arms apart, splitting the air stream in two and parting the dust cloud like the Red Sea. Several things are revealed as the battlefield clears up; a pair of imperial Bow Knights are seen about to take aim, only to be intercepted by a pair of Feroxi Assassins now that they are revealed, an Ylissean Sage curses as he now has an Imperial Paladin on his case, and Vaike and Chrom stop after coming dangerously close to running face first into each other – with all the wacky misunderstandings and gags that could ensue from that.

"Quick question; how good are you on foot against cavalry?" I ask Say'ri as I catch my falling weapon.

"Far too inexperienced, I fear." Say'ri replies. "Running around on a battlefield this big would tire me out quickly. If only I had a mount of my own…"

I spot an incoming Imperial Dark Knight with a Thoron tome open. I grab Say'ri, toss her into the air (to her vocal displeasure) and follow her over the magical electric current. The Dark Knight manages to outmaneuver my swing as I come back down, but he's too slow as I turn on a dime and slice his back open. Then I send a Shadow clone to grab Say'ri out of the air as I rein in the horse. My Shadow clone puts Say'ri in the saddle and dispels himself.

"How about this?" I ask.

"Warn me next time!" Say'ri admonishes me as she adjusts her seat while calming the horse down. "I am not trained in fighting in the sky. And why did you even put me on a horse?"

I shrug. "Figured it should be easier for you to keep up with me if you have one to ride."

"Here is to hoping that I take to mounted combat easily." Say'ri mutters as she gets the horse under control. "I fortunately know the basics of riding, so I can move about with no major issue."

"I'll just let you take the lead while I support you." I suggest. "That way, we can work better together this way."

Say'ri nods. "That sounds like a usable plan. Very well, onwards!"

True to my word, I stick to running alongside the horse Say'ri is riding as we traverse the battlefield. Say'ri was pretty on the mark when she had her doubts about her martial skills on a horse. Her movements are nowhere near as elaborate as when she fights on foot, showing how different the two forms can be.

"Can't you just summon those ethereal swords and chuck them at our enemies from your seat?" I ask right before I intercept an arrow meant for the Dynast Swordmaster.

Sayri frowns in concentration. Another half a dozen Spirit blades form around her.

"That sounds doable. I may do the most good with ranged combat for now."

Say'ri and I fall into a decent rhythm at that point. Say'ri sets the pace and assists our allies by shooting Spirit blades at nearby Imperial soldiers, while I cut down or push away any of their numbers who get too close to her. Anywhere Say'ri rides, we cut a path through the Imperial ranks that both break their formations and give our allies some much-needed breathing room.

A wyvern screech from the sky informs us that reinforcements in the form of imperial fliers have reached the frontlines, followed by more cavalry. Given their numbers, Say'ri's current pace will be too slow to stem the tide of Imperial might. With that in mind, I run in front of the Dynast princess.

"Pass the blades to me!" I shout as I shift Harvest Moon into a glaive and hurl it into the chest of a Great Knight.

As the first Spirit Blades fly to me, I grab the ethereal weapons and lunge straight into the incoming enemy cavalry. I slice every which way as I jump from one mounted imperial soldier to the next. Though as more and more heavily armored horsemen join the fray, the simplest answer I have is to simply impale them and leave the temporary weapons in their chest.

I jump over the melee and stretch my hands towards Say'ri. "Keep them coming!"

The fact that Say'ri keeps sending me new Spirit Blades to wield shows that she trusts my judgement, and it's even more impressive that she does so while still keeping her own offensive up to make sure no one tries to overwhelm her. More importantly, our intervention gives our allies enough of a foothold to stop this new wave of enemy troops from overwhelming us, thus putting us in a stalemate that slowly turns in our favor.

But just as we find our groove, things instantly shift towards more dangerous territory. The first warning I get is a conspicuously wide gap in the imperial ranks. The second is an overwhelming, yet also slightly familiar, presence at the other side of the strange opening. And lastly, there's the spinning red…something…careening towards Say'ri at alarming speeds!

"Say'ri, on your left!"

My warning gives Say'ri just enough time to put Amatsu between her and the incoming projectile. But despite her block, the impact is strong enough to throw Say'ri off her horse and back into our ranks.

Defying all logic, the spinning projectile curves up into the air and flies back into the direction it came from – into the waiting hand of none other than Walhart the Conqueror. That's when it finally becomes clear that said projectile was the Wolf Berg.

BGM ends

I scowl at the Valmese emperor as I recall Harvest Moon. Walhart slowly rides towards me. As he does, the soldiers on both sides give us a wide berth, leaving just the two of us (and Walhart's horse) in a large circle in the middle of all the surrounding combat. The tension in the air grows thick as Walhart and I slowly circle each other.

"Here you are at last." Walhart remarks. "I wondered how deep I had to ride into the fray until I would find you."

"Would it have bothered you to wait your turn? Unlike what some of your subjects would suggest, there's more to this battle than just fighting you head-on." I reply tersely.

"And give you a chance to escape? I will not have you back out after you so brazenly challenged me, Reaper." the Conqueror retorts.

I roll my eyes. "Please. Far be it for me to run when I consider what's at stake. Unless you've forgotten, you set your sights on my home. That's more than enough reason for me to walk up to your doorstep just to slug you in the face."

"I hear no sense in your reasoning. You are a renowned warrior. If what my scouts claim is true, your might alone could challenge my greatest generals. And yet you content yourself to a life of modesty? To serve under one weaker than you?" Walhart shakes his head. "Such a waste of power, with no ambition to put it to use."

"That can't be everything you think about, is it?" I ask with a raised eyebrow. "All this talk of conquest and power? When does it stop for you? When will you be satisfied and settle down to steward what you have under your domain? To care for those you have subjugated?"

"Such trifling matters are of no concern to me! My purpose is to conquer! To expand my domain until all is laid under my heel!" Walhart declares forcefully. "If the manner in which my subjects are treated concern you so, you need only tell them to find the strength to stand on their own. That is how my own nation rose to become the mighty empire we stand on today. Only those who are strong can rule. The weak should bow their heads in servitude. There is no need for any other world order. It is time that mankind all over the world realized it."

I tighten my grip on Harvest Moon. "So that's how it is, huh? All you care about is overpowering anyone who doesn't agree with you and surrenders outright. And here I thought you a greater man than that. You disappoint me, Conqueror."

"As do you disappoint me, Reaper." Walhart retorts. "A man who is rumored to bend even the sea itself to his will, yet you content yourself to a life of modesty and mediocrity, when greatness is within your grasp. I had hoped I may sway you to lend your blade to my cause, but I see now that you have no intention to bend your knee to me."

I glare at Walhart. "The number of people that I kneel before can be counted on one hand, and you don't count among them. It's obvious that neither of us see eye to eye. You know what that means, don't you?"

The Valmese emperor nods. "Indeed. It is a shame, but all that remains is to crush you under my heel, just like the rest who dared defy me."

"You think me an easy opponent, just because I don't follow your example? You don't understand the first thing about me, or my reason to challenge you in the first place." I declare as I shift Harvest Moon into a scythe and get in a ready stance. "Let's see what emerges victorious in the end; my resolve, or your ambition."

A grin forms on the Conqueror's lips, which then give way to a brief, deep chuckle. "Well said. Come, then! Show me the weight behind your blade!"

BGM: Collective consciousness, Metal Gear Solid: Revengeance OST

I hop lightly in place before I start darting around Walhart. The Conqueror sits unmoving on his horse, tracking me with an unreadable expression. A few feints later, I turn on a dime and dart in on his left. Walhart maneuvers his horse faster than I've seen any riding fighter do before and blocks my opening swing with ease.

And right in that moment, I realize just how much strength the Valmese emperor possesses, as his axe arm doesn't even budge. A simple grunt is all the warning I get before Walhart flings me off him with nigh laughable ease. Walhart kicks his horse into motion before I can even stop sliding backwards and- Holy dragonstones, that's a fast horse!

*KRANG!*

I grit my teeth as I block Walhart's next swing. Small comfort, as I suddenly find myself flying into the air from the impact. I knew Walhart was strong, but this is ridiculous! Forget surviving the first swing, how was Yen'fay not even crippled after his run-in with this man?!

No, I have other things to think about.

I twist myself in mid-air and use Gale Step to dart back to the ground. This time, I rush Walhart head-on. The Conqueror angles his horse to hit me with the same swing again. Right as I enter his range, I vault over the armored warrior and have Harvest Moon hang behind me to slice his throat right after I pass over him. Walhart's response is to simply headbutt the blade with the horns on his headpiece, which stops Harvest Moon – and me – cold in mid-air. Not letting myself get distracted by his absurd strength again, I instead use the sudden pulling force to kick Walhart in the back and get a surprised grunt for my efforts. Then I jump off his horse and come down on him again with a downward swing, only to have that blocked by the Wolf Berg.

"Is that all?" Walhart asks in an unimpressed tone.

A flick of his wrist sends Harvest Moon flying from my grip. I switch to hand-to-hand-combat, if only to do something against this monstrous man. I deliver a series of punches and kicks to throw him off-guard, but it seems more like an annoyance to the Conqueror than a painful attack. Which is why I follow up with a spinning sphere of mana right to his chest.

"Rasengan!"

*Boom!*

No…way. All that did was dent his armor?! What is that thing made of?!

My thoughts are cut off as Walhart seizes me by the arm and throws my guard wide open. I barely have time to notice the axe swing before blinding pain erupts from my shoulder all the way to my hip. I lose track of the world with only several impacts to the ground serving as a vague message that the swing was hard enough to send me bouncing away.

"Gu- Ga-hah…"

One swing… That was all from one swing!

With ears still ringing, I barely make out several voices call out to me.

"Jack!"

"Dad!"

"Father!"

I notice a shadow loom over me. I look up to see the Conqueror with his axe raised high.

"This is nature."

The axe comes down.

To be continued (BGM ends)


Omake: Deleted scenes 4 (OR: Senator Walhart)

"The founders of old planted the seed. We have no need for them to retell their tales or dreams any longer." Walhart states as a massive grin splits his face. His movements become more grandiose as he continues talking. "We can continue their legacy just fine on our own. Every Valmese man, woman and child…" The Conqueror clenches his fist. "We are all children of Valentia now!"


An underhand swing from Walhart sends Jack sliding back.

"I played polo back in the day." Walhart explains as he kicks his horse into motion.

"At some pompous noble's private estate, I bet." Jack retorts as he runs in to reengage.

The exchange goes poorly as Jack gets tossed around all over the battlefield.

"Try the equestrian school at the Mila Tree. I could have become the grandmaster of the continent if I never joined the army." Walhart retorts as he puts on the pressure. "I am nothing like those coattail riding whelps. I can break a rank-and-file soldier with my bare hands."

To Jack's shock, Walhart jumps off his mount and lands on the ground hard enough to make Jack stumble. Walhart lines up a full-powered, two-handed swing.

"Do not mess with this Conqueror!" *Wham!*

Jack is sent flying until he hits the outer wall of Castle Valm.


Jack lunges at Walhart, only to be knocked back with ease. Thinking fast, the Reaper uses a Feroxi General as a springboard to get right back at Walhart before he can react and tackles the Conqueror off his horse.

Walhart gets up with a growl. "I am making the mother of all salads here, Jack. I cannot fret over every vegetable."

Jack Traces an Armor Slayer in one hand and a Beastslayer in the other. He spins around a swing from Walhart and then proceeds to unleash a barrage of strikes of his own on the Conqueror, only to fail to make so much as a dent.

Jack backs off and looks at Walhart in disbelief. "Why won't you die?!"

Walhart grins and pats his armor. "Class exclusive skills, boy! They negate any bonus damage I could suffer. You cannot defeat me, Jack."

Robins left eyebrow twitches violently as they have to re-shoot the same scene again for the umpteenth time. "For crying out loud, will the two of you stop goofing around already?!"


Robin slumps down on the sofa, relieved that the team is done shooting for the day.

"Well, someone looks tired." Aversa remarks amused as she offers Robin a cup of coffee.

The Grandmaster gratefully accepts the cup. "You have no idea. I never should have let Jack introduce Walhart to that Metal Gear game. I thought it was supposed to be about stealth and espionage, not mindlessly cutting everything in sight while every character you meet spouts lines that people love turning into memes."

Aversa raises an eyebrow. "I was under the impression that those were single-player games."

Robin gives the Dark Flier a sour look. "They are. It's just that Walhart asked Jack for advice at the beginning, and then the two hit it off just because my husband shares the same name with the main character. And just my luck, they kept goofing off during the shooting, claiming that it was too good of an opportunity to pass up."

Aversa smiles amused. "Well, you know what they say; boys will always remain boys. So, how did you make them stop?"

Robin cracks a smirk. "I just had to reign Jack in, and the couch is a strong motivator."


Jack's encyclopedic corner

Wolf Berg, Axe, Base damage: 124, Unique
The Conqueror's signature weapon. This enormous war axe is said to have been forged generations ago in an arms race that nearly resulted in a civil war spanning the entire northern half of the Valmese continent. Despite its heavy weight and apparent emphasis on melee combat in the design, it can also be used as a throwing weapon. Though the only wielder to have accomplished such a feat is Walhart himself. On a side note, a lesser known legend claims that the blacksmith who crafted this axe had an undying grudge against trees of all kinds, so much so that his masterpiece turned out far better than he could have dreamed.
Requirement to wield: 100 STR, Axe mastery Lvl 82

Conqueror, Class
A class available to Walhart and only Walhart. For this is the class of the one who aspires to ascend to the top, and none shall stand as his equal. Lesser men cower and submit in fear as you display your sheer might. Failing to do so means that all that awaits is a swift death. So go forth! Fight to your heart's desire, and place everything in your gaze under your rule!
All stats increase by 10 %. All bonus damage received is nullified. This class counts as both armored and mounted.


Walhart is secretly the fifth Pillar Man and has already gained immunity to sunlight. You cannot convince me otherwise.

If it wasn't apparent, I like Walhart to some degree. The main reason is that the Conqueror is a man of actions, someone who walks the walk before he talks the talk. I respect that in a character, be they the hero or the bad guy, simply because it makes them more honest in their convictions. And Walhart may have flaws (like an ego the size of the Valmese continent), but he's brutally honest.

There is also something that I've come to realize as I wrote this chapter. I initially thought that Chrom barely had any character development over the course of the game because he and his sisters already got that in spades during the fifteen years before the events of Awakening. I was wrong in that assessment. The man antagonists of both of the first two arcs act as foils that facilitate Chrom's character growth in some capacity.

Gangrel challenges Chrom as a man. The Plegian king's provocations for war may have ulterior motives, but they are also a means for Gangrel to force his own worldview onto others. Emmeryn may not be affected, but Gangrel definitely gets under Chrom's skin – especially after Emmeryn's sacrifice. The clash between the two men reaches its climax during the final confrontation against the Plegian king, where Chrom asserts his own place in the world as a position above the cutthroat environment that Gangrel advocates.

Walhart, meanwhile, challenges Chrom as a ruler. The Conqueror calls Chrom out, claiming that the prince has no convictions of his own and effectively treats him as a lesser ruler. In the final confrontation inside Walhart's castle, Chrom tries to reason with Walhart over the common ground the Conqueror shares with both Chrom and Emmeryn and even offers a peaceful solution, only for Walhart to reject his offer. And if you recruit the Conqueror in his own paralogue, Walhart acknowledges that Chrom does have a way of his own to rule and decides to see for himself where that path takes the Ylissean prince.

By the end of the Valm arc, Chrom has been challenged in two of the areas that define him as a character. I believe his character arc is essentially complete at this point, which is why I see the Grima arc as more of Robin's time in the spotlight rather than Chrom's. That, and Robin's own ties to the Grimleal.

That will be all for now. Until next time.

VipeR out.