5/13 Lone moon
"So, you were here. The only person capable of withstanding my attacks. The only person that could bring me true death" whispered a voice from the deeps of the tent.
"Jeritza, control your dark impulses. You made an oath"
"And I remember it" Jeritza said as he took his helm off. "I won´t fight against you until the enemies of the Emperor are completely and utterly defeated, until them don´t dare to die or I will chase you to hell itself if needed"
"I´m glad to see well" he ironically said as he took a closer look at him. Without the mask he was a young and handsome man, but his eyes were cold. "This one is already dead" he said to himself as he approached Edelgard. Next to her there were two warriors, a man and a woman.
"I didn´t have the opportunity to introduce you. She is Ladislava, she has been faithfully serving me for many years. She is the captain of my bodyguard and now a commander of the Imperial army.
"I´ve heard many good things about you, Professor. Loyalty is the most important thing to me and as long as you are loyal to the Emperor, I will be loyal to you" she said with a light bow.
"And this one is Randolph, a member of House Bergliez"
"I´m still young and inexperienced, but I will make sure to do everything I can to grant us victory"
"Does the name Caspar, from House Bergliez sound familiar to you?"
"Caspar, is he here? I haven´t been able to see him. Well, you could say that we are members of the same family, specifically his step-uncle, but this is not the time to discuss familiar matters, don´t you think?" he laughed.
"You should keep your composure, Randolph. You are a general of the Imperial Army now, not a child"
"Sorry, Ladislava" Randolph apologized with a quick bow.
"Now that everyone is here, it is time to discuss our plan to assault the monastery. Our main forces have enough numbers to initiate a siege against it, but that could cost many lives. However, if we are able to break through the Church forces and we swiftly defeat Rhea, we will be able to destroy the morale of the Church army before we suffer too many casualties. Rhea is the key for the victory of this battle. She is the king on the board"
"But she is a very well protected king" Hubert laughed. "Our spies have informed us that the terrains around the Monastery are already getting prepared for the assault. They are planning to make us fight outside as they use some battalions and the reinforcements from the Holy Kingdom as a bait while they make rain death upon us. They have prepared ballistae for the assault as well as magic orbs capable of hitting us at a considerable distance"
"If we fight against the forces that they are willing to sacrifice we will be under fire from the monastery, but if we ignore them, they will try to attack our rearguard, to make sure that we don´t have enough goods to initiate a siege. They will have probably closed every secondary access to the monastery by now, so our only path to Rhea will have to be by flying or by breaking through the main gates"
"An early aerial assault could be tempting, but they might be expecting it" he said as he pointed out to the towers. "These towers had all kind of magic devices capable of disabling magic, so even if we use our magic advantage, we could get surrounded by enemy troops very easily. How about the access by the Abyss?"
"Our scouts have been searching for them, but they have already blocked them. However, the forces of my uncle are ready to face the distraction force of the Church. They have enough power to weaken the defenses of the monastery, but they will be unable to trespass the inner walls"
"That would require a considerable amount of fire power, but if they can get rid of most towers, our path will be easier"
"We also have barrels with gunpowder to destroy some of the walls, but that option is highly unadvisable until we get rid of the watchtowers"
"Do you think that Rhea will come to face us at the front lines?" he asked as he took a closer look to the structure of the monastery. The walls were thick enough to withstand the explosions of the barrels and the monastery didn´t lack provisions to resist an initial assault, but if they could bring her to the frontlines…
"Highly doubtful. Even if she is seeking our deaths, it is highly unlikely that she sacrifices her defense advantage just for the sake of her personal revenge so we can´t act as a bait"
"I see, in that case we´ll have to do our best with everything we have. Our group will handle the main gates while we receive support to destroy the defensive positions. Once the auxiliary forces of the Church get destroyed, we´ll focus on the monastery exclusively. Any reports about the presence of civilians?"
"All reports are negative. It seems that they have used these weeks to run away, which it is a relief. This war will cost many lives, there is no need to turn this battle into a slaughter of the small folk"
"Any reports from the Alliance?"
"They have been silent since our entrance through the Great Bridge, but that could mean anything. They are probably discussing which side is the more suitable to their needs, but I doubt they will join the fight so soon. The Kingdom is another matter, though. They have chosen to support the Church, so now we´ll have to face both military forces on the battlefield. Luckily enough, they haven´t prepared most of their troops yet" she said before looking at Ladislava and Randolph. "Make sure that the troops are ready to march. We are already in enemy land; we have no time to waste. Hubert, accompany Jeritza to the main camp"
"Understood, emperor"
"Is Arundel already here?" For days they have been hearing of the troops of Lord Arundel, but they had been following their own path.
"According to this letter they will be joining us on the battlefield. It seems that he wants to give me something before the battle begins, a new weapon created by them. They seem to believe that they can keep me under control with their devices, but that would be their doom. However, for now we must just pretend otherwise" He was about to reply when the sound of footsteps before the tent made him look at the entrance.
"My favorite niece, long time no see you" Arundel was smiling, but his eyes were as cold as ice and they grew colder the moment that they stopped on him.
"No need to pretend what you are not here, Thales"
"I just wanted to be nice for once" he laughed before turning into the grotesque man he was. "I must say that I´m surprised to see you here, but a friend of Edelgard is a friend of mine"
"Another word like that and I will cut your head off"
"It would proof to be a useless show of violence, since I´ve taken the body of one of my subordinates to attend this meeting, but I´ll respect your will" he said as he shrugged.
"Why were you so eager to come here? I hope your troops are ready for battle"
"They won´t disappoint you, they have been training for this their whole life. I´ve come to give you a new weapon, a device that could mean the difference between victory and defeat" he said as a weapon started to appear on his hand. "A relic to bring down the beast, its name Aymr" The weapon in front of them was a battle axe, engulfed in a strong magic aura, a red orb that looked like an eye in the center of it.
"So, you really were able to craft a new relic"
"Where there is knowledge there is might, although a natural device would be more stable this weapon won´t betray you in battle. It also has more properties than the conventional relics. Activating the power of your twin crests you will be able to inherit the wrath of lightning, a light that will strike your enemies down" Thales said as he offered to her the weapon, the moment she touched it, it released brilliant sparks of ancient power from within.
"It can proof to be useful, but only with one weapon our victory cannot be guarantee"
"Don´t worry about it, we´ll fight for your cause as long as it benefits ours"
"What are your intentions? What do you seek?" he asked looking at him with hatred. He was tempted to kill him, but he knew that the true master was hiding elsewhere.
"I only seek to bring balance to this world. Humanity has lived in the shadows for thousands of years and all this time my only objective has been to recover what we lost. I know that both of you hate me, but think about it carefully. My death won´t resolve the upcoming war, the immaculate one will make sure that humanity suffers because of your defiance. As long as she has any power, she will make sure to use it against us. This is an alliance out of necessity. Agartha is willing to unify humanity under the banners of the Empire if that means that the rule of the ancient dragons come to an end" Thales said as he looked to the map in front of them. "The weapon I´ve gifted to the Flame Emperor has the only objective of piercing through her flesh, we´ve created it with the fire of our hatred and our knowledge"
"Like the rest of the hero's relics"
"Every relic had its own craftsman, but I had the honor of making the very same sword you are wielding. Sadly, up to this day its true power hasn´t truly awakened. Why do you continue to refuse your true nature?"
"What are you saying?"
"The Sword fuels your soul and your soul fuels the sword, you could say that it is a natural extension of your very own body, yet you are still incomplete"
"Your words are just poison, I won´t listen to your ill-advised words. I won´t abuse my powers for the sake of your own ambitions"
"How arrogant, but that is a part of your nature, star of doom" Thales laughed as he prepared to depart. "My troops will make sure that the main forces of the Church are defeated. However, we won´t be able to assault the monastery by our own, be prepared to face the battle of our time" he said as he disappeared from there.
…..
5/15
"The enemy is at sight! Catherine is already with the ground troops ready to attack, but she won´t last for long against such army"
"She will prevail, she has my favor. I told you Seteth that I won´t let this place fall. It is the will of our mother that we stay here and we defeat her enemies" Rhea said as she cherished the surface of an ancient chest of a colossal size, the moment her fingertips touched it, it started to shake violently.
"That´s ancient magic that could proof to be our undoing. With the aid of our golems we should be able to defend the monastery. They don´t have enough goods to prepare a siege, I…"
"They have their own assault troops as well. This is a war of annihilation. Among their troops you will find our ancient enemy. They are willing to destroy us, and I will make sure that that doesn´t happen. They have sworn undying loyalty to the Church, now in death it is time that they come to our aid" she said as she placed her hand on the ancient chest.
"Ancient lords, defenders of the faith. Now in death it is time that you come to the aid of the Goddess. You made an oath, defend us and destroy our enemies!" As the cover of the chest was opened a dark fog came from the depths of it, but he could see them, human faces that were flying to the battleground.
"I summon you, rain of the oblivion, drink my blood and make my enemies drown under my fury" she continued as she cut the palm of her hand, her blood falling on a dark orb. A dark red light came from within as the sun outside started to get covered in red clouds.
"Now the stage is ready for the battle that will decide the fate and lives of many"
"Merciful goddess" was the only thing that he could think of as he saw how was the state of the battlefield in front of them.
…..
"I don´t like these clouds a bit" he murmured as he readied his sword. The sky was covered in red clouds and heavy rain was starting to fall, but he could see the banners of the Church to the other side of the battlefield, although there appeared to be more banners than ever before. "Magic" he realized when he felt a strange feeling within his body.
"Emperor! Thousands of soldiers have suddenly appeared! They are in the skirt of the mountain as well!"
"Rhea is willing to crush us with all her strength, but her plan will end in a miserable failure. If we defeat Rhea the battle is over. Soldiers, have no fear! This day is the beginning of a new age for Fódlan! Ladislava, Randolph I leave both of you the command of our main forces, don´t take unnecessary risks unless obliged to do so. My group will make sure to weaken the defensive position of the monastery to avoid attacks from the two sides of the battlefield"
"Understood!"
"Black Eagles Strike Force. This is the time our bounds will be tested. Each of you has a battalion, made a good use of it as we approach the main gates!"
"Me, Petra and Edelgard will attack from the skies, we´ll make sure to open the doors from within. Until then don´t expose yourself to the watchtowers"
"This rain is making me sleepy, but I will do what I can" Linhardt said, although he looked completely awaked for once.
"Professor, Edie, Petra, stay safe" Dorothea said with a worried look on her face.
"Remember to stay together, and don´t try to be a hero" he said as he looked at Caspar.
"Don´t worry, Professor, I´ll keep an eye on all of them. Is the least I can do for all of you" Ferdinand said as he adjusted his lance.
"And I will make sure to keep an eye on him as well" Hubert chuckled. "The Emperor´s life is on your hands, make sure to protect her accordingly, unless you wish to unleash my fury"
"Don´t worry, Hubert, we´ll get through this" he said as he flew higher and higher with his mount, accompanied by Edelgard and Petra.
…..
"The forces of our enemy have multiplied"
"I wouldn´t expect less from her, and this weather is something I remember too well, the red clouds that preceded the deaths of many. She is willing to crush us, but this day won´t be the one that we die. Today is the beginning of the return of Agartha. Proud soldiers, don´t shame our motherland and destroy the usurpers! Prepare the artillery, and our flying machinery, keep the Titanus at the front lines, they will absorb most of the attacks while we advance. Our objective is to shatter the vanguard of our enemy. If we are able to do so, the monastery will remain isolated and will be an easy prey"
"How about the archbishop, do you think that they will be able to kill her?" Myson asked as he adjusted his own weapon.
"Highly doubtful. If she survives, we´ll make sure to take our just repayment from her flesh. Now advance, brothers, this is the day that our fate changes for good. The endless cycle of tyranny has to come to an end!" he shouted as his troops started to advance. They had the technology advantage on their side, but he knew that they were facing supernatural forces. A step in false could get all of them killed.
"What about the Colossus? Our forces are mighty, but its presence could be decisive"
"It´s time will come shortly, but first I want to evaluate every possible risk. A player doesn´t reveal all his cards with one movement unless he is certain of a total victory. Let her show her strengths and weaknesses and we will respond accordingly" he said as he looked at the troops of the Church approaching. "I´ve waited a long time for this. I will have the victory today; your race must end to guarantee a brighter future to this land"
….
Arrows and spells were trying to shoot them down as they attacked from the heights.
"Petra, on your left!" he shouted as he released the power of his sword to shot down a knight from the Church.
Petra thanked him with a quick nod, before entering in battle again. The rain was heavier than before and the visibility was poor, but the number of spells aimed to them allowed him to have a greater vision of the battle beneath him. The land troops were slowly approaching the main gates, heavy shields giving coverture to the soldiers behind them. Explosions on the esplanade made him took a quick glance of the battle taking part in it, giant machines trying to take down the countless spectral soldiers coming to the aid of the Church.
"Byleth!" Edelgard´s voice made him come back to his senses as he avoided an arrow aimed to his head. Looking at the direction of the arrow, he could see a familiar face.
"Shamir, that was a good shot" he said as he avoided another arrow aimed at him.
"I don´t know what´s going on between you and Rhea, but I don´t think now is the time for idle chatting" she said as she prepared another arrow.
"You are right" he said as he violently descended upon her. She shot again, but he destroyed the arrow with a fire spell before jumping on her. With a quick movement of his left hand he was able to stop the knife that was aimed to his stomach.
"Jeralt taught you well" Shamir laughed as she tried to break free, church troops were trying to approach her when they were stroke down by one of Aymr´s potent attacks.
"Are you going to claim the victor´s price?" Shamir simply asked as she looked at him directly into the eye, there wasn´t fear in them, only curiosity.
"I can´t kill a friend just for doing their job" he said as he helped her to stand up. "Leave this place if you want, I won´t be chasing you"
"You shouldn´t let the emotions get in the way" Shamir laughed but she didn´t try to attack him again. He was about to reply when an explosion shattered the ground around them. He was able to avoid the attack, but when he looked again at where Shamir was, she had already disappeared.
"I hope she survived"
He was returning again to the skies when the main gates of the monastery were destroyed by an attack from Edelgard´s relic. The first soldiers of their force entering the monastery.
"The low level is already ours" Edelgard said as she approached him on her own mount. "However, the battle will get harder from now on"
"I know" he said as they approached the second level of the monastery.
…
"Don´t give up or I will make sure that death is the least of your concerns!" he roared as he slayed another of the followers of the beast. Their machine gun was making short work of the human soldiers, but the spirits were another matter. "You cowards, come face me directly!" he said as he showed to them his weapon, a giant mace made out of one of the slayed beasts of ancient times. The smell of battle was driving him crazy; it has been a long time since he felt so alive.
Spirits of the ancient soldiers of the Church jumped on them, but a hit of his giant mace was enough to make them disappear. Suddenly, the land started to tremble, the golems of the Church starting to appear on the battlefield.
"Titanus, yours is the glory. Show the golems who the true ruler of this world is! Artillery support in front of me!"
"There are soldiers of the empire there"
"Fire at will!"
"Roger that"
And then living hell exploded a couple of meters in front of him. Humans and beasts were flying on the skies as leaves in the winds of autumn by the potent explosions released by their 200 mm cannons. When the explosions ended a wasteland of scattered limbs and arms was what was left of the once living combatants.
A flip of wings in the sky alerted him from an incoming attack. He blocked the attack from one of the Pegasus Knight aimed at his heart and sent the beast and the rider to the ground. The beast was about to get up again, but he crushed its skull with his hammer, making it collapse on its rider.
"Stop, stop. I surrender, mercy" cried his attacker. He could see that she was a young girl, red hair with blue eyes.
"How old are you?"
"Sixteen, please, mercy. I surrender" she replied, tears leaving her eyes.
"There is no need to cry" he said with a sweet voice as he approached. "I accept your surrender" he whispered before crushing her face with his iron boots, what was left once of the living young girl was a bloody pulpy mass.
"The thrill of the hunt" he thought as he continued releasing death along his soldiers.
…
"We´re all tired of waiting" Dimitri said as he approached them through the ruins of the second level. "Now is the time that you´ll pay for everything you have done. Professor, I wish you could be on our side, but it seems that that possibility is gone"
"Your ire is misguided, I´m not the one responsible of Duscur, Dimitri"
"Dimitri, I don´t want to be your enemy"
"Yet you are allied with the woman that has brought so much pain and destruction to the lives of many. The only thing I can grant you is a quick death" he said as he approached them like a tempest, but he wasn´t the only one, as he stopped an attack aimed to his head from behind.
"I thought you could understand his highness. I apologize for any suffering I can cause to you" Dedue said as he continued to attack him with a heavy axe. Looking for an opening he tried to disarm him but he was stopped by another axe.
"You are a traitor, I won´t let you take his majesty´s life! I won´t fail again as a knight!" It was Gilbert, his eyes cold as he tried to overwhelm him with sheer strength. He couldn´t see any of the other Blue lion´s students, although he sensed they were nearby.
"You made an oath to the archbishop, yet you have broken it and now you are joining the forces of the nation trying to take control of the whole world!"
"You are mistaken" he replied as he parried another attack, before quickly counterattacking to avoid Dedue´s hit. "Edelgard wasn´t behind the tragedy of Duscur, Dedue, she was a kid back then, you must know that she couldn´t have done something like that"
"A weapon doesn´t need to have a will of its own. If his Highness thinks that she is the responsible, I´ll believe his words" he simply replied as he unleashed a brutal hit that shattered a wall next to him. He was trying to control his powers since he was trying to avoid any unnecessary bloodshed, but they needed to get into the cathedral as soon as possible if they wanted to end the battle quickly.
…..
"Of all people I didn´t expect you to the be the mastermind behind everything that has happened. Were you just pretending someone you weren´t the whole time? Gaining our confidence and making us trust you while your true alliances lied elsewhere"
"I won´t deny that I had my mind on my plans, but that doesn´t mean that I was pretending the whole time, Dimitri" she said as she stopped another attack from his lance. "Your anger and seek for vengeance are misguided. It´s not me the responsible of the tragedy of Duscur, but Lord Arundel"
"I already suspected from him, but that doesn´t make you innocent. You should have trusted me if you knew who was the responsible of such slaughter"
"Without knowing for certain that you will listen to my words? I don´t think so. You would have made your own conclusions based on what you want to believe not what the reality is"
"Every time you open your filthy mouth, my ire grows stronger!" Dimitri shouted as he two-handed his lance with a potent blow against her. Luckily enough her reflexes were quick as she stopped with her new relic the attack, the lance shattering due to the impact.
"You should control your emotions. The path of vengeance just for the sake for it will cause unnecessary suffering to those that worry about your wellbeing"
"You are just a monster" he shouted as he tried to hit her with his fists, but he was hit with a thunder strike of her relic, making him lose consciousness.
"I wish I was the monster all of you think I am. It would be easier if I don´t have any regrets about the path I seek"
….
"His Highness!" Dedue shouted as he lost focus. Taking advantage of the situation, he used a magic explosion at point blank range that sent both of his opponents flying.
"We only need to approach the bridge and then we can face the archbishop"
He was about to approach her, when a silver light made him turn around. Stopping the throwing axe throwed at him, he could see that Gilbert was standing up again, even though he had an injury on his head.
"Don´t disturb him. He is mine" interrupted them a metallic voice, as a scythe blocked another axe aimed at him. "This one is mine, hurry up, you two" Jeritza said as he started fighting against one of his former companions.
"Thank you" he simply said as he ran with Edelgard to their following destination.
….
Smoke was everywhere, the sound of fighting beneath him, as he leaded his war battalions against the enemy hordes. Birds of steel were trying to annihilate them, but they were agile enough to avoid their fury as they got rid of their wings of steel. Below, Catherine forces were facing monsters and giant creatures made of metal. If it weren´t for the presence of the spirits they would have been annihilated by now, but he knew that they needed to neutralize the firing positions of their enemy.
"We have to get rid of their artillery! Come with me!" he shouted as he guided his troops into an attack to the enemy rearguard. The battlefield was clearly divided between their forces, the forces of the Empire and the Agarthans, which were the ones that were attacking several positions with their weapons. As he grew closer, he could see that they had all kind of steel beasts releasing death upon the battlefield.
"Prepare the magic shields!" he said as he casted a magic barrier as they were welcome by a rain of tiny arrows that the Agarthans used to call "bullets".
He cut through steel and flesh as he started to get rid of the enemy artillery, but the flying monsters were already on them. They were about to clash with them, but they were engulfed in the magic explosions released by the golems sent to the battlefield by Rhea.
"You are a fool if you truly think that victory will be decided just by the destruction of some of our ranged weapons. We have plenty of weapons to spare and you will not survive this day" A pale man mounted on one of the enemy giants said.
"No matter what you tried to do, the outcome was decided thousands of years ago. This is just the epilogue to your race"
"Even now you don´t seem to understand. The end of the Gods is at sight. Only a fool thinks that has won when the battle hasn´t been decided yet. I will show you how wrong you are" the pale man said as he placed his hand on the ground, the moment he did, the land trembled violently as a pair of giant hands emerged from the pits of earth.
"Destroy it!" he shouted as he concentrated all his power into his lance. The creature in front of them was of a monstrous side, a gold cover making it look even more magnificent. He and his troops hit the giant multiple times in different spots, but it seemed to feel nothing. The giant, lazily started to move its arms, its hands crushing those unlucky enough to be on its way.
He was trying to fly higher when he was trapped between his hands. Its mount tried to free himself, but no matter what he tried to do, they couldn´t run away from its grip.
"You might have won many battles until now, but now you will understand that the war will be ours. I know that you have a daughter, a daughter that has granted us her precious blood"
"Don´t…come after Flayn. If you want someone just pick me, but leave her"
"Who would be satisfied by the leftovers when you can get the first prize. However, I think that it would be rude to keep father and daughter alone in the middle of the battle. Tartarus, return our guest back to the monastery"
The giant moved as he threw them at the monastery, the only thing he could think of was his daughter.
….
"Hey Teach, long time no see you. Why the hell are you taking part on this battle?" Claude said as he aimed at him with his bow. He was accompanied by Lysithea and Leonie as well as Flayn, which were blocking their path to the cathedral.
"This battle isn´t between you and us, Claude. It is about the Church"
"The very same Church that you swore to protect, why Professor? Why are you fighting against us?"
"Professor, she is the Flame Emperor, the very same that was in the village of Remire, don´t you think that she is responsible of your father´s dead?" Leonie asked as she prepared her bow.
"Those who slither in the dark are the ones that are responsible of those dreadful events. Do you really think I would be at this place if it wasn´t for a good reason? I know how much you admired my father and I can tell you, that his sacrifice wasn´t in vain. I´ll take my revenge and I´ll make sure that no more sacrifices take place just for the sake of the ancient powers" he said before looking at Flayn. "Rhea experimented on my body, she inserted Sothis´s essence within me to make a vessel for her resurrection. I was nothing to her, but a puppet that she could use at the most convenient time"
"Wait, what? Sothis is within you?" Claude asked surprised.
"Lysithea, you and I aren´t that different. The crests we wield are the result of the experimentations we suffered in our bodies. I know what happened in house Ordelia, a few years ago. The existence of crests is the responsible of the suffering we had to endure both of us. Tell me, that isn´t your natural hair color, right? My hair color used to be different as well, yet it changed"
"My family suffered because of those events, but the perpetrators came from the Empire"
"They came from the Empire, but they aren´t the Empire. They have been trying to take control of this land, but I won´t allow them to achieve their objectives. This is not a war of domination; it is a war for survival"
Lysithea was showing doubt in her eyes, when something impacted against the bridge, a part of it collapsing due to the impact. A couple of projectiles exploded on the base of the giant bridge menacing to make them fall to the Abyss. He could see that Claude and Leonie were climbing through the debris to get away of the danger, but Lysithea was in a far more dangerous situation. Without thinking it twice he jumped on the crumbling bridge. Using the sword of the creator as a liana he propelled himself towards Lysithea´s position.
"Take my hand!" he shouted as bricks continued to fall into the abyss between the monastery and the cathedral. She strongly grabbed his hand and embraced him from behind to avoid falling to her death as he slowly started climbing to the side where the rest of them were.
"Are you ok?" he asked as he slowly placed Lysithea on the ground.
"I thought I would die there, even if my time is limited…I want to live" Lysithea answered, her body slightly trembling.
"Claude, all of you are free to leave this place, we aren´t seeking your deaths, even if you don´t agree with what I´m chasing I hope that you can at least understand that"
"Edelgard, is right. We have to leave this place before the situation gets worse" Lysithea said as she regained her composure.
"The rest of the guys must still be around here. We´ll have to search for them. Don't die here yet, ok. Our conversation must continue some other day" Claude said as he prepared to leave. He was quickly followed by Lysithea and Leonie. While Lysithea was thanking him for saving her life, he noticed how Leonie observed him in silent, until she did a quick nod before leaving.
"We need to keep going, Rhea is already waiting for us" Edelgard said as their mounts came to their help.
"Father, please father"
To the other side of the ruins of the bridge he could see what remained of Seteth´s mount and Seteth himself embraced by her daughter. He was greatly injured his limbs in unnatural positions.
"Flayn, I just need some time to rest, that´s all. I…ugh!"
"Father! I won´t let you finish him off, please have mercy on him!"
"Killing you isn´t my intention. And killing someone in a state like this has no honor. Leave this place, while you can. If you stay, I´m not responsible of what could happen to you" he said as he looked at father and daughter.
"Byleth…all I can say to you is that your cause is doomed. Rhea´s powers will literally crush you if you dare to enter the cathedral. She won´t back down. It would be wiser to leave this place and leave instead of staying and die" Seteth said breathing with difficulty as he stood up with the help of Flayn.
"Whatever it happens it would be a consequence of my actions. If that results in my death, I will accept it, but that doesn´t mean that I will surrender to my destiny" he said as Flayn and Seteth disappeared from there.
"You let them go"
"What would have you done?"
"A logical response would be to kill them since they are allies of our enemy, but I can´t disagree with your decision. Showing mercy at appropriate times is the key to keep things in order, merciless killing would only bring more suffering and hatred and this world already has plenty of it. I have the feeling that we will meet them one more time, but what will happen then I can´t even dare to say" she said as she took a look to her axe. "Now the time to check if this weapon is enough to bring this battle to an end approach"
"Let´s end this…together" he said as he offered his hand to her.
"Yes…together…"
…..
"At last, you have come to this place" Rhea said as she observed how Byleth and Edelgard got rid of the last soldiers defending the entrance. "How much are you willing to destroy, how much are you willing to sacrifice for the sake of your own ambitions?"
"Your time has ended, Rhea! Your rule has brought nothing but suffering to this land"
"Suffering? Are you sure that you truly mean these words, child? This land has suffered indeed, but because of your hand. In the process of destroying each other, you humans brought unending suffering to this land. All living creatures were suffering because of your actions, that´s why we marched to war"
"Are you referring to the war of liberation?"
"No, a war far beyond that little quarrel. It was the war that shaped the continents and the oceans, as well as all living beings. You humans started to kill each other and your actions were menacing to bring the end of times to this world, the suffering of countless life forms ignored by the drums of war. The pain of all life was so great that our mother decided to march in war against your kind, the elements were on our side as well as all kind of living forms, yet humanity reunited to fight against us.
They used all kind of weapons to destroy us. Millions of you died while thousands of my kind were destroyed in the process of bringing a new era of true peace. When the war ended the lands were a wasteland and the seas were poisonous pits. Realizing the consequences of the great war and how hopeless was the situation for the survivors of the tragedy, my mother sacrificed herself in order to heal the injuries of this world and we inherited her position as the protectors of this world. Most humans were annihilated during the war, yet some of them survived and surrendered to us.
Our mom´s wish was to create bonds between our species to protect the peace that was created…but humans are ignorant beings that are willing to forget the sacred sacrifice of the merciful Sothis. Time and a time again they have risen in arms to spill the blood of my kin and now a thief of what remains of Sothis and a traitor of her ancestors have come here to finish what started thousands of years ago…but all of you are just a bunch of fools. I won´t fall by your hand. I´ll destroy both of you and make sure that Sothis, the mother of the Gods returns to this land!"
"I´m not a traitor, I´ve never served you!"
"Your blood is proof enough of your betrayal. Yes…I gave my blood to the first emperor to grant him part of my power in exchange of his undying loyalty. Opposing me is opposing your ancestors, oath breaker. I´m the creator of your dynasty, you should bow before me and ask for mercy instead of opposing me! Everything you are, everything you will ever be starts and ends with me"
"Having the crest of Seiros is not of my deciding and the decisions of our ancestors don´t have to mark our very own fate. No son should be guilty of the crimes of his father and I won´t obey your command. The fate of mankind should be chosen by the people not the gods"
"Gods exist so you, mortals can have a tolerable existence. We are the guardians of the balance of this world. Without gods this world would fall to madness once again since the future of the world cannot be trusted upon you, that is the treacherous nature of your kind. Fighting a god is a crime against nature itself!"
"No God should be over the law, if your will is to create a world that reflects such ideals you should be the first to apply them on yourself. You are just a hypocrite that is willing to cover the world in lies if that suits your own vision of the world. What have you done to resolve the problems of the current Fódlan? You have done nothing; in fact, your indulgence is the cause of the many troubles that this land is suffering. The time has come for you to step aside"
"Every word you speak is a proof of your blasphemy. I´m getting tired of this conversation, but before I end your pathetic life, let me tell you something. The crest of Flames you are wielding is just a lie; a flickering flame trying to compete against the sun. You mortals are trying to overcome my mother, but you are the living proof of your failure. You won´t life for too long, that´s the price of going against nature, monster"
"You are acting like you are self-righteous, yet you have used me as a mere thing, as a catalyst to summon Sothis back to this world" he said as he prepared for battle. "The Sothis I know would be disappointed in you"
"Enough of your insolence! Do you really think that you know our creator? The Sothis you might know is a mere fragment of her true self. Now the time of retribution begins" Rhea said as she unsheathed her own weapon, an icy mist coming out of it.
In the blink of an eye she was already on them. Her sword aiming to his heart, but he was able to stop it as Edelgard tried to hit her with her powered up axe, but she quickly avoided the incoming attack.
"Your vision is limited if you really think you will be able to defeat me!" Rhea shouted as she casted a spell, a blizzard of death coming at them. Casting a fire barrier, ice and fire met in a mortal embrace, the world around them surrounded by an impenetrable mist.
"This is a fight you cannot possibly win" Rhea´s voice said from the depths of the mist to his right when a sword attack came from his left, luckily enough Edelgard was able to stop the attack with her axe.
"Stop doing your little tricks and fight us with everything you got!" he shouted as he casted a potent fire spell to cast aside the mist, the moment the mist disappeared she was already in front of him.
"I will put an end to your pathetic existence" Rhea said as she grabbed him from the arms and launched him against one of the columns of the cathedral, debris falling on him. He was coughing still trying to get up again when Rhea came to him with her sword ready to pierce his heard, but he deflected the attack with a quick move of his sword, their dance of life and death surrounded by blue and red flames.
"The sword you have is what remains of my mother and yet you dare to use it against me! Your allies are the ones that brought destruction to this land, don´t you understand!"
"They are on the wrong but so you are! Tell me, have you ever thought about me as something else than a tool to bring Sothis back to this world?"
"If it weren´t by me you would be death, you petulant child!"
"I´m not a tool that can be used at your will, Rhea. You said that the Sothis I know is just a fragment of the true one, but tell me. What would she say if she knew you were willing to do such acts to bring her back?"
"A mortal can´t possibly understand the responsibilities of a God!" Rhea shouted as she tried to hit him with a brutal slash, but her focus was broken.
"A God can´t understand the way humans think!" Taking advantage of her mistake he tackled her with his body, his sword biting the flesh of her stomach. However, a potent explosion was released from her body and sent him to the ground.
"Fool!" Rhea shouted as she tried to attack him with his very own sword, but it was stopped by Edelgard´s axe.
"He is not the one that is going to die today" Edelgard said as she released the powers of the storms upon Rhea´s body, the impact sending her to one of the columns of the sacred building.
"Are you ok?"
"Don't worry, I won´t be dying now, it would too bothersome to do so at a time like this" he smiled, but he knew that the battle wasn´t over yet.
"Two against one, how brave of you to face me like that"
"If we stand up together there is nothing, we can´t overcome. Our bonds are far stronger than your ambitions for this land, Rhea"
"I should have noticed before the existence of such bonds. Because of them we are in this situation, you should have never been born, Sothis would have returned to this world to grant us the ultimate peace that we deserve" Rhea said as she suddenly was engulfed in an icy mist.
"You have fought well but that isn´t enough to compete against the Gods" Rhea said as she grabbed Edelgard from the neck.
"Release her, Rhea! The object of your fury is not her but me!"
"Your infatuation with this…this thing, this creation of our ancient enemy will prove to be your undoing" Edelgard was trying to break free, but even with the power of her twin crests Rhea´s hand didn´t move an inch, that was the power of her fury.
"There is no choice, I need to return back in time to avoid this outcome" he thought as he closed his eyes…but nothing happened.
"Do you really think that you could pull out a trick like that? I´m a descendant of the Goddess and my powers here neutralize yours!" Rhea cruelly laughed as she saw his intents to return back in time. "Here, surrounded by my family, a usurper has no chance! You should have known what were the consequences of facing me before committing your perfidious treason" She continued as she raised both arms; her hands ready to tear her in half.
Fury overwhelmed every inch of his body as he ran towards her and suddenly, he wasn´t running but on her, his fists brutally punching her head, while Edelgard was coughing, trying to recover her breath a few meters from him.
A magic explosion sent him flying a few meters away, but he felt no pain. In fact, he felt as if all the power of the earth was flowing through his very own veins.
"Instead of going to the past you have gone to the future…Interesting, you may have awakened a new power of our creator, but don´t let hope overwhelm you. Sothis might have granted you immortality and part of her powers, but that doesn´t mean that you have turned into a god, your flesh is the very same than the rest of mortals and not even the powers of Sothis will allow you to escape from the claws of hell"
"The only claws I need to escape from are yours, Rhea"
"Enough of your insolence, do you really think that you have seen all my power? Your existence ends here and now" Rhea said as she extended her hands. "Brothers and sisters…come to my aid and give me your strength to crush my enemies!" she said as spectral figures started to surround her, green orbs where their eyes were supposed to be. When the spirits disappeared, the only proof they had been there was the light coming from Rhea´s eye, an intense green eye that made looking at her painful.
"If you truly believe that the Goddess is on your side, she will grant you her unlimited power…If not prepare to die, traitor! The battle to bring an end to this madness arrives at last"
"And I accept your defiance!" he said as he prepared to face the battle of his life.
This one was difficult to write. Splitting it in 4 k was weird so I decided to pull out this together. Consider this the publication of last week plus this week. Hopefully, next week I will publish on Friday like normal. I haven´t forgotten about Cyril and Catherine (and Alois and company), don´t worry.
Prepare for phase 2.