Chapter 22: Coronation and Catastrophe
Scotland Yard has confirmed we are cleared to send in our men to apprehend the suspects. One of the court wizards is teleporting Arianasa and her honor guard now. Davis informed Prometheus as he stood before the three portals of the Meridian Gate, the entrance to the Forbidden City and the imperial palaces, as the throngs of people behind him cheered him on.
Good. Inform me when the operation is complete. He instructed before moving over the large stone bridge spanning the moat that surrounded the city's thick walls to the central portal, unlocking it with a simple spell and pushing the gate open before striding inside.
Jin and the members of the Celestial Emperor Society followed in his wake along with the chanting crowds as news helicopters and reporters on the ground followed after him, capturing the historic moment. Striding into the city he made his way across the Bridges of Golden Water that spanned the small creek that snaked its way around the city's perimeter. Moments later the massive and multi-arched pavilion of the Gate of Supreme Harmony stood before him. Taking in the scene for a moment he smiled.
For one hundred years China has been without a true Emperor. Now, at last, one has come.
Making his way through the gate and through the large open square he and the crowds soon came to the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the heart of the Outer Court of the Forbidden City and the seat of the Emperor's power. The wide, ornate, multi-level building stood 30 meters off the ground, built atop three tiers of white marble and stone with a pair of stairs at the front and surrounded by unlit jar-like bronze and stone incense burners. Dragon statues and chinese calligraphy abounded with the columns at the front of the building made from red stone and the walls adorned with gold leaf and jade. Making his way up the stairs he entered the main doors and into the throne room which made up the majority of the large building. The room itself consisted of a bare stone floor and walls covered in panels of crimson, bronze, and old sandalwood. Sitting upon a raised platform of stone several feet high at the central rear of the room before several raised vases and carpeted in crimson was the Dragon Throne itself. Carved from exquisite and fragrant red sandalwood it displayed five dragons coiled around the back and hand rests while the gold-paneled screen behind it featured a set of nine additional dragons. The six pillars nearest the throne were sheathed in gold with the others made of red stone and capped with golden dragon motifs. Set into the ceiling directly above the throne was an intricate caisson decorated with a coiled golden dragon. From its mouth issued a chandelier-like set of metal balls called the Xuanyuan Mirror, a reference to the Yellow Emperor himself.
Moving to the front of the platform he turned to face the crowd that followed him inside with others attempting to push their way in to get a glimpse of the scene. Nearby, multiple reporters were recording everything with their phones and cameras.
"In centuries past the Mandate of Heaven permitted the overthrow of rulers that did not govern according to the natural order of Heaven and will of the universe itself!" He projected in a loud voice, enabling those outside to hear him as well. "Any man, whether they be noble or common, could become Emperor if they ruled wisely and justly with honor and fairness! The successful overthrow of the ruler by their own people was considered a sign by Heaven that those who ruled were no longer fit to do so, for if the people are desperate enough to rise up against their leader then something has gone terribly wrong! Over the years the Party that ruled these lands proved their inability to rule wisely and with justice!"
"Tonight we have proven that the Mandate of Heaven was withdrawn from them by overthrowing them in a bloodless coup! Tonight, we have proven that the Mandate of Heaven rests upon a new Emperor who is fit to rule, for our victory could not have come without Heaven's blessing! I have come from the Heavens themselves and I shall rule as the Mandate of Heaven dictates, putting the people of this nation first and myself last! As the Second Great Sage Mencius himself said, 'The people are of supreme importance! The altars of the gods of earth and grain come next and last comes the ruler! That is why he who gains the confidence of the multitudinous people will be Emperor!' And so it shall be that upon this night, a new Emperor takes his place in the Hall of Supreme Harmony upon the Dragon Throne by the will of the people!" He shouted as he raised his hands to encompass them.
The crowds outside roared as Prometheus turned and began to ascend the stairs of the platform. A moment later Davis spoke into his mind.
Operation is complete. Arianasa encountered unexpected resistance but the situation is under control. We have David Rene Rothschild in our custody as well as several technicians but his aide de camp Richard Vance escaped. I'll be sending you the details shortly and there is information you need to be made aware of but I think it can wait until after you're done here. This is quite an important moment and everything needs to go smoothly. Arianasa will be joining you at your discretion.
Understood. Prometheus replied as he finished ascending the small flight of stairs and moved to the throne itself.
As he turned to sit down he sent a message to his wife.
Now, if you please.
Arianasa materialized in a flash of silver light next to him, dressed in gold and jade-colored Asian-style robes with silver trim, her long silver hair flowing down her back and across her shoulders as Prometheus sat down regally upon the throne.
"Let all who stand here and all those around the world who watch bear witness!" Arianasa announced. "The Golden Dragon Emperor has ascended to his throne by the divine right of victory imbued by the Mandate of Heaven! All hail his Imperial Majesty, the God-Emperor of the Great and Eternal Sunflare dynasty, Son of Heaven and Lord of Ten Thousand Years!"
The crowd roared happily, stamping their feet and chanting as Prometheus smiled in triumph with Jin and the other members of the Society stepping near to the platform and bowing before him. Moments later several flashes of light appeared near the throne as various servants and attendants dressed in silver, gold, and white were teleported in via court wizards, each of them bearing boxes of incense, torches, and various other supplies. They and the Society members quickly began filling and igniting the various braziers around the building and within the room as the lanterns overhead were lit, casting the room in warm light. Beowulf also appeared, standing next to the throne and bowing to Prometheus and then Arianasa. Prometheus then stood once more, drawing the crowd's attention.
"This palace reflects the splendor worthy of an Emperor but it does not reflect the splendor of a god! Long has this building stood dormant and while it has been maintained well, age has begun to set in! I shall rejuvenate and regenerate this palace, and in time the city itself, to reflect the glory of its people and their god! Behold!"
Prometheus stretched out his arms and golden energy began to flow from them like a glowing golden river. The flood of nanites and golden light poured down the platform and onto the floor, sweeping over the stone floor before flowing swiftly to every corner. It then began to flow up the walls and columns before reaching the ceiling and flowing along the arches and intricate designs before pooling into the caisson and onto the balls hanging before the golden dragon, coating them in glowing gold. As the crowd looked about they gasped at the changes that had been made. The entire massive room had been cleaned and repaired with various areas of the walls now covered in gold and new wood as well as strips of emerald marble. Inscribed into the walls in various places were silver glyphs and golden Chinese calligraphy while the columns had been restored and covered in new crimson coating with more gold calligraphy. The windows had been cleaned and strengthened with stained glass applied to them while the floor was covered in rich carpets of various colors to match the walls, the soft material inlaid with geometric symbols or complex fractal shapes. The stone floor had also been altered with a layer of onyx interlacing with white and green marble. The ceiling had been cleaned with every surface shining as if brand new while the lanterns above had been increased in size, transformed into chandeliers of gold and silver with crystal hangings, making the room brighter but still warm. Outside the roof had been reinforced with new material, the slates now a rich brown edged with gold. The tiers themselves had also been reinforced, the white stone now laced through with veins of silver, gold, and jade that whorled throughout, the stone steps and railings interspersed with white marble as the incense burners burned brightly nearby.
Lastly Prometheus stretched forth his hand and at his side another, similar throne of rich white wood, silver, and pearl began to form, the design more organic in nature with gentle floral designs and arches. In front of the throne's platform the floor began to swirl before creating a large and perfect circle nearly 20 feet wide with a smaller circle to the right of it, both of them rimmed in gold. In the center of the larger circle quickly grew a clear and scintillating massive diamond of brilliant purity and clarity that was perfectly smooth at the top. The massive gem quickly reached the edge of the circle, while within the smaller circle there formed a similar sized gem of pure emerald. Descending from the platform Prometheus and Arianasa took their places, standing upon the center of the diamond and emerald as they gazed out upon the crowd.
"BEHOLD YOUR DRAGON EMPEROR AND EMPRESS IN ALL THEIR GLORY!" Prometheus cried as he and Arianasa shifted to their full dragon forms, the crowd crying out in surprise and shock. The massive creatures sat before them regally on the round flat gems, their auras filling the room with soft golden and silver light that spilled out of the windows and doors.
The entire crowd immediately knelt in reverence before him with even most of the reporters doing so as they trained their cameras on the pair.
"The Celestial Emperor Society has served us well in the years since our arrival." Prometheus stated. "They were the first to have faith in us and our message and they have done all that we asked. They have sacrificed and they have bled and we shall never forget. As such they shall hold a place of honor in my court. Jin Longwei, the founder of the Society and my most faithful servant in this new world, shall be my Prime Minister! His Lieutenants and other prominent members shall serve as other Ministers and personal aides to myself and my Empress according to their skills!"
The crowds cheered and clapped as Jin and the others bowed low to him.
Prometheus then gestured to his wife. "In the past the Empress of China was not considered fit to rule, though she held the ear of the Emperor himself! This is an archaic tradition and one that I find offensive! I trust in the judgement and wisdom of my wife and I would not hesitate to see her rule in my place! Indeed, on my homeworld of Oerth she and I rule jointly and so shall it be here as well! Henceforth, as my first royal decree, the Empress of China shall have the right to rule alongside the Emperor! Should the Emperor be unable or unwilling to discharge the duties of his office, the Empress shall rule in his stead and with all the authority vested in that office until the day comes when the Emperor resumes his duties as the Mandate of Heaven dictates!"
The crowd clapped and cheered at this as Arianasa inclined her head.
"Now I would confer with my ministers about affairs of state and the steps that should be taken to ensure the peaceful transition of power in the provinces." He stated. "I shall be making a public announcement regarding that and other affairs in a few hours. Until then I ask that you leave us in peace." He requested.
The various aides and knights gently but firmly escorted the reporters and the crowds from the hall, shutting the doors behind him.
"We will have much to discuss tonight and I have no doubt you are all hungry and tired." He told them. "I bid you to retire to the Hall of Central Harmony at the rear of the palace. There you will find refreshment and rest while I attend to some personal matters."
"Forgive your servant, your Radiant Highness, but surely the Halls and Palaces of Harmony are for your use alone!" One of the men protested softly in shock.
Prometheus smiled gently. "These halls and palaces are mine to do with as I please. If I choose to allow others to make use of them, well then, that is my prerogative, is it not?" He asked in quiet amusement.
The man inclined his head. "Of course Your Majesty." He said humbly.
Prometheus nodded before gesturing to them. "Go now, and rest for a time. I shall summon you here when my personal business is concluded."
The various members bowed to him before making their way out of the Hall, leaving Prometheus and Arianasa alone with Beowulf, their aides, and several knights who took up positions around the perimeter of the room.
Prometheus focused his power for a moment and the walls began to glow with soft, shimmering chrome and gold light before he and Arianasa transformed back into their human forms.
"This room is now sealed against any form of surveillance and scrying." He stated as he made his way back to the Dragon Throne with Arianasa following after him, the pair sitting down a moment later.
"Show me what happened." Prometheus instructed Ari as he gazed into her eyes, prompting her to share her memories with him.
All that had happened from the moment she departed with her honor guard from the pyramid to her battle with Vecna and the aftermath that followed flowed through his mind's eye in seconds, making him frown in anger and concern.
"I trust you are alright?" He asked Arianasa as he looked her up and down as if searching for hidden wounds.
The woman smiled softly. "Still feeling a bit nauseous from those spells but other than that I'm alright. My own natural healing plus the powers granted to me as an Ascendant ensured there was no lasting damage inside or out. Trust me, that was the first thing I checked when I got back. No curses or other foul enchantments on me."
Prometheus relaxed somewhat at the news though his face was still cloudy.
"So...Vecna found a way here and has been masquerading as a human all this time." He concluded grimly.
"The hidden hand behind the throne." Arianasa agreed. "No doubt he has been guiding and manipulating the Rothschilds for years."
He was behind the virus attack as well. Davis informed them mentally. Obviously the fact that he was at the station and sent the commands proves it but I also managed to identify the various coders that worked on the virus a little while ago. I've been cross-referencing their recent postings. Every one of them were assigned to a top secret research project at the behest of anonymous corporate backers. Fortunately I was able to follow the trail back through various intermediaries to a couple different companies, each of which the Rothschilds have a controlling interest in.
"So at the very least they funded and approved the project." Prometheus remarked. "Gather all of the evidence you have found, we will need an airtight case if we wish to prosecute David Rene and his associates. Speaking of which, I trust you have him well in hand?"
He's under house arrest at the moment in a well tended but also well guarded suite. Davis replied. Trust me, he's not going anywhere.
"Good. Make sure to keep Scotland Yard appraised of his situation. The treaties we currently have in place with the various governments should make the seizure of records and data traffic a non-issue."
"And what of Vecna?" Beowulf asked.
"No doubt he will go to ground for the time being." Prometheus replied. "He prefers to work from the shadows, using his knowledge of secrets to command and control others to great effect as we have seen, but his plans have been disrupted for now."
"A monster that clever no doubt he has some sort of contingency in place if his plan failed." Beowulf pointed out. "Every animal has an escape route in their den if they have an ounce of intelligence. Backed into a corner with no escape they may fight to the death in a frenzy. Let us hope we have not backed Vecna into a corner." He said grimly.
"Vecna is no mere monster but a god like me." Prometheus replied. "He no doubt has many options available to him. He will not be so reckless as to try something bold so soon after his defeat."
"Can you not sense his presence? Locate him somehow?" Arianasa asked.
"I have been attempting to do so for the last few moments." Prometheus replied. "But perhaps if I put forth more effort…" Saying so he closed his eyes, allowing his senses to spread across countless miles, searching for the taint of dark magic that Vecna commanded. Finally he opened his eyes with a frown and a shake of his head.
"I cannot sense him. I discovered the teleportation trail he emanated as he left the broadcast station in Britain. It appeared to enter the atmosphere but after that the trail became too indistinct for me to trace. Either he has shifted to an extremely isolated location on the planet and masked his signature or he has travelled into the void itself, either into space or dimensionally into another plane. Either way, I cannot discern his location."
Beowulf grimaced. "This will come back to bite us on the tail."
"I will keep searching for him and the various governments are being notified of his crimes." Prometheus replied. "If he attempts to return as Vance, law enforcement everywhere will be hunting for him."
As if they would present a challenge to him. Davis snorted. He could massacre an entire battalion of troops with a few spells. Not only that but changing identities will be child's play for him. No doubt he's already wearing a different skin and posing as someone else, likely making use of whatever Rothschild resources he still has access to. The government is working to freeze and track any active accounts used by Vecna as Vance but he could have hidden caches we and they know nothing about. He's nothing if not slippery.
Prometheus nodded. "I shall continue to search for his signature and my priests shall also be vigilant. He cannot keep himself hidden forever and when he reveals himself I shall be ready."
Several weeks later
The void of space...
Vecna stretched forth his arm, his finger glowing with arcane power as he inscribed multiple complex runic arrays onto the very fabric of space-time itself, his arm moving at a speed faster than any mortal eye could possibly follow. Magical equations and formulas were swiftly sketched with demanding precision, the characters and lines glowing softly. He continued writing as he had been doing for weeks since his cover had been blown, his mind constantly analyzing the interplay between the various connecting sigils and looping arrays he had already built into the massive magical construct before him, ensuring they all would work in sync to achieve the expected outcome once they were activated. He had finished the larger construct that sat closer to the sun some time ago but the current, smaller structure had only been partially completed. Given his original project with the sabotaged machines had been coming to a head, not to mention his other duties as Richard Vance, he had not had the time to complete the structure. But now that he had nothing but time he had been able to devote his full attention to this ace-in-the-hole he had been creating. He had known from the outset there was the possibility of his plan failing; unlike the other gods he was not so arrogant as to think the Anathema would never be able to discern his plans or disrupt them. Those were his creations he had been working with, after all, the Dragon would have known them inside and out. In hindsight he was fortunate to have gotten as far as he had without being detected but in the end the Anathema had been able to wrestle back control of his servants at just the right time, enabling him to be unmasked by that damnable silver Dragon bitch.
He snarled mentally as he forced himself to focus on the task at hand. The work he was doing now required absolute precision and one mistake would bring the entire structure crashing down in a backlash of magical power that could damage even him. The forces he was attempting to harness with the pair of constructs had never been tried before as such immense power did not exist on Oerth, their sun being a simple sphere of light that emanated from the primeval plane of fire. There was literally no comparison between that simple ball of flames and the massive thermonuclear furnace that sat at the center of the Earth's solar system.
How fortunate, then, he mused, that even the smallest sliver of that power could do untold damage if nurtured to strike in the right direction.
Finally his arm slowed, the last radiant runes fading to a soft glow. Staring at the central activation rune his eye slid over the spiraling and multi-branching construct, checking every sigil and mark to ensure they were perfectly written and in the proper place. Finally after nearly an hour of double-checking every inch he was satisfied with his work.
All they require now is sufficient power to activate them. It will cost me some of my strength but the damage to the Anathema and the planet will be far greater. Not even he can withstand such raw power as I will unleash and this time there is no technology for him to take direct control of! For all his skill with the materials of man, dark magic is my domain! By the time he realizes the peril he and the Earth are in, it will be too late!
Calling upon his divine power he began feeding the construct before him, igniting and empowering it with unholy magic, making the various glyphs burn brightly until the entire structure blazed with energy. Siphoning more energy into the connection points along the various sides, they burst into fiery life before channeling the excess power down the conduits between it and the larger construct closer to the sun. The connection runes at the other end ignited, creating a space-time vortex that bridged the gap of millions of miles, connecting the two. Divine energy flowed through the wormhole, crossing the intervening space in seconds in contravention of known physical laws before kindling the arrays within the larger construct. After several moments of energizing the larger construct both were primed and ready to activate.
Teleporting himself a safe distance away, Vecna turned to gaze at the Earth once more from his vantage point, a blue and white marble floating in space.
Such a beautiful world. He mused. I look forward to seeing it reduced to bones and ash. Those fools have no concept of what a god truly is but I shall show them before they die and rise again as my undying servants, an entire planet of billions of undead eternally serving my every whim!
With a horrific, skeletal grin on his ruined face Vecna raised his arm, his fingers creating a silent snap in the airless void.
With a snap of my fingers, the world burns.
The constructs immediately blazed to life, the larger one summoning to it a vast column of super-magnetized plasma from the sun's corona. The massive jet of ionized gas surged through space as the construct morphed into a massive portal, channelling the plasma into it and down the superluminal tunnel, crossing the intervening space in moments before erupting from the smaller portal closer to the Earth. The jet of plasma surged from the portal, accelerating towards Earth at high speed before the overloaded constructs burned themselves out, their power spent and unable to hold their forms due to the vast energies of the sun warping them.
The United Nations General Assembly
New York
The same time…
Prometheus stood before the podium, addressing the United Nations members, when suddenly his head snapped upward, his eyes narrowing.
Davis I just sensed a massive magical surge from beyond the Earth's atmosphere! What do you see? He asked urgently.
"Is something wrong, Your Holiness?" The Secretary-General asked in concern.
"A moment please, something urgent demands my attention." He muttered, holding up a paw as he stretched forth his senses into the void.
We've got a massive coronal mass ejection heading towards Earth! Davis exclaimed urgently in his mind, the machine's voice as close to panicked as he had ever heard it. If it reaches the atmosphere every piece of technology on Earth will be fried and I'm not even sure my systems can withstand the blast, hardened as they are!
ETA! Prometheus demanded.
Less than two minutes! Davis announced in confusion. Which shouldn't be possible! Normally ejections like this would take days to hit Earth!
The magical blast must have heralded it along! Vecna's work to be sure! This was his fallback plan! He snarled. I should have realized!
Recriminations later! Action now! Davis nearly shouted into his mind.
Prometheus turned to the Secretary-General. "The Earth is in peril! I must depart to try and stop the cataclysm!" He said urgently before teleporting away in a blaze of golden light.
Reappearing above the planet's atmosphere he saw the massive plume of gas surging toward him. Will the Earth's magnetic field deflect it? He asked Davis quickly.
Normally it would but initial analysis indicates this is a concentrated and focused blast, like a laser strike compared to a broader ocean wave! It'll punch right through the field and wreak havoc!
Not if I create a shield strong enough to stop it! He retorted grimly.
How?! No magical or physical shield can hope to stop that much raw force! Davis retorted incredulously.
I'm not going to use magic or technology! Prometheus replied firmly, his eyes fixed on the oncoming storm.
You can't be serious! Davis exclaimed.
I am. Let us hope I am powerful enough to withstand the blast. He sighed.
We are here with you my love. Arianasa spoke anxiously into his mind as he felt her and Beowulf's presence like steadying hands on his shoulders. A moment later he heard Arianasa's voice echoing through the ether as she utilized her connection to Prometheus to speak with his followers as well as her own.
My children! Your father is in need! At this very moment he stands poised to save the Earth from certain doom at great personal risk to himself! Show him now that your faith is not false and your oaths are not empty words! Let your faith in him pour from you like a river of light as you worship him! Pray that he will be sustained by your worship and love of him!
Moments later he could feel millions of souls pouring their love, their faith, and their conviction into him from down below, like a multitude of candle flames brought together to create a massive construct of light that filled and strengthened him.
Thank you my children. He replied gratefully to each of them as he willed himself to grow larger.
In seconds he had grown large enough that his body covered the entire sunward-facing side of the planet, his wings outstretched protectively as he made himself into a living shield to defend against the onslaught. As the surge of ionized plasma reached him he grit his fangs, his eyes narrowed to slits.
An instant later the blast hit.
Down below on the Earth's surface, the sky suddenly went dark as if the sun had been extinguished, the planet covered in darkness by dragon wings that spanned continents. Seconds later the atmosphere erupted with golden light and every person looking up in shock beheld the image of Prometheus shielding them against certain death as the blast of plasma slammed into him at thousands of miles an hour, the force and heat great enough to sear the surface of the planet to ash. Thunder like the sound of a thousand earthquakes filled their ears alongside the cry of a god as Prometheus howled in pain. Moments later the sky returned to normal with a powerful crack, the shockwave surging through the atmosphere and blasting apart the clouds as the image of Prometheus coalesced into a massive burning object falling through the sky like a meteor. The fireball decreased in size as it burned its way through the sky before slamming into the center of Manhattan, Prometheus's body smashing through several buildings and creating a massive crater as he slammed into the cement street. Sirens began to wail as onlookers rushed to see what had happened, Prometheus's body lying unmoving within the crater.
Several silver flashes of light appeared around the edge of the crater as Arianasa, Beowulf, and several high-ranking priests teleported in along with several court wizards and a squad of Dragon Knights in full plate armor, bearing plasma rifles.
"Form a perimeter around the crater!" Arianasa shouted to the others. "I will tend to him!"
"You will do no such thing, you pathetic child!" A vile and sneering voice insisted from everywhere around them.
A flash of violet light erupted nearby and Vecna stood in their midst, the desiccated dark god clad in robes of crimson and onyx with gold filigree, his vile dagger held loosely in his hand.
"Protect the Emperor!" Beowulf shouted as he drew his divinely-blessed katana.
The knights roared as they raised their rifles and a barrage of sickly green plasma bolts shot towards Vecna. The archlich spoke no words or gestures commonly associated with spell-casting, one moment he stood before the advancing wall of emerald death and the next he vanished from their sight, the bolts shooting harmlessly through the space where he had been. As the knights looked about in confusion Beowulf felt his fur stand on end. Spinning on instinct he saw Vecna materialize on the far side of the crater. Beowulf charged forward with a feral roar, his nanite-enhanced body allowing him to close the distance in seconds. Vecna merely gestured and suddenly shadowy tendrils shot from the cracked ground, grabbing hold of Beowulf's wrists and legs, jerking him to a halt. Snarling in surprise and frustration he struggled against the bindings but even his enhanced strength was no match for them.
"I have no time to spar with you, pathetic mongrel." Vecna sneered as he began to descend into the crater. "Unlike Hextor I have no need to prove my skills to all and sundry."
As Vecna approached Prometheus he saw the dragon groan in agony as he shifted.
"Still alive I see." Vecna remarked. "Not for long."
"Over my dead body!" Arianasa shouted as she charged at him, silver sword and shield in hand as dragon scales began to cover her skin.
Vecna merely tsked in annoyance as he flicked his hand, a burst of telekinetic energy sending her flying backwards. Now free to engage, the knights began to rain down plasma towards him. An instant's concentration by the archlich saw a bubble of violet energy appearing around him, their shots impacting against it instead. More bursts of silver and gold light appeared around the edge of the crater with more knights reinforcing their brethren. They immediately fanned out to create a defensive perimeter around the crater, keeping the crowds back, while others began firing on Vecna from various angles. At the same time the various court wizards began to rain down torrents of fire, ice, and various magical projectiles while others fired paralysis spells and cages of force to try and bind him. The clerics also began casting powerful holy spells designed to destroy or banish undead while others began filling the area with holy energies anathema to Vecna.
The archlich, however, had not been idle. Calling upon his unmatched knowledge of potent spells and ancient magecraft he had begun chaining counter-spells and counter attacks together in a constant torrent of death and chaotic energies. Infernos bled away to small and inconsequential tongues of flames while spears of ice destabilized into random eruptions of water and steam. Magical energy fizzled out and a lash of his hand burst apart barriers of pure force. Calling upon dark and unholy energies the area became bathed in blasphemous miasma that surged against the holy light, the two Powers disrupting each other in brilliant eruptions of annihilative energy. Suddenly the sky was filled with the roar of a thousand storms as fiery boulders erupted from the clouds overhead, falling to the earth below.
"INCOMING!" Shouted one of the knights and they swiftly began casting defensive spells and raising shields to try and mitigate the onslaught.
Nearby Beowulf roared with fury as his blade cut away the last of the restraining tendrils of darkness. The Gnoll sprinted to a nearby building to avoid the rain of fiery stones with Arianasa taking shelter beneath one of Prometheus's massive wings, her body and hands glowing with divine healing energies. A second later the massive meteors slammed into the ground, shattering concrete as the shockwaves sent the knights sprawling. Fire and shards of rock shot out in all directions inside and outside the crater, slamming into shields and armor as well as tearing through cloth and flesh. The armored knights, being Draconic in nature, fared rather better as their own bodies' naturally scaled armor softened the blows that managed to pierce their divinely-wrought plate mail. The clerics and wizards were not so fortunate as many of them lay on the ground, moaning in pain, their bodies burned and bleeding from the shrapnel. Many of the larger meteors had also slammed into Prometheus's body, making him moan in pain as he laid there, his body twitching and writhing.
My love! Can you hear me?! Arianasa pleaded as she pressed her hands against his wing, willing silvery divine energy to flow into him.
Ari… Prometheus's voice echoed tiredly in her mind. Did I succeed?
Yes love! Yes! Earth is safe but Vecna-
I know...you and the others must do your utmost my love. She could feel him mentally reaching out to all who were nearby, his mind touching theirs. I have faith in all of you. All your training, all your experiences in war and in peace, were to prepare you for this moment, when I am weak and cannot protect you as a Father should. In this moment, you must be my strength, my shield, and I know with everything in me that you will make your Father proud. He insisted in a bone-weary voice.
Seconds later Arianasa charged towards Vecna with an ancient Draconic battle cry, her body blazing with silvery light and covered with chrome-like plate mail. Beowulf charged across the broken concrete at the same time, his blade held high and glowing gold with divine light as he let out a feral roar of challenge.
"DEATH TO THE ENEMIES OF THE EMPEROR!"
Vecna swiftly cast bolts of negative energy at Arianasa with one hand while more dark tendrils emerged from the ground to once again trap Beowulf. This time, however, the two were more prepared, the Gnoll leaping over the grasping darkness as Arianasa tumbled forward, the bolts whizzing over her head before she sprang forward, closing on Vecna as Beowulf slid down the crater to aid her.
A saber of dark energy appeared in midair before Beowulf as he reached the bottom, the dark blade swiftly stabbing at him. Beowulf quickly parried the strike before attempting to dodge around it but the blade immediately spun and circled him, blocking his way once more as it began to slash at him swiftly. Growling in frustration at being unable to reach his true target the Gnoll was forced to quickly trade blows with the seemingly sentient weapon, golden sparks flying as his blade deflected each strike.
At the same time Arianasa closed on Vecna, her sword flashing as she began to strike at him from various angles. The god's arm moved with unerring accuracy and supernatural speed, instantly parrying and deflecting her attacks with his dagger before a blast of thunderous sound erupted in front of her sending her tumbling backwards.
"You won't touch him!" Arianasa shouted frantically as she leaped to her feet before charging forward once again, shield at the ready.
"Such an ignorant pest." He sighed as he flung a firebolt in her direction.
Arianasa's shield blocked the eruption of fire as she closed on him, stabbing at him with her blessed silver longsword.
Vecna's dagger knocked away her strike as he side-stepped. "You were fortunate last time." He informed her. "This time you will not live to see the sunset!"
"It's you who's going to die today!" Arianasa growled furiously as her blade stabbed and sliced at him, the archlich's dagger managing to parry each stroke as they danced back and forth. Suddenly Vecna spun sharply, his dagger knocking away Beowulf's katana as he attempted to skewer him from behind. The Gnoll's silvery fist shot forward only to be blocked by the stump of Vecna's other arm before Arianasa's shield slammed into the back of his head, her blade stabbing deep into his side, making him cry out in anger.
The silver Dragon shouted a divine Word and holy energy surged through the sword. Vecna staggered as his body was wreathed in silvery fire before he backhanded her, her hastily raised shield the only thing saving her as she flew backwards, the sword jerked from his side.
Taking advantage of Vecna's distraction Beowulf roared as he reared back before slamming his fist into the archlich's jaw with all his strength in a mighty uppercut. The divinely blessed titanium splintered on impact as thousands of nanites were completely destroyed by the blow, causing two of his fingers to become brittle and break apart while Vecna flew upwards with a cry of pain and anger, slamming into the ground several yards away, his jawbone fractured. Now free to engage the knights immediately began to fire on Vecna with dozens of plasma bolts. Vecna staggered to his feet only to fall to his knees as the plasma slammed into him, burning his robes and vaporizing his undead flesh.
"Wretched mortals!" Vecna bellowed in frustration as he cast another spell. Immediately scores of superheated rock began to rain down in another meteor shower. The remaining clerics quickly cast their own shielding spells but the rocks tore through them, sending the knights to the ground, their armor buckled and dented in half a dozen different places. Both Beowulf and Arianasa immediately cast consecration wards around the area, filling it with holy energy to soften the impacts and promote healing while Vecna cried out in pain, the anathematic energies filling the region burning his wounds like fire before he dispelled the wards with blasphemous Words of power.
But even this storm was not enough to lay low all of the Knights and they continued to rain down punishment on the monster that dared attack their master with more teleporting in each passing moment. Hurriedly raising a personal force shield around himself the dark god's frustration grew with each passing moment as he was forced to swiftly chain more and more spells in a constant stream of magic, his hand a blur. Arrows of acid shot towards several knights to splash against and eat away at their armor and scales while others were polymorphed into eldritch abominations. Still others were killed outright by green disintegration rays that blasted the Emperor's followers to dust but still they continued to assault him relentlessly.
Even a small army of wizards and clerics could not have hoped to defeat him in magical combat given his skill with counterspells and his unmatched knowledge of magic alongside his powers as a god, but the damnable Knights were forcing him to split his attention between maintaining his shield and using up valuable spells to counter-attack and thin their ranks. No army in the history of Oerth had ever been armed with the equivalent of Hellfire weapons apart from the Demons themselves and even his divine flesh was not immune to damage from such potent weapons.
Suddenly the hail of plasma bolts ceased. An instant later he spun, barely knocking aside Beowulf's blade as it shattered his weakened shield, the edge slicing into his arm as Arianasa tackled him, slamming her dented shield into his face with a roar of raw fury. A dark blast of power slammed into her armor, sending her flying into the air but Beowulf immediately surged forward, firing a blast of holy light from his damaged arm directly into Vecna's face. While it did little more than infuriate the archlich it gave Beowulf just enough time to strike. Raising his blade point downward he rammed it into Vecna's chest, fracturing his sternum and stabbing through him into the ground as the Gnoll roared in fury. The golden anathematic energies imbued within it erupted through Vecna's body in a blaze that made him scream before he desperately grabbed the blade with his hand. Forcing himself to push past the torturous agony he wrenched the blade free from his body and Beowulf's hands, throwing it aside with a cry before sending a powerful stunning spell at the High Priest, making him stumble back with a gasp. His body still on fire, Vecna forced himself up, his dagger in his hand as he stumbled towards Beowulf, the blade stabbing viciously into his chest.
Beowulf's eyes bulged as he coughed wetly, dark blood pouring from his lips. He could feel his strength failing him as his fur changed from tan to grey and white, his body began to wither from the necromantic energies surging through him as his nanites frantically attempted to repair the damage. Jerking the blade free, Vecna backhanded him with the stump of his arm sending the Gnoll flying to impact against the side of the crater.
"Die...knowing you failed your pathetic master...you wretched mongrel!" He panted with a snarl.
Stumbling in pain with a grunt he replaced his dagger at his belt and using his aura to dampen the holy flames. A moment later he cried out as more blasts of plasma slammed into his back. the Knights advancing down the crater and firing on him as they moved. A lash of his hand in a wide arc sent them flying once more as he turned to deal with Arianasa who had morphed into her dragon form behind him, her wings outstretched before Prometheus like a shield.
Paralysing gas shot from her mouth to engulf the archlich and he could feel its effects attempting to leech his mobility as a silvery fist as large as he was shot towards him. Reaching out he grabbed the oncoming hand with his own, the shock of the impact making his body shudder and forcing him back several feet before he jerked hard with a cry of effort, pulling Arianasa off her feet and throwing her over his head to slam her on her back several yards away. A massive bolt of lightning shot from his hand to surge along her scales making her cry out in pain as she writhed upon the ground before him.
"Do you finally understand, you disgusting bitch?!" He shouted as even more lightning poured across her scales, making her convulse as blood began to drip from her nostrils. "You cannot hope to defeat me! I am a GOD!"
Suddenly he felt a surge of power from behind him as his precognitive senses screamed a warning. Turning just a half second too late he had only an instant to see the massive golden fist surging towards him before it slammed into him with the force of a high speed train. Ribs that could withstand a blow from any mortal weapon splintered and cracked before the impact sent him flying into the air with a bellow of agony, his body clearing the lip of the crater as he landed on the concrete above. The lightning faded and Arianasa coughed wetly as she righted herself, struggling to her feet before looking up to see Prometheus rising from the broken concrete, his eyes blazing with fury.
Arianasa scrambled towards him anxiously. "Are you alright my love?" She asked urgently.
"I am in pain...but I live and my strength returns with each passing moment." He rumbled with effort. "It is time to end this."
"HE LIVES! THE EMPEROR LIVES!" Shouted one of the Knights and cheers immediately rang out. Prometheus's aura immediately burst from him to fill the crater and its surrounds, golden nanites swiftly flowing through the air to help repair and heal Beowulf along with the Knights and their armor as well as stabilize the various clerics and wizards who were near death due to their wounds.
"Ari, help the others. Your healing magic is needed here more than your martial skills." He instructed her.
Arianasa nodded and quickly moved to the most injured, using her magic and abilities to help them as best she could while Prometheus quickly moved up the side of the crater to deal with Vecna. As his head cleared the edge of the crater a massive boulder of concrete slammed into his face. The mass of stone shattered from the impact, making him tumble backwards into the crater with a grunt as Vecna strode forward. Now taller than any human, he stood nearly twenty feet tall, his ribs shattered and his jaw cracked. His remaining hair and skin had been burned away and his robes barely wrapped around him as they smoldered, his eye sockets blazing with fury and pain as he advanced, his only thought to decimate and destroy his hated foe.
As he reached the crater Prometheus stretched forth his claws. A dozen strands of golden wire made from divine metal shot from them, uncoiling through the air at high speed. Vecna immediately attempted to banish the wires back towards Prometheus with a counterspell but the coils sliced through the energies, wrapping around his arms and torso, holding him fast. Prometheus clenched his fists and jerked hard, yanking on the wires and pulling Vecna off his feet as holy energies surged down them like electricity through a cable, making him howl in pain. As the archlich flew through the air Prometheus swung his arms, making the wires whip Vecna in rapid circles over his head, the divine power surging through the archlich's body before he flung his hands forward sending Vecna flying and slamming into the ground. As the dark god staggered to his feet Prometheus jerked the wires again and this time Vecna screamed as he was jerked forward once more. The wires, having converted themselves into monomolecular nanostrands, carved through Vecna's flesh and bones like a hot knife through butter, severing his limbs into pieces and ripping them from his body as he landed in front of Prometheus.
An instant later the Dragon's hand slammed into Vecna's back, fracturing the concrete beneath him in a massive spider web before a blast of plasma shot from his fangs to engulf the archlich. Vecna bellowed in pain and rage before he forced Prometheus backwards with a massive eruption of unholy power, struggling to his feet as his limbs began to slowly regrow, his regeneration hampered by the divine plasma acting like a cauterizer. Prometheus's fist slammed into him again, mimicking Beowulf's prior punch. The fractured jawbone shattered on impact as Vecna's head snapped around nearly 180 degrees before Prometheus's other fist plowed into his wrecked sternum, sending bone shards flying as Vecna flew backwards, slamming into a nearby three story building and causing it to collapse on top of him.
Wasting no time Prometheus charged forward as the rubble of the building began to shift before exploding outward in all directions, Vecna getting to his feet and letting loose a sonic scream that caused all nearby to clutch their heads in agony. Bellowing in pain Prometheus grit his fangs as he tackled the hateful monster, slamming him to the ground once more. One clawed paw stabbed into Vecna's palate, nostrils, and eye sockets while the other grabbed the base of his spine just above his hip bones. Massive amounts of divine energy surged through his hands and into Vecna's body directly. Vecna's shriek of agony could be heard across the city as power poured into him, pulverizing divine bones and disintegrating his very essence. A moment later his lower body exploded in a blast of bone dust and shards. Prometheus raised a fist before slamming it into Vecna's spine, shattering it and blasting apart the rest of his body, leaving him as a fractured and carbonized skull.
Panting harshly Prometheus sat back, holding the skull aloft in his hand and staring coldly into its eye sockets.
How...is this possible…?! Vecna wheezed mentally. The blast should have...destroyed you!
"The blast you sent to Earth nearly destroyed me." Prometheus replied vocally in a grim tone. "But the faith of my people sustained me and it is because of them I stand. That is what you, for all your scheming, failed to realize. So long as my people believe in me and worship me in spirit and in truth, I can never die. Your time is done, foul creature! You may be the Aspect of Vecna and his power but I am a true god and my power was always greater than yours!"
You...cannot kill me! Vecna wheezed. I am...secrets and dark knowledge incarnate! An Aspect of reality!
In this universe you are not an Aspect of reality! Prometheus rebuffed him mentally. Here you are simply a sliver of a god's power! And that sliver is about to be extinguished!
Prometheus gripped the skull in both paws and held it up before him. "BEGONE!" He cried as he squeezed the skull with all his strength.
The sphere of bone exploded between his hands with a blast of dark power and all in the vicinity heard Vecna's psychic scream of rage. Calling forth his power Prometheus forced Vecna's essence in between his hands until a dark, writhing ball of pure darkness and evil was suspended between them. Divine light surged from his paws and an unholy shriek of desperation and soul-destroying agony was heard by all until the light erupted between his paws like a miniature nuclear explosion, the scream falling silent.
As the light faded the crowds saw nothing but air between Prometheus's paws as he stood triumphant in the midst of the rubble of downtown Manhattan. Their god was scarred, his chest scales burnt and cracked, his eyes weary with pain and fatigue, but he stood.
A moment later the cheers began.
