Chapter 9 – A Dragon's Wrath


The Grimleal remained frozen in place. The sheer presence the tactician was exuding had evolved to a whole new level. She who mere moments ago had been on the brink of death was now a predator without equal.

The servants of the Fell Dragon were vaporized and torn apart with ease. The sight of their comrades' fate erased all sense of assured victory from the survivors. Arrogance was replaced by dread born from the unnatural aura the tactician emanated.

"W-What is the meaning of this!?" Ardri stammered as he took a step back and tightened the grip on his tome as if it were a safety blanket. He let his fear overwhelm him, and began shiver uncontrollably. His animal instincts registered a clear sense of danger and were telling him to run, but he couldn't move.

"It has been a while since I felt this energized."

Her voice was unnatural, hissing as if wrapped in darkness.

"Admittedly, this is not a power I'm particularly fond of... But I won't deny that it is useful in this situation." The woman slowly prowled towards the group, letting the tip of Thorn carve a small groove into the street. If the trail of frozen stone left behind by the tip of her blade was meant to intimidate, it was doing a magnificent job. The wounds she had before were no present. Her armor remained a dented, twisted and stained with blood.

'Is that her blood? Or is it from the men she killed?' they all wondered in the back of their minds. The brutal state of comrade's corpse was clue enough for them.

"Now then, little mortals... you should be thankful. Your goddess has deemed you worthy of gracing you with her presence." Her voice managed to be some twisted combination of both a guttural growl and a playful, mocking tone. The spectral woman shrugged. She spat her next words with disdain, leveling a deadly glare in their direction. "Alas, she has found you wanting."

The Grimleal couldn't make sense of the meaning behind her words, but her next move was clear enough.

Dark purple fire engulfed the woman's arm and blade, roaring and snarling as if it had a life of its own. The tactician swung and the flames exploded towards the Grimleal formation.

The two Grimleal Knights rushed forward in their defense. They slammed their shields into the ground in an attempt to disperse the fire. The enchantments on their shields were impotent against the raw power of the Fell Dragon's magic.

The conflagration engulfed their bodies, causing the men to bellow blood-curdling screams. The magic ripped through their enchanted armor like rice paper. Scant moments later, all that remained was a pair of blackened corpses. The remains were both burned and frozen at the same time. Frostbite encrusted whatever part of their flesh that had survived being melted away. Black ice clung to the metal of their armor and weapons. The bodies remained in place, their gaunt faces forever frozen in a twisted visage of pain and terror.

Ardri stumbled back onto his backside. He turned to his troops, pointing a shaking finger at the monster in human flesh. He scooted away as quickly as he could, not daring to lose sight of the demon.

"W-What are you waiting for?!" He screamed. All pretense of calmness had long been discarded. "K-Kill her!"

The remaining soldiers hesitated. Their instincts screamed at the presence of a natural predator. But when fear overwhelms a good soldier, their training takes over. They charged at her with intent to kill, in hopes of ending the fight quickly. They would never come close to their goal as the woman in front of them uttered a single word.

"Extinction."

Dozens of thin spears made of blackened spectral ice manifested under the Plegians. They reaped through the ground, impaling the soldiers with impunity. Metal, flesh, and bone did nothing to slow down the ice as it killed almost all the Plegians in an instant.

Those were the lucky ones.

But Ardri did not have luck on his side. The ice skewered his feet and thighs, making it impossible for him to move. The pain was horrible, making him drop his tome as he tried to writhe in pain. The priest could feel the ice eating away at his skin. Like an infection that left cursed frostbite behind as it devoured his flesh.

"W-Who… W-what are y-you?! " Ardri managed to wheeze out through the sudden vicious grip on his throat. His head was forced to face the woman and was met with the chilling sight. A set of draconic eyes glowing with an eery crimson. The unearthly image was both beautiful and terrifying.

"For someone who claims to be a priest of my religion, you cannot even recognize your deity?" A wicked smile plastered itself over her face. "For shame, little man."

The priest's eyes widened in both understanding and horror. He finally realized exactly who and what stood before of him. Had Ardri been calm, he would have felt blessed to be in her presence. But in his last moments, the only thing he felt was an all-encompassing terror of imminent death.

"N-no…!" The priest babbled, both in awe and in total fear. "I-Impossible-!"

"I see you've figured it out. Yes, I am the Fell Dragon," the dark goddess cooed as the grip on his throat tightened and her eyes shined brighter. "And your life belongs to me!"

Ardri couldn't do anything. He couldn't think, he couldn't protest, he couldn't pray. The priest gave a silent, tortured scream as the woman ripped his soul from his mortal flesh.

The flames of the Fell Dragon devoured his body completely, reducing it to a pile of frozen cinder.


A blade of wind cut down the Risen warrior closest to him. Ricken shook in apprehension as he watched the rotten flesh dissolve into black mist. Even if they weren't living humans, the sight was no less nauseating. Watching black blood pour from rotten veins was not a pleasant experience.

But he couldn't afford to back down from this fight. Not only was the name of his family on the line, but so were the lives of everyone in Ylisstol. Maybe even the fate of Ylisse as a whole.

Ricken may have been young and inexperienced, but he still wanted to help as much as he could. After all, a noble's duty was to help and protect his people as they lived their days in peace. And he knew that to be true from the bottom of his heart, having been taught the ideals since childhood.

A bone-chilling shriek shook the young mage and his surrounding allies. He couldn't see the origin of the horrible noise but that didn't last. The screams of his fellow soldiers made him turn to the source.

Ricken saw dozens of broken bodies sent flying through the air. Both humans and Risen alike were thrown without care. Even the most battle-hardened warriors froze at the sight of the thing in front of them. A flesh golem with long limbs had done the gruesome deed. It was a grotesque amalgamation of human and animal flesh twisted into sickening patterns. Its head – if it could be called that – was a horrible pastiche of mouths and eyes, all which were looking around for its targets. The nightmare extended its tentacle-like claw and grabbed a cavalier along with its mount. The man barely had time to scream before the monsters crushed him.

Fear pumped into the mage's heart and body, freezing him in place. This indecision almost cost him his life when the monster took the opportunity. With another horrible shriek, the golem threw the crushed corpse in Ricken's direction.

The young man couldn't move through the fear. The corpse would've crushed him had a furry creature not grabbed him, dashing off without a second to spare. Ricken could feel the blood of the fleshy projectile splash against his face as it whizzed by.

Once they were far enough away, Ricken calmed down. Looking at his savior in awe, he was shocked to see it was a gigantic rabbit. The animal looked at him with disdain and growled. It was then covered in white light. Covering his eyes for a moment, he saw it was no longer an animal. Standing before him was the tribal woman that had assisted in protecting Lady Emmeryn. Panne was her name if he was not mistaken.

"Pay attention, man-spawn," the rabbit woman looked at him with an unimpressed gaze. "The battlefield is no place for children. More so if they can't fight on their own."

"I-I know that!" Ricken shouted, much to his and Panne's surprise. The young mage clutched his tome with all his strength. "But I didn't come here to hide behind others! Ylisse is my home too, and I want to protect it!"

The rabbit woman regarded him silently, before glancing at the undead golem.

"... You have guts. Pray that that is enough." That was all the woman said before transforming back into her rabbit form. She wasted no time jumping back into the fight. She darted around the creature and harassing it to keep it distracted. Her teeth and claws were as sharp as those of any wolf.

A firm hand suddenly grabbed his shoulder, startling Ricken into yelping. Turning around, he was shocked and relieved to see that it was Chrom. Sweat and blood covered the prince's body, but they did nothing hide his determination.

"Ricken! Are you hurt?" asked Chrom with concern. He gave Ricken a once-over, looking for any wounds. He barely stopped to look as their taguel ally and the rest of the soldiers attempted to take it down the monster.

The mage shook his head in response.

"I'm fine, Chrom. I can still fight." The prince gave a slightly relieved smile to the young man.

"I'm glad to hear it. I'm afraid we will need all the help we can get to take down this monster." Chrom took his stance, turning to face the abomination. "But don't take unnecessary risks. You don't have to prove anything. You've done more than you ought to have already."

"To think Plegia had this level of magic in their hands. Quite the terrifying weapon." Robin commented from behind the two Shepherds as he approached. His Levin sword crackling with electricity, eager to cut down their enemies. "Focus on the battle, both of you. I fear the trouble is just beginning. Chrom, I want you to try and slice its limbs. Hopefully, they still need whatever they have that passes for tendons to move. Ricken, use your wind magic to keep it off balance and deflect his blows away from Chrom and Panne. You will run interference."

The tactician's crisp orders earned a smirk and a nod from his commander. The prince wasted no time in running to engage the golem.

"Yes, sir!" exclaimed Ricken as he opened his tome. He was glad to finally be taken seriously and was ready to fight as an equal with his fellow Shepherds.


Stahl dodged the monster's attack by, jumping to the side and rolling out of the way. A feat that wasn't easy in plate armor. He and Cordelia tried to get close and deliver what they hoped were fatal blows. But the monster was surprisingly nimble for its size. It countered and evaded every attempt they made.

The fact that its monstrous strength could crush stone with a single swing didn't help the knights at all. The creature rushed the two Ylisseans with the intent of crushing them under its weight. Luckily for them, they were fast enough to easily dodge the attack.

"This… is not… working..." Cordelia panted, breathing hard to fill her burning lungs with fresh air.

Stahl was one of the few that knew the prodigy knight was a lousy runner. Not like he was any better, though. Both knights specialized on mounted combat, used to being constantly on the move. But with Cordelia's pegasus dead and his own mare on the other side of the rubble, forcing them to fight on foot. And moving on plate armor was taking its toll on his endurance.

'It's not like we have much space to ride or fly in here, anyways,' Stahl thought when inspiration struck.

"It's legs! Don't aim for the body, we don't even know if it needs whatever organs are in there! Focus on the legs and hinder his mobility!" Stahl exclaimed to his partner, analyzing the structure of the monster's body. "Once we cut them, we move to the arms and finally the head! Eliminate its movement and offense!"

"Ok… Ok, good. We have a plan." Cordelia nodded with a relieved smile, tightening her grip on her spear.

"That we do." The cavalier took the shield strapped to his back and secured it to this forearm. "Hopefully, it will be enough. Ready?"

"Ready!"

Both knights dashed forward, aiming to cripple the beast in front of them. The monster swung its malformed limb with the intent to smash the knights into a gory paste. Survival instincts allowed them to dodge the attack despite their fatigue. The attacks slammed into a nearby wall all the way into the ground. The creature struggled to pull its arm free, creating an opening for the knightly duo.

Cordelia wasted no time and stabbed her spear into what looked like the joint of its back leg. She twisted the weapon, driving it deeper into the flesh. With gritted teeth, she yanked the weapon free, tearing a sizeable chunk of meat with it.

Meanwhile, Stahl sliced off a chunk of flesh from the trapped limb. The cavalier took the opportunity and rushed under the beast to attack the other leg. The abomination roared in pained anger. It used its free arm to swat Cordelia away, sending her tumbling down the cobblestone street.

"Cordelia!" Stahl shouted, afraid that she was grievously injured from the attack. He didn't have the chance to check on her as the creature was finally able to break free.

It swung the injured limb at him with the intent to crush him. Stahl tried to deflect the attack with his shield but the force was too much for him to resist. The blow slammed against the broken wall of a nearby store, making him lose the grip on his sword.

Stahl was sure that he had a bruised, if not broken, set of ribs. His arm was miraculously still whole. He had to thank Rose for getting the superior gear from the smuggler. But his lack of broken bones was a poor comfort now that he was at the mercy of the creature.

The cavalier eyed the axe of the Plegian Cordelia had slain earlier laying on the ground just a few feet away. He had to get to it but the monster was almost on top of him. The cavalier moved his battered shield in front of him in a pathetic attempt to slow down the inevitable.

A battle cry startled the abomination and made Stahl turn. The action allowed him to witness the most amazing –and if he was honest with himself, inappropriately attractive– sight of his life.

Cordelia jumped on the creature's back with his discarded sword in her hands. Her hair whipped in the air with the sun shining through it and reflecting against her armor. It gave her the aura of a warrior goddess in his eyes. With a mighty yell, the redhead planted the sword deep into the creature's back all the way to the hilt. The creature roared and thrashed, failing to throw the knight on its back. Using her weight to drag the edge down, the sword ripped through its back as it oozed putrid blood.

Taking advantage of the creature stopping its attack, Stahl rushed to take the axe. Using all his strength, he swung the weapon overhead and brought it down on its neck. The silver axe-head split right through the flesh, beheading the creature. The multi-eyed head rolled on the dirty, bloodstained street. It stopped a few feet away, its eyes still moving in sporadic directions.

Cordelia landed on her back. With a groan, she stood strong with Stahl's sword in hand. The green knight met her halfway and took his sword from her hand. Cordelia, in turn, gave him a soft smile as a gesture of thanks. The redhead breathed hard until her voice turned to a relieved laugh, running a hand through his hair; his helmet long since having been lost.

"Ha… ha… we... did it… ha..." Cordelia was exhausted to the point that she thought she still held her spear and tried using it for support, only to lean on the cavalier instead.

Stahl blushed but chuckled in agreement, putting an arm over her shoulder as support.

"Yeah…heh... man, that wa–"

A strange sound interrupted their celebration. The Ylissean knights turned with growing dread towards the fallen creature. Much to their horror, the sight they found was straight out of a madman's nightmare.

The mass of undead flesh warped and twisted onto itself. The faces covering its flesh gave a horrible scream of unnatural pain as the flesh reformed. Tendrils of dark magic poured from its mouth, snaring the corpses in the vicinity.

The cavalier could have sworn that he saw a flash of a silver box emitting a purple glow inside the main body. He barely caught a glimpse before it the tendrils of flesh covered it. Cordelia gave a horrified cry as her fallen steed was torn apart and fused with the rest of the creature.

The nightmare grew bigger with the unholy amalgamation of human and beast flesh. Its new head was a mix of equine, draconic and human features. It had more eyes than any creature had the right to possess. Its limbs grew longer with long, sharp talons and hooves. It was a sight the pair was sure they would never forget.

"No way..." whispered Cordelia, her voice worn down by exhaustion, now filled with absolute dread.

"You've got to be kidding me..." said Stahl, feeling his knees go weak from fear and exhaustion. But when the monsters turned its eyes to them, he felt every drop of adrenaline on his body coming to life again. Grabbing Cordelia's arm, he pulled her towards the alleys in an attempt to prolong their lives.

"Run!"


Ignoring his fatigue, Frederick swung his spear and severed the leg of an undead steed. The Risen cavalryman sent flying from its fallen horse and Sully finished it off while it still in the air. He had to admit, the encircling strategy Robin devised worked spectacularly. It gave them the necessary advantage to overcome the ambush from the undead army.

That was until the undead began too transformed into cursed abominations. As quickly as they appeared, they began smashing through their defensive formation. The army was able to stop regular Risen in the tracks, but the abominations were a different beast. Twisted limbs granted them the reach and speed to outmaneuver the human forces.

Very few of their soldiers had any experience with Risen before this battle. And no one had fought creatures like the abominations before. Their unnatural forms made them unpredictable. Some looked like malformed humans or animals. Some were even twisted amalgamations of both.

A cavalry charge was useless at the moment. The Risen felt no fear and wouldn't break their formations. This forced the knights to focus on eliminating all the stragglers. The rest of the Shepherds were making their way to reunite with their commander. They needed a plan soon or else the tables would turn against them.

Sully stopped at his side to prepare for the next move. A moment later, Sumia dove down and stabbed a Risen that sneaked behind them. Her pegasus was missing some feathers and had fresh cuts on her body, but she still looked ready to fly. Sumia took a deep breath and shouted:

"Frederick! Sully! Robin's orders! Mages will focus on the abominations. The other soldiers will keep the hordes of Risen away! Try to divide them so we are not overwhelmed. All aerial units will focus on the flying enemies!"

Sully looked hesitant for a moment but nodded. She was, after all, still skeptical about their young tactician. Meanwhile, Frederick chose to follow Robin's orders. They were knights and wouldn't let their bias compromise the battle. He may be called "Frederick the Wary", but he couldn't say that Robin failed yet.

He could grant him some leeway, he thought. After all, the battlefield is a place for action. Not for doubts. They would follow their orders.


The Arcanum was the main gathering hall for all the spellcasters in Ylisstol. It served both as an academy and research center for the spellcasters of Ylisse. As such, it housed some of the most powerful artifacts and knowledgeable scholars in service to the crown.

That's why it was no surprise to Miriel to find it besieged by Plegian forces.

The mages were not going down without putting up a fight.

Dozens of spells rained upon the invaders, vaporizing the majority of them in an instant. It halted the offensive and bought the defenders much needed time.

Miriel nodded in approval at the preparations of her fellow academics. Using the momentary shock, she ran towards the structure through the nearby alleyways. Strong enchantments fortified the walls of the structure, making it hard to take. Ylisse prepared for such situations and had many passages hidden around the city.

It paid off that many of the most eccentric academics were also very paranoid.

Something heavy crashed against the mage, sending her tumbling across the floor. Recovering her bearings, Miriel's eyes widened as a Risen Bear heaved itself off the ground. The undead beast prowled towards her downed form with ill intent in its red eyes.

The mage tried to cast a spell but she, much to her own horror, lost her tome in the fall. Without her focus, she had to concentrate harder to form the spell.

The bear wasn't going to give her the time.

The massive undead reared back on its hind legs, ready to crush the mage when the hulking form of Kellam intercepted the attack with his tower shield. Miriel had forgotten he was following her, but she was glad for his timely interference.

Both physical powerhouses engaged in a test of strength. Kellam gritted his teeth and roared. He tilted his shield until most of the beast's weight fell on him. The man then twisted and pushed, throwing the undead beast off balance. Kellam took his lance from his back and stabbed the bear's skull, ending the threat.

"You okay there, Miriel?" Kellam asked the mage, who stood and recovered her tome and securing it once again on possession.

"Indeed. Thank you, Kellam. Your assistance is much appreciated. Now, let us proceed to our target," the bespectacled woman stated. She moved towards an inconspicuous wall. Finding what she was looking for, she pushed a brick with a flare of magic. The wall opened to reveal a tunnel inside.

Miriel heard Kellam take a step back in surprise. "Woah! Since when does Ylisstol has hidden passages?"

"Since Augustus's Crusade," Miriel began explaining. "He was a paranoid man and feared the day Plegia would push back. He commissioned secret passages for the most important buildings in the city. They are only known to those in charge of their care and their trusted subordinates, like myself." Adjusting her glasses and walking into the passage lit by enchanted crystals. "While years late, it seems that Exalt Augustus cautiousness paid off."

The large knight just nodded dumbly, "Huh… I guess…"

The odd pair of Shepherds continued their trek in silence, closing the entrance behind them. The tunnel led them to a spiral staircase carved into the reinforced stone. At the end of their climb, Miriel placed her hand on the stone and once again flared her magic.

The duo stepped through the opening, only to be greeted by more than a dozen mages prepared to fry them. Kellam was about to step in front of his companion, only to be saved by the voice of an elderly man.

"Halt your attack!" The elder shouted. He walked past the nervous scholars and his face switched to an elated expression once he saw who it was. "Oh thank heavens it's you, Miriel? Is it time?"

"Indeed it is, Tobias," Miriel said, nodding. "Due to the situation at hand, you should have activated them already. Did Senior Enchanter Amell not order its activation?"

"…H-he was outside with his family when the attack started. We haven't heard from him since," the old man commented with a sad tone. "While we can't confirm anything, we are to assume that Amell did not survive. As of this moment, you are in command of this project."

"I see…" Miriel said through her shock. Amell had been her mentor ever since he passed the title of Marquess to his eldest daughter. The idea of him perishing... No. Not now, there were more important matters at hand. "Very well. Gather our fellows and prepare to activate the ignition spell. There is no time to lose."

As the mages moved to prepare, Tobias took Miriel aside to explain their current situation.

"We thought we had more time. The students only managed to set enough charges on the eastern plains and the expected siege deployment sites." Tobias pointed at a map on the wall with marks on it. "We couldn't set anything up on the western front because of the dam. We also lacked the manpower to finish up the southern side. At least the mountains protect us from the north."

Miriel looked at the map with a frown. It was not ideal, but it would suffice. "I'm not particular to incomplete preparations either, Tobias, but the situation is dire."

The pair stood at the window, looking through it to the east and seeing the strong army awaiting behind the wall. The defenders on the walls were performing admirably. At least the walls were still standing and the bulk of the army remained outside. If they wanted to enter the city in full, the gates would funnel them into a bottleneck.

It wouldn't be enough. The Arcanum had not strengthened the enchantments in the walls in years. They would fall to Plegians magic and siege weapons. Then they would overwhelm the defenders.

"There is no time to reevaluate our calculations," she said with finality. "Detonate."

Tobias hesitated, but still gave the signal. His assistants sent their magic through focus crystals to their intended destinations. Through the windows, those inside the Arcanum could see explosions on the distance. The condensed magic of dozens of tomes stacked together and unleashed at once was a terrible thing. The devastating explosions decimated a portion of the Plegian cavalry. Magic, shrapnel, and rock ripped through their ranks.

But the Ylissean mages were nothing but through. A set of controlled explosions detonated in the eastern front. A rockslide that fell outside the wall and away from their field of view. The entire city could feel the tremors, but no rock would touch inside the walls. It would not block the gate for they didn't know if they would need it.

It was catastrophic for the Plegians moving through the path close to the mountains. It crashed upon them with impunity. Those that survived were cut off from the rest of the army and forced to move around it if they wanted to attack the gate.

"The performance was within acceptable parameters," Miriel praised her senior.

"All thanks to your calculations my dear," Tobias replied good-naturally. A flash of dark magic crashed against the barrier, reminded them of the invaders still outside. "Now, let's kick these vagrants off our front lawn!"


'This is a mess.' On top of a hill, Robin watched the undead monsters reform again with a grimace. The mages made good progress against it. Their spells tore and burnt the corrupted flesh, but it was not enough to take the abominations down. They consumed the bodies of their fallen to rebuild themselves, undoing all their progress. Robin felt guilt and hoped their souls were not taken too. These men died under his command and he couldn't help but blame himself for leading them to their deaths.

If only he had been more prepared, more skillful, he could've prevented these deaths.

'I should have seen this ambush coming! It was obvious that Plegia was behind the Risen! It was too much of a coincidence! Now those men are dead because of you! Why did Chrom put a no-name amnesiac in charge of this army?! What right do I have to stand with these warriors?!'

Unbeknown to him, his gloves hid a wicked purple glow on his hand. The brand on his skin attempted to attacked his will at the command of its creator. But it didn't have the chance to get its claws on his mind. A few days ago he had a conversation with Rose. It was something she told

'This is a big war. You will lose people. You will order deaths on both sides. It's a burden all tacticians must carry, with the hope those sacrifices weren't in vain.'

Robin took a deep breath to calm his nerves. Raising his gaze, he looked at the bloody battlefield before him.

She was right. He didn't have time to doubt himself. He needed to prove Chrom didn't make the wrong choice and that his men hadn't died in vain.

If he didn't, even more, would die.

Robin focused his attention on the creature. Now with a clear mind, he looked at the creature for any weaknesses. He noticed how the flesh bulged the most on a specific spot on the creature's abdomen. It quivered with eery magic, giving off a slight glow. Testing his hypothesis, Robin took his Elthunder tome and focused. moved to his Levin sword at his command. Runes manifested before him, launching a thunderbolt at the stranger spot.

The attack struck true. The creature spasmed from the electricity surging through its decaying nerves. Joints and muscles froze against its will. But what caught the tactician's attention. The flesh of a pustule sizzled and ripped apart, opening a hole and allowing the tactician to look inside.

A wooden box reeking of cursed magic was there for all to see, the undead's body drawing its power from it. It didn't take a genius to know this was their target. Robin whipped around and shouted an almost hysteric command to the Duke of Rosanne.

"Virion! Hit that box now!"

The archer didn't question the order and let an arrow loose. The projectile hit it its mark, piercing and shattering the box into a thousand pieces.

The monster screamed as its body collapsed under its own weight. The soldiers watched as the creature and the surrounding Risen disintegrated into black mist. The shock momentarily silenced the immediate battlefield.

Robin was the first to recover as a hope crushed all his doubts.

"Everyone we need only to destroy the boxes within their bodies! Mages and infantry, focus on making openings in their flesh! Archers and anyone who sees the opportunity will then destroy the boxes! Cavalrymen will keep the stragglers away from them! Spread these orders to the others!" The tactician shouted, raising his sword in defiance. The cheers of his comrades were music to his ears.

"Let's show Gangrel that we are not to be messed with!"


"Disgusting vermin," Rose spat, crushing the frozen flesh of the Plegian priest under her heel.

The Fell Dragon curled the fingers on her healed hand, testing its mobility. She took a deep breath and took a moment to let her magic course through her magic coils.

She felt fantastic. All the fatigue and damage from her earlier battles had left her body. Flesh knitted itself back together, leaving only new flesh behind. The familiar magic tingled across her skin.

As exhilarating as the power felt, Rose couldn't disassociate this power with its origin. All the atrocities she had been complicit in committing while using it in the past. Indeed, she felt disgusted at how she felt whole, now that she had access to it again.

It didn't matter. This surge of power was a temporary thing. Her original magic reserves were still sealed away. The final blow by the other Chrom's Falchion and the soul merge afterward made sure of it. What she was tapping into was what power she recovered since that day. It would slip away from her grasp again soon enough.

But for the time being while she still had access to it. Rose wasn't foolish enough to throw away such a useful resource. This was more than enough to repel the invasion force, so why not put this power to good use?

Still, she felt strange. Like someone had removed all her inhibitions. She felt free walking amongst these insignificant mortal ants. Her power was finally unchained, ready to judge these simpering fools.

'Huh.'

As she made her way to the Southern gate, a Plegian squad came out of a nearby ransacked building. A sorceress, most likely the one in command of these forces, raised her voice with a commanding tone, "Halt! Surrender your weapons and you sh"

Rose tapped her grimoire and a swing of her blade. A blade of wind answered her call. The spell split the ignorant woman that had dared to stand in her way in two. The tactician stepped between the pieces, ignoring the gore at her feet. She didn't spare a single glance at the corpse.

"Know your place, mortals."

The words slipped out before she even realized it. A part of her mussed that maybe unlocking her powers also tapped into a natural God complex.

But those were thoughts for later. Right now, she had places to go and things to do. She refused to waste any more time with these foolish insects.

"Arcthunder!" Overpowering the spell, Rose launched cackling spears of lightning at the shocked Plegians. They were still gathering their wits from watching her bisect their commander. As a result, it was a quick and simple death for the invader.

The sheer voltage of the spell vaporized their bodies, not leaving anything behind. What dust that remained was blown away in the breeze.

Finally looking at the commander's remains, something caught her attention.

"Well, well, well... What do we have here?"

She recognized the Reeking Box in the mage's hands. A tool that contained the power of the Fell Dragon and allowed the user to control Risen. A key part of Grima's conquest of the world.

Stepping over the spilled guts, she took the box into her hands and analyzed its composition. The spell matrix was a bit different from the one her other half had used. Her version only revived humans and their mounts for her army. This box, however, resurrected everything. Humans, animals, even plants. Not only that but it allowed it to merge the bodies into a single gestalt entity.

Horrible. Simple. Brilliant.

The possibilities were endless. New beasts with improved physical and magical abilities. The sight alone would also prove effective in psychological warfare. As much as it disgusted her to admit it, a dark part of her was a little jealous of not having thought of such devious strategies before. It probably was the draconic energy inside her speaking. She might need to keep a better eye on her brother if his mind could come up with such a thing under the influence of Grima. They were, after all, two sides of the same coin.

Unfortunately.

Using her magic to prod the spell, Rose followed the tendrils of magic emanating from the box. She could feel the locations of several dozens of similar boxes across the city. Even a few inside the city walls could help Plegia overwhelm key locations.

She could try to sever the connection but the act would use more power than she was comfortable wasting. She needed every drop of power to destroy the invaders. And the backlash alone could tip her counterpart. A simple solution was needed.

An idea popped up in her head. She didn't need to cut the connection. A simple alteration could suffice. The summoned Risen would follow the commands she inscribed on it. It would last until she ran out of power. Grima wouldn't notice it since the Risen were bound to the boxes instead of him.

Rose would be able to use them to attack Plegian forces freely before making them kill each other. She clicked her tongue in annoyance. She couldn't the boxes outside Ylisstol's walls thanks to the protective enchantments. They were weakening but they still were enough.

"Oh well, you work with what you have."

A wicked smile grew on her face as she realized she had found yet another way to screw around with Grima. This situation might not have been so bad after all.

"Time to tip the scales."


Donnel ran behind the war cleric that had requested his help. He looked scruffy than usual thanks to his new gear, looking like a proper soldier. His new helmet didn't move around, as much as his old pot, though he still kept that with him in his room. His new steel spear was of much better quality thank what he used before. Nothing like the cheap bronze one he used to scare wolves back in his village.

"Miss Libra, where are we goin'?" The farm boy matched his steps with that of his companion.

"We are going to assist the troops near the northwestern wall, by the dam. The enemy's artillery cut them off from the closest camps, and they need all these staves." Libra pointed at the sacks of staves they were carrying. The cleric then paused for a moment before giving a resigned sigh. "Also, I am a man."

Grimacing at his mistake, Donnel gave a nervous laugh, avoiding looking at the priest.

"Oh… heh eh...mighty sorry, sir! It's just that you're awfully pretty an– "

"Please focus on the task at hand." The effeminate monk pleaded, earning the embarrassed silence from the young man.

Strangely, they encountered no resistance from the Plegians during their trek. Once they were on the wall, the pair found the street littered with corpses. It was a small mercy that there were more Plegian bodies than allied ones.

The reached the closed gate and climbed the stairs to the top. The sounds of battle still raged behind the closed gate. Some of their allies must have been trapped outside after pushing the invaders back.

At the top, they met with a few allies mending their wounds. Less than they hoped to see but it was better than nothing..

Libra approached the closest soldier, taking his staff to heal the boy while he asked his questions. "What happened here? Where are the Plegians?"

One of the soldiers nearby chuckled while he tightened the bandages on his arm. "A damn miracle, that's what happened. Take a look over the wall."

Donnel and Libra walked towards the edge of the wall and were shocked by the sight. The Plegians were not fighting their allies, but a horde of Risen. Amongst them were horrible monsters made of twisted flesh leading the charge. The Plegians were putting up a valiant effort but it was for naught. The undead creatures were slowly pushing them away from the city as they slaughter them.

"Good heavens! The Risen are fighting the Plegians!"

One of the clerics finished tending one of the soldiers and began to explain. "Yeah. They came out of nowhere in the middle of the Plegian formation. They started killing everything in their path, pushing those desert dastards back outside the walls."

One of the injured gate a pained chuckle. "We didn't question it. We took the opportunity to close and reinforce the gates. Don't know how long they will last, though," she admitted with a frown. "It looks like the Risen outnumber the Plegians on this side. Once one side defeats the other, they'll just focus on us again. We don't have the strength to repel either of them."

"Don't lose faith. Naga will lead us to victory as long as we have faith," preached Libra, ignoring the muffled screams of the Plegians. It's better to focus on healing their allies.

The farm boy took another look at the battlefield. Donnel hated being unable to do anything. His gut told that there was must be something he could do to turn the tides of battle in their favor.

He looked at the trampled fields littered with bodies, searching for something. He spotted the stream dyed a sickly red with human blood. He followed it until it reached the solid structure of the dam.

Now, Donnel would be first to admit he wasn't the sharpest sickle in the tool shed. Since he joined the Shepherds he tried to learn more things. In particular, anything related to farming. He had asked Miriel for a book on dams and that ended with a long lesson on the things.

Remembering this, an idea struck him. "I got it!"

"Sir Donnel! Where are you going?!" shouted Libra as he saw the boy make his way through the rubble and begin climbing the ladder to the ramparts.

"I got an idea, sir!" The farm boy shouted back as he ran across the luckily-still-intact bridge leading to the heart of the dam. Walking inside he saw the bodies of the workers surrounding that of a wyvern. It looked like he wasn't the first to get the idea. Looking around, he saw the workers had done most of the preparations.

"Darnation… where is it!? The books said it was– Ah! There we go!" exclaimed the warrior-in-training.

The young man pulled an important-looking lever in the middle of the structure. It would normally be impossible to move, but the workers had done the hard part. He only hoped that this plan worked.

The sound of gears turning indicated that he was right.

He looked through one of the windows and watched as the gates of the dam opened. The water rushed through the fields, washing away Plegian and Risen alike. Screams of shock and fear were quickly silence as the Plegians drowned against a force they couldn't fight.

The crops would be lost, but most of them were already destroyed by the fighting. Thankfully, the farmers had harvested much of it in preparation for the defense. It was a shame for the few houses that had remained standing from the pillaging. The memories in them couldn't be rebuilt.

The water crashed against the gate and walls, unable to force the reinforced wood open. That spared the city from the worst of it. The Plegians, however, were completely cut off by the freed river. Those not caught in the torrents were forced to pull back.

Turning back to the wall, Donnel could see the amazed and horrified expressions of the defenders.

"Maybe I should've explained ma' plan…"


Emmeryn finished healing her patient and got back to her feet to clean herself up. Dirt and blood stained her usually pristine robes, but she didn't care. She would help her people in any way she could. The Exalt had already discarded her golden headpiece. Its weight only hindered her during the healing process.

He remained unaware of it, but the image she was casting soothed her soldiers. Their respect and admiration for her only grew once they saw her helping her people. Most rulers hid behind their armies or marched amongst the banners of conquest. No one had expected the Exalt to be the one patching their wounds.

Emmeryn wiped the sweat from her forehead and took the moment to gather her breath. Her last patient would pull through. She couldn't say the same for countless others, though. Sometimes, they arrived too late.

It didn't help that not all the civilians made it to the evacuation points. How many died screaming and terrified in their own homes? A shout from the heavens announced the arrival of one of the Pegasus Knight messengers.

"Your Grace! I bring important news!"

Emmeryn stood, aware of all the ears eager to hear to the message around her. "Speak, then. What news do you bring?"

The messenger nodded, gulping nervously as she continued. "The Risen across the city… they are turning on the Plegians. The invaders are being decimated from within."

The Exalt recoiled at the message. They heard of the sudden appearance of Risen as part of a Plegian plot, but this outcome was certainly unexpected.

"Thank you for informing us," she eventually spoke. "Even if they lost control of the Risen, we can't let our guard down. We cannot guarantee they will focus only on the Plegian forces or that they will regain control of the undead," she said for all to hear. Then she turned to the messenger with a tired smile. "Please go rest before you resume your duties. You took a huge risk relaying his information to us."

"I– Yes! Thank you for your kind words, Your Grace!" The girl saluted and moved to the nearby stables to rest with her steed.

Emmeryn's smile dropped once the messenger was out of sight. She ignored the nervous, yet relieved murmurs around her as she thought of the news.

"Maybe this is their punishment for playing with the dead… or Naga has blessed us with a miracle..." she mused out loud, unaware of how right and wrong she was.


"If we make it out of this alive, I'm taking up running! I will no longer be a lousy runner, I promise!" declared Cordelia as she dodged another attack from the monster.

She knew Stahl would've laughed, but the situation didn't allow it. They kept running through alleys, doing their best to evade the abomination biting at their heels. There were plenty of close calls already, and they haven't run into any help yet.

"I swear to Naga, I will run around the city until my boots are worn down and I'm running barefoot!"

"Who knows, maybe you'd finish a moat once you're done running!" Stahl tried to joke but the eldritch howl of their pursuer drowned any humor.

Their luck seemed to ran out when their escape route led straight to a pair of Plegian soldiers.

"Stop right there, Ylissean scum!" shouted one them, drawing his sword to engage them. Much to his shock the knights ignored his warning and ran past the invaders. But Stahl still took the chance to bash one of the mages with his shield as they passed by. "I said sto–!"

A sound no different than that of a stampede startled the invaders. They barely turned around before the two were grabbed and turned into gory smears of blood on the ground.

"Why is it attacking the Plegians!?" shouted Stahl, who spared a glance to screaming men behind them.

"Don't know! Don't care! Just run!" Cordelia shouted back, pushing way past her regular athletic limits. The redhead took a moment to appreciate just how well she could run when unholy abomination was trying to tear her apart.

Unfortunately, the pair of knights ran straight into a dead-end. Their unlucky day kept turning even worse. The rubble from collapsed buildings had blocked the street.

The screams of the Plegians had died down and vibrations on the ground clued the duo in on what was behind them. Turning around they cursed this day again. The abomination stalked closer as if mocking them for even trying to escape.

The cavalier weakly held his sword and shield in front of him in the vain hope of delaying the inevitable.

"Cordelia..."

As Stahl whispered her name, the redhead closed her eyes, wishing she still had her lance.

"... Yes, Stahl?" She could hear him swallow, even if her own throat felt raw.

"Look. I don't want to die without saying this… But I"

"Heads up!"

Her eyes shot open just in time to see a javelin pierce the nape of the abomination's neck. The beast thrashed in pain and anger. It was a small mercy that for some reason it could feel pain. Looking up, Cordelia was relieved to see three Pegasus Knights coming to their rescue.

Phila rode her pegasus, another javelin on her hands. Sorano and Anise flanked her. That redhaired merchant that joined the Shepherds came too, holding tightly Phila's waist.

"Sorano!" shouted the Wing Commander as she threw another javelin towards the monster.

Said knight opened her tome and channeled her magic. "On it, captain! Oh great spirit of fire, heed my call! Burn bright and scorch the land! Elfire!"

Sorano was no expert spell caster. She still needed to chant her spells to focus correctly. But what they lacked grace it more than made up in power.

A ball of fire slammed into the back of the abomination with tremendous force. The flesh was burnt away, sending the creature crashing to the ground. Chunks of sizzling flesh fell to the ground, exposing the beast's insides to the world.

Cordelia's keen eyes, trained after years of riding in the sky, saw something strange. What appeared to be a silver box glowed inside the body of the monster. Her eyes widened as wisps of dark magic came out of it and took hold of the rotten muscle, mending the wound.

"Commander! There is something inside its body that keeps healing our attacks! We need to open its shell and destroy the object to put it down for good!" She shouted for all those around her to hear.

Phila nodded and commanded her underlings, "You heard her! Anise and I will harass it! Sorano! Burn it to a crisp and open a big enough wound so we can destroy the item!"

The knights followed Phila's orders and began attacking the abomination. It worked on taking its attention away from the exhausted pair of knights.

The formation was making progress until it managed to land a lucky hit on Anise's pegasus. Cordelia shouted in fear, thinking she had lost another comrade. The pegasus slammed onto a wall, but Anise was saved from the same fate by Stahl. He who ran and caught her in midair. They rolled on the ground, but despite their armor, the action softened the blow for the woman.

The redhead ran over to check on her comrades. She quickly pulled them to the side and took off their breastplates. Stahl was bruised and bleeding heavily from his forehead. The wounds he had accumulated through the day needed attention, but nothing looked fatal. He must have at least a couple of broken ribs, but they didn't seem to have pierced anything vital.

Cordelia grimaced at the sight of Anise. Her left arm and leg were twisted into a horrible angle and was bleeding from several gashes on her body. Much to her relief, the brunette was still breathing and none of the wounds looked lethal.

The monster roared again, gaining her attention once more. As she turned towards it, she saw the broken corpse of Anise's steed close by. Discarded javelins were spilling from the saddlebags.

She had one chance to make this work.

Cordelia reached for one of the weapons. Her fingers closing around the wooden haft with a practiced grip. She calmed her heart and focused her burning muscles on making the perfect throw. Time slowed down for the knight as she took aim and let the javelin fly. The throw was fit of her title of genius. The javelin pierced its target, shattering the silver box into countless pieces.

The beast thrashed and howled in despair. Before the Ylisseans' eyes, its flesh dissolved into putrid mist. Tentative silence covered the street as the last remains evaporated.

Finally allowing her to somewhat relax, Cordelia almost dropped to the ground. She was weary and exhausted beyond relief. She couldn't rest though, as her comrades still needed attention.

"Stahl! Anise!" she shouted, running towards the wounded knights.

"Here, let me help!" The red-haired merchant dismounted Phila's steed and rushed over.

Cordelia recognized her fellow redhead as one of the Shepherds' recent recruits. "Anna, right? Can you help them?"

"Well, I'm no trained cleric but I've picked a few tricks during my travels. I can patch them up until an actual healer can see to them," Anna compromised as she took out her staff.

"Please do, and thank you."

"Hey, that's why the boss over there kidnapped me from the central camp." Phila's glare at her comment quickly forced her to change her tone. "N-not that I mind! I'm always happy to help!" Anna said with a forced smile while using her staff to heal both the knights.

Phila gave her the evil eye for a few more seconds before turning to Cordelia.

"The rest of the squads should meet up with you soon. Take shelter inside one of the buildings and tend to your wounds. I will go to the closest outpost to spread our intel. We need to relay the information about the objects inside the Risen golems. You three just rest. Your fight is over," Phila stated as her pegasus flapped its wings, sending them both flying away.

Cordelia wasn't about to dispute that.

"So... we won?" came the wheezing voice of the viridian cavalier.

"Stahl! How are you feeling?" Cordelia exclaimed in concern, sitting next to him.

"Like battered meat," the cavalier said with a pained chuckle. He flinched as he touched his ribs. On some protective instinct, Cordelia moved and placed his head on her lap. It would give him support for a more comfortable rest. "Though, I'm feeling much better now."

"Idiot." Despite her harsh words, she smiled. The redhead figured this was about as good as her day could get. "Thank you. For coming to my aid."

Stahl smiled, giving a weak thumbs up. "Anytime, my fair lady. That's what we dashing knights do."

Cordelia snorted at the comment, refraining from pointing out she saved him too. Leave it to Stahl to say something to lighten her mood. He really hadn't changed since they were little.

Something still bothered her, though. "By the way… What did you want to say before they interfered?"

She didn't understand why his face turned as red as her hair.


Daylight had given way to dusk when Rose appeared on top of a tower halfway to the Southern Gate. The bulk of the Plegian army still held their ground in the field. They weren't giving up on cracking the Ylissean defense.

They were waiting for their comrades and the Risen inside the walls to take the gates. Even though they haven't breached the walls, they still suffered losses. Rose could still feel the remnants of the magical detonations all around the fields. Miriel had done well in her task.

They hadn't given up on their attack, meaning Rose still had a role to play.

Rose opened her grimoire and searched for the best spell to use. The compendium of spells had been created from the knowledge she and Grima had accumulated. Some were mere transcriptions of ancient spells. Not as powerful as the original tomes, but useful nonetheless. Expiration, Grima's favorite spell, was outright discarded. Using it would gather too much attention.

She stopped at an ancient spell from Jugdral. The powerful spell matrix was too complex to use more than once, but it was more than enough.

"Let us see what the flames of Salamander can do when mixed with the power of the Fell Dragon."

Relying on the power of another dragon was not the best idea. Especially one that despised her power and considered it unnatural. But her choices were limited. This was the best spell to accomplish her goals with her current limitations.

Rose lacked the bloodline to tap into the full power of the spell. Luckily for her, Grima had long ago figured how to brute force its way through the spell's defenses. It should suffice to keep her involvement hidden from her counterpart.

The former queen closed her eye and extended her magic. She reached out and gathered the souls of the deceased Grimleals on the area. Plegian soldiers just following orders would be spared from this fate. Fallen Feroxi and Ylisseans were outright ignored.

A single soul was a powerful source of magic, growing stronger the more experience it gained. This stockpile of hundreds of experienced souls? It would serve her well.

But she could do better. Much better.

Reaching into her blade, she grabbed the putrid soul of Validar.

She had been saving his soul for later, but this opportunity was too good to pass. There was a sort of poetic justice in using him to push back Plegia's invasion and hinder Grima's plans.

"Let's put you to good use for once, father."

Sable awoke from inside her blade. With its help, Rose joined the souls of the Grimleal with that of Validar.

Their dedication to the Fell Dragon was delectably palpable to her. Such strong magic, especially from her father. He was a complete bastard, but her father had always been a rather talented spellcaster.

Rose channeled her magic through the spell matrix inked in the pages. The grimoire began to levitate as she began the proper incantation.

"Oh, hellish flames of draconic birth! Heed me!"


"Holy! What in tarnation is that!?" shouted Donnel as worry and fear became visible on his face. He had no talent in the arcane arts whatsoever, but even he could feel the change in the atmosphere. The air became heavy as it saturated with magical energy.

Libra was doing no better. His knuckles turned white as he gripped his stave tight. "Dear Naga, what is this power!?"


"By my hand be guided and give form to my fury! Become my wrath!"


Emmeryn felt the Brand on her forehead heat up as the rest of her body trembled from the power she felt. She slumped sideways, leaning on Maribelle for support. The noble trembled in worry for both the Exalt and the entire city. The pair looked in worry to the direction the pressure was coming from.


"Let the strength of my soul blaze brighter than any flame! Let it strike faster than heavenly thunder!"


"Oh, for Naga's sake! Please tell me that isn't being aimed us…" Cordelia begged the heavens. Praying for some luck was all she could to keep hold of her sanity under the immense pressure.

"If it is, I'm just gonna accept it. I'm done," muttered Stahl, too exhausted to fall into despair.

Anna just tightened her grip on her staff, nervously looking around. "Ugh! I'm totally asking for a raise after this!"


"Burn the will of those who would dare oppose me and show them their powerlessness! Their mortality! THEIR DESPAIR!"


Miriel's eyes widened as she looked into the measuring artifacts in the arcanum. They shook as the readings keep increasing far beyond expectations.

"This magical buildup is–AHH!"

She had to step back as the instruments reached their limit and explode under the strain.

"This is... unprecedented..." she gasped

Kellam gulped from his place at the window. Dark clouds began to gather beyond the wall.

"I don't need an instrument to know that!"


"Scorch the land and boil the sea! Destroy the world and rebuild it anew!"


Far away atop the Mila Tree, Tiki tightened the hold on her dragonstone. She frowned and looked towards the eastern sea with concern.

"Be careful, my friend," she murmured.


"Allow your blinding flames to consume the land with your endless, never-ending light!"


Robin pierced another Risen warrior with his Levin Sword. He had just kicked the body off when he felt a curious tingling sensation on the back of his neck. He turned his gaze to the direction of mountains separating them from Ylisstol. missing the flickering purple flames that enveloped his weapon for an instant.


"Answer my call and become the instrument of my will!"

The levitating tome slowly came to a stop in front of her. The magical array finished forming and pointed itself towards the Plegian army.

The inscribed ink glowed like angry magma.


Grima frowned, a foreboding feeling forming on the pit of his vessel's stomach.

Something had changed.


"Reduce all creation to ashes! Valflame!"

The ancient spell inscribed obeyed her command. The runes glowed brighter than before vanishing and reappearing around the center of the Plegian formation.

The Plegians success in controlling the exit worked against them. Not a single Feroxi or Ylissean was outside of the walls. Rose didn't need to hold back to avoid friendly casualties.

The runes glowed with the wrath of the Fell Dragon. Her will guided the divine flames of Salamander, utterly consuming the desert dwellers.

A massive tornado of draconic fire ripped its way out of the earth. It consumed the heart of the Plegian army, illuminating the sky like a second sun. The flames ran wild, devouring the screaming soldiers that tried in vain to escape the raging inferno.

The superheated air cooked the surrounding warriors alive within their armor. The metal itself reached its melting point, fusing with the burnt flesh of their wearers. Unarmored units were simply reduced to ash outright as the fire vaporized all the water from their bodies.

All this happened in mere seconds.

The earth cracked from the sudden change of temperature. Rivers of molten rock engulfed the bodies of those in the edge of its effect, yet too far to die outright. Clouds of pitch-black smoke covered the darkening sky, adding to the terrifying atmosphere. Third-degree burns were the price the survivors paid for their lives.

The surviving Plegians, Ylisseans, and Feroxi alike all watched in awed horror at the display of magical prowess. The entire command structure of the Plegian invasion was apart in an instant. The troops were in disarray as men and beast alike ran in terror. The defenders stood their ground and watched nervously from the walls. More than a few feared the flames would turn on them as the Risen had to the Plegians.

Rose gritted her teeth as she felt the flames begin to fight back against her control. Salamander was native of Jugdral and had ascended long ago. He no longer involved in the mortal realm, unlike Naga. That didn't mean he would tolerate the Fell Dragon using his magic.

The tactician could feel the backlash of the spell taking its toll on her body. Her draconic power reached their limit fighting back while healing her body.

Her blood boiled through her veins as the heat of the spell retaliated in defiance. Underneath her gauntlets, her nails split and dissolved away. Tainted blood flowed from her nose and ears. The scorching winds that blew back the hood covering her head, letting her pale hair loose.

Satisfied with the damage done to the Plegian army, Rose released the spell. The surviving invaders were on the run. Pockets of them were trying to organize and help their injured but most just fled. The scorched earth glowed with residual heat. Cooling streams of molten rock littered the field. The flames did not spread further than her target, vanishing once their task was complete. It was only by her will that the heat and aftershock did not affect Ylisstol and her denizens within.

Her draconic power receded back into slumber, utterly spent once more. Without its energy to bolster her, the exhaustion, fatigue, and pain prior came back in full force. Darkness crept on the edge of her vision. The silence that enveloped the city gave her enough solace that she allowed herself a tiny smile.

Without any more strength keeping her standing, Rose fell from the tower and to the street below.


Falchion pierced the last cursed box. The last pocked of undead finally banished from the battlefield. The soldiers around the prince cheered at their victory. Some were even shouting about the glorious songs that would be written about the battle.

Chrom chuckled, understanding their feelings of euphoria. An army of righteous warriors defeating an undead army led by unholy abominations? That was a legend worth immortalizing.

His tactician's voice cut through the cheers and halted the celebration. "No time to celebrate! Prepare a medical camp for the wounded. Gather the dead and build them a funeral pyre. I will not allow them to become Risen under my watch!"

The warriors sobered and obeyed. Even Chrom felt the victory high diminish. Their allies paid a heavy price today, and the war was not over yet. The Feroxi captains saw to the preparations, separating the wounded and the dead. That left Chrom alone in the hill with the tactician.

"So many dead...I could have done better…." The white-haired man whispered, the sound almost drowned out in the noise of the cleanup. "I should've done better..."

Chrom frowned at the self-deprecating tone he recognized. One that he was tired of hearing in his friend's voice.

"Now, don't go blaming yourself for things outside your control. You did the best you could today."

Robin shook his head, "Their lives were my responsibility. I should've been ready for an ambush… I should've been faster in figuring out the weaknesses of those constructs… Because of my negligence, so many of our soldiers di"

"Lived because of your quick thinking and strategies. You adapted to a situation no one else could have predicted. You can't save everyone, Robin," Chrom retorted with a concerned frown.

"Rose would have," Robin muttered bitterly.

"She isn't here. You are. And many of these warriors will see their families again because of you. Even Rose herself has told you not to put yourself down." Chrom was close to beating the sense into the tactician. "I trust you and your judgment Robin, and it pains me to see you put yourself down for things you couldn't predict."

"But–"

"If I didn't have faith in you, I would've asked you to step down myself. So chin up, ok?" the prince said in a more cheerful tone. "The ladies don't like a man without confidence," he added with a smirk, earning a hollow chuckle from the amnesiac.

Half an hour later, Frederick came riding to the pair. "Milord! I'm here to report that our casualties were surprisingly low. The Risen corpses are a problem. Our healer's thing they might have spread infections on the wounded. We have the needed supplies to treat them, but it will take a toll on our manpower."

Chrom smiled despite the mixed news. "That's good news, Frederick. Send riders to the closest villages and ask for assistance. Adri and Lefcandith can send more supplies if needed. Please continue with your work and keep me informed of any further developments."

"At once, milord." Frederick stopped and turned to the tactician, nodding in his direction. "Good work, Sir Robin."

Those words left the pair stupefied. The knight had shown nothing but doubt and hostility to the tactician. Words of praise for him were a striking, but not unwelcome, surprise.

The prince didn't bother to hide the smug smirk forming on his face as his retainer trotted off. "See? What did I tell you? Things will work out just fine."

"I guess." Robin chuckled despite himself. "Thank you, my friend, for having faith in me."

"Anytime, Robin. Now come, we need to make haste towards Ylisstol. They are awaiting our arrival."


"NYA HA HA! That spell looks like it was a real doozy!" exclaimed a white-haired mage. He stood covered in gore, watching the massive column of cursed fire incinerate his army. "Looks like the Ylisseans can put up a fight after all! I'm sure glad I tipped that Taguel about the assassination plot! Otherwise, this wouldn't have been this fun! NYA HA HA! What do you think, Mr. Crowley?"

"CAW! MELT THEIR FLESH, HENRY! HARVEST THE SOULS OF THE INFIDELS! CAW!" exclaimed the crow his right shoulder, offering his two bloody coppers.

Henry nodded, mulling over the suggestion. "Hmm, yes that's nice. But it would be boring to end this fine bloodbath too quickly," the spellcaster said with a pout. Tapping his chin in thought, "Hmm what to do…"

"CAW! BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD! SCAWLLS FOR THE SCAWLL THRONE! CAW!" suggested the crow on his left. She always said nice things to him.

"All nice ideas like always, Ms. Crowley! Buuuuuut… I kinda want to see how this plays out in the long run! Without my interference! Looks like the future conflicts could be fun!"

"CAW! LET US FEAST ON THE FLESH OF THE FALLEN! CAW!" the leaders of his murder spoke as one.

"Later, later. Now we should go back to Plegia. I want to see the Mad King's reaction! NYA HA HA!" The dark mage cackled as his crows engulfed him before disappearing into the shadows.


Aversa gritted her teeth in terrified frustration. Her army laid broken in front of her. The invasion had taken a turn for the worst in only a few minutes.

She underestimated the Ylisseans. The explosions and the dam served them well to protest the western and eastern fronts. She had no idea how they accomplished the explosions. The alchemical compound Plegia used was hard to produce, even for their most skilled alchemists. She wasn't sure how Ylisse had come about their own alternative, but she aimed to find out.

Their mages were not as incompetent as she thought. They had somehow found a way to break their hold on the Risen and turn them against the Plegian army. The sheer surprised was enough for the Risen to halt their advance. They were forced to focus on the undead and that stopped them from taking the gates and sacking the city.

The cherry on top of this shit day was the fire spell. Aversa recognized Valflame. Any spellcaster worth their name would be familiar with it. She had no idea how the Ylisseans had gotten hold of such powerful magic. There were no records of a member of House Velthomer on this side of the Silent Sea. No one should be able to cast it.

Her lord won't be happy.

The sound of steps gained Aversa's attention. A messenger stopped and kneeled at her side, breathing hard for a few moments before looking up at her. She lazily waved a hand in acknowledgment, allowing the peasant to speak.

"L-Lady Aversa! I bring dire news. The allied army has defeated the Risen forces in the Hallem Plains and they are marching to the city! Our scouts report they suffered light casualties from the engagement."

That sealed it. There was no way to take the city, much less hold it, with these odds. As much as she hated to admit it, Aversa knew when she had been bested. This round went to Ylisse.

No matter, they would have the power to crush Ylisse again soon enough.

Waving at the messenger, she gave the instruction that every tactician hated to give. "Sound the retreat."

The young messenger didn't leave immediately. She nervously wrung her hands, looking between the battlefield and her commander. "M-Milady…! The k-king won't be pleased if we don't conquer the city..."

Aversa scoffed. The Mad King would meet his end soon enough, so there was no reason to fear the crazy fool. "He will be even less pleased if he learns his army was completely annihilated to a man," she said with venom in her voice. "Retreat. Do not make me repeat myself."

The girl yelped and scurried off to fulfill her duties. She knew better than to incite the ire of Plegia's tactician.

The Dark Flier looked over the scorched field with hatred in her eyes. She narrowed her eyes in contempt at the unconquered capital. It stood whole as if to mock her.

"Enjoy your victory, Ylisse. This is but a small inconvenience," she swore to the whole country. "You can't challenge destiny. The world will be reborn in flames of Lord Grima, and you will be the first to burn."


"The Plegians are retreating!" shouted an ecstatic Pegasus Scout. The girl's words earned cheers of victory from all the soldiers within. Even the delirious wounded joined in.

Emmeryn breathed in relief, grateful that her people had weathered this horrible storm. The Exalt was not naive enough to think they made it through this with low casualties. Soldiers and civilians alike lay dead on the streets or crushed under the rubble of their homes. She couldn't let this continue.

An idea occurred to her, making the Exalt gnaw at her lip. Chrom and Lissa would chastise her for the nature of her plan. It was risky, foolish even, but it might be what they needed to end this war.

She owed it to her people to try once more.


Phila watched, frozen in fear and awe, as Rose cast the incredible spell. She had been flying to the southern gate when she caught sight of the tactician in the tower. Before she could move to question her, she had summoned the terrible firestorm. She didn't need to be on the walls to know the Plegian army had been at the epicenter of the devastation.

How did she have access to such power? How come no one had heard of Rose Sustrai before? Such skills couldn't go unnoticed.

The knight heard the sounds of warhorn signaling the retreat. All around the city those that had managed to sneak inside screamed in fear. The realization that they were being abandoned would force them to either surrender or fight to the death.

Phila saw Rose fall off the tower, no doubt spent from the spell. She barely had time to catch her after her body hit one of the tower's balconies and bounced off. Once the tactician was in her hands, the knight guided her pegasus to the ground. Looking at the mercenary, Phila took notice of her appearance.

The wind had blown back her hood, leaving her face exposed. Without the enchantments and hood shadowing her face, Phila could see her delicate features. Her face was marred by the fresh blood flowing from her nose and ears. Darkened veins clashed with her pale skin, giving her an unnatural look. White hair, arranged in a ponytail, was dancing in the breeze as the pair cruised the skies.

Despite her state, Rose looked at ease with the content smile on her face.

The Wing Commander was conflicted. There were too many unknowns surrounding this woman. Still, she did the honorable thing and flew towards the closest medical checkpoint.

The mercenary had protected Ylisstol, almost killing herself with that spell in the process. It would be dishonorable for the knight to let her die because of a cautious opinion due to her heritage. Despite her reservations, Phila was not about to let her die in the streets. She had earned that much.

Phila felt cold just holding this woman. The aura that had surrounded her had dispersed, but there were still remnants clinging to her body. The magic seemed to be the heat from its surroundings. It felt like walking through a cold breeze in the mountains of Ferox.

As they flew to the medical checkpoint, Phila looked at her once again. She couldn't ignore the resemblance between the mercenary and the Shepherds' tactician. It could just be her mind playing games with her. She hadn't spent enough time with the man to commit his face to memory.

Still...

As they kept flying, Phila saw the trail of destruction the woman had left in her path. Ice spikes and frozen corpses littered the street. Looking at the carnage, she couldn't help the words the escaped her lips.

"By Naga, what are you?"


A/N: Updated March 15th, 2020

Extinction: Ice-element. Rank: A

i. imgur 3BY9uVT. png for a sketch (not to scale) of how I pictured the battle of Ylisstol. Plegia is not bothering on bringing down the walls, focusing on the readily-available gates.

Beta: Thanks to Victory3114 and Shipping Rates Apply for their help.