Author's Note: Time to send them off to Fodlan... Hopefully, they encounter the right people and not some snobby nobodies. Then again, hopefully the Royal Trio and their mercenary don't have any misunderstandings with essentially prehistoric dinosaur people whose civilization is far beyond their mere mortal minds. So let's see them try anyway for our enjoyment.

Disclaimer: Warhammer belongs to Games Workshop and Fire Emblem belongs to Nintendo and Intelligent Systems.

Everything else referenced also belongs to their respective companies and franchises. Guess what they are.

Without further or do, enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 2

The Culminations of Prophecy

Main Hallway/Corridor, Legacy of the Ancients

Aboard the bridge of the main flagship of the fleet, known as the Legacy of the Ancients, the various halls and corridors lie empty with only the sound of machinery running throughout the entirely of the ship before some large footsteps are heard as a large Saurus Oldblood comes into view, making his way through the ship to the bridge to where his Slann Master has summoned him.

Ar'racx-Tuteql was his name, standing easily at around a towering 5.3 meters tall, a colossus even to his fellow Saurus brethen who're at the moment currently in a state of suspended animation within cryo-sleeping chambers to survive the void. His body is covered in dark blue grunge scales with a deep crimson pattern signfying that he's been blessed by his gods along with bearing a massive 'crest' befitting of an Oldblood, one that's been damaged and hardened as a result from centuries of nonstop warfare. Ar'racx's left arm and right leg were replaced with mechanical prosthetics when he first boarded the ship aeons ago, with his mechanical arm being similar to that of the legendary Kroq-Gar but with more advanced attachments and reinforced armor plating on the gauntlet as well as six mysterious stones of immense reality-bending powers that were said to control the aspects of the universe itself. His prosthetic leg was also of a similar design to his arm as the Lizardmen begun to relearn the ancient bygone technologies, relics and artifacts of their creators as they passed through the lonely void. Strangely enough, he began to grow large spines out of his back early on during his stasis, maple leaf-like in shape the protrusions sprouted from his back down to the middle of his tail that glowed with an azure light that he later found out allowed him to have unique abilites unlike his kin such as firing a beam of pure energy out his mouth and his spines, create a pulse that moves outward to get enemies off of him along with potentially other powers he hasn't discovered yet.

As he marched onward to his destination to be briefed on his new task given to him by his lord, he begins to remember when he was first spawned unto the world-that-was, of his first battle against the daemons during the Great Catastrophe. Of when he first saw humankind as they landed their ships upon Lustrias' shoreline, then assisting Xlotec in repelling the undead hordes of Luthor Harkon from attacking the sacred Temple-Cities along with battling the chaotic hordes of Vashnaar the Tormentor at Hexoatl. He finally then comes to how he had his left arm and the majority of his tail that had been either ripped to ruin or slough off by potent and foul diseases concocted by the despised Clan Pestilens during the final moments of Lustria as he fought off three horrid Verminlord Corruptor at once back-to-back with another Oldblood that fell during the battle to ensure the safety of his kin to the ships while he and those that stayed behind slew hundreds of thousands of diseased vermin as the world he once knew long ago came to an end. When the moon chunks hit Lustria, he would've died right then and there as he faced oblivion, if not for the almighty Lord Kroak, honoured be his name, who managed to teleport him onto ones of the ships , one that Ar'racx would learn was the Legacy of the Ancients, evacuating the planet as part of his final act. While his right leg was partially caught in the blast as he was teleported, it had to be amputated and replaced with the one he has now, not that felt it or anything considering he was in suspended animation at the time and wouldn't wake up for another few thousand years or so. He continued to ponder as he remembered first waking up and being introduced to his new mount, an enormous behemoth of a Carnosaur Ar'racx called Loq'blade, one he would call upon time and time again at his side as they led the remaining legions from the front, crushing all who dared to oppose their will.

Ar'racx quickly shook his head as he finally arrived at the entrance to the main bridge of the ship where his new mission awaited him. As he marched to the main door, he stopped a few meters away as more than a dozen Temple Guard surrounded him, suspicous and wary guardians they may be, but they still are the main bodyguard to the Slann and the most holy and sacred places on the ship. Then came the largest of their lot, not as tall as Ar'racx but signficantly larger than his subordiantes. Ar'racx easily knows who it is upon seeing the Helm of the Prime Guardian, the Glaive of Tepok, and the Key of the Eternal Serenity of the Stars upon his neck. Chaz'Xlakax, The Prime Guardian of Ancient Origins.

-"Chaz'Xlakax, eternally vigilant as usual it would seem." Said Ar'racx in a respectful manner towards the Master of the Temple Guard.

Chaz'Xlakax only nodded in acknowledgement and equal respect towards the Oldblood. Then they waited, armor clad protectors staring up at the Oldblood until a psychic presence entered their minds, "Let him through to the bridge at once," Boomed an ancient but powerful voice as the command echoed around the entrance,"The Oldblood has come to receive the task I've bestowed unto him and put him in charge of." Rumbled the voice as it receded back into nothingness, and at the voice's command the door opens and the Temple Guard stand aside, returning to their posts with Chaz'Xlakax giving one last glance at Ar'racz and slightly bowed his head as a form of well-earned respect before using a secret passage only he knows of to return to his master. Soon, all the Temple Guard that once stood in the open returned to standing ever vigil and silent as if they never left their spots at all. Ar'racx acknowledged their presence one last time before he stepped forth into the bridge, ready to dispense the fury of saurian might upon his would-be enemies once more.

Forest Near Garreg Mach Monastery, Fodlan

As the morning turns into high noon, a good-sized group of people are walking along a path through the forest in order to get to their destination: Garreg Mach Monastery. The group was divided in two with the front compromising of a combination of knights and mercenaries while in the back are three teenagers in red, blue, and yellow talking to a young man in a black trenchcoat. The three royals are Edelgard, Dimitri, and Claude, all three of which are interested into having conversation with the black-clad mercenary, each with the intent of potentially taking him into their respective class houses.

-"This would be your first time at the monastery. I'll be happy to show you around." Said Dimitri, in a respectful and polite tone.

Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd is the Crown Prince of the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus, wearing armor plating atop his class uniform wearing armor plating on his chest, arms, and legs, along with a cape going over his left shoulder held by a blue strap on the other side. He has fair skin with no dimples on his face, with short blonde well kept hair and icy blue eyes looking at the mercenary with means of friendship in mind.

-"It really is Fodlan in a nutshell. Both the good and bad." Said Claude in a jesterful tone.

Claude von Riegan is the sovereign duke of the Leicester Alliance, wearing a different compared to Dimitri's with no armor, instead going for a elongated uniform that extends to above his knees. He also has a yellow shirt underneath his top along with a yellow cape like Dimitri's on his left shoulder. Claude has a tannish skin complexion with curly hair curving backwards with a braid going down the right side of his face.

-"Like it or not, we'll be there soon enough." Spoke Edelgard with a authorative sound in her voice.

Edelgard von Hresvelg is the only female student amongst the three, wearing a more feminine uniform compared to the other two with her pants being up to her thighs with red stockings going all the way down into her shoes along with also wearing a red cape. She also has fair skin like Dimitri, but unlike everyone else, she has alabaster white hair that go down to her to the bottom of her back, with her lavender eyes gazing forward with a air of dignity. The ribbons that attach to ear are the same color as that of her eyes.

With that said they continued to walk through the forest until they see an opening that leads out of the forest and allows them to see Garreg Mach Monastery in its full glory. They soon arrive and the three students bid farewell as the lead knight Alois escorts his old captain Jeralt and his son Byleth to see Archbishop Rhea.

Main Bridge of the Legacy of the Ancients

Ar'racx-Tuteql entered the chamber to see his master for the mission briefing, upon his arrival however, he then spots three other individuals waiting for him to start the briefing of the scouting party's mission. Ar'racx then turned his gaze to his master, Chaz'Xlakax ever standing by his ward's side, ready to sacrifice his own life for his Lord's survival. Ar'racx then kneeled and bow his head toward the Invenerable of the First Spawning, the only Slann to have followed the Old Ones with their disappearance to the unknown, the only Slann of the First Generation to have returned from oblivion. He who stood alongside Lord Kroak when the Old Ones discovered the world-that-was: Lord Star Priest Ma'eztlitep-zectl, He to whom the Old Ones told the Great Plan in its Entirety from the Beginning to the End.

-"Rise, Oldblood of Lustria, and look upon whom you must ensure the survival of for the endeavors to come." Rumbled the Ancient Mage-Lord as a hologram platform emerges from the floor in between them and shows Byleth meeting his students for the first time, introducing themselves to each other as they begin their school year.

-"The individual that would change their world, the one known as Byleth, is a individual you must ensure not only survives the events to come, but to ascend beyond his mortal coil to aid us in the Great Plan." Said Ma'eztlitep as he explains Ar'racx's task to act upon.

Ar'racz took a look at Byleth for a couple of minutes before proclaiming generously with a bit of inquisitiveness.

-"I mean no offense Invenerable One, but could you enlighten me about how this particular individual is vital to that of the Great Plan? Pardon my bluntless, My Lord, but what I see is just another warmblood that's exceptional at fighting."

-"I understand your skeptisms of this warmblood, Oldblood, but his significance cannot be denied once you looked upon the inside, particularly near his heart." Replied the Mage-Lord as the holograms then switches to a X-ray mode to show the Crest Stone of Flames attached to Byleth's heart. Ar'racx then looks at the Crest Stone before his amber eyes widen considerably as he realizes its importance.

-"Invenerable One, I-Is this warmblood the incarnation of the Progenitor God from ages past? Ar'racx asked in disbelief, for he knows of myths and legends told by Skink Priests and that of Nakai the Wanderer himself, who lived alongside Sothis for a time before her departure to the void of space.

-"I apologize for my ignorance, Invenerable One, for I did not know that the Progenitor God still yet lives." Ar'racx said in a slightly shameful tone.

-"It is alright Oldblood, you have made no ignorant mistake, for you've merely spoken your mind. While the Progenitor God has yet survived, She is also no longer part of the living." Said Ma'eztlitep with a humble but powerful voice, befitting one of the ancient First Spawning.

-"How so?" Questioned the Ancient Oldblood, for the only other being he could think in such a state is Lord Kroak, who long since left to join his other kin beyond the stars.

The Mage-Lord then begins to explain the events of Fodlan's history involving Sothis, such as the war that decimated Fodlan, its healing with Sothis exhausting her power, how she along with almost everyone else at Zanado were slaugthered to create Crest Stones and so called "Hero's Relics" out of their body, finally ending with the War of Heroes when Seiros slew Nemesis in single combat.

-"I see, how may this ancient servant of the Great Plan help to achieve the Old One's will, My Lord? Asked Ar'racx, ready to enforce the will of the ancient creators upon the mortals once more.

-"You will be joined by these four like-minded individuals that will aid you as you not only explore and assess Fodlan, but to also give protection to the Progenitor God's vessel when need be. Time is of the essence, so gather all that you need for this great task. Once you're ready to leave the ship, return here so you can step into the portal to the assigned coordiantes uploaded onto the computer inside your gauntlet, Oldblood."

-"As you will it, Invenerable One. It shall be done as asked of you."

Ar'racx finalizes as he stands up and turns around to prepare himself for the mission. The Oldblood then glances at his would-be members, spotting two Skinks, one Chameleon Skink, along with a Ancient Kroxigor he presumes is from the First Spawning. Possibly a relative of Nakai the Wanderer himself from the same spawning pool, he wonders as he heads to his personal quarters to prepare himself for the dangers of Fodlan.

Garreg Mach Monastery, Fodlan

Byleth is currently having the same dream ever since he came to the Monastery to become a teacher for the Blue Lions House, appearing before Sothis atop her throne. While he doesn't mind the banter he and Sothis share with each other, she would sometimes close her eyes and stay silents for certain periods at a time, mumbling about things such as a "world she was fond of" or of "Lizard people riding monsters unlike anything on Fodlan." Naturally, he assumes her memory is very fragmented based on the time they had together since meeting each other. But for some reason, Sothis' mumblings have piqued an interest within him, beckoning him to ask her a question that has been bubbling in his more for the last couple of days.

-"What do you recall about this world that you were fond of?" Byleth asked, wondering why she keep randomly referring to them during whatever conversations they had together, however brief they may be.

-"It nevers cease to amaze me of how similar you are to a boulder when it comes to sheer bluntness." Sothis replied sarcastically, but also clearly showing that his question ultimately made her wonder why does she mumble about such things.

-"But I suppose you have a point. I too am beginning to ponder why such things still cling to my memories, despite remembering almost nothing else. Perhaps some sort of bygone connection I've made that's all but forgotten, or locked deep within my mind?" Sothis said, still intrigued by how could such vague thoughts and memories still resonate within her. Byleth tilts his head to the side, while curious at the answer, still looks just as expressive as a blank piece of paper.

-"Maybe one day we could find something or someone that could reinvigorate your memory, perhaps?" Asked Byleth.

Sothis looks at him for a minute, bemusement on her face before finally replying.

-"For once, that brick you call a brain has finally thought of a good suggesstion, perhaps we could investigate on our own whenever we have the time to ourselves sometime." Sothis stated, hellbent on seeing her memories restored one way or another, before she yawns and reclines back on her throne.

-"I believe this dream sequence is about to end. If my timing is correct, the Mock Battle would be today. So I -sigggghhhh- suggest you get ready for the -yawwwnnnnnn- today." Sothis manages to get out before returning to slumber upon her throne once more.

And before he knew it, Byleth woke up with sunlight covering his eyes just as newly appointed professor hears someone knock on his door.

-"Pardon my intrusion, Professor, but His Highness has sent me to take you to him and get our chosen members ready for the mock battle."

Byleth instantly knew that voice belonged to Dedue, while being ever the dutiful retainer to Dimitri, he seemed a bit too loyal in his opinion, but doesn't dare to say so out loud. Byleth soon dressed up and opened to follow Dedue back to the House Leader and the chosen team. They soon arrive to see Dimitri along with the chosen classmates: Felix, Ashe, Annette, and Dimitri himself, everyone well-stocked and ready for the mock battle.

-"Alright everyone, listen up, When the Mock Battle begins, remember what we trained for together and always fight in teams, understood?" Byleth asked with a variety of responses, ranging with optimistic nods along with a 'hmph' from Felix as the only form of speech he could say at the moment without going after the "Boar Prince" he often calls Dimitri. The latter then replies back.

-"I assure you, Professor, we would show the other Houses that it's the Blue Lions that shall triumph over everyone else."

Byleth then nods as everyone began to walk over to the other houses and their respective professors before heading to the place where the Mock Battle would be held.

Main Bridge of the Legacy of the Ancients

Ar'racx-Tuteql has just arrived at the bridge to assemble the other members of the scouting party to finally set foot onto Fodlan. Ar'racx is currently bedecked in some of the best armor that is available thanks to the great strides in technological advancement due to the efforts of the Golden-Crested Skinks that specialize in running and maintaining the newly refound and reforged technologies of the Old Ones. Ar'racx's armor is signficantly a higher tier than anything that was possible back on the world-that-was, with the chestplate's design being derived from a race the Children of the Old Ones met long ago, Yautja they call themselves, more specifically of their Version 5.0 Predator-Killer Armor, with the scales on the sides bearing heraldry from each of the Old Ones.

His legs are now covered in newly made greave plates that cover his thighs, knees, shin, calves, and feet, with his enlarged toe-claw encased in a alloy whose texture is similar to that of gold, yet is stronger than that of Ceramite. His right arm is now fitted with a wrist gauntlet that covers his hand and forearm, with the "claws" having a crystalline appearance, having been extracted from a monster he slew centuries ago, know by the planet's locals as a Ruiner Nergigante, he remembered briefly about that battle giving him an actual challenge since The Fall of Lustria. His left hi-tech gauntlet was now upgraded to have several attachments, weapons, and highly advanced nanotechnology in the form of a diamond-shaped implant embedded on its wrist as some form of energy/matter converting inventory, something he found quite useful when trying to store massive quantities of item.

The hand of the gauntlet itself has six multi-colored stones that the Mage-Priests found on different worlds during their time in the void, each with a unique power that can control the very powers of the universe itself, almost as great as the Invenerable One himself. On the side of the arm-gauntlet now lies a triple-barreled GAU98 Energy Pulse Gatling Splinter Turret that can be mecha-shift from compact to battle ready in milliseconds, while within the palm of the hand can convert the surrounding matter that can fire triple rapid bursts of energy equivalent to that of a blue supergiant star compressed into fiery plasmic projectiles.

His left shoulder plate, which is apart of the prosthetic arm-gauntlet, has a design similar to Kroq-Gar's own but has rounded shingle-like plates covering what would be the actual shoulder with the main piece on top of it. A dinosaur-like skull takes up Ar'racx's right shoulder, the Oldblood recalled that it came from one of the predatory beasts of Lustria. The skull itself looks tyrannosaurid in shape (think of Teratophoneus), with the tip of the snout having a beak, with a frill at the back of the head. (for reference, Pentaceratops frill with mutant Styracosaurus frill horns) It's also decorated with many jewels, gold and accessories, with large crimson rubies acting as eyes inside the sockets, feathers with trinkets dangling from the horns protuding above the eyes, some of the teeth are replaced with goden teeth, the two horns have intricate carvings depicting a pack of Cold Ones hunting together.

Upon his back is a custom-made power pack to accomadate for the rows of spines on his back, which produces a personal environmental shield around him and also powers the Draconian Auxillaries Shoulder Cannon, fitted with a variety of tools and gadgets accounted for alomst any situation Ar'racx finds himself in, that can also function as a Ion Bolter with a belt of bolter rounds ermerging from the power pack, constantly creating and feeding them into the Shoulder Cannon.

His spikes are adorned with golden tips, also similar to Kroq-Gar's, with an arrangement of horns flanking the power pack with the magazines going below the left side. Near the middle between his Ar'racx's legs is a loincloth with a layer of chainmail that goes down halfway down along with the standard Lizardmen loinplate, specially custom/modified into a segmented piece going downward.

Ar'racx must admit, the technicians and armourers do know how to create and craft impressive sets of armor and gadgets, perhaps he would one day request the reforging of the Revered Spear of Tlanxla that was recovered from orbit and wield the very artifact the Warrior-God wielded before passing it down to the Lizardmen's greatest champions. He then was taken out of thought as Ma'eztlitep began to speak with him,

-"Oldblood of Lustria, the time has come to fulfill your mission. The other members of the scouting party have long since arrived on Fodlan with a Realmshaper Engine known as the Rejuvination of Tzunki at the specified coordinates that you can see here on this holographic map." Said the Mage-Lord as the hologram shows the coordinates to a newly created cluster of islands with three main islands with a bunch of smaller islands arranging themselves to look like fingers or claws. Upon further inspection, Ar'racx knew this particular shape, of which only one series of island look exactly like it.

-"The Dragon Isles of our once-feral kin from ages past." Whispered the Saurus Oldblood as he himself remembered having to cut down his fellow Lizardmen that have long since turned feral without the Slann's guidance when he was stranded after a battle swept Ar'racx into the ocean and washed ashore on that dreaded place.

-"Indeed, your perceptive cunning is as sharp as the finest of that of Vaul's blades of the Elven Pantheon. The island itself is shrouded in mist, similar to that of old Xlanhuapec, along with all of the creatures and beasts that once inhabitated the world-that-was." Ma'eztlitep explained as he continued to brief Ar'racx about the mission.

-"We would proceed to colonize slowly at first as to not alert the inhabitants of events they cannot explain normally, but we would reveal ourselves in due time." Continued the Mage-Lord.

-"Your task has been given, as you lead the scouting party onto the mainland to learn as much as possible about the local inhabitants before our revelation to the planet at large." The Slann says with finality as a gateway begins to come up near the right side of the bridge before it activates, opening a portal to an area where the Mock Battle would take place.

But as Ar'racx begins to walks toward the portal, he is stopped by the Slann as the Mage-Lord eyes fully open with surprise visible on his face.

-"Quickly, Oldblood, you must go immediately. Protect the Progenitor God's current vessel for something else has also laid their gaze upon him. You would meet up with the scouting party later. Go, Oldblood, GO!"

Ar'racx wasted no time into running through the portal, his expression hardened and ready to face with foe that would dare try to touch his objective.

-"YoUr PlAn ShAlL FAil ALL ThE SaMe, ToAD-ThINg! ThIs WORLD bElOnGS TO My ChILdrEN-SpAWn AnD tHaT WhORe-SLut OF An EXcuSe TheY CALL A gODdEss WoulD BeCOme MY PET!"

-"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA-SCRREEEEEEEECHHHHH"

Ma'eztlitep reels back from the sudden message that rammed itself into his mind, Chaz'xlakax quickly looking at his ward seeing if he's alright. The Slann then looks up towards the ceiling and sees a diseased rat, eyes glowing liquid midnight as it scurries off back to its god-master.

-"It seems that the Vermin-Spawn would play a role in Fodlan's future. The question is, would Byleth lead his world in defiance against them, or would the Lizardmen have to clean up after the Vermintide desecrate all that humanity once stood for?"

A/N:

Uh-oh, it seems that things have changed for not just the Children of the Old Ones, but possibly Fodlan as well. Hopefully, this rat infestation could be nipped in the bud before it spirals out of control. If it does, a certain white-haired would-be empress might have to deal with her worst nightmares and fears made manifest, even more so than the Church or Those Who Slither In The Dark.

Either way, it's bad news for everyone.

On a brighter note, seems that we wouldn't the rest of the party just yet. So Ar'racx has to deal with the problem on his own... Then again, he has essentially enough literal firepower to wipe out the entirety of the Knights of Seiros and possibly the Church itself.

Tune in next time for The Crests of the Saurian to see how it goes down.

Have a nice day.