Author's Note: Last time where we left off, the main group has begun their descent into the tunnel that could lead them into the worshippers' main hideout in Duscur. With that in mind, this WILL be the last part of The Secret Plague of Duscur Arc of the Main Story before moving forwards. Speaking of which, we could finally see what happened to Lord Lonato concerning his disappearance at the beginning, along with what happened to the poor bastards that lay outside... (shivers) May the gods grant them their protections and mercy for whatever horrors they come across.
And for the first time in the series, we have a human representative to give us the disclaimer! Byleth, if you may, good sir?
Byleth: Thank you, Lord Tartarus. Warhammer belongs to Games Workshop and Fire Emblem belongs to Intelligent Systems. Every other Easter Egg seen belongs to their respective creators and franchises.
Thank you very much, Professor Byleth!
And now, without further or do, here's the latest chapter in The Crests of the Saurian!
P.S.: Enjoy the extra long special.
Duscur Region, Holy Kingdom of Faerghus, Fodlan
Everyone was on edge as they descended into the long tunnel, with its wide girth fitting up to 10 people across, and heights easily reaching upwards of 60 ft, whilst they navigated through the cave's dank passageway. With the horrid scene from earlier still on their minds, everyone was now more determined than ever to put an end to whatever madness fell upon Duscur... but none are more so than the Lizardmen, for their kind have experienced this scenario back in the world-that-was thousands, if not millions, of times over with their eternal war against the Forces of Chaos.
For some reason, despite never even encountering this new force they're about to face, Byleth always had this constant nagging feeling deep within his mind that he had not only knew of it, but has also fought it before. The professor than gazed towards the Lizardmen who were at the foremost front of the group, particularly Ar'racx whose expression is slowly becoming more and more restrained with unspeakable rage and contempt hidden behind narrowed eyes and a slow but gradual baring of his teeth before he was calmed down by Nax'ih-Chek and bore a more grim but calming/aggressive look.
Byleth wondered if he should walk up to the Saurian in question to try and prod a bit more information out of him this time, eventually deciding to proceed with his course of action and caught up to the Lizardmen as he matches their pace. Ar'racx turns his head to glance at Byleth before beginning the conversation with the Vessel of the Progenitor God.
-"You wish to ask of me about what we conversed about earlier, do you not?" Ar'racx began as he comes to directly address the warmblood beside him.
-"Yes. I have a feeling that this 'mission' of yours is about to come to an end. Which leads me to this: Who ,or What, are we going to face now?" Byleth addressed to the Lizardman.
Ar'racx was about to reply back to him, to just go ahead and tell the humans straight up, as blunt as it gets, before Nax'ih-Chek raised his fist into a 'stop here' gesture as everyone sees an ominous green light coming from the end of the tunnel... which appears to be heading into their main direction as a distinct sound fills the tunnel. Everyone soon begins to stare at the ominous green light as it comes closer and closer with sounds of chittering war-cries being heard as the group now realizes what's going to happen next.
-"Quickly now! Unsheathe your weapons, for the imminent battles that're to be ahead of this moment!" Tlauil-qrek'ekko yells out as everyone has their weapons out, ready to engage their first foes since the beginning of their mission.
As the enemy finally comes close enough to see what they are, before anyone has a chance to rush forward to attack, Ar'racx bellows a war-cry of his own before revving up his Macuahiutl-Pattern Chain Sword and rushes towards the unsuspecting mass before slashing in an semi-circular arc in front of the Oldblood as the Chain Sword's teeth rips into the now screaming mass while gore and viscera fly everywhere, the walls now being caked in diseased crimson and pus as Byleth, Dimitri, and the rest of the Blue Lions rush forward to engage the few stragglers pushing forward as Ar'racx just marches down the passageway with the other Lizardmen following in hot pursuit.
-"Professor! We should follow them so we would not get lost in this darkness." Dimitri said as he thrusts his lance into two attackers, impaling both on his spear before forcefully taking it out and moving on the next.
-"... Tch. The damn boar's right, everyone, we have to get going now!" Felix yelled out as he cuts down a clumsy attack which could now be seen as some sort of cultist.
Mercedes and Annette both have conjured some small embers as some light as the now human-only begins to catch up to the Lizardmen ahead before Catherine cries out to them.
-"We'd have to stay right here, Professor! More are converging on the entrance ways. Take the students and keep going, we'll stay right here to fend 'em off! Good luck and may the Goddess grant you her protection." Catherine said as she leads the other knights back towards the entrance with Thunderbrand in hand.
Byleth could only nod as he and his students ran down the large passageway, killing and dispatching any opposition they came up against until they came upon a large patrol group of a couple dozen massive armored humanoid rats that looked similar to the ones that attacked them during the Mock Battle as a larger rat emerges with crude and grizzled trophies coming from his back in the forms of stakes, revealing himself to being the Leader. The Leader of the patrol sees Byleth and chittered some orders to his brethren as they split up to engage at multiple positions.
-"Ingrid, Felix! To me! Sylvain, stay back with the others while the Professor engages their leader!" Dimitri cried as he expertly parried a halberd swing from one of the armored rodents as Ingrid and Felix are beside him holding their own exceptionally well against the new group of enemies, with Felix even managing to cut down three of the unvigilant bastards down while Ingrid impales another through the shoulder and goes into one's neck as it gurgles up some blood before succumbing to the black. Dimitri gets nicked on the cheek with a crude piece of metal they wield in the shape of a sword as he'd split one of the rat's head open with a gush of blood before decapitating the one who stabbed him within a frontal arc with a couple others as he jumps to the side, missing the five other halberds concentrated on him before going on the defensive as they surround him and could only parry and wait for the right moment as the five warriors begin their assault upon him.
Meanwhile, Sylvain is holding off a couple on his own as Ashe fires arrow after arrow into the weak points of the armor of the attackers, bringing them down, with Mercedes assisting him while Annette casts Fire and Thunder spells back to back while maintaining their only source of light with one palm.
-"Jeez, how about you just stop fighting us and pretend that you never even saw us, right?" Sylvain sarcastically asked as he managed to get the upper hand against the two that went up against him, slicing the arm off of one that was holding the weapon itself while dodging to the side to avoid an overhead swing and swiftly sliced through the armor, letting the intestines flop out as the attacker desperately tried in vain to put them back into his opened up side before having an arrow embedded in his forehead, dropping to the ground in a undignified heap.
Byleth is now currently still engaging against the Leader of the patrol, Steel Sword in hand as he keeps up with the constantly switching of both the halberd and dual blades as the Leader bears a smug smirk on his face.
-"You-you think you could defeat the strong-mighty Stulk Crowlash?! Fool-meat indeed, watch-see as your pathetic scrap-heap of warriors get cut-sliced into itzy-bitzy pieces by my Stormvermin!" the now named Stulk declares as he thinks that Byleth would watch in despair and give up the match to his clearly superior opponent... only for the Professor to look at him with an emotionless stare that's almost unnerving to the Skaven before eventually turning into a wry smile.
-"Why aren't you-you on your knees, man-thing?! You're supposed to b-" Skulk couldn't even see or feel the lance that went right through his head as it was swiftly removed from its shoulders, with Dimitri standing behind Skulk's now headless corpse as it slumps to the ground.
Byleth nods in approval at Dimitri as he pans his view of the battle, seeing the last three behind cut down by Felix by himself, walking a few steps forward before he goes on his knees as Annette comes up with a healing spell at the ready to heal a wound on Felix's leg where he was caught by surprise when one of the Stormvermin came up from behind as an 'attempt' to slice both his legs off.
-"We shouldn't linger for too long, lest more will converge on our already compromised position, Professor." Dimitri said as they hear louder sounds coming from further within the tunnel as screaming and bloody thumps reverberate to them far ahead.
-"That must be them!" Ashe said out loud as everyone looks to their Professor about what to do. Byleth looks at all of his students, seeing the newly lit fire in their eyes, with a small smile on his face as he gives the order to push forward and annihilate all who stand in their way.
As for the Lizardmen in question who sort of ran off after Ar'racx, they found themselves in a vast open area of the underground as a horde of approximately five hundred Skaven and Nurglite Maggotkin bear down on them as the foul, diseased sorcerers of Nurgle has hasten some sort of ritual they had going as more warriors are spewing forth from a Skittergate contributed to them by the Children of the Horned Rat.
-"Ti' itokaiko todoporeso Sotek, nishall fundido inin horrid adoradores ti' Chauitstahtli Iuan ti' Roedor Teotl tlatikpa ti' abismo!" Tehéx'lol-tek cried out as he cuts down a dozen armored Chaos Warriors of Nurgle and Plague Monks with a single motion as thousands of snakes and winged serpents of all sizes emerge from the ground itself to surround him, biting and constricting any unfortunate opponent that gets too close within striking range.
Nax'ih-Chek is having an absolute field day all to himself as the 35 ft tall Kroxigor Ancient slams the Sacred Blade of Quetzl onto the ground over and over again, causing miniature earthquake to force his foes off balance, while devouring tens of enemies whole down into his maw as Chatz'axyutl slaughters his enemies from afar with hyper lethal poison darts with an occasional well placed throat slit or stab at an enemy's weak points as he disappears on and off the battlefield like a ghost in the dark thanks to his camouflage. Tlauil-qrek'ekko is something like a miniature hurricane of pure unadulterated magic unto himself as enemies are simply turned into statues of glass as Azure Blades surround him, cutting enemies apart due to their eldritch nature as lightning bolts from T'Essla's Arc come forth from his fingertips, causing chain electrocutions, as the Staff of the Solar Tempest's Eye grants him a constant Harmonic Convergance to renew his supplies of K'askunaj Mana' as he breathes forth a Wind Blast from his mouth towards Chatz'axyutl, reprieving him of the excess four dozen or so Stormvermin and Chaos Marauders that were threatening to surround him as the Chameleon Skink gave the Skink Priest the same gesture, putting two poison darts into the eye sockets of a Rat Ogre coming from behind, killing it instantly as they penetrate the brain.
Ar'racx lets out his pent-up rage against the elites of the horde, consisting of a few dozen or so Chosen and Plague Monk Censer Bearers, crushing them with terrible ease as he utilizes every part of his body as weapons of death and slaughter before the Oldblood sets his rage filled eyes at the stream of enemies spewing forth from the Skittergate, which is only accessible through a long but narrow raggedy bridge, before a smirk came upon his face as the Saurian finally has the chance to test out a weapon he secretly wanted to use ever since he came to Fodlan as he remembers the GAU98 Energy Pulse Gatling Splinter Turret strapped on his mechanized gauntlet. The weapon begins to shift from its compact state into that of its true form as the Scar-Leader aims his weapon at the newly amassing horde and unleashes a most satisfying sound that's become synonymous to music in his ears.
-"Ihto momoasters kuitlapantli ti' abismo ti' Old Ones okihto niltse."
Byleth and his students had just arrived to the scene of the ensuing carnage before them as they see the Lizardmen single-handedly eviscerate entire hordes of enemies by themselves before they see Ar'racx step forwards just before the end of the bridge as over two hundred or so enemies charge forth against him, each one believing that they, in their twisted delusions of hope, shall be the ones to slay the Lizardman before them.
BBBBBBBBBBBRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! BBBBBBBBBRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
What followed came one of the loudest, most unholy sounds they ever heard as the Professor and the Blue Lions covered their eyes in an attempt to not go deaf and have their eardrums blow from the sheer blastwaves of sound.
As for the enemies in question... or rather, what remains of their bodies is strewn across the cavern in almost microscopic parts. After unleashing the large payload into the crowd, Ar'racx looks onward with satisfaction at his work along with dealing overdue vengeance against the Great Enemy.
The humans looked at the aftermath in both shock, disbelief, and horror at the scene before them as they turned their gaze at what little remains of the horde across the landscape as they hear someone come towards them, shaking them out of their stupor to defend themselves to retaliate, for only Tlauil-qrek'ekko to appear by their side as the Skink Astronomer surveys the now bloodsoaked battlefield of gore and carnage.
-"I understand that most living beings, be they deities or mortals, are often perturbed or have some other response/reaction to witnessing us wage war and battle for the first time. I give you our utmost respectful apologies for if it's seen as... disturbing, to say the very least." Tlauil-qrek'ekko explained as most of the warmbloods simply just stare at him agape, save for Byleth, Dimitri, and Felix.
-"...So, what do we do now that everything is pretty much taken care of? Do we go ahead and make our way back to the monastery, or check around a bit more to ensure that was the last of them or something like that, right? Sylvain asked as he summed up what everyone else was thinking just as the rest of the Lizardmen have marched towards the humans after dealing with the last of the enemy horde.
-"Even though Ar'racx had already destroyed the main power source sustaining the Skittergate, it still remains open. Our next course of action is to pass through the warpgate and finish whatever opposition remains on the side, no doubt they're remustering a lot of their large numbers to double, no... triple, their efforts into retaking this place. Now... now, we must take the fight to the forces of the damned and nip this in the bud before it could resprout once again into something even worse." Tehéx'lol-tek spoke as he basically told everyone what must be done in order to see that this madness must come to an end.
Abyss, Garreg Mach Monastery, Fodlan
-"So... I understand that this is quite the dire situation and all, but you want us to aid this particular group of surface dwellers do what?!" Yuri asked. He knows that he's morally obligated to follow the pact the Ashen Wolves made with the Children of the Old Ones, to which the cold blooded pact-sworn utilized rather quickly... but even this sounds something that's both borderline suicidal and complete bonkers in his mind.
-"While the request is... somewhat 'on the fly' as it is put, nonetheless, aiding them in this most crucial of moments would prevent the coming tides from committing into a fullscale invasion that could consume all of Fodlan and beyond. Plus, if you succeed in this endeavor, our most gracious Mage-Lord has offered the privilege to study not only the advanced arts of the Winds of Magic, but to also view the completely uncensored histories and timeline of Fodlan along with the true origins of the one your people call the 'Goddess'." Replied the Skink Ambassador known as Tédti-Kortori
Yuri put his chin on his hand as support in a ponder while he sat on his chair facing the reptilian within the embassy's main quarters. On one hand, the rewards given before are something one couldn't pass up easily, especially on Constance's part when it come to the magic aspect, but the uncensored history of Fodlan and knowing the true nature of the Goddess herself? That... is something almost no amount of gold could pay willy-nilly. With that information in hand, one could potentially expose the Church of Seiros and the Archbishop herself if this 'uncensored history' turns out to be true and reliable. Perhaps it may be some worth to fulfill this 'little' request as they call it, in exchange for what is promised to them of course.
-"I say just accept it, Yuri! I personally don't care about the offers in question, but I do like a good scrap so that the 'King of Grappling' won't get rusty." Balthus suggested, showing his interest in fighting potentially worth foes in the face of battle.
-"Of course someone so unrefined as you would say such things, Balthus! I for one would deeply appreciate the opportunity to explore and study what the Lizardmen have in store when it comes to their mastery of these 'Winds of Magic' they call them, something that's worthy to one such as a Nuvelle." Constance said, showing her own interest into the magical knowledge and how she can use it to regain her House's position and power.
-"Peh. Of course the both of you have those interest of your in mind, but do remember that we have to HELP the surface dwellers for whatever they need assistance, is that clear?" Yuri replied back to the both of them as they give their leader a nod back.
-"Well, I just want to look at all the giant lizards these guys have back on their invisible island again. I think they look cool despite their appearances... that and to show them my gratitude for what they did for me." Hapi said as she gave her two cents on her own reasoning to accept the request of aid.
Yuri showed a smirk at the eagerness of his fellow compatriots and friends and turned his gaze towards Tédti-Kortori and gave him his response.
-"Well you heard the three of them, we'll be ready to move out with a few of my rogues as soon as possible. Then, we'll be off to assist them." Yuri spoke with finality as the Ambassador gave a satisfactory nod and dismissed them so they can get ready.
...
Soon, everyone had their wargear as they performed their final checkups to ensure they're missing anything that's essential and were ready to be sent to the coordinates they were given when they see a black-haired man in priestly robes approach them.
"Aelfric! I'm sorry that we're going out on such a short notice, but we've got to get somewhere that's significantly important right now-"
"I understand very clearly, Yuri. I only came here to wish you good luck on whatever assignment the Lizardmen have given you. Be rest assured that Abyss will be safeguarded by myself and the Children of the Old Ones should anything come to threaten it." Aelfric said to them as he saw them away being escorted by a Skink Chief atop a flying creature known as a Terradon via a portal.
Aelfric sees the portal close and stares at where it was once thrummed as the Abyssians and the Lizardmen went back to their normal daily business.
"May the Goddess watch over you all."
Undisclosed Location
"What do you mean that they've... *slurrp*... pushed through our battle line and entered the GatewAy?!" Shouted a gurgly but powerful voice as they grabbed the wretched Skaven messenger and snapped the poor thing's neck as it's dragged away by small daemon-things in the personification of his patron to be their newest plaything.
Orghorgas Carrionheart, Exalted Harvester of the Decaying Gardens, was not having a particularly good time. Initially, he was ecstatic to have been chosen to spread the 'benevolent blessings' of almighty Grandfather Nurgle upon this new world... except for the part that the Skaven had just so happen to also stumble upon this bountiful realm as well. Naturally, Orghorgas was skeptical when the Ratmen asked for a pact to be made between them and his warband, notoriously known as the Droning Chosen of the Decaying Gardens, but the Plague Lord of Nurgle knew very well not to underestimate these vermin when push comes to shove, if they don't back-stab, betray, or leave you for dead of course.
Orghorgas knew that deep down, one side would eventually betray the other, but is more than confident that his warriors can overcome the sheer numbers of the Skaven with their slow but inexorable might of Grandfather Nurgle. That, at the very least, he know for absolute certainty.
The Lord of Plague would try to contemplate on this new revelation before he hears a knock from the door of his war-chamber, beckoning them to come inside. The door opened and came forth one of the two main leaders of the Skaven horde himself, Veskanquist Ashflayer, Coal-Tyrant of the Thirteen Magma-Pyres of Morrslieb, Grand-Warlord of Clan Volkn.
Veskanquist was quite eccentric, if not pyrophobic, along with having quite the hotheaded temperment that's well known within the clan of fanatic pyromaniacs. Like all of the Ratmen of Clan Volkn, the Warlord's fur is fiery crimson, with a scorched tinge on the ends, being clad in his suit of surprisingly well-crafted Gromril Armor known as the Warp-Armor of the Molten Warden, even having additional tail-armor to prevent his lesser rivals from having the chance of deeming him as a 'short-sticked wank-rat' if they will. The fire-rat has multiple upon his person that he considers as his favorites, such as his Halberd called 'Fire-Slasher', which was looted from a Drakesworn Templar after a surprise ambush in the realm of Aqshy, a triple-barreled Hand Cannon known as 'Pyro-Blaster', given to him both as a 'thank you' and gift of 'faith' from the Warlock-Engineers of Clan Mekskittle, along with his most infamous weapon of all: a mechanized custom-made Arch-Warlock Gauntlet that spews warpfire fondly called 'Veskanquist's Claws of Fiery Extermination'.
However, the most shocking about Veskanquish himself is that he somehow had the gift to manipulate the Winds of Fire, Aqshy, itself, which is unto itself a significant accomplishment to any self-respecting Ratman. How the Warlord managed to learn to use Fire Magic is only known to the Coal-Tyrant and his personal bodyguards, known specifically as 'Volkn's Fire-Snappers', the elite of the elite Stormvermin that were granted enchanted Warp-Rune Gromril Armor with Clan Skryre weaponry to improve their effectiveness and efficiency to protect their warlord, not to also mention the mind-boggling fact that all of them are completely albino Skaven not sent off to the Skaven capital.
Orghorgas had always disliked the Coal-Tyrant the moment they've met one another, with Veskanquist having the mutual response as well, despite having being forced to work with one another by means of unforeseen circumstance. The only thing that's preventing the two sides from declaring superiority over bear of arms are the advisors that each one has on their respective sides, Splatchratch of Clan Pestilens and Vyrhana Rotbuck from the Realm of Ghur, both of which are currently making their way towards the other side of the Skittergate to prepare their forces to march upon the local region known as Duscur with the help of some of the new convertees derived from the Duscuran peoples from whom they betrayed. But nevertheless, it wouldn't hurt the Chaos Lord of Nurgle to tolerate the vermin's presence just a little bit longer before settling on what course of action must be taken to ensure their annihilation.
-"Coal-Tyrant. Why WaS I not notifeid earlier about *cough-cough* intruders entering our war-camp?!" Demanded Orghorgas, wanting to know who or what exposed their position earlier than expected.
-"HMPH! As if I knew-sought that very same reason myself, oh Carrionheart. If only OH, you know-YOU HADN'T DECIDED TO FUCKING KOBTRBRS *breathes in... breathes out* leave-lie those corpses out on the open field where anyone could check-see in the fucking first place." Replied Veskanquist vehemently as almost lost himself in a rage due to the Fire Magic amplifying his emotional state, along with his increased temper.
-"It wasn't MY idea to leave such wasted concoctions of entropy out there, and you know that. I was only heeding my sorceress' advice just like you do to yours." Said the Champion of Nurgle.
-"Do not think-say that I follow-serve that Pox-Rat's ramblings like some Slave-PET! I'm the one-one that he follow-serves, ME-ME, not the other way-way around!" Barked back the Grand-Warlord.
Should that conversation continue onward, they would've come to blows eventually, ditching their already fragile alliance-pact they made to the four winds, had one of Orghorgas' warriors burst into the room saying that the intruders are currently engaging both Splatcratch and Vyrhana shortly after they've arrived at the Skittergate.
Both warleaders looked at the unfortunate bastard that entered the chamber before both a scythe and three flaming bullet holes were buried deep into his maggot-filled body before he was cut in twain. The two warlords looked at one another, begrudgingly nodding to one another before they set to deal with these most unwelcome intruders within their war-camp as they followed the screams, war-cries, and the sounds of battle.
Pactsworn War-Camp, Undisclosed Location
The group had emerged through the gateway to the other side, virtually surrounded by hundreds, if not thousands, of enemy warriors, eager to rend their opposition asunder, as they begin to wade into battle against them, cutting many of them down as they slowly made their way off the bridge leading to the Skittergate.
-"Ar'racx! What is our next course of action from here?" Byleth asks as he cuts down another Chaos Marauder, whose now limp corpse was cast aside into a Chaos Warrior's way, inadvertently slowing him down as Tehéx'lol-tek stabs him through the skull from an opening.
Ar'racx looks at the Professor to give his reply about their next destination before the Saurus Oldblood hears Tlauil-qrek'ekko yell out 'DODGE!' as everyone gets out of the way just in time as a Blightstorm erupts from beneath, getting any unfortunate and unwary miscreants in its path, before loud laughter is heard around the immediate vicinity as the enemy horde make way for two individuals to emerge in their pestilent glory.
-"Nyaheheheeee! Well well WELL! What do we have here? Some uninvited guests have decided to come and greet their new neighbors... maybe to help this infectious lady with my latest broth, or perhaps, to receive the benevolent blessings of almighty Grandfather Nurgle, hmmm?" Spoke a diseased fat wretched hag in a queasy but unsettling voice.
To say that the hag is ugly is an understatement to the untainted humans, for most have the sudden urge to just puke their guts at the most hideous and ungodly sight before them. The Lizardmen and Byleth, fortunately for the Blue Lions, remains virtually steadfast against this new foe, though they themselves have elected to become more cautious as they realize the enemy elites are beginning to reveal themselves soon than anticipated, especially if the more powerful magic users decided to come out and greet them.
-"Enough-enough! The Horned One demands that we take-break the Progenitor God's Vessel unscathed, Nurglite!" Said the Skaven Plague Priest next to her as the hag scoffed at him.
-"You Ratfolk are always too jittery and impatient for your own good. Besides, these poor little dArlings have come all this way just to come see us! As we're obligated to enlighten our glorious cause to our new converts, let us give them something that's worth their time, shall we?"
The Plague Priest grumbles to himself as he gave a gesture to his personal Plague Censer Bearer retinue to commence the attack against the invaders with the Nurglite Sorceress doing the same with her sickened cohorts as both combine into a singular fighting force as they charge forth at their foe.
The battle began in earnest as the Blue Lions wordlessly dealt with the chaff whilst Byleth and the Lizardmen took on the true elites, slowly but surely cutting them down like the hundreds that came before them, to the increasing irritation and fear of the two sorcerers before they scattered the group with a well placed Plague of the Horned One and Blightstorm spells respectively.
-"Hehehehe! They're scattered, my fellow plague-brethren! Quick-Quick, kill-slay them while they're all divided from each other!" Cried the Plague Priest as more and more just keeps coming in an almost seemingly nonstop wave as the Blue Lions, along with their Professor, are beginning to grow tired and fatigued as the horde closes in for the fatal strokes. Realizing this, Byleth begins to carves his way to each of the nearest groups of two-to-three he could reach, managing to reunite all of them back to a singular group... except their missing one.
That one missing person they realize too late is Ashe as they see him being picked up by a Chaos Warrior, who caught the boy by surprise amidst the chaotic fighting.
-"ASHE!" The Blue Lions screamed in horror and dread about the coming death to one of their own. Annette, Mercedes, and Ingrid have tears in their eyes threatening to fall while the men glared seething daggers at the Chaos Warrior holding the poor soul as the Lizardmen steeled themselves for the death of one they could not save. Ashe himself closed his eyes in despair as the Chaos worshipper raised his weapon to end the young boy's life.
However, something from afar, beyond the physical, looked upon Ashe and decided that he shall no die this day.
-"LET GO OF MY SON, WRETCHED CUR!" A booming voice echoed as a lance runs through the bastard's arm holding Ashe in place with a quick and decisive slashing arc, decapitating the warrior's head clean off his shoulders as it slumps into a mush of melted armor and maggoty flesh. The Lizardmen and Byleth were surprised at the swiftness and 'no hesitation' demeanor of this newcomer as the Blue Lions widen realizing exactly who this individual is, especially Ashe most of all, who looks up to the stranger with utter awe and relief.
-"L-Lord Lonato. I-It's you!" Said Ashe as he struggles to hold his emotions together as he runs over to hug his adopted father.
-"Ashe. It does my heart well to see you unharmed in his hellfest. You have done well, along with your fellow students and professor, to make it here with hope in your hearts. You've made me proud." Proclaimed Lonato as he returned the embrace to his son, regardless if he isn't his own blood.
-"What the? How-how did you get free-free from your prison-cage?!" Yelled the Plague Priest who has become livid at the sight of the Lord of Gaspard. Capturing him was instrumental into making it easier to cause discord in Faerghus as they intended to convert him since he holds a grudging resentment towards the Church of Seiros.
-"I believe we're the ones responsible for that, thank you very much." A suave voice said as four more individuals revealed themselves from the woodwork with several corpses behind them along with a full battalion of armored knights.
-"Ahh, yes. They're the ones who freed me, along with my personal battalion, so we can aid you in your efforts and escape this wretched place. We're very lucky they sent most of their elite warriors to the other side in advance, leaving behind their weaker troops to watch over the war-camp." Explained Lonato.
-"Aww man! No wonder these were weak as all hell. I thought we'd get to kick some serious ass here, you know what 'm saying here?" Exasperated one of the strangers.
-"Now now, Balthus, our first priority is getting these fair and fine people back to safety. So stop your whining and let's get this job done with." Spoke what Byleth presumed to be their leader.
The four figures, along with the Gaspard knights, carved their way through to Ashe and Lonato while the Lizardmen resumed the attack, with the Prophet of Soték engaging with the wretched Skaven Plague Priest, slaying the plague rat with a single stroke of his blade, as Tlauil'qrek'ekko easily overpowers the Nurglite Sorceress, obliterating both body and soul by briefly transforming for a few moments into an Embodiment of Azyr.
Afterwards, with Nax'ih-Chek seeing two more heavily armored figures along with their personal retinues on their way, the Lizardmen quickly follows the warmbloods back to the Skittergate where the four individuals have placed delayed blasting charges on either side, which are rigged to detonate only a couple minutes after activation. Soon, everyone begins to jump back to the other side as a flaming bullet barely grazes Ar'racx's face as he sharply turns around to see a Skaven Warlord and a Chaos Champion of Nurgle, each with their personal bodyguards. Having no time whatsoever, the Saurus simply raised his left hand and aimed it at the opposing group. The Skaven wisely stayed back as the Maggotkin of Nurgle charged forward... only to be gunned down by the Gatling Turret as it lets loose its payload into their bodies, killing all but the Chaos Champion but having the desired effect as it slumps down to one knee before Ar'racx jumps into the portal before the charges explode, bringing the Skittergate down upon itself into the Warpstone Reactor Core, causing a bright green flash to reverberate throughout the entire war-camp.
Duscur Region, Holy Kingdom of Faerghus, Fodlan
As everyone emerges back onto the other side, they see the Skittergate behind them crumble apart in onto itself and fall into the deep black abyss. With that memory ingrained within their minds, cheers rang out at their victory over their evil foe.
-"Professor! We did it. We actually did it!" Said Dimitri with a big bright and warming smile on his face as everyone else shared the same sentiment for their accomplishment.
-"The boar's right, Professor. We couldn't have done it without both you and the Lizardmen." Spoke Felix, who for once had a ghost of a small smile on his face, before he then turned to speak to Tehéx'lol-tek about something that was on the Fraldarius' mind.
-"I must agree with your students, Professor. You clearly have developed quite the respectable command over your students in such a short time from what I can tell, especially considering your previous reputation as the Ashen Demon. And i'm also counting out the Lizardmen's efforts as well. Clearly, all of you wouldn't have made a single inch within that place without them." Praised Lonato whilst his knights also gave their agreeing approval for their valiant efforts.
Byleth nodded to him and stepped back a few dozen meters or so, smiling as he panned over to his students, the now newly introduced Ashen Wolves, and the Lizardmen as Lonato walked to where Ashe was to thank him for being brave in his absence.
-"How simply incredible. You managed to do all of that and come out the other side while not looking like a simpleton like you usually do." Spoke Sothis as she materialized besides him.
Byleth simply looked at Sothis with a deadpan look on his face and thought where was she during this whole experience, to which she read his mind and answered, "If you're that eager to know, for some reason, something or someone, manage to temporarily cut off our connection with each other when you went to the other side of this 'Skittergate'. As for the perpetrator in question, I couldn't find out for sure because I was basically stuck in my little area of the void for the entire duration of your time there. So I highly suggest you keep your guard up the next time it happens -yawns- it's time again... for me to go back... to sleep."
Sothis then excused herself back into Byleth's mind as the Professor pondered as he is being watched from the shadows by an armored figure with strangely colored eyes.
-"Whatever happened with the Lizardmen must be of significance if the Savage Mockingbird is now being involved with these new affairs. I must report this back immediately."
A/N:
...
Well, there it is. The End of the Secret Plague of Duscur Arc, at last. From here on, things might be going a bit smoother for our protagonists for a while before anything like that erupts forth again.
So, what happened to Lord Lonato while he was imprisoned, I hear you ask? Well, that's for later in the story. All I can say, for sure. And what about the Skaven and Forces of Nurgle? Are they out of the picture like that? Hell no, not by a long shot. While a tremendous setback for them, it won't hold them down for long, especially the Skaven. Finally, who is that armored figure spying on Byleth and his group at the very, very end of the chapter? Well... You know who it is, now don't you?
As for the chapter itself... Holy Moly, it's almost 7k words. I know people have made significantly longer chapters with 100k words or more, but i'm taking things my way, so I give you my apologies if it's not long enough for you anyways.
Tune in next time to see what Byleth and the Lizardmen are up to next with their journey to a hopefully better future for both sides.
Have a nice day.