Deliverer of Birthright

by romeoraiden

My First Story. Two Nations. One desperate enough to bring a terrible war, the other more concern for themselves, and at the center, a sheltered Princess is forced to make difficult choices for the good of all. In her quest to do what's right many will stand with her and many more will oppose, throwing her in a state of despair. And from the chaos a Fallen Hero will rise again.

15. Chapter 15: Hey, Raging Sister!

*Chapter 15: Hey, Raging Sister!

"There you go, all better now." Said a Maid who finishes healing up Laslow of a really bad black eye he received from Robin, as he and the rest of his comrades are in an infirmary back in Castle Krakenburg, as the surviving soldiers, Xander, Leo and Elise were sent back after what happened in Cyrkensia to recover and due to the advancements the Nohrians have made with their Grimm experiments on their staves and their use of healing magic as a whole, the efficiency of their healers has increased sevenfold that wounds from black eyes to deep gashes can be completely healed in a manner of minutes with no side effects and until they reach a hundredfold they won't stop making improvements.

"Why thank you, lovely Rachel, truly, there is no one with a healing touch as gentle as yours." Laslow smiled in gratitude while flirting with the beautiful maid.

"Flattery will get you nowhere with me." The Maid said somewhat coldly but it is far too easy for everyone in the vicinity to notice the deep blush as she walks away to tend to others.

"Ah, and there goes another future conquest for the taking."

"Oh my god, would you shut up already, you filthy mongrel." Charlotte hissed while lying down on another medical bed while covering her face with a pillow and Benny and Silas beside her.

"They still haven't tended with her nose yet?" Laslow asked with concern.

"No, she was among the first to be treated and is all better, she's just going through a small state of depression." Silas explained.

"Please, Charlotte we must leave the beds unoccupied for other injured to be placed in to recover." Benny insisted to her partner.

"Go away and let me suffocate." Charlotte pleaded while groaning.

"Your face is just as pretty as always." Silas insisted.

"It's not that, she's just upset because she could not recover Princess Azura." Benny explained while feeling sympathetic for her.

"I had her… she was in my clutches and all I got out of it was a kick to the face. How am I supposed to look at the Queen in the eye again after screwing up so pathetically." The fighter cursed in misery. "I wouldn't be surprised if they ordered me executed after this failure."

"By that logic, we should all be executed since none of us did so well against the Hoshidans this time around either." Zero said as he and Odin walk to the trio with Peri not far behind. "Especially my dumbass partner and horny boy over here who were our last stand in recovering our other runaway princess and ended up having their asses handed to them by half a Deadman."

"Hey now, let's not point fingers at anyone, that man was anything but easy picking, after all, he nearly overpowered Lord Xander and the Queen even though he was clearly low on magic reserve, so the two of us could not have lasted as much." Laslow tried defending himself and Odin over their loss against the Mage Fighter, who despite being in terrible condition was still able to best and outsmart the pair and deliver dirty but necessary attacks to give himself and Azura a chance to escape, leaving Laslow with a black eye and Odin with his right arm dislocated.

"Never has my Fell Hand ached as much as it did that time." Odin muttered as he can still feel twitches of pain left behind by Robin.

"But isn't it always aching because of your blood?" Benny asked, remembering how often the Warlock would dramatically yell 'my aching blood' whenever things got serious.

"Well, yeah, but usually it's because of my volatile dark powers coursing through me so rapidly and uncontrollably, yearning and demanding for more battles. More glorious wars to satisfy the insatiable hunger of the Dark Lord within me." Odin explained dramatically.

"But dark magic is always volatile. What makes your use of it harder to deal with than the rest of the warlocks that causes your blood to always ache?" Silas asked confused.

"I'm glad you asked, my friend." Odin replied eager to explain. "You see it all started long ago when my precious homeland was besiege by a great and terrible God of Annihilation where I learned that I must…"

"Exactly which Dark Lord are you referring to?" Charlotte caught him off with another question. "Certainly not the Dusk Dragon."

"Well, about that…"

"Doesn't the Forefather's teaching state that Warriors of Nohr should fight for necessity and duty, never for pleasure or lust for combat." Benny added.

"Of course, but the thing is…"

"Lord Xander's grandpappy dragon is not insatiable. Divine Dragons don't even need to eat." Peri also gets in on the discussion.

"HA! See, even a maniac like Peri thinks you're full of crap, Odin." Zero mocked Odin.

"HEY!"

"Why is everyone on my back all the sudden. I'm just trying to make a point." Odin mumbled feeling bullied by everyone. Again.

"Come now, everyone, let's not torment our dear Odin any further. Each of our pride towards our masters has been damaged long enough." Laslow insisted as he steps into his friend's defense and pats him on the back.

"Nice to see you're all still in high spirit as usual." Xander said as he and Elise walk to the Royal Guard members. Both royals look to have calmed down after what went down, Elise's sadness is still visible but as usual, the brave little princess will try to keep a strong front, something she excels at due to her unusually high spirit to be able to keep herself composed in the heat of real battle.

"Ah, Lord Xander and Lady Elise. I know this may seem pointless giving the circumstances but truly I hope you are both doing well." Silas greeted.

"I'll manage, my friend, we did just endured an enemy assault, so it's as good a win as any." Xander said, calmer than he was during the battle. Looks like Wrath's hold on him and the rest of the Nohrians have subsided, on the surface at least.

"And what of you, our dear Elise Shadow, Princess of Twilight, surely that cowardly assault of our enemies was not enough to sway your unwavering soul of darkness." Odin asked radically to the adorable girl.

"I'm doing alright, Odin. Oh, and Bucky is doing better too, right Bucky?" Elise said referring to her Gearpack and from it comes out the same Grimm arm as before who gives a thumbs up in response.

'I don't know what's more unsettling, the fact that she happily keeps a Grimm that possesses objects on her back, unlike the rest who remain unnerved by that tactic, that she befriends Grimm left and right no problem, or that she gives silly names to the ones she is given ownership.' Laslow muttered, not sure what to make of the Grimm in general or Elise's bizarre fondness of them. He's not alone and the rest of them feel the same way, except for Odin who is just awestruck.

"Excellent! Your strength is as superb as the glory of the sun and the iron will of the mightiest Demon Slayer." Odin cheered for her, not having a problem at all with Elise's friendship with the Grimm. "Truly, a beacon of the highest…"

"As much as I have grown accustomed to your odd enthusiasm, and appreciate your high spirit, Odin, I wish that you would loosen up a little, there is much to be done." Xander interrupted and insisted.

"Okay…" Odin muttered, disappointed about being interrupted again, something he should be used to at this point since a lot of people would prefer he shut up permanently but he really isn't.

"Do you have another task for us, Milord?" Laslow asked.

"Sadly yes, in spite of the recent incident, our King has only been motivated to up our game and strengthen our march on Hoshido and send a greater message to our enemies that we are not to be trifled with and that not even that cowardly attack will be enough to bring us to our knees." Xander said while narrowing his eyes and raising his right hand in a tight fist. "I am to return to the frontline and lead the attack while our King and Queen remain in Nestra to explain things with King Alexander and assure him that we meant no offense to his rule."

"You mean oversell our innocence and divert all animosity to Hoshido." Zero corrected bluntly.

"Call it however you see fit, Zero, as long as we maintain our integrity there, nothing else matters." Xander brushed off, too used to the bravado of Leo's retainer to be bothered.

"What about Lord Leo? I imagine he would want to assist you." Silas asked.

"Though I insisted that he rest at least he seemed adamant on getting back in action so I suggested he go and aid Camilla in raiding Cheve since Prince Ryoma has been confirmed to be there and his capture is imperative to secure our victory."

"And wherever Milord travels, my Fell Hand won't be far behind to smite his enemies." Odin declared, ready for more battle.

"Why not, I can be slothful another time." Zero shrugged with no objections.

"Back to Hoshido then." Laslow sighed.

"Yay! I'm feeling stabby and I sure hope I get to spill actual blood this time." Peri cheered.

"Actually, Laslow, Peri, I have a request for you both. I would like you two to also go and assist Camilla and Leo in taking Cheve and Ryoma." Xander requested.

"WHAT! But Lord Xander, I don't want to hurt some stupid rebels throwing a hissy fit. I want to stab Hoshidans!" Peri cried in total objection and is actually crying.

"Apologies Peri but this is more to ease my conscious as leaving Camilla alone with Ryoma is troubling enough and the more security for my siblings, the better I can focus on other matters." Xander clarified.

"I see, consider it done then." Laslow complied.

"Oh, okay." Peri mumbled in defeat. "But then, who will protect you if I'm not there?"

"I'll go if you will have my sword, Milord." Silas volunteered.

"Thank you, my friends." Xander smiled in gratitude. "How about you Charlotte, your use of an axe is always invaluable and mother won't mind me borrowing one of her retainers."

"But of course, my Prince." Charlotte responded and got back up in a heartbeat with her sore mood replace with a more lively and proactive one and a light blush on her face to boot.

'So fast!' The Five who were beside her before Xander and Elise showed up mused at once in surprise, and annoyance about her sudden shift in attitude from before, though really it's a common thing regarding her.

"Hey! No funny business with my Prince!" Peri warned viciously.

"My, whatever do you mean, dear comrade." Charlotte feigned ignorance.

"You know exactly what I…"

"Settle down, no fighting amongst comrades." Xander commanded, getting Peri to begrudgingly submit while Charlotte mockingly winks at the female Paladin. "Thank you."

"By your permission, Milord, but I would request that I be sent back to Nestra and remain by the Queen's side. I fear that things will potentially end up against our favor." Benny stated.

"Of course, Ben. Your duty is of utmost importance." Xander replied. "As for you Elise, you will be staying here in Windmire."

"But…"

"No buts, I talked it over with mother and father, and they too want you as far away from this as possible, especially after what just happened." Xander interrupted sternly, silencing the young Princess and saddening her over being excluded, causing the older brother to place a hand on her shoulder. "It's for the best Elise, as helpful as you are, the farther away you are from all this, the better the rest of us can focus on other matters. Be as strong as you always have been. Your defining moment will arrive."

"Okay…"

"Thank you." Xander smiled at her cooperation and soon takes her away and departs from the retainers. "I wish you all and the rest of our army the best and we will set out in the morning."

"Likewise Milord." Laslow replied as he and his comrades bow in respect to their Crown Prince. "Well, we have some time to rest before the big day tomorrow so I suggest we use it."

"Rest for how long, four hours? Fat chance, a woman demands way more than that." Charlotte objected.

"Oh, I know darling, which is truly a waste."

"Well, time to bust out those new Sleepless spells Lord Leo has been working on to ensure we don't suffer any deprivation for now." Zero suggested.

"Excellent idea, my One-Eyed Reaper, I'll get started on it right away." Odin replied, eager to cast the new spell himself. "Laslow, my brother in arms, will you assist me in gathering the necessary ingredients?"

"Of course." Laslow replied with a grin as the two take their leave from their comrades.

"So, it's off to Cheve." Laslow remarked.

"Ah, yes, the Awakening Trio unite once again to lay waste to our masters' enemies as we bring forth the might of the Dogs of Darkness!" Odin said passionately.

"So it seems. Still, I remained bothered by how even Nestra would befall to such a tragedy and it was truly because of us." Laslow mused. "Tonight was not like we had hoped it would."

"Alas, the cold hands of the Netherworld demand much from us, and it is our duty to bear all burdens, including the rejection of true tranquility." Odin said in his usual dramatic attitude but it seemed less intense.

"That was almost un-Odin-like, this night has you feeling down more than I thought." Laslow said surprise.

"Perish the thought, my dear Laslow of the Azure Sky, nothing can bring down Qliphoth's Mighty Chosen, Odin Dark, once he has a task to fulfill." Odin shrugged more headstrongly.

"I prefer you go with Indigo instead." Laslow chuckled. "How you think our masters are holding up after confronting Lady Corrin again?"

"Tis a sad tale, for all in their moments of true weakness know not how to quell their pain but by hardening their hearts and allow it to hunger for anger and vengeance."

"Sounds about right, though in truth I cannot help but feel concern for Corrin, it must not have been easy to arrive at this conclusion and do all of this." Laslow admitted as he and Odin were there in Kurosaki along with all the other Royal Retainers as Corrin made her choice, angering and breaking the hearts of their masters.

"Yes, we are no strangers to the cruel and spiteful nature of Fate, and why Mankind must strive to break the chains that hold us under her iron grip, however, she has made her choice as we have made ours, and now there is no turning back."

"True, we once again stand at the precipice of no return, old friend, nowhere to go but forward." Laslow said solemnly. "Even though we are technically the bad guys."

"Nonsense, our cause is a just one, an entire nation choking on the grip of Famine is depending on us to save it!" Odin objected adamantly with his faith in Nohr as just.

"Come now, don't go misunderstanding my words." Laslow shrugged innocently. "Still, our efforts will be for naught if Robin manages to reunite with Corrin."

"Yeah…" Odin uttered, now feeling down. "No matter how many times I lay eyes on him, I still couldn't believe it was really him until we actually spoke to him tonight finally."

"He's really back. His soul actually survived his sacrifice, even though Naga herself said that there's no coming back from that. Not that he wanted to keep on living after all that had happened." Laslow said sounding so sad despite maintaining a smile.

"Who can blame him, all Ylisse really let him down. The fact that he still forgave us was what hurt the most though. If only Morgan were here right now." Odin uttered. "Him standing against us actually feels like justice putting salt on our wounds."

"Salt on your grandfather's wounds, not you, your mother or uncle, Owain. Don't hold the weight of the world on your shoulders. Not even the Exalts can bear it."

"How long has it been since I've been called that." Odin chuckled lightheartedly.

"Too long. I sorely missed the name my mother gave me." Laslow smiled became more lively. "You think any of our new comrades noticed the somber mood we would have whenever we were near Robin?"

"Zero, probably but he has yet to confront me on the matter yet, which is horrifyingly strange." Odin explained.

"Well let's hope he can hold off until this all blows over because talking about home to these people will just have us tossed into the asylum before dawn."

"Funny since our new enemy is the very Dawn itself." Odin replied.

---

"Big Brother!" Sakura cried in joy as Scarlet leads the Hoshidans to the Rebel base, which is located underground of Cheve where said big brother is currently at, in the room where the rebel higher ups gather to plan, and the youngest Princess wastes no time in rushing to her brother and hug him, something that Ryoma happily complies with his own hug.

"Sakura. It's good to see you are well. All of you." Ryoma smiled with joy to see his siblings and comrades again after a fair amount of time apart.

"Right back at ya, big bro." Hinoka smiled back at him.

"Lord Ryoma!" Saizo and Kagero spoke up at once and step forward and bow to their Lord.

"We are relief to see you are unharmed." Saizo remarked.

"As do I to all of you." Ryoma replied. "I hope your journey back to them was not a cruel one Kagero. I am sorry for being forced to leave you behind."

"Think nothing of me, Milord, my ordeals are nothing but trivial matters." Kagero shrugged respectably and professionally, before presenting to her lord his Sacred Treasure. "The Fang of the Thunder God has also longed to return to your service"

"Thank you, Kagero, it's good to be back to full strength." Ryoma said, happily reunited with his pride and joy. "I'm ashamed to admit that fighting without it has left a poor taste on my dignity and feeling incomplete."

"Don't worry about it, it feels natural to have Holy Withdraws after being separated from a Sacred Treasure for so long." Takumi said understanding the sense of unbalance Ryoma is referring to considering how he despises being away from his Fujin Yumi.

"Wait, that's a thing?" Hinoka mumbled.

"W-We were so worried for you, Ryoma. These passing few weeks have been the most stressful I've ever had." Sakura said still sobbing.

"Few weeks? I've been gone just one week at best." Ryoma said confused. "Though in hindsight now that I think about it, it is mighty odd how I was able to get around anywhere so quickly considering how massive Horus is and I take it your journey here should've been even longer."

"The ride, while questionably short was still a fairly long and complicated story." Takumi said.

"I'd like to hear about it. It's best that we always remain in touch and know of each other's struggles." Ryoma said. "I would also like to know about the new faces in your group, such as why the son of the Wind Tribe's Chieftain is with you all." He said noticing Hayato, Mozu and Lilith.

"You first, we kinda need one after all the trouble we went through to find you after you decided to go and meet up with your girlfriend just to talk about an alliance when you both could've just sent a message to each other instead." Takumi said as the circumstances of this journey don't entirely add up.

"That's not exactly accurately put." Ryoma said, feeling uncomfortable with the way Takumi described it. Even Scarlet feels uncomfortable, looking away from all of them with a slight blush.

"Cheve has been requesting our aid even before the war started, they knew Nohr was going to force their way through the Barrier of Concord one way or another and with how ferocious they have become, the Duchess wanted our aid, in particular, one of the Royals of Hoshido to come and activate the Great Wall to defend themselves to keep Nohr away while the war is going on." Ryoma explained. "But each messenger they sent to us have been intercepted, no doubt by Nohrians aware of the Chevians' attempt to escape the conflict so Scarlet here decided to go in next as she had the highest chance of making it. and it was only by chance that I learned of Scarlet coming to meet us because of a Dark Mage we captured who knew about a plan to ambush her in Izumo with Grimm so I took my forces to march and rescue her, however, Camilla was leading the ambush and knew of my attempts."

"She's a hassle." Takumi said creeped out by Camilla more so than attracted by her unrivaled beauty.

"Hassle is too kind a term." Hinoka hissed venomously.

"I knew there was something fishy going on when I made it passed Mokushu without any sort of trouble and when I saw the massacre in the Katagiri Border I knew I ended up causing more harm than good and followed the trail of death until I reached Ryoma in time from falling into the Bottomless Canyon." Scarlet finished.

"I know it was irresponsible as the Heir to the Hoshidan Throne to go and assist other nations when my focus should be on just my home, however after what happened in Kurosaki I knew we needed help and decided to take this opportunity to convince the Chevian Nobles to lend us their strength in ending Nohr's reign, and I am pleased to inform that I'm close to convincing them, especially since I erected the Great Wall." Ryoma said.

"Not really that Great if two Nohrians were able to weaken it." Kaze commented.

"It was to be expected that they would find a way in, especially in short numbers."

"But why those two and not Camilla, they're her retainers so she can't be far behind and so she should've been the best option." Hinoka wondered.

"I suspect that it's because of her dark bloodline. The Great Wall was created by the Stone Dragon to protect the humans he deemed his own, like the Earth Tribe, who the Chevians are somewhat descendent from, and not only did the Stone Dragon and Dusk Dragon have a hateful rivalry with each other, the Nohrian Royalty are responsible for the extinction of the Earth Tribe, same as the Water Tribe so it's likely that the Wall won't allow passage to those of the Dusk Bloodline." Ryoma deduced.

"Makes sense when you bring religion into the mix and the fact that these people have always had a feud with Nohr." Orochi said.

"Which is where those two came in." Scarlet said, referring to Selena and Beruka.

"Indeed, out of all the retainers the Dusk Dragon Siblings have I find Camilla's to be the most versatile of the Nohrian Elites. Beruka is a Malig Knight like her master and is known for forging weapons infuse with magic, preferably axes and fire to create explosions, just as ferocious as a Wyvern Lord and a skilled assassin, almost as stealthy as a ninja for her to get passed even me rather well. And then there's Selena, at first glance she seems to be just a high-tier Nohrian Swordswoman with enough skills to be as deadly as a Swordmaster, however she is more like a Great Knight since she can use axes and spears just as efficiently, including bows like a sniper but what really caught my attention is a sword she carries that seemed unique to anything else Nohr has ever possessed or forged." Ryoma informed. "But if she wasn't already a walking arsenal, she also wields magic. It was she who corrupted the Dragon Vein with a form of magic unlike anything I have ever felt. I could feel it, as well as the Dragon Vein weakening, something that shouldn't be possible by human hands without Dragon Blood but she pulled it off. Luckily I was able to stop her before she could finish, but as the Great Wall is now, they'll be able to enter freely."

"Isn't there a way to restore the Dragon Vein to its original state?" Hinoka asked.

"Not all Dragon Veins are created equally, all of them in Hoshido, apart from the ones in Oldstrong, were design by the Dawn Dragon for our use and our at their strongest when used by those of Sephiroth's Bloodline, I speculate that only those of his blood can restore them if something like this ever occur so it has to be the same for the Dragon Veins in Cheve who are at their best when used by someone of the Stone Bloodline." Orochi speculated.

"But the Earth Tribe is gone." Hayato stated.

"Again those bastards shit on our dinner." Takumi hissed.

"Takumi, what have I told you and Hinoka about choosing your words carefully." Ryoma scolded in annoyance over his brother's foul mouth.

"Hey, don't get mad at me because I'm right." Takumi protested, making Ryoma sigh exasperatedly.

"What am I going to do with you. Anyhow, I'm sure we'll find a way, there has to be a few options for us to take to achieve our success." Ryoma said remaining optimistic for everyone's sake. He then finally turns his attention to Corrin who's been quiet since coming here and in the sideline. "It's good to see you are also well Corrin, though I did not expect you to be the silent type, especially after reuniting with all your siblings yet again." He smiles at her but quickly turns into a frown when she looks away from him, almost like she developed a shy personality so suddenly. "Sister…?"

"Please, forgive her, Milord, you know she means well, it's just that the passing days have not been kind to her." Kaze said, remaining close to his master.

"I can see that now and would like to know why." Ryoma said with newfound concern for his returned sister, who looks more lost than ever and only now does he notice that two among them are missing. "Also, any particular reason why Azura and your chosen partner is not with you all at this very moment?"

At that question, most of his comrades flinch, dreading how will the High Prince react when he learns of everything that they did, Azura's capture and Robin's possible death but they know they cannot decline to answer because that will undoubtedly be worse.

"Well…" Kaze volunteered to be the one to explain to him in full details.

Ryoma's reaction? Angrily slamming both his fists on the table so hard that small cracks are made on them.

"IMBECILES!" He yelled at all of them for their actions. His outburst causes most of them, especially Sakura to flinch terrified.

"You have no idea what you've started, have you! Waging an attack on neutral territory, at the risk of dragging innocence involved and also putting even yourselves in danger like that!" Ryoma roared at them.

"What were we supposed to do? Let such an opportunity like that slip our grasps! It was a risk worth taking and we would've won!" Takumi argued.

"Don't try to act like you knew what you were doing, Takumi! You've accomplished nothing but make Garon bolder and more ruthless after threatening not just him but his family. Stooping to wretched Nohrian level like that and bringing more chaos!" Ryoma snapped harder, startling Takumi even more. "The King of Nestra has made it clear that the first one to break his Accord will know his wrath and the Nestrians pride themselves with their performances and by launching an attack on the Opera House you've brought insult to their entire culture! It matters not how many supporters we have in Nestra; Alexander has made it clear who he favors and now Garon has scored a chance to enlist his army into his campaign. You've put even more targets on our backs with this stupidity! What's more, you've caused us two invaluable allies."

"Stop looking at me like it's all my fault, dammit!" Takumi yelled, more affected by Ryoma's scolding than the rest of them.

"You had one job! ONE JOB! Look after our sisters, including Corrin, and what did you do instead? Antagonize her and not even bother to think how your stunts would affect her and even after learning the existence of such terrible demons you make things worse with your inability to go beyond your trust issues." Ryoma continued. "You're always making it harder for me to trust you more and more."

Those last words hurt more than anything the Nohrians could do to Takumi, as seen on his now devastated expression.

"Ryoma, please, you know we meant well." Hinoka pleaded with him to calm down.

"It doesn't matter what your intentions were Hinoka. You've all crossed a very dangerous line." Ryoma exclaimed. "The majority of us have never been to war before, truly understand the consequences that every action we take will inflict, we stand at the precipice of no return and from now on, the choices we make affect not only the people near you when you make them but the nation we fight for, and there will be more moments that seem too good to pass off like with what you had and sometimes you just have to tell yourself that it may not be worth it. Are we clear, everyone?"

"Crystal." Hinoka responded, getting the message but remains as upset as Takumi.

"Good. Now about the Seal of Flames, are we certain that it's really the Yato?" Ryoma asked changing the subject.

"According to Robin, yes and if what the Queen said holds truth, then it's our only chance at getting the Barrier of Concord operational again and forcing the Nohrians out of Hoshido, or at the very least their human soldiers, nothing we can do about the Grimm." Kaze replied. "But so far, Lady Corrin has not been able to awaken the sword's true power, meaning that she's either too inexperienced to truly use it, or its power is completely locked."

"Meaning that only its creator can awaken it." Ryoma concluded and coming up with only one option. "Then we have no choice, we need the true power of the Sword of Salvation if we are to truly stand a chance against the Grimm, and so we must see the Rainbow Sage."

"Of course we do." Hinata sighed, dreading this.

"Lilith, you can sense the dragonic energy of the Great Wall better than anyone, how long do you think we have before it dissolves entirely?" Kaze asked.

"Based on how much it's dropping, we have barely until dawn before Lady Camilla's army strikes and I'm sure they're aware of this themselves." Lilith calculated as she's started examining the Great Wall's ever fleeting power once she learned of what was done to it.

"Then we have until dawn to prepare." Ryoma declared. "This ''army of light'' you have acquired, is it serviceable for the coming battle?"

"Yep, there were a lot of bumps along the way but we finally got the hang of it way better now." Orochi responded as she will be managing the Light Scroll for the coming battle. "Though I will be left vulnerable while I am casting the magic and I have to be in the immediate vicinity to pull it off.

"I've got her covered." Hayato said volunteering for guard duty.

"Good, this way we Hoshidans can go and fight off the enemy forces ourselves and ensure our Chevian allies remain and focus their efforts in defending their homes." Ryoma said.

"Oh, I'll be joining this fight and while Camilla's army is estimated to be large we have traps line and ready to give us a surprise advantage." Scarlet added.

"Then ready yourselves everyone, for we have more fighting to do, and by the Graceful Wings of Sephiroth, I pray you don't shame Hoshido or me again, or else." Ryoma said, prepared for battle.

"Yes sir!" His Retainers shouted at once in compromising.

"Corrin, you stay here where it's safe for now, and no objections, it's clear that you're in no condition to fight." Ryoma ordered her who makes no comply and remains silent as the Hoshidans and Rebels prepare to head out while she remains behind in the underground base and is escorted to a quarter to remain until the fighting is done with Lilith and Mozu being the only ones to remain by her side.

Robin's possible demise has completely shaken her to the point that she refuses to even speak, and they thought that the fact that his older sister from Nohr being who they have to fight now would trigger something but with all she went through it shouldn't really surprise them by how vulnerable she has become, fighting against another member of her adoptive family would only make her even worse, which adds on to Ryoma's new anger as well as guilt to the rest of her hoshidan comrades.

When Dawn broke the Hoshidans go in first to hold Camilla's forces that are estimated to only be three hundred men strong along with an unspecified number of Grimm. This may seem reckless, especially with the odds stacked against them but the Chevians have set up traps that can give them the advantage to take out plenty of foes. Nohr should come marching from the northeast of Cheve, there lies a village, behind that is a large river that cuts right through it with a large stone fort on the other side where members of the border guard of Nohr operate to overwatch Cheve. The Village has been evacuated once the Nohrians were confirmed to come through here.

"No turning back now." Scarlet said filled with determination, mounted on her ferocious, yet loyal Wyvern with a Killer Lance in hand.

"Strength, Scarlet, we'll pull through this, I know it." Ryoma assured her.

"You know that my faith in you is solid, Ryoma, as well as the faith I have in my men but I can't deny that like everyone else there is dread coursing through me." Scarlet confessed.

"I understand why you would think like that; however, I stand by my conviction when I say that we will win this night. Too many lives will be lost tonight from both sides, and rather or not this will all be worth it or not, I have no right to decide but there is no turning back now, is there? Many of your people have made it clear that they refuse to stand against Nohr for reasons I cannot fault them for but not one of them chose to fight us as well so that's a good sign as any that they do hope for us to succeed in some way."

"Yeah, you don't need to tell me." Scarlet shrugged with a smug on her face, her confidence in their endeavors not as shaken as it first seemed to be.

"My, what adorable thoughts you have. Too bad it's all for naught." Camilla's voice could be heard from seemingly everywhere with said Princess nowhere in sight, alarming all of them to keep their weapons ready to attack.

"Where is she?!" Hinoka demanded in an uproar, longing for this rematch.

"We got a Fafnir, up above us!" Scarlet shouted in alarm as they look up to the sky and see an enormous winged Grimm flying down towards them, with large red bat-like wings, a pair of legs and a tail. The red membrane of the wings is translucent. It has rough black skin, with white bone-like spines along its body, including an external skull, rib cage and rows of dorsal spikes. It also has three bony spikes on its tail and large claws on its hind legs. Its skull has a pair of large prominent horns and six yellow-red eyes. Its jaw has teeth extending down along the creature's neck, beyond its skull, such that its entire neck also opens as it makes a roaring sound.

"Only one this time? I expected Camilla to be as heartless as our last encounter with more fiends thrown my way." Ryoma said readying to attack the Grimm-like Wyvern but halts upon noticing that the Fafnir isn't engaging them and remains in the air just observing them. This could mean a lot of things, the one that the High Prince is expecting right now is that the beast is carrying someone or more people to bring along to issue a final warning. It is then that a large fireball comes falling from the Fafnir and crashes down right on the ground, a few feet away from the united Hoshidans and Chevian and once the flames cease they see that from the fires arrives Princess Camilla of Nohr, alongside her two Retainers: Selena and Beruka.

"Hello again, High Prince." Camilla greeted her foes with honey mixed into her tone.

"YOU!" Hinoka scoffed at the mere sight of Camilla and prepares to attack but Ryoma beats her to the 'punch' by speaking first.

"Malig Master. Come to finish what we started, or perhaps you intend to crush the brave men and women of this Dukedom who only wish to protect their people from the oppression your father has wrought upon them?" Ryoma questioned Camilla's intentions.

"Oh, I don't really care for Cheve's little temper tantrum that is tragically overrated, darling, my only concern is you, and luckily for me, almost the entirety of your wretched family since they are here also." Camilla replied, her words weighed with animosity but her tone remains the same.

"Temper tantrum? Is that all my people's suffering is to you?!" Scarlet shouted, intensely with rage and offense to Camilla's words.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the pesky Scarlet, here to cause trouble? Like father like daughter, I see. I'll deal with you soon enough." The Dark Princess replied, only bothering to spare the Wyvern Lord a very brief glance.

"In the name of my father and all the Chevians Nohr has wronged, I'm going to burn you and your demonic horde to the ground." Scarlet vowed.

"I wonder if it'll be worth it, though, win or lose, I have a sneaky suspicion that Cheve won't be helping Hoshido for much longer once the night is done." Camilla said rather confident.

"Is that what you think?" Ryoma asked.

"You'll have to live through this to find out, which I doubt will happen. My only concern now is ensuring your demise and recovering those you have stolen from me at last."

"Corrin? You succeed only in tormenting yourself further, Camilla. My sister has made her choice and now stands with her true family once again after your father stole her from us." Ryoma declared sternly and with conviction.

'Those you have stolen from me at last. She must mean Azura. She must not know yet what occurred in Cyrkensia.' Ryoma mused, thinking of his other ''sister'' who while not actually adopted or anything, has been a part of his life long enough to cherish her in the same regard. Ryoma's not surprised that Camilla would seek Azura as well, she vaguely mentioned her to him in their previous fight, no doubt longing to get her back as they felt for Corrin.

"Is that what YOU think? Because the way I remember it, my precious Corrin was not in the right state of mind when all of us made the mistake of letting her make such a nightmarish choice." Camilla reminded him, causing each of them to relive that accursed day and remember the devastating look on Corrin's face, one that showed that she was already dead. "My poor little sister wasn't thinking clearly at all that day and has no idea herself what she has done, and why she still needs her big sister to show her the way."

"I'm right here, you damn slut! And Corrin will not be taken from us again, much less from you!" Hinoka yelled venomously.

"I'd take you seriously if I could at the very least remember your name, darling but sadly you're just not that memorable." Camilla playfully insulted. "I don't know about you lots but I think if we keep this up we'll be here until dusk."

"Talk is cheap anyway." Beruka said as she presents to her mistress her personal violet axe that she's been holding on to along with her own.

"I say it's high time we get this over with." Selena declared.

"Yes, Cheve's future will be determined here and now!" Ryoma replied boastfully as he raises his Raijinto in the air and Orochi activates the Light Scroll and immediately, the Army of Light Constructs is summoned, around three hundred, again made up of Hoshidan Classes but there are Wyvern Riders among them this time and surround the Nohrian Ladies.

"Well, this is a small drawback." Selena uttered, caught off guard.

"My, what interesting new playthings you have. Very pretty too." Camilla joked, not taking this new predicament seriously at all.

"Yes! Time to spill as much Nohrian blood as we want." Scarlet shouted.

"You want blood? Sorry, I only brought Darkness with me." Camilla replied as she raises her axe in the air and swings it down swiftly while aiming at nobody or nothing but something does indeed happen because at once several large explosions start to occur all around them, destroying much of the village with most of Camilla's foes being caught in them, the Light Constructs are very durable but few among them don't hold off good but what is most shocking is that these were the explosives that the Rebels set up around the village for the Grimm that were carefully placed and should only trigger when they decide when they can go off. Did the Nohrians find them all?

"What's happening?" Ryoma shouted.

"Our traps have been set off and exposed." Scarlet gasped.

"You didn't think you had a chance against me, did you? My father has eyes and ears EVERYWHERE in Horus and though you did rather well in keeping your Rebellion a secret for this long, it was all merely a hide and seek game before we finally caught up with you all." Camilla said smugly as none of the explosions reach the trio of women.

"There are moles in the Rebellion!" Takumi cursed.

"No!" Scarlet gasped horrified.

From above them, the Fafnir makes a ferocious roar with Camilla's forces entering the now destroyed village, there are more humans than Grimm in her army, likely only ninety in total but enough to put the Dark Princess's foes in a major disadvantage.

"Ready yourselves!" Ryoma roared.

"Time's up Ryoma, you and your accursed family are going to pay in blood for what you've done, and once I'm through with you, I'll dedicate every waking moment in bringing endless suffering to the true Scourge of Nohr." Camilla avowed, referring to Robin as the true traitor.

The Fafnir above them makes the first official attack of this battle as it shoots a darkly red fire breath towards Camilla's enemies, with Ryoma being the only one that can do something about it as he unleashes a powerful stream of holy lightning from Raijinto to counter the deathly flames and the clash of opposing elements causes another explosion that's more destructive but with great fortune it didn't reach any of the Hoshidans but it does distract them long enough as Camilla's Wyvern, Escanor arrives at the scene and the Malig Master makes a spectacular backflip to land on top her trusty beast and flies forward, towards the High Prince and grabs him by his neck and drags him along and away from his comrades.

"RYOMA!" Most of them cried out for their leader with some already rushing to aid him with Takumi preparing to shoot Escanor down but Hinata is forced to stop him and pull him away from where he is standing as the stinger of a Lancer Grimm is fired at his direction, as the Nohrian and Hoshidans begin to spill each other's blood.

Hinoka and Scarlet go and fly after Camilla and Ryoma to help him. He may be stronger than Camilla but that doesn't mean Nohr's First Princess doesn't have a chance to beat him, she is frightening resourceful, even when it doesn't seem to be the case so neither of them feels comfortable letting him face her alone, especially after witnessing her throw the High Prince into one of the houses and threw a window, crashing in some of the furniture.

"Ragnarok!" Camilla yelled, summoning three fireballs as large as Escanor that circle around the house Ryoma is in before they rush in close, destroying it in a violent and intense flaming explosion with the High Prince inside.

'It's going to take a hell of a lot more than that to bring you down, brother, so hurry up out of there already so we can end this quicker.' Hinoka thought in desperation as she and Scarlet are nearly there to face Camilla.

"Hinoka, above you!" Scarlet shouted as danger approaches the High Princess.

Hinoka looks up in time to see that both of Camilla's Retainers are above her and riding on Beruka's own Wyvern as they manage to gain on them with Selena jumping off the Wyvern and assaults Hinoka with her sword with the High Princess raising her Bolt Naginata to parry the blade but the hit from Selena is rather strong that it knocks both her and Rukia off balance and fall to the ground.

"Damn you…" Hinoka cursed as she forces herself up.

"Don't strain yourself, the outcome of this fight is already obvious." Selena smirked proudly as she points her sword at her, and Ryoma wasn't kidding about the blade being amazing as it's the kind of sword you expect to find in the possession of a king, not a mercenary. An elegant double-edged longsword likely made of silver with a fuller cover with gold instead, the hilt of the blade is also gold in a unique shape with a strange teardrop-shaped hole at the base of it, and finally, a grip that's blue.

The two redheads face each other while Scarlet faces against Beruka.

Camilla jumps off Escanor and steps closer to the burned down house, just as a still okay Ryoma rushes out of it visibly unharmed from the flames and clashes with Camilla's axe, and though he is able to force her to her knees, Camilla doesn't seem all that worried.

"Be thankful that Xander won't be the one to end you." Camilla smirked still confident in her victory.

"He's the one who should be thankful since none of your siblings will suffer the agony of watching you die!" Ryoma declared as he will apply more force but is stopped by Escanor who rushes forward to take a bite off his head, forcing the Warrior Prince to leap away in time.

"Oh, I won't be dying any time soon. And I doubt you have the backbone to look at Corrin in the eye if you go through with it." Camilla said smugly.

"That's highly hypocritical coming from you since you don't seem to have a problem going through with killing even Sakura in spite of our relation to Corrin." Ryoma scoffed.

"Oh, please, as if she knows any of you long enough to actually give a damn."

"That's it!" Ryoma yelled, having enough of Camilla's cold words.

"You're right, this has dragged on long enough."

"Time to Play!" Both Camilla and her Retainers shout at once.

---

"Quickly, we must get to Lord Ryoma at once!" Kagero said with haste as she and Saizo rush to aid their Lord but like everyone else they are beset with the Nohrian danger, three Great Knights alongside two Death Stalkers almost corner the Ninja duo but the Light Constructs interfere, giving them a chance to escape, only to meet more danger as Saizo barely had time to avoid a Silver Star Axe thrown his way but does so regardless and turns to glance at his latest assailant before resuming his haste to Ryoma but that does not happen as he stops, truly surprised to see said assailant, who is none other than the Berserker Hans.

"Well, well, well, you two must be the High Prince's Retainers." The Berserker said sinisterly, holding his Silver Axe tightly.

"Hans!" Saizo growled, voice seeding with rage his naturally stoic demeanor tries to suppress as now is not the time to become clouded by emotions.

"Wait, that's Hans?" Kagero uttered in shock while she is forced to confront a very bulky armor Knight that assaults her. Luckily she has a Sting Shuriken to deal with this.

"Oh yeah, I remember that scar anywhere, you're that pipsqueak from before, one of Saizo's twin brats." Hans said recognizing the scar on Saizo's eye.

"I am Saizo the Fifth, son of Saizo the Forth, and I have long waited to find you, scum. And I have spilled much Blackhound blood to do so, though not even I dared imagine you would sink so low as to become one of Nohr's disgusting mutts." Saizo scoffed venomously.

"In case you have forgotten kid, this old dog is all bite, your father knows better than most in your clan." Hans replied mockingly.

"Saizo, forget about him, Lord Ryoma needs us!" Kagero yelled at his partner to focus on their true objective. Things don't go their way, however, as the Fafnir lands down and starts demolishing all of their allies nearby, and worse blocking their path to Ryoma, Hinoka and Scarlet.

"Oopssy, Master Ninja, someone's losing his touch, though I wouldn't worry too much about your Lobster Lord since he's dead weight already." Hans said mockingly.

"You'll regret letting me live that night, scum! I will avenge my father!" Saizo vowed vengefully. "Fortunately for you, however, my duties outweigh my petty feelings." He said, choosing to aid his lord above anything else and rushes to his side, but must first get past the Fafnir, as it sets it's sights on the Ninja who takes cover by forcing his way through one of the houses, bashing the front door open with the Wyvern Grimm closing in, and thrust its right arm/wing at the house, which was all it took to demolish the building entirely, however, Saizo was quick enough to make it to the back door on time to escape and the Fafnir would've noticed if not for Takumi who fires an arrow at the left portion of its face, getting its attention, buying Saizo the time he needs to escape, same with Kagero who managed to get behind it to pass through.

"Bah, Ninjas are always the cowardly type when out in the open anyway." Hans scoffed and too ignores Saizo, setting his sights on an equally worthy prey, which is Kaze who manages to evade being eaten by a Griffin much bigger than the average ones he is used to encountering that ends up getting slain instead with the combined efforts of Reina and a Light Kinshi Knight, only for the latter to be later destroyed in a surprise attack by a Wyvern Knight of Nohr.

"You… you're Hans!" Kaze gasped at the sight of the Berserker, who is confirmed to be the murderer of his and Saizo's father.

"Long time no see kid, a pity we had to run into each other once again because now I will kill you." Hans declared, now more serious.

---

"Rip in pieces!" Takumi shouted as he fires a mighty arrow that once it is close enough to it's chosen targets combust and turns into a large and mighty green tornado that instead of sucking victims in, the intense winds caused extensive damage to the armor of the Nohrians and tear open their flesh, as well as wipe out a fair number of Grimm but the Fafnir stops the tornado by colliding with it, the body being too tough to break and once it's head gets inside of it, it releases his fire breath that quickly becomes one with it, briefly creating a fire tornado before it extinguishes, halting Takumi's magic attack.

The Fafnir then turns it's flames at the younger Hoshidan Prince who counters by firing another holy arrow, the clash of the magical elements causes an explosion that knocks both foes away and crashes on the ground, unintentionally also harming friend and foe alike. Takumi is able to get back up, not as hurt as the Fafnir, just as a Boarbatusk is about to ram him over, but he manages to duck out of the way in time and shoot it down from its back. The Prince goes to try and finish off the Fafnir but is again intercepted by a Berserker, accompanied by seven Beowolves who would gang up on him, if not for several light-based Pegasus Knights and Wyvern Knights who clash with Takumi's inconvenience, buying him time to proceed, reaching the Fafnir as it is about to get up with the Prince summoning another arrow but does not yet fire as he must channel more power from the Fujin Yumi in order to achieve his objective to destroy the dragon's head.

Which is easier said than done since a Nohrian Paladin caught him attempting to finish off the Fafnir and rushes forward to stop him, luckily the Prince's retainers are nearby as Oboro jumps off a house as she previously climbed up there to escaped being overrun by eight Ursai that surrounded her from behind said house and knocks the Paladin off his horse, halting his attack and buying Takumi the time he needed to fire an arrow strong enough to pierce through the Fafnir's head, leaving a massive hole where most of its eyes should be, killing it and soon there will be nothing left but miasma to fade away.

Takumi then turns to see if Oboro needs any help since he noticed the Paladin getting closer and his Spear Master jumping in at his defense and what he sees is Oboro getting overpowered and pin to the ground by said Paladin who readies to finish her off with her own naginata, forcing the Prince to step in and headshot the Nohrian Knight, with Oboro then proceeding to push the now dead Paladin off her.

"Looks like saving each other's skin is going to become a trend." Takumi said in a more playful manner to her and extends his hand to help her up.

"Wouldn't have it any other way, Milord." Oboro smiled with a blush as she raises her hand to take Takumi's arm but unfortunately, Takumi's hand gets shot by a silver arrow, right through his wrist, causing the Prince to fall to the ground in pain, and with one of his arms now unusable, he's no longer of any use on the battlefield for now.

"MILORD!" Oboro cried in horror as she rushes to his master's aid, while also turning to see where the arrow was fired and sees that from a fair distance that the one who did it was Leo's Retainer, Zero as Camilla's reinforcements arrive, with Prince Leo leading the charge with more Soldiers and Grimm.

---

"Oops, I was aiming for his head, I must be losing my touch." Zero said mockingly, still feeling victorious for his deed.

"That's alright, I much rather finish him off myself." Leo replied as he waves his hand for his forces to advance.

"Aww, not those light thingies again!" Peri cried, infuriated to see the Light Constructs. "I want an actual bloodbath!"

"What a hassle." Laslow sighed. "It seems we will need to bust out our fancy blades, Lord Leo."

"Yes, those things are made out of pure concentrated Mana but regardless of how powerful they may be, they are still magic in nature and can be dealt with easily." Leo said as he turns to six Rod Knights beside him. "Bring in the Anti-Magic Infantry."

"Yes, sir!" They complied as three of them reveal their Warp Tomes and create a huge portal next to them, and from it comes out several wagons carrying more weapons of special material, along that comes out massive suits of black armor knights, five times the size of a normal man that can move by themselves and are each carrying broadswords fit for their sizes.

"The Geist Knights! SO exciting!" Odin cheered with huge thrill over the sight of these new weapons.

"Only fourteen, I thought we had over one hundred of them built in." Zero said.

"These were all we could afford to bring at a moment's notice." Laslow shrugged.

"Onward!" Leo commanded as the armor giants charge forward and confront the Light Constructs who are overpowering Camilla's forces and with just a swing of their blades, the constructs are easily sliced open and dissipate.

"What the heck are those things?" Rinkah protested as she is confronted by one of these giants who swings it's massive sword at her faster than she can dodge and takes the hit head-on with her club, infused with her fire magic but she is easily overpowered and ruthlessly blown away and crashes through a house and lands on a living room, hurt and her weapon shattered by the force.

"Well this could be a problem." She muttered as the armored giant from before breaks open more of the house to force itself in and continue its assault and thrust his sword down at her but she is rescued by Hayato who uses his wing magic to levitate her away from danger and is grabbed by Setsuna who carries her to safety into a bigger house where she, Hayato, Azama and Orochi are hiding out for now. Orochi can't help much since she must focus on just using the scroll as they figured that the previous problem was also because they left their light soldiers on autopilot for too long and she's already forcing herself even more by making more constructs to replace the ones that were destroyed.

"Those things are way too big." Setsuna noted.

"And it doesn't seem like magic can so much as tickle them." Azama added. "So the armor they're wearing must be completely Anti-Magic."

"But how could they have amassed enough of such ultra-rare material for such an arsenal." Orochi uttered completely puzzled by such an anomaly. As resourceful as Nohr is, they've never been able to create enough Anti-Magic tools for barely a platoon, let alone a battalion. Is this another result of their experimentation with the Grimm's odd energy.

"Forget how they're making them, how are they getting them to move, its not like they can control those things with magic." Hayato countered before they begin to feel the house they're in crumble apart as a Giant is forcing it's way in by ripping apart a large chunk of the wall and throws it aside at a far distance, however, Hayato quickly catches the debris by trapping it in a dome of wind and with much force, brings it crashing back down and into the giant that tossed it aside to begin with and knocked it down. They can still be harmed with conventional means.

"Humans can't move them." Rinkah concluded as she comes up with something, forcing herself back up and out there to face the new threat and conveniently stumbles on a Brave Sword and Soldier's Knife from the defeated Nohrians and picks them up for her use and swings the sword to clash with the giant sword, this time ready and standing her ground better, afterward she creates fiery streams from her feet that propel her to the air to get near the giant's head and with all her strength she cuts the helmet off from the body and with reckless abandon jumps inside the suit of armor where she confronts the mask of a Grimm similar to the one from Elise's Gearpack.

"Peek-a-Boo!" Rinkah shouted as she impales the Grimm with the knife and shatters it, seemingly killing the demon as the entire suit of armor crumbles apart to the ground with the entirety of it splitting off. "That was questionably easier than the other times I'd fought a Geist but I suppose I shouldn't complain."

Out of the blue, another Armored Giant walks in and kicks the suit of armor where Rinkah is still in and gets knocked away.

"SHIT! SON OF A BITCH!" Rinkah cried out as she crashes on to some Light Soldiers. Once she lands, she wastes no time in getting out and furiously goes after the other giants.

"You'll pay for that!" She roared with the Brave Sword still in hand.

"Well, she's nothing if not persistent." Azama praised.

"Great, now if everyone else could be just as bold because we're down to 223 Light Soldiers left." Orochi muttered. "Scratch that, we're down to 182 left. The Nohrians aren't pulling their new arsenal."

---

Hans howls as he swings his axe against Kaze who fights using his Silver Katana while they fight inside a house with the Berserker living up to the name of his class and mad with bloodlust, swinging his weapon with intense ferocity at the Ninja while managing to remain at close proximity so that Kaze can have a harder time avoiding him, but the Ninja is still faster than the Berserker at least. Kaze gets cornered into a table, of which he backflips around it to avoid Hans' next swing as he splits the table in two with such ease. Kaze uses this chance to throw two of his remaining Shurikens at him, one of them hits his left abdomen but Hans is able to use his left shoulder guard to block the one aiming for his head, and despite the blade in his abdomen, the Berserker still continues with his assault, attempting to decapitate his head off, which Kaze is again able to evade it, hitting a wall instead, and as Hans is about to pull it off, Kaze then proceeds to kick it by the handle with enough force to push the blade deeper into the wall to the point that Hans couldn't pull it off without using much more force but there's not enough time as Kaze takes this chance to strike and thrust his silver katana towards Hans's face but the Berserker quickly turns right to evade the blade, afterward he pulls the shuriken still in his abdomen and uses it to stab Kaze on his sword arm, causing him to drop his blade.

Hans then grabs Kaze by his neck and pushes him into a kitchen and proceeds to decapitate him again, and he will be using it with the Ninja's own blade as he quickly caught it as soon as Kaze dropped it. Corrin's stealthy Retainer is in luck as there is a kitchen knife that he can grab and use to defend himself as he stops Hans by stabbing him, Hans notices the knife in time, however, and is forced to back away, and though Kaze does stab him in the chest, it didn't go deep enough to kill him but instead forces him to his knees and drops Kaze's Katana.

"Lucky bastard." Hans growled as he boldly removes the knife from his chest and immediately uses a Vulnerary he has with him to stop the bleeding on each of his wounds, and he isn't worried about Kaze trying to stop him as Kaze does the same with his own Vulnerary, easing the pain he feels towards previous injuries he received before facing Hans.

"Your efforts are futile, and you know it, Hans. All you'll accomplish is condemning your life even further." Kaze warned as he picks up his Katana from the ground.

"Is that so, wise guy? Your pop's said the same thing, and his words were emptier than an empty bottle of wine." Hans spatted as he goes to pick up his axe from the wall, having to put a lot of effort to pull it out. "And like with him before I gutted him, I curse your words, just as I curse my own Hoshidan heritage. Hypocrites and serpents that need to die, all of you."

"I make no excuses for the mistakes made by my people, nor do I defend my father's choices." Kaze said solemnly, having a deeper history with Hans. "However, that doesn't change the fact that I too can't forgive your sins, just as I cannot forget that it was you who robbed me of my father and made my brother a husk of his former self. I won't let you hurt or take away anyone else I care about. At the very least, I'll give you an honorable death."

"I know you'll try to kill me but as you can see for yourself, I have evolved far beyond being just another petty Bandit." Hans said while his left shoulder starts to give a dim glow, revealing the very same symbol that the Beringel Grimm has on their backs, and at the nick of time, four Beringels come barging through the walls and surround Kaze. "Honor is for the living, not the dying, especially those who are already dead."

"We'll see." Kaze said stoically, confident that he can survive this. "I'm not planning on dying here tonight either, I have a master that needs me now more than ever."

"That traitor will get her comeuppance in her own time, now you'll get yours." Hans declared, surprising Kaze a little bit on how he knows that he's Corrin's new retainer.

---

Hinoka rapidly swings her Naginata against Selena, delivering fast and strong slashes but to the frustrations of the Princess, the Nohrian Swordsman is incredibly skilled, parrying each hit thrown at her and judging by the stoic expression on her face, she's not putting a lot of effort. Hinoka fires the strongest stream of lightning that she can muster from her Bolt Naginata that finally succeed in hitting Selena and knocks her to the ground but at the nick of time, she summons Morgenstern from thin air like Robin and uses it to shield her from the lightning attack, and without incanting any spells, the powerful tome shows off a yellow aura and begins to function as a lightning rod and absorbs all the magic into it, stopping the attack. That same aura then starts to course through Selena, which seems to enhance her speed as she quickly gets on her feet and charges at Hinoka, faster than any Mercenary should and delivers a double kick on the High Princess that she barely blocks using her naginata, and the impact knocks her to the ground but Hinoka is able to backflip herself up in time to parry Selena's next blow and backs away from her.

"Where the hell did you get that Tome?!" Hinoka demanded.

"Wouldn't you like to know. It's not like your mages know how to read a book anyway." Selena scoffed in response as she opens Morgenstern to cast a spell that should finish this fight in her favor. "Excalibur!" She commanded, summoning a twister around Hinoka that she could not avoid in time. The High Princess screams in pain as she gets blown upwards.

"NO! Hinoka!" Ryoma cried in horror, noticing his sister being blown away but cannot help her as he has to deal with several Grimm and the armored giants who arrived to assist Camilla.

"I gotcha!" Scarlet shouted as she grabs Hinoka by her hand and pulls her on top her Wyvern. "Shit! That was some blow you took."

"I'll live…" Hinoka assured her as she is able to sit up straight on the Wyvern's back. "My family have always had a strong resistance against magic, even without becoming Diviners ourselves. Thank you."

"Kudos to Dragon Blood." Scarlet praised

"Heads up!" Hinoka warned as a large fireball is being thrown their way, which Scarlet is able to evade in the nick of time, with Beruka chasing after them.

"Your Pegasus doing alright?" Scarlet asked.

"The other redhead put a deep cut on Rukia so I had to force her to flee the scene." Hinoka cursed her misfortune of being without a mount.

"Well then consider us pair-ups for now." Scarlet replied as she moves to face Beruka again, the Malig Knight already firing another spell, a Ragnarok, surrounding the duo with three fireballs to incinerate them, which Hinoka counterattacks by spinning her Naginata so fast while channeling electricity, and with a mighty swing she fires a lightning halo that spreads far and hits the Ragnarok spell, causing them to explode far enough to allow Scarlet to fly them away in time. The smoke done from the explosion provided them a little bit of cover to surprise attack Beruka who is below the smoke as they come from above, but the Malig Knight expected this and parries Scarlet's lance with her Axe, though she is visibly left wide open for Hinoka to attack her as well, but Beruka has a spare Brave Axe that she quickly pulls out in time to barely parry the naginata in time and pushes them off her.

"Malig Knights sure are persistent." Scarlet hissed.

"Not for long!" Hinoka swore.

"Resistance is futile." Beruka declared.

---

Downward, Ryoma cuts his way through almost everything Camilla throws at him and so far the armor giants proved to be a true challenge, resilient even to Raijinto's power, but not entirely.

'Dammit, they actually managed to build Anti-Magic armors this big just for the Geists to wield in combat to hunt Diviners.' Ryoma cursed as he parries a claymore from a giant, who are actually another type of Grimm called Geists with the power to possess inanimate objects for various purposes, one such example is taking possession of suits of armor or statues and fight alongside soldiers, and so the Nohrians have begun manufacturing armor meant for Titans for just for the Geists to possess and sent off for war and combined with enchanted armor like Anti-Magic, they are notorious Mage Hunters.

Ryoma avoids the next swing of the Geist and then aims for the wrist of the sword arm hard enough to make it drop its sword. The Prince Swordsman then leaps on top of the giant's handle, just to make another impressive high leap and flip above another Geist, to then swung the Raijinto and fire a horizontal lightning attack strong enough to knock the giant from the back, regardless that even Raijinto's power can be dispelled by Anti-Magic, Ryoma can still release strong enough shockwaves to blast them at a fair distance, like the one he just hit that is thrown off balance, crashing into the previous one he fought, with both of them falling into a hole caused by one of the mines Camilla set off to avoid her forces from being harmed and killed by explosions, and due to how heavy those armors are, it's likely that it'll be tough to get out of there.

Ryoma is beset with more danger as Escanor rams himself at the High Prince, pinning him to the ground and making him drop Raijinto, and as the Wyvern goes to sink his fangs on him, Ryoma is able to prevent being eaten as he is lucky enough to have a metal pipe near him that he uses to have Escanor bite instead and muster all the strength he can to get the beast off him.

"Times up Ryoma!" Camilla declared as he marches forward to finish off Ryoma himself with her axe and in the nick of time, Escanor stops his assault and moves his head away to allow his mistress to deliver the final blow herself, and as she swings her axe down, two Chakram shurikens are thrown at the axe hard enough to force the weapon off her hands. The Nohrian Princess turns and looks to see that it is both Ryoma's Retainers who interfered, and this distraction is what Ryoma desires, along with a new weapon as he grabs one of the Chakrams and uses it to stab it through Escanor's neck.

"ESCANOR!" Camilla cried in horror as her trusty Wyvern falls to the ground injured, and her horrified state, gives the Hoshidans another chance with Kagero throwing a Soldier's Knife she stole from a Nohrian, right at the Nohrian Princess face, but it is intercepted by Selena who arrives in time to parry the dagger away from her.

Ryoma also takes the chance to strike Camilla with a recovered Raijinto now that she's focused solely on her wounded wyvern but Selena once again steps into her mistress defense with both their sword's clashing with each other and lock in a very short stalemate with the redhead nearly knocked to the ground but still prevails through the power of Morgenstern.

"Elwind!" Selena shouted, firing a deadly wind attack at Ryoma's chest, blasting him through another house.

"Lord Ryoma!" The Ninjas cried out as they rush to their Prince's aid who is alright despite taking a magic attack at close range.

"I'm fine, thank Sephiroth for an abundance of Resistance from his blood." Ryoma muttered.

"You are still viable for a Vulnerary; you have to keep your stamina." Kagero suggested, offering the elixir.

"Escanor!" Camilla sobbed as she removes the shuriken from her wyvern's neck and starts using a Vulnerary on the wound.

"It's no good Lady Camilla, it takes four Vulneraries for a wound like this for a Wyvern, the elixir just isn't meant for anything that isn't human." Selena reminded the Princess. "Not to mentioned that the neck is a wyvern's weak spot and not something that can be treated so easily, anyway."

"Then give me the ones you have left. I am not leaving him like this!" Camilla demanded.

"Gawds! Hey, you two, quit lazing around and get over here!" Selena ordered the two Geists still stuck in the hole and almost immediately two ghostly Grimm come out from the suits of armor, which are the true forms of the Geist Subspecies. Black figures that have bone-like spikes on their backs and ribs on the upper bodies, with long, skeletal forearms and sharp fingernails. Due to their ghostly appearances, they lack lower bodies, instead floating through the air while leaving behind a black smoke trail. Their faces consist of Grimm markings on a mask-like bone plate with a single eye, exactly the one in Elise's backpack, Bucky, which is also a Geist. The two fly to Camilla and Selena while they just use up all their Vulnerary on Escanor who is still too hurt to fight at the moment.

"Get him to the healers pronto and carefully, and do not let anyone put so much as another scratch on my Escanor." Camilla instructed the two Grimm, and the Geists respond by rushing towards a house, and begin to work their magic on it as the house starts to fall apart with parts of it starting to float and gather together, forming a floating platform as well as multiple hands to carry Escanor and place him there and begin to take the Wyvern away.

"Be strong as always, dear, and don't do anything I would do." Camilla cheerio her Wyvern.

"Which is try to slice someone off even while injured." Selena joked.

"Exactly."

The two then face off against the High Prince and both his Retainers again, while both Scarlet and Hinoka land next to them, while Beruka lands next to the two.

"Seriously, you haven't gotten rid of those two already!" Selena protested to her partner.

"Weren't you the one who previously fought the enemy Princess and got her in my way?" Beruka questioned lowly and uncaring.

"I got a win! Which is more than I can say for the both of you."

"Let's make sure that the victories keep on coming then." Camilla said as the trio ready to battle against the five of them with more Grimm arriving to back them up. And it is then that Ryoma finally notices that Selena has with her the Morgenstern.

"That tome! Where did you get it?" Ryoma demanded.

"I'll happily tell you if you pass me the lobster bisque, you LOBSTER BITCH!" Selena instead gives a mocking answer to the High Prince, earning a chuckle from Camilla and an annoyed sigh from Beruka.

"HOW DARE YOU!" Saizo roared enraged at such an insult towards his master.

"Dammit! So that damn Xander really got to Robin." Ryoma cursed, over the probability that Robin might really be dead, but secretly he is deeply offended by Selena's insult.

'Why does everyone think that about my armor? It's a traditional suit passed down from previous High Princes for forty generations.' He mumbled. 'At least Corrin hasn't caught on yet.'

"I… what…?" Selena is suddenly caught off guard by what Ryoma said about Robin being defeated by Xander, bewildered even.

"Damn… so Xander got to him first." Camilla scoffed in disappointment, she really wanted to be the one to kill Robin. "Fine, I'll just have to settle for all of you, and then take Corrin back and be the one to bring her home."

---

"Almost done! Almost done! Almost done!" Sakura cried frantically as she heals the serious wound Takumi has while Subaki, Hana, Hinata, Oboro and several Light Soldiers provide defense as to not disturb them.

"Sakura! Please, deep breaths, healers are no good if they can't keep a cool head." Takumi advised as her efforts to heal his wound using a light magic boost is slower than it was when she used it on Corrin. "I know it looks bad but whatever you do, block everything out and focus on my voice, you can do this."

"O-Ok… ay. I-I under… stand." Sakura muttered, taking a deep breath as she attempts to remain calm as she can be more helpful to her brother if she tries.

"These bastards just never learn!" Hana shouted as she cuts down a Berserker with Oboro's support while Subaki and Hinata take out the last of the Grimm in their current area until eventually the place becomes safe for now and making Sakura feel safer and in turn heal Takumi's arm more efficiently.

"Heads up, there are more incoming." Subaki warned as he notices Odin and Laslow approach them, accompanied by seventeen Beowolves.

"Aw, crap, it's that sort of Dark Knight and Prince Xander's right-hand man." Hinata recognized the pair.

"Good, I've been itching for a rematch." Hana hissed, desiring to fight Odin again.

"Aha! Champions of Dawn!" Odin called out to his adversaries. "It's been only a few hours and it feels like weeks. Truly the Gods demand much of us to meet in battle once again and this time on even ground."

"Wait, how do you know about the Astral Plane?" Hinata gasped, taking Odin's exaggerated speech seriously.

"Wait, what?" Odin asked confused himself, unaware of how accurate his words truly hold.

"Forget that! Let's settle this!" Hana demanded.

"Ladies first." Laslow insisted with a wink as the pair raise their swords at their foes as another fight ensues with Hana and Subaki leading the charge while Hinata and Oboro remain behind to guard the two Royals.

"Alright, this place has been compromised so we better find someplace else to take cover. Chop-chop." Hinata declared as the four prepare to leave, however Hinata quickly notices incoming danger from above, forcing him to push his three comrades and himself out of the way, just in time to avoid being impaled from above by a Killer Lance which belongs to Peri who threw it while standing on top a house near them.

"Found you, Piggy Hoshidans. Come to the slaughter." Peri said while giggling at the sight of her latest prey.

"Xander's psychopath retainer." Takumi uttered while the female paladin leaps off the house and lands before them while now wielding a Killer Edge.

"You're right where I want you, now say goodbye to all your intestines." Peri declared playfully.

"Back off before I tear off YOUR intestines, you horrid freak!" Oboro glared viciously at the Knight, and Hinata can't help but feel like her demon glare has intensified somehow.

"Hey, it's the Demon Lady!" Peri cheered upon seeing Oboro's infamous glare.

"Excuse me!" Oboro snapped at the Nohrian for what she just called her.

"You look exactly like how I picture all hoshidans in my dream as I kill you all. This will make this all the more fun." Peri cheered amused by what she considers a wonderful development while she fulfills her goals to take them down.

"Hinata, get back. This one is all mine!" Oboro growled viciously with newfound bloodlust.

"Ah… sure." Hinata muttered awkwardly as he, Takumi and Azura back away as the two women are left to fight solo and hopefully uninterrupted.

"This will not end well." Takumi muttered, not liking how this might turn out.

---

"Do you think everyone is going to be okay?" Mozu asked nervously and concern for their friends fighting for Cheve's sake while the three of them are staying in a room away from the battlefield raging outside.

"We can only hope, the Grimm are more ferocious than we could've imagined but are not as versatile as the Nohrians make them out to be just yet, either way, we have to prepare for when we end up fighting anyway." Lilith replied, prepared for the worse to protect Corrin as best she can. Said Princess remained silent still until she finally chooses to speak again.

"Mozu…" She said calling out to the Village Girl.

"Lady Corrin, you finally talk again." Mozu said enthusiastically as it was very depressing for her to see the wayward princess look so gloomy and lost when it's supposed to be the other way around.

"I'm sorry." Corrin said next with remorse in her voice, confusing the Village Girl by what could she be implying. "I never meant to drag you into any of this, but I thought at the very least I could keep you safe from all this until I find you a safer place to start anew, instead I just drag you along to my problems."

"N-No, please don't think like that Lady Corrin. You were just trying to help me, and as bad as things have gotten for me, I don't regret coming along." Mozu assured her. "I'm happy to have met all of you, I just wish it was under better circumstances."

"Don't we all…" Corrin muttered.

"Nothing is really you're fault Lady Corrin, everyone would agree on that, at least."

"I wish I could believe that Mozu, I really do, but… with Robin gone, what's even the point of me continuing to fight Nohr or the Sins if I'm just going to lose so much more."

"Don't think like that Corrin. Robin wouldn't want you to think like that either." Lilith pleaded as she wraps her arms around her shoulders. "Please, be strong, Corrin, no one who loves you wants to see you in so much pain, and I know how you feel about him, and I'm sorry I couldn't do enough for any of you."

"Nothing's your fault Lilith." Corrin countered gently while she wraps her right arm around her back with the two dragons embracing in a loving hug. "Nothing's your fault. You did more for everyone than I ever could."

The three girls then gasp upon hearing the screams of several men and weapons clashing and walls and boxes breaking. Have the Nohrians breached the Rebellion's hideout?

"Lilith stay with Mozu! I'll go and check it out myself." Corrin ordered as she rushes to the scene.

"But Corrin…" Lilith began.

"No arguing Lilith, she needs you more than me, escape to the Astral Plane if danger barges in here, no fighting." Corrin raised her tone like an older sister would to her younger siblings as she leaves.

---

The Chevian Knights find themselves caught by a stealthy ambush by Nohrian Outlaws who make short work of most of them but were caught by other knights, which lead to a short but heated conflict, and this scuffling is led by Prince Leo, who ends the current fight much quicker with his Sacred Treasure and summons tree branches from all sides to impale his enemies. Accompanying him is also Zero and few Dark Mages.

"This side has been taken cared off but this scuffling was no doubt heard by the rest of the base so we better make this quick, Milord." Zero suggested to Leo.

"Indeed, bring them in." Leo commanded to his Mages as they raise their tomes and start to create another portal behind them, large enough for things twice the size of humans, and from the portal come out several Grimm, such as Beowolves, Ursai, Boarbatusks and Creeps. Along with a new type of Grimm, who are humanoid in shape, somewhat similar to the Nuckelavee's humanoid-equine hybrid, but very tall, with long arms that reach down as far as the ground and extremely long fingers. They have hideous faces, resembling skulls, with some even lacking nostrils, and low-hanging jaws.

"So these are the Apathies, oh how their mere presence makes my boots quake, Milord." Zero joked, not really taking these weak-looking monsters seriously.

"It's not fear that they are meant to bring, in fact, these bunch don't really do much aside from the magic they are given." Leo explained.

"Which is what exactly, pray tell, because based on what I saw, summoning these things from the Qliphoth Pools looked to be almost as difficult as summoning out a Nuckelavee, or a Leviathan for the Priests of the Dusk Faithful to pull off." Zero asked.

"It's better that you see for yourself, and… prepare to be disappointed." Leo replied as more Chevian Soldiers come just in the nick of time horrified to see the Nohrians and their monsters here in their base of operations.

"Oh, Gods! The base has been compromised!" One of them uttered in horror.

"STAND YOUR GROUND! Do not let these abominations set foot in our soil!" A General roared as they prepare for battle, and Leo replies by snapping his fingers and all the Apathy Grimm use their power by making chilling screams that at first seem to do nothing until the Chevians halt their brave assault and by the look in their eyes, they quickly lose the will to fight, dropping their weapons and remain still and weary even, some of them looking like they're about to drop to their knees.

"So their power is in their name as they can make their victims lose the will to do anything." Zero concluded as none of the Nohrians look like they were affected.

"Pretty much." Leo affirmed.

"You're right, I am disappointed." Zero shook his head in disapproval. "Where's the nightmare inducement, the higher guarantee of collateral damage, the gore? Aren't Grimm supposed to be all about negativity and war? These things contradict the entire species as a whole."

"You have to look on the bright side. With the Apathies we can end the war with more promising results and less bloodshed by stripping people of all negative thoughts against Nohr, and we finally amassed enough of them to subdue all of Cheve, so the way I see it, these freaks are our trump card." Leo insisted.

"I suppose you have a point, though it is odd on why so much effort has to be put into summoning them." Zero questioned.

"That's a mystery for another day, now all of you, mobilize. This underground base will lead us to the capital square but first, we will take the base as our own." Leo commanded as the Nohrians and Grimm spread out. "Remain with me Zero, there's a specific rat that needs to be snuff out." Leo said as he channels power from Brynhildr and fires a dark sphere at a wall, blasting a hole through and knocking down Corrin, who was able to remain hidden since they started bringing the Grimm here but was somehow spotted by Leo, and it is likely that he noticed her presence as soon as she arrived.

"Corrin, why am I not surprised to find you here, where your 'real' older brother ran hiding like a coward." Leo said sounding unsurprised by finding his former foster older sister here supporting Cheve's rebellion. "Oh well, at least now we can settle things once and for all. Prepare yourself, if you don't want to be my sister anymore, that's fine. I'll erase you from my heart forever!"

"No!" Corrin hesitantly gets in a fighting post without raising her sword, forced to face against Leo, who can only scoff at the primitive post she is taking, showing how unwilling to fight she is unlike last time.

"As I said before, Nohrian Law is blunt on the subject of traitors, and you, Scourge of Nohr, are no exception to the Judgment of the Dark." Leo said viciously. "Especially after causing me to fall into that hole."

"Leo, please just listen to me. I haven't become blind to Nohr's plight, but even you have to see that getting resources through a dictatorship will only lead to more conflict and chaos." Corrin attempts to reason with her wise younger brother.

"You always were hard to persuade and too weak of will to understand anything, Corrin. Nohr is done doing things the ''right'' way. A thousand years of struggle and nothing has changed, and Cheve, like everyone else, continues to paint us as the monsters for just trying to get by. Hoshido is just one of our long list of enemies who've pretended to be our allies in the past and even after winning the last two wars they defy us still and leave us in the wasteland." Leo cursed venomously at Corrin's naivety. "The Chevians especially will no longer be forgiven for their continued defiance."

"So what, you're just going to have the Grimm ravage them and strip them of their will?!" Corrin questioned more harshly. "In what world do you live in where drowning everyone in darkness will solve all your problems? Where in the Book of Qliphoth does the Dusk Dragon teach us this savagery?!"

"The same one as you!" Leo raised his tone louder than Corrin has ever heard him speak in. "There is no light in Nohr, it's all in your head, though there is no one to blame but father for making you this way. Even among the royals there were times where our lifestyle has felt no different than our fellow commoners, all my life, I like Xander, Camilla and Elise have seen and even experienced the consequences of taking food and water for granted enough times to not just know but feel the agony and indignity our peasants feel every day! EVERY DAY! Our resources now have been plentiful since last year but in a month's time it will all go away, and the only way we can ensure that they remain permanent is with power absolute, and make sure no one dares stand in the way of our holy mission, and I for one am done trying to justify my actions to those who don't have a clue of what it's like to fight, steal and kill just to survive! Cheve has defied us once and Gunter suffered for it."

"What does Gunter have to do with any of this?" Corrin questioned.

"Oh, so you don't know yet, that's a little surprising." Leo said regaining his composure and showing a slight amusement.

"You want to tell her or should I, Milord?" Zero said eagerly about where this argument is heading off to.

"You can have the honors, Zero, it's much more… toxic when the truth comes out of your serpent's mouth." Leo offered.

"Oh, you're too kind, my Prince." Zero chuckled. "Tell me, Princess, are you aware of the real reason why the Rebels' leader, Scarlet is purely motivated on 'liberating' Cheve from Nohr's control?"

"It's because her father was publicly executed in retaliation for slaying three Nohrian Knights who were taking more food than was agreed." Corrin answered, not liking the grin in Zero's face.

"Correct, but have you ever bothered to learn the names of those three slain knights, or better yet, the name of the Great Knight who executed the audacious Chevian?" Zero asked, really excited for this part.

"No, but I don't get where you are getting…" Corrin stops upon coming up with the answers herself and the truth horrifies her at an epic proportion. "No… no… no… no… no… Gunter… was THAT Great Knight…? But that means that…"

"Oh please you can't give up now, don't be shy, you're a smart girl so surely you can figure out yourself just how sacrilegious you have become by trying to help these foul people." Zero insisted cruelly, awaiting the answer from Corrin.

"Scarlet's father killed Gunter's son." Corrin came to the terrible conclusion all on her own as flashes from her childhood resurface into her thoughts, memories of a blonde knight that used to visit her and Gunter in the Northern Fortress that Corrin saw as an uncle figure. "Exio…"

"That's right, sister, Exio was killed by the father of the woman you have come to protect." Leo affirmed, resuming his stoic expression. "Gunter was like a grandfather to all of us, and he certainly gave you more parenting than father ever did, and yet here you are now, spitting on the grave you put him on by defending the Chevians after all he's done for you. Worse still, you left his grandson all alone."

Corrin practically lost the strength to even breathe at this point, taking all the information in all at once and unable to process any of it, and even drops the Yato to the floor for how much her hands are now shaking so much. She knew that Gunter had lost his son six years ago and grieved for months that she barely saw him due to him departing for Krakenburg to live beside his grandson Benjamin who too was grieving but no one ever told her how Exio died. She remembers him fondly, as well as Benjamin. The first time she ever experienced the pain of losing someone she cherished, that kind of pain is so palpable and hunting. It never goes away no matter how much one moves on.

"Grandpapa… I… I don't know what to do." Corrin whispered, shamefully.

"It's not too late to repent, Corrin, however, before Qliphoth can absolve you of your sins you will be dragged to the Throne of Shadows in chains." Leo declared as he summons strong tree vines from the floor Corrin is standing on and the ceiling above her to restrain, but they end up getting destroyed by glass shurikens fired by Lilith using her Dragonstone as she arrives at the scene while in Dragon Form.

"Time to go, Corrin!" Lilith said as she prepares to warp them out of this place but Leo quickly interferes with another spell and releases a translucent dome to spread across the corridor they are all in and beyond, which shockingly cancels out Lilith's warp. "What… what's going on."

"I had a feeling you tried to teleport away, Lilith, unfortunately for you, my Brynhildr has a spell stored in it meant for countering certain magics." Leo explained.

"You're… keeping me trapped in this world." Lilith gasped in horror.

'Gods, it's a good thing I came here in a hurry without sending Mozu away, otherwise, I would've left her there alone for Moro knows how long.'

"Yes, so I go back to being the smart little girl I know you to be and come in quietly so that I can arrange for your sentence to be a much shorter one than Corrin's." Leo advised.

"Hold on a moment, Milord, you're telling me that this freaky fish thing is that blue-haired stable girl that's always clinging on to Corrin?" Zero asked skeptically.

"I am not a freaky fish thing! I'm a dragon!" Lilith yelled offended, clearly very sensitive about her appearance.

"Sure, keep deluding yourself kid, I dare you to show off your true face in front of a crowd next to the statue of what a dragon is supposed to look like, just to prove me wrong when everyone looks at you." Zero dared, causing the little dragon to shout again, growing angrier.

"I don't have to put up with this, and you can't restrain all the powers of a DRAGON, Leo! We're leaving Corrin." Lilith declared as she creates a barrier around herself, Corrin and the Yato and flies away from the corridor.

"After them!" Leo ordered to the seven Apathies who remain at his side and despite their weak appearance, these Grimm are faster than they seem, already in hot pursuit of the two dragons, some of them even able to wall crawl.

"So we're playing cat and mouse now? My favorite game." Zero smirked sinisterly as he pulls out his new bow with anti-magic arrows.

"Don't miss." Leo replied as the hunt resumes.

---

And here's Chapter 15. Hope you like it and I just can't help myself in putting Corrin down and resenting her decision, I'm so sorry. One of the things Conquest clearly did right is making Corrin question her decisions and feel remorse, while in Birthright she was too focus on revenge against Garon while just as confused and frustrated on how reluctant her Nohrian Siblings feel about rebelling against their own FATHER. God, I really don't like Birthright's story. A pretty good game overall from what I've seen. Unsurprisingly, I changed Gunter's story because I really like the old man and wanted to give him a happier life and so I did, sad about his son but I needed to add more drama on his part. No Robin and Azura in this chapter, and I really don't have much to say this time, so stay tuned for the next one.