The Force's Shepherds
Chapter 113
Fire and Ash
War was never something Yen'fay enjoyed. He saw warfare for the ugly beast it was. A terrible occurrence where unnecessary amounts of blood was shed, and countless lives were wasted. A fruitless action that served only one purpose: to destroy, never to build.
There were commanders in the Conqueror's army who saw war differently that he did. Some, like General Cervantes, saw war as a way to gain further station. To rise in the ranks and gain the Conqueror's favor through success. War was a vehicle for ambition in that man's eyes.
Some, like General Pheros, saw war as something that needed to be done. A task to be taken care of, then cleaned up. Those commanders remained detached from the horrors that came with war. It was just another job, just another assignment, the deaths and devastation simple statistics.
Then there were those who relished warfare, who enjoyed inflicting pain and suffering. Those who lived to be the boot that crushed those that they felt inferior. Men like Excellus, and creatures like Grievous, reminded Yen'fay of such commanders. Commanders he long since purged from his own army. Yen'fay would not allow a commander to enjoy war. Warfare, in his eyes, was a last resort. The final step in a process gone horribly wrong. It needed to be treated with a sober mind and a heavy heart. For these would be the last days of many lives.
He exhaled as he tightened the last buckle on his armor. Black plates overlapped across his torso, shoulders, and legs. Protecting him from enemy strikes. The sword by his hip, the one his father, and his father before him wielded, Amatsu, rested inside of its scabbard. Polished to a perfect shine. Sharpened to a razor's edge. The steel will run slick and red with the blood of Ylisseans today. A reality he wished was not about to happen.
His brother failed. Or, more likely, he ignored Yen'fay's wisdom, and decided to stubbornly push forward with the Archaneans' insane invasion. Luke, and his younger self, Kage, were always closer to Say'ri than they were to him. He was always away conducting the affairs of either his army or Chon'sin, never around them enough to truly enjoy time with them. Part of him regretted that fact. Another part of him was grateful that he did not grow extremely close to Luke. Now, instead of brothers, they were enemies. Luke and Say'ri chose their side. He would do everything in his power to see their lives spared. But the battlefield was a place where chaos ruled. Once blades were drawn and soldiers came to blows, he would have no control over the outcome. All he could do now was prepare for battle, and pray that his siblings came to their senses.
A heavy sigh left his lips. He closed his eyes and rose from his kneeling position, fastening the gauntlets on his forearms as he stood. He took one look at his reflection in the mirror across from him. Not a single piece of armor was out of place. Every piece of his battle attire was ready for war.
The entry to his tent opened, and one of his captains stepped in.
"Sir, messengers from the regiment we sent after the fleeing Archaneans to the northeast have reported back. They are about to engage."
Yen'fay closed his eyes. Those Archaneans were not fleeing. They were a diversion. A rather successful one too. Excellus and Pheros overruled him during their previous council when they learned of them and both decided to send a force to wipe them out. Pheros was going to lead it personally. Most of her army went with her, with the exception of a regiment of healers that remained with Yen'fay. In exchange, Yen'fay sent a regiment of spearmen with Pheros. He did not want to send his men to such a useless battle on the East Road, but Pheros and Excellus were insistent. Unfortunately, he had to work with them. Pheros he did not mind too much. Excellus… if he died today the world will be a much better place.
"Sir?" His captain said, snapping Yen'fay from his thoughts.
"Hm… yes. Thank you for informing me." He let out another heavy sigh and turned to face the Captain, "What do we know of the main Archanean force?"
The man blanched, "Well sir… they've decided to stand their ground within Demon's Ingle."
Yen'fay's eyes widened. An extremely bold, desperate move on the part of the Archaneans. That mountain could just as easily kill all of them as it could provide them with shelter and a tactical advantage. Most important of all, it served as a severe physical and psychological deterrent against his army. His men had already been harassed the entire march by a roving gang of mercenaries that dealt stunning amounts of loses despite their small numbers. Yen'fay's army was already on edge thanks to the lightning fast, savage ambushes during their march. Now he was about to ask them to charge into the fire and ash of Demon's Ingle.
I never knew the Archaneans could fight so dirty. He thought grimly.
"How do you plan to approach this battle, if I may be so bold to ask General?"
Yen'fay furrowed his brow as he thought for a moment.
"The terrain is treacherous. I shall lead from the front with my personal guard. Three other companies will follow me into the fire. The rest of the army will remain in reserve in case we are pushed back. I will not risk my army being consumed by the Demon's fire."
Some color returned to the Captain's face as he let out a relieved sigh, "G-great General." He stiffened as Yen'fay narrowed his eyes, "Er- I shall go inform the men." He paused by the door before leaving, "Also, the prisoner requested to speak with you once more before you left for the battlefield."
Yen'fay sighed, "Of course she does."
He marched out of his tent and into the ordered chaos that was his army preparing for battle. Grindstones turned as the smiths finished sharpening the soldier's weapons. Horses whinnied as their riders and handlers saddled them. Spearmen moved into formation, shoulder to shoulder, the embodiment of discipline. He could feel some pride swell in him as they marched in perfect unison out of the camp and towards the fiery mountain spewing black smoke in the distance.
He would join them shortly. Right now, the Ylissean prisoner wished to speak with him one more time. He swiftly made his way through the camp towards a tent guarded by four members of his personally guard. As he approached, anger flashed through him as he caught sight of two figures standing outside of the tent. He picked up his step, reached the short, fat figure, and spun him around by his shoulder, eliciting both a fearful gasp and an angry snarl from the man.
"Unhand me, General!" Excellus sneered.
"You are not allowed near her." Yen'fay growled, towering over the plump tactician, allowing a rare instance of anger to show, "Did I not make myself clear back at Fort Stieger?"
Excellus's fat lips curled into a sickening grin, "Perhaps I need to make myself clear, General." He jabbed a finger against Yen'fay's chest, "I am the Conqueror's right hand-"
"And you are here, away from the body." Yen'fay cut him off. He glanced over Excellus's shoulder at Grievous. The hunched, metal monstrosity did not say anything. It just narrowed its reptilian eyes at him, "The only protection you have is that creature. I have my army at my back. Do not cross me again."
Excellus glared back at him hatefully, "Very well." He cleared his throat, "I assume you will be leading your men personally?"
Yen'fay nodded carefully.
"Ah, very good then. Your presence will certainly help your already skittish forces remain steadfast against these dastardly Archaneans." Excellus mused, "I- well, I shall remain here. My brain is more useful than my brawn. Actually, my brawn is Grievous. He will join you on the battlefield."
Yen'fay frowned and glanced back at the cloaked monster behind Excellus. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end when he heard a low growl rumble from the monster. Yen'fay did not flinch, and the monster's eyes focused intently on him.
What are you? He thought.
"Very well." Yen'fay conceded, "Get away now. I am going to see if I can gain any more intelligence before marching."
"I could always assist in the interroga-"
A stern stare caused Excellus to gulp, bow, then quickly scurry away. If Yen'fay did not already think of the man as a worm, then he would have thought of Excellus as a fat rat. But that also would have been an insult to rats.
Grievous lingered a moment longer. Yen'fay moved to enter the tent, but paused when he felt the monster's gaze on him.
"Don't you have preparations to make?"
The monster chuckled, "Already finished them, General."
Yen'fay's eyes widened as the monster spoke with a gravelly croak. A rasp that demanded respect and fear. He stepped back from the prisoner's tent and glared at the monster.
"On the battlefield, you are under my command. The worm claims to know war-"
"But he is a coward." Grievous snarled back, "We are in agreement, General. And… do not worry. I only want to defeat my enemies."
It spun on its taloned foot and marched away, metal talons slashing into the slowly drying mud. Yen'fay eyed it as it disappeared into the marching regiments. A heavy breath rushed from his lungs. He quickly put the creature into the back of his mind and refocused himself on the Ylissean held prisoner within the tent.
Yen'fay stepped inside, and Princess Lucina raised her head to greet him. She remained bound to the center tentpole, but beyond that, no harm had come to her. That was thanks to his orders. There were many Captains that suggested torture in order to get her to talk. He rebuffed all of their "advice", and instead treated her with the civility due her position in the Ylissean ranks. Although, he did make sure to refer to her as Marth, no matter what.
"I was told you wished to talk." Yen'fay muttered as he made sure the tent was closed behind him.
Her blue eyes glared back at him as she sat against the tentpole, "You can't do this."
Yen'fay closed his eyes and shook his head, "I have no choice."
"There is always a choice." Lucina replied, "And the right choice is to side with your family."
"I am siding with my family."
"By going to war against them!?" Lucina snapped back.
Yen'fay stayed silent as she seethed in front of him. She flipped some blue locks from her eyes, penetrating stare never leaving him as he failed to meet her gaze.
"You know this is wrong. And you know that Excellus will never allow Luke or Say'ri to live once this is all over."
Anger flashed through Yen'fay's eyes, "I dare him to touch them."
"He won't have to. That thing will do it for him." Lucina snarled, "The Deadlord, Grievous."
Yen'fay's eyes widened, "How do you-"
"We've fought him before." Lucina said, "At Charlet, he killed two Shepherds and countless soldiers." She took a shuddering breath, "In Plegia, he killed another Shepherd, before this war even began."
Yen'fay furrowed his brow, "In Plegia?"
"Yes." Lucina nodded, "Don't you see? You are being played for a fool. Excellus has no loyalty to you, or to Walhart. Grievous certainly has no loyalty to any of them. He is a creation of the Fell Dragon, and you are doing exactly what the Fell Dragon wants. You are going to wipe out my family."
"You are here, aren't you?" Yen'fay replied in a matter of fact tone. Lucina's face dropped as she stared at him with stunned realization, "I meant what I said when I called you a valuable hostage."
"You bastard!" Lucina snarled, "You cowardly bastard!" Yen'fay turned on his heel, "I hope when Say'ri and Luke see you on the battlefield, you will know that you made a grave mistake!"
He tuned her voice out as he exited the tent. He took a few steps forward then felt something hit his heart. A ragged gasp rushed from him as he thought about what Lucina just revealed.
Grievous was a creation of the Fell Dragon's. That… that could not be true. The Fell Dragon was dead. Then again, the children from the future claimed he came back from the dead and destroyed the world. He swore to help them prevent such an apocalypse.
He also swore to protect his family. Was he really doing that now though? How could he be protecting Say'ri, Kage, and Luke if he was on the other side of the battlefield.
If I go through with this, am I really keeping my oaths? Yen'fay glanced up at a crystal clear morning sky, What must I do Father?
"General! The three regiments are ready to march." A captain called, drawing Yen'fay from his conflicted thoughts, "Will you take the lead?"
Yen'fay closed his eyes. A cool wind brushed over the camp. When he opened his eyes again, he focused on the rising column of smoke ascending from the peak of Demon's Ingle.
If I fail… forgive me.
"Move out." He quietly ordered.
"Forward!" The Captain bellowed.
Horns blared, drums pounded, and the army marched ahead to a battlefield filled with fire and ash.
The Force, an energy field that binds everything in existence together. A cosmic entity, forever a mystery to the uninitiated, and a long study never to be completed by those who practice its arts. Given enough time, enough patience, and enough study, a true adept in the force should be able to look to it for knowledge, understanding, and guidance.
Guidance, that was what Ben seeked as he knelt silently on one of the few smooth patches of lava rock near the peak of the Demon's Ingle. He had been in many hopeless situations during his time as a Jedi. Countless battles in the Clone Wars were either won or lost by a razor thin margin. They came down to one, singular decision he or Anakin made. Yet, during the entirety of the Clone Wars, with the exception of the last days in which Order 66 was issued, he did not feel as apprehensive as he did now. Every time he retreated into the force, looking for answers, for guidance, a murky fog entered his mind. Vague images, indiscernible through the haze. Random voices, unknowable through the static. His sight was clouded, just like how it was during the final days of the Republic, and that set him on edge.
For so long, he had relied on the assurance the Force gave him when it came to the future. But during the last few years, from the end of the Jedi to now, the future became hopelessly impossible to predict. Now more than ever the words of Qui Gon Jinn, that one lesson he always struggled to comprehend, danced in his mind.
Live in the moment. Ben liked to think he was starting to understand what Qui Gon meant when he said that. Concentrate on the here and now, do not get wrapped up in possibilities. Focus on what you have right in front of you, and let the Force guide you one small step at a time. It explained Qui Gon's often illogical actions. From listening to the advice of a Gungan buffoon to taking in a slave boy from Tatootine as a padawan learner, Qui Gon never bothered to look ahead, only at the moment. Even up until the moment of his death, he trusted the Force to lead him where he needed to be.
Ben needed to display the same trust. Especially in this hopeless situation as he knelt in front of the Archanean army, waiting near the volcano's peak. A few thousand soldiers and the Shepherds stood there alongside him in the heat and smoke. A few coughs came from their throats. Ben did not open his eyes to glance over at any of them. He sank further into the force. Looking to calm his own worries, and replace it with surety in his actions.
The volcano set him on edge. It reminded him of Mustafar. Images of that lava world flashed in his mind, along with the deadly duel that took place there. But it no longer filled him with panic. There was regret, there was sorrow, but now there was determination. The same determination that filled him when he stared down Anakin- no, Lord Vader- atop a floating platform in the middle of a lava river. When he was so certain that in that moment, Vader would kill him.
The Shepherds defeat felt certain. The odds were too great. Their own army was exhausted and demoralized. The enemy army was fresh, emboldened, and ready to end their attempt at a counter-invasion once and for all. Their one hope, converting General Yen'fay to their side, failed. All hope appeared lost.
Just like it did on Mustafar.
They may kill us. But we will make them work for it.
A hand tapped his right pauldron. Ben cracked his eyes open.
"You ready Ben?" Robin asked.
The dull sound of thousands of marching feet filled his ears. The earth rumbled beneath his knees as the mountain shook. To his left, Chrom shifted nervously.
"I wish it'd quit doing that." The Prince muttered.
"It's a volcano, what do you expect it to do? Be quiet?" Luke muttered next to Chrom.
"It could at least give us the courtesy of a less hectic battlefield." Frederick stated.
"I have a feeling it will only grow more chaotic." Ben breathed. He rose to his feet. Small swirls of ash and smoke drifted up from the hot ground. Sweat already caked his brow and body from the heat near the volcano's mouth. He reached for a small waterskin on his belt and drank a few drops, "Are you ready?" He asked Robin.
Robin took a deep breath, "As I'll ever be."
Ben nodded. He looked to his right, past Robin, over to the other Shepherds lined up with him at the very front. Say'ri kneaded the grip on her katana, impatient for the battle to begin. Tiki stood next to her, calm and determined.
Ben shifted his gaze to the left. Chrom looked nervous, but also ready. Falchion was planted into the ground by his side, the divine blade polished and ready for battle. Frederick's hand rested on the pommel of his sword as he waited patiently beside Chrom. Luke wore an emotionless mask as he waited for the battle to come to them. Although, Ben saw his hand twitch near the lightsaber at his hip.
He glanced back at the army behind them. Green Ylissean flags flapped in the hot air. The first few lines of defenders behind the leaders were the Ylissean knights. Their horses long gone, given to a small contingent of men that evacuated their wounded down the other side of the mountain. Horses would do them no good here. This would be a ferocious, hand to hand battle. Lon'qu, Kellam, Sully, and Vaike let that line.
Behind them were several rows of archers, led by Virion and Noire. The next few rows were the mages, led by Henry, Tharja, and Laurent. Ben tried his best to spot Tharja among the many robed figures further back. But he failed to catch a glimpse of her.
The final few rows were their Pegasus Knights and reserves. The last soldiers to be deployed in this battle. Most of the Pegasus Knights went with Sumia on the diversion mission, but a small platoon remained behind, under Cherche's command. The reserves were led by Donnel, now fully healthy and ready for battle once again, Gaius, Panne, and Anna. The rest of the future children; Severa, Owain, Inigo, Cynthia, and Sakura; were with him. Lissa, Maribelle, Libra, Prince Kage, Nowi, and Brady were with the wounded on the other side of the mountain. Likely praying that they would win the day.
We will need all the prayers we can get. Ben thought to himself.
"They're here." Robin gulped.
Ben snapped his gaze to the front. Through the haze and volcanic smoke, thousands of soldiers in red armor emerged, led by General Yen'fay. The Chon'sin General looked incredibly somber as he viewed the Ylisseans standing against him. He took several commanding steps forward.
"Warriors of Ylisse!" Yen'fay bellowed, his usually quiet voice discarded in favor of a booming, commanding tone that echoed over the mountain top, "I am giving one chance, only one, to lay down your arms and surrender to the might of the Conqueror! This day does not have to end in bloodshed and death! We can end today in peace and-"
"Go to hell!" Say'ri roared, drawing her Katana, "I'll help send you there!"
So much for last minute negotiations.
Yen'fay's solemn gaze lingered on Say'ri and Luke. He closed his eyes and exhaled.
"Very well."
The General stepped back to his army and raised his hand. Before any command was given, Robin leaned closer to Ben.
"It's only a small force. He's holding the rest in reserve." Robin observed.
"Smart play?" Ben asked.
Robin shook his head, "No, it's not. He's evened the odds for us. I'm not sure if it was accidental or not."
Ben nodded, "Be prepared for anything, all of you."
"I am always prepared." Frederick snarled as he drew his sword.
Chrom took a deep breath. He yanked Falchion free from the volcanic rock and raised it to the sky. Just as he raised the divine blade, Yen'fay barked an order to his men. The first line of Valmese leveled spears at the Ylisseans and charged.
"Now?" Robin asked Ben.
Ben nodded.
"Mages!" Robin barked.
Fireballs arced over them, barely passing over and nearly grazing the top of their heads. An enormous wave of heat slammed into Ben as the fireballs rocketed into the first row of charging Valmese. Lava rock and flames exploded in front of him. Cries of dying men filled the hot air.
"Archers!" Robin shouted again.
Arrows whistled overhead, cutting down the second row of Valmese. But the third row surged over them. Before Robin could bark orders for another volley, the Valmese lines crashed into them.
Ben's lightsaber burst to life in his grasp. He heard Luke's blade hiss to life as well. Two blue lightsabers buzzed through the air, tearing into armor and flesh as if they were hot butter. Explosions of armor, muscle, and baldes crashing into one another rang in Ben's ears. Another volley of fireballs soared over his head and hammered the Valmese center, sending fire and shards of rock flying through the air.
The Ylissean Knights surged forward to join their Prince. Battle cries erupted from the Ylisseans around Ben. Through the chaos he caught sight of Chrom hacking and slashing with Falchion, the divine blade already slick with Valmese blood. He tore his gaze away from Chrom and swung at a coming spear, cutting it in two before driving his lightsaber through the attacker's chest.
"Ben!" Robin shouted over to him as he opened his spellbook and blasted away two Valmese with quick thunder spells, "You and Luke move to the center. Break their main mass!"
Ben nodded. He located Luke and sprinted over to the young Sith.
Luke attacked the charging Valmese with a ferocity that would have made Maul proud. In battle, he was in his element. The chaos, fear, pain, and fury allowed the dark side to flow through him unimpeded. His eyes glowed with power as he weaved through three Valmese swordsman, slashing through them in three simple motions.
Ben skidded over to him. A simple nod was all he needed to tell Luke what they needed to do. Both rushed into the center mass of the Valmese charge, blue blades cutting down anything with red armor. Tiki joined them into the fray, a Valmese ax in one hand, white fire dancing between her fingers in the other.
More fireballs shot over their heads, chased by a volley of arrows. The fireballs slammed into the ground, exploding violently and tossing soldiers through the air. After the explosions ended, the mountain shook. Ben slashed down at one more Valmese than paused as the ground shifted beneath him. A warning ripped through the force.
The ground ripped open with a mighty crack. He flipped away as an enormous fissure opened up in the volcanic ground. Splitting the battlefield in two. A river of magma bubbled to the top of the fissure.
"Kriff!" Ben cried as he backed away from a sudden blast of heat and gas. Coughs wracked his lungs. The ground rumbled again. His back bumped into Luke's.
"Kenobi, this is bad!" Luke shouted, force pushing away a group of Valmese, "The volcano-"
"Is going to erupt? Yeah, I noticed." Ben grit his teeth, "We're split in two."
"Where is Say'ri and Robin?" Luke asked.
"Where is Chrom and Frederick!?" Ben barked back.
"On our side!"
"Logically, that means Say'ri and Robin are across the molten river of death!"
"Don't patronize me!" Luke growled before spinning and jamming his lightsaber through the chest of a Valmese soldier that got too close to Ben for comfort, "And pay attention!"
Ben cringed, "It's strange being told that for a change. Normally I shouted those three words at Anakin."
"The apprentice tends to emulate the master." Luke smirked.
"The apprentice also tends to be less experienced." Ben remarked, twirled around Luke and taking the limbs from a pikeman that nearly reached Luke, "Pay attention."
Luke let out a haughty laugh, "I will when you do, Master Kenobi." He nodded to the river, "I have things over her! Get to Robin and Say'ri on the other side!"
Ben nodded. He turned on his heel and sprinted towards the lava river that slowly grew in the battlefield. The force coursed through him. With a loud cry, Ben propelled himself into the air, soaring over the lava river and landing hard on the other side. Before he could catch his bearings, two Valmese swordsmen charged at him. White fire consumed one. A lightning bolt slammed into the other, catapulting the poor soldier into the churning magma.
"A little slow today, Ben?" Robin chuckled as he stood alongside Ben and helped him to his feet.
"You try jumping over a fiery river of death and tell me how fast you get up." Ben replied.
"I would just fly." Tiki shrugged.
"Not all of us are dragons, Tiki." Robin replied.
More fireballs and arrows soared through the air. As the fireballs impacted, the Valmese responded with their own arrows. Ben cursed and raised a hand, using the force to direct a large cluster of arrows into the lava. But he could not catch all of them. Ylissean knights screamed as arrows slammed into them.
"Say'ri!?" Ben shouted, "Where is-"
"Hunting down Yen'fay!" Robin shouted back, "Another fissure opened up not long after this one. Her, Lon'qu, and Sully are on the other side of that one. But I wouldn't worry. The way things are going right now, we might be able to push them back. Our mages are tearing them apart."
Horns blared as soon as Robin said that. Ben swallowed hard and looked down the mountains. His eyes widened as he saw a familiar cyborg storming up the rocky slope, leading the rest of Yen'fay's army.
"Oh you've got to be kidding me." Ben breathed.
Grievous deployed all four of his arms. His reptilian eyes focused on Ben as the rest of Yen'fay's army joined the fray. Two blue and two green lightsabers ignited in Grievous's grip as he stalked towards Ben, Robin, and Tiki.
"Kenobi." The cyborg growled.
Robin swallowed hard as he recognized the droid general storming towards them, "He killed Ricken."
Tiki scowled, "Three against one, I'd say those are good odds."
Two points of yellow light appeared next to Grevious. Ben's heart jumped to his throat as two new figures, wreathed in the dark side, appeared. One was a Mirialan woman with red eyes that betrayed everything about who she once was. The other was human male Ben had not seen since he was a padawan learner.
Luminara Unduli and Xanatos stood shoulder to shoulder with General Grievous.
"Care to jinx us anymore?" Ben hissed to both of them.
"I'll take the green one." Tiki muttered back.
"Jealous of her?" Robin smirked.
"I'd say I pull off green much better than she does." Tiki snarked back before surging towards the deadlord that wore Luminara Unduli's skin.
"I guess scarface is mine then." Robin breathed, "Can you handle-"
"I've killed Grievous twice before. I can absolutely do it a third time." Ben exhaled, twirled his lightsaber, and charged with Robin at the enemy.
Tiki reached them first. She slid beneath a slash from Luminara's green blade, snapped her leg out at the Deadlord's right knee, and dropped the enemy to one knee. Before Tiki could follow through with a fiery punch, Luminara slammed a force push into her, launching Tiki away just as Robin reached Xanatos.
A thunder spell erupted from Robin's palm. Xanatos raised his red blade and caught the bolt. A wind spell chased after it, catching the Deadlord off guard and sending him skidding backwards towards a newly opening fissure in the ground.
Ben reached Grievous last. The Droid General uttered a furious snarl then attacked Ben before the Jedi Master could gain the upper hand. Ben lost focus on both Tiki and Robin as all of his attention was drawn to the furious storm of blue and green blades slashing at him. He eased back into Soresu's defensive patterns. The force coursed through him. Warning him of coming attacks as Grievous threw everything he had at the Jedi Master.
To his credit, the droid general put Ben on the ropes. Somehow, the cyborg turned deadlord had grown faster since they last fought. No doubt a product of whatever black magic brought him back to life. The General's reptilian eyes glowed in the light of their sabers as all four his blades were caught over Ben's head by his own lightsaber.
"I have waited a long time to finally kill you, General Kenobi." Grievous growled.
"Nice to see you as well, Grievous. How do you want to die this time?" Ben shoved the cyborg's blades away then went on the attack. Forcing the droid general to backpedal as the ground and air grew hotter. Ben feinted left, then spun his blade, taking one of the General's hands, "Do you want to die by blaster bolt to the heart?"
Grievous roared and attacked once again, forcing Ben back towards the edge of the first lava river. Ben tiptoed his way along the edge of the lava river, narrowly being pushed in several times by the Deadlord's furious slashs. Ben grit his teeth and shoved Grievous back with the force.
"How about death by Manakete magic? That worked wonders last time." A snarl crossed Ben's features, "When you slaughtered an innocent child."
"A soldier." Grievous corrected before locking blades with Ben once again.
"A mere boy! But it's not like you cared when you killed him. No, you just wanted to get to me. Well here I am once again, General." Ben stared definitely into the Deadlord's red reptilian gaze, "I say it's time you and I finished this once and for all."
Ben twisted his wrist, wrenching his blade free from the blade lock. He then surprised the Deadlord, jumping into Ataru's fighting patterns. He flipped over the cyborg, slashing down at him as he soared. Grievous managed to parry the strike, but he was not fast enough to spin around and stop Ben from taking another arm. Grievous howled in pain and staggered forward.
Ben moved to finish the General, only for a pain filled cry from Robin to rip his attention away. Robin lay flat on his back, blood flowing from a gash on his forehead. Xanatos stood over him, blade ready to impale the tactician.
Ben hurled his lightsaber towards Robin. The tactician reached out with the force, caught it, then used the blade to divert Xanatos's strike. Instead of impaling him, the red blade dug into the rock near Robin's right armpit.
Tiki cried out as Luminara's blade grazed her face. A gash opened up from nose to cheek on the left side of Tiki's face. Through the force, Ben felt Robin's rage boil over in an instant.
"BASTARDS!"
Lightning jumped from Robin's hands, shooting through Ben's lightsaber, up the blade, and arcing through the air into Xanatos. The stunned Deadlord staggered backwards as Robin jumped to his feet, dashing past Xanatos and charging at Luminara. Before Ben could join Robin in the fray against his old Jedi friend, Grievous roared behind him.
A warning ripped through the force. Ben dove down, dodging a green lightsaber by a hair's breadth. He rolled to his feet and spun around, ready to grab Grievous with the force, only to receive a taloned foot to the jaw.
Pain ripped through Ben's face as the metal talon dug into the skin. He cried out when Grievous grabbed him by the throat and threw him towards the lava river. Ben managed to slow himself down with the force, slowly skidding to the edge of the bank. Scrapes and bruises littered his body. His mind was in a daze. Warm blood trickled from a gash along his jaw. More blood welled up from a cut on his lower lip.
Through the haze, Ben looked around him. His heart sank at what he saw. The Ylisseans were fighting with everything they had. The archers, now out of arrows, grabbed whatever melee weapons they could and engaged the Valmese alongside the Ylissean Knights. Pegasus Knights and Cherche's Wyvern, Minvera, dove down through the growing plumes of smoke, trying to pick off whatever enemies they could without being shot down by arrows. Across the river, Ben saw Tharja and Noire fighting back to back. Tharja's magic raged around her in an enormous fury of dark power. She lifted enemy soldiers off of their feet, blasted them away with purple explosions, and sent hexes at footsoldiers that rendered them screaming messes on the smoking coals beneath their feet. Noire wielded a dagger and her bow, using the bow like a club as she protected her mother's back.
He could not see Chrom anywhere, but he also did not hear any cries of defeat or anguish from the Shepherds, which meant that despite the direction this battle was going, they were still fighting. There was still a chance.
Metal fingers grabbed him by the collar. Ben felt himself hoisted in the air then abruptly slammed down against the rocks, face hovering inches over the bubbling magma. His eyes widened as he felt Grievous's foot pressed down on his back, pinning him in place.
"You are beaten." Grievous growled. A green glow covered Ben, "Time for you to die!"
Chaos enveloped the battlefield when the first fissure in the ground opened up, swallowing a group of men whole and taking them to a fiery grave within the bowels of the planet. Say'ri barely managed to escape the volcano's gaping maw as it widened. Rising magma cast a horrifying orange glow over her as several more Valmese and Ylissean Soldiers fell to their terrible deaths. Say'ri tore her gaze away from the screaming soldiers burning alive near her. Smoke filled her vision as she tried to make sense of where she was, and, more importantly, where her traitorous brother was.
She had to kill him. Everything that had happened in the past few years, from his betrayal and subsequent surrender to the Conqueror, to her decision to join the Shepherds, led to this moment. To the moment where she would finally confront Yen'fay, and cut him down. It was time for her to avenge her mother and father. To avenge the lives lost due to her brother's cowardly actions. And when she cut him down and stood over his dying body, her next target would be the Conqueror. Justice will be served, and her blade would deliver swift judgement.
A Valmese footsoldier screamed then charged at her. Say'ri stepped to the side and slashed through the man's thin armor. Her blade shuddered as it impacted the ribs beneath the flesh and muscle. A gurgling sound bubbled up from the man's throat before he slid away from her blade.
She was surrounded by Valmese and very few Ylisseans. Her desire to find her brother carried her deep into the heart of the enemy ranks. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Sully and Lon'qu fighting side by side, swords cutting through enemy after enemy as they tried to clear a path back to their lines.
Say'ri ignored them and pressed on. Her sole goal focused not on winning this battle, but on gaining the justice she long craved. She sidestepped another Valmese soldier and struck him down with three quick slashes to his torso. As the man sank to his knees, another rushed her. Say'ri grit her teeth, parried a chop from the man's ax, then drove the point of her katana into the man's gut. With a loud roar, she drove the man backwards, shoving two enemies out of the way with the dying man's body before yanking her sword free.
That was when she saw him. The target of all her rage and pain. Yen'fay stood in the center of his ranks, conducting the battle, as any good general should. His right hand rested on Amatsu's pommel. The coward, the traitor, dared to carry her family's ancestral weapon onto this battlefield?
How dare he!
"Yen'fay!" Say'ri roared as the mountain rumbled beneath her once again.
Her brother's eyes widened, he turned to look at her. Two of his captains turned to her as well. Before he could utter a word, the captains charged at Say'ri. Say'ri snarled and met the blade of the first captain. She ducked away from the second captain's slash, buried her knee into his groin, then bashed him to the ground with a backhand to his face.
A fist hammered into her gut. The first Captain loomed over her as he hacked down at her head. Say'ri rolled to the side, bounced to her feet, and slashed her Katana through his throat. In one fluid motion, she twisted her blade around and ran it through the second Captain's back. As both men sank to the ground, she stared at Yen'fay, fury burning in her eyes.
"Say'ri." He said, voice monotonous and calm as ever.
Say'ri pointed her blood katana at the man that was once her brother, "It is time this ended, traitor!"
Hurt flashed through her brother's gaze. He closed his eyes and uttered a heavy sigh.
"Say'ri, this doesn't have to happen. Everything I have done has been to-"
"To protect yourself!" Say'ri spat, cutting him off as she took several steps forward, never lowering the point of her blade, "Well, now you cannot. The Conqueror and his minions are not here to spare you from justice!"
Yen'fay grimaced, "Say'ri please listen-"
"I will not hear another word from you, murderer!"
She charged at him, aiming the tip of her sword at his heart. Yen'fay quickly sidestepped then drew Amatsu. The barbed blade slid free from its scabbard then came crashing down against Say'ri's katana. Sparks flew as the blades shrieked against each other. Say'ri's hands buzzed and her arms shuddered as the barbs of Amatsu shuddered along the flat of her blade.
She hastily pulled her sword back before Yen'fay could trap it between the barbs. With a loud cry, she raised her katana over her head and slashed down, aiming to cleave Yen'fay's arms from his body. Yen'fay bounced back then parried a stab from Say'ri. A frustrated snarl rushed from Say'ri's lips as he again sidestepped one of her strikes.
That was three times he could have struck back against her. Twice he could have turned the momentum and taken the advantage in their duel. Yet he was content with letting her attack him? Did he think her so weak that she was not worth the effort of taking seriously?
"Fight back!" Say'ri roared, twirling and cutting a savage arc through the air towards Yen'fay's neck.
He ducked beneath the slash and buried a fist into her solar plexus. All of the air rushed out of Say'ri's lungs. With a loud wheeze, she sank down to one knee, hate filled gaze never leaving her brother as he took a step back.
"Say'ri, stop this madness." Yen'fay pleaded, "Everything I did, I did to protect you and Kage."
"Yet here… we are…" Say'ri sucked in a sharp breath, air rushing back into her lungs. She shakily rose to her feet, "With you standing there, sword drawn. At war with me and Kage."
Yen'fay's eyes narrowed, "You pulled our brother into this. Your actions caused this."
"Spare me that, to use a Ylissean term, horseshit!" Say'ri spat. She shook with rage and they circled each other. Another fissure opened in the ground nearby, creating another channel for molten lava to run through, "The day you killed mother and father, was the day that caused this. Your actions, you cowardice and dishonor, caused this! Do not pin the blame for all of this on me!"
"I only did what father told me to do."
"LIES!" Say'ri roared. The mountain shook. Ash spewed out from the volcano's mouth at the very peak of the mountain, "Luke may have wanted to give you another chance. But you denied it. You denied any hope of redeeming yourself in my eyes. And now, I will kill you for what you have done to our family."
Say'ri readied herself to attack. Before she could, Yen'fay exhaled and sheathed his blade. She hesitated as he held his arms out to his sides.
"Then do it." Yen'fay told her.
Say'ri's eyes widened, "Y-you-" She cursed loudly, "Coward!" Tears brimmed in her eyes, "Draw your sword and fight me, damn it!"
"I will not fight you, Say'ri." Yen'fay replied, voice shaking as he spoke, "All I ever wanted to do was protect you and Kage. If my death somehow accomplishes that, then I will gladly give it."
"No! No you-" Say'ri sniffed and grit her teeth, aiming the point of her blade at his heart, "You are a liar! You are a coward, then and now!"
"Then kill the coward!" Yen'fay snapped.
Say'ri roared. She shoved her blade forward as Yen'fay closed his eyes. Before her blade could reach him, her strength left her. Sapped away by a sudden rush of sharp, burning pain in her back. The pain became unbearable as it shoved and twisted its way through her back like a-
A gasp rushed from her lungs as all of her air left her. Every ounce of strength evaporated. Her sword fell from her grasp and clattered to the hot, rocky ground. Blood dribbled from the corner of her mouth. In her ear, a voice sneered at her.
"Unfortunately," Excellus breathed down her neck, "I cannot allow you to slay the mighty General."
Her eyes widened briefly as Excellus yanked a dagger from her back. The noises of the battle faded all around her. Through the sudden drop in noise, she heard Yen'fay roar in anguish and despair. Behind her, Excellus cackled.
She dropped to her knees, fading vision looking back at Yen'fay. Tears cascaded from his eyes as he surged towards her. His lips were moving, but she could not hear him. The edges of her vision grew dark. She just barely felt his arms cradle her body as it went limp on the lava rock.
"Say'ri please." Yen'fay croaked, brushed a hand over her ghostly face.
She glared up at him, "You… did… this…"
"No!" Yen'fay exclaimed, "No, Say'ri I-"
The light left her eyes. Yen'fay's words were lost in his throat as he watched it fade.
"Say'ri." His voice shook as his hands brushed against her face, "Say'ri!" He cried, shaking her gently. But she did not move. The vacant stare of death lingered in her eyes as her blood pooled onto the arm cradling her back.
An anguished cry erupted from Yen'fay's lips. Tears rushed down from his eyes. He squeezed them shut and rested his head and against Say'ri's, rocking her body back and forth. Praying to whatever gods existed to give her life and to take his in return.
Vile cackling briefly freed him from the anguish. He raised his shaking gaze to look at Excellus as the fat worm wiped Say'ri's blood off of his dagger with his billowy sleeve.
"Does that count as killing the coward?" Excellus asked, a sneer on his lips as he looked down upon the broken General.
"You-" Yen'fay snarled, sorrow replaced with violent, "I will-"
"And that is my cue to leave." Excellus laughed like a madman, "I look forward to our next meeting, Yen'fay."
Bright golden light enveloped Excellus. In a flash, he was gone.
"COWARD!" Yen'fay roared as sobs rocked through him.
He did not know how long he stayed there, cradling the body of his sister. He could feel her growing cold in his arms, confirming what he desperately hoped was an illusion. An evil trick concocted by Excellus to break him. No matter how many times he pleaded with the gods, with Naga, with Grima, or even with the spirits of his ancestors, the horrific reality remained.
The mountain violently shook beneath him. Rumbling tremors rolled through the lava rocks. Several fissures opened up at once, swallowing entire groups of his soldiers. Through his bleary vision, Yen'fay saw his men running for their lives down the mountain. Ylisseans joined them in a mad dash away from the Volcano's mouth. Captain Eiji clapped a hand against his shoulder. He saw the captain's mouth move, but did not register what he said. Whatever it was, it did not matter. Not anymore.
The older Captain's face blanched when he saw Say'ri's body. He barked orders to someone. Soldiers rushed over and tried to grab Say'ri away from Yen'fay. He roared, shoved them away, fought as some his men held him back while the Captain threw her limp body over his shoulder.
"Eruption!" Yen'fay heard over the massive rumblings and shaking. He froze and turned to look up at the peak.
"Run General!"
Survival instincts took over. Along with his soldiers, and the Ylisseans he had been tasked with destroying, he raced away from the mountain's wrath.
All was lost. Robin spun around and watched in horror as the army died around him. Overwhelmed both by the wrath of Demon's Ingle and the vast numbers of Valmese washing over their ranks. Despair rested in him. It weighed down his already heavy, grief-stricken heart.
Lava bubbled and rushed down large fissures bursting forth from the ground. Men screamed as the magma burned them alive. Those that were not consumed by the mountain were slaughtered by the Valmese.
Behind him, Tiki grappled with a green skinned Deadlord. The same Deadlord from the pair Dooku fought at the Mila Tree. Her draconic magic managed to keep the Deadlord at bay, but she could not afford to get close due to the Deadlord's green lightsaber.
To Robin's right, near a river of lava, Ben lay on his stomach, the monster known as Grievous pressing down on his back as his face hovered dangerously close to the bubbling magma. To his left, the other deadlord, the one with a circular scar on his face, stomped towards him, red lightsaber ignited. Hatred lingered in the Deadlord's eyes along with static from Robin's barrage of lightning.
Ben's lightsaber hummed in Robin's grasp. The tactician now well aware of how thoroughly outclassed he was by the Deadlords when it came to both the force and swordsmanship. Hell, he could not even call himself a tactician anymore. He had doomed his army, his friends, the people he now considered to be a family to him. They were all going to die on this mountain. If the Valmese did not kill them, the lava will. His strategy failed. He failed.
Ben let out a cry as Grievous's talons dug into his back. Robin heard Chrom's voice boom over the battlefield, desperately calling for every soldier to fight for their lives, to fight to the last man. A pegasus screamed as both beast and rider spiraled out of control and careened into a river of lava. Spells flashed through the air as Tharja, Henry, and a bloodied Laurent desperately tried to punch a hole through which they could mount an escape.
I killed us all.
The hum of the Deadlord's lightsaber filled his ears. The red glow danced in the corner of his eye. A triumphant smirk covered the Deadlord's lips.
"It's been fun kid." The Deadlord growled, "But you and your friends are finished. My master's work is done."
Robin closed his eyes, resigned to defeat. He faintly heard Tiki defiantly roar as her draconic powers burst to full fury around her. Then through the force, as Robin sensed the deadlord draw back with his lightsaber, he felt the dark side roar, snapping his eyes back open.
Luke soared over the lava river, kicking Grievous off of Ben's back. His blue blade moved so fast that it caught the deadlord off guard. Luke took a third hand then force pushed the monster away. With speed that boggled the mind, he dashed over to Robin and caught the Deadlord's blade just before it could take Robin's head from his shoulders.
Robin stared in awe as Luke attacked the scarred deadlord with a ferocity he had never seen before. The dark side of the force erupted and flowed through Luke like a violent storm. It felt like a slumbering giant, filled with tremendous wrath and power, had been awakened from a long slumber.
Luke bashed the Deadlord away, sending the creature staggering back into Grievous. The metal monstrosity glared at Luke. The young sith took a step between it and Ben as the Jedi Master struggled to his feet.
"B-Ben!" Robin called.
He threw Ben's lightsaber back to him. Ben reached out and used the force to draw it to his waiting palm. The sapphire blade burst to life as soon as it hit Ben's hand. The Jedi Master glared at Grievous and Xanatos.
"Are you alright Robin?"
"Am I alright?" Robin gaped, "You're the one who looks like a dead man walking!"
"I've had worse." Ben breathed as he took deep breaths. He twirled his blade, the force bursting to life inside of him, "I think it's time I finished off these two old enemies once and for-"
The ground shook violently. Robin gasped and stumbled as the ground rippled beneath him. A pain hit his mind as the force shrieked in warning. A sensation he was still not used to.
An enormous crack filled the air, followed by a pulse that nearly took Robin off of his feet. He staggered backwards then looked up. Terror filled him as he watched an enormous plume of ash and smoke tower into the sky above them. A shockwave rushed out from the volcano's mouth, tearing away the thick smoke and clouds that previously enveloped the mountain top. Rocks and fire erupted from the peak.
"Naga above..." Robin breathed, horrified.
What have I done?
"Eruption!" Someone screamed.
Soldiers on both sides fled down the mountainside. Some still tried to kill the enemy as they sprinted down the mountain. But most were more focused on survival than on defeating the enemy. Many cast their weapons down and fled in the face of the mountain's fiery fury.
A scream tore Robin's gaze from the mountain top. Tiki lay on her side, clutching a bloody patch that grew darker on her right side. Her red dress was torn in that spot from the green skinned Deadlord's lightsaber ripping into her.
All thoughts of fleeing, all thoughts of despair, any and all thoughts period, left him. He could hear that low, rumbling growl in his mind once again. The one that brought forth the horrible powers he displayed in Charlet.
"You need us."
"Unleash us. Give in to your anger, your hatred, and you can save your friends and yourself."
"Let me feed."
"Become what you were destined to be, our Avatar."
Robin's eyes widened. The sudden fury left him.
Tiki was right. This power in his veins, these voices in his mind, they were not his. They were another's. A being who existed long before he had been born.
"I am Grima." He whispered.
"We need to run!" Luke shouted, force pushing both Grievous and Xanatos back as they tried to advance on him and Ben.
A roar and the flapping of wings filled the air. Cherche and her wyvern, Minerva, landed next to Luke and Ben. Cynthia landed next to her, fear and panic in her eyes.
"Get on!" Cherche barked.
"Luke, hurry!" Cynthia cried as her pegasus snorted and stamped beneath her.
Ben shoved Luke forward, "I'll get Tiki, go!"
Luke nodded and hopped up onto Cynthia's Pegasus. Before Ben could sprint towards Tiki and stop Luminara from killing her, Robin rushed past him.
The Voice of Naga bared her fangs as the Deadlord stabbed down at her. Her defiant glare melted away when she did not feel the burning pain of a lightsaber going through her heart. Instead, her heart jumped to her throat as Robin shoved her to the side and allowed the green blade to pierce through his back and out his chest.
"Robin!" TIki screamed
"NO!" Ben bellowed.
Robin grit his teeth as he sank down to his hands and knees. Unimaginable pain coursed through him as the burning core of the lightsaber ate away at his body. Blood sputtered up his throat and out of his lips as he looked down at the steaming ground. He raised a shaky gaze and looked over at a horrified Tiki.
"Run…" He breathed.
I am Grima.
"Ben!" Robin shouted. He gasped and nearly dropped flat to the ground as the Deadlord yanked her lightsaber free, "Get Tiki out of here!"
He snapped his gaze over to Ben, who stood frozen between him and Tiki.
"Robin…" Ben swallowed.
"Hurry!" Robin roared, surging to his feet and catching Luminara by the wrists before she could slash into him.
The mountain quaked again. Another thunderous explosion rocked the volcano. Fiery rocks and ash plummeted down the mountainside towards the small group of fighters.
"BEN!" Cherche screamed at the Jedi Master.
Robin watched as Ben squeezed his eyes shut, grit his teeth, and rushed to Tiki. His friend scooped Tiki up. The Manakete struggled against the Jedi Master as he hauled her towards Minvera and Cherce. He quickly hopped up onto the Wyvern, Tiki locked in tight his arms. White light began to course through Tiki as she struggled to go and save Robin.
Robin gave her one last look as he struggled against Luminara. A look that told her to run. To live and be happy. Because now, not only were his friends going to live, a terrible future was going to be averted.
I am Grima.
Minerva and Cynthia's Pegasus launched into the sky, racing away from a fiery inferno cascading down the mountainside. Tears stained Robin's eyes as he watched the two fliers speed his friends away from their doom. Relief and sadness flooded him. This was not how he pictured the end coming. And yet, here it was. Death stared at him in the form of an alien Deadlord and her two undead accomplices.
Was there some regret? Yes, of course there was. He never discovered his past. Never learned where he came from or who he once was, in a life he no longer remembered. But as the end came, and the volcano's wrath descended down up on him and the Deadlords, he felt some sense of peace. With him gone, his friends, the ones he had grown so close to, cherished even, would be safe. The future Lucina fought so hard to prevent would be averted.
"For I am Grima." Robin breathed, glaring defiantly at the three Deadlords across from him. His eyes flickered from brown to burning yellow as the dark side of the force burst to life in him. Inside of his mind, two voices desperately attempted to force him to flee. But he blocked them out. They would not be able to control him.
"And I am Robin."
He gripped the Deadlords with the force, preventing them from being able to chase after his friends. His vision started to blur as pain and exhaustion washed over him. His strength ebbed quickly away as the wounds he sustained started to overcome him. But his resolve would not be broken. He remained standing even as two of the Deadlords fought to break free from his grasp.
The superheated ash and fire descended upon him and the Deadlords. All three Deadlords uttered terror filled cries as the eruption slammed into them, rendering them nothing but black ash on the wind once more.
For a brief moment, Robin felt the pain. Felt the heat and the pressure of all of that ash, rock, and magma hitting him. He also felt something else that made him laugh. A final thought as the darkness took him.
I defeated Grima.
A cool evening in Plegia was not as rare as one would think. The desert had a way of both containing the heat, and releasing it whenever it wanted to. Such changes created a harsh environment the bred strength and cunning. Both were needed to survive and thrive in these conditions. The Hierophant, in a previous life, had been one of those survivors. But now he was the master of these lands.
Soon, I will be the master of this world. He thought as he turned the page on the latest novel he invested himself into.
As the page came to a rest, a shriek shot through his mind. He winced in pain. The book slipped from his hands, off of his lap, and fell face down onto the floor in his chambers. The shrieking continued. Any strength he had in his body evaporated as he slumped off of his wicker sofa and collapsed in a sweat covered mess onto the stone floor.
He gasped for air. It felt like his entire body was being ripped apart then burned. His eyes were wide with panic as he dragged his suddenly frail body towards the balcony doors. In his mind, the voice of the beast howled in fury and in pain. The other remained strangely quiet.
As suddenly as the pain washed over him, it went away. As if someone snapped their fingers and willed the Hierophant's strength back into his body. Ragged gasps rocked his lungs as he lay prostrate on the floor, face buried against the sandy stone. The cool night air rushed in and out of his body, giving his mortal form what it needed to live.
His mind raced as he lay still, gasping for air.
What the-
"HOOOOOOOOOW!?"
His yellow eyes widened as Grima screamed in pain. The Fell Dragon could only be wounded by two things: Falchion, that cursed blade created by Naga; and himself.
Himself.
"No." He breathed raising his head to look out his balcony and towards the full moon dominating the night sky over the desert, "It can't be."
He shakily pushed himself to his hands and knees. Spots danced in his vision. As the Fell Dragon raged inside of him, as he struggled to put together what just happened, the Son remained eerily silent.
He slumped against the balcony doors, eyes glued to the full moon.
"The vessel-"
"Is dead!"
The Hierophant's eyes widened.
"No. No, that can't be. That was not supposed to happen." He surged to his feet and staggered to the balcony railing, "He was supposed to live. We were supposed to-" He clenched his fists, "How are we alive then?"
No one answered him. Silence lingered in his mind. Neither the Fell Dragon, nor the Son, knew the answer to his question.
What went wrong? What caused this timeline's vessel to die?
The Hierophant's eyes blazed. Rage unlike any he had ever felt before coursed through him. The Fell Dragon snarled and thrashed within his mind, wanted to be unchained. It took everything in him to not unleash right there and then. He had a different target for his wrath this night, other than the pitiful humans that resided in this city.
Brilliant golden light wrapped around him as dark magic pulsed in the air. Behind him, the door to his quarters opened. Validar stepped in, then froze as he sensed his master's furious power.
"M-my Lord?" The King of Plegia gulped.
"He will die for his failure!"
"Oh yes, he will." The light glowed brighter around the Hierophant as he sensed where the worm teleported to.
First Excellus will burn. Teleportation magic burst to life. An array of colors and sound engulfed him as golden light blinded him from everyone else. He disappeared from Plegia in a flash.
The world will follow.
And chapter! …. Betcha didn't see any of that coming. Don't worry, a lot will be both wrapped up and explained next chapter. But... no spoilers here. I probably won't have another chapter out till after Christmas. So Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you out there! Have fun with your friends and family! See you all soon!
Come join us in the Treehouse! Discord code is: 9XG3U7a