The legate's camp was a strange piece of work. Not only a hillside surrounded the entire field; it almost made a bowl shape, but with only one point of entry. A war tent perched on top a higher mound of land had some stairs leading up to it, up a dirt hill.

On the flat land below, were the remains of a smaller gate further ahead with bodies littered outside. It was a literal bloodbath, giblets, chunks and clumps of flesh strewn about everywhere; they were all that's left of at least a dozen men. Without surgical sharpness, accuracy and brutality, the sight was too sinister for a sane person. Almost sickly.

Not all of the bodies belonged to the Legion; some were the supporting rangers Oliver mentioned earlier. All four of them were K.I.A. The saddest part about the kitchen sink was that all the men were barely out of their twenties and thirties. Wasn't the first time poor babies died for bitter, old men.

The camp was too quiet; there was no activity left, even Boone couldn't spot anything. David kept tabs on the front gate for reinforcements while everyone else dispersed to look for William and Lyannah.

After ten or so minutes into searching for any signs of life, it was Cass who found William, following a trail of fresh blood to ditch out of harm's way. William was in a state. He was bleeding from his mouth and the open wounds across his chest; his battered body was stiff. The pained expression he had on his face was grimacing.

Cass had to force him upright without spilling too much blood. William groaned and held the lacerations on his chest from rupturing. Blood leaked through the gaps in his armour and formed a sizeable pool under his legs.

"Six? What happened?! Where is everybody?" she asked, with Redfield coming over to them both.

"We found the camp empty… Inside… the legate was waiting for us..." William muttered, with his eyes closed, mimicking death. "Can't feel… my chest… my legs…"

"Six, where's Lyannah?" Redfield asked with a focusing glare.

Just barely opening one of his eyes to see Cass holding him upright. That was the second time she touched him. William was fading in and out of consciousness, still spoke best he could through his clenched teeth. "The legate… The legate took her away," William muttered, with deflating breath before fading to black, eyes closed and all.

David walked to the destroyed inner gate and saw a tent on higher ground, the one up a small dirt hill.

"William..." Redfield sighed, seeing Cass let him down on his back limply.

"He's unconscious," she said, "Thank God."

Redfield stood up and walked away, without batting an eye or care to anything but the present. "I need to find Lyannah before things get out of control..." he muttered, to himself, with Cass standing behind him, raising an eyebrow.

"Why is she so damn important?" Cass questioned, with folded arms.

"She just is." He shrugged, with a deep sigh, trying to honest best he could but rested his eyes away. "I need her alive to some personal studies."

Cass was feeling sick to her gut from being left out from something, or it was the fact that she's been running dry for the last few days. For some odd reason, she lost the will to drink. But her mixed feelings about something that she just couldn't shake out of her head was getting on her nerves.

"No disrespect General, something is going on here, and I don't like it. Is that right dad?" she said, delicately placing her hand on his shoulder.

"You know..."

Before Redfield could even respond to Cass' accusations, David and Boone rushed over to him and Cass, armed and ready for action. "Sir. We have Legion movement from around the camp," stated Boone with a blank glare, "We need to mobilise."

"Any sign of the legate?"

"Not yet, General."

Redfield let off a deep sigh and stood unprepared with his hands folded, holding back some frustration from the current oddities. "We had solid evidence that he would be here. Murdering my men and fucking off is below him."

"Would it be possible that the Legion posted false information somehow? Boone asked, panning to David and back to Redfield.

"Would they go this far just to rub us out?" Cass asked.

"It's a possibility; been trying to kill me for a long time now." Redfield chuckled, lightly to himself. "The Legion would do whatever it takes to kill me." He regrouped the team with Veronica, who was milling around at the time. With a defined stance, he looked around the camp to see nothing happening. "The legate isn't even here. You four search for survivors, and eliminate all hostiles." Redfield threw his arm out. "If you find Lyannah, bring her to me."

With everyone, excluding Redfield, searching for Lyannah, Redfield radioed Moore at Hoover Dam for a status update. Everything was just fine, and all the Legion activity at the Dam was thinning out due to their excessive defences. Nothing added up. The camp was empty, and the bodies were all still warm. Someone was playing General Redfield like a fiddle.

David strayed from the inner gate; there was nothing out of the ordinary there. He picked up the topic of Lyannah quickly and bothered Redfield once more with great concern and wonder. "Why do you care so much about this woman? And where's William at?"

Redfield peeked back at David over his shoulder, barely twisting his body. "He's wounded but stable, Lyannah's M.I.A." He turned around and faced his son. "She's important for something I'm trying to orchestrate."

"Right, one of your crackpot experiments."

"What went wrong? Why did they overextend?"

David was almost offended by Redfield's remark and confronted him. "Lyannah and Will just strolled off on their own."

Redfield shook his head. "Because you failed to keep them in line."

David threw his arms in the air with irritation. "I cannot believe you're giving me this criticism. I'm still learning."

Redfield let out another heated sigh, rubbing his head in the hope of ridding his conflicted feelings. "You should've been less of a friend and more of a leader-"

David dropped his Redeemer at his feet and popped off his helmet. He glared sarcastically at Redfield. "You can't boss people around like that; these people aren't machines!"

"No, they're not. But when you hesitate on the field or make mistakes, people get hurt… get killed even..."

While Boone, Cass and Veronica came on over, David picked up his Redeemer and stretched his legs, eager to leave the argument. "I know! But… some people get lost, and… you can't always control them. If you care so much about Lyannah you should just go fuck her and get it over with, I'm going to find the legate." David put his helmet back on and walked towards the camp's central area.

Redfield stopped David in his tracks; his attitude and tone of voice went sour. "I don't like your tone of voice."

David shrugged his shoulders and scoffed. "For someone devoted to humanity, you surely don't show as much as you used to. Oh, how the mighty sure has fallen-"

At that moment, tension skyrocketed, for a split second, it felt as if Redfield was going to strangle David. He settled by just pushing him to the ground on his back, alarming the team from his offended nature. No one saw this side of him before. "You have no idea what I have sacrificed for this world! Nothing is as simple as you pretend it to be!"

"I'm not pretending. You becoming a Demigod gave us nothing but trouble!" David quickly replied, standing back on his feet. "The longer I live, the more I realise that your actions were the problems in the first place! Where were you when I was eight? When you left mom? Or when I was dying of cardiac arrest?!" Redfield held his tongue. "A normal dad is obviously too much to ask for! No. You're always hiding away, working."

Redfield grew less concerned and more furious, stepping closer to David's face. Veronica came in between them and tried to keep them from going at each other's throats. There was so much heat between the two.

"I had six mouths to feed, and there was no way in hell law enforcement would pay all the bills."

"Come on guys; we got a battle to win," she pleaded, quickly panning to Redfield with a focusing glare. "Demi-what?"

"Yeah, yeah, I was a Demigod. Stop the bloody presses." Redfield folded his arms in displeasure. "You've been saving this conversation for a long time, haven't you?"

David had no real way to answer Redfield; he knew he was right, though. From the fact he was dead for most of his childhood, Redfield was always thinking without a full deck that mostly alienated him and his other siblings. Sometimes too good for his well-being.

From high up on the hill near the centre of the camp, Lanius stood on the ledge, looking down on Redfield's group. At the elevation he stood, Lanius had to throw his voice afar, to be heard across the entire camp, sarcastic it may be.

"General Redfield! I've been expecting you!" Lanius chuckled, folding his arms behind his back, pacing on the ledge. "You certainly came a long way to get your party killed, didn't you?!"

"Legate Lanius! The man of the hour! I knew you weren't the one to disappoint!" Redfield barked disdainfully, straying away from the group, stepping up to Lanius. "You know how to make an entrance!"

Lanius laughed morbidly in response to Redfield's comments. Still, in his scarily charismatic tone, he went on and on. "I learned from the best! But we're not here to chat, are we!? We're here to fight for power and supremacy!" he boasted, extending his arm. "You five will die like the subordinates you are, like the very ones you sent here!"

"Where's Lyannah, Lanius?!" Redfield yelled.

"She's with me! That woman will be my ascension into history as its liberator!" Lanius claimed, clutching his fist. "Now... make peace with your Gods and die!"

Immediately after Lanius finished his tiresome boasting and condescending attitude, the camp's front gate closed shut, breaking the awkward silence. Legionnaires and centurions began to surround Redfield's group at recorded speed. From the inner gate and the hills around the entire camp; the five were boxed in. With automatic weapons and rifles, the legionaries all around were here to kill without mercy.

With modest fear and an uncomfortable attitude, David slowly inched his way to the Redeemer; it was waiting for him on the ground. "Dad… Just so you know, if we all die out here, I'll never forgive you."

Redfield noted David's remark. "I don't expect you to."

Cass chocked on her tongue. "Any chance for a last drink?"

In an instant, everyone readied their weapons and opened fire. Streams of lead lit up the entire camp, with the Legion by the gate dropping like flies, but the ones on the hillsides had the high ground. An ancient advantage blessed by the mighty Sun Tzu.

The sight of the blood, cries and gunfire almost brought a tear to Lanius' eye, reminding him of his youth. Such a nostalgic moment that he had to stand proudly and take a minute to relax and absorb the moment.

A bloody, enraged Lyannah found Lanius, still stood at the ledge like an idiot, watching something amusing until his uncomfortable defeat. All the odds weren't in her favour, but she was ready for a rematch and cared for nothing else.

"Lanius!"

He didn't even care, he showed no signs of facing her, and he was too high and mighty. "How did a weakling like you break free? Doesn't matter," he politely said, finally turning around to face her. "You're hardly a threat to me, woman. I'll save you some trouble if you just surrender. Otherwise, a short fight will be in order."

She snorted to his snide overconfidence and narrowed her eyes, planning her first move. "No! That would be boring. I beat you once, and I can do it again."

"Only because you were on psycho," he sharply corrected, cracking his knuckles, stepping closer to her. "Unlike you, I don't need drugs to win a fight. Tell you what; I'll go easy on you, just to teach you a lesson. Later, when we get to work, well, that's another story."

I need to get my sword back if I'm gonna kill this fucker, Lyannah thought.

Lanius was the one to throw punches at Lyannah first, sturdy hooks, one after another. Lyannah kept out of his way and reached him with her strong kicks and flexibility in doing so. Even if her boots were not potent enough to interrupt his volley of hooks, they were consistent and well-timed.

Now and then Lyannah would deliver a kick, strong enough to stagger Lanius, mostly being straight kicks and not the sweeping ones. In an open opportunity, she was able to catch one of Lanius' meaty fists to allow her to roll over him swiftly to then strike him in the stomach with a quick twist of her waist.

"You fight well, child, apparently." Lanius threw a right jab at Lyannah's face, scraping her chin.

Lyannah stepped away from Lanius at every chance she had while she threw jabs at him like there was no tomorrow, almost enough to interrupt his attacks. A reverse roundhouse kick to his face tumbled his focus away, leaving him open to a volley of jabs while he was reeling.

Lanius recuperated faster than she had anticipated. He threw a left straight; striking her chest and knocking her down. She spat blood and stood up, snarling in a fury.

"He's sturdier than before. No matter, I just need to knock him down." She spat again and felt her bleeding gut wound; it was still fresh from their last encounter.

"Oh my, you seem to be hurt again," he said sarcastically, walking to Lyannah. "I can make it all go away."

"He's tougher than last time... Or I'm weaker..." Lanius came at Lyannah with a menacing glare, she had no time to waste, and one powerful strike could end her quickly. With stalwart determination, she drew in a sharp breath and shouted, "Wuld!"

Lyannah seemingly teleported behind Lanius, leaving him confused. She was there in front of him on her knees. Then nothing. When he turned around, Lyananh charged at him and leapt at his face, kneeing his chin. With the strength of ten men, she was able to push him right off his feet and into the dirt.

A modest flourish and landing, Lyannah took a breather, giving Lanius time to regain his stance. "Nearly there," she breathed, wiping away the dry blood from her mouth - in which was distracting her - drawing in more breath. "Fus ro dah!" she shouted.

A shockwave of unrelenting force thundered through the air and the wind. Despite the unique display, it barely tickled Lanius, pissing him off more than actually helping - didn't even move him an inch.

Lanius was more than a man. From his heavy metal armour and his towering height of nearly seven feet to Lyannah's five and a half, he stood over anyone smaller than him. Metaphorically and figuratively.

Still, on the outside, Lanius was just a tall, well-built warrior of a man, no different than the dozens she killed back in Skyrim.

Why won't he yield? I slew Alduin, Miraak, Harkon, evenDeena – twice! They fell to me! Lanius... no. He must fall like the others. My reputation and life depend on it. "How are you still standing?!" she complained, wiping the blood from her mouth and face - which still irritated her. "I killed plenty of men… How is this possible?"

"There is more to me as there is to you, child. Degenerates like you have no idea what I'm capable of, cannot even comprehend my level of ultimate power." He chuckled and pivoted in a circle with her, dusting himself off in a mocking way. "But I know who you are... Dragonborn."

"Y… You know of me?" she questioned, but fell quickly to anger and continued to circle him. "Impossible!"

Lanius folded his arms behind his back and let out a short laugh. "Please, child. You're on planet Third Earth, the word 'Impossible' means little here."

Lyannah growled, glaring at Lanius. "I told no one I am Dragonborn, how does an animal like you know that?!"

"Please… It's my job to know these things. What? Don't you think I have spies scoping out the land? The Legion is everywhere. There was a fictional book I once read back in my time, about folklore and legends from other worlds. The Book of the Dragonborn was one of them. It was a book I never actually enjoyed. To see one in the flesh, that must mean Nirn is real." He contemplated, rubbing his chin. "An inferior race of beings, all ripe for my rule... Interesting…"

In a sudden outburst of rage, Lyannah threw her ebony dagger at Lanius. He was able to effortlessly block the impact by letting it strike through his arm, without a single word or flinch. No blood, just a quick pierce. "You come anywhere near Nirn I swear to Talos I'll-"

"You'll what? Drown me in my blood? Eat my heart?" he mocked, scoffing at the idea. "Nirn is lightyears away from this Earth, child. I'd love to hear how you got here and apply it for myself, but our world hasn't perfected the idea of lightspeed yet. So perish the thought, it just isn't here at the moment."

Lyannah rolled her eyes in boredom. "You love hearing yourself speak, don't you?"

"Who can blame me? I'm just so perfect." He chuckled. "Could strike me as excited. The very idea of a pure-blood protohuman breeding with a real Dragonborn is just inconceivable! If the legends are true, our children will be far superior to anything this universe has ever seen! No race nor planet will stand in my way! The whole solar system will trembler before me!"

"Y… You demented fuck! I am not your sex object!" she screamed.

"I'm not asking for your permission."

In another swift flourish, Lyannah extended her arm out to Lanius and somehow used some sort of psychokinesis to unsheathe her ebony sword from Lanius' belt, and brought it to her grasp along with her ebony dagger.

Taking a stance, Lyannah stood ready to Lanius, who was unsheathing his bumper sword. It only took a second for Lanius to charge at Lyannah, clashing blades and to test each other's strength, face-to-face.

Lanius rushed at Lyannah and used his weight to throw her off balance, but not enough to land a successful strike on her. She was still able to backflip away, causing more blood to spew from her gut, which distracted her again. Lanius thrust his sword, catching her right shoulder, drawing more blood to trickle the hot land under their feet.

Yelping out like a whimpering dog, Lyannah struck away Lanius' sword to the ground and gouged her dagger at his face. He shielded his face at the time, having her ebony blade bore into his left forearm.

Lyannah kicked Lanius away and swung her sword, spinning it at his chest, striking his sword then again at his right shin. He blocked that strike and threw his weight at her, disarming her. It wasn't over, he kicked her chest in, with enough force to launch her back at the ground, with fewer intact ribs than before.

Bloodied and battered, Lyannah held her collapsed chest and tried to get back on her feet, but soon fell back down due to the slipping on her blood. She cursed loudly. "Can't believe I'm losing... I never lose!" she sputtered with anger, struggling to keep her balance on her feet but falling short on her knee, holding her bleeding gut. The bandages were opening, and the wound was burning. "I am Dragonborn! You are nothing!" She cringed and bled some more like a stuck pig.

"Whatever you say, Dragonborn." Lanius chuckled, coming to her at walking speed. "Now, you die!" He raised his bumper sword.

Lyannah gazed at the sight of Lanius preparing to hack her head in two and froze in the realisation of the fact that she is going to die. She didn't approve of being killed on her knees and focused on her next choice of actions. Like the execution back at Helgen, time went slow before her eyes, only this time there was no dragon to save her.