Author's Note:

Well, it definitely wasn't the next Friday, nor the one after that. Facepalm. Sorry for the delay, the difficulty of writing a major battle for the first time, and some personal drama during the last four holidays kinda made this a slog to write.

Happy New Year everybody, let's hope I can get this to at least thirty chapters before the end of this year.

Reviews:

RonaldM: From the show? The Wyvern.

ODSTFRymann: Thanks man, I hope life treats you well too.

Fatswordsman: I'm thinking about it, the story is conceptually shorter than this one. The thing that kinda threw me for a loop with that story is that war and PTSD is a major theme with the main character, and I began writing it right before the major WW3 scare we had last year, and when that happened I was kinda afraid it was going to turn into WW3. The thing that gets me about purely despressing stories like Ragnarök and the cringe fest that is my first, is that they are much harder for me to write when things are just overall, depressing.

But, I have been dwelling on it some. If I can ever get into the funk of writing every week, I will continue it.

The Black Knight: Thanks, and yeah, I have kinda tripled the number of types of Grimm. I have written a bit of a bestiary, though it's mostly so I have a list of all the Grimm to use. Nothing too in-depth, though I will write some academic like passages for future scenes-mostly in Beacon.

And yeah, when it comes to Huntsmen and Huntresses, Grimm, I was inspired a lot by the Witcher 3 and MHA with how they operate (At least the 'serious' Huntsmen)

If you don't want to be spoiled, don't translate the Grimm.

"I don't own any of the series I write FF of. I only own my OC's and my unique aspects added to the story. I don't own any music or songs possibly mentioned, they are just recommendations. All credit of Rwby goes to RoosterTeeth."

Chapter 9: Blood and Mud.

The rain poured gently as he rode carefully down the alleyway, towards the street. Fridarheim was still aflame, the Grimm rampaged through the town in a bloodthirsty fury. Siegfried could still hear the sounds of battle and slaughter. The screams tore at his very heart. He clenched his fists tight around his reigns as he rode out onto the street, before him was a grim sight.

Down both paths of the road, the dead littered the ground. Above them, crouched the Creatures of Grimm, feasting on their remains. Primarily Draugar, with a few Beowolves and Canis'. The former were knelt down, either consuming their prey with their hands and demonic mouths. Ripping into flesh with their hands, or cutting it with a bladed weapon of any kind. Their skeletal faces emoted pure glee, hunger and bliss, as they bit into chunks of meat. Hands, arms, legs, and feet were treated as standard food, while the torso was treated as the main course. The Draugar saved the heads and hearts for the most worthy among them, and those who weren't feasting painted themselves or each other with blood. Like the war paint savage humans like the Hill Clans, and the Faunus Gaian and Danann tribes of old would do.

They were so focused upon their meals, they didn't notice him ride out into the street right away, it took a Draugar that was rubbing blood all over his face to open his eyes and see him. "Mannlegur!" It shouted as it jumped up, blood running down its face as it snarled, "Það er maður þarna!"

[Play 'Seere's Prayer~On the Ground' -Drakengard OST]

A Wight wasted no time taking charge, as it raised its white bone scimitar, "Til vopna, til vopna!" It commanded, "Til bardaga!"

Suddenly, the Draugar all dropped what they did, and grabbed their weapons of choice, a few even put on some helmets they had, others grabbed their shields. While others snarled, and roared, a few whistled, and the Canis and Beowolves lifted their heads from their meals.

"Scheisse…" He said calmly as he drew Balmung from its makeshift sheath, aggravated he couldn't let his right hand rest a little longer. Kicking Grane into a gallop, he raised his sword as the Grimm began to charge.

"Deyja Mannleg!" One with a crude horned helmet shouted, as it swung its two handed bone battle axe towards him as it came from the right. Swiping down, he parried the axe easily, and in a routine motion, he swiped again in reverse. The Draugar dropped his axe as it's hands went for its own throat, which had been lethally cleaved into.

His right hand shot up as he saw a bone hatchet flying towards him, catching it, he immediately flipped it around and returned it to its sender. The bone axe buried itself into its original owner's skull with a crunching thud. Grabbing his reigns again, he twirled his sword in his right hand.

His strikes and slashes as he rode by were fast and deadly, many Draugar could not defend themselves properly. A few did, but he did not turn to finish them. His goal was to get passed them, not to clear this street by himself.

Arrows flew by, as their archers failed to hit him. The Draugar that had spotted him first charged with its one handed battle axe, blood running down its face as it roared, "RRRAAAAHHHH!!!" Revving his sword, the runes on Balmung glowed purple, and before the Draugar knew it, it was lifted off the group and pulled towards him. Letting go of his reigns, he grabbed his blade with his left hand, and then slammed his pommel into the Grimm's body. From the impact, the monster was thrown into the wall of a building, it's bone armored body bursted like a bug.

The Wight shouted with fury as he rode by, "Fíflin þín!" Pointing his sword at the Knight, "Náðu honum!" The Grimm gave chase behind him, but he had reached the right turn he looked for, and turned down the street to see a tremendous sight before him.

A great battle waged in the street heading up towards the Longhouse. What was left of the Hill Clansmen's guard garrison and local warriors stood against the Grimm forces, fighting for survival. Behind them, the metal gate and the longhouse's outer walls. Upon them, archers let loose arrows upon the battlefield, while men with muskets fired volleys into the swarms of Daemons above. Most of it was chaos, with there being order in a few formations here and there. But from what he could see while riding down the road, whoever was in a larger group had a larger chance of survival, on both sides. Problem was, the Grimm outnumbered the Humans ten-to-one.

It could be seen as some groups of Hill Clansmen Warriors would be separated from their larger units, only to be overwhelmed by multiple different types of Grimm. Many groups he spotted were dying in the blink of an eye, Draugar distracting them while other Grimm surprised them. One Warrior was cutdown by a Draugar with a bone long sword, the Man behind him was swooped down upon by a Daemon who carried him off.

The Grimm weren't invincible, many of them fell as well. Draugar died as any man would, arrows hitting their mark, and weapons piercing a vital spot. The Daemons fell upon the battlefield not just as surprise foes, but they also fell as bleeding corpses as the muskets hit true. Other Grimm died not so easily, for every one of their deaths were nothing but a pyrrhic victory. For every five draugar that were sent back to hell, ten men would be dragged with them. For every other more bestial type of Grimm, ten men died to slay a individual beast.

He could tell that the Clansmen were losing this fight. The Grimm were winning. It wouldn't be long before the majority of the Hill Clan's army lay dead, or wounded, either too scared to come forward to face the Monsters or unable to move fast enough to stop the tide from sweeping over them. There were only so many ways to defeat monsters that could rip through flesh and muscle and bone with ease; only Aura clad warriors would turn the tide.

The Grimm knew that well enough. Deeper into the battle, he could see that where the Beast Grimm swarmed, there were three Warriors along with his Mentor, fighting them off as they kept coming. The three Warriors were very distinct. One wore no armor nor shirt, letting his tattooed torso be bare, while wearing leather braces and simple pants and boots. He wielded two axes like many Draugar did. The Second, a huge man wielding a huge claymore, and wore a blue full plaid kilt over his scale armor.

As for the third, she held a silver spear, and wore a engraved breastplate over her breast, and chain mail over leather armor. A green plaid cape flowed in the wind behind her. Her long fiery orange hair was made into a long braided ponytail. She was a young woman, no older than eighteen or nineteen years old. Finally, Duncan stood out from the rest, his war hammer smashed the ground sending Grimm flying into the air. Siegfried watched as his Mentor swung his warhammer again, caving in the head of a Ursa Major.

The Young Knight knew that there was no chance to rally and regroup the Clansman warriors without freeing them from their distractions. And there was an literal army of Grimm in front of him, blocking his path. He could only see one option as he rode towards them, blade drawn. Make himself a path.

Revving Balmung with both hands quickly, the runes along the blade glowed purple, he then swung his sword up. Dozens of Grimm before him were thrown up into the air, flailing as they flew away to their deaths in other streets, houses and the field outside the town. Siegfried then spurred his horse forward, charging at the horde.

His next few attacks came as a flurry, slashing and hacking at the creatures before him as he rode by. Some tried to block his way, while others ducked below his strike as he passed by. As he drew closer to the frontlines, a large Ursa Major jumped into his path and swiped its massive right paw out at him. In a instant, Grane's instincts kicked in as his steed leapt into the air; Siegfried wasn't surprised, this wasn't the first time his Stallion would do something without his input. So instead of panicking, he slashed into the Grimm's back as he zoomed by, a low forward cut that severed its right arm's trapezius and cleaved through its scapula.

It roared in pain as he rode away, and Siegfried sped onward towards his second enemy. A thin Humanoid Grimm, with two long curved horns on top it's head. It's torso was covered in a rib bone armor, and pectoral bone plates covered it's chest. Bone spikes jutted out it's spine, leading down to its back to its long, forked tail. It's arms were long, leading to long human like hands with long, four inch long claws. It's legs thick, and black down to its clawed toes, adorned with long sharp white claws as well.

The white bone mask on its face was faintly like a human skull, but with a pointy spiky chin. It had a pointy bone nose, and eye sockets that elongated and slope downward. Glowing red stripes lined it's bone plate armor, on its body and face. It's crimson eyes glowed with malice, and it's mouth had cake blood around it like lipstick. It's teeth were jagged, sharp and dripped blood. As it shot its arms out as him, his knowledge slapped his brain with the word 'Imp'.

The Monster's arms shot out towards him like chains on a grappling hook, it's claws ready to snatch him off his horse and pull him into its maw. Siegfried quickly lifted Balmung up, deflecting the first hand, and countering the second with a quick slash. It's left hand flew in the air spewing black blood as it hissed, retracting it's right as he charged the beast. Grabbing his sword with both hands, he revved it again, and used the gravity dust. Jerking his sword up like someone about to cast a fishing rod, the Imp was lifted off the ground, and came flying at him. It flailed and began to scream it's infamous scream, only for his azure blade to divide it in half.

As it's pieces flew behind him, Siegfried laughed under his breath as he continued on his path to the front, he felt exhilaration in a battle like this, even if it wasn't something he should. The sounds of screaming and clashing steel was loud, almost deafening. But it was a symphony, sweet to his ears when he was in the thick of it. This was his element after all, he realized. Swinging his sword with a smile upon his face, he left a trail of dead and dying Grimm on the ground in his wake.

Eventually, they turned their attention to the mad rider tearing through their ranks from behind. Several Draugur tried to intercept him but were struck down by Balmung's sharp edge. Still, he didn't slow, continuing onwards, leaving carnage everywhere in his path. More and more daemons were falling from the sky, their wings shredded by arrows and musket bullets. The smell of iron filled his nostrils, along with the scent of fresh blood, the blood of Men and Grimm.

The clash of metal against metal grew louder, and faster, as the distance between him and the front lines got narrower. His heart beating harder in his chest, matched the sound of roaring beasts in his ears. His eyes burned bright from the flames, sweat dripping down his cheeks despite it being night time in late winter.

He was close to the Clansmen fighting, their back ranks gazing upon him as he rode through the battlefield, their eyes wide in amazement. The Aura clad warriors were still constrained with the amount of Grimm coming their way. He was close to relieving them from the pressure, but another adversary made its appearance known.

[Stop 'Seere's Prayer~On the Ground' -Drakengard OST]

"Hestamaður!" A terrible and guttural voice shouted from his right, "Grrraaasahhhhh!" Grane reacted before he did, skirting right and avoiding the strike of an large, spiked bone club, nine feet long. Swiveling his head, he saw what Grimm attacked him.

[ Play 'Route C Staff Roll' -Drakengard OST]

An Ogre, tall and lumbering, turned towards him. One of its tusks were broken, the other was longer than it's horrid face. "Mannlegur!" It shouted with spittle, raising its club up into the air, "Deyja!" It's voice was low, hoarse, gravelly. Like sandpaper on stone. The monster's arms were brawny and sinewy, it's body was covered in thick scars and cuts that ran up its sides. It roared once more as it stumbled towards him, swinging its club down.

He kicked Grane forward into a sprint as the club struck the ground they just stood at, sending a geyser of mud and stones into the air. The Ogre bellowed, stumbling backwards in fury as he raised the club above his head, it's eyes wild and insane as it turned. It let out an awful roar as he turned Grane around, and charged towards the Grimm.

The Ogre screamed in rage, swinging its club again at him. Siegfried pulled hard on the reins, turning his horse sharply away to the left to dodge the blow, then back to the right again. He brought up his sword, slicing upwards across its right thigh. The ogre howled in agony, and staggered backwards as black blood spewed from its wound. Siegfried quickly turned his mount again so he could continue to attack it. With a mighty shout he swung his sword in a great arc and sliced its side. Again, the Ogre howled in pain, but this time it spun round and faced the young knight again.

"Graaaaagh!" It shouted as it lunged with its club, trying to smash it into him. But he evaded the strike with practiced ease. His stallion danced back and forth, dodging every swing.

"Ha!" He shouted as he thrust his sword forward and sliced deeply through the Ogre's right side. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see black blood flowing out as the Ogres howls got fiercer in pain while he rode away. The Grimm turned and swung it's club at him again, causing another huge cloud of dirt to shoot into the air as it landed. His steed spun quickly once more, kicking up a cloud of dirt and pebbles in the air as he did.

Siegfried kicked his horse and rode back towards the Ogre again, taking the beast by surprise as it raised its club. Quickly, it swung it horizontally, aiming to slam it into his horse's side. Grane anticipated this, his stallion leapt into the air, surprising him and the Monster. Taking the opportunity, he quickly lashed out with Balmung. The azure sword slashed the Ogre's face, causing a splash of black ichor.

Its enraged roar filled his ears as he and Grane landed on the ground galloping away. He looked behind himself to see it clutching it's right eye, or rather, it's right eye socket. It's blood continued oozing out of it. He grinned, and spurred his steed to race ahead as he saw it begin to run after him. It let go of it's face, and snarled as it began it's pursuit. "Ég mun kremja þu!" It's monstrous voice bellowed.

The Young Knight led it through the battlefield, they both cut down Grimm as they past them. The noble Knight out of both tactical opportunity and enjoyment, the Ogre out of frustration and rage. The Grimm smashed and clubbed it's own brethren out of its way in its pursuit, the broken and crushed bodies either puddling the ground or decorating the walls of the town.

Halfway to the other side of the street, loud cracks echoed through the air, and winged Grimm began to fall yet again. They crashed onto the battlefield one by one like flies, their bodies filled with holes. He and his steed weaved through the rain of Daemon corpses, narrowly missing every one of them that fell around and in front of them. It was a tough task, considering the Grimm on the ground they had to skirt around as well.

Eventually, they made it to the other side of the street. He sheathed Balmung in his makeshift sheath as he spotted exactly what he needed. Riding by a evaporating Draugar corpse, he grabbed the shaft of the spear that was stabbed through its back, it's former owner on the ground in front of it, headless and sprawled out. Wrenching it out of the ground, he turned Grane around and faced his grim pursuer.

The Ogre did not halt its charge as he came for it, he held the spear high and reared it back, before hurling it forth. It struck true as it pierced the Grimm's stomach, making it halt and clutch its bleeding abdomen. As Siegfried came towards it, it's eyes lit up in fury as a horrific choking sound preceded it retching up green acid. It narrowly missed him as he rode by, it turned as it puked, it's vomit was a stream that tried to follow him. But instead of him, it struck some of the Clansmen and Grimm engaged in battle.

Screaming and shouting was heard from their throats as the acidic liquid burned holes in their skin, seeping through their clothes and flesh. Their armor melted off them along with their skin and bones. They weren't prepared for such treatment, none of them were. The Grimm broke as well, the acid burning through their bone armor and melting their black skin. For the first time since that fateful day, he saw both Men and Grimm falling to the ground, equally writhing in pain and dying.

When the vomit stream ended, he turned Grane around and unsheathed Balmung. The Grimm swung its club at him once more, but it missed by a few feet as he swerved Grane out of the way, but closed back in towards it. Siegfried pulled hard on the reigns of his stallion, bringing Balmung up into a high spin and swinging it sharply. The Ogre's arm and club went flying as it roared.

He pulled on his reigns again, and turned Grane towards the Grimm. It was vulnerable now, so he pulled his legs out of his saddle's stirrups and placed his feet on the saddle itself and flipped his sword in a upside down grip in his hands, before leaping off his horse in mid charge, and with both hands around his sword's handle. The Ogre didn't see him coming.

Instead it roared in surprise as Balmung pierced its back. It's remaining left hand reach behind to try and grab him, in which he replied by quickly twisting his sword's handle and shifted it into its Greatsword form, causing the Grimm even more pain as it lurched forward. 'Now, for the final act!' He thought as he revved Balmung, willing the gravity dust to pull the Ogre and make it turn towards the Grimm, and away from the humans.

The Ogre then said, "Hvað?" Before its entire torso exploded, it's guts, black blood and green acid shooting across a decent amount of Grimm.

[ Stop 'Route C Staff Roll' -Drakengard OST]

Siegfried was thrown back with Balmung, towards the line of Clansmen. Opening his eyes, he raised up from the ground to see that many of the Grimm in front of him were flailing as acid melted them alive. Before he could even get his bearings, a hand with a iron clad grabbed ahold of him and lifted him up onto his feet. He looked to see a Clansman wearing a helmet with a braided black beard.

"Get up Kingdomer! They're gonna come at us again!" The Clansman shouted, his blue eyes intense behind his helmet. Turning to look at the Grimm, he was right, a new mass of Grimm were charging over their dead. Mostly Draugar, they were being lead by an enraged Wight.

Quickly, he picked up Balmung and stood with the Warriors. "GET READY! HERE THEY COME!" One of them shouted, he raised his blade as they heard the Draugar's Warcry.

[ Play 'Chapter I~On the Ground' -Drakengard OST]

"Sigur til Helvítis!" The Grimm horde shouted as they charged towards them. In response, the clansman warriors charged forward and met their foes head on. Siegfried charged with them, meeting their ranks with his sword swinging furiously. Some of the Draugar that managed to get within his sword's distance died instantly under his steel, but it was minuscule as many others just continued rushing towards them like the tide.

His blade clashed against another, as he met a Draugar face to face. "Ég mun drekka blóðið þitt!" It shouted ferociously as blood poured down its skeletal face. Demonic Runes were painted on its forehead, and hatred burned in its eyes. He pushed it back, and swung his sword upwards, connecting against its blade.

The two of them struggled together for several seconds until he was able to break free. He took a step back and then lunged forward, slamming his sword into the Grimm's chest. Black Blood splashed into his face as the Draugar gasped its last breath. He quickly pulled Balmung free before kicking its remains into the crowd of Draugar behind it, knocking them all back as he moved forward, swinging wildly.

Swing after swing, did his sword song sing, Draugar after Draugar fell, their bodies crumbling under death and injury. Siegfried spun Balmung in his hand, and brought the sharp edge down across another's chest, splitting its ribs apart, and opening its chest cavity. Black liquid gushed forth like a fountain as it too died.

Another Draugar stepped forward with its weapon at the ready, he sidestepped its charge and swung his greatsword, it took its head clean off its shoulders. Blood spewed out as it's head flew, covering the ground in pools of black while it's body fell. A few steps further, another followed suit. This time it wielded two short swords, and a it wore a hood from its black hairy cloak growing from it's back. It swiped its short swords at him in a particular manner, like a downwards X. But Siegfried deflected it's blow before thrusting himself forwards, his greatsword plunging deep into its belly, before he pulled it out through the Grimm's side. It whined as it's innards spilled upon the ground, as he stepped back.

Looking at the Clansmen that surrounded him, they stood shoulder to shoulder against the Grimm. They fought bravely with no mercy nor compassion for the monsters. They fought as though the fight would never cease, fighting until their blades rung out with victory, or their bodies fell in defeat. They stood against the Grimm defiantly, yet for every beast slain, more rushed in to take their place.

"Hagl Grímfaðir!" His eyes widened as he saw a sword coming down upon him, he quickly raised Balmung to deflect the blow, but the Wight's strength was great. The blade strained against his, as the Grimm leaned in. It's forehead was carved into, a demonic rune shaped like a upside down U with a single dot within was immortalized upon its skull, blood smeared upon its face. It's short crown was etched with squiggles.

"Fúlt mannlegt, kynþáttur þín er dæmd til að mistakast!" It said with a voice dripping with venom, "Grímurinn mun stjórna ríkjunum, við verðum hinn nýi meistari kynþáttur!" It pushed him, but with all his strength, he pushed it back.

"Rah!" He shouted as the wight stumbled back. Grabbing his greatsword with both hands, he raised it over his head and swung down with all his might. The Wight tanked the strike with its sword, and pressed forward. It's face close to his, it's breath the foul smell of rot and blood. Its eyes stared daggers at him, burning hot with malice.

"Þið dauðlegu menn skuluð vera nautgripir okkar!" It shouted as it pushed, "Fallið fyrir mér, verðið blóðug veisla mín!" It pushed harder and harder, but Siegfried held his ground as he kept pushing back.

"I…will…not…SUBMIT!" He screamed as he forced the wight back with every ounce of his strength, sweat beading on his brow as his arms grew tired. The Wight stumbled back with a hiss as he pressed his attack, it threw a swing out to delay him. But as it's blade met his, it shattered.

It's demonic eyes going wide as a devilish smile spread across his face. With a mighty war cry, he swung his sword in a great arc and sliced open the monster's chest, killing it instantly. It dropped dead to the ground. The battle was far from over, as more came. He didn't hesitate to move forward into the storm around him.

The massive clashing of metal, screechings and screaming dulled in the background. It was as though everything else ceased to exist. Siegfried blocked every blow, every hit, every stroke, and parried each and every strike sent towards him with ease. He felt invincible, almost invulnerable. He was unstoppable as he continuously defended against every attack, then slashing, slashing and slashing and slashing back.

As he began cutting through those who opposed him, he couldn't help but remember what happened before he fought the Grímur; when he first met the Goddess and her daughters, when she showed him his purpose for being, and they his fate. The fields red with crimson and obsidian, from battles with mortals and demons. And only one remaining standing, him and him alone. The Dragon beckoned after such humiliation, and his new virgin blade thirsted for it's blood.

[Pause Music.]

'What?' He blinked as he blocked a draugar's axe, he kicked it back as he swung his sword at its legs, severing them before finishing it with a strike to the torso. Siegfried took a few steps back, his mind was slightly foggy, that wasn't good in the middle of a battlefield, if not at all. His breath was ragged, breathing heavily, his sword stained with black blood.

"Ahhh!!" A man shouted to his left, looking he saw a Draugar stabbed through with a sword embracing a Clansman with its mouth tearing into his neck.

Tearing his throat out with its teeth, it spat it out before shouting up to the sky, "Hagl Grímfaðir! Hagl Frumburður! Hagl næturkonungar!" It's voice fanatic and crazed, even for a Grimm. "Ég geri þetta fyrir þig! Fyrir Hel-" It was silenced by a Clansman's axe slamming into its skull.

[Resume Music.]

Grimm and Men were dying around him, arrows pelting them, blades cutting them, axes chopping them, spears piercing them. And unique to the humans, claws and teeth ripping them apart.

More and more varieties of Grimm were getting closer and closer, Siegfried could feel their hot breath and bloodlust as they rushed towards them in waves. Beowolves, Canises, Ursai, Imps and more. They were relentless, their claws scratching and ripping through anything in reach. He swung his blade down with lightning speed, cutting through any and every Grimm within his reach.

[ Stop 'Chapter I~On the Ground' -Drakengard OST]

[Play 'Twilight of the Gods-One of the Metal Cover Versions'-Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia OST]

He ran towards them all, to stop their advance. There was just so many of them. So much pain and death had already been inflicted that day. They needed to end this. He needed to end this. Siegfried could feel that fire inside build as he summoned it forth, it spreading and glistening along his blade. Azure flames sparked forth, and illuminated the battlefield as he swung forward.

In a small, but potent wave, blue fire shot forth and blasted the Grimm before him. In all directions facing him, in a distance of twenty feet, it erupted. Draugar, Beowolves, Goblins and all manners of Grimm, flailed around as his blue flames charred their demonic bodies. Some ran away screaming in agony, others howled in anger as they continued their charge. Still others lay dying in the mud, melting from the fires. But the majority of the Grimm did not retreat, some even charged forward with renewed vigor.

He gritted his teeth as he swung again, sending forth another wave, then another, and another. The flames burned brighter and hotter as they raged on, engulfing more Grimm. They burned and melted, thrashed and roared, the fires devoured them completely. His entire body ached from how much fighting he had done today, but he pushed himself forward, never pausing in his pace, even when his body nearly gave out from exhaustion.

With one last swing, he summoned as much azure fire as he could, and sent it forth. The flame surged forth into the Grimm like an enormous tidal wave, drowning them from head to toe in the searing heat. Flames licked onto their flesh, as they let out loud screams. Their cries drowned out the cheers of the men behind him.

The flames spread, consuming every Grimm that crossed its path, incinerating them as it went, mostly leaving nothing but a pile of ash on the ground. Waving his hand, he dispelled the flames as the blaze slowly dissipated. His sword trembled in his hand as the heat intensified inside himself. Sweat and rain dripped down his forehead, falling off his jaw and landing on the ground beneath him. He staggered backwards as the fire consumed the Grimm. His lungs were burning, his tongue dry and parched.

[Stop 'Twilight of the Gods-One of the Metal Cover Versions'-Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia OST]

Siegfried breathed in heavily as his body shuddered from the overuse of his new semblance and the depletion of aura. His arms quivering with exertion, he clutched onto his greatsword for support, stabbing it into the mud. Looking around and realised he hadn't noticed the Grimm had thinned to a mere handful. He had somehow wiped the horde clean from the entire street. The air filled with smoke, both from flame and evaporation. Melted and burned Grimm lay scattered across the field, most dead, the rest severely injured. He heard growls of pain as they died under his flames.

A streak of blood leaked from one of his nostrils as he took in the sight, the Clansmen all cheering behind him. They cheered his victory, his prowess, and his bravery. But he paid it no mind, his attention purely on the street. At the few Grimm left, mulling around at the other end of the street, snarling.

Then, a great, dreadful horn blew. It echoed throughout the town, and silenced both Man and Grimm alike. (A/N: basically the horn from the War of the Worlds 2004) Siegfried rubbed the blood off his face with his right vambrace before pulling his sword out of the ground, and readying himself for anything. The few Grimm left standing turned, and ran into the alleys, as the sound of marching began to echo.

Siegfried could hear the sounds of metal clinking, the clack of heavy boots, armour and shields. He scanned the land before him as the rest of the warriors looked around confused. It was soon revealed as the marching got nearer and nearer. Rounding the same turn he came from when he joined the battle, a column of Draugar came marching. They were not like the others.

Clad in plate armor black as night, they wielded spears in their right hands, and round shields in their left. Painted on them was a circle of blood, and a plethora of symbols upon a field of black. They were lead in the front by one wearing a helmet with white horns angled down the sides with their horns pointing forward, like a M. Their helmets were a lot alike Hellenic ones, a nose guard, eye holes and a thin space for you mouth as your cheeks were covered (A/N: Basically, the Ancient Nord helmet from Skyrim, just the vast majority are without the horns).

They had some emaciated man marching with them, naked with only metal chains around his neck and body, connecting all around him to meet at his cuffs on his hands, as he was their flag bearer. Around his body, his brown skin turned black like decay while his mouth hang open. His eyes were covered by a blindfold soaked red. The banner he held was upon a tall, dark pole, and was long and dark. Upon it a red circle with red runes making two more layers, with one big one in the middle. It was like a severed upside down crab claw with a single dot in the middle. (A/N: Yes, to the true gamers out there, it is the symbol on the cover of Oblivion. The Grimm runes are basically the Daedric Alphabet)

They marched in perfect synchronization, disciplined and stoic. But their eyes betrayed them with hunger and bloodlust. As they approached, another column turned in behind them. A new horn blew, one more organic and human in nature. The Clansmen behind him turned and ran, he followed along as everyone outside the gates rushed to them as they opened. It was like a reverse damn as all the men rushed through. He took it as less a act of desperation, but rather a act of opportunity to a more defensible location.

Once he was in, he turned and ran to the side, up the stairs along the wall until he was on it. The Clansmen with bows and Muskets gave him a quick glance, but the Grimm kept all of their attention. A third column came in behind the second as the first stopped at fifty feet away from the gate, but instead of marching, they began to slam the blunt end of their spears against the ground.

"Þú, veik, þú, hógvær! Svín, feitt kjöt!" They began to sing, "Aumkunarverðir menleg, veikir og huglausir!"

"Sieg!" He heard Duncan approach him from behind, but he kept his eyes on the horde in front of them.

"Þú, veik, þú, hógvær! Svín, feitt kjöt!" They sung with wicked smiles, "Við hungrum, við þyrstum, við þráum blóð!"

"Við erum synir helvítis! Við erum reiði myrkranna! Við erum bræður Fafnir! Við erum Grímur!" Their demonic voices echoed across the town, the sounds of their spears a doom drum.

"Þú, veik, þú, hógvær! Svín, feitt kjöt!" His eyes darted from rank to rank, "Menn og skepnur, okkar blóðugu veisla!" A fourth column began to turn onto the street as the second fully stopped.

"Þeir hlaupa, þeir berjast, en þeir geta ekki staðið gegn krafti okkar!" The Men on the wall showed despair on their faces, "Þú, veik, þú, hógvær! Svín, feitt kjöt!"

The Draugar raised both their spears and shields, into the air, and shouted "Við erum martröðin!"

Siegfried did not like their odds.

Authors Note:

I've just accepted I can't condense events in my writing, this climax will likely be a four parter. .

I've got nearly 100k words and we're not even ten chapters in. SMH.

Next Update: I don't know, hopefully before the end of February.

I'm open to all criticism (I'm writing Fanfiction to improve my writing after all), So please review and give me your honest opinions. If you like it, please be sure to favorite or follow.