Disclaimer: I don't own a thing. Doubt I ever will.

Name: Potter, Harry

Division: Special Weapons

Location: ICPF Headquarters

Mission: Integration/Assessment

Harry followed Rivera along the hallways of the ICPF Headquarters. Feeling rather like a scolded puppy, he was surprised when Nathan took up a rather friendlier tone than the one used to separate Mr. Kramer and Dr. Akabane.

"Those two have been itching to fight since Kramer was recruited. Something about 'differing approaches to conflict,' or some such nonsense. They just need to stay away from each other for a good long while." He then turned to Harry. "You will see for yourself that we all have different aspects which the ICPF requires to function. Some are suited to the realm of paperwork; while others, like myself, are best suited to the ideals of combat. We will see just how…intensive… Auror training was when it comes down to non-magical fighting."

Turning into a set of double-doors, the pair walked into what appeared to be a large ring, with a lone figure standing in the center. Like Nathan Rivera, this person was clad in full plate armor. Unlike Rivera's ice blue and ebon armor, this person wore plate of a deep hue of crimson. His sword drawn, the man strode towards Harry and Nathan. "Good day, Commander Rivera," the man spoke with a voice as smooth as silk, yet cold and powerful. "I take it that this is our latest recruit?"

Rivera turned towards Harry. "Galbatorix, meet Mister Harry J. Potter of the Potter Canon. Potter, meet Former King Galbatorix, of the Inheritance Canon." He turned back the Galbatorix. "Now, I want you to assess his combat capability, both melee and arcane. Be thorough, but let's not have a senseless death, either. Understood?"

The warrior nodded in compliance. "Completely, Commander. To be honest, you may want to stay out of the ring while the assessment is being conducted." Rivera nodded curtly and began to walk towards a bench on the outside boundary of the ring. "Excellent. We may begin. Shields, engage." With those words a reflective barrier formed around the ring. When the shield was completed, the fallen king raised his sword at Harry. "Draw you blade, Mr. Potter, and try to hold me off for as long as possible."

Oh, this isn't going to be good. Well, I signed up for this. Remembering the phrase for his hidden blade/railgun, he allowed the twin rails to swing outward as he prepared for the worst. Nothing in Auror training had anything on this. I might as well go for style. With that, Harry lunged towards Galbatorix, intending to drive his blade through the warrior's heart.

The strike would have landed, if Galbatorix wasn't already prepared for it. As soon as the blade touched his breastplate, the king shifted, changing his flow of time and allowing him to effortlessly step away from the arm-blade. "Too slow, Mister Potter! Too slow and perfectly predictable!" Galbatorix then swung his blade in a tight arc, smashing Harry in the back.

The blow stung, but Harry managed to recover. Dodging a wide swing from the armored warrior, Harry then stepped into Galbatorix's reach and drove his blade into the king's neck. With more bravado than he felt, Harry replied, "You really think so, Galby?" He then pushed the blade further into the warrior.

"Yes. I do."

With that, Galbatorix sent a burst of air at Harry's midsection, sending the wizard hurtling into the air. After smashing against the barrier, Harry struggled back to his feet, only to find his adversary charging towards him, blade drawn and fire flowing from his right hand. Pulling his wand out of its slot, Harry yelled, "Finite Incantatem!" At once, the fire flashed and went out, leaving only the sword to worry about. Aiming at the warrior's sword arm, he then slashed down with his wand, screaming, "SECTUMSEMPRA!"

An obscenely deep gash had formed in Galbatorix's arm, but he paid it no mind. Already his body began to heal the wound, expelling the Dark magic involved in its creation. "Is that all you've got? A puff of smoke and a paper-cut? Try again!" He then swung his sword in a vicious downward arc, stopping only when Harry blocked it with his false arm instead of the rail/blades. Once the blow was blocked, he then swung with his unarmed fist, catching Potter square in the side of his face.

Once again, Harry found himself reeling from an intense blow. Defending himself was slowly becoming futile. How does he have the strength to throw me around like that? This feels like the time I fought that Ukrainian Ironbelly just prior to retirement. Wait one moment…

Harry leveled his wand for hopefully the last time. Hermione had given him this spell. "When all else fails, this will stop anything in its tracks," she had said. Harry could only hope she was right.

"Navitas convérte!"

Galbatorix froze, unable to move. How is this happening? The king felt all the energy drain from his attack and his body as Harry lowered his wand. Galbatorix tried to end the spell with his own brand of magic, but his spells seemed to peter away as soon as he cast them. Enraged, the king screamed, "What the hell did you do to me?!" Harry then let his spell end, and Galbatorix fell to his knees.

"You know, I'm not really sure. An old friend taught me that one. Brilliant, she was." Harry felt unusually invigorated from casting the spell. "So Galby, have I pas-"

Nathan Rivera's gauntlet tightened around Harry's neck. In a cold voice, he growled, "You really have no sense, do you? Little did I figure my command would have to apply to YOU as well. An unrestrained Energy Conversion spell is a recipe for disaster. You kill him, and I would have no choice but to incinerate you. Consider this your one and ONLY warning. Understood?" Gurgling, Harry nodded as best as he could. "Excellent. Now, it turns out that High Command has a mission for you. Consider this a 'trial-by-fire.' Galbatorix, one more for the road?" Rivera then let Harry drop to the ground. Before He could get to his feet, frozen chains sprung from the ground, binding the mage to the floor. "Make it quick."

Grinning, Galbatorix walked up to the restrained wizard. And then backhanded him with his gauntlet. "I'm fine now."

Author's note: I'm glad there are people here who are reading and enjoying this piece. I plan to write as often as possible on this. And before anyone asks, "Navitas convérte!" literally means ,"energy convert!" in Latin. I checked as best I could.

Also, I know the fight scene might seem wonky, but I am trying to figure out how to make it 'flow' better.

Next Chapter: The Blood Knight Arc

Until next time,

MasterMerrick