Warning: Before we begin this one I thought I should warn you all ahead of time that I did not split this into parts and it is our longest chapter yet with an accurate word count in the authors note below. Be aware there are a lot of linebreaks, pov changes and I highly suggest if you get a little lost that you read it again a second time otherwise I myself got confused...whoops. And for this chapter's soundtrack might I recommend Ascension as well as Find the Flame? You'll figure out when to play each I'm sure. Enjoy!

Chapter 38

War of the Eikons

High above the city of King's Landing, the King of Dragons roars. Bahamut rears his head back and fires a concentrated beam of Aether. The attack slamming into a shield of light as the Seraph floats in the air, carried by its wings and entirely bored out of its mind. With a wave of its left arm six golden arrows form and with a flick of its wrist they cut through the air and impact the mighty Eikon of Light.

"So, it really is true," Bahamut's eyes narrow, the sting of the attacks little more than the bite of a mosquito to him "There really are more Eikons."

"More Eikons, but far stronger than you pretenders." Seraph raises his staff "I doubt a beast like you would understand just what it is you are up against."

Bahamut dives suddenly, narrowly avoiding a shower of golden beams raining down from above "Beast Bahamut may be, but you face the Prince of Sanbreque!" Seraph brings his staff into a defensive posture, holding back the mighty clawed feet of the dragon "And you shall not win today!"

"Very well then, perhaps I should start taking you seriously?"

Down on the ground, Clive and the others watched as Bahamut did battle with an Eikon they had yet to encounter themselves. One of Light that they had not received a report on. The clash of two Eikons of Light shook the heavens as Bahamut's attacks were shielded against with such strength they parted and only served to bombard the land around the city.

"Well, I'll be damned…seems someone truly does exist out there that can match the prince," Cid says in slight awe "I'm guessing this one is working with King Robert then?"

"Indeed. And he is no slouch either," Joshua's right arm was shaking as he thought back to the Eikon of Fire he had faced so long ago "But there is still one Eikon we have yet to account for."

Cid shakes his head "Guess I should be the one to step up then? Hope you kids wont leave an old man out to die alone, eh? I'd like to get home to the wife in one piece thank you."

Benedikta rolls her eyes as Cid trudges off. Despite her animosity towards the man, he was still her father for whatever it was worth now. "Mother will have your head if you aren't careful!"

With that warning Cid just waves back as the Aether consumes him. In a bolt of lightning, a flash of light, Ramuh takes the field. "Now then, lets see if this plan actually works."

Clive doesn't have long to wait as he watches Ramuh take to the air. A bolt of lightning from afar is intercepted by the Fulgurian's staff. Floating so casually, eight dark black clouds floating around her, was another Eikon of Lightning. "I really hope Cody's plan works…Cid doesn't realize what it is he is up against."

"True enough, but he never was one to shy away from a fight like this," Benedikta sighs "I'll go next. No point in waiting forever for the inevitable to happen."

Cody and Rex move up, flanking the Rosarian trio as Benedikta takes to the skies as Garuda is unleashed. The powerful gusts of wind whipped up from her wing beats nearly knocking them over. Now high in the skies was a battle of Light, Lightning and Wind as the Eikon they heard rumors of from so long ago let out a shrieking cry as it began to chase down Garuda.

"Six Eikons on a battlefield at once…I doubt anyone has ever seen something like this before," Rex says in awe "And to think we haven't seen the last Eikon yet take the field."

"For this to work, we all will have to fight," Jill says softly, wringing her hands as she watches the battle closely "We know who will come for me. Which means it is all the more imperative that Joshua go last."

"She's right," Joshua cuts off Clive before he can voice a protest "The Eikon I faced was…powerful, he toyed with me as if I was an insect. If our theory is correct, then he is somewhere within the city and he…he will come out to face me, again, as he did before."

"Those burns you suffered; they persisted even when you weren't primed. He could burn you through the Phoenix and it could not heal you. And you wish to face that!?"

"Wish to? No. Have to? Unfortunately, yes Clive, I must."

There's a piercing shriek from above as Garuda pelts its counterpart with a barrage of wind magic. Each blast slams into the great bird but none can make it waver.

"Clive, we all agreed to the plan, even you. But we cannot do this alone if you falter here and now," Jill takes his hand in hers "Please, have faith in us as we do in you. We'll succeed, you'll see."

Clive relents, giving her hand a gentle squeeze "Alright then…I shall stick to the plan for now."

Jill smiles before relinquishing her hold of his hand. Clive can feel the chill in the air as she goes. This would be like Oldtown all over again, he could feel it deep within. Even as the crystal of ice forms in the air and shatters to reveal Shiva, Clive can't help but hope that he might be wrong about the day.

"Begone!"

Garuda braces against the buffeting gusts of wind. Blue eyes glaring at the bird before her, she shrieks as she soars through the air, talons ripping into the bird "You think yourself an Eikon of Wind? You who are nothing more than an overgrown pheasant!"

"Valefor is no pheasant, and you are no Warden of the Wind!" Valefor's mighty wing beats repel Garuda, Aether gathers in its beak and with a single cry a beam of magic slams into the Eikon. "You are hardly any better than the mages back home. Just a wild wretch pretending at being a Dominant."

A single shard of ice narrowly misses the Eikon of Wind. Both eikons' eyes are drawn to the form of Shiva as she glares at Valefor. "I think that is enough out of you."

"Ignis! Come and take care of this one you useless dog!"

Shiva's eyes widen just a hair before she turns, a shield of ice forming as Cerberus comes crashing down upon her. "You again!" comes the angry shout from the right head "You dare try again!?"

"We should have killed you before," says the left "Little Shiva, never to rise again."

"Now we will finish what we started," grumbles the middle head "And you will bow before the might of Cerberus!"

Shiva blasts the frozen hellhound, knocking it off her body and giving her some breathing room "I am not as helpless as I was before, you will not surprise me a second time."

Cerberus howls, ice forming along its body "Then die!"

The three-headed Eikon of Ice unleashes three streams of ice magic from its jaws. Frozen beams slam against a wall of ice. The hellhound charges, alternating between bombarding the shield and taking its chances at shooting Garuda out of the sky. Shiva swipes her hand across her shield wall, the ice fracturing, and thrusts her right arm forward. Pieces of the shield rain down upon Cerberus, large chunks of ice blocking its line of sight to corral the beast.

"Foolish girl!" the right head roars before firing a beam of ice at her.

Shiva rolls to the left out of the way, glaring down at the beast "Is that all Cerberus?"

A stray bolt of lightning hits her from behind. She falls with a cry before catching herself. Off to the side, Ramuh is struggling to keep up with his own foe, an Eikon far faster than even he could be with lightning on his side.

"Jill!" Ramuh cries, staff batting away a dark cloud "Damn it…I told you before girl, your fight is with me!"

"And this fight is boring me," the Eikon of Lightning stares down the Fulgurian with a bored expression upon her face "Raiden is hardly impressed, is this all that the mighty Ramuh can muster against me?"

"You want to be impressed? Well fine then, I was tired of pulling my punches." Ramuh raises his staff, lightning striking the wood as he gathers what Aether he can "I hope you have made your peace, I sure as hell won't give you any!"

With staff brought to bear Ramuh unleashes the energy built up. A massive bolt of lightning fires off, just sailing past a smirking Raiden. The smirk melts from her face as Seraph cries out in pain in the distance, giving Bahamut the chance to grab the angelic eikon by his shoulders and dive down to the earth below.

"Sorry about that," he apologizes with a chuckle "You didn't think my attack was meant for you, did you?"

"You…" Raiden's fingers twitch, lightning forming into knives as she rushes forward.

"Oh bugger."

"You dare!" Raiden screams, swinging at Ramuh "You would defy us…you who were given your power by lesser beings would dare to strike your superiors!?"

"Girl…will you…" Ramuh smacks Raiden with his staff "Stop that! You are even more of a brat than Benna…and that is saying something."

Raiden quickly swipes her arm; four knives embed themselves into Ramuh's staff as he frowns at the eikon. "You talk too much; did you know that?"

Ramuh's eyes widen as he whirls around, a foot impacting his chest and sending him crashing into the earth below. "Damn kids…should have told her no after Benna but…argh, fuck that actually hurt a little."

"Had enough, old man?"

"Just for that…no. No, I have not." Ramuh groans as he stands "But now I believe things need to change."

There's a cry over head, a ball of fire slamming into Raiden from the side as Ramuh smiles.

Clive winces as he watches Ramuh engage with his foe. The fight was going as he expected. A stalemate as they each engaged their exact match in these new Eikons. An even fight was not one so easily won, of that Cody and he were agreed. But as Joshua took to the skies, as the Phoenix engaged all threats at once, he couldn't help but feel his worry grow.

"They'll be fine," Cody assures him "Eikons fighting like this is always tough but…they won't lose so easily."

"Wont win as easily either," he rebukes "And we are betting everything that their leader will come out next."

"You feel anything?"

Clive shakes his head "No, nothing. I just don't understand. He should be here…he should be out there fighting Joshua right now."

Rex grumbles from his right. Eyes on the city "So he's either in the city itself still, or he is watching us right now. Which do we like better?"

"You mean which is worse?"

Rex shrugs. Cody glances back at the men behind them. Trained soldiers of Westeros, every one of them. And no one looked any more eager to fight in the presence of the Eikons than the next. "Well, suppose we should have prepared them better for this then?"

"Not like it would matter much." Rex nods his head in the direction of the city "Things just got worse."

Off in the distance a large black portal opens. Four arms reaching out, forcing the portal open as a grey-skinned hulking figure pulls free. Whatever this new creature was, be it an Eikon or something else, it was not something they had planned for. It gives a hollow scream as its body is finally free of the portal, a lone dark eye staring right up at the Phoenix.

"Suggestions?" Clive asks, slowly reaching for his weapon.

"Stick to the plan. Joshua can handle this, but if you go out there now then all of this will be that much harder." Rex keeps a firm hold on Clive's shoulder, keeping him grounded "Remember, until their leader appears we must stand our ground. They've done their part, now its time we do ours."

Clive relaxes, hand slowly moving away from Invictus "You…are right. But this…thing…this Eikon…whatever it is! How did we have nothing about this one?"

"Likely never appeared before," Cody chimes in "The bird wiped out the armies of Renly and Joffrey at the beginning of the war, even killed Renly. Cerberus was at Oldtown, the…thunder maiden fighting Ramuh was at Seagard. And that winged man battling Bahamut…well that's another unknown to us."

"Can this battle get any more complicated?" Clive's eyes widen as he feels the ground tremble. He and Cody turn to Rex who shakes his head in surrender "I did not plan for this alright?"

On the far side of the city stood Titan, locked in combat with its old foe. Body still reforming, Golem rose up to new heights nearly the same size as its foe. Even from such a distance the twin Eikons of Earth were more than the size of any mountain in Westeros as they loomed in the distance.

"Rex, the next time you speak something like that into existence…I am going to kill you."

"Like you haven't done that before Cody."

Clive ignores the arguing pair, with his left hand coming up to the side of his head. The world slowed around him as he felt it, a presence, a heat that was near. He was here. He knew it, it was him, the copy had arrived. "We might have a bigger problem."

A pillar of fire rose up from the bay. Ifrit, the Infernal Eikon, manifests in the waters of Blackwater Bay with Stannis' fleet at its back. With a mighty roar the Eikon of Fire charges forward, running across the water towards the city. Standing high just ahead was the Red Keep itself. With a roar, Ifrit leaps into the air.

The fighting men of the North were a groaning mess, tugging at their armor, panting as the temperature suddenly shot up. A few looked at Clive in confusion when they saw that he had not yet primed. Rex and Cody for their part did glance at him too, but they felt something different when they saw his face.

Clive was afraid.

He held no fear of his counterpart, nor of the memories of what it had almost done to his brother all those years ago. Not anymore. But as Ifrit leaped into the air, its body coming down slowly on the very castle that Clive was now going to rule should they succeed here today…he prayed to R'hllor that whatever this was it was only a nightmare in his exhausted head.

Ifrit was flung back into the bay, body crashing, water rising as it slowly sinks. The Infernian rises with a roar, eyes glaring at its new challenger. Floating high above the castle, above the city of Kings Landing, was a figure in a robe. Great flames erupt from its shoulders, a pillar of fire consuming its head leaving nothing visible but a pair of blue eyes.

"Now then, I think it is time the beast was brought to heel." The Eikon of Fire brought both of its arms up, flaming skulls forming just above the palms "Kneel or be extinguished."

Ifrit roars, charging again despite the danger. The skulls cackle as they are thrown right at it. One impacts the bay while the other is batted aside by Ifrit. The Eikon leaps again but its foe does not dodge. Instead, Ifrit finds itself grabbed by the tail and pulled back to the bay. One flaming skull holds its tail with its teeth, the second bursts from the water right in front and gives a last crazed cackle before its body glows with Aether.

The resulting explosion unleashes another wave of heat across the land. Homes are set ablaze, a few of Stannis' own ships burn in the bay, and above all every Eikon takes note of just what is happening.

The phoenix flaps its wings, frozen in fear as its blue eyes take in that familiar form. Old burns on its back begin to irritate it again as the memory of those flames singeing its skin are made fresh again "No…he really is here…not again. Not again!"

Clive can feel his arms trembling. The men around him staring in awe of the fourth Eikon of Fire they have ever seen in their lives taking the field now. "I know what we must do…Cody, Rex, we're moving."

Rex chuckles, grabbing his axes "About time, let's take this city!"

There's a cry from behind, the men cheering as Clive takes off. First they would have to clear the little bit of the field that was between them and the outskirts of the city. Then they would need to clear the walls somehow before moving on the city proper.

"Just how long do you plan to delay the inevitable?"

Ramuh rolls his eyes, unleashing another blast of lightning upon Raiden "As long as you keep acting like a child, I will keep fighting you. Honestly, you'd think a Dominant would be more mature."

A series of knives fly past his head. With a war cry Raiden commands her clouds to rush the old man of an Eikon before her. Ramuh spins his staff, lightning strikes absorbed and deflected before he thrusts the wooden weapon forward and blasts Raiden yet again.

Down below, Cerberus and Shiva are still locked in combat. The hellhound only tempted to prime again and finish the Ice Queen off while he was still fresh. Every blast of his ice kept Shiva on the defensive. The left head builds up Aether, the right chuckling as it sees why the Glacian of the North would be so protective.

"You value the lives of these insects," it growls "Humans with no power do not deserve our mercy!"

"You will die protecting these vermin," the middle agrees just as the left head unleashes its attack aiming for the very people Shiva would deem under her protection.

For the people living outside of the city's mighty walls the battle was an entirely new breed of Hell. Many had fled to the gate demanding to be let in, others cowered in their homes or attempted to flee on foot. None of them knew if they'd live or die as they stumbled over one another in their panic.

Shiva forms a wall of ice, shielding the people as best she can from Cerberus onslaught. "The people of this land did not ask for this war. So why should I have to allow it to consume them!?"

The Eikon of Ice was glowing with Aether as she pushed the attack back. Cerberus growls, all three heads prepping to attack when a bolt of lightning strikes them in the back. "Whoops, sorry about that, guess my aim was a bit off."

"Cid!"

Ramuh whirls at the warning, blocking Raiden's attempt at a surprise attack "Well that was a bit underhanded of you, attacking while my back was turned?"

"After you had done the same!"

"True, but that is no ordinary pooch now is it? Three heads, three minds…just a bit unfair."

Raiden smiles, eyes flicking just to the right "Then I guess this is fair then!" She lashes out, knives sailing through the air right past Ramuh.

"Oh no…Clive!"

Down below, Clive felt the charge in the air. Head slowly turning upward as he spies the attack coming. Short of priming he had no way out of this. But he couldn't do it, not with the people around him…their homes would burn, and so would they if he let Ifrit loose. If he didn't…they all might die together.

"No!" Ice forms between the knives and Clive. Floating just above, ice wall formed, was Shiva. "You will not touch him!"

Clive felt his face twitch, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as he watches the Ice Eikon shatter her shield and send each shard of ice right back at his would-be killer. "Jill! I guess I owe you one…" he whispers, shaking his head fondly "Right…walls first, then worry about the other Eikons and then…Cid is never going to let me hear the end of this day."

Within the Red Keep, Robert Baratheon observed the battle in safety. Donned in his armor, helmet resting upon a map of the city he and his most trusted knights were kept informed via runners of the happenings outside. No reports of anyone breaching the walls just yet. But all of the fighting between the Eikons was unsettling. The ground shook, great winds buffet the keep, while the sounds outside had many wondering if the world might fall into ruin from their clash. Explosions shook the city as Eikons bombarded one another for dominance.

"The greatest battle in our history…and I find myself left to watch as these Eikons make the very earth tremble before them." He mutters, a fresh goblet of water brought for him. "To think, I'd find myself able to do battle like before…and I cannot even fight the damn things attacking my city!"

"Patience your grace," Barristan, ever the levelheaded calm in the sea of rage that was Robert, reminds his king "Until the Eikons retreat or are defeated the battle will not begin properly."

"Right you are," Robert grumbles "Coward's won't try to take this city until the beasts have gone."

While the king dealt with his men and the reports not all was going well on the walls. The men on the Old Gate were ready as they stood watch. While some found their eyes drawn to the battles in the air, others watched the road for any who would dare to enter the city. Citizens trapped outside the walls clamored for a chance to enter, shouting at the men to let them in for their own protection but none obeyed.

The crowd shouted for entrance; begging, pleading with the men of the city watch and the various knights that stood with them to open the gates. That was what Clive found as he made his approach. "Clear a path!" he shouts. The crowd slowly parts, recognizing him as a knight and the colors he wore "Open the gates! Or be cut down."

The guards laughed, throwing insults of their own down upon Clive as he stands alone. Rex and Cody were further behind still leading the men towards the city. No army truly stood at his back to support him here, but he did not need them.

"Very well then, we'll do this the hard way." Aether erupts around him, body encased in the flames as he ignites. Clive charges forward, flaming body colliding with the gates as he melts through the metal barring entry. The people cry out in shock, stumbling back while the men on the walls scramble to find the intruder.

An ethereal talon grips one of the gold cloaks, throwing him high into the air while another talon grabs the wall itself. Clive lands amidst the men, Invictus drawn, and cuts two down. A third takes a fireball to the chest and drops.

"To arms! To arms!"

Clive smirks as the cry goes out. The knights are hesitant to attack him after seeing what he is capable of. He brings up his left hand, sparks of lightning dancing between his fingers "I'm here to even the odds, any objections?"

A knight gives a shout as he swings his blade. Invictus intercepts, the offending blade knocked aside, and a bolt of lightning unleashed upon the knight. Body burnt under his armor the knight falls from the wall with a thud. More come at Clive from behind. His body a blur as he electrocutes those who get too close and cuts down the more agile of his foes.

"Save some for us!" comes a shout as Rex kicks a knight off the wall, waving the men behind him to hurry as they ascend the steps up "Come on lads, show me what you Westerosi men can do!"

"Rex!" Cody shouts as he engages knights in the streets "Same wager as back home!?"

Rex laughs "You have a deal Sir Cody!"

Clive smiles, manifesting Ramuh's staff in his left hand "Count me in as well!" he twirls the staff in hand, bolts of levin raining down on the group before him.

"Show off!"

Ifrit rises out of the water. Body steaming, wounds healing after the blast. Whatever this new eikon was it was strong. Far more than Golem and Seraph. More than Ifrit.

"I see you still stand," its voice booms as it hovers above Ifrit "Curious, a mindless beast and yet another Eikon of Fire…a pity then that you should attack this day."

Ifrit snarls, fingers flexing as it roars in its defiance.

"Very well, let us see just what it is that you can do then."

Ifrit leaps into the air. Taking a mighty swipe at its foe the Beast of R'hllor misses. A sharp pain in its chest as its foe delivers a swift blow with its knee. Ifrit begins to fall, a grip on its horn keeping it in the air before it is flung up higher than before. As its body rockets into the air, the new eikon prepares its own attack. Aether gathers, heating up the air as it brings both arms up with the speck that is Ifrit firmly in its sights.

"Now then, time for you to know your place beast. Burn to death!" a mighty beam of red streaks through the air, slamming into Ifrit from below. The lower half of Ifrit falls into the bay with a mighty splash. As the water settles, the Eikon of Fire turns its fiery gaze upon the fleet approaching. "And now, for all of you."

As it raises its left arm, a ball of fire forming in the palm of its hand there's movement beneath the waves. Water rises as something comes in for an attack. Body bound; attack extinguished as the Eikon of Fire finds itself firmly in the hold of a sea serpent.

"Got you!" shrieks Leviathan as it tightens its hold "You wont be getting to do that again, not today!"

"You think that this is enough to stop Hades?" the dark chuckle reverberates as Leviathan begins to heat up "Ignorant fools truly do make the best jesters. Not even you could stop me, surrounded by an endless sea. But I…I am the Infernal King!"

Leviathan shrieks in pain, its grip loosened as its scales glow red from the heat. As the Hydraean loses its hold on Hades, the water erupts again. A skeletal set of hands pierce Hade's chest. With a roar the skeletal body of Ifrit drags Hades down towards the bay, body slowly reforming muscle and flesh until its yellow eyed fury is returned in all its glory.

"You dare…"

The eikons of fire dive below the water's surface. Leviathan follows in pursuit, diving below to keep the two eikons occupied. As the three great beasts vanish below the surface Stannis gives the signal. The time was now for their assault. Now, before the Eikons could return to delay them further. "Forward!"

"Will you be able to take it from here?" Clive asks, cutting down another knight of the crownlands.

"Go!" Rex shouts, dueling two knights alone "These men are hardly a challenge compared to the Dragoons. Go! Help the others, we'll be alright here!"

Cody swings his blade, catching a man at the waist, and pulls back "Rex is right! Nothing we can't handle, and your uncle will lead the next wave in soon!"

Clive nods, warping over to a tower and kicking off the side. In a column of fire, Ifrit takes the field yet again. "Alright, lets try this again shall we?"

Ifrit barrels along the wall with a purpose. One target in its sights. One target he had been looking to have a rematch with.

Cerberus howls, three beams of ice firing from its jaws and beating against Shiva's ice wall. The Ice Queen had put up a decent fight, but orders were orders. She would not triumph today.

"Give it up!" the right head snarls as the shield drops "If walls are all you can make to face me…"

"You will lose," the left hisses.

"Death! That is your punishment Shiva."

"Not today!" the three heads look up as Ifrit comes down upon them, flaming claws swiping at their frozen body "You will not touch her again!"

Ifrit leaps back as the left head unleashes a blast of ice. Right arm frozen, the Infernian growls as the flames erupt from its body. Ifrit roars a challenge, blue eyes glaring right at Cerberus.

"You again!?" the right head snarls, ice forming around itself like armor "I will rip you limb from limb, payback for the last time!"

"You who should not exist," rumbles the center head "Shall fall here with her."

"You want her, come and get her then." Ifrit's body erupts in flames "Last time I wasn't in control, and I still defeated you. Lets see how you fair against me when I am in control!"

"Clive…"

There's a chuckle. "Don't worry, I remember the plan; so, go…I'd hate to keep Cid waiting." Shiva nods, taking off into the air. Cerberus tries to strike her down, but Ifrit won't have it. A ball of fire impacts with eh hellhounds left head. "Eyes on me! You've done enough damage as it is. Time has come for me to return the favor."

"To the hells with orders!"

"Yes! You must learn!

"Cerberus bows to no one! And we will not lose to you!"

Ifrit growls as the triple headed hellhound splits. Three frozen dogs of Ice stand ready to meet him as the Eikon of Ice primes. The three hounds howl before they rush forward towards him. "Great…I think I am starting to hate phase two of this plan."

While Ifrit kept the three Cerberus' occupied, Shiva began the meddling part of the plan. The Eikon of Ice interrupted the battle between Raiden and Ramuh. Encasing Raiden's left arm in ice was the easy part, the hard part was keeping her from pursuing Ramuh on his way to assist Garuda.

"You again? I see that mutt couldn't keep you down."

"Not that you could do any better." Was the frosty retort "Now hold still, I would hate to miss and take your head instead."

Raiden's body fizzles out for a moment, reforming just above Shiva, her leg coming down hard for the Ice Queen's head. "How about no!"

Shiva's body shatters upon impact. A small explosion of Aether follows, frost building up along Raiden's body. The Eikon of Lightning was slowly freezing over as the frost turned to ice and began to creep up its body. A single black cloud is sent back to the city, the rest gathering up Aether and unleashing lightning upon her own body to combat the growing ice.

"Even in death she is insufferable," Raiden curses as the ice refuses to budge "What sort of trick is this!?"

"Not a trick," a lighthearted giggle fills the air following those words.

"Just a little something I've been toying with since meting Cerberus."

Raiden's eyes widen. A cold mist enveloping her, shadows moving through it just on the edge of her vision "No…you were shattered…dead!"

"We are Dominants, you of all people should know that to kill one of us is harder than it ever looks."

"She's right you know." Raiden turns one shadow just floating in front of her "We really are hard to kill."

Raiden unleashes her lightning, blasting the shadow with her full might but more just swarmed around her. "What is this…how…how are you doing this!?"

"Oh, you poor thing," a mocking voice speaks from her left "We told you didn't we? We learned from watching Cerberus."

"No…" Raiden floats back slowly "No, no…I refuse…I refuse! You couldn't have…you are untrained! Tainted!"

"Are we? We seem just fine to us."

"Clive certainly doesn't seem to mind."

There's a ripple in the air, giggling. Slowly the shadows approach, icy blue bodies floating around Raiden of varying sizes surround her. Shiva. They were all Shiva. Like faeries just tittering as they harass her. The mist was growing colder, her body getting stiff as ice forms all over. "How?"

"Simple. We figured out how to Prime again."

Valefor shrieks as a bolt of lightning slams into its back. Ramuh smirks, prepping for another attack as the great bird catches itself in the air. A battle of Wind and Lightning…not the kind of bird he had anticipated ever having to do battle with, but it would hopefully be less of a headache than facing Benedikta in combat. Again.

"She better appreciate what I'm doing here," he rumbles "Alright you, lets see what you can really do."

While Ramuh begins to enjoy his time attempting to fry Valefor, Garuda was in the middle of her own conundrum. Part of the plan involved Clive coming to their aid and disrupting the enemy's plans for the Eikons. The other part of this plan required them to pick and choose a target they were more suited to engage in combat compared to the others. It only made sense that Shiva would go for an Eikon of Lightning, preventing them from properly engaging her with the use of her ice. For Ramuh an Eikon of Wind or Water might be a preferred target. But Garuda was the one with the harder foe to face if only for whom she was inadvertently helping.

"What is this? The Warden of the Wind, the Harpy, comes to challenge me now?"

"Do not flatter yourself, I am here just to give Bahamut a small break, not that he will get the chance to strip you of your wings."

Seraph smiles, wings alight with power "Then let the Light cleanse this world of you!"

Garuda meets his assault with one of her own. Wind and Light magic erupt in the sky, explosions of Aether whose shockwaves rock the capital below.

Seraph shoots up into the sky, Aether coating his staff as he prepares another attack. Garuda rockets into his space, talons grabbing the staff as she cackles. The Angelic Eikon rears its right hand back, an Aether infused punch slamming into the Harpy's stomach. Her body slumps, grip relinquished on the staff. As Seraph reclaims its hold and resumes gathering Aether Garuda struggles again for control of the weapon.

"Why do you persist?"

"You didn't think a little punch would stop me did you?" Garuda smiles, sharp teeth glinting in the light as the talons of her upper wings keep hold of the staff "After all, I still need to return the favor!"

With a mad cackle her own talons rip into Seraph's chest. Flesh torn away as the Harpy rips and tears the Angel to pieces with a mad glee.

Titan bellows, a mighty punch shattering Golem yet again. And yet again the stone giant rebuilds bigger than before as the two Eikons of Earth stare each other down. "You should know this is pointless. Golem cannot be defeated by such a strategy."

"Then it is a good thing this was not my strategy," Titan roars, shattering Golems right arm at the shoulder and sweeps its leg knocking the giant to the ground. "This, was my part of the plan."

High above them Bahamut roars, light gathered in its wings. Titan moves first, stomping Golem down on the chest and then leaping for the city, running for the King's Gate. Golem didn't have a chance to move as Bahamut let loose the energy upon him. Bolts of light raining down, slamming into Golem's body and shattering him further.

With a mighty bellow the Archaean brings his foot down upon the gate. Crushing it and any who would defend it under foot. Bahamut roars, flying back to the Lannister lines, its job complete. The dragon's day would come if it ever dared to cross Titan, or at least that is what he thought, but the draconian did good for today.

Hugo Kupka rolls his shoulders as he takes the field again. His body felt that familiar ache that overcame him after every priming, though the feeling was duller than usual. The King's Gate was in ruins and would take much to rebuild it in ways of time and materials, but the city was now open to them.

"Oberyn better not be taking his time; I would hate to leave nothing for the prince to do." Hugo's smile is unnerving as the few stragglers left in his wake ready their weapons. The earth around began to tremble as Aether gathered around Hugo's body, stone encasing his fists as yellow crystals grow up his arms. "Those of you who do not choose to run here…shall die!"

Typhon braces itself, catching four of the Phoenix's blasts with its bare hands. The firebird was swift in the skies, he would admit, but it lacked the stopping power of its peers. A sign that its Dominant was far too soft for war such as this. Typhon hurls the attacks back, frowning as the bird weaves in and out of danger with more skill than he was willing to acknowledge.

"You are a strange one Phoenix," his voice was warped, a tremble or a guttural growl emanated from it, but the exact property was diluted "You can dodge, you can protect, but you cannot harm."

Typhon's eye glows an ominous purple. With a warped scream a ray of Aether is shot off, almost piercing the Phoenix's wings. A returning beam of fire singes the Dark Eikon's body much to its growing anger.

"That is, it!" the Eikon roars, body overflowing with Aether as it warps out. The phoenix cries, four fists slamming into its back and sending it hurtling to the earth below. Typhon preps a dark ball of magic, growing and expanding it in all four of its hands as it raises the attack above its head. "Begone!"

The ball of darkness is released, hurtling down upon the Phoenix's downed form as the firebird struggles to get back into the air. With a mighty cry and a single beating of its wings the Phoenix met the attack head on, a flaming bubble forming around its body, shielding it and those in the immediate blast zone safe from harm.

As the attack detonates upon the shield the residual Aether streaks to the side. Striking at the city walls, some of the structures outside of them, and in one unfortunate circumstance an ice body belonging to Cerberus.

"Vega you fool!" cries the middle head, snarling as its body is hit "Watch where you fire!"

Typhon dismisses the hellhounds complaints, eyes settled firmly on the Phoenix as it rises again into the air. "The Firebird's flames truly will not die, will they?"

"I believe that my shields have sworn with their lives to shield these flames forevermore. So, I too have sworn, to shield their lives with these flames forevermore!"

Typhon's eyes widen as the phoenix fires more fire missiles in one singular attack than he could have anticipated given its current state. The projectiles are easy enough to dodge but there are just so many of them. Most are avoided but those that do hit their mark leave Typhon reeling as they burn his flesh. Out of the corner of his eye, the Dark Eikon can see movement as the attacks he dodged turn back around. Most of what returns doesn't even go for him. One ball of fire hits the Phoenix, revitalizing it, while others streak past to assault Valefor and Cerberus. Those that remain he doesn't even see coming back before they hit him in the back.

Cerberus howls, bodies coming back together in the aftermath. Ifrit stares the hellhound down, ready to fight again should he have needed to. "This…is not over," the left head growls

"We will not hesitate a third time!"

"Indeed," the middle rumbles "Watch yourself whelp, we will feast on your carcass one day."

The hell hounds three heads howl together, body shattering as it vanishes. Ifrit's gaze turns upon the bay in the distance. One challenge more yet remained in his path.

Robert swings his hammer, caving in the chest of a Northern knight. The streets of the city were filled with knights locked in combat. Knights of the Crownlands fighting alongside the city watch against invading forces from the North, the Vale and the Riverlands. He swore if he saw Ned here today he would beat sense into that man's skull for this betrayal.

"Your grace!" a shout from behind, a warning. Robert turns, blocking a sword before shoving the offending knight back.

"Come on you bastards! Give me a proper challenge!" Robert hefts his hammer up, bringing it down on another knight vying for his attention "Pathetic, you lot fight more like squire's than knighted men."

"Then let me entertain you then!" came the challenging shout. The fighting men of the North parted. The accursed banners of red and black, taunting him as a new knight steps forward. Twin axes in hand, the knight donned in red and black armor approached with confidence. "King Robert, it's been a while."

"Ser Rex, I did not think I would be fighting you today. Not yet." Robert raises his hammer "Come to die Rosarian? And without your precious shield."

"If you are looking for Clive, he'll be here soon. I'm here to keep you where we want you."

"Very well then, I shall enjoy caving in your chest before I do the same to him!"

Robert charges, swinging his hammer with reckless abandonment. Rex ducks under the swing, taking a few strikes with his axes though they are glancing blows. It seems the king's armor had gone through some changes since his days int eh Rebellion. The material is far stronger than the standard plate mail that Rex had grown accustomed to cutting through with ease. As Rex dodges another swing Robert slams his shoulder into Rex's chest.

The Rosarian knight hits the dirt, rolling to avoid the slam of Roberts hammer. A quick strike to Robert's leg brings the king to his knees but he recovers before Rex can land another strike. The once Fat King of Westeros had well and truly changed over the course of the war. He was now back to being the Demon of the Trident.

"That helmet makes you look ridiculous Baratheon," Rex can't help but say it as he stays on guard. The antlered helmet is easy to pick out of a crowd, and on Robert's frame it certainly adds to the image of a devil during a battle.

"You are stalling Rosarian," he growls back, grip tight on his hammer "I thought you were a fighter Ser Rex, not a talker."

"If that is what my liege requires of me, then I shall be it."

"Then fight me!"

Hades bursts free of the bay, Ifrit held up by the throat while Leviathan dissipates beneath the waves, the body of Theon Greyjoy washes ashore; weak and beaten but alive. "I tire of these games with you beast, but you have bought yourself a brief respite."

Ifrit is thrown back towards Stannis fleet, body flickering out with the flames before Jon Snow hits the water's surface. With a burning desire within to see the bay ignite Hades turns away and retreats back to the Red Keep. For now, the Infernal King would not take part in the battle.

While the last of the Eikons left the field, the Dominants licked their wounds. Cid nursing his injuries with a hi-potion while Goetz went about handing curatives where he could. "Just how many did you put in that bloody pack of yours?"

"Nan said to bring it all, I couldn't just leave it behind. She'd have my head!"

Cid rolls his eyes, ignoring the pointed look Jote shot him. The lass had grown fond of the gentle giant, it didn't hurt that he was one of the few people int heir motley crew who did not go out of his way to be injured or worse. "Alright, alright…I'll tell Charon all about how helpful you were. If it keeps her off my back then I won't complain…much."

Benedikta scoffs.

"Something the matter?"

"If you are worried about granny then you should be more concerned about what mother will say."

Cid coughs, choking on some of the potion "What!? Now why would you bring her up now, I was starting to enjoy myself here Benna."

"Just wait," the Dominant of Garuda shoots her father a predatory smile "I'll be sure to write Mid all about this adventure of yours. Wont she be amazed to hear how you up and left her back home without mentioning this."

"Now hold on there. I would have told her…eventually."

Jill's light laughter draws the two out of their verbal match. Benedikta's smile softening somewhat as she looks at Cid "It's good to see you back to your old self."

"Does that mean I can expect to hear you calling me father again like old times?"

The glare in response he should have seen coming. "Don't get ahead of yourself Cidolfus." The sudden gust of wind, however, he did not expect.

"Well…it was worth a try."

Jill rolls her eyes at the man's antics, one hand firmly grasping a potion flask while the other gently runs down Torgal's back. The northern canine very much the puppy he once was as he just lets her pet him. "We are in the next phase then."

"Aye," Joshua winces "Clive will be on his own for now. We just have to have faith in him, and Sir Cody."

"Not Rex?" Cid pointedly asks.

"Never," Jill laughs "Rex is a fine soldier but if he and Clive are together we can only trust that chaos will follow in some way. Cody is the one who keeps them out of trouble."

"And what of the others?" Benedikta motions towards hunter and Wrecker "These two brutes are still here, so they obviously are protecting you but where have the other two gone?"

"These brutes, as you put it, can hear you." Hunter frowns, arms crossed over his chest.

"So you can, but my question still remains."

"Benna."

She backs down. Jill mouths out a 'thank you' to the older man. "Colt and Thorn are with the second wave, Lord Stark should be leading them into the city as we speak. I only hope that they will be enough to force a surrender before Clive does something truly reckless."

"I doubt even he could be that bad. Save challenging Robert himself or fighting that other Eikon of Fire." Jill didn't know why but she really wanted to freeze Cid on the spot. Benedikta might help hold him down for it too.

Red Keep

Vega winces as he appears within the keep. That blasted phoenix had got him with a surprise attack. No real bite to his flames but even still they were not to be mocked lightly.

"Looks like your information was wrong Vega," Ignis mocks "Cant say I am too surprised; you never were one with an eye for combat."

"I wouldn't be giving him any grief if I were you," Vega smiles as the haughty voice of their Dominant of Lightning chimes in "Or did you forget that you had faced Shiva before and said that she was weak? That girl has managed to Prime after watching you do it just the once Ignis, she's far more talented than you are it seems."

"You shut your mouth Juno!" Ignis is on his feet in an instant. Juno draws her daggers in response while Havoc just laughs in the background.

"Children, always fighting over your toys. Did you both learn nothing in your training?"

"Learned how to freeze you in that stupid armor of yours Havoc. Care to see if I still remember how?"

Before Havoc can so much as lift a finger Sanguis steps in, separating the two. The giant of the group only gives a single stony look before nodding to Vega. A portal opens, Sanguis stepping through it, just as Avarice arrives from his own.

"Well…that could have gone better." He cracks his neck "Garuda hit me harder than I expected. Guess the Harpy is more violent than initially thought."

"Blame Vega," Ignis throws in "All of our information has been lacking lately. Why is that?"

"Because we did not take the threat seriously." The five Dominants gathered felt the temperature drop in the room as their leader spoke "But it matters not what your personal feelings on your assumed failings are. They suspect nothing, as is the nature with all sheep in a flock."

"Does this mean we can stop holding back?" Havoc kneels before Raven "Please, allow us to rectify the mistakes of letting them live this long, we can kill them now!"

"No. They still can serve a purpose." Raven looks to Vega, eyes piercing the Dominant of Darkness to his very core "Vega, when Sanguis is finished with his task, escort everyone back to base."

"Base?" Avarice questions, stepping forward with a curious glint in his eye "You mean that tower don't you? Sagespire was always an experiment, it was never meant to be a true base of operations."

"Then use it for your experiments," Ravens growl subdues all protest "My friends, our contract here is almost complete. Have faith, after today we begin our own plans. You have my word."

Avarice backs down. The others voice no complaints. Raven has spoken, and thus Hades has given his orders. For now, they would accept this 'defeat' as the minor hit to their collective pride that it was, they'd get their chance soon enough to show their full might.

Vega's head snaps to the left, a flux of something familiar…Aether but…foreign. It felt new…untrained…raw…corrupted. "We may have a new player on the board."

"None of our concern for the moment," Raven says, sensing the influx of Aether "Though this is something new…we shall monitor it at a later date, for now stick to the plan."

Clive hits the ground running. That new Eikon of Fire had yet to reappear. Perhaps it was dead or was forced to retreat. Whatever the case he had to get to the Red Keep and end this battle before the Lannister's or someone else had the chance to claim the throne. The streets, however, were a more pressing issue.

Every step of his journey was blocked to him.

Clive was growing frustrated as he found another street blocked off. An earthen slab raised high in his path. His path to the Red Keep was being blocked by a Dominant of the Earth. If Benedikta was to be believed then it couldn't be Hugo Kupka, which means it must have been the Dominant reported to have bested Titan at the Battle of the Blackwater. Golem.

"Of all the men to stand against me this one had to be the most vexing of them all." He laments, glaring down the street before him at the cloaked figure standing at the end "Just what do you want!? You will not fight, you will not speak, yet still you persist in leading me astray! To say you vex me is to put it mildly."

The man raises his left arm. The ground shakes beneath their feet. The challenge is made clear to Clive though he does not know whether he can afford to risk it or not. But he can't ignore it either. The Red Keep was his goal, the Iron Throne left just within his grasp if he pushed forward.

"Fine then, have it your way." His body bursts into flames as he warps forward, ready to swing at his opponent upon arrival. Clive stumbles, Invictus cutting through nothing but air as he skids forward. There was more fighting ahead, fighting he would no doubt be drawn into. It was times like these that he wished he had brought his canine companions along rather than leave them behind to guard Jill.

Visenya's Hill rose up high on his right. The Great Sept the crown jewel sitting atop its peak. Clive rounded the corner at the end of the street, eyes narrowing on knights of the Crownlands before him.

"Out of my way!" he roars, cutting through them with burning blade. Only a few raised their weapons and made to attack him as he fought down the street. As he got further in, more and more knights appeared but they weren't focused on him. They were focused on another fight. A duel.

Rex was getting tired. Whatever Robert's armor was made of now, it was far too sturdy for his axes to puncture. A swing of his hammer nearly took off Rex's head. "Fight back damn you!"

Rex felt his body hit the ground. His head was ringing, vision blurry as Robert Baratheon towered over him, hammer raised over his head. The hammer came down, shadow overtaking his vision before he shut his eyes.

"Not today!" Clive growls, Invictus holding the hammer back "Hello Robert, mind letting my friend here go?"

"Rosfield!" Robert pulls back, glaring at the First Shield through his helmet "You dare show your face here? I hope you've settled your affairs boy; I will be sending you back to your precious brother in pieces when I am through with you!"

"And who shall I be sending you to Robert? Your brothers who hated what you had become? Your parents who died well before they could temper you into a man worthy of the title of King?" Clive smirks as he sees Robert's shoulders tense "I know this, I will not be sending you to my parents, not yet."

"A dead man and his traitorous wife matter little to me."

"Traitorous? What do you know of treachery?" Clive keeps his blade trained on Robert "A man who coveted a throne not meant for him, a kin slayer who caved in the chest of his own cousin, a craven man who sought to force himself upon the one woman with enough sense to tell him no."

Robert roars, hammer swung and stands more like a vicious beast than a man before Clive. "She was MINE! She should have been my queen! And that bastard took her from me!"

"You cannot take what was freely given." Clive's words ring true in that hollow skull of Robert's "For all your talk of how much you loved her, you never truly did. You fathered more bastards than any man in the land can claim. The only man with more children than you is Walder Frey, and his are a brood no one wish to suffer."

"And what of you Clive Rosfield? You who claimed to be a man of honor, who stole my bride from me!"

Rex is dragged away from the pair as they circle one another. No one dared to intervene. How could they? Robert Baratheon fought like a man possessed, not even Barristan Selmy with his years of experience dared to step forward to defend his king. And Clive…he was a force all his own.

"I stole no bride from you Robert." He smirks "How can I steal what was never yours in the first place? If Jill wished to marry you, she would have long ago. If she asked me, I would give her whatever she desired. Marriage to you was never something she ever thought fondly of. Of that you have my word."

Robert charges, swinging again just to be parried by Invictus. "I'll enjoy the sound your skull will make when my hammer caves it in!"

"I would say the same of taking your head, but I promised my dear uncle I wouldn't kill his brother in all but blood." Clive readies himself "And unlike you, I actually keep my word."

"And what uncle do you claim to care what happens to me boy?"

Robert felt the cold grip on his heart even before the words were spoken. The name of Eddard Stark hit his ears, and it was as if he were back in the Red Keep hearing of Lyanna's death all over again. Was Clive Rosfield Ned's nephew? That couldn't be right but…the boy did look much like a Stark should. He had the coloring, the features, he even brooded like one of them!

"No…Brandon couldn't have…the timing perhaps but…"

Clive watched as Robert attempted to rationalize his thoughts. Looking around at some of the others watching them he could see a few faces connecting the pieces together. Barristan Selmy seemed the most entrenched in his thoughts. "My Uncle made me swear to not kill you, he said nothing about keeping you unharmed."

"So, the Rosfield's took you in is that it? Perhaps Ned had it right sending you away!"

Clive swings, Invictus glancing off the king's armor "Taken by the Ironborn as a boy, that's how I found myself in Valisthea all those years ago."

"Taken…but the only one of his to be taken was his…son." Robert's grip tightens as the truth begins to form in his mind "But he brought you back with…with the body."

"My mother would have hated every moment married to you Robert; she would have fled the second she had a chance to.."

"You…you dare speak of her…speak of Lyanna!" Robert's swings grew more ferocious as Clive backed away "You know nothing of her! You have no right to speak of her to me boy!"

"I have every right!" Clive shouts back, Invictus cackling, lightning arcing off the blade "I have every right to speak of the mother that I never knew, of the woman who had the courage and the sense to escape you and take her life in her own hands."

Clive pushes Robert back, ducking under a swing of his hammer and bringing Invictus across his right leg. Robert tries again, a second swing striking his left arm. His limbs go numb, hammer barely able to come up. The tip of a Rosarian blade is at Roberts throat as he looks up at Clive Rosfield and the haunting rage etched upon his face. The same rage a young Stark girl once showed him when he was younger, the same cold stare that a prince of House Targaryen had shown on the battlefield at the Trident.

"Who are you, really?"

"I was given the name Jon Snow to protect myself from you and your bloodlust," Clive presses the tip of Invictus against Robert's neck "But the name I was allowed to choose is Clive Rosfield, that is who I am. Clive Rosfield, trueborn son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark, chosen child of Elwin and Anabella Rosfield. Now, yield, your grace."

Robert chuckles, hammer falling from his hand. "I yield." A dark chuckle bubbles up within him "But they will not."

Clive didn't get the chance to ponder the statement before a rush of heat washed over the city. Floating just above the Red Keep, the Infernal King had returned.

"Now…to finish the job," Hades raises its right arm, flames forming a glyph in the air "Let's see if this finally sends you to the depths Stannis."

The concentrated beam of energy strikes the head of Stannis' fleet, incinerating ship and crew in an instant. Stannis braced himself against the side of his flagship. The first wave of his fleet had reached the shore already, the Mud Gate was likely to fall soon but now with this new Eikon his chances had gone down int his battle.

"Can the beast fight!?" he shouts over the roar of the flames ahead of him "Can it bring down that devil!?"

Ser Davos shakes his head. The beast in question was still too weak from the last engagement to assist quite yet. "No, my lord! I don't think we can wait for him!"

Stannis curses as more of his ships are sunk, pieces of their wooden carcasses floating in the waters of the bay. "Give the signal! Make for Dragonstone at once!"

Davos repeated the order, men scrambling to turn the ship around and signal the retreat when there was a roar from the city. His eyes found the familiar sight of the beast itself but that should be impossible. Not five feet behind him was Jon Snow, huddled on the deck and struggling to so much as stand up…and yet the beast of R'hllor was attacking the flaming devil itself.

"Leave them alone!" Ifrit roars, swiping at Hades upper chest. The Infernian sinks its claws into the Hell Kings side, drawing blood, before a cackling skull pulls him away by the tail "Damn it!"

Ifrit rolls over, kicking the skull away and hitting the water. The resulting wave caused by his crash pushes the remnants of Stannis fleet away from the bay, granting them an opportunity to make their withdrawal.

"Back again I see," Hades sounded amused "I suppose you still wish to defend your master?"

"I serve no master," Ifrit growls "Only the people that I have sworn to protect!"

Ifrit takes a leap, another swipe, and finds itself dangling in the air. Hades grabs the beast by its wrist and brings his free hand to its chest. "A pity then, that one blessed with such might should waste it on protecting the weak."

A single blast rips through Ifrits chest and out its back. The Infernian's body now sporting a gaping wound clean through as Hades tosses it aside. The Aether of Westeros was rich and potent, healing injuries far faster than in Valisthea and yet now it moved far too slowly for Clive's liking as his body hits the water again.

"I spared you before beast, now I no longer have to keep up the pretenses," Hades raises both arms "Nothing personal, I assure you, it was always just business."

The Aether gathers as Ifrit stands on shaking feet. The great hell beast roars in defiance, bringing its hands together and raising them high. An orb of Hellfire forms above Ifrit's head as both Eikons settle for a display of their might.

"I don't plan on dying today," Clive mutters "But if I should fall here, then at least I will take you with me!"

Ifrit roars, arms swinging forward, hurling the great ball of fire at Hades. The Infernal King fires a massive beam of Aether, meeting the attack head on in a struggle. The two infernal Eikons of Fire appear to be evenly matched, but Clive can feel the truth of it. He is not strong enough yet to match this new Eikon. His arms are struggling to even push his own attack forward and if his guess was right then his foe was still holding back.

"Damn it…come on Ifrit…this cannot be it!"

"A valiant effort, but nothing in the face of Hades."

There's an explosion in the middle as their attacks detonate. Ifrit is flung back by the blast, part of the wall of the city collapses from the shockwave while Hades manages to shield himself. Ifrit sits up, glaring at Hades while off in the distance he hears the whinny of a horse…but that couldn't be right. No mere steed could be heard by an Eikon, especially in a fight such as this. Not one that loud anyway.

"Who dares…" Hades turns, burning eyes narrowing on a dark knight at the mouth of the bay sat atop a six-legged horse "Who are you?"

The new arrival raises their blade and charges. Steed galloping ahead while Hades attempts to blast them from afar. The King of Hell's attacks are batted away by the blade with a single swing. The armored knight gets in close, Hades flying away to avoid a mighty swing of that dark blade. The shockwave alone persists, nearly taking the Hell Kings leg.

"Away with you, King of Hell, lest you face me in battle and fall here and now."

Hades flames burn brighter "You dare to interfere with me? None shall challenge Hades and live."

"Then I shall be the first," the knight retorts "Odin kneels to one God, and you are not him, away with you!"

Hades eyes shift to Ifrit "We shall meet again beast; I look forward to adding your flames to my own."

Ifrit snarls, moving to strike when the new eikon intervenes. Clive swore he would be ready for the next encounter as he watched Hades body burst into flames. "So that's it then? We just let him escape…I should thank you for your aide, but I don't suppose that you did this out of the kindness of your heart, did you, Odin?"

Odin regards Ifrit carefully, taking in its first glimpse of the chosen champion of R'hllor himself. "We have much to discuss, your grace."

AN: ….anybody dead? Anybody want me dead? Yes? No? Well, let's get right to it then shall we? But first! ...you here on this site can thank the five comments from ao3 for helping ot advance this from the 23rd to today. It was going to be the 19th but yeah, surpised by more comments has me uploading this uh...well, now lol

Eikons: You all were expecting perhaps a few of them to appear yes? Didn't think I would throw them all out at you at once I'll bet. So for a head count of who and what has appeared this chapter; Bahamut (Dion), Ramuh (Cid), Titan (Hugo), Shiva (Jill), Garuda (Benedikta), Phoenix (Joshua), Ifrit (Jon), Leviathan (Theon), Ifrit (Clive) and in a shocking twist or not so shocking if you paid attention last chapter we have the debut of Odin (Barnabas) though very brief. Now, let it be known that out of all of them Odin currently is the strongest, both a nod to canon Barnaby being the strongest Dominant that Clive fights and a reference to his origins in this as one of R'hllor's followers and thus a very experienced fighter. And yes, I will be butchering his name any chance I get when not in the actual story. So take that you Barney fans!

Dark Eikons: Well, what else was I going to call our band of mercs with origins yet to be 100% explained? We have Cerberus (Ignis), Valefor (Havoc), Raiden (Juno), Typhon (Vega), Golem (Sanguis), Seraph (Avarice), and finally the reveal everyone has been waiting for…Hades (Raven). That last one took the most planning. I didn't want it to be revealed casually, I wanted there to be some stakes, be some sort of motivation and frankly…still haven't told you all what that is yet. Least I am honest about it.

So, you are probably wondering what happens next, right? I can't tell you what happens next in depth. But as of this moment Kings Landing is in turmoil. Enemies all around, a new Eikon on the field and all of Robert the Fat's allies have left him high and dry. What you all should be thinking of right now is what will follow as Clive Rosfield has officially defeated the Usurper and technically claimed the Iron Throne for himself. Remember folks, we still have those vipers from Dorne, the armies of the Reach and Stormlands unaccounted for on purpose mind you, Tywin and the Lannister's as well as the imperials to contend with. The problem? No Dominants are in a position just yet to engage in combat. Which means no Eikons to assist them, and the only Dominant who is still going strong besides Clive is Hugo…who is a little occupied at the moment last I checked my notes.

At a whopping 10,887 words pre-authors note this chapter is long and by far the most chaotic of our chapters yet. I have no idea when this will go up, I will hopefully have chapter 37 up on February 9th sometime after 3 in the morning when Fanfiction resets viewership for chapters, while going through a snowstorm…so huzzah for potential power outages.

(Future Shobu here, it is now February 18th, 2025...so this was going to posted on the 23rd, but then I had enough comments and reviews between here and ao3 it was goign to go up on the 19th...but then someone decided to comment on it and I was caught off guard so now here we are an extra day early! Anyway, back to the note.)

Now…let's get to the reviews…whenever those happen before this goes up.

Jebest4781: I hope this one was as entertaining and somewhat unexpected as you hoped.

reven228: Well, did this meet expectations? I would say the war is yet to be truly concluded but was this not chaotic to watch?