Chapter 609: Battle of Wills
Once he'd what he needed from Shadow Fiend he immediately headed to his lab and pulled out an artifact... And it worked, he could prod and pull at the soul piece within the artifacts with relative ease, but the only problem now was what to do with this.
He already had a good idea of what'd happen, but that was supposed to be a last resort due to the consequences that plan would have... Unfortunately, after expending all of his avenues of research he'd found that there was only one way this could go...
He rubs his forehead in thought before standing with a look of determination. "Fuck it, it's not like I can die anyway!" he exclaims, grabbing all of Clavicus' artifacts and storing them in his book, also storing Barbas in an expanded pouch much to the dog's chagrin.
The statue artifact was annoying to deal with, but he found that he could just split it into pieces without the soul piece leaving it, allowing him to store it.
He gathers all of his friends in the dining room and explains the situation to them, telling them that he was going to retrieve Charlotte and bring her back safe, whole, and hopefully with her mind intact.
There were a lot of questions, most of which Michael couldn't really answer, both because the knowledge was stupidly dangerous and also because he was sure they'd refuse to let him go if they found out.
The look on Maria's face when he announced this only made him more determined to see it through despite the troubles it'd cause...
Michae said his 'goodbyes' on the plateau at the entrance of the spire that overlooked Winterhold before flying off to overlook the city. He made sure that all of it's defences were secured, and that no spies were currently within the place.
He had no idea how long he'd be gone, so it was best to make sure there was nothing that could blindside his friends in the meantime. He performs a similar check around the other Holds, performing a cursory check to make sure no demon incursion or some other bullshit was happening.
Once he was sure Skyrim wouldn't self-destruct, he casts [Haunt], specifically targeting Charlotte and then switching places with his phantom.
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Clavicus Vile scowls at his peers through the Chain of Arkmis still hung around his little servant's neck. He'd had to hide her away within some cave far off from the mainland of Tamriel for fear of that boy, Michael, killing his last real link to Nirn.
He'd killed his cult, stolen his artifacts, and barred not just him, but all his brothers and sisters from that realm... Truly, if the Princes hadn't had an enemy before, Michael Tahlin had become it.
He was still trying to formulate a plan to bring his return, yet was stumped with the situation...
Huh...
What's this feeling?
*HHHHhhhhhaaaaaasssshhhhhhhhhhh!!!!*
A screaming whisper sounds out in Clavicus' ears from the link, a ghost-like Michael Tahlin appears directly in front of his servants who immediately jumped into action.
Ice explodes outwards and freezes the entirety of the cave, the ghost is seemingly stuck in place... At least, until a *SWOOOSH!* sound erupts, causing its ghostly form to go solid, as if the realm Michael Tahlin had appeared... No. That was the real one!
"KILL HIM NOW-"
*Shatter!*
The foul rat literally steps out of the permafrost as if it didn't exist, his body shimmering with power as he reaches a hand out toward Clavicus' servant.
"TOUCH THE SLAVE AND I WILL DEVOUR HER SOUL!" he bellows from the artifact, only to pause when Michael grabs the Chain and tears the Masque from her face. He then gives a 'gentle' blow of air towards the short girl, freezing her in place with ice.
Michael looks down at the two artifacts speculatively, confusing Clavicus as to his goal... "What do you want, mortal? Leave now and I may spare the girl's soul!"
Michael smirks, "Before you do that, how about I show you something? I'm certain you'll find it of interest." he offers, silencing the Daedric Prince as he considers the words heavily, replaying them in his mind tens of thousands of times to figure out just what he wanted.
Most likely, he was mocking him, but there was a chance of it being something else... "The only thing that would interest me is your death and the destruction fo that ugly Spire!"
"Ugly? I put a lot of work into that..." Michael idly says as he pulls a book out and begins laying down items, specifically, his artifacts. Some he hadn't even realised had been stolen...
The Collector.
The Golden Stand.
The Cat of Nine Lives.
Umbra.
Then goes the Masque of Clavicus Vile and the Chain of Arkmis.
Finally, as if to put the cherry on top, the mortal pulls out Barbas from a pouch and sits him next to the artifacts...
"Master! You've gotta help me! This guy's crazy! Take me back, I'm begging you!" the dog pleads, despite knowing full well of Clavicus' inability to touch Nirn anymore.
"If you hadn't run off in the first place this would have never happened you damn mutt!" the Prince angrily exclaims.
"Ladies, ladies. Stop arguing, the show hasn't even begun yet..." Michael states, pulling the duo's attention back to him.
"What is your goal here, mortal!? I doubt it's to make a deal!?"
Michael shakes his head, "No, I've made enough deals lately. Why don't you just sit back and watch?" he says before beginning.
He spreads his hands out as they become wreathed in roiling black and crimson energy, crimson particles start to be drawn from the various artifacts, Barbas included. The dog immediately starts screaming, rolling around on the floor as if it was on fire.
"MORTAL! STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING NOW! YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR ACTIONS WILL BRING!" Clavicus roars, the Chain of Arkmis shuddering under his power.
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