Surtr and the rest of his men charge up to the roof of the temple but pause just as they exit, spotting Michael standing before the burning corpse of the Dragonpriest.
"Huh, you guys are finally here?" Michael wonders aloud as he puts the fire out with a frost spell and collects the Dragonpriest mask.
"We'd have been faster if you'd fought with us, Michael!" the Dragonborn growls.
"You didn't notice me fighting the dragons while you dealt with the undead? Or you did and you'd rather me punching draugr than killing dragons?"
...
Surtr shakes his head, deciding not to argue on this right now. "The priest is dead, where's the path forward? Where's the portal!?" he asks, looking around the unassuming rooftop.
Michael nods, collecting the priest's staff and stabbing it into an indentation on the floor, causing the group to lower and reveal a huge shimmering portal. "Good luck, Dragonborn." he states as he begins walking towards the steps where the rest of the army was arriving from.
"W-What!? Aren't you coming to slay Alduin!?" Surtr exclaims as Paarthurnax, Durnehviir, Illococoo, and the one other remaining dragon lands heavily on the roof.
The answer to his question was obvious for Michael, first, Alduin's soul couldn't be taken meaning he wouldn't get any divinity or even EXP from the fight. Second, if he followed then his friends and companions would feel compelled to come too.
Lastly, and probably most importantly, Sovngarde was located in Aetherius from what Michael could tell, meaning he'd be very vulnerable to the influence of the Divines, meaning that if any of them had the barest grudge against him, they may just act on it... Which wasn't impossible considering the fact that he'd locked most of their influence out of Nirn.
...
There was also his spite against Surtr to take into account. He wasn't going to risk his life for that douchebag. Especially since he could hop worlds with everyone if the guy spectacularly failed.
He almost chuckles at the thought of stealing almost all of the available dragon souls and leaving Surtr with only those who'd fallen in his lap.
"This is your destiny, Dragonborn, I'm not interested in claiming any of the glory. You can have it." he says, waving his hand at the portal. He then spots Tiff standing with Megumin and the Crimson Demons and starts walking over.
"Y-you can't stop now! What glory!? What destiny!? The world is at stake for Oblivion's sake!" he shouts, the soldiers around him sharing similar sentiments.
"Are you a tyrant now, Dragonborn? Will you force him to fight your battle for you? Are you his Thur?" Durnehviir rumbles. "Are we replacing Alduin for you?"
Surtr scowls, "WE'RE AT THE LAST STEPS OF OUR JOURNEY! YET YOU WISH TO TURN BACK NOW!? ARE YOU A COWARD!? DO YOU HAVE NO SHAME!?"
Michael rests an arm around Tiffania's waist, causing her to blush. Saeko then wraps a casual arm around his elbow, "You're the Dragonborn, Surtr! You've got this!... Alright, let's go." he says, looking to those he'd brought, the Eredar, Volkihar clan, and Crimson Demons.
He, with the assistance of Tiff, opens up a Teleportation Gate and allows those who wish access directly to Winterhold. Some of the soldiers under Surtr even take the offer, leaving the Dragonborn seething. The only group who is actually hesitant to leave is the Eredar...
"Michael, are you sure this is the correct choice? Are you not letting emotions cloud your judgement?" Irarus asks.
"I am, come on, let's go."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
When the last person steps through and the gate closes, Surtr is left standing there with a dumb expression on his face... He simply couldn't comprehend what'd just happened, and why Michael would just abandon the quest just as they were nearing its end... Not to mention, who wouldn't want to see Sovngarde?! The Nordic Heaven!
Even Durnehviir and Sylphid(Illococoo), had left
"W-what do we do now!?"
"Alduin's still out there and we've just lost two dragons and a hundred more men!"
"WE CARRY ON! DO NOT LET COWARDS STOP US! WE'LL TAKE ALDUIN'S HEAD AND SAVE THE WORLD WITHOUT THEM!" Surtr shouts, but the cheers he's expecting are far quieter than he hoped, leaving him quietly and somewhat awkwardly walking towards the portal.
"Paathurnax, are you going to flee too?"
"No... I will help end this, I have to face the eldest." the old dragon states in a somewhat tired and reluctant tone.
With a nod, Surtr jumps into the portal, followed by his loyal soldiers who also fling themselves into it like a line of lemmings.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Everyone is deposited on a large stone staircase decorated by even larger statues, the awkward landing causing a few soldiers to tumble down the staircase without being able to digest the scenery.
Everything shined with a slight purple, illuminated by the mesmerizing sky, the sky of Aetherius... Surtr glances at Paarthurnax who was looking over down the path, which seemed to have a large group of people standing before it.
"The mist, Alduin's doing..."
"What is it?"
"It devours the souls of any who step into it, empowering him. I fear we won't be able to remove it..."
Surtr sighs but quickly perks up as he spots something in the distance over the fog, a huge hall with a bridge made of bone... "Shor's Hall, home of heroes. We can recruit men to help us fight there, Alduin won't stand a chance."
"Hmm, perhaps. I am unsure if the Rah will allow it, destiny is as fickle as the gods themselves."
Surtr shakes his head and makes his way to the group standing before the fog, "Stay back! Once Alduin is slain you can find your glory with Shor!"
"Gods! Is that Torygg!?" a soldier nearby exclaims as he points at one finely clothed man in the group.
"High King Torygg..."
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"High King Torygg."
"Former King." Torygg corrects with a sigh, "I can only hope that my Elisif serves Skyrim well..."
"*Cough*, yes." Surtr states before anyone else can correct the man, "Anyone who wishes to join us in our fight against the World-Eater can. Know that death is likely, permanent death, I mean." he says, realising that the people before him were already dead.
Torygg and most of the souls actually nod at this, "I'll fight, as a last service for Skyrim."
"Paathurnax! Let's start clearing a path! We need to reach Shor's Hall before Alduin catches us! LOK VAH KOOR!"
The mist momentarily dissipates, revealing the slightly corroded rocky road, and lifeless plants that'd been sucked dry. The army begins moving, Surt and Paarthurnax constantly casting the Clear Skies shout to prevent them from being taken by the mist.
"D-do you think we'll see Farkas and Vilkas here...?" Aela tentatively asks Kodlak, "They wished for it..."
Kodlak lets out a sigh and shakes his head, "They're with Hircine now... I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing either, they may have perished in this soul-devouring mist.
"Nothing is stopping us from taking them from Hircine forcefully, Michael showed that it is possible to defy the Daedric Lords... Shor might even help if we ask..." Njada Stonearm remarks, only to duck low with everyone else as a loud roar rips across the region.
*ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRR!!!*
"Alduin! He's noticed us!" Paarthurnax hurriedly warns with caution in his tone.
"What do we do? We can't stop now or the mist will take us!" Surtr exclaims.
...
"I will hold him." the old dragon states after a moment of thought.
"You won't survive that!"
"Just do your duty, Dragonborn." Paarthurnax says as he flaps his wings and ascends into the air, quickly headed for where the roar had originated.
Surtr grits his teeth and shakes his head, "COME! WE MUST MOVE! LOK VAH KOOR!"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The sound of Paarthurnax and Alduin's battle rumbled above the army as they swiftly moved through the fog, and it continued still even as they reached the Whalebone bridge leading to Shor's Hall.
They were stopped however, halted by a huge man that wore nothing but a leather loin-cloth and metal accessories, along with a huge double-sided battleaxe.
He looks at the group silently, his 8 to 9ft height allowing him to loom over the group intimidatingly.
"Gods that be, that's Tsun, Shield-Thane of Shor!" one person whispers reverentially, causing even more people to start making a ruckus.
Surtr steps forwards to walk past the god, but is stopped as Tsun raises his arm in the Dragonborn's path. "Quite the party you have brought, wayfarer. But Shor's Hall is not like the ones you know in Nirn. Only those deemed worthy can enter."
"I am worthy. But even if I wasn't, I would need access anyway, Alduin lays waste to Sovngarde and so it's time for a reckoning!"
"Arrogant, to claim a spot without taking the trials... Shor has restrained our wrath however, you will-..." Tsun pauses as if listening to something, "Or perhaps not, you are not as strong as you should have been at this point in your journey, Dragonborn..." he states, causing Surtr to scowl.
"What do you mean!? I am the strongest man in Skyrim! Maybe even the whole or Nirn!" he exclaims, stepping forwards and standing face to chest...
Tsun sniffs derisively and casually pushes Surtr back, almost throwing the Dragonborn on his back, "Even with how arrogant you are, I can tell you do not believe your own words. Go, Shor has allowed you temporary entrance... And only you."
Surtr growls but steps past, walking across the skeletal bridge and entering the hall... Instantly he's blinded by the lights of the place, inside was far, far larger than what the outside made out, likely from some magic shenanigans.
It was luxuriously decorated, with carvings on every stone surface, and expensive gems, metals, and other rare things scattered about. The hall itself seemed to be endlessly long, extended so far things started disappearing over the horizon.
There was also a long table that should have been called 'Long Long Long Table' to be more accurate. It was piled high with the greatest foods, drinks, and other consumables one might ask for.
Currently, he was standing in the midst of a strange of people, a mix of Imperials, Stormcloaks, and other folks that probably died during the Civil War... He could guess that those with lesser deeds ended up with seats further down the table, meaning Shor himself would be at the other end.
Deciding not to see how long it would take to walk to the end of the long table, he stands on it and raises Wuuthrad high into the air, "HONOURABLE ANCESTORS! I, DRAGONBORN SURTR CALL UPON YOU TO BATTLE OUR GREATEST THREAT YET, ALDUIN THE WORLD-EATER!
ALL OF NIRN AND EVEN SOVNGARDE IS AT STAKE! HONOURABLE SOULS OF THE DEAD DEVOURED TO EMPOWER HIM FURTHER! LET US SHOW THAT GIANT LIZARD WHO SHOULD TRULY BE FEARED!"
...
"SIT DOWN, CHILD! AND TAKE YOU FEET OFF OF THE FURNITURE!" a loud voice echoes through the hall, throwing Surtr clear off of the table and onto the floor. "BE GLAD THAT I AM ALLOWING THIS, OTHERWISE YOUR QUEST WOULD HAVE BEEN DOOMED TO FAIL. THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO FIGHT MAY, BUT SHOULD YOU DIE YOUR SOUL WILL VANISH, YOU WILL JOIN WITH THE VOID FOREVER." the voice, Shor, states, causing many who were willing to fight to falter.
Surtr stands, "SHOW NO COWARDICE! IF ALDUIN WINS ALL IS LOST! EVEN SOVNGARDE!"
*Click, Click, Click*
"Worry not, Dragonborn, we will assist you."
"Hmph, nice axe, boy."
Surtr glances at the man who'd spoken and almost loses his footing when he sees him, the huge man with Wuuthrad in one hand and the Shield of Ysgramor in the other.
"Y-Ysgramor!?"
FYI, Surtr should have been way stronger at this point if it weren't for Michael stealing almost all of the Dragonsouls in the battle earlier battle.
Surtr at this point had only slayed 20-40 dragons, so the one hundred or so souls would have massively empowered him... Woops?
Hope you bois liked the chap, if I missed anything please let me know. Thanks!
Also, thanks to my patrons for their support :
ShinAmazake
Kingsprovince
Faruk Ereng