บท 498: The Battle of Death March (10, 11)
Okay, folks. I'm aiming to finish the volume at Chapter 500. This is a Double Trouble Chapter!
Also, the First 10 Chapters of "The Villainess Returns With a System" are now FREE on P4tre0n. [the novel is a RSTUM spin off].
Now, big flipping thanks to the new patrons:-
@giorgosnea (D rank)
@M.A.Kh (D rank)
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"It is dawn, let's move out."
"Yeah… let's get ready."
Today was the day. The 20th of Rain's Hand (April), 4E 200. In the Redguard Holiday Calendar, this is the Day of Shame when the Redguards refused to take in the refugees of the Kothringi who were dying to the Knahaten Flu. It is believed that the ships returns on the Day of Shame so the people of Hammerfell would lock their doors that day yet who would have thought that the Worm Cult is the one summoning the Crimson Ship to Hegathe.
That's why a major countermeasure had to be taken and that's none other than the Ansei Wards.
The Ansei Wards are the Soul Swords of three Sword Saints who battled Necromancy during the First Era. These Sword Saints who are Majah, Radan and Halelah made a pact with an Original Spirit worshipped by the Redguards known as Tu'whacca and thus created dedicated their Soul Swords to ward off evil.
The Ansei Wards' purpose was rather defensive, not offensive. The reason why Myr and Kareem could wield those swords was thanks to the fact that one is an Elhnofey while the other is a descendant of a Hero and wielding the Soul Sword of Prince A'tor.
Jon would be able to wield the Ansei Ward he is entrusted with by exploiting the power of the [Ebony Blade] that Fortifies the Swordsmanship Skill as much as the blade is Awakened. Now that the [Ebony Blade] is fully awakened, Jon could display a great skill with the sword.
"Are the three of you ready?" Beth asked Jon, Kareem and Myr.
"Yes."
"Then the Champion shall open a portal, please."
Jon took out [Pride] and cast his magic opening a gateway through Space to a certain place the three are heading to. Once they passed the portal, they were in front of the Ansei Pyramid.
"It is here where my Seventh Labour began." Jon said.
"Took you long enough." Beth replied.
"Indeed. It is the most unpleasant Labour so far." He said.
"Wasn't the second more unpleasant? You lost parts of your body."
"The Second was necessary and if the damage befalls on me alone, I am to endure. But this… a whole nation is suffering."
Jon's mood was heavier than usual this morning thus Beth decided to lead the road forward and divert the subject.
"So, which Labour did you enjoy?" She asked.
"The First was alright, I met Isha and became a relative to Uncle Sheo. The Third was satisfying; despite being injured, I have managed to escape Lord Harkon and meet Serana as well as create [Pride] and enslave Xikil. The Sixth is my personal favorite, meeting the Old Woman of Mournhold was a refreshing change of events and I quite like Morrowind." Jon said.
"I liked Morrowind as well." Myr butted in, "I've got to meet the loves of my life there. I as Miranda had quite the awkward meeting with Jon but I as Mirren had a lot of naughty time with Isha. How I love the two of you… hm? What? Why are you…"
"Bruh! You're having an identity crisis." (Jon)
"And I am supposed to be a minor here." (Beth)
"These were some serious things I heard just now." (Kareem)
The group lightheartedly entered the Ansei Pyramid and reached the innermost chamber at the Gates of Wish. There, an Altar was seen in the middle of the room.
"What now?" Jon asked.
"We renew the pact with Tu'whacca." Kareem said as he followed the instructions of Prince A'tor.
The three Ansei holders put the blades beside each other on the altar and waited as Kareem was preparing.
"You have a plan for the fight?" Beth asked.
"We will finish here then head directly to Hegathe before the Alliance reaches it. Once we are there, we will take a certain spot each and use the Ansei Wards to make a barrier that will isolate Hegathe from the rest of Hammerfell. According to the spell I modified, this will counterattack the [Soul Snare] spell and limit it to only Hegathe. There, Mannimarco will have no place to run to and we will strike him once he reincarnates into Zain's body."
"So you are not going to look for that thing from my vision?" She asked.
"That thing?" Jon frowned.
"I told you before, the one that will kill Zain is none of us. I saw a young man fighting him in the desert and he is the one that will put him down for good." Beth insisted on her vision.
"And I remember you divining for that young man with no results." Jon replied.
"Yes, I could find him but he must be out there."
"If he is not a day away from us, then we shouldn't bother with that vision." Jon dismissed her vision and patted her head.
Beth was used to Jon taking her visions seriously and over-analyzing them especially the ones from the past. The future is a bit unfixed but she can still get a thing or two right. Jon's current reaction was upsetting Beth yet she remained silent, it was better to look for that person on her own.
"I'm done, the ritual will start. Gather around!" At that time, Kareem called for Jon and Myr to join him at the Altar.
"Should I power the Pyramid now?" Jon asked.
"Yes, please."
Without much effort, Jon sent out both [Pride] and [Lust] out of the Pyramid to its top. The Moonlight energy was required to power the Pyramid so [Lust] would act as a catalyst whole [Pride] do the energy gathering work.
Soon, the Valley of the Ansei Pyramid started to vibrate and the connection was established.
***
Far to the west, the city of Hegathe stood tall reeking with the smell of blood and corpses. If Jon saw that then he may doubt that his reincarnation into Skyrim took the wrong turn to Diablo. The scene of the city was just brutal.
The scouting force was led by one of the strongest individuals of the HoonDing Alliance, the War Chief of the Citadel of Ebonarm. She personally led the way with a patch of Battlelords to a high ground near Hegathe overlooking the city.
One of the famous things about the War Chief was her mask, a golden mask made into the shape of a beast. A few know why she wears a Mask but no one really wanted to butt into her business. Anyway, after hiding the horses in a safe place, the group advanced on foot until they reached a good spot to see the city from. There, the War Chief removed her mask.
Under the mask, the face of a Redguard young woman appeared and that was by no means War Chief Laila. The followers behind her seemed aware of the fact that Isha was the one wearing the mask.
Last night, War Chief Laila passed away due to her injuries but the news was held to not affect the morale. After all, War Chief Laila was the symbol of bravery in the Alliance.
Right now, someone had to bear the burden of being the source of inspiration and that was none other than Isha. She was strong and brave enough to resemble the War Chief in every way.
The person in question herself took it as a duty to put on that mask especially after seeing the face of the War Chief for the first time. War Chief Laila passed on her will and her mask to Isha before taking her last breath.
Anyway, she took the duty of scouting ahead with some trusted Battlelords to get a clear picture of the situation and the enemy defenses. What they saw was…
"Oblivion!"
Hegathe itself was a very fortified city that withstood the Great War and fully stopped the advance of the Aldmeri Dominion. Still, in front of them right now was a tragedy.
Gargoyles circled the morning skies carrying human limbs by their fangs. Spikes were put in the city's rooftops each one with a head on it linked to the other spikes with the entrails of those poor souls. Once the gargoyles left, the people started running out of their homes to scrap what was left in the markets. Sometime later, the Cultists would appear in the city chasing the locals out of their way with whips and spears. A girl was captured and taken by the cultists while people were pulling away the girl's mother who was about to throw herself on the spears of those Cultists. In another part of the town, a group of locals was trying to ambush some Cultists but it ended up in a chaotic fight. Once the locals escaped down the sewers, the Cultists started flooding the place with undead.
Horrific as it was, none of this was relevant. The most important thing right now is the mission in hand and that was to locate the targeted locations according to Jon's plan.
Jon made clear and blunt in the war council, a siege and an open battle are a waste of time, he even admired that he is not good at leading armies but he has the best tactic to win. A full charge into the city.
The powerhouses and the mages will be the vanguard surprising the Worm Cult in Hegathe and blowing away the city gate, the armies will swarm and join hands with the local resistance. No matter what, fights shouldn't take too long and the Alliance must break into small teams to cover every street and neighborhood in and out of Hegathe. The main objective is called "Search and Destroy". Search for any trace of the cult and Destroy it without asking questions with extreme firepower.
Teleportation spells were a hurdle to cast on a massive scale thanks to the Soul Snare spell cast on Hammerfell so the first objective was to triangulate the location of the spell and mark it then decide three spots. Once that was over, Isha's next mission was to find the perfect places to position the siege weapons on.
Once all of it is over, it would be good to try and get any information on Zain or Zahra if possible. Zahra, Zain's window, was kidnapped by the cult for a reason unknown and whatever they are trying to do with her, Jon speculated it to be related to hastening Mannimarco's incarnation in Zain's body.
Still, it was impossible to find Zain out in the open or even Zahra. Isha had to stay still waiting for the Alliance to arrive, sharpening her spear was the only sound giving her solace that vengeance is near. Only she can grant her brother the Bitter Mercy.
**********
(Part 2)
The Worm Cult has sent most of its forces in Hegathe to battle the Alliance of the Redguard Lords that started from Stros M'kai. The fact that the Cult has lost many strongholds in that short amount of time was not making any sense to the top brass of the Cult thus the Grand Anchorite decided to take things into his own hands gathering the biggest undead army ever moved in the Fourth Era and decided to wipe out the Alliance pushing them back to the Alik'r Desert.
The Undead Army marched three days ago then they received the news that the Alliance was prepared for them yet the undead army was too large to lose any time soon. By the time the battle concludes, the reincarnation of the King of Worms should have already taken place.
But the news of the defeat of the army of the dead has never reached Hegathe, Jon has personally made sure of it. He wanted to surprise the Cult and hit where it hurts ultimately not leaving them any chance to survive or even escape.
With Isha doing the recon while the Alliance of 40000 soldiers swiftly advancing and the Three Ansei Wards are being activated, the attack on Hegathe will be decisive. The Alliance now has all the advantages it needs.
***
Three figures stood around the Altar under the Ansei Pyramid each of them holding an Ansei Ward blade up. Jon was holding his blade up with a hand on the [Ebony Blade] while Kareem did the same with the [Soul Sword]. Myr didn't need to borrow any kind of power so the three were all ready to begin.
Away from them, Beth was carrying Nefertiti between her arms as the two watched over the ritual. The three Ansei Holders started making the pact and a blinding golden aura enveloped them as they underwent some sort of interview with the Three Sword Saints.
"Hooman is glowing!" Nefertiti said.
"He is doing well?" Beth asked.
"Yeah, his mood is great."
"You seem a bit down these past few days."
"Hm? Yes, Hooman and I are starting to feel homesick."
"You two miss Skyrim?"
"Every day."
Nefertiti transformed from ber Cat Form to a Human Form and sat aside.
"Tell me about Winterhold." Beth asked.
"It is cold… but it is home. It is fun every day. There is everyone, Alina, the Crazy Elf, Hooman mothers, hammer boy."
"You will go back after the Labours?"
"Hooman will decide."
"Can I come?"
"Hooman will decide."
"… When this is over, I will have to go back to Boethiah's Cult. It is boring!"
"I guess so."
"When I asked the Champion to take me as his student, he said I must prove myself. Any idea how?"
"Probably something has to do with Magic."
The two girls were talking without much energy. The past few days were fun for them but now, the two realized it will come to an end after tomorrow. Jon, Isha, Mirren, and Miranda weren't planning to stay in Hammerfell after this anymore.
As for Beth whose actual name is Boethiah, she was in a tough situation herself. Whether to abandon the Cult of Boethiah and take her path after Jon or to serve Boethiah for the rest of her life. Actually, when Jon told her to prove herself, she already knew how but there is a lot on stake here.
As the two talked, the three were finishing up the preparation to awaken the Wards. Jon, Kareem, and Myr walked away from the Altar with their bodies glowing from the presence of the Sword Saints they are carrying at the moment.
"We better hurry." Kareem was worried about the situation with the Alliance.
"Patience. It is still not time to show ourselves." Myr was rather calm.
"Let's move according to the plan. Each of us will cover a certain place. After the sword formation is complete, then and only then we will move." Jon had to be strict about following the plan.
The three were about to play the biggest strategic role in the final battle right now, the tension was as high as it can get. Jon was using [Pride] for the sole sake of communication and managed to receive feedback on what the Alliance and the Cult were up to as well as the current state of affairs in Hegathe. To put it down frankly, Jon wasn't letting anything to be left to chance.
"Alright, we're moving."
Once it was all clear, Jon gave the green light.
"I'm on it." Myr took Kareem, tore a portal in space with the Ansei Ward and passed through it.
Nefertiti took Beth into the Shadow World and followed after Jon who teleported near Isha's location.
Under the grey sky of this dim morning, Jon walked quietly beside Isha.
"All clear?"
"Yes, the army is behind that hill, the roads were cut to Hegathe, the Cult isn't aware of anything."
"Good, I'm moving in. Don't think of it and just charge ahead, the gate will open on its own."
"Alright… and Jon… good luck."
"To you too, Isha."
Jon disappeared from his place and appeared in another place alongside Myr and Kareem.
"All set?" Kareem asked.
"Yes. Let's get right to it. I will take the Northern tower, Myr will take the Southern tower, Kareem will take the Lighthouse." Jon divided the positions and the three nodded to each other.
From their hiding spot behind a large rock, the three darted out running as fast as they could towards Hegathe. Say what you want about running, there two were in a state where they were moving faster than any living being. One step of them would pass ten meters on the sand without any noise. In a matter of a few seconds, Myr was hiding under the city wall's tower to the south while Jon and Kareem were hiding under the northern tower.
{Steady… Go!}
In a second, Myr and Jon jumped up the wall holding onto the first arrow slits they came across, with another jump, Myr reached to another while Jon found a window. One more jump and the two reached the top of each tower.
Kareem followed after Jon and reached at the same time he did.
"You are adapting well."
"Thanks."
"Now off with you."
Jon didn't Kareem much time to take his breath and Kareem found himself being held by Jon and tossed across the city wall to the west. It was all according to plan so he didn't complain.
The Cultists may have been guarding those walls and towers but the three Ansei Holders were too fast to even retaliate against. Jon and the other two made sure to kill only when they needed to not raise attention. Meanwhile, Kareem landed halfway across the wall and started running on it until he could go west no longer. With a confident jump, he directly left the tower and landed in the streets. There was no time to play stealthy at this point, as far as he is concerned, the city is already too chaotic to care about him.
Death was lurking everywhere. The monsters conjured by the Cult were all over the place, some were even feeding on people in broad daylight. The citizens were too scared to come out and some places were already transforming into entertainment hubs for the Cultists such as Corpse Stores and Slave Markets. Everything was just desperate and sad save for the evil smiled of the Cultists.
Too distracted! Too unaware! Kareem was already at the Lighthouse.
{I'm there… hello… Krilon.}
{I… I hear you… the Soul Snare… spell formation is… jamming the signal… start… now!}
It was now. The time to start the final battle starts with those three.
"""Sword Formation!"""
The line between the three Ansei Words was fully activated. Jon on the Northern tower, Myr on the Southern tower, and Kareem on the Western Lighthouse all had their Ansei Wards glowing brilliantly. It was as if three suns were rising on three different locations around the city, the holy aura coming from those three locations greatly altered the cultists.
"""Soul Imprint! Sun Prison!"""
Once the link was stable, a triangle of light was formed around Hegathe with an Ansei Holder on each angle. With the triangle appearing in plain sight, it started to draw a wall around Hegathe.
Three walls of light appeared brightly around the old city and started clashing with the Soul Snare formation. The Magicka between Aetherius and Nirn became agitated and Magicka anomalies started to form and attack Jon and the others. These anomalies were but spheres of light representing the will of the world being provoked by the strong individuals doing acts against Aetherius.
"Move move move! Check those towers. Someone is bound to be upthere."
The Cultists started to react based on what they saw and clearly, the Ansei Holders were now visible in plain sight. Jon sent out Nefertiti to protect the Myr and [Pride] to protect himself while the [Soul Sword] protected Kareem.
"""Release!"""
The sword formation was finally released and its brilliance started to overtake the Soul Snare formation.
Outside Hegathe, Isha wore the Mask of the War Chief once again and rode her horse leading the Battlelords down the hill. There, she met the vanguard of the HoonDing Alliance advancing towards Hegathe. She raised her spear and stood on the saddle making all the riders in the front be driven by the hype of following the War Chief into the final battle into Hegathe.
"Brothers and Sisters, that is Hegathe! Hegathe is Hammerfell. The first city of Redguards. That is Deathland and it is filled with Undeath! What you're about to see is beyond atrocities and war crimes. It is evil in its darkest and vilest form. Ride with me and stab that evil in the heart! REDGUARDS!"
"""""YAAAAAAAAAAH!!!"""""
Isha didn't do much of calling and shouting in the past but now she felt it was necessary. Once she turned around and rode towards Hegathe at the top speed of her horse, she felt the weight of 40000 Redguards riding behind her. The army of her kinsmen blocked the view and brought the sandstorm behind it. It was a glorious scene.
But the glory had more glory added to it. Further in Hegathe, once the Sword Formation was fully established and a triangular wall trapped the city from all sides, a massive change happened.
The Soul Snare formation was fixed in Hegathe. It started to clash with the Sword Formation but the latter was much stronger regarding its offensive formation. Soon enough, the grey sky above Hammerfell started to change their color from grey to ashen bright to pale to sky blue. Isha was gazing at the sky that she almost forgot its color as her horse rode forward and her breath was all taken in.
"How I missed that!" She uttered.
Ultimately, all the army behind her felt the same but once they realized that the Evil in Hegathe was isolated by the walls of light, they all realized what sort of a fight they will have ahead.
The evil is trapped and now that the sky is blue once again, this is extermination.
The blood of the Redguards boiled and forgot about everything other than their fight and the plan. The mages started to position themselves outside Hegathe and activate the marks left by Isha. Now that the Soul Snare was down, teleporting stuff was very easy and those marks were made for just that.
The void and space started distorting at every location and large constructs started to appear. These were War Trebuchets. The large siege engines were prepared last night at haste and marked for teleportation by the mages for this exact moment. Once they appeared, they were already ready to fire.
A barrage of stone and rocks landed on the main gate of Hegathe and the land shock. The gate was no more and a cloud of dust blocked the sight. With the thundering shouts of 40000 soldiers swarming through, the cultists near the wall were the first to see a charging black horse coming through the cloud with a rider aiming her spear to claim their lives.
The Death March was coming to an End.
~~~~~~~~~~
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