Chương 500: The Battle of Death March (16, 17, 18, 19, 2end0)
The Last Chapter in the Volume, Congratulations for making it this far. Happy Birthday to me. I'm 25 and this novel is already the most wholesome and serious work I have done in my life. -- It is my Pride and Joy to announce that from the next chapter, we are time-skipping to year 4E-201 when the actual Skyrim events start.
Thank you to the new Patrons who joined us as of late:-
@Jeremy Veit (C rank)
@Pookleberry (D rank)
@Sacha Lechelon (D rank)
@Ashikov Kaloyan [couldn't copy Bulgarian here] (D rank)
@Kaleb Payne (D rank)
@Rafa (D rank)
Right… this is… FEARSOME FIVESOME Chapter! The BIGGEST <11'284 Words> CHAPTER I ever wrote just for you guys as a Mass Release Gift for my Birthday. See how awesome I am? My birthday and I'm giving gifts!
Enjoooooy~♥
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(Part 1)
"Dammit! Dammit! Damn that mortal! Damn that beast! See what happens when I get you!"
"Hey!"
*Punch*
This scene happened in the western area of Hegathe. While most of the Alliance was focusing on prosecuting the Cultists and executing them, one man was chasing another in the dark alleyways.
The Aspect of Mannimarco possessing the pulverized corpse of Zain was desperately fleeing from Jon.
"Damn you, Mortal. Curse you!"
Once Jon caught up with the Aspect of Mannimarco, a devastating punch following the other were descending on it.
Of course this thing inhabiting Zain is not The King of Worms Mannimarco himself but rather a lesser version of him similar to a Divine Spirit Descent. The original Mannimarco is, after all, a true immortal.
On the other hand, that incarnation was as mortal as the word mortal can get lying in a pile of garbage with the rest of the trash after getting Jon's punch.
"Son of a bitch! That body you are possessing does not belong to you."
"Hahaha! It does. It belongs to no one but me. Now that you destroyed the Miracle Egg, where do you think I will stay?" Mannimarco stood up resting on the [Serpent Spear]. He seems to have attached Zain's body that Jon broke back together and using it as a vessel.
"Give it up. That body is already beyond damaged. You descended, congratulations. Now hurry up and depart!" Jon sent another punch at Mannimarco and the latter was launched like a stringless kite.
"You can't beat me! You can't harm me! You destroyed this body before because of that damned spear. Now, even with the damage it suffered, you can't injure it anymore." Mannimarco said.
"And you can't fight back either."
"Oh! Will see about that?"
Mannimarco twisted the body he is in and launched a [Bone Spirit] spell towards Jon before starting to run.
"Useless!" Jon negated the spell and retaliated with another towards Jon but Mannimarco used the blast of Jon's spell to his advantage and increased the distance.
"Heh! My body is indestructible, you can't harm it. But… don't you think you are missing a certain point?" Mannimarco started crawling up and hid behind a wall.
"Yeah?" Jon noticed that Mannimarco was aiming for something.
"Hehehe! I… can… recover!" Mannimarco said as he stepped out of the alleyway, Zain's body fixed a little bit more.
"Oh! You can do that? Fine, you keep that up and return this body back to normal so we can give it a proper burial. Meanwhile, I'll prepare something to exorcise you."
"Oh please entertain me! Is it a set of Blessed Divine Relics… wait, maybe it is a Blessing from Talos or whatever!" Mannimarco mocked Jon.
"This is not 200 years ago, Mini-marco." Jon said something that made Mannimarco's expressions twist.
"I get what you are doing. I really do. You have tried that reincarnation thingy and almost worked two hundred years ago if not for the interface of the Mages Guild in Cyrodiil. I know Archmage Hannibal Traven and his successor aren't around but the story of how you were handed your own ass back then is still fresh in Cyrodiil. Good times, right?"
Jon's words seemed to have opened an old wound and Mannimarco was infuriated.
"Insolent fool!" He shouted while casting a powerful spell at Jon.
"That's the spirit!" Jon ignored the surroundings and got excited to this fight.
Right now, he is facing that most skillful Necromancer ever lived.
Jon Dare, the Last Dragonborn to be, the Thane of Winterhold and the Grand Champion of the Imperial Arena.
Mannimarco, the Leader of the Order of the Black Worm and the Immortal who resides on the Necromancer's Moon.
Jon had the [Ebony Blade], the [Elder Staff of Power and Fate (Pride)], the [Ebony Mail], the [Krilon], as well as an arsenal of arcane artifacts and self-crafted scrolls.
Mannimarco was but a ghost in a shell, that shell was Zain whose body was altered by the Curse of Sithis and the Curse of Vampirism creating an outstanding resilient body. To equalize his situation, Mannimarco grasped the [Serpent Spear] tightly and called for his two artifacts that are nearby, the [Bloodworm Helm] and the [Staff of Worms].
Now that the two met in their full readiness, the whole city felt the impact of two powerhouses clashing. The Imperial Soldiers of the Seventh Legion, the Army of Sentinel, the Citadel of Ebonarm and the HoonDing Alliance all realized the final showdown is beginning.
The Magicka emitted by Jon was taking the qualities of his Aura, Tyrannical and Dominant. The Magicka emitted by Mannimarco had the qualities of a very old Lich, cold and boundless.
"Rise!" The King of Worms said one word and one word only, from who knows where or when, the streets of Hegathe behind him was crawling with Undead. He even summoned a Zombie horse for himself.
"Nice try!" Jon wasn't humble either, his staff struck the ground and an army of his own was conjured. Wrathmen and Bonemen filled the streets behind him with coldness and terror, [Wrath] was conjuring an army of his own and the Nine Iron Atronachs were present as well. Jon also conjured a Cold Flame Horse Atronach to sit on equal terms.
"HA! HAHAHA!" Mannimarco couldn't help but laugh, "You are using Undead… against me?"
"Bitch, please! These Undead are to stop your Undead from doing whatever they were summoned for." Jon said and his horse started walking forward, "As for you, you will get these hands!"
"Impudent! Get him!"
"Wrath, give 'em your best."
Jon left the command of his entire army of the dead for Wrath and drove his horse forward fusing [Greed] and the [Ebony Blade] creating the [Ebony Glaive].
While Mannimarco was rallying his undead forward, Jon's undead were eating the dust of their Master as he was driving his glaive through Mannimarco's zombie horse.
"You madman!" Seeing Jon already at the front, Mannimarco was annoyed by his charging enemy.
He had to abandon the horse and levitate up the sky away while shooting a barrage of spell at Jon. Meanwhile, Jon chose to charge through Mannimarco's undead turning the spell of their Master against them.
Mannimarco didn't intend to entertain Jon further and made a cunning move. He cast a spell known as [Legion]. The King of Worms was known by that name for a reason, his Necromancy is Grand and terrifying. His spell caused a large portion of his undead army to gather into one single entity and mold together forming a new creature known as the Undead Legion. It was simply a walking zombie giant that almost reached ten meters in height.
"Damn!"
Jon was taken aback greatly but he soon recovered and intended to shorten the distance between himself and Mannimarco. The chains of [Ahzidal's Evil Fists] were launched towards Mannimarco, who was standing above a building not too far away. Seeing his leg shackled, Mannimarco wanted to blow the chains up by magic yet his Magicka was barely moving.
"Surprise, motherfucker!"
Jon pulled the chain faster than Mannimarco's reaction and met him with the [Ebony Glaive] right into his guts.
"It won't work!" Mannimarco was impossible to injure in Zain's body.
"Oh yeah? Oh no."
Jon refused to believe that there was something impossible for him to hack through, he made sure that Mannimarco won't move for at least one second and took out a certain item.
"Take this, asshole!"
With his left, Jon kept stabbing Mannimarco with [Keening], the Dagger that directly does damage to the soul.
"AAAAH!"
Mannimarco wasn't physically hurt but the damage Jon dealt was real, his energy was getting seeped away by [Keening] and absorbed by Jon.
"You… Bastard!" Unwilling to be as helpless as that, Mannimarco managed to command the Undead Legion to move directly towards Jon. The tower of undead creatures cast its shadow at Jon as it was collapsing directly.
"Motherfucker!"
Jon had no time to respond at this so he had only one option and that is to avoid this. He teleported away from Mannimarco who didn't even bother with the Undead Legion falling at him.
Quietness took over this part of the battle for a while. Both Jon and Mannimarco were fighting on equal terms now. Jon may have a large amount of Magicka but it is not infinite, meanwhile, the Aspect of Mannimarco had the support of the True Mannimarco making his Magicka almost infinite. To balance that, Jon uses [Keening] to steal some of that Magicka as well.
In terms of Magicka, this fight was endless. The fact that the Aspect of Mannimarco is connected to the immortal version means he can be just like the Vampire Grand Anchorite who kept regenerating after Myr's attacks. Jon was also very resilient, he is wearing the [Ebony Mail] which is a very strong armor all by itself, Jon's body is very tricky to deal with as normal metal can't injure him.
The two were indeed ridiculous at this rate so staying away from the raging experts was the best thing to do. The two of them also realized that using Undead Minions to fight each other is worthless, Mannimarco may have a better ability as a Necromancer but Jon directly reaches to the Soul Cairn and summons its premium-grade undead. More to that, Wrath is a pain in the ass to Necromancers.
With all the cards played so far, it was about time to bring out the trump cards.
[A/n: Don't forget to Rate and throw off some quality comments!]
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(Part 2)
Jon stood in the shadows watching the large Undead Legion moving up for Mannimarco to get up. He smiled and cast a special spell at the undead.
A white flame was ignited all over the Undead Legion and started destroying at a rapid rate. The Ashen Flame of the Totem Dragon Guardian was so destructive and domineering that Mannimarco feared to be buried under the rubble of those burning undead. This flame may not harm him but he could feel that it won't be extinguished by normal means.
He teleported away and started looking around for Jon.
"Hiding now, are you?" Mannimarco asked.
Jon was indeed trying to sneak attack Mannimarco and kept using his [Shadow Stone] power and the Cloak form of [Greed] to remain hidden.
From beneath Mannimarco, the chains of [Ahzidal's Evil Fists] were trying to get Mannimarco once again, just like last time, Mannimarco was not watching what's beneath him but…
"Got you!"
Mannimarco hit the chain away with the [Serpent Spear], he then kicked the roof he is standing on and descended down aiming the spear at Jon's neck.
"Shit!" Jon was taken aback but he didn't get hit, he avoided touching the poisoned blade of the spear and held the neck of the shaft with his two hands letting go of [Pride] and the [Ebony Blade].
Mannimarco caught Pride using Telekinesis but Pride fought the [Staff of Worms] relentlessly proving to be even more powerful than Mannimarco's fabled staff.
"You have enchanted a staff with your own soul? How? You are a mortal!" Mannimarco couldn't believe that [Pride] was a living staff.
On the other hand, Jon was struggling for his life holding the dangerous [Serpent Spear] away from himself. He was trying to aim [Pride] at Mannimarco but the latter was taking a weird interest in Pride.
Jon looked at the [Ebony Blade] thinking about reach it but Mannimarco took notice.
"Oh no, you can't do that."
Mannimarco blast away [Pride] as far from Jon as he could but and was about to do the same with the [Ebony Blade] but Jon took the chance when Mannimarco's pressure on the spear lessened and moved.
He took out the [Keening] which was a weird choice as using a dagger against a spear is nothing but pain stupidity, however, Jon made [Greed] possess [Keening].
This was by far one of the most annoying Greed Possessions Jon ever tried. [Keening] whose blade was made of a blue crystal started to change from a Dagger to a Fork. It became a fork with two long blades made from the same blue crystal but the way of changed dramatically, Jon only had to hit the spear with that fork and…
*DIIIIIIING!*
It was just too surprising for Mannimarco to deal with this sudden sound. It was as if his soul was about to hurl out from that body.
"Shit!" He abandoned the [Serpent Spear] to block the booming sound from entering his ears but that was of no use, he curled up in the ground from the pain.
Jon threw away the [Serpent Spear] and walked to Mannimarco with the fork, the latter tried to get away but Jon was faster and dug the fork into Mannimarco's guts.
"AHRG!"
There was no physical damage but the pain was vivid as the soul itself was targeted. Jon absorbed a large amount of Magicka from Mannimarco through the fork then turned it into a direct attack on Mannimarco's face.
"Have a cookie… on the house!"
A [Thunder Cookie] launched Mannimarco out of the house to the next one and the next destroying walls and furniture in the process. This was one of the most satisfying cookies Jon delivered.
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[Weeping Keening] <Dwemer>
- Absorb Vitality
- Absorb Magicka
- Soul Sonic Damage (Greed Effect)
———————————
[Weeping Keening] was a version of Keening that lets out Soul Sonic Attacks after getting struck by metal just like a Tuning Fork, the damage of such an attack has no blind spot and targets everyone except the wielder but its shortcoming is the limited range, Mannimarco was already figuring that last part out.
Jon retrieved both [Pride] and the [Ebony Blade] while Mannimarco Rose from the rubble and took his distance.
"That punch you delivered… it feels familiar!" Mannimarco said.
"You perv! You can recognize people by the way they punch you?" Jon made a disgusted face.
"Hehe! Let me see… stupidly tall, holds big weapons with one hand, kicks everything like a brash fool… You are clearly a Nord but not just that… you are a Titanborn!"
"Oh! I see… this is the part where I freak out and ask you how you know about my family, right?" Jon couldn't help but smug out.
"…" Mannimarco was wise enough to keep silent after Jon's unexpected reaction.
"At least not a cliche."
Mannimarco soon recognized Jon's origin being a Titanborn. This was due to the event a thousand years ago during the Planemeld when Lyris Titanborn was part of the Five Companions that stopped both Mannimarco and Molag Bal evil schemes. Later in history, the Titanborns were united with the Flame-Hairs to be the Firemanes.
It was clear that Mannimarco was holding a deep grudge against one of the Ancestors of the Firemanes making them enemies by default. It is unthinkable for Jon to let such an evil parasite have his way in the world.
"I'm quite bored with this, let's end it." Jon called out for a large amount of Magicka implying what sort of massive attack he is planning on now.
Mannimarco grinned slyly as he dissolved into thin air the same time Jon released his spell. What happened next was a disappointment to both parties.
Jon appeared behind Mannimarco's place waving the [Weeping Keening] while Mannimarco appeared behind Jon's place stabbing with the [Serpent Spear] he just retrieved.
"Huh?"
"Eh?"
Of course, both attacks were pointless as the two just switched places.
Mannimarco was taken aback and Jon frowned.
"Are you sure that idiot Lyris is your Ancestor?"
"I get that you are trying to compliment me but don't insult her!"
The two proved to be cunning and ruthless which was a thought that left a bad aftertaste to both of them.
"Well, whatever!" Jon teleported once again almost instantly but Mannimarco evaded and started to take distance.
Jon launched the Chains of his gauntlets to catch Mannimarco before he cast magic but the latter proved to be relentless at escaping as much as he is at not dying. Jon took Greed off Keening and directed it into his gauntlets making them into [Ahzidal's Titan Hands]. Mannimarco may have been good at movement but the flying grips that Jon kept sending after him were akin to modern bombardment. The city was getting pulverized by their actions.
"You ran out of moved already?" Jon spoke.
"Shut your trap!" Mannimarco was hot on heels for the part minute which pissed him off, he finally decided to get hit just for the sake of casting one spell.
The land beneath Jon was struck by Mannimarco's magic and turned into a tainted ground of undead, a volley of bones was shot at him from beneath his feet taking him by surprise and giving him a few scratches.
"Fucker!"
"You will die, mortal."
Jon ceased his attacks and retreated to heal his injuries as fast as he could, Undead Magic attacks can carry poison or curses. Mannimarco took the chance to muster his Magicka once more and make a comeback.
He aimed forward his [Staff of Worms] and delivered a strong stream of Lightning Magic towards Jon. Knowing that Mannimarco plans to exhaust his Magicka, Jon let [Pride] activate its free will function and retaliate automatically at Mannimarco.
Jon was planning to do another attack but Mannimarco hurriedly canceled his and pulled [Pride] at him once again.
"Soul Weapon or not, I only have to destroy it."
Mannimarco's aim was to destroy [Pride], this itself will deliver a major damage to Jon may be enough to make him lose consciousness.
Still, Mannimarco never knew what [Pride] is all about. Once he held the staff of Jon, what he never imagined happened.
"AAAAH! AHH! IT HURTS!"
[Pride] was a staff yet one of a kind. Once Mannimarco held it, his hand started burning immediately. This fire caused by holding [Pride] wasn't just soul damage but an actual physical damage. The first damage Zain's invincible body received that wasn't caused by the [Spear of Bitter Mercy].
On the other hand, Jon stared blankly.
"So… that works?"
[Pride] was haughty, unforgiving and extremely arrogant. It wouldn't just refuse anyone other than Jon but it tries to kill them. In some cases, [Pride] would cut the hands of those who tried to steal it and collect them in a sub-dimension. That's how nasty [Pride] was with others. It all started when it developed its own will.
Jon never imagined that this function will actually damage Mannimarco who possesses Zain's body. It was a whole bizarre concept to begin with.
But then, Jon remembered which kind of Magic that can do things beyond sense and cause unexplained phenomenons, the same magic he used to create [Pride], the Fate Magic.
The Fate Magic can damage Mannimarco… and end him. That's what Jon concluded.
"You… you… bastard mortal! What did you do… what sort of abomination did you create?" Mannimarco, who was screaming like a dying hog, stood up holding the burnt hand.
"Heh! Hehehe… Abomination, you say? Look at yourself before you call others by that. Also, this is called [Pride], the Elder Staff of Power and Fate." Jon boasted about his staff that reacted by creating a glowing aura around itself.
"Pride? Elder? What does any of this mean?"
For a moment, the air around Jon turned from his Tyrannical Aura into a different one yet not quite the same. His eyes were colder and his words were lofty.
"It means, mine prideless fellow, this staff is meritorious and most wondrous aside from being indestructible. Eke, it is the very embodiment of Pride, the sin of all haughtiness and vanity. For a lowly undead elf to get to touch it, thee needeth to knoweth thy place."
Jon's words may sound idiotic and empty but it is the very will of Pride that was speaking its mind through him with all its arrogance and supercilious haughtiness.
The cold words of Pride ended and Jon returned to his usual domineer, his smile free even wider and his evil thoughts betrayed his expressions.
"It also means you are getting a serious whacking to satisfy you for a lifetime."
[A/n: Don't forget to Rate and throw off some quality comments!]
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(Part 3)
Finding Mannimarco's weakness was more than enough for Jon to change his strategy. From now on, Jon had to analyze the Mannimarco in front of him and pick up the weaknesses that will completely obliterate him.
Mannimarco wasn't stupid either, he understood that Jon managed to get a hint on how to defeat him and that made all his alarms go ringing. He had to finish up Jon before anything else if he wants this reincarnation to successful.
From this point, spells and attacks started to fly around Hegathe like crazy. Thankfully, Jon's and Mannimarco's damage was limited to a certain district near the port where all of the populace was evacuated by the HoonDing Alliance.
At the safe zone far from the battle, Kareem was supervising the evacuation of the last patch of the citizens when he saw some disciples from the Citadel of Ebonarm carrying away a woman who was covered in sheets and Isha was following them.
"What is happening?" She asked.
"I was about to ask you?" He replied, "What is all that madness?"
"Jon… fighting Mannimarco." She said.
"What!"
"We must assist!"
Miranda and Mirren were nearby and they came running once they heard that.
"Mannimarco is in the body of your brother. He just keeps sending one attack after the other!" From the sides, Aela spoke to Isha.
"I already figured that part out. What can we do?"
The five turned silent. If they got closer, they will get in the way and may be used against Jon. Still, how could they sit still with their friend fighting for all of them?
"Where is that all-knowing brat?" Isha asked.
"Who?" Aela tilted her head.
"She means Beth, the girl with tattoos all over her body." Mirren said.
"That's savage! I like." Aela was hooked up just by the description.
Ignoring Aela's abnormal tastes, the others were looking around for their diviner.
"She stays with Jon's cat in those portals she makes." Miranda said.
"I am here, I am here." Beth showed up running as fast as she could.
"Where were you?" Mirren asked.
"Helping people. Listen, the night has arrived. We need to get all these people to safety." She said.
"Safety? From what?" Kareem questioned.
"The prophecy! It is today… the Crimson Ship will arrive as long as all those people aren't in hiding." Beth said.
"Right… the Day of Shame, it is today." Kareem said.
"But we defeated the Cult." Isha said.
"You don't understand, the Day of Shame is an eminent crisis that waits to befall. With all that number of people out of their homes, forget about the Cult, the Crimson Ship is carrying one of the deadliest plagues known on Tamriel and it will consume us overnight." Kareem's words conveyed his fear.
Unlike the Redguards of the desert such as Isha, the Redguards of the western coast always heeded the warning of the Day of Shame and hid in their homes every 20th of Rain's Hand (April) to not alert the ghost ship that is told to be roaming the sea this day.
Now that the city is bustling with noises of women wailing and children crying as well as two maniac-level endgame bosses fighting each other in what seems to be endless combat, the situation was very alarming as it is.
The Crimson Ship may or may not be real but amidst these crazy times, even the myths must be taken into consideration especially when Beth is the one divining them. Also, the Knahaten Flu that the ship carries is extremely deadly and contagious especially when it is airborne. The risk of doubting this prophecy is problematic and it is better to be safe than sorry.
"There are many large buildings in the city that can withstand the fight. The Lord's Palace, the Garrison, the Towers, the Mosques." Aela quickly marked out the places within her area of perception.
"Good, I'll get the people to move right away." Kareem couldn't think of a better idea.
"I'll make the disciples secure the roads." Isha said then turned to Miranda, "Hey, look out after Zahra for me."
"Is she alright?"
"I doubt it. Her womb was severely damaged and she isn't waking up."
"What happened in there?"
Isha remained silent for that question. It was simply something that neither her nor Jon would ever speak about.
***
The fight between Jon and Mannimarco has taken a strange turn. Even with the indestructible body and the endless supply of Magicka, the Aspect of Mannimarco was being drained. Supplying Magicka on such a rapid and wasteful rate especially just a few hours after the Reincarnation was just too hard.
First of all, the soul of that incarnation is still premature and didn't have time to be stabilized. Who would have thought that Jon would be crazy enough to discover the egg, feed it his blood, and teleport it out from the womb? The sole reason the Worm Cult used Zahra was because Isha wouldn't simply kill her in case she managed to reach Zahra before the rebirth of the Lord. If it was another woman, she could have been sacrificed easily by stabbing the unknown egg in her womb.
Regardless of how right or wrong they were, the Reincarnation of Mannimarco wasn't 100% successful thus the Aspect of Mannimarco had to rely on a Plan B which is possessing the body of Zain. Mannimarco never wanted to have that body as if he had the body of a child from the start, he could remold it the same way he did 200 years ago.
But right now, how did this shitty situation turn like that? He was not just being chased by a Mortal but a Human Mortal and not just any Human Mortal but a Nord Human Mortal whose ancestor is Lyris Titanborn, the most annoying Nord he came across.
But this Titanborn was too relentless, too tricky and very well-versed in Magic. Not quite an Arch-Wizard yet but his boundless Magicka can just beat any Arch-Wizard with brute force.
In the last confrontation they had, Jon was pressuring Mannimarco with the [Ebony Blade] while the latter was pushing back with the [Serpent Spear]. Mannimarco may not be a warrior but surely the King of Worms knows a thing or two about melee combat.
"Why don't you just die already?" Jon was shouting as he kicked Mannimarco deep in the guts sending him away.
"I won't die no matter how much you ask me to so, Mortal." Mannimarco wasn't even knowing when this will end.
It was all too exhausting at this point. Jon was fighting for the sake of all Tamriel and Mannimarco was fighting for whatever he was fighting for. Either way, this fight meant a lot for each side.
"Hyaa!" Mannimarco released his strongest raw blast of Magicka trying to obliterate Jon with brute force as it was the only way.
Raw Magicka is dangerous and hard to manipulate but it can't be canceled by other spells, only raw Magicka can stop raw Magicka.
"Don't get full of yourself." Jon retaliated with his best raw Magicka blast as well.
It was consuming and dangerous but the two held their ground well until the scale started to tilt towards Mannimarco.
"Haha! Mortal, this will be the end of you!" Mannimarco laughed.
"Don't celebrate too soon! All-Maker! Azura!"
Jon called for two of the major Spirits that blessed him with their power. The All-Maker, the aspect of Anu to the Skaal, and Azura, Lady of Dusk and Dawn.
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[Blessing of the All-Maker]
Root of Power: 2500% Magicka Regeneration
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[Blessing of Azura]
Dawn's Beauty: Absorb 50% of the Hostile Magic.
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The effect of Dawn's Beauty made Jon's eyes glow, his body was taking half the Magicka of Mannimarco's attacks and redirecting it back.
In just a second, the situation completely tilted and Mannimarco was being pushed back literally.
"Im- Impossible! Those blessings… how? What did you do? What are you?"
For someone to gain the favor of the Original Spirits to the extent of getting two ridiculously powerful blessings, Mannimarco shivered from the fact.
Can that person be another paragon… just like that person form 200 years ago?
Yet no matter how he thinks, he couldn't stop the sudden surge of Jon's Magicka. The Magic Duel ended with Mannimarco's loss and a bright blast that sent him off flying. Such a duel damaged his soul and stunned his spellcasting ability.
Mannimarco won't be able to cast big spells for some time, now, this was Jon's opportunity. If he could seal Mannimarco, he can figure out a method to kill him later. That was Jon's plan.
On the other hand, Mannimarco had one thought in mind.
Run!
He can't face Jon in melee or magic right now. This is a complete disadvantage. Running away wasn't a bad choice since it is the most effective method that kept all mages from dying since the dawn of time. Mannimarco could use simple spells like [Haste] and [Acceleration] to get the boost he needed to keep himself clear from Jon's reign of destruction.
Each one of Jon's attacks carried an astral force to it enough to cause severe damage to the soul of Mannimarco's Aspect.
"Dammit! You are sneaky!"
Jon was annoyed by the fact that Mannimarco was this good at moving around. Mannimarco's experience in the arcane arts is way beyond Jon's but the latter was a creative mage on his own accord. While none of Jon's attacks landed, Mannimarco wasn't able to recover either but not for long. Jon started to grow restless.
"Fine! If you won't get hit, I'll just come and beat you myself."
There was no need to keep this card hidden anymore. When it comes to speed and overall movements, [Ahzidal's Boots of the Apostle] were Jon's winning card. Still, if they are not enough, [Greed] can be just added to the mix and so it happened.
Jon's boots started transforming and growing larger. From the outer sides of the boots, a couple of wing-like extensions grew wide.
"I'm sorry in advance but these boots tend to be a bit gay."
With a disclaimer, Jon started moving after Mannimarco at a greater speed leaving behind a Trail of Rainbow.
His speed was astonishing as much as its unforeseen, Mannimarco was looking behind for an instant and in the other, he was getting punched from the front. Unaware of how Jon did it, he tried to crawl away but Jon kicked him instead.
"Insolent mortal! I curse you."
"Yeah, good luck with that."
Being superior in speed is all good and fine but this rainbow trail that keeps appearing after him was making a bad scene of a serious situation. Jon would have avoided it at all costs but he needed it either way.
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[Ahzidal's Talaria]
- Fortify Speed
- Waterwalking
- Levitate
- Bifrost (Greed Effect)
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With the speed of [Ahzidal's Talaria], Jon utilized the speed needed to put down Mannimarco but still, Mannimarco endured all the Soul Attacks as Zain's body wasn't even receiving damage. If only the [Spear of Bitter Mercy] could do damage as it did before, it would have been good enough but that's no longer an option.
Jon wanted to use the chance given by the Blessings of the All-Maker and Azura he is using right now to quickly figure out which Fate can damage Zain's body in this situation. Sadly, Jon ran out of the blessings before he could get an answer.
At the same time, Mannimarco regained his ability to cast Magic and blocked Jon's kick with one hand.
"THAT'S ENOUGH!"
With one swing, Mannimarco caught Jon's leg and threw him away at a nearby building. Jon was buried under the rubble giving Mannimarco the chance to take a breath after that much thrashing he went through.
But something felt wrong as under that rubble, Jon was clearly gathering some weird type of energy that made Mannimarco feel extremely threatened. In an instant, Mannimarco jumped away before a red laser attack comes out of the rubble and melts the ground he was on.
The rubble exploded and Jon walked out with a weird appearance. He switched his mask with a strange Nordic helm that had a strange shape to it. Actually, that was Jon's helm [Ahzidal's Helm of Vision] combined with [Greed].
"You are really making me using all the embarrassing toys, aren't you?" Jon was clenching his teeth after getting forced to use that as well.
"Be my guest and don't use them." Mannimarco shouted.
———————————
[Ahzidal's Laserbeam Helm]
- Fortify Range
- Aim Assist
- Laser Beam
———————————
Jon walked out and started shooting red beams from his helm at Mannimarco who was evading to the best of his ability.
"You are really agile, take some rest." Jon said.
"Shut up and die already!" Mannimarco retaliated with a spell that missed Jon.
"That's your best aim?" Jon smirked but he soon realized that Mannimarco wasn't aiming for him.
A blast happened right behind Jon forcing him off balance, Mannimarco seized the chance and charged at Jon holding him down.
"Mortal! Of all the ones I have met, you surpassed them all when it came to annoying me."
Now that Jon was pinned down under Mannimarco, the latter started to give a villain speech.
"I'm flattered but your breath, man… is that the stench of death… or is it onion? Onion, I assume." Jon tried to aim his helm at Mannimarco but the latter was pressing his head away.
As the body of Zain was a Vampire-Werewolf hybrid, it had fangs and blood devouring abilities thus Mannimarco was aiming to use that on Jon.
Finding the gap in his armor, Mannimarco bit down Jon's neck like a predator who is breaking the neck of its prey.
"ARG! YOU… BASTARD!"
Jon struggled from the pain and tried to escape Mannimarco but the latter was having him where he wanted. Jon hurriedly took off [Greed], morphed it into a blaster and loaded an Astral charge shooting it right into Mannimarco's guts.
"AHRG!"
Mannimarco was thrown off Jon with Zain's body starting to change after drinking blood. It was as if all the veins were turning black.
"What… what is that?" Mannimarco felt the strange quality of Jon's blood and sensed that it was invading Zain's body damaging it from the inside.
Jon stood up while healing his injured neck.
"For a bastard like you to not figure out what killed your first reincarnation form."
"Shit!"
Mannimarco was trying hard to get rid of Jon's blood but that was taking some time. Jon arrived with the [Keening] in hand aiming to chip away Mannimarco's soul out of Zain's body by force.
The two monsters started fighting on the ground like mortals after draining themselves this far. Their attacks were no longer destroying walls or tilting buildings but rather, Jon was pressing against Mannimarco and punching him while the latter kept trying to kick and scratch.
Jon was mortally exhausted while Mannimarco was hindered because of Jon's blood. This type of situation was degrading for the two but one man was to walk out of this alive.
[A/n: Don't forget to Rate and throw off some quality comments!]
**********
(Part 4)
Mannimarco was recovering. He kicked away Jon one final time and stood up while staggering.
Why?!
Just why would he meet such an annoying opponent right after all the trouble he went through?!
"Just fuck off already!" Tired, Mannimarco had to throw some insults to feel better.
"Never! This fight… it is just perfect!" Jon said as he was helping himself up on a broken wall.
Seeing the wall crumbling in his hand, Jon held a brick and threw at Mannimarco.
"Stones won't work!"
"Just trying anything that may."
Just how long will this take? The two were fighting since the sunset and now it is the middle of the night. Jon was exhausted beyond what he ever has been and Mannimarco's Aspect never believed that his soul would get this damaged let alone Zain's body. This Titanborn was simply too much.
As the two were about to commence round "who is even counting", a chilling cold wind blew through the waste and rubble left by their battle. The wind was western and had a dreadful feeling to it.
"It is here!"
"Shit!"
Mannimarco was smiling while Jon was horrified. This wind carrying the feeling of death at this time only means one thing.
Mannimarco started heading toward the west to meet the army he was promised.
"You aren't going anywhere!" Jon jumped on him and tried to put him down but Mannimarco's improved mood gave him the better edge in this situation, he managed to push Jon away and started running to the west.
"Fucking bastard!"
"I will come to you, Titanborn boy. I won't kill you but you will beg for me to do so." Mannimarco said as he headed away.
"I'll fucking catch you."
"With this body of mine, it is possible. But I will make a better one, a stronger one. Mark my return!"
Jon held his aching body and sat down. By this time, he was not sure about figuring out Mannimarco's weakness let alone stopping him. He started healing his injuries as fast as he could while using every cell of his brain to figure out a solution.
"Think, Jon. Think. He is vulnerable to Soul Attacks and Fate. I can't quite put my hand on how to use them against that bastard but there has to be a solution. There got to… wait! Think… Fate… right… I know now why Mannimarco doesn't want Zain's body. Of course… Shit!"
At first, Jon thought Mannimarco wanted a younger body to remold it according to his taste or whatever but knowing the Worm King he just exchanged punches with, Mannimarco has no sort of pride regarding what body he possesses. This means only one thing, Zain's body is not suitable for one fatal reason.
"But if I do that… Oblivion!"
Even to the Jon Dare, there were some things unthinkable to him such as what he just thought of. It is just way too risky.
Jon stood up and walked after Mannimarco.
***
The Docks of Hegathe were its deepest point in the sea as the stone pier extended a long distance in the water. There, Mannimarco stood with all smiles.
"You have come? You have come to witness the coming of my new army, Titanborn boy?" Mannimarco turned to Jon.
"You sicken me, Mannimarco." Jon replied.
As the two stood face to face, a storm started to rumble in the sky very offseason.
"And so what! I've already expelled your corrupt blood. Indeed the damage was done but you are still no match for me." Mannimarco said.
"I know." Jon admitted it.
"How about this? You are a good Necromancer. Your potential is limitless. Kneel, kneel and I will spare you and take you in." Mannimarco said looking down on Jon.
"Dude, don't ruin a perfect bad guy's moment. You had to do more gloating, you know." Jon said.
"I see that you won't change your ways."
"My ways? What is wrong with my ways? I don't see anything wrong with me. Look at you, what are your ways to begin with?"
"Mine? You have fought me for this long without knowing me?" Mannimarco seemed insulted.
"Entertain me." Jon said.
"Me… I… for as long as I can remember, there was always someone trying to suppress the people. Someone acting as if staying on top of them was for their betterment."
"A liberator's story? Doesn't suit you."
"Is it? Do you know about the Altmer, boy? Do you have any idea what crimes they committed? They annihilated races of the Native residents of Tamriel way before you humans appeared. The Winged-Folk, the Sea Elves, more and more. They put rules on what magic they want people to use and what magic they don't. Rules here, rules there, everything was just for them to be ruled, even the other Elves who are not a single bit different than them.
But I, I refused that control, this unjustified hierarchy. Why do they deserve to be on the top while others in the bottom? I have joined those Psijic monks as I thought it will free me from the stench of Hierarchy only to find it even greater… and Galerion, Vanus was nothing but a slave, a puppet. Even when he was this close to getting free… this close… he just did the whole damn circle all over again and made that abominable guild of his.
It took me decades to understand later that hierarchy can only be broken by power, a true power that ends all conflict and retaliation. Fear! If I became the Symbol of Fear, I would do much more than just being a Symbol of Hope. The power they Fear was Undeath and from there I began."
Mannimarco said his piece which left Jon frigid in his place.
He remembered something he said the other day. "In a war, I'd rather be they Symbol of Fear rather than the Symbol of Hope. Fear ends wars, hope drags them on."
Jon could remember those words very well. These were his words that he abided with, these were the code that he used to ward off the idea of war.
But to think… another Symbol of Fear.
"So, all that unnecessary death?" Jon asked.
"They are simply people who lacked power. As regrettable as it is, they had to be an example and serve the greater purpose. What is the alternative? Wars? Famine? Disease? Old age?"
"How about dying on their own fucking terms?"
Not just power and purpose but even ideals clashed. There was no villain for no purpose. In Mannimarco's story, he is the hero with his own ideals. Freedom of Magic and Limiting the unnecessary Hierarchy were all goals that Jon would stand up for. The only difference between Jon and Mannimarco was the way they utilized their ability as Symbols of Fear.
Mannimarco clearly sucks at it… or was it his upbringing? Who knows?
"Let's just end this, shall we?" Jon said
The tension between the two has already reached its peak.
"With pleasure!" Mannimarco conjured his unholy power of undeath welcoming Jon's proposal.
Jon has recovered for a bit while Mannimarco still had his power. Now, the two can just end it all.
Mannimarco knew that Jon would come close to him in this limited area so he used the trump card he saved for the final round, the [Bone Goliath Transformation].
Say what you want about the Worm King but when it comes to such spells, Mannimarco's Bone Goliath was akin to a royal among its kind, three metals tall with a crown of bones and serious-looking sharp extensions.
The Bone Goliath covered Zain's body head to toe adding a layer of bone to the indestructible body. Mannimarco would play the last round safely and be defensive until the Crimson Ship arrives.
Jon, on the other hand, was already aware of what to use next. He had one last item for [Greed] to possess, his armor, the [Ebony Mail].
"You are really making me bring out all the embarrassing stuff." With a sigh, Jon let [Greed] in.
Mannimarco was aware of the dark matter that kept doing strange transformation to Jon's gear but as much as he hoped to damage it, it was simply too hard.
Looking at Jon's armor transforming, Mannimarco couldn't believe what he was seeing. The Armor started to grow as much as Mannimarco's Bone Goliath covering him head to toe as well.
It was as if the whole armor completely became bigger exactly like one of those large Dwemer Automatons and somehow, it stood toe to toe, eye to eye and face to face with the Bone Goliath of Mannimarco.
"What in Obliv…"
Mannimarco didn't have the time to swear before receiving a punch that came out of literal nowhere.
"You'll pay for making me do this." Jon said through his armor giant.
———————————
[The Ebony Goliath]
- Muffle
- Impenetrable
- Poison Cloak
- Mecha Form (Greed Effect)
———————————
"My reputation as Jon Dare is now sullied because of you." Jon jumped and landed on Mannimarco's Bone Goliath then served it a barrage of punches.
"How do you think people will see me now, huh? After all those years, I become a Mecha rider? I would have taken that secret to the grave but because of you… unforgivable!"
The Bone Goliath stood no chance against the Ebony Goliath. The Hulkbuster-like lump of Ebony flattened Mannimarco and his Goliath. Each attack was carried by an Astral aptitude that chipped down Mannimarco's power to half.
Jon took Mannimarco by the leg then started thrashing him around the stone pier.
"This… is… for… my… sullied… reputation!"
"This… won't… damage… me… one… bit."
Jon threw Mannimarco one last time and stomped on him.
"I'll see to your end no matter what!"
"Hehehe! Too late."
Mannimarco pushed with the last of his power then teleported away from Jon.
"Titanborn, you sure are full of surprises but today is your end. Let's see how you deal with the Knahaten Plague once it consumes the land."
Mannimarco was sure of his victory, he turned into a cloud of black most and turned towards the sea heading straight west. His laughs could be heard as he faded in the storm.
Jon canceled the transformation of his armor and returned back to normal then spoke.
"Sigh! He's finally gone. Nefertiti, are you done."
"Yeah, Hooman. Take it."
Nefertiti appeared from a Shadow Portal with a device in her hand. It was a simple magic amplifier that uses the Magicka alongside a scroll to maximize the output of a certain spell but it is more of a bomb device power by Magicka Reactors.
Jon told Nefertiti to assemble it for him and he added the final piece to it. A Blizzard scroll created by Alina.
"Wife, you still find ways to get to my head even if you are far away." Jon installed the scroll and threw the device in the sea.
Behind him from Hegathe, a large force of men and women walked the long stone pier led by Aela, Isha, Kareem, Mirren, Miranda, Battlelord Nagla, King Abbas, General Cassia, and all the other Commanders and Heroes of the Alliance.
"You shouldn't have come." Jon spoke.
"Mannimarco has his army, you now have yours." Unnoticed but certainly the loudest, Beth spoke for all of the warriors behind.
"Oh! Okay, I won't stop you then." Jon didn't even think about arguing with them.
"What is the plan?" King Abbas asked.
"You'll see." Jon said.
"Champion." Beth spoke.
"Yes."
"There is one last thing you'll be needing to ward off the Death Marching our way."
Jon turned to her.
"You have a vision?" He asked.
"No, actually. I no longer see the future. I will never see anything after this night, my role as Boethiah's Prophetess ends tonight… for the better or the worse." She said.
"I'll see that it is for the best, baldy." Jon patted her head, "What do you have for me?"
"One last blessing!"
"You totally should have begun with that. Okay, shoot."
Beth demanded the Ebony Blade from Jon, it was too heavy for her so Isha helped her carry it. Jon lowered his posture for Beth to be able to make the blade's pommel touch his forehead.
"This blessing is from Lady Mephala. Use it carefully, Champion." She said.
Jon felt the power of the blessings go through his consciousness and open his mind to new possibilities. He rose up and smiled.
"So, it can happen this way. Interesting!" Jon said as he turned around, "Looks like she is here."
As the lightning lit the sky, the warriors of Hammerfell could see a towering construct of what seemed to be a ship.
A Ghost Ship.
The Crimson Ship.
After centuries, it has finally returned to avenge the grievances of the past, the sin of the Redguards.
"Now now, why the long faces?" Jon spoke as he clapped his hand.
With his clap, the sea erupted and the water rose, the wind intensified and the ships along the port toppled. The sea surface froze as it is like nothing Hammerfell has witnessed before.
"Ah! A frozen sea with a ship of ghosts, smells exactly like home. Come on people, let's get that Mannimarco bastard! FORWARD!"
With the Battle Cry of Jon Dare, the stage was set for the end.
[A/n: Don't forget to Rate and throw off some quality comments!]
**********
(Part 5 : End of the Beginning)
There wasn't much to describe, a frozen sea surface, a gigantic ship trapped in the frost, the living and the dead marching at each other.
The Plague Husks were no remarkable opponents but the method to deal with them was much more demanding than that with normal undead.
Burning was the safest way and so, all those who came here were either healers or Fire magic users. The orders were clear not to involve anyone else. This was a war on a true plague that is literally fought with sword and magic.
Regardless of the battle itself, Jon was advancing slowly towards the ship annihilating the Plague Husks in his way. He was not bothered by diseases as he possessed the Eternal Flesh that is immune to disease. Mannimarco will grind his teeth if he ever finds out about that.
Jon alone arrived at the Crimson Ship and checked it's rotten wood to see nothing of importance to it but curses and hatred, he was sighing in his heart for such curses were the result of thousands of years of depression and imprisonment creating this nightmare.
He looked back to see Aela and the others fighting for the lives of everyone else in Hegathe. The funny thing is, Hegathe's name was derived from an Aldmeri word for "Death Land", looking how the living fought for it was simply admirable.
Jon used [Bardic Knowledge] and summoned a lot of speakers all across the frozen sea surface, he made it that the music is heard across Oblivion and Aetherius if possible.
But before he could play the song, he had to activate the Blessing of Mephala.
———————————
[Blessing of Mephala]
- Golden Tongue: The words spoken break the barrier of language and become persuasive for the Living, the Dead and even the Daedra to cease fighting. (Active)
———————————
It is simply an amazing power similar to the Imperials' racial power [Voice of the Emperor]. Jon could only think of one way to use it.
He connected [Pride] to [Bardic Knowledge] and…
"Testing… testing… good."
Speaking through Pride's orb seemed successful and working. Now, he had to Suit Up. The fight is already as good as over.
[Greed] consumed the armor and weapons storing them in the Cube save for the mask [Krilon]. With that, [Greed] morphed itself around Jon into a full Black Suit.
And the music started.
< ♪ Queen - Don't Stop Me Now ♪ >
[A/n: Headphones!]
♪ Tonight ♪
♪ I'm gonna have myself ♪
♪ A real good time ♪
♪ I feel aliaaaiaaiaave ♪
♪ And the wooooorld ♪
♪ I'll turn it inside oooout ♪ Yeah!
♪ And floating around in ecstasy ♪ So!
♪ Don't stop me now ♪
♪ Don't stop me ♪
♪ Cause I'm having a good time ♪
♪ Having a good time ♪
As Jon showed himself, no undead even approached him. He was walking and there was no stopping him the more he sings.
Somehow, everyone stopped fighting living and dead. Aela, who was partially into a Werewolf Transformation, left the dozen or so undead she was beating and looked to where Jon was. He easily stood out as he was being bathed by the spotlight.
"He's doing it again?" Aela said.
"Doing what?" Isha and Miranda were close by so they asked.
"Pulling out his best moves." Aela was excited as she looked forward to the show.
♪ I'm a shooting star, leaping through the sky .. Like a tiger defying the laws of gravity ♪
He leaped off the ice surface flying in a beautiful arc, somehow, not even the blowing storm was hindering him.
♪ I'm a racing car, passing by like Lady Godiva .. I'm gonna go, go, go .. There's no stopping me ♪
Jon landed on the deck of the Crimson Ship. It was so dark and abandoned as well as empty. The ship was titanic for this world's technology, still, the undead started crawling from the underdeck to the surface by the commands of Mannimarco but they still stopped.
♪ I'm burnin' through the sky, Yeah! .. Two hundred degrees .. That's why they call me Mister Fahrenheit ♪
Jon slipped through them and his trail was literally lit by fire, the undead were scattered and he could see clearly see Mannimarco standing among the Higher Undead at the rear deck. There when Jon's smile turned sly.
♪ I'm traveling at the speed of light .. I wanna make a supersonic man out of you ♪
Jon instantly passed the ship's deck and slapped Mannimarco with his staff causing a Tonal Soul attack to emerge breaking Mannimarco's Authority over the Crimson Ship.
♪ Don't stop me now, I'm having such a good time .. I'm having a ball ♪
Jon grabbed the nearest undead skeleton and took it to a round of dance.
♪ Don't stop me now .. If you wanna have a good time, just give me a call ♪
Mannimarco looked up and saw Jon singing while the rest of the Undead, he lost control over, are now moving with him.
♪ Don't stop me now, 'cause I'm having a good time .. Don't stop me now, yes I'm havin' a good time .. I don't want to stop at all ♪
Jon let away the Skeleton and walked down the deck to Mannimarco who was still trying to get what went wrong.
"Keep the song running." He gave a command to the System and looked at Mannimarco.
"Did you just see that? I mean, I just sang Queen, right? Wow! The chills, man!"
Jon looked down at Mannimarco with a smile that was very obvious even under his mask.
"What have you done?" Mannimarco asked as he tried to regain control over the ship.
"Don't try it! I'm isolating you now and there is no use, they are under my spell. I won't let you use these unfortunate ghosts to exact pity revenge." Jon said.
"You have no idea what you are up against!" Mannimarco was angered beyond words but the damage was already done.
"Don't worry, Marco. I think I do. FUS RO DAH!"
Jon shouted Mannimarco off the back of the Crimson Ship. He wasn't using the Voice to not attract attention but there is a party going on right now and as the host, he is attention itself.
"Nefertiti, contain Mannimarco through his shadow. Don't let him harm anyone." Jon said.
"Yes."
Jon turned around to the rear-deck where the Soul Gem Array was installed. He removed Mannimarco's spell of it and was about to destroy it alongside the Crimson Ship.
"Wait!" But a voice called for him.
Startled, Jon looked behind to the source of the voice. There, he saw a woman with silver skin.
"As I live and breathe! A Kothringi?"
Jon's whole being almost went frozen. The Kothringis are a race of humans that went extinct because of the Knahaten Plague created by the Hist of Black Marsh.
"You live and breathe, we don't. This is but a skin of illusion we wear to keep a sane mind and remember who we once were." The woman said pointing at the other men and women around her who are all Kothringi.
"Where did you people come from?" Jon asked.
"You honored me with a dance." She said.
"…" Jon tried to remember but the last woman he danced with was clearly Queen Barenziah from the goodbye party in Mournhold, aside from that, the last thing he danced with was a skele…
"Ahaaaa!" Jon remembered, "So you people are the Higher Undead from just now?"
"That's true, I am the Shaman among my People, my name is Dina." She said.
"Greetings, Shaman! My name can't be revealed at the moment for I attract the eyes of the Daedra but please, call me Krilon."
"Krilon, we can't thank you enough for freeing us from the Necromancer. But please, leave the Soul Gem Array be." She said.
Jon looked at it and noticed the nature of the Soul Gems bring all Black.
"I see. So you guys trapped your souls into Black Soul Gems to stop the Plague from corroding your minds." Jon asked.
"No. We made a pact. We wished to not be consumed by the cursed plague, thus we turned into what you saw." She said.
"Skeletons… you wished? I… I see. You made a Pact with Clavicus Vile." Jon concluded.
"Right. We did. Those who were not in the pact turned into husks. Mindless and hopeless but we keep them around."
"And you still wish to continue that way?" Jon asked.
"We don't have a choice, neither do you. We are neither your problem… nor your Fate." The Shaman said.
Jon backed off almost immediately.
"I understand. Either to free you or to end you, I am not the one to make a choice." Jon nodded.
"Yes."
"I understand that you were summoned here by force this time but in the following event, I hope whose hands your Fate lies in do you good."
"We pray for Deb to guide us and you."
"Then it is farewell then."
Jon understood tragedy and respected Fate. This Crimson Ship was indeed a tragedy but not his to fix, whoever Hero or Heroine comes after him will have to resolve it.
[A/n; I took that choice because this piece of Lore may be part of the Elder Scrolls 6… if there is to be one.]
With a wave of Jon's hand, the Blizzard device in the sea stopped working and Jon broke the ice around the Crimson Ship then descended. The mysterious mists of the sea started to swallow the ship and it's undead as they were free to leave.
Jon landed on the icy surface and turned around, it was finally the right time to end this.
The hundred or so men who came to his aid gathered away around something. It was Mannimarco who was wrapped in layers of Shadow.
"Having it nice here, Mini-marco?"
"I'LL KILL YOU! I'LL KILL YOU ALL!"
He was completely restrained and stopped, even his [Staff of Worms] and [Bloodworm Helm] were lying to the side.
Jon aimed his staff at the and sent focused Tonal waves to break down the Soul Fragments into them then shatter them completely.
Mannimarco wailed from the pain of getting his artifacts broken. That was the case with the Soul Items just like Jon's Sins, if the were to be damaged, the backlash goes directly to the soul.
"Now, what should we do about you? A Ghost in a Shell that is too tough to crack." Jon asked.
"You'll never… NEVER… defeat me! This body… it won't be damaged no matter what you do, my soul… it will be healed no matter how you damage it. You can't do a thing!" Mannimarco said with hatred.
"Hmmm! You are right. If I think about it, Sealing you will be a very good option but your soul can still escape when no one is looking… also, I'm a fan of good ol' murder." Jon cracked a joke but he couldn't keep a smile.
"Isha, I am sorry but we will never get to give Zain a proper burial." Jon said.
"It's alright." Isha showed understanding.
"Alright, I want you all to back off." Jon asked everyone present to back away as he was still about to deal with Mannimarco.
Once all took their distance, Jon signaled Nefertiti to release Mannimarco who was not even able to stand straight forward after the sever soul attacks he received.
"What are you up to? You can't damage me! Soon, I'll recover and it will happen all over again." Mannimarco wasn't willing to admit defeat no matter what.
"Hehehe! Thankfully, I understand that fighting only serves your interest, not mine. But to tell you the truth, I already know your weakness."
Jon smiled calming while fixing the [Greed Suit] then leaning on [Pride] as a cane.
"Heh! Hehehe! You know my weakness, Titanborn boy? Entertain me." Mannimarco never even considered Jon to be aware such a thing as a weakness.
"Indeed. You see… you never wanted to inhabit Zain's body for a reason. That reason is the debt. As a lawyer, I'm well aware that if someone is indebted to many people, you need to pay them starting from the one with the most demanding claim. Calvicus Vile was paid by the Labours Zain completed freeing his Soul and making his body available for you to use.
But tell me, Mini-marco. Who has the most demanding claim on Zain's body? How was this body created and by whom was it given actual power? Who is the party that was never paid back in this whole ordeal?"
Jon's question wasn't simple at all and the answer… oh the answer, Mannimarco almost went blank understanding what Jon was about to do.
"No! Wait! You can't! You don't!"
"Oh! I will, I really really will."
Mannimarco was horrified.
"You don't dare!" Mannimarco uttered the forbidden words.
"Whoops!" Some onlookers stood anticipating.
"Well… I'm glad you said that because BITCH! I! DO! DARE!"
Jon raised [Pride] up and started to whack the living ghost out of Mannimarco. As he calmed down, Jon circled around Mannimarco once again.
"The one who had the claim over Zain's body. The one who you shouldn't have involved in the first place. I call upon…
*Drum Roll sound*
… SITHIS!"
The anticipation was built up quite dramatically especially after Mannimarco covered himself when Jon shouted the name of the Darkest Darkness, the Dread Father, and the Soul of Primal Chaos.
Sadly that anticipation died down as fast as it was built up because nothing really happened. Jon cleared his throat and spoke once again in a very professional tone.
"Of course, as Mr. Sithis can't attend a meeting in the Mortal World, I will take the liberty to represent him as his Advocate. You can call me the Devil's Lawyer but… heh! I've been called worse by better men."
Jon took out a chair from the Cube, positioned it in front of Mannimarco then carried Nefertiti and put her on it.
"As the advocate of Mr. Sithis; I, Krilon, was reported to that almost a year ago, an organization that goes by the official name of the [Order of the Black Worm] has seized an arcane object described as a 'Curse' under the name of [Hate] from the possession of Mr. Sithis. According to our investigation, Mr. Sithis hasn't received any proper compensation for his possession other than some slain goats with Souls of the grade 'Petty'. We are also aware that the Order of the Black Worm is under the Leadership of the Male Altmer Lich known by the name Mannimarco, born sometime during the first era. The defendant is present here in the form of Zain so I would like to take the chance and ask the defendant to define which year was he born?"
"…" Mannimarco was not understanding anything from Jon's refine way of speech.
"The defendant chooses to stay silent. Wise call! As the defendant has no attorney and clearly doesn't wish to defend himself after the serious beat down he just took, I find this case to be a fast one. Do I proceed, your Honor?"
"Proceed, Mr. Hooman."
"Thank you, your Honor. I believe that it is of the best interest for my client Mr. Sithis that he would retrieve back the curse known as [Hate]. As the Curse no longer exists in its arcane form but was rather molded into the subject Zain and lost its form with no possible means of reversal, the object Zain hereby belongs to my client Mr. Sithis."
"WAIT! What are you intending to do?" Mannimarco started screaming all of a sudden.
"Order! I said order in the court!" Nefertiti shouted at him. "Continue, Mr. Hooman."
"Thank you, your Honor. I hereby request the Court to look into the Case and pass its judgment. It would also be of everyone's best interest if the accused plead guilty." Jon added.
"What does any of this mean?" Mannimarco shouted.
"It means to admit and confess your mistakes. Still, in your case, no pardon shall be offered."
"What is this nonsense? I refuse to admit any…"
"Objection denied!" Nefertiti interfered.
"Your Honor, please pass your judgment."
"Guilty!"
"Thank you!"
"Court dismissed."
Jon carried Nefertiti and sent away the chair.
Amidst the confusion of all parties, Jon and Nefertiti were the only ones aware of what's going on as they can share the same thoughts.
"What was that all about?" Mannimarco asked.
"That, my dear Mini-marco, is how you create a Concept of Fate." Jon said.
"A Concept of Fate?"
"The World won't run itself, darling. It is mysterious and deep but to make magical things happen, you need to make the World believe it. Now, I wasn't just doing a mock trial, I was persuading the World that you are guilty of borrowing the power of Sithis with a megre compensation."
"You… you can't persuade the World!"
"Really? I thought I was pretty convincing when I told the Dead 'don't stop me now', wasn't I?"
"…"
"Tonal Effect, Mini-marco. It affects the World." Jon said.
"But… I am still here. Sithis won't reach out to me. I'll recover, and I'll hunt you down."
"Good luck!" Jon said as he pointed somewhere around Mannimarco.
Mannimarco froze and slowly looked back, as a mage, he could feel the void better than Jon but he refused to believe this one. The void was changing around him.
"See ya."
"No! Stop! NOOOOO!"
As if a conjuration portal was opening, a darker one opened around Mannimarco and swallowed him as he screamed fearing the consequences of falling into the void.
"Glad I haven't lost my edge. Nice job there, your Honor." Jon said turned around.
Finally, he managed to get cast away Mannimarco by using the Power of Sithis to retrieve Zain's body. He was basically convincing Sithis that cursing Zain by [Hate] then letting his body grow very powerful by bearing another Curse such as Vampirism was worthy of a higher price. The indestructible body of Zain was mostly due to the interference of Sithis so ending it required such action.
Jon smiled for his companions and walked to the to celebrate their crushing victory but all of a sudden, he felt really bad.
Something was extremely wrong. The void that just swallowed Mannimarco was opening once again but this time it targeted him.
Next thing he knows, he and Nefertiti were in a completely different place… or Space… or maybe a Void.
"Fuck!"
[A/n: Don't forget to Rate and throw off some quality comments!]
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
How is the end so far?
DON'T WORRY! The season has ended!
There are no Mundus Wars or Crisis on Infinite Nirns. Next time, Jon will appear normally with a time-skip then explain it all in fragments along the way.
Aaaaaaaand… Let there be DRAGONS!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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