I, Draugr Chapter 40

"Well, well, well… Look whose fat ass graces my presence once more!" Kara drawl out, nose pointed towards the Heavens as she sniffs and glares down at Deinmaar.

"Had I known you just needed a beating to get your ass up, then I woulda sent Lah to do that instantly!"

"I would have died." The Atmoran points out swiftly, staring up at the flying minute woman with a flat stare.

Kara sniffs, "Yeah, ya would have. That stupid Hubby of mine can't hold back for shit." A problem only someone absurdly overpowered would have, I presume.

"Still, it's nice to see you out and about, big guy." Floating down, Kara smiles warmly as she pats Deinmaar's shoulders, "Lah had only good things to say about you, after all."

Deinmaar nods lightly, "I have my good brother here to thank for that." He states while reaching over to pat my own shoulder, making my whole body shake.

Kara snorts, "Boys. Becoming brothers after beating the shit outta each other is so hilarious…"

"It is the manly way to do things!" I exclaim, and Deinmaar nods sagely at my wise words.

"Uhm…" Then we both turn to stare at Hildr, who is staring at us with a weird look in her eye, "With who are you guys talking to?"

I slump, "Oh yeah, I forgot you can't see her."

Kara floats forward, "I'll take care of that!" She circles around Hildr, raises one hand, then bonks her on the head. "Whatam!" Hard.

Hildr flinches and buckles forward with a quiet curse, her right hand coming up to cradle the top of her head, "Okay, what the fuck-" She pauses when her eyes catches sight of Kara. Floating upside down in front of her. "Uh… Hi?"

Kara cups her chin and hums loudly, then nods after a few seconds, "Leo, ya got fine tastes in women." Hildr squeaks, her face going as red as her hair.

I nod, "Tell me something I don't know."

"I wouldn't want to insult ya, though…"

"He'll likely take it as a compliment." Deinmaar muses softly from beside me, making me gasp.

"You already know me so well!" My big friend just sighs deeply out of pure amusement.

Recovering from the stray shot Kara threw her way, Hildr coughs into her fist and straightens herself, "So, who is she…?"

I turn away from Deinmaar and wave a hand towards Kara, who is now cart-wheeling through the air for some damn reason, "This is Kara, second Archmage of the College of Winterhold, and daughter of Shalidor."

Hildr blinks, "What the fuck." Yeah, that is the reaction I expected. "Is she some kinda ghost, or…?"

Floating back down, Kara straightens her robes with a hum, "I am an Astral Projection, to be exact. Part Soul, part Magicka, manifested out of my physical body."

Pausing, I blink and turn towards the minute woman, "Wait, how did you make Hildr see you?"

Kara snorts at my question, "There is something called a Magicka Sense. Everyone has it, as it helps people see Magicka form Spells and stuff, but it isn't fully… active – for a lack of a better word – for everyone."

"For example, some folks without a fully active Magicka Sense are kinda immune to Illusion Magic that plays with the sense of sight. Hildr here was kinda one such case." Kara nods towards the quietly listening redhead, "Her Magicka Sense had put everything towards 'feeling' instead of 'seeing', probably due to her…" Kara doesn't finish her words, but she does wiggle one finger towards her eyes.

"Huh…" Hildr muses, reaching up to rub at her new scale-like blindfold, "I don't feel different, though."

"That is normal, don't worry." Kara reassures with a light smile, "As I said, you 'feel' instead of 'see'. You'll now be able to see and easily make out physical illusions."

Probably due to the Magicka that makes their form, I presume. A living being probably 'feels' different than a husk made of Magicka.

"Anyway, ya wanted to see me, skele-boy?" I snort at my nickname, but nod nonetheless.

"Well, I am also glad to see you back awake." I'd rather nothing happens to her. Kinda took a liking to her silly ass. "But yeah. I mainly wanted to know more about your battle with Vulthuryol."

Kara hums softly and floats to the edge of the roof of the College, where she takes a seat on one of the brick railings, "It wasn't much of a battle. Vulthuryol is like a cockroach, and he gains power by absorbing other living being into his body."

I perk up at that, "Absorbing?"

"Fleshcrafting." Kara corrects, a nasty frown on her face, "Magicka is in our very Blood and Soul. He devours both, assimilates them within him. He uses Magicka to imitate Shouts, to breathe fire. Because he can't."

I cross my arms with a low hum, "How can he not Shout? Is he like… A runt, or something like that?"

Kara shakes her head with a sigh, "Lah doesn't know. Vulthuryol is the only Dragon that is unable to even use the Dragon Tongue."

Deinmaar sighs, "What a sad existence." He then shakes his head and turns to Kara, "Why does he hate Lah so much?"

Kara nibbles on her lower lip for a few short seconds before sighing deeply, "Vulthuryol was Lah's first and only disciple. My Hubby tried to teach Lah the Dragon Tongue, but failed. He tried to teach him Magicka and Spells… But failed at that too."

"Vulthuryol is a being that somehow couldn't learn anything other than that disgusting side of Necromancy."

I lean back with a hum, "And he grew to be jealous of Lah." Kara nods, and I understand. Lah is a genius, possibly the greatest mind alive.

A Dragon that has mastered Magicka and the Dragon Tongue, and has created a way to weave them both together.

Meanwhile Vulthuryol is a Dragon that couldn't learn anything, even when taught by Lah.

"Vulthuryol learned about Fleshcrafting… About the horrid things it can do, but he only saw the power he could gain…" Kara's gaze grows distant and sad, "And he now wants Lah's body, so to have Lah's power for himself."

"And got his ass smashed straight down to Blackreach just for trying." I point out, earning a snort from Kara.

"I get overprotective." She huffs a stray lock of curly hair out of her face, "Plus, I believed that vaporizing his whole body in one go would kill him, but nope."

Deinmaar hums and cups his armored chin in thought, "You said he weaponized his Immortality, right?"

Kara nods with a frown, "Yeah. Me and Lah obliterated his whole body several times, but he keeps coming back. Usually after a few years, one time after a whole decade. Sometimes stronger, sometimes weaker."

Deinmaar hums and paces a few times, earning my attention, "You know how he is doing that?" Deinmaar nods after a few seconds of consideration.

"A phylactery." The giant Atmoran points out, "But not just one. Several. Living phylacteries."

Kara blinks in confusion, then her eyes swiftly widen in horror, "You think he is Fleshcrafting pieces of his body on other beings before going to battle so that his Soul goes back to them after his body is obliterated?"

The former Dragon Priest nods heavily, "It is possible. A Dragon's Soul is attached to their flesh body. Leave behind a portion of it, obliterate the rest, and the Soul instantly snaps back to that discarded piece of flesh. Even a bone could work."

Hildr speaks up at that, "And he has all the flesh and parts he could ever need if he that deep." Her words draw our attention, and she keeps going, "The Chaurus. They breed like insects, hundreds of eggs in one batch, and the Falmer are known to grow them as pets."

Deinmaar takes in a breath. It isn't sharp, but it is heavy. His hands clench slightly into creaking fists, "And he has been down there since the First Era."

Yeah, I've made up my mind, "We need to vaporize whatever is down there." Deinmaar and Kara nod without hesitation. "It is likely a hive. Maybe not, in case he did not want his pets and… sources of flesh to escape his control."

"We are still look at what could be tens of thousands of Falmer and Chaurus." Kara points out. Her words are heavy, not because of the opposition, but because of the amount of power we will have to unleash to wipe it all clean.

Me and Deinmaar can easily do so, but there is a risk of bringing a portion of Skyrim down if we fuck up.

Then Deinmaar asks something that made me want to kill someone, "What about his Dragon Priest?"

Kara shakes her head, and I take in a calming breath, "What's his name?"

Deinmaar turns to look at me. The eyes beneath his helm are heavy, pure disdain within them. "Hevnoraak."

"Fuck." Of course it is him. "He is sealed. Dunno for how long it'll last though."

Kara frowns and snaps a sharp gaze towards me, "Where?"

I couldn't help it. I glance towards Hildr. Her face instantly blanches, "No…"

"Between Falkreath and Markarth. Closer to Markarth than Falkreath, up in the mountains." Hildr looks ready to explode and curse. Not at me, but in general.

But she is also worried. Her granny still lives there, and Hildr misses her a lot. She still feels guilty that they basically left her behind so that they could leave.

I know that some nights, Hildr asks Hircine if what she did is right. But one cannot ask for comfort from a God, especially one that views things like an animal does.

"When the elders are too old to keep going, they prefer hanging back and watching the pack leave safely." Those were his words. Words that I heard because I couldn't sleep, and because Hildr was seeking comfort lest she cry herself to sleep once more.

Never thought a God could feel so… Human.

I shake away those thoughts as a brazen idea enters my head, so I draw Kara's attention with my hand. Her gaze subtly shifts towards me, then towards Hildr. She understands without any further prompts for me.

"Well, anyway…" Sighing, the minute curly haired woman jumps off the railing and approaches Hildr with a smile, "Skele-boy had a lot to say about you, so lets go down and see what I can teach ya, yeah?"

Hildr is instantly hooked, and I am honestly eager to see what she can learn under the guidance of possibly one of the greatest Magicians that have lived.

I watch them leave quietly before I speak up, "I have a plan."

Deinmaar crosses his arms, "And you have my sword." This guy is a bro.

I chuckle softly, "It's a stupid plan."

"So?" Deinmaar shrugs with a chuckle of his own, "As long as your life isn't on the line, I shall follow you."

I shake my head before throwing a look towards the frozen mountain. "Divide and conquer." I state after a few seconds, "The immense hole that Kara punched straight to Blackreach is mostly gone, probably due to earthquakes and whatnot."

The earth shifted due to the shifting plates, so the hole is mostly patched up, but is still there, partially. A long fall all the way down to Blackreach.

All the way down to Vulthuryol's lair and domain.

"You plan on taking the fight straight to Vulthuryol's home?" Deinmaar probes, and I nod.

"You hold the line here, keep everyone safe. I fall down and cut their reinforcements at the source."

And if things get back, I'll surely have absorbed enough Souls to Evolve. Hell, maybe I'll even be able to Evolve more than once, depending on how many damn Falmers there are.

Deinmaar hums softly, "The lady won't like it." He speaks of Hildr, and I chuckle softly.

"Hence why I didn't want her to hear such a plan." I'd rather not have her worry too much. She has already started keeping a very close eye on me since I've come back after our fight with Alduin.

"I have trust in your strength, brother." Deinmaar nods after a few quiet moments fly by, "I can handle everything here until you come back."

I raise a fist and offer it to him, and receive a swift fist bump a second later, "Hence why I can go ahead with that crazy plan."

It is the best way, unfortunately. We cannot risk battling Vulthuryol here.

For one, because it'll put a lot of people in danger. For two, because it might make Lah furious if he feels Vulthuryol try shit, forcing the Dragon to come back before we can free Kara.

"I do have a request, if you will." I perk up with a hum, then wave for Deinmaar to keep going, "Once we are done with Vulthuryol, I would like to hunt down Hevnoraak. He is a disgusting criminal that has eluded me for far too long."

I laugh at that, "I won't mind helping you out with that." Then I perk up, "Oh right, I do know of some other Dragon Priests. I want to run their names by you and check how strong they are."

That makes the giant Atmoran perk up, "Few didn't show up during my summons back then. Hevnoraak because he was a criminal and he would never stand fearlessly before me."

I nod in understanding at that, "Well, as you already know, I killed Krosis some months back. Rahgot also got killed by the Dragonborn some time ago, and Hildr currently holds his Mask."

Deinmaar hums and cups his chin once more, "Rahgot… I remember that he was a general of the armies back then. A physical fighter like me."

Matches with what Aurelia said about their battle in her letter, which was purely a contest of might.

"Any Dragon Priest off the top of your head that are stronger than you and we should be wary off?"

Deinmaar nods without hesitation. "Master Morokei, for one." Right, the fucker in Labyrinthian wielding the bullshit Staff of Magnus. "Then Lord Otar, and Nahkriin."

I nod, "I know where each of them are, though…" I fish into my robes, having always kept that map at my side, mainly to see if I would run into any clues about them. "Got any idea on who these two might be?"

I take out the map and show it to Deinmaar, who leans forward with an interested hum as I tap the two spots on the map. The one with a Dragon Priest seemingly being in Saarthal, and the other one being in Arcwind Point.

In the game, a Dragon Priest would spawn there if the player was high enough level, else it would be a leveled Draugr. But if the Dragon Priest spawned, they wouldn't have a Mask nor a name.

"That's…" Deinmaar whispers, large fingers tracing over the spot in Arcwind Point in disbelief, "That might be Konahriik?"

We share a stunned look at that, "Wha- How?"

"That is the place where her hometown used to be."

I lean back with a light breath and consider our option. "This sounds too good to be true." Deinmaar nods in agreement, "We'll go to check that area out as soon as we can, but let us not keep our hopes up."

Konahriik, if she is on our side, then will be an immense boost to our strength.

But why would she just rest in Arcwind Point instead of… I don't know, do something?

She battled Alduin when the war started, kept him from joining the fray before she seemingly disappeared and Alduin then ended up getting thrown into Time Jail.

I shake my head and store away the map once more. Deinmaar has no clues about the Dragon Priest that might lay in Saarthal, but… There is a Dragon Priest that might be there, that actually shouldn't.

Ahzidal. The great Nord Enchanter that swore an oath of vengeance against the Snow Elves after they sacked and slaughtered the whole of Saarthal, and went on to assist Ysgramor and the one-hundred Companions in helping them genocide the Snow Elves.

But why would he be there?

I shake away those what-if's and just focus on the present. That'll be an issue for the future, and I'll think about it when it comes.

"You take care of an issue and two more pop up to annoy you right after." I sigh, wanting nothing more than to jump off the roof of the College and smash my skull into the frigid waters below.

Not that I'll feel any of that.

"Hevnoraak isn't powerful." Deinmaar points out lightly, "Even Rahgot would be a far tougher opponent. Hevnoraak merely is a pest that has survived due to everything he has stolen from others."

I perk up at that, "What did he steal?"

"Powerful artifacts." Deinmaar scoffs with a shake of his head, "His Mask basically conjures a powerful, near unbreakable Ward around him. He stole it after assassinating the recruit that earned that Mask, then fleeing and hiding like a rat."

Huh…

"So he's a fraud. Got it."

Deinmaar nearly keeled over from how hard he wheezed at my words.

                                                                       ~~XXX~~

"How many people did I lose?" Balgruuf's voice was heavy. Angry. Tired.

But mostly angry.

His grand palace, untouched for generations, had been torn open. Wounded. And he was but a helpless fool, unable to stop it.

It felt like a stain upon his legacy. An insult upon his Ancestors, upon all the grand individuals that stood within this palace and sat upon the throne below the Dragon Skull.

And it wasn't just the wound upon Dragonsreach that angered him so. The destruction of his city fueled that anger and turned into fury.

Thrice was his city attacked so far. Thrice did he lose fearless warriors and innocents in order to protect it.

How many more will he have to lose?

"I doubt we will reach the hundreds, my lord." Farengar answers. His Court Mage was tired, barely standing on his feet… But there was a fire within his eyes. A touch of madness, but not the bad kind.

It was that madness that led to inspiration.

"Those scrolls Leonidas sent us… They pretty much made our people nigh-immortal, my Lord." Farengar chuckles. It was a weak sound, but one filled with delight. "Some of our soldiers barely even reached some of the Dragons before the people tore them apart."

Balgruuf allows himself a cold laugh filled with satisfaction. He couldn't be more proud to have such people within his city.

"I walked past a Dragon stuffed full of pitchforks, so I can believe that." Irileth muses, equally tired but still holding her composure as she inspected the interior of Dragonsreach.

Workers, soldiers, civilians and other Jarls moved around, moving the bodies of the fallen and helping with the rubble.

"The air defenses worked wonderfully. Though 'tis fair to point out that it all ended so fast and swiftly due to the Dragonborn's timely arrival." Balgruuf nods at Irileth's words. He would never be able to repay that woman's efforts.

Though he doubted she'd even accept anything he'd have to offer. Aurelia had a heart of gold, after all.

"Not just her." Farengar hums, nodding towards the destroyed front of Dragonsreach, and what lays far down before Dragonsreach.

A Dragon. A living one. And one that fought, bled and killed his brethren for them.

Four Dragons. That was how many Dragons Julspaan tore through. A massive wall of scale and righteous fury, withstanding the Shouts of his brethren and tearing through them with pure physical might alone.

Shaking away those thoughts, Balgruuf stands as he inspects the hall once more.

The Jarl started gathering once more, and Balgruuf allowed himself to relax at the sight of the Emperor being in good health.

Though not everyone came out of the battle unscathed. Ulfric for example… His whole left arm was gone. Balgruuf heard Ulfric had sacrificed it to a Dragon so that he could then stab his sword through the beast's skull.

If the loss of a limb bothered the man, he didn't show it on his face. Though a deep, pensive look was visible within his eyes.

The man was distracted. Deep within his thoughts. Balgruuf hoped they were rational thoughts.

"It is good to see you unharmed, Emperor." Balgruuf states over the quiet that fell over Dragonsreach, and the Emperor chuckles lightly.

"All thanks to your people, I must say." The Emperor praises, a baffled look on his face, "I failed to reach one living Dragon. On horseback. I always forget how terrifying Nords can be."

A faint laugh echoes throughout the hall, lightening the mood a great deal, "My people had a lot of anger to release on those beasts after they attacked us so many times already."

The Emperor snorts, "I saw some nasty wounds on some of those corpses, so I can believe that…" Farengar turns away and Irileth gives the man a disturbed look. Balgruuf hopes Farengar did not pull a Leonidas.

Already his soldiers had turned the asshole destroying method from that man into the 'Leonidas Method', which they now basically worshiped as THE Dragon Slaying way.

The fact that it was so damn effective made it even worse.

Rolling his shoulders, the Emperor sighs deeply as he steps forward, "Now… Skyrim has lost two Jarls so far." The man announces, gaze heavy as he regards the two empty seats, "The Moot can be called another time if the remaining Jarls decide so."

Stepping forward, Balgruuf narrows his eyes in thought for a short second before speaking up, "Ulfric." The Stormcloak leader perks up at being called, "Do you know what happened to Siddgeir?"

It wasn't an accusation, but a genuine question, and Ulfric frowned in thought for a short few seconds, "He is probably still suffering in the bathroom."

… Balgruuf sniffs. Well, that is one way to incapacitate a Jarl without violence, but also making them back for the sweet release of death.

"I wouldn't wish such a form of torture even on my worst enemy, Ulfric…" The Jarl of Markarth couldn't help but whisper, pure horror filling his voice.

Ulfric shrugs.

"I would." Elisif whispers from her chair, and Ulfric shudders and averts his gaze.

Shaking aside his amusement, Balgruuf speaks up once more, "I vote to keep going with the Moot." He declares, bringing focus and attention back to the mostly destroyed table.

For a moment, Balgruuf thought that Elisif would swiftly support his decision. But instead the widow remained quiet, her gaze downcast and distant.

The other Jarls shared glances, some a few whispered words, but in the end they all agreed.

The Emperor nods and squares his shoulders once more. Gone was his imposing presence, but back was his seriousness. "Then… Allow me to say something, before the Moot goes back to the matter we were discussing."

Ulfric doesn't flinch. He doesn't even blink. He simply sits there, head held high, but not in arrogance or pride. But in acceptance.

"I love Skyrim." The aged Emperor states heavily, voice warm and kind, "And I love the people that bless this land."

"When the capital of the Empire fell all those years ago and I was forced to flee like a coward… It was Skyrim that took me in."

"It was Skyrim that cradled me back to full health."

"And it was the burning flames of determination of the people of Skyrim that pushed me back to reclaim the city from those bastards."

The Emperor's gaze falls and slowly moves around, meeting the eyes of each Jarl. Even Ulfric.

"When deep inside I was close to giving up and despairing… Skyrim did not." His fists clench at his sides, "The people of Skyrim laughed, patted me on the back, and assured me that the Empire would not fall."

"And it did not."

Breathing in, the Emperor finally retracts his intense gaze by closing his eyes, "You've lost much, due to the war. And have lost even more recently… As the Emperor, I can give you orders… But I won't."

"I will only ask. Please, do not tear each other apart."

Ulfric breathes in, then breathes out. He closes his eyes and lowers his head.

"Have you anything to say, Ulfric Stormcloak?" The Emperor asks, finally giving the man – the reason – behind the Moot the spotlight.

For a moment, Ulfric opens his mouth, then closes it as he lifts his head and opens his eyes, "I won't say that I was wrong." The Jarl of Windhelm states softly, and despite his words no one jumps in to berate him. Or to shout at him. They just wait and listen.

"But I won't say that I was right either." Ulfric states soon after, loud and clear enough for everyone to hear.

Balgruuf blinks and leans back in surprise, and the Emperor nods, seemingly satisfied.

Ulfric keeps going, "I don't…" He starts, but stops himself, gaze flicking left and right, as if searching for the exact words to use, "I now don't really understand what exactly I was trying to achieve."

"Freedom of Skyrim? Skyrim has always been free. Always been left alone."

"What exactly was I trying to do beside having brothers and sisters kill each other?" Ulfric chuckles. It was a mocking sound, full of scorn and hate. Towards himself.

The man shakes his head and leans back. He was lost, confused. He didn't understand why, or what caused it, or what happened.

Was it the Emperor standing against him? Was it the anger within the Emperor's eyes?

Was it the hate within the eyes of his fellow Jarls?

Ulfric didn't know.

But then his mind goes back to the previous battle. Back to several moments he had seen during the long fight.

An Imperial Soldier dragging a wounded Stormcloak away from the rubble.

A Stormcloak pushing an Imperial away from the flames of a Dragon.

An Imperial and Stormcloak using their shields to protect the civilians from the glacial breath of the Dragon they were battling.

Imperial and Stormcloak soldiers fighting side by side. For the same cause. For the same people.

Yesterday, they would have stabbed each other on sight.

Today, they stood side by side and faced a mighty beast of legends.

What about tomorrow, then?

Ulfric Stormcloak… Starts to understand.

He felt abandoned. Forgotten. He had joined the war and broken an oath for the Empire.

He was captured. Tortured. Mocked. Humiliated. Interrogated. He said nothing, he did not break. He wouldn't. Couldn't.

The Empire never found him. The Empire never searched for him.

Ulfric believed that the Empire had abandoned him. Abandoned Skyrim.

Ulfric Stormcloak was a fool.

A fool that was benefiting the enemy and no one else.

"I will accept any punishment that the Emperor and my fellow Jarls want."

Ulfric accepts his fate. He accepts his wrongdoings. He had a lot to think about. A lot to meditate on.

His mind wasn't calm any longer, and he hated it.

The Emperor nods, and turns towards the Jarls. The Jarl share glances… Then turn towards Elisif.

The woman perks up, her distant gaze focusing back as she blinks, then stares at Ulfric. The man did not hold her gaze, and appeared lost in thought.

Elisif did not demand him to look at her.

Her eyes narrowed and reddened. Her lips parted, quivered, then closed before her teeth bit down upon them harshly.

"The punishment I have in mind…" The woman starts, voice heavy, hoarse, "It is one that only benefits me. That only satisfies me."

"But as a Jarl, I must think of the people, too."

Elisif breathes in and leans back, then breathes out, "I will not ask for his head. Or for his life." Ulfric lifts his head in stunned silence, his eyes wide as he stared at the widow of his own making, "But…"

Then Elisif's gaze sharpens and grows heavy. "I won't forgive you. I never will. Maybe in the future I will demand for your death, when Skyrim is save once more… But until then, you will live."

"You will live, and fight, and protect Skyrim."

Elisif breathes out, then steels her gaze, "And you will go apologize to the High Elders. That is the punishment I give you."

Ulfric stills, eyes wide and nearly horrified.

"Journey back to High Hrothgar, and let the Greybeards judge you."

Before the very eyes of the Emperor and the other Jarls, what Ulfric does is shocking…

He whimpers.

Even the Emperor hisses at the punishment Elisif dished out upon the man that she hated the most.

Yet, despite it all… Balgruuf is glad.

He is glad the Moot did not turn into a battle between brothers and sisters. Into a play to try and kill the other Jarls.

Into a final back-stab that would put Ulfric down like an animal, and not a warrior.

Deep down, despite his inner ire at the Civil War and everything that happened due to it… Balgruuf is glad.

He allows his shoulders to relax, and lets out a deep breath. His throat was parched, his body ached, and he wanted nothing more than to hug his children and lay in his bed.

But he still had things to do.

"My Jarl." A runner walked past the ruined front of Dragonsreach and up the long stairs that led to the main hall, bowing before the Emperor and the other Jarls, "The Dragon below wishes to speak with you all."

Julspaan, Balgruuf realized. Despite that titanic Dragon still being in his city, Balgruuf wasn't worried.

That beast fought and bled for them. For all he cared, that Dragon was now a brother in arms.

Balgruuf stands first, and the other Jarls follow suit, Ulfric included. The Emperor leads the way, his guards at his side and falling into steps instantly.

Nobody talks on the way down, their eyes soon falling upon the titanic Dragon that had treated his own brethren like sponges to be beaten.

His body still lay littered with wounds, but the dark beast stood tall, wings curled at his sides and head held high.

Glowing golden eyes slowly flicked down to take in their arrival once they slowly came to a stop, and his massive head inclines down soon after, "I thank you for answering my call so quickly."

The Emperor laughs lightly. It was a powerful sound, one that made the other Jarls relax, "You bled for these people and fought your own kind for us. That is the least we could do."

A rumbling sound comes from the titanic beast. A chuckle. One so powerful it made the very air shake. Even the earth beneath their feet seemed to resonate with it. "I refuse to stand by and let these atrocities go by. Not any longer."

The Dragon rises, standing tall once more, "I meditated upon it. Upon my role in this incoming War. I was a bystander in the previous War, but now…" The Dragon breathes in.

Then he exhales. The earth rumbles.

Balgruuf swore that the decayed tree in the middle of the square suddenly sprouted several leaves.

"Now I won't, and the Sky has given me a role." Golden eyes fall upon the Jarls once more, "Pick one-hundred man and women from each of your cities and send them to High Hrothgar."

"They shall be taught the Voice, like in the past."

Goosebumps rise on the skin and arms of each present Jarl.

They realized what this meant.

The Thu'Um had been taught to the Races of Men to combat the Dragons in the Merethic Era.

Then, slowly, the power of the Tongue had slowly disappeared to just a scant few wielders, few among them being fighters.

This Era likely had the least amount of Tongues in existence. And it was the very Era in which the World-Eater came back to complete his task.

"Why now?" Ulfric is the first to speak time, "I've been taught the Voice, and it takes a long time to learn. Do those we chose have enough time to learn?"

The Dragon nods, "That man managed to buy us plenty of time. A whole year, maybe more, at most."

The Emperor perks up, "That man?" He parrots.

"A man the lord of this city knows well, I am sure." Balgruuf perks up, then he freezes. His eyes go wide soon after.

It couldn't be… "Leonidas?"

The Dragon chuckles and nods, "Yes, that man." Julspaan's head rises to gaze at the sky, "I felt it, even from here. His battle with Alduin."

"He made the World-Eater cower, and that will grant us precious time."

Balgruuf felt faint. That man- The wandering Archmage that tags along the Dragonborn…

Just what kind of monster was he to make the World-Eater cower?

"Then we must not waste it." Balgruuf declares as he shakes his head to recover enough to speak properly and stand on his two feet without trembling. "Do the people we chose have certain qualities?"

Julspaan shakes his head, "Young or old, man or woman, fighter or not. As long as they can speak and listen, then they are most welcome."

Elisif is the next to speak, "And won't they misuse this gift that will be taught to them?" Her gaze flicks towards Ulfric, mostly to point out his broken oath.

"They shall take a powerful Oath, one that is more than just words. The Sky shall preside over the ceremony."

A Divine… That meant that breaking the Oath would have severe consequences.

"I thank you for the aid you are willing to give the people of this land." The Emperor speaks, voice warm and thankful.

Julspaan inclines his head, "It is the right thing to do… I merely wish more of my brethren see what I do." With that, the Dragon rises.

Then, with the nimbleness of a cat, the massive beast leaps high into the air and flaps his enormous wings once.

"I shall eagerly wait for the arrival of your people."

Those were the parting words of the gargantuan Dragon before his form turns and begins flying back towards High Hrothgar, leaving the Jarls and the Emperor quiet.

For they all knew what was coming.

This quiet was different. It wasn't the quiet before the storm.

But the quiet before the Apocalypse.

And they had to prepare, lest all that is left of Skyrim will be ashes and brimstone.

And the countless corpses of Dragons that had to die to bring it down.

                                                                          ~~XXX~~

The wall of ice and stone crumbles from one good and light blow from Deinmaar, and all that greets us beyond is darkness and absolutely nothing.

Yet, we walk in without fear or care, leading a much bigger small army of mages and soldiers with murder in their eyes.

"They are gone." Deinmaar muses, "Like you said."

I nod, "Vulthuryol probably called them back when he felt us kick Alduin's shit in." A chuckle rumbles out of my giant friend, who stomps forward to further inspect the massive expanse of darkness before us.

A simple hand gesture from him had the aged Tolfdir step forward and swiftly launch a miniature star high into the air.

It exploded in a blinding flash, then remained fixed in place, bringing light to the vacant interior of the frozen mountain.

The stone beneath our feet is a dull gray, and far ahead of us, roughly more than a hundred meters – maybe close to two-hundred – lay an immense hole.

No signs of Falmers, or of their equipment, or even of their usual architecture and buildings made out of Chaurus materials.

The hole is wide, big enough to swallow Alduin whole and have a bit of space left over. It is a straight hole down too- No stairs, no nothing. Just a pit that goes down for hundreds of meters.

"I don't like this quiet…" Faralda muses, and Deinmaar nods.

"Good. Let us use this time to prepare our defenses." Tolfdir nods and steps forward, taking the lead before crouching down and placing his hands on the ground below us.

He perks up soon after with a "Hm?" Sound that attracts Faralda's attention.

"Something wrong?"

The Alteration Master furrows his brows and tests the stone beneath his hands, then lightly picks a stray pebble up and… Squishes it into powder. "It is very, very brittle…"

I hum at that. Kara had basically atomized this whole area back in the day – massive fucking overkill from the damn woman, by the way – and had said that she fixed it to the best of her abilities… With Alteration Magic.

Alteration Magic is known for having everything it builds turn brittle after the Magicka left within the construct runs dry.

The mountain, as Kara said, was something that she 'picked up and placed there', not something she made, especially since she couldn't have made the many ores Winterhold mined out of it.

A check with Mind's Eyes tells me that yes, the consistency of the stone beneath our feet is the same even hundreds of feet down.

I didn't think she fixed the damage so deep… I guess if I try hard enough, I can punch a hole down to Blackreach myself with ease.

The temptation is strong.

"I will freeze over the fortress you make, Master Tolfdir." The elderly mage nods at my reassurance, and he proceeds to get to work, raising massive armored walls of stone with laughable ease and swiftly having them encircle the entrance behind us.

Stairs rose soon after, allowing the mages and archers to swiftly take their positions, and three gates soon appeared over the walls under Deinmaar's direction.

It was best to divide the area into three battlefields, according to Deinmaar.

One side will be handled by Deinmaar, the mages and the soldiers. Another will be handled by Marius and my army of Conjured Werewolves, together with Phinis bringing back any dead left mostly intact.

The last side is for me and Hildr. Mostly cause I want to spend some time alone with the woman.

Kinda bad to be left alone in a warzone that will soon be filled with corpses, but… Hildr seems to be looking forward to it?

I freeze the walls and ground all around us once Tolfdir gives me the clear, then I step back to do my own thing.

I focus on that familiar necklace around my neck and let my Magicka flow into it. I instantly feel the connection go through, and watch as Reality twists and a portal forms right beside me.

Marius enormous form stomps through, steam erupting out of his nostrils as he rolls his shoulders and takes a look around, enormous war-ax resting lazily on his right shoulder.

His eyes take in the surroundings, and swiftly realize what is going on as a vicious grin spreads across his jaws, "Sir Leonidas, it is good to see you once more!"

I chuckle at the eager and happy greeting from the towering Minotaur, "Can't help but think of you when a slaughter is about to happen."

It is a good thing that the Hagraven that stays at the College isn't hanging around right now and isn't willing to assist, else Marius would have instantly turned her to pulp within seconds.

"I've grown to love such massive battles!" Marius chuckles, furred arms flexing and swelling with bulging muscles, "What's the plan?"

I quickly look around, ignoring the stares Marius is attracting so that I can quickly find Deinmaar. He was standing by one of the gates and directing some soldiers when he catches me waving and excuses himself to come on over.

"Ah, the slumbering beast I felt that day." Marius muses, a glint of respect within his eyes as he stares at the towering form of the Atmoran approaching us. "You truly are capable of becoming friends with anyone, Sir Leonidas."

I guess I can, strangely enough. Though I wouldn't really say I am friends with Hircine? Or perhaps we bonded due to our mutual love and adoration for Gretel.

Gods, I miss that little gremlin so damn much. I'm gonna give her the biggest hug I can as soon as I see her again.

I shake away those thoughts and swiftly focus back on the present to do the introduction, "Marius, this is Deinmaar. Deinmaar, this is one of the Hunters of Hircine. Very cool dude."

Marius snorts while Deinmaar chuckles lightly, "If my brother vouches for you, then I know I can only expect good things." The giant Atmoran nods and offers his hand, and Marius clasps it in a fierce grip with a grin.

"Give me a target, and I won't disappoint." Deinmaar nods and leads the way back to the gates, where he points towards the hole in the distance.

"Soon enough, a rather massive army of Falmer will overflow out of that hole. We expect their numbers to be in the high thousands."

Then Deinmaar points to the left and right side of the soon-to-be battlefield, "We will divide the area in three through ice walls raised by Leonidas. One side shall be handled by me and the mages. My brother will take another-"

"And I shall take the last." Marius nods in understanding.

And that's when I speak up, "Not alone, of course. I'll conjure a small army of sixty-four Werewolves, so that you can go wild."

Marius grins, "You really are spoiling me, Sir Leonidas."

I shrug at that before stepping forward to divide the battlefield.

I take a good visual estimate, before deciding to create the divide by placing walls from the very edges of the hole then moving them towards us.

The main flow will go to Deinmaar, the overflow from the back and sides will be divided between me, Hildr and Marius with his own group.

With the estimate done, I nod to myself and start raising the walls, making them at least five meters thick and at least two dozen meters tall.

My ice is already bullshit tough, but it is best not to risk anything.

"That should be good enough." I muse, withdrawing my gaze from the ice walls I erected. They are too slick for the Falmers to even try and climb over, plus so bullshit cold that their hands will just crumble apart if they even try.

Deinmaar pats me on the back in thanks before I move with Marius to his side, where I swiftly summon the army of Werewolves, all instantly howling and bowing before Marius massive form.

The Minotaur nods in approval at the sight before him before grinning down at me, "Seal the doors behind us, Sir Leonidas. There shall be no retreat, only victory and slaughter."

I snort, "I kinda pity the Falmers that will overflow to this side. Just a bit."

With that, I leave behind the eager for battle Minotaur and his small army, and freeze the gates closed at his request.

There is the problem of corpses highly likely piling up, which will create problems for the archers and the Mages. Marius likely won't have this problem, nor will me and Hildr-

Nevermind, Deinmaar can just evaporate them. Dude can throw around fucking plasma.

I watch the soldiers gather around Deinmaar and at the front of the gate, with two groups holding large shields before them with small gaps between each one, and another group holding incredibly long and sharp looking spears behind.

The are at least a few dozen meters ahead of the gate, giving them plenty of room to slowly fall back as they hold back the wall of Falmers that is slowly being tore down by the Mages and archers.

The walls above Deinmaar's gate are filled with quivers and arrows all over the place, with elevated areas having been made by Tolfdir to give the Mages greater aim.

We have Faralda and at least a dozen mages on our side together with Phinis working with his Necromancy. And Ancano too, for some damn reason.

I don't like his presence here, but I also don't want to send him away. For the simple reason that once he fucks up, I can just kill him on the spot.

"You'll burn a hole through his back at this point." Hildr's amused voice reaches my ears, making me turn towards the red haired beauty standing beside me, hands behind her back as her eye twinkles mischievously.

"What can I say? He is very killable." She snorts and bumps her shoulder against me, clearly in a much better mood compared to the past few days.

"You nervous?" I ask, and she surprisingly shakes her head, a serene smile on her face.

"Excited, more like." Her smile grows as she glances at me, "I am eager to show off all my hard work, you could say."

I chuckle at that, "It's just a bunch of Falmers. You and your Spirit won't be able to shine that much." It'll be like setting fire to an anthill, honestly. "Maybe we should find a Dragon for you to fight-"

I pause and freeze, earning a confused look from Hildr, "Leo?"

I send out another pulse with Mind's Eye, then another just to be extra sure.

The first one reveals hundreds, the next thousands of Falmers all crawling up the walls and all over each other, drawing closer and closer.

But they feel… different.

"They're coming!" I shout loudly, bringing all mages and soldiers to a halt for just a second before the Werewolves on Marius' side howl loudly.

"To your stations!" Deinmaar hollers from his position at the front, and I swiftly pat Hildr as we outside our own gate.

Each pulse reveals more and more of them, a literal tidal wave of skinny, bony creatures rising up from the depths of hell.

All goes quiet, the light shining high above us growing more intense to better help everyone.

Silence.

Then I feel a Falmer crawl its way up on Deinmaar's side, only to fall back when an arrow pierces through its skull, sending it falling back down the hole.

And then they came. As one. Like ants rushing out of their drowning nest, all screeching and howling and hissing madly while flaying wildly and rushing in all directions.

They crawled over each other, stomped over the fallen ones, ran into each other, and just screamed and wailed as they rushed forward, a pile of pale naked bodies that just keeps on growing.

Spells and arrows start flying instantly and mercilessly, with Marius leading the slaughter on his side and having the time of his life.

I take in the appearance of the Falmer rushing towards me and Hildr. Pale, skinny, malnourished… And changed.

Some lack arms, others have insect limbs Fleshcrafed into their sides or back or their legs.

Chaurus chitin attached to their belly, mandibles attached to their mouths, hands chopped off to make bone daggers out of their wrists.

Just what the fuck is Vulthuryol doing?

These are pets. Experiments, maybe out of amusement, fun, or boredom. Maybe all of them at the same time.

These aren't fighters, or Mages, or the cunning Falmer that initially attacked us before I froze the mountain.

No, these are the overflowing Falmer that were bred across the Eras by Vulthuryol. A sort of expendable army.

Hildr waves her arm through the air, unleashing a gargantuan wall of scorching flames that swallow the incoming tide of Falmer whole.

Yet she blinks in surprise when the majority just rush on true, flesh and muscles burning off their bodies, yet not keeping them from advancing forward. "They don't feel pain?"

Her eyes narrow, and she flicks her wrist. The air warps and twists as a literal inferno expands from her, turning flesh and bones alike into ashes within seconds and swiftly clearing our area of insane Falmer.

"They are being mind controlled." I muse. Or perhaps they are fleeing from something that terrifies them so much that even being set on fire does not make them falter.

The howls, screams and hisses from the Falmer grow louder and in quantity as the hole they are crawling out of just spews out hundreds each second.

I already have a thousand Souls… Just how many of these creatures are there?

I could Evolve, but I haven't had any time to think of a New Class I might want. Or New Classes, seeing that I'll surely be able to Evolve more than once in a row.

Oh well, they won't go anywhere, so I can just stockpile them with ease.

Me and Hildr slowly advance as I keep an eye on the other two areas with the Mind's Eye.

Deinmaar's side is in a sort of stalemate. He stands behind the wall of soldiers, watching them slide the spears back and forth, impaling dozens of Falmer at once while the shield-bearers easily hold back the screaming walls of flesh before them.

The Mages and archers are keeping them from overflowing, but the constant battering from the Spells on the brittle ground is starting to show.

A great number of Falmer are slaughtered as a huge portion of the wall cracks and falls off, allowing for a far greater number of modified Falmer to pour forward.

Marius and the Werewolves are having the time of their lives, and I haven't even activated Terra Santa to enhance our physical capabilities yet.

"Can't we just… Throw fire down the hole?" Hildr suggests, the scorching inferno around us keeping the Falmer from advancing further as they just turn to ashes within seconds due to the immense heat.

Her control is insane. It's just heat, no enormous walls of flames, and she isn't melting the ground below our feet, or even burning my robes.

"We could…" I hum as we walk forward, approaching the large hole overflowing with even more screaming Falmer.

All the battering and shaking from the Spells being launched keeps making it crack and expand more and more, which isn't really that good. We didn't expect the ground in here to be so brittle.

Though, now that I take in the size of the hole… How the fuck did Vulthuryol – who is bigger than the Dragon in Falkreath – even manage to squeeze through here last time?

I did feel his wing that time with Mind's Eye, and that wing alone was gargantuan, so the body has to be just as big, no? This hole shouldn't be big enough to allow such a Dragon to move around with ease.

The ground shakes, making Hildr momentarily stumble as another massive Spell – likely from Faralda – clears the field on Deinmaar's side and causes the hole to once more crack apart and expand.

This is both good and bad, because the falling debris and corpses end up killing countless Falmer, but it also makes more space for them to overflow out.

Lightning sparks between my fingertips, a simple Vasavi Shakti being more than enough to vaporize everything from here to the bottom. But I'd rather have my target here-

Oh, here he is. Finally.

"Vulthuryol is coming." I tell Hildr as I advance closer to the hole, now finally understanding how the Dragon manages to move around.

He modified himself. The back of his body lacks limbs, and is a long serpentine shape, allowing him to basically slither across these tunnels once his wings are tucked in.

Though, there is also a rather disgusting part to him.

The ground rumbles as a massive figure bursts out of the enlarging pit, two enormous claws coming into view and making any Falmer they land on pop like balloons as nine enormous dragon heads set on nine long necks rise into view.

Vulthuryol's body is a disgusting patchwork of countless scales and Dragon bodies, each of different color and shade, and clearly just ripped off another corpse and forcefully transplanted on this one.

"Vulthoryol!" Deinmaar's roar shook the air, the fury in his voice palpable, "You disgusting creature! You still live?!"

Heh, atta boy, Deinmaar! He'll make Vulthuryol believe that we weren't expecting his dumbass.

The nine heads turn, each regarding different targets, with only two moving to stare at Deinmaar, "Deinmaar…" The Dragon speaks in a snake-like hiss that makes Hildr shudder, "You traitorous filth… So it was you that I felt battling Alduin…"

Three of the nine dragon heads move to regard me, and I just wave at them.

I am literally standing right beside one of his two claws, and his fat ass I stopping the Falmer from rushing out, though I can still hear their wails and hisses down below.

Though, how did this bastard gain more Dragon bodies? How did he bring more Dragons down to Blackreach? Does he have a way out that we aren't aware of?

Something to find out.

"It's sad that you can't Shout." I speak up, earning the attention of all nine dragon heads, each with different sets of glowing eyes, "I was looking forward to your hollers after I gave you the same kinda backshots that killed several of your brothers."

Nine hisses flow out of Vulthuryol's jaws, and the massive dragon heads lean down to balefully glare my way, "And who are you, worm?"

I shrug, "No one, really." I wave off his attention, "Just the guy that put a hole the size of a building through Alduin's chest."

Vulthuryol stills, but I ain't done. Dude isn't even nervous that I am standing in front of him, or hasn't even noticed that I froze the edges of the pit for what I am about to do.

"Say; Have ya ever heard of Wack-A-Mole?" I lift my left hand to point at my right hand, which is clenched into a fist around a crackling and popping javelin of lightning, "This is the fuckin' hammer."

The finger then moves to point at Vulthuryol, "And you? The mole."

He moves, but I am faster.

The javelin expands, a catastrophic thunderclap rending scales and flesh from Vulthuryol's form as his claw tries to crush me into paste.

The small javelin becomes a pillar, and I lift my arm up, holding but a microscopic part of it.

The air warps and twists, then expands with a howl of heat and the deafening crackle of lightning that causes the world to flash black and white.

My ice hisses and steams from the heat, the hollow exterior of the mountain melting and glowing white as I slam down my arm.

Vasavi Shakti blooms like a Supernova in the shape of a beam that leaves spots in the air, and the whole cave rumbles as the hammer strikes the mole straight in the chest.

Vulthuryol has not time to roar, to twist or do anything else than be a damn target for a big ass pillar of lightning, because that is exactly what we wanted and what we expected.

Overconfidence. Overconfidence in the fact that he can't feel Kara or Lah around, his most hated foes that he stands no chance against.

Even Deinmaar's presence did not make him cower, and this arrogance of his is exactly what me and Deinmaar were hoping to expect and abuse.

The edges of the pit remain, but everything beneath crumbles apart as Vulthuryol and Vasavi Shakti become a glowing dot in the black abyss that awaits me below.

"Deinmaar, am leaving everything here to you, buddy!" I holler, knowing that the big guy surely heard me as I take a step forward to jump down the pit-

Before stumbling back when someone yanks at me. "Leo, what the fuck!" Hildr shouts, lone eye wide in panic as she holds onto my sleeve with both hands, trying to pull me back from the abyss just one step away.

"What?" I ask, tilting my head, "I'm just going to deal with Vulthuryol."

Hildr tries to yank me back once more, "By jumping down into the abyss?! Are you crazy!?"

"I won't even get hurt or feel it!"

"That doesn't matter!" Her voice grows desperate, "This is stupid! Move away from the edge, please!"

This is exactly why I didn't want to let her in on the plan. The needless fear or worry. "Hildr, I'll be fine, promise. I can't let this chance slip away-"

"Will you fucking stop putting the man I love in needless danger over and fucking over again?!" Hildr's scream makes me freeze.

Tears flow out of her lone eye, puffy red and narrowed in anger, fear and worry.

What did she just say?

She desperately yanks at my sleeve once more, "First with Deinmaar, then with Alduin, then with this!"

"You're slipping, and I don't know what to fucking say or do or how to act! And you keep pushing me away and hide things from me so you can do everything and that fucking hurts!"

Another yank, and this time I stumble back towards her, "So just please, step away from the edg-" A thunderclap rings out.

A bolt of lightning smashes into the brittle ground, right at the very edge of the frozen area I had created so to not let the pit expand too much.

Hildr stumbles as the ground beneath our feet gives way and starts falling, and I don't waste a second in pulling her close, "I'll throw you back up!" I shout-

But her hands grip my robes in a fierce grips as she hugs me tightly, "No!" She wails, pushing her face against my chest, "I'm not leaving you!"

God-fucking-dammit!

Juggernaut armor wraps around my body as I hug Hildr's form tightly, her breathing labored and panicked, her pupil dilated and slitted.

My ice is melting…?

I ignore the hissing and steaming of my armor as we fall, making sure that my back is the first thing to hit the ground down below.

At least Ancano finally signed his one way trip to hell ticket.

                                                                                       ….

Her shaky hand reached out to push the rubble before her aside.

The stone hissed, then bubbled, then started glowing white as she pushed and melted it aside.

Her body felt cold. Yet hot. She kept shivering and stumbling, and twitching. Her scarred yet itched. A lot.

"Leo…?" Her voice echoed in her ears, the glow of the glowing molten slag beneath her feet helping her move around the rubble.

She ignored the enormous cave she was in. The strange floating and glowing blue plants that lit it up and warded away the darkness.

The strange wildlife that fled from her.

Hildr ignored everything as she stumbled around a massive pile of debris.

Leonidas had to be beneath them. She had to help him. Find him.

"Leo…?" She called out again, her breathing growing heavier, slower. Her body started growing warm.

Her flames burned hotter against her will.

She remembered falling and hugging Leonidas. She remembered him tossing her aside and somehow halting her fall.

She remembered him hitting the ground like a meteorite before darkness filled her vision.

Her shaking gloved hand reached out to grab a massive slab of mossy stone and move it to the side.

The stone boiled and her hand went through it. She couldn't find purchase. Everything around her kept melting.

Everything around her kept burning.

Just like that day.

The ground shook beneath her feet, making her stumble and fall to her knees.

Her breathing started growing faster and faster. Her pupil dilated. Her canines sharpened.

"No…" Hildr whimpers, realization hitting her, "No, no, no-nononono…"

Her nails sharpened. Her fingers started stretching.

"Lord Hircine… You took it away…" She had asked him. He had strengthened her Spirit in turn.

He had taken away the immense power created by several dozen generations of Champions of Hircine coming together to sire the perfect descendant.

A stronger generation each time, with the first born bearing the brunt of all that power.

Despite the fact that just a portion of those blessings passes down to the firstborn, her Ancestors had discovered the they could be stacked.

Hircine never stopped them. They kept going, creating stronger and greater Champions with each generation.

Until it was her turn, and the process of constantly breeding the greatest Champion finally bit her family in the ass.

And when they made her transform to train her, she lost control.

And she melted a mountain into nothing.

Her family, gone. Her old home, gone. Her grandma took her and baby Gretel in, and Hildr forever swore to never use that power again.

"Why did you let me keep it…" Hildr whined as her body lurched, white-hot pain tearing at her insides as the air started twisting and hissing.

Then, in the back of her mind, she remembered something Leonidas had told her and Aurelia the night of the day he managed to haggle for Dawnbreaker from Meridia.

'Always watch your phrasing and words when making deals or requesting rewards from a God! They'll always try to give you as little as they possibly can or fuck you over."

Hildr hadn't even focused on those words back then, for she trusted her Lord. For she trusted Hircine.

But back then, Hildr hadn't answered. She hadn't nodded or said yes to Lord Hircine when he asked if she wanted to give up her power.

She only said that she'd keep worshiping him without it.

And he had fooled her.

The ground shakes once more, the sound of rubble moving and falling reaching her ears despite the persistent ringing she kept hearing.

Something heavy stomped on the ground, and Hildr panted as she lifted her gaze. Through her shaky vision, she could make out Vulthuryol's nine massive heads rising from the rubble Leonidas smashed him into.

Hildr grits her teeth and clenches her clawed hands, a growl rumbling out of her throat, her breath overflowing with embers.

Vulthuryol stills, then slowly turns. Nine heads and eighteen sets of eyes regard her coldly.

Greed soon fills his gaze. Greed for her power. For what his hers.

The Dragon lumbered close. The source of all these problems. The source of Leo's further carelessness.

The source of so much worry and fear, and hate-

The damn that she was so desperately trying to keep from breaking collapsed, and Hildr stopped caring.

White-hot flames washes forth, and Vulthuryol stills as a the air flees before the mad howl that blooms from within the flames.

Eighteen glowing eyes widen, then slowly look up as the ground capsizes and trembles as if a swift earthquake goes through.

The puddle of molten slag becomes an ocean of bubbling magma within the blink of an eye.

Fur as red as blood twists in the air with the heat radiating from each hair, and a colossal claw smashes down, splashing magma in all directions.

Where before Vulthuryol was staring down at a puny, ant-sized woman… He now found himself staring at a colossal wolf as tall as he was.

Vulthuryol cowers.

The one-eyed wolf roars.

The Sun blooms within Blackreach.

A.N. This was actually foreshadowed by a question I asked some time back. About how strong Hildr's wolf form was compared to Gretel's.

Plus, I did leave small crumbs that no one picked up.

Hildr never nodding or saying yes to Hircine, Gods being finnicky with deals, and what Leo said after the deal with Meridia.

Small crumbs, but still things I left to foreshadow this even when Hildr wasn't yet decided to be a main player.

And yes, she also confessed this chapter. She was always going to be the first to do so, in fact. Aurelia is too shy, while Hildr won't fuck around and be straight.

Soo… Yeah, kinda nervous on the reception of this chapter.

Hope y'all enjoyed it!

Toodles!