"Behold! Death Comes!"

Immortal King Graan of Granarius when first engaging Queen Malphas of Vermilion in combat. 

 

William stared at the windows of his room after reading the reports from the Owl's spies. Galius had hired even more mercenaries. The man was fielding a small army.

Yet thanks to the Owl's personal involvement he would take more time to deploy his forces. The price for this huge favor? William would train under the Owl himself to become an Assassin.

A good deal for him as he planned on doing that as soon as he was done healing Arch-Duke's daughter. The skills learned there would greatly aid him in the battles to come to the Academy. Battles that he was planning on avoiding but after the huge meddling in the weave of time he did, who knew what was waiting for him in the capital? Lucrezia agreed with him on that much at the very least.

It felt weird, he had been in the world he knew so much for what? 4 months now? He had come to this world in the Month of Gwenaries, named after the Goddess of Time. The equivalent of June for Earth.

The 12-month system is a 1 to 1 copy from the earth, something he tried to not think too hard about it. Had All-Father stolen from his planet? or vice versa?

Something he didn’t have the time to ponder on it.

Going back to his desk William took a long hard look at the calendar. It was the 28th of The Silent, the 9th month of the year, and Lucrezia’s birthday was on the 3th of Spears. In just 5 days he would get six Blessings.

Celebrations would be in order but William disliked birthday parties. Paranoia from his many fights and disagreements with his parents made him ruminate on his birthday a bunch.

Yet Lucrezia wanted a party, thus Both Leanu and Saa’ryu got together with some of the castle workers to prep for the thing. 

“Damn it I’m procrastinating again” William spoke softly “Focus William, Focus for once on your goddamn day…” 

He turned back to the letter the Owl had penned for him. Originally the prince was going to attack as soon as the storm went away, which according to Diviners in the capital was to happen on the 20th of Spears. 

But now thanks to the Owl, the man would only deploy his forces in the third week of the Month of Moonless Skies.

William had barely 3 weeks to fully prepare for war beyond his rifles and training the city folk to act as riflemen. Idun had assured him that once his Blessing was received the Sphere of Power of Raa’Tyrius would expand fast and knowledge that only Idun and his priests could tap would be widespread.

Karl himself expressed shock, Raa’Tyrius was a small god, and the rate of acolytes and faithful he was getting dwarfed the records set by Gods of his power level. 

A good omen Karl called it.

The plan was in theory simple. William gets the blessing and powers the small army of Magi-Tech acolytes to speed up military industrialization. According to Idun the first 4 days were the ones that would involve the most labor.

William would have to stay awake through it to power the others together with Idun, then they would finish automating the weapons plants and the rest would be a matter of training the people in the new weapons and setting the many defensive lines.

Plus the armored train. It would be the last line of defense for the city in case Galius broke through the perimeter of the vale where William had planted the Granarius Platforms.

An extra tight deadline, but William and his friends would make it work and when that nightmare of a man dares to put his feet on his lands he would be greeted by the roads of his guns and the war cries of his army.

William noted it all down in his diary. The pages filed faster and faster as he wrote in English to not forget his language. He would soon need more diaries and invent a bloody pen.

Yes, he knew he could buy a magical one but goddammit Magi-Tech was meant to invent the best of both worlds. And as the soon-to-be head of the church of Raa’Tyrius, he had to do better than buy from the competition.

Even if the said competition was the mother of his patron god.

The storm would be dying down at the end of the month. William’s fears, now defeated by his newfound purpose, gave the boy peace of mind that made sure both he and Lucrezia could focus on the real threat.

Killing Galius.

---

The sun graced the lands of the Wulfgrem as William rose from his sleep. the bells were going wild in the streets as the people rose in commemoration of their ruler and savior’s birthday.

Bells tow, people were out and about early preparing for the festivities and Saa’ryu had prepared cheap ale and food from Silverbrand to help with it. William was also going to visit the big villages of the duchy before the time was right for the blessings.

In the same basement where William had received the Miracle from Velkarius Karl had prepared the entire ritual for him. Complete with a special spell that would hide his form as he would have to perform the deed naked.

Thanks to his Greater Blessing of Saal’Xhir finally being freed from its bonds, William was going to experience what Karl had described as mind-shattering orgasms with a face that betrayed not an ounce of mirth.

“I’ve seen once when the blessing went wrong and the acolytes had to be both memory and soul scrubbed by a High Priest of the Unbroken. It is not a good sight to behold Lady Lucrezia.”

“But if you can survive it, great power waits for you. I can not say what trials the other gods will give you but know this, Velkarius will always be at your side and shall aid you when dealing with the other gods.“ 

William heeded his warnings and went to get dressed for his tour around the duchy. He had 5 villages to visit and they would be rushing it as to meet the hour of the blessing.

Erwin and Wilson joined him as Knight Commander and Court Magician. Tradition demanded as such and thus they went.

The visits were fun, in a way. Every village head knew about the horrors of the city thanks to either the Spirits or their smaller Gods in charge of the lands they were in. William met many a young who saw him as a hero from yore and pledged to join both the army and knights.

When he returned to the city he was met with a hero’s welcome in the main gate. As he greeted the citizens from on top of his Dire Horse he saw the fruits of his labors in full view.

He heard Lucrezia cry inside his head. Tears of happiness quickly overwhelmed him as he began crying.

The cheers got louder as he arrived at the church. At the entrance of the church’s square were his close friends. Idun and Emilya with the Magenta, Leanu, Saa’ryu, and their staff. Serkj and his guards. Gabriel and the elven twins Freya and Guún.

Wilson quickly made his way to Leanu as his Acolytes joined him with the castle staff, William spotted Hideo among them as he smiled at her.

Erwin met up with Sigrún and Senior Knights for William. All saluting in neatly done rows for him.

Hraax showed up as well. She beckoned William closer and kissed his hand saying “May thy rule be long, thy people never know hunger and despair and thy name be remembered in good graces”

Kallista showed with a few of her brood and just hugged him. Whispering to him that the trial for All-Mother’s blessing would not be easy.

“A moment Lady Lucrezia, The people here have heard from the castle staff that you can sing and even compose your own music. Why not sing for us before you go?” Hayden showed up with a smile on her face.

Sneaky bard William thought, he looked over to Karl and spoke “Do we have time?”

The priest nodded “Plenty, your visit in the countryside was way faster than we expected. Poor Kallista here had to fly in Hraax who was in the middle of the sea” he laughed as Hraax blushed.

There was one song that had been constantly on his mind in the past few days leading up to the blessings. He picked the guitar Emilya had made and strung a few notes, the melody quickly adjusting itself thanks to the Magi-Tech tunning

mechanisms Emilya had come up with it together with Idun.

William began to sing as he strung note after note, his friends all focusing on him, he felt a bit of stage fright but Lucrezia helped him in sending Ice mana to his body, making it go away.

"One brings shadow, one brings light"

"Two-toned echoes tumbling through time"

"Threescore wasted, ten cast aside"

"Four-fold knowing, no end in sight"

"One brings shadow, one brings light"

"Two-toned echoes tumbling through time"

"Threescore wasted, ten cast aside"

"Four-fold knowing, no end in sight"

 

"All our splendor bathed black in silence"

"Our surrender a sombre reverie"

"Slowly drifting down into twilight"

"Left to sifting through faded memories"

"Know our places, for worth is wordless"

"Evanescent, this writing on the wall"

"Brother stay this descent to madness"

"Come and save us. Catch us before we fall"

 

"Riding home"

"Riding home"

"Finding hope"

"Don't lose hope"

 

"Like broken angels, wingless, cast from heavens' gates"

"(Our slumb'ring demons awake)"

 

"We only fly when falling, falling far from grace"

"(Hell take us, heaven can wait)"

 

"Our lives a message in a bottle cast to sea"

"(Disgrace untold and unseen)"

 

"Quick to their ends, our candles burn until we're free"

 

"In monochrome melodies"

"Our tears are painted in red"

"(Bleeding to the edge)"

"Deep inside we're nothing more"

"Than scions and sinners"

"In the rain"

"Do light and darkness fade"

 

"Yes, time circles endlessly"

"The hands of fate trained ahead"

"(Pointing to the edge)"

"All things change, drawn to the flame"

"To rise from the ashes."

"To begin"

"We first must see the end"

 

"One brings shadow, one brings light"

"Two-toned echoes tumbling through time"

"Threescore wasted, ten cast aside"

"Four-fold knowing, no end in sight"

"One brings shadow, one brings light"

"Two-toned echoes tumbling through time"

"Threescore wasted, ten cast aside"

"Four-fold knowing, no end in sight"

 

"Rock of Ages, we cast the first stone"

"In our cages, we know not what we do"

 

"Indecision here at the crossroads"

"Recognition, tomorrow's come too soon"

 

"Follow blindly like lambs to slaughter"

"At the mercy of those who ply the sword"

 

"As our song wends dead underwater"

"We're forgotten for now and evermore"

 

"Riding home"

"Riding home"

"Finding hope"

"Don't lose hope"

 

"Without a compass wand'ring lost in lies of faith"

"(Faith slowly wasting away)"

 

"Only alive in fighting Death's amber embrace"

"(Our hearts beat loud, unafraid)"

 

"On Hands and knees, we pray to gods we've never seen"

"(Come shadow, come follow me)"

 

"The final hour upon us, no more time to breathe"

 

"In monochrome melodies"

"Our tears are painted in red"

"(Bleeding to the edge)"

"Deep inside we're nothing more"

"Than scions and sinners"

"In the rain"

"Do light and darkness fade"

 

"Yes, time circles endlessly"

"The hands of fate trained ahead"

"(Pointing to the edge)"

"All things change, drawn to the flame"

"To rise from the ashes."

"To begin"

"We first must see the end"

---

“I’m impressed you don’t mind it Lady Lucrezia. Well, I suppose these reflective screens help ease the burden in the mind eh?” Karl talked as William undressed and lay down in the cold stone.

“The alternative isn’t better my friend” William shot back holding back a laugh. Better naked and cold than wetting himself.

“I will undo the Miracle holding back the curse, brace yourself” With a flick of his finger Karl sent ghostly knives all over William’s body. They sank one by one as he felt heat rise from within his breast.

He didn’t even notice the blackout as the blades peeled themselves off his body.

William was standing in a great arena. In the seats many faceless bodies stared at him in silence, he quickly checked himself and saw that his “form” was still Lucrezia’s body. One less thing to worry about.

To his side, an 8-foot tall Elven woman stood. Her face was sunken and the hawkish nose was striking. Her long coppery red hair was akin to a wave in the sea as the breeze went through it. William instinctively knew who she was as a mighty spear was summoned in her right hand. 

“First to claim, first to aid. Today will be a glorious day Lucrezia Sommer Wulfgrem for we fight four gods!” She slammed her spear in the ground as shockwaves formed thanks to the mighty attack.

William knew very well what was about to happen. To earn a blessing, the god would ask their would-be blessed for a random task. Usually, a prayer or donation for most of them but some would whisk their blessed souls away to a divine realm made for a trial in combat.

“You will not fight alone Lucrezia” Spoke a kind but firm voice to his other side. At 7 foot tall stood a man. His features shift and weave as if his very form was being made by William’s senses. After a few seconds, his features locked in place. 

Ashen, blue skin and with a face that could only be described as a mixture of men and dwarves. His hair was but a patch on top of his head but he spotted a Magnificent beard.

Unlike mortal-made divine Individuals like Velkarius who retained their form after apotheosis. The progeny of divinity was not bound by such rules and thus William beheld Divinity in all its true glory.

Raa’Tyrius would fight with him, it seems. Against two war gods, one goddess whose sphere of power could tap even into Gods and of course All-Mother herself.

Queen of Dragons, Conqueror of universes, Warmaster of Faal. the titles piled on as William realizes how deep he was in the shit creek.

At least the paddle was decent.

“Grandmother will only fight after we are done with the other three” Raa’Tyrius spoke, summoning a complete set of Vanguard armor. On his left shoulder stood what William could only describe as a miniature turret. 

He pressed his palms together and then released them. A mighty shield made out of crystal and steel was summoned together with a sword that looked…

Simple? William was taken aback by the simplicity of the weapon. Dwarven sensibilités perhaps?

It didn’t matter, If Raa’Tyrius knew how to use it then it was good enough.

“It’s been ages ever since my last fight but I swear on my name I will not falter” He stared at William’s eyes with intensity and conviction.

Velkarius smiled as she conjured up her staff. The gnarly wooden thing was wet with blood. 

William’s eyes went wild “The blood of the Bthelyd” he whispered the name of the nobles who Killed Velkarius’s family and set the events in motion that would turn her into the Goddess of Vengeance.

She smiled at him, teeth bared in rage. “Knowledge is the sweetest of fruits, isn't it young human? Now steady yourself for our guests who have arrived”

Two men showed in front of William. One in chain armor with a simple spear made out of wood and wrought iron. He lacked any the looks of a commander but William knew that was the Silent Soldier. Patron of the Imperium.

Chou Xin on the other hand was the split image of a fantasy Viking raider. Complete with braids and tattoos. The man looked mighty pleased with himself and had a huge war ax in his hands.

“Had ya tell me I was going to fight together with this bore I would get you Divine Beer and then a punch in the cunt HAHA” The God laughed at his crude joke “The rules are simple girly. Defeat me and the mute bastard here and you will enjoy the blessings of us both, you must land the killing blow, not your helpers”

The Silent Soldier nodded and pointed his spear to William. Taking a defensive stance.

William grabbed his dragonbone Ax and with a roar summoned a mighty Iron Halo around him. Its edges were ready to rip and tear its enemies.

“A warrior’s war cry! Good!” Screamed Chou’Xin as he charged into William with his weapon at the ready.

“We do this together” William spoke out loud. The gods nodded and sprung into battle.

The fight for His blessings had begun.

Velkarius took to the skies and with her spear pointed at the Silent Soldier she dove straight at him. The tip of her spear coated in crimson light as circles in the air began gathering around her.

“Perish” She spoke with steel in her voice as she plunged.

A mighty boom shook the realm they were in. A cloud of dust emerged as the forms of both Gods were made manifest.

Silent’s Spear tip was locked in place with Velkarius. The God didn’t even grunt as he pushed and sent the Goddess flying backward. Velkarius slammed her staff in the ground and hurled a mighty thunderbolt towards Him.

William barely had time to blink when he sensed a shift in the air as a wave of energy came crashing down upon him. A hearty laugh filled the space as Chou’Xin spoke.

“Eyes on the enemy!” William blinked and then dashed forward, Raa’Tyrius at his side already blasting away with his shoulder cannon.

“The pup has teeth! but will it be enough to win I wonder?'' The raider God mocked Raa’Tyrius with both locked blades after a mighty swing from Chou’Xin.

William dashed under Raa’Tyrius and then rose upward with his ax. Chou’Xin was taken aback by the speed of the attack and was ready to taunt him again before William leaped into the air and screamed.

Spears of cold blue ice and Iron manifested countless times. William pointed his first towards his enemy and unleashed the barrage. For a full 10 seconds, it rained into the land.

Divine Ichor flowed from the Raider God’s body as he smiled in sheer joy. Once again he tried to speak but Raa’Tyrius threw his shield at him like a frisbee and roared in defiance.

With a mighty swing, a bolt of crystal blue energy flew from his sword to the sky and came crashing down only to be stopped by Chou’Xin’s ax. he started to spin the weapon and hurled a miniature hurricane at Raa’Tyrius.

William landed on the ground and began slashing away at Chou’Xin who parried and blocked his blows without effort. 

Raa’Tyrius who had now dispelled the hurricane away leaped towards him and swung his sword downwards. William bolted towards his shield and with a slide grabbed the thing from the ground and rushed towards Chou’Xin as he blocked the downward attack.

Both struck at the same point, knocking the wind out of the Raider God. Another roar from both William and Raa’Tyrius and they pressed their advantage with Raa’Tyrius slashing at the legs and William punching the throat.

As he punched, he used part of his mana to form a razor-thin edge. Chou’Xin choked and spat blood as he smiled. His form began to fade as a voice full of mirth and pride spoke in William’s mind.

“My Strength is yours. May ye grant my people a good war”

A cold fire burned at William’s left breast. A sigil made out of divine energy and arcane forming on his very soul as the form of a simple yet sturdy ax took shape.

“The first of Six” He spoke and turned to Raa’Tyrius “We must aid Velkarius. Can you still fight Lord Raa’Tyrius?” The God smiled with an apologetic look “I am no lord Lucrezia before you came along I was naught but a leech upon my parent’s spheres” He shook his head and spoke. His tone cheerful “But that was the past. Today we forge a new future. Come, let us aid the Spear of Vengeance”

William only needed to take a look towards the battle to see it was in a stalemate. While not Goddess of War in name, Velkarius was a formidable warrior in her past and her small elite unit of priests was worthy of a battalion of men in combat.

The Silent Soldier on the other hand had the entire Imperium’s worth of prayers and devotees to aid him. He fought not as a beast possessed Like Chou’Xin and Velkarius but with the cold calculus of a veteran who had seen it all.

Velkarius on the other hand was using the full might of her powers. Murder of Crows flew at Silent at breakneck speeds exploding on contact. Every attack he threw at her she teleported in a flurry of blades and crow feathers.

And when her spear wasn’t enough she rained arcane fire on him. her staff swung like an angry arm of a God in her hands as it threw spell after spell at the God.

Silent stood his ground, dodging and rolling out of the attacks and constantly poking and slashing at her. Every step was a drumbeat demanding blood. Every once in a while he would change his stance and summon a small buckler. Parrying her attacks and sending the magical ones away.

 Raa’Tyrius pointed his sword at Silent and his form shifted like hot air in the summer. In a blink, he appeared right by Silent’s left side and slammed the butt of his sword into it.

Only for the God of War to dodge out of the way with a mechanical precision that very few could pull it off and stab Raa’Tyrius in the leg. William, with newfound vigor coming from Chou’Xin’s blessing, managed to throw the shield right at the spear.

Silent with a grunt leaped backward and summoned a mace, its wooden haft looked worn and the iron head tinged with rusted blood. On his other hand a broad dagger.

Velkarius screamed in blind fury as both she and Raa’Tyrius hammered bolts of white gold lighting at The Silent Soldier. William ran towards him and at the end of the Gods onslaught, he saw Silent switch the mace for the buckler and parry the strikes away.

Only for the grim man to turn his pale golden eyes at him and resummon the mace. Another grunt and he was right on William’s face.

The boy was frozen on the spot. Those eyes stunned him as he saw a millennium of war flash inside his mind.

Only for a spectral form to show besides him. Holding a familiar-looking single-edged blade and with a crown of ice in her head

“For Wulfgrem!” The specter screamed as she slashed Silent and ice began growing out of his wound. 

Velkarius smirked and said “A shade! My Lucrezia aren’t you full of potential!”

William knew conjuring a shade took years of learning both necromancy and illusion plus a bit of mind magic. 

He also knew that wasn’t a shade but Lucrezia coming out of hiding and aiding him at the eleventh hour. Her form washed away as she stared at his eyes. William couldn’t tell if she was happy or sad.

It didn’t matter, he fought to win, then two more.

He shook himself and bolted towards the stunned Imperium God. With a mighty swing of his ax he hoped the fight was over but alas hope turned into despair as Silent form blurred not unlike Raa’Tyrius.

“Adequate,” The man said in a whisper. Raa’Tyrius eyes went wide with surprise. Velkarius on the other hand frowned deeply and took a defensive stance with her spear.

Silent summoned a pike and took a stance William was all too familiar with from the game. A simple yet devastating charge move that would barrel through all three of them in a single moment.

“Hammer him down!” He screamed as he burned through his mana reserves and felt the onset of a mighty headache. Summoning a veritable rain of Ice, Iron, and Arcane spears on top of Silent.

Raa’Tyrius Planted both feet deep in the ground and pulled a goddamn railgun! William almost called it out before snapping his head to Velkarius who grabbed her staff with both hands and started chanting.

Raa’Tyrius’s railgun flashed blue as the spears began falling. Silent’s form blurred again but he did not move as the stream of energy was blocked by his divine force.

“...Spirits of Summer lend me thy aid, let thy fire consume heaven and earth…” Jesus fuck! William thought he knew that goddamn chant! Velkarius was about to cast a Cleansing Blaze! 

Endgame spell. It had a bloody 3 minute cast time and Velkarius was almost ready to fire it away like it was a regular magic missile!

William saw white as the heat consumed his vision. For a split second, he saw the raw fury of the sun burning Silent to cinder and ash. It took him a few seconds to come back to his senses as he saw Silent now bleeding heavily. The ichor flows like a river from his wounds.

Yet his stance was not broken. Indeed only William could deal the killing blow. He reached for his ax only to find the thing at Silent’s feet! The God smirked at him knowing full well of William’s frustrations.

“Come Childe of Frost and Winter. Let us end this charade” Silent spoke once again, His form glowing with a powerful shade of crimson. 

“Lucrezia!” Velkarius screamed as William turned to the Goddess, she threw her spear at William’s feet and with a nod pointed towards Silent.

With the Spear of Vengeance in his hands, William felt the surge of energy in his soul as another cold fire burned in his right breast this time. The form of a Raven carrying a spear tip on its peak, forming and then disappearing.

Ever the stealth-minded William thought. To let the user hide her sigil so they can infiltrate the evils that lurk in the dark corners of the world.

Raa’Tyrius smiled and nodded and William felt the fire burn his tongue out of all places! A gear with crystals forming as the pain went away as quickly as it came.

A sign of things to come? William recalled that Sigils on the tongue meant one thing, that the person would soon become the pillar of the faith of a particular God.

He was in talks with Silverbrand to install churches for Raa’Tyrius deeper in the south so he guessed it made sense.

Power made him woozy. Three Greater Blessings. It seems Chou’Xin was impressed with the battle and instead of a regular one gave him a Greater Blessing.

Useful for the upcoming fights.

William took a stance. He closed his eyes as the power of the combined Gods circulated in his mana channels. Time slowed down to a crawl as he watched Silent dash forward.

He sprung forth like an arrow from a bow. Velkarius Spear. Nay! His spear now aimed squarely in Silent’s neck, Chou’Xin’s blessing, telling his muscles where to aim to strike right at the weak spot.

The knowledge that wasn’t his flooded his mind. Power, true Divine Power gushing forward.

An explosion of speed from both him and Silent as the tip of his spear and his pike clashed. Once again time slowed down to a crawl as he saw the God change to twin daggers.

William pushed himself more, feeling his entire body burn as all 3 Greater Blessings kicked into high gear to grant the power he demanded. He pulled his spear back and in slow motion stabbed Silent’s neck.

The Silent Soldier smiled for the first time and unsummoned his weapons. As time returned to normal, William noticed wind marks in the ground beneath Silent’s feet.

His attack was strong and fast enough to damage the grounds of this realm!

The Imperium God of War faded away as his sigil burned in William’s right arm. A worn pike with a wrought iron tip.

“He got serious enough to talk, Congratulations are in order Lucrezia” Velkarius spoke with mirth in her voice “Alas with me and Raa’Tyrius granting you our Blessings our time together in this battlefield is at an end”

Raa’Tyrius nodded and said “Saal’Xhir and Grandmother you will have to face one at a time. May Grandfather watch over you Lucrezia.”

They turned into their Sigils and flew inside of William’s body. With a sigh, he grabbed his ax from the ground and waited for the Goddess of Love and Lust to show herself.

William didn’t know why the Gods helped him in the first place, maybe they thought that fighting against two Gods of War was unfair? but then he was going against The All-Mother herself! alone even!

Best not to complain, This was his lot and god forbid he loses his Blessing because he bitched at the goddamn Blessing ceremony!

It's what it is he thought to himself with a wry smile forming on his lips.

That was when he felt a weird sensation wreck his insides. He went on his knees as his mind was overwhelmed with something he couldn’t describe! William moaned and groaned as he saw an enormous dragon with a woman riding on its backflow near him.

Wave upon wave of...Pleasure knocked him out cold. He was blacking out every 2 minutes.

A voice sweet as honey and dripping with spoke from up high “Four Full moons worth of desire locked away via concoctions and martial training only for you to not even be able to stand up! Shameful display Lucrezia!”

“For someone who spat on that prude’s face and even used a mad God to torch one of her cities you are awfully prude you know! Why fear what is only natural for your race?”

“The curse that prude woman laced you with, You KNEW! it would go away if you honestly didn’t desire my Blessing! I am not one of those old Gods who pay no heed for their charges. All you needed was to ask my Priestess and this act! of yours would be a thing of the past”

William was not pleased to have his hypocrisy being called out this way, for he knew every God present, even All-Mother was listening to it.

“Velkarius! the crow fucker herself, All-Father bless her. Pleading me to not smite you after her priest threw that ghoulish spell at my powers! Do you understand the severity of it?! Wars have been waged for less you ungrateful slut!

“That was uncalled for and very rude, hmph!” Lucrezia whispered to him as he stared at nothing. Not knowing what to say to both the ranting Goddess or Lucrezia.

“Only to bribe my church! the sheer audacity of it was enough to make me lose sleep for days! All-Father smite me but I had you pegged as some sort of blasted Infiltrator of Uumaries!” Saal’Xhir jumped from the dragon who roared in what William interpreted as a laugh.

She screamed in frustration at the dragon and landed a few meters from William. Her form shifted in ways not possible for non-divines or non-shapeshifters.

Every pornstar, every unrealistic doujinshi character William had ever laid his eyes on was right in front of him. Saa’Xhir became his brain’s idea of perfect beauty. 

She then blurred as her form took a masculine shape. Faces of Knights and even a few of the mages mashed together with well-toned bodies and strong muscular arms.

A gasp from inside his mind. Lucrezia’s shame burned so strong it was enough to take him out of his stunned mind. A wave of clarity washing over him as Lucrezia’s tastes and fetishes bled forth twice as strong.

A part of himself begged him to just let it go, embrace that of which he had locked away for months, and finally be free from the struggle. It sang for him with his voice as Saal’Xhir’s smile grew with vicious glee.

“I see now! not a prude after all are you? Then why do this? Listen to the song, Listen to the voice you have locked away Lucrezia for it is not mine but your own!”

The Goddess features turned kind. She had finally realized William had no ill intentions toward her and her church and even was in favor of their expansion.

Yet the true nature of his fears was not meant to see the light of day. For he knew All-Mother would smite him and Lucrezia together if she found out he was from Earth!

“Deny it no longer Lucrezia!” William’s inner voice spoke to him so strongly he was knocked down again. Using his ax to prop himself back up he huffed and puffed.

What do I do goddamn it! I can barely stand, much less fight her and that dragon!

“Let it go, William. I know it's me that worries you. It's thanks to me you can’t satisfy these cravings your heart yearns for.” Lucrezia spoke 

“But Lucrezia I!-” He was about to explain himself as he heard her speak again.

“Shut up you daft Terran! Stop pretending this is just you! or are you that blind to the truth?! These are also MY DESIRES!, MY NEEDS! MY LUST!” 

William sighed. At himself for letting this come this far and at the world for dealing him such a hard hand. For a while now he had the inkling Lucrezia was dipping her toes into that part of his memories after all.

His lust, suppressed as it was still dripped down towards her. Their souls and emotions shared meant that even with everything he did she was still going to feel it.

Still, he refused to believe she could be the one broadcasting such feelings, in a way to further play the role as a reluctant hero that would not defile the body which wasn’t his. Pretending he was above the wantings of flesh.

“Lay down thy arms Lucrezia, accept my gift with love and I shall grant thee a boon few Gods can match! Cast aside thy fears, thy indecision, and embrace Love! Not for me or the ones in the Waking world but yourself!”

“For we will not judge, Not cast stones and accept you as who you are. A sister, a friend! She will show the citizens of Wulfgrem the freedom of my teachings! Freedom from the Yoke of Iron that was Uumaries!”

“Hear her words, William! I trust you and you must trust me! Cast aside this charade and let us become one with these feelings we both have locked away!”

A hint of clarity shined in his mind. Visions of blood and ravens clean his vision and soul. 

Velkarius had come with one final act. For William stood at the fulcrum of his decisions now and She would not have him be addled by his repressed feelings and wants.

“For us, William, do it for me and you” Lucrezia spoke with such honesty that he was momentarily stuck in place. Those were her true feelings it seems and now that he was on the precipice he had but one choice to make, one path to follow.

He expanded his arms towards Saal’Xhir who took the form of Lucrezia. Both walked towards each other at a steady pace as they embraced each other.

William felt tears coming out of his eyes as he lost sense of time. Once his mind came back to him he felt light. As if a great weight was lifted from him, he looked down and noticed a small puddle beneath his rear end.

“I uhh, Hope the All-Mother didn’t see that part hehe” Lucrezia smiled both in shame and happiness, her feelings were crystal clear to him now and the young woman was feeling relieved, pleased with herself and above all else happy.

He felt a click and suddenly memories flooded his mind as he saw Lucrezia’s past including her more private moments as his own. As if he was she.

“The meld...So that hesitation was holding it back if only a little, huh? I don’t know what to say…” Lucrezia spoke to him.

“It’s ok, you don’t need to say anything if you don’t want to,” He told her as they stood there watching the great expanse of the divine realm they were in.

The ever-present cold fire burned once again. This time in a place Willaim was not too comfortable with. It appears some remnants of his prude ways were still working.

“Gods above! A womb tattoo?! Really?! William for god's sake! Look at it! What's next? You gonna dress me with lewd armor and moan every time someone takes a swing at you?!”

William went pale for a second before he felt the waves of smugness coming from Lucrezia, she then gave a hearty laugh and said “Ye Gods you should’ve felt the sheer fear Haha! Ease up, William. We are past that now”

“We are.” He responded to her with a smile on his face. For the first time in nearly 5 months, William felt true peace only afforded by the age-old post-nut clarity.

“To you, I bequeath a Greater Blessing, may thy life be full of love and pleasure” Saal’Xhir’s voice came from the wind. Full of happiness and joy for William’s and Lucrezia's newfound bond.

A full minute went by before William felt a presence in the skies above him. It made him buckle and kneel as his face nearly touched the ground.

A dragon, so large it bloated the sun, her scales shining in a myriad of colors that nearly made him blind even when not looking at it. The sheer power her presence gave enough to make Lucrezia shudder inside his mind.

“She comes! All-Mother herself came! Gods protect us!” Fear and Awe as William finally shook the effect off by using the Blessings at full power. Raising his head he stared at the being who was in charge of leading the All-Father’s armies across the multiverse.

Older than the stars. Fierce and Majestic. Only caring for her dragon children who were tailor-made as machines of war for the unending war across the cosmos, there she stood. 

All-Mother Thyrie! Queen of Dragons! Conqueror of Universes! Warmaster of Faal!

She bared her fangs to William. Every fiber of his being screamed in terror and awe yet he stood tall. For a force coming from somewhere deep within him urged him to Defy Her! Tear Her to PIECES!

A hint of nostalgia and homesickness amidst the carnage threw him off and the Great Dragoness spoke, her voice deep and powerful.

“A seedling for that pest resides in thy soul mortal. Be grateful my wrath does not extend to its remnants or thy soul would be destroyed in but a blink of the eyes”

“I see my grandson finally picked someone to expand his sphere. This but a pity he was tasked with such a daunting task…” Her eyes darted around the realm as she spoke to William “I see questions forming in thy mortal mind. Why should you be granted my boon? It is known I care not for the flight of fancy that was the creations of my other half” That was how All-Mother saw anyone but the Gods and Dragons. 

Flights of fancy by the All-Father, tiny beings who live and die in a blink of an eye.

“And yet, unlike your kin you helped a child of mine out of the goodness of your own heart. Unlike those who shackled my Son to serve for generations even if he in his foolish mind is happy with such an agreement…” She sighed “But I digress, I am not here to complain and whine about the whins of my children”

“Kallista spoke to me mortal. She begged, Begged That I gave you my aid. Never would someone such as her do such a thing and yet she did.”

“I hope, in my dear Husband’s name that this is worth it. Consider this the only boon your line will ever see from me, Mortal. For I will only spoil my daughter this one time” 

William knew that below the facade of the stone-hearted Warmaster, All-Mother loved her dragons very much. And the only reason he was granted her Greater Blessing was due to that.

“Remind me to kiss Kallista when we get home,” Lucrezia told him.

“But I would be a poor Warmaster if I gave such a boon without a test! Ready yourself Lucrezia Sommer Wulfgrem! Prove that you have the Will to go above and beyond to earn TRUE POWER!” She gave a mighty roar and took to the skies.

“If you can last a minute you will have the power you crave! Now stand and fight!” 

William and Lucrezia both bellowed a mighty warcry. Power unending gushed via the five Greater Blessings as William’s mind was flooded with Knowledge and Power.

He slammed his hands in the ground and flooded it with enough mana that would make even the most seasoned of combat mages blush. With this newfound wellspring of power, he could finally tap into Magnetism's second form of attack.

Mighty iron towers sprung forth from the ground! Its tips in a spiral pattern as electromagnetic static accumulated on it. Its flashes blinding William as he smiled wildly drunk in power.

A thunderbolt flashed and struck the flying dragon dead in the chest. All-Mother roared and sent a ball of living fire towards him but William’s mana reserves were enough for full control flight!

He soared through the divine realm’s sky. And in a mad bet called forth the powers of the Rage-That-Dwells.

The world went red as another flood of power crashed into his soul. Black Red waves formed in his arms as conjured Velkarius’s spear and threw the weapon right at All-Mother’s eyes.

She bated the spear away with her wings and slashed the air with her huge claws. Waves of golden energy sprung forth crashing into William’s flying form but his magical shield held strong.

She flapped both wings as a hurricane the size of Rhode island crashed against William’s body. His mind screamed words of pure rage and destruction as he used the same teleportation method the Gods used in the earlier fight.

He felt himself burning out. Seconds stretched into eternity as his mental clock told him he hadn’t lasted 30 seconds. So much power was used in his initial strikes he was almost running on fumes now.

From beyond the hurricane, he heard All-Mother laugh and say “35 Seconds! Major gods haven’t lasted this long under my onslaught! Consider yourself honored for being among my top 10 HAHAHA!”

Was this the end? Would William lose a power that would with no doubt help him in the trials to come?

---

Lucrezia watched in sheer terror as even the might of the Rage-That-Dwells was spent while William tried in vain to get out of the Hurricane All-Mother had hurled at them.

She knew, deep inside that, he could not afford to miss such a power. But William’s new mana reserves were all but spent after his foolish big flash attack with the lightning!

Stupid daft Terran! Had he forgotten the classes with Wilson?! Lighting spells are mana hogs for Gods sake! Now they were gonna lose! All the struggle they went through for naught!

Lucrezia’s mind was then drawn to that strange dream she had. The sea of blood and the terror beyond the stars who gave its name to her. Now that her connection with William had deepened she knew what the creature was.

And where it came from.

“William’s soul is bound to the blood of the lamb…” The boy might not believe it but she knew. Instinct she knew that all the gods and religions Earth has been as real as hers. Why they chose to be hidden was beyond her ken.

The blockade against them was proof enough of their existence after all. All-Father and his equivalents blocking a single planet beget questions no one but the highest of beings could answer.

And yet, one of the servants of the God William didn’t believe had sent a messenger. A being of fury so strong its name alone carried fear in the hearts of the enemies of old.

The Arm of God, The Angel of Might Zeruel!

“In this hour of need, I harken unto thee. Deliver us from the enemy and save he who is bound by the covenant.”

Lucrezia’s voice carried power she knew nothing of but the power it carried all the same. The shared soul realm grew quiet as even the sound of her breathing couldn’t be heard.

It had come

---

“The mortal would die in about 10 more seconds...Lasted for a while thanks to that thrice-damned wraith that infects the land to this day.”

All-Mother saw her hurricane tear the landscape with boredom. That a human ant like the girl could withstand the attack at all was enough to make her raise a scale but like many others, she wouldn’t last to fight back.

“Kallista I swear if you try pulling another of your pranks again… Faal is right I am too soft with those two, I can not believe a proud dragon like her or her brother would brood with mortals and abandon the good fight”

“If only…” But All-Mother didn’t have time to finish that thought as a force descended upon the realm.

Evil, Bloodthirst. Wrathful!

Anathema to the world, to everything Faal had created, and more. Ancient in ways few were. 

A flash of light followed by a scream of fury tore through her back scales! The formless wraith of Wrongness shimmered in front of her as All-Mother prepared a mighty roar.

Twin cylinders made out of flesh struck her and another flash of light hammered her chest. All-Mother managed to give a roar and the Wraith’s form dispelled as a mental clock went off in her head.

The hurricane went away as she saw the human girl standing her ax at the ready. A look of fear and rage in her eyes.

“Another step into the sea of wrath? Curse that entity and its legacy!” All-Mother thought to herself. She was going to have a talk with her husband and see that this cancer was expelled from her world!

Sighing again she flew towards the mortal who’s rage evaporated away as she beheld her. Awe ss always All-Mother thought still mad at the Rage-That-Dwells.

Alas, the mortal had lasted a minute and she would not turn back on her word. She blew her essence at her and planted her Sigil, twin wings made of a myriad of colors on her back as was tradition for young dragons.

How the human was going to use such powers was something All-Mother frankly couldn’t care about. Puny creatures flawed in ways her dragons weren’t. In a blink of her divine eyes, Lucrezia would be dead of old age and her power would return home.

Or maybe Lucrezia would surprise her as Kallista had implied. All-Mother went away as the mortal went down to the ground, ready to wake up.

“One less thing to worry about”

---

Kallista the White Dragon stared at the naked human who was spasming among her own...Fluids as twin wings burned in her back. All-Mother had just sent her a very strongly worded message about aiding those with the taint.

The old man was still mad that she and the old man couldn’t fully defeat it, it clouded her judgment too much. After all, a Warmaster that let such a threat run rampant in her world wasn’t that good of a Warmaster.

Words she wouldn’t be speaking out loud. She liked her scales too much to invoke the ire of the old Dragoness.

Still, for once her doting came to something good. Lucrezia was now powerful enough to fight against the prince. Her soul radiated power akin to a sun. Even in her shameful state.

A laugh escaped her lips as she snapped her fingers and cast a draconic spell made for the cleaning of the body. Lucrezia wouldn’t be seen in this shameful state by her allies. Not on Kallista watch

She was already feeling the waves of change rippling from the girl. The dwarves below the earth. The Warriors from the south...With the blessings, they would in these short 3 weeks become a force to be reckoned with.

Ready to defend the land. It was a shame she couldn’t personally help Lucrezia as Kallista had grown fond of her. 

A small raven perched itself on Kallista’s shoulder and muttered words too low for a common ear to pick up. It then flew off, escaping the church and going south.

More and more joined in as it wailed, its sound carrying a promise of blood that only one person could make it come real.

Kallista watched as Lucrezia woke up, her eyes sharp as a knife

“Thank you for the clean-up, Now to cover my shame,” she said as she went towards the robe that was left for the maid. 

They left the ritual room as Lucrezia explained in great detail her trials and tribulations for the blessings. The first two fights against the Wargods Kallista expected but the trial with the Goddess of Love was something she was not.

It wasn’t common for someone as military-minded as Lucrezia to have these tests of characters, as they are usually done to would-be priests and priestesses.

Then again, our inner demons are only known to us. Sometimes not even us if Kallista had to be honest with herself.

Now the fight against the All-Mother was something she knew wasn't going to be easy. As every dragon had to go through. But that she would throw the Hurricane of Oblivion at the poor girl made Kallista's heart rate go up a notch.

They were all made outside. Lucrezia dressed in her regalia as Duchess of the North. Her people were all cheering and singing songs of glory and hope.

The long night was over. Wulfgrem now stood ready to arm herself against the evil from the south.

It was time for war yet again.