Like two teenaged girls who want you dead. Seriously, Mist and Jill were unstoppable in this chapter (and that's relative to the other members of the party)!
Endgame - Repatriation: Finished.
Ike & Soren: Took the northern path, where Soren immediately sniped Bryce, claiming his speedwing. They then headed around the western edge of the fountain, cutting down Bryces lackeys, before going to help Stefan and Mordecai, who were being overwhelmed by foes. Ike blasted the mage harassing them with a Sword Beam while Soren sniped the northern dragon, and once the problem was solved, they broke off, Ike and Soren heading into the courtyard. They obliterated the platoon of paladins set to meet them, and Ike quickly took down the bishop with the sleep staff, before they split up to help the other groups, Ike going to help Mist and Jill while Soren assisted Mordecai, Stefan and Giffca.
Mist & Jill: Took the eastern path around the fountain, through the garden area, where they intercepted the many charging foes. Mist took down the dragon with a critical from the Runesword, and then headed into the fountain area, while Jill fought off the rest of the troops. Mist then used the Fortify to heal everyone in the other groups, and they went up the easternmost street, meeting up with Ike and fighting their way to the top of the eastern stairwell.
Stefan & Mordecai: Took the western path, and were met with a lot of resistance as they dealt with the foes. Mordecai drew the enemies attacks away from Stefan with Provoke, but he also suffered a hefty injury due to the combination of a dragon, Bolganone sage, and various foes attacking him all at once. The fortify helped them recover from this, and Ike took out the sage that was troubling them, so Mordecai adn Stefan were able to rend their way through the dragon and the surrounding troops. Giffca joined them soon after, and they all headed up the western street, taking down the few remaining foes in the area before rushing the western stairwell with the help of Soren.
Giffca: Chosen because Mordecai was in the party, he helped in taking down a few foes, but mostly added his bit of damage in the fight with Ashnard.
Ashnard: Put up a good fight, and everyone got to participate at one point or another, but he eventually fell to their combined might.
By the way, —- in the VS Sections denotes a perspective switch between characters.
VS Ashnard: The first to reach the top of the stairwell, Mist drew the blade of winds that she had gotten so long ago, ready to do whatever it took to bring down this man.
"As long as you're alive, this war can not end. How many lives have you stolen with your selfishness?"
"You ask that of me? You? A girl? Pah! Trivial. You're not worth the effort it would take to kill you."
"Give me back my medallion! You aren't supposed to have it!"
"Are you...Gawain's daughter?"
"I am! And like my father and mother before me, I will protect the world from your madness!"
"Heh heh... Hwah hah hah hah... Wheeee haaa haaa haaaaaarrr! Perhaps I'll kill you after all! If you are their child, you get special privileges! Show me your might!"
Mist raised the blade as high as she could, and then brought it down with all the force she could muster, unleashing one of the charges and summoning forth a tempest of blades. Ashnard, despite being completely struck by the swirling, razor sharp winds, simply ignored them, and waited for them to die down. He then mimicked her strike, hefting his enormous blade into the air before bringing it down and sending out a wave of energy. Mist barely dodged the strike, which smashed a rut into the stone, and was caught full on in the stomach by the second strike, which sent her sprawling off her horse. She fought to regain her breath, and her eyes were awash with spots, but she could hear Jill land in front of her, suddenly engaging the mad king in conversation.
—-
Jill landed between Ashnard and Mist, shielding her friend from any more of the kings strikes.
"Annoying little insect. Whose path is it that you think to block?"
Even despite her fear, she steeled herself, and asked the question that had been burning within her ever since the battle in Talrega.
"...My father died because of you. He tried so hard...to prove he was a loyal citizen of Daein. And you never recognized his efforts. Not even once."
"Are you complaining to me? Come back some other time. I'm busy."
"Answer me! My father was General Shiharam! Why did he have to die?"
"Eh? Who are you talking about? The name is unfamiliar... I don't think we ever had such a general."
"What?"
"This is a waste of time. Leave my sight at once."
"...Ashnard... Ashnard!! ASHNARD!! I...will never forgive you! NEVER!!!"
Before her foe could do anything, she signaled to her mount, and performed a loop in the air, building up momentum and then using it to carry her lance and her wyvern straight into her foe. Her Brave Lance struck like a bolt of lightning, but it was parried by the flat of Ashnards sword.
What? That technique has enough force behind it to cripple a dragon! How had he blocked it so easily?
No, it doesn't matter. We've come too far to be stopped here, regardless of how fierce the king is. I will defeat him!
She continued driving her spear forth, hoping to impale him through his exposed head, but only able to catch his invulnerable armor or his blade. He hadn't successfully connected with his own strike yet, but he was coming close, and even as Jill fought to kill him, she was forced to hold back so as to protect herself. They continued exchanging blows, and Jill grew more and more tired, while Ashnard only seemed to become more energetic, laughing the whole time. Soon, Ashnard forced his was through her guard, and he drove his blade into her side, hurling both her and her mount into the air with the power of the strike. Her mount had crashed onto his side and she was jarred by the impact and the wound, but as she struggled to get them both risen and ready, she see a green blur fly past them.
—-
Stefan saw Jill and Mist off to the side, recovering from their wounds.
This man is certainly a fierce foe, if he had been able to fend off those two, who had proven themselves in many harsh battles. I'll need to use all of my skill if we are going to succeed against this foe.
Stefan felt the usual adrenaline rush, commonplace to him now, as he jumped upon the head of the kings mount and brought down his blade upon the kings head with lightning speed. the strikes, despite their swiftness, were blocked one by one, and after the final strike roared in from the side, threatening to decapitate his foe, Ashnard parried the blow, slamming the flat of the blade into the swordsman. Stefan was thrown off the head of the beast, and despite his skill, he was unable to land perfectly, and his leg struck the ground off balance, disabling the limb temporarily.
"One blow. For nameless wretches like you, one blow is more than enough."
Ashnard spun the blade as he ascended, focused so much on the kill that he didn't notice the tiger now joining him in his ascent.
—-
Mordecai had leaped onto the kings mount as it began flying, digging his rear claws into the creatures wings even as he dug his fore-claws into Ashnards armor, dragging the mans attention away from his immobile ally. Ashnard forced his mount to continue flying despite the wound, and it was succeeding, continuing to ascend as Mordecai continued to slash at the mad king. He felt his claws make contact with steel as Ashnard brought his blade up to defend himself, raking the blade across Mordecai's shoulder, hurling the tiger towards the ground, where he landed as best he could.
"That is not the extent of your might, beast tribe warrior! I will not allow you to die while the great power within you still slumbers. Release your rage! Release your hate! Show me the fury you keep inside!"
A wave of force came down from the sky as Ashnard laughed, delighting at the fight he had gotten. Mordecai was struck, and hurled into the stone fence of the balcony, nearly falling off, he attempted to get up, to avoid being thrown onto the cold stone below, but he needed not rush, as a crackling began above Ashnard.
—-
This should suffice. All that I need to do is ground their foe, and Ike will be able to finish this.
The spear of divine lightning smote the king, forcing him and his mount down, within range of Ikes blade, as a wave of energy flew by. Soren was able to dodge it at the last second, but he had to admit, taking the Rexbolt spell and having enough power left to strike back was a rare sight, and it almost caught him off guard. Soren backed out of range in the meantime, while Ike ran forward and began fighting with Ashnard. Soren noticed however, that Ike wouldn't be able to defeat the king on his own, and decided that an extra external force would be needed.
—-
Mist had finally remounted herself, the wound in her stomach still stinging heavily, when Soren ran over. He spoke with her for a bit, pointing out the battlefield strewn with their wounded comrades, and Ike, dueling with Ashnard, but unable to gain any ground. She nodded, understanding what he meant, and she pulled out the holy staff they had obtained long ago, watching as the soft, golden light bathed her companions in life.
As they rose, Ike had gained some ground on Ashnard, the light of the staff granting him a second wind, pushing his way through his guard, and as she watched, they struck. A wave of weapons fell upon Ashnard, a spear forcing him to block, large claws dragging away the blade, a long, thin sword preoccupying his armored arm, while an enormous broadsword plunged into his chest, ending the reign of the mad king.
Hope you enjoyed!
Up Next: An interlude, where I detail my characters final stats, skills, supports, and their total kill counts throughout the run!
