Ch. 16 Sacrificial Ritual

As if the very earth was speaking, "Welcome, my child."

Akatosh, the Dragon God of Time. The chief deity of the Nine Divines, the father of the great dragons. This is a being of immense strength.

But Akatosh should be in Aetherius, not the Ancestral Plane...

"This is not right. You can't be the real Akatosh. The heart-shaped herb couldn't force a being of your strength into the Ancestral Plane."

With a thundering voice, "This is merely the collaborated report of a memory of a cognitive experience."

I heard him clearly, but I don't understand what that means. Looking into the massive golden eyes, I confess, "I don't know what that means."

With a touch of humor in the thundering voice, "This is just a dream. I am not the real Akatosh, and this is not the Ancestral Plane. This is a subconscious belief, while your body and mind are being transformed by the serums you took."

Now that makes much more sense. As powerful as the panther goddess may be, I doubt she could have pulled Akatosh from his home in the Immortal Plane.

"You said you are just a subconscious belief. So, I just think I'm a child of Akatosh?"

The golden dragon stares at me for a moment before answering. "Does it really matter, child? You know that Akatosh is the father of dragons, and the very soul inhabiting your body is a creation of Akatosh. Whether a Dragonborn was created for a specific task or an anomaly is irrelevant. What is important is how you choose to go forward."

As I stare at the divine being, I slowing process his words.

With the rumbling of the earth, "Tell me, child, how do you plan to go forward?"

With conviction in my voice, "I plan to take the power I need to free myself of Other Me."

The earth shook as the enormous dragon made a rumbling sound in his throat.

"You are regaining consciousness. I wish you well in your adventures, Dovahkiin." As the boisterous voice echos across the land, a warmth fills my chest. I watch in awe as the majestic dragon vanishes.

My body is jarred into awareness by the chamber smoothly opening.

Opening my eyes, I'm struck with vibrant and clear sight. The previously dark room seems to have been bathed in a soft glow. I'm able to spot even the most delicate designs in the various furnishings.

I didn't know it was possible to see this well! As I spot Trixie anxiously staring up at me, I'm suddenly assaulted with the scent of human body odor.

I immediately turn to the unconscious man on the couch. I didn't even notice an odor when I first arrived here. Now, it smells like he hasn't had a shower in a week.

As I'm looking at the unkempt slob, I hear a rhythmic beat. A heartbeat. Several of them. I can even pick-up the soft patter of Trixie's beating heart and the slow rhythmic beat of the unconscious homeowner.

This is going to take a while to get used to. I'm not quite at the level of sensory overload, but I'm not used to managing all the new sensations.

With a snap of Trixie's fingers, my restraints flip open.

Carefully grasping the sides of the chamber, I pull myself out with ease. More accurately, it was nearly effortless.

Looking at a mirror hanging across the room, I take in the sight of my new body.

In all honesty, I look damn good.

My hair looks fuller and shiny. My nose and cheekbones appear to have sharpened, looking more like the delicate features of an aristocrat. Even my beard looks more masculine.

My muscle size and tone are very similar to Steve Rogers' after he underwent the Super-Soldier Serum. I think my muscles are a bit bigger, and there's no question I'm taller than him as well.

Looking over my face and body, it appears my skin is completely clear of any scar or blemish.

Looking over the changes of my body, I can't help but be grateful for using a full Vita-Ray stimulus. I can't give all the credit to the Super-Soldier Serum. Some of my enhancements may be due to Vita-Rays boosting the effects of the heart-shaped herb.

While I'm pleased with the physical changes, the mental improvements are where my true power boost will come from.

I wonder how my increased mental abilities will improve my prodigious magical skill?

With a great deal of concern, Trixie asks, "Master Dragon Sir, are you well?"

Focusing back on the task at hand. "Yes, Trixie. I feel amazing. Take the chamber back to Dragonsreach. Erase all traces of our presence here."

While Trixie is getting to work cleaning up our mess, I go about getting dressed. My increased size is obvious by the fact I can't button my shirt over my chest, and the hem of my pants is now well above my ankles.

Ensuring I have all my belongings, I Apparate back to the manor. I trust Trixie to retrieve the chamber and any evidence I might have missed.

Seeing that sunrise is only a few hours away, I decide to postpone testing my new abilities. I'll get some sleep, and then start fresh.

*****************

Friday, December 6th, 1991

After a late breakfast, I go down to the training room. I transfigure a modern athletic gym to test my speed, agility, and strength.

With a bit of excitement, I begin testing my new abilities.

It took three hours before I finally called an end to the physical testing.

I was able to bench press 580 kilograms and lift 430 kilograms over my head with ease. I'm definitely stronger than pre-Avengers Captain America. Based on the movies, Captain America became stronger than when he was first subjected to the serum.

This should apply to me as well. With a suitable workout routine, I should be able to improve my current strength.

Not only am I stronger, but I'm as limber and acrobatic as a gymnast, and I quit running after two hours due to boredom.

Between the benefits from the super-soldier serum and the heart-shaped herb, I'm convinced I could beat either one of them if I learned martial arts.

I plan to add a strength and agility based routine to my daily work to test if I can improve any.

One thing I was able to confirm is my weight and height. I went from 180 centimetres tall to 200 centimetres. I'm now taller than Thor.

I look as if I should weigh around 106 kilograms. I'm actually closer to 134 kilograms. Guess muscle and bone density have one drawback.

While the raw physical strength is a nice addition, I put a higher value on mobility. I intend to primarily use magic in a fight but won't neglect the enhanced agility and dexterity. They will be a tremendous aid in avoiding attacks.

As I'm preparing to test my new mental abilities, Trixie pops in beside me.

"Trixie is sorry for disturbing, but this just arrived." I take note of the small wooden box Trixie is holding. "It's from the Slug wizard," she excitedly tells me as she raises the box up to me.

This is a welcome surprise. I've been sending Slughorn five-hundred galleons every month as an incentive to finish the Felix Felicis early. It looks like the potions master came through.

Quickly thanking Trixie, I lift the box from her and carefully open the lid. Laying in a bed of velvet is a crystal phial filled with a molten gold liquid.

With this, I can attempt the Sacrificial Ritual.

Making my decision, I call out, "Cody!"

With a soft pop, my nervous-looking house-elf appears. "Master called for Cody?"

"Yes, Cody. I need you to assist Trixie with packing for a trip. The three of us are going to America."

****************

Sunday, December 8, 1991

The trip to America was not nearly as stressful as sneaking into Wakanda.

The biggest worry was how American Wizards tracked the use of magic around muggles. Or as they call muggles here, no-majs.

In Britain, the Ministry of Magic tracks magic with a Trace that is on every underage witch and wizard's wand. The Underage Trace is supposed to be removed during the witch or wizard's seventh year at Hogwarts.

They also have large magical wards over pure muggle areas that will notify the Ministry if any magic is used. The wards help the Ministry spot accidental magic and anyone that may be trying to harm or take advantage of muggles.

I know there aren't wards around areas expected to have witches and wizards living there. The Ministry would be tied up with false alarms. But America is a mystery.

Before taking a portkey to the Statue of Liberty, I had Trixie study a photo of The Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri. The plan was to take a portkey to Liberty Island, and then have Trixie and Cody immediately Apparate us down the coast and over to St. Louis, Missouri.

I was banking on the American Ministry being as lazy as the British Ministry.

Hopefully, they overlook the use of house-elf magic. It's very likely the American Ministry can track the use of portkeys, but I doubted they track house-elf magic.

As soon as we landed in St. Louis, Missouri, I went invisible and fled a safe distance from the site we landed at. After an hour of waiting, and no sight of an Auror, I called the infiltration a success.

I remembered Ego planted his seed behind a Dairy Queen somewhere near St. Louis, but I couldn't remember exactly where.

Luckily, payphones were still a thing in 1991. After a quick look in a telephone book, I found ten Dairy Queen restaurants in the area.

Our second stop turned out to be our destination. I treated Trixie and Cody to an ice-cream sundae as a reward, and to see how they would act on a sugar-high.

The tiny servants were literally vibrating with energy after finishing their treats. I regret nothing. Watching them try to clean the dirt from the grass is a memory I'll never forget.

By nightfall, the two were calm enough to do their part in the ritual. Once the ritual begins, it can not be stopped or interrupted. Trixie and Cody are tasked with stunning any and all that approach the ritual site.

The ritual is at risk of being detected because I can't put up any wards or defenses.

The ritual calls for pure rays of moonlight, and I don't want to take a chance with a spell altering the effects.

Looking down at the alien plant bathed in moonlight, I mentally review everything.

Selecting Ego's seed as my sacrifice is a bold choice, but I stand to gain the most from it.

Ego is one of the few remaining Celestials in the universe. Not only is he immortal, but he also has energy manipulation, biological manipulation, and molecular manipulation.

In Guardians of the Galaxy Two, Peter Quill was able to instinctively use energy and biological manipulation in his fight against Ego. Peter was able to increase his strength, durability, healing, and even flight all in a matter of minutes.

Hell, he turned himself into a giant flying Pac-Man! And he's only half Celestrial!

At that moment, I bet Peter could have gone blow for blow in a fight with Hulk.

He didn't use molecular manipulation, and that makes a lot of sense. Ego even said it took him millions of years to reach his current level of success with molecules.

But Ego had to discover everything on his own. He didn't have the benefit advance technology to teach him.

Regardless, I stand to gain the most by sacrificing Ego's seed. And that is what I plan to do.

Taking out the phial of Liquid Luck, I remove the stopper and swallow every drop.

It takes only a moment before my thoughts become clear. I already make plans to alter the ritual and incantation.

Removing my shirt, I take a knee beside the bizarre-looking plant. I conjure an Ice Spike in each hand.

Staring down at the seed, I begin the ritual.

"Zu'u, kiir do Akatosh, govey nol hi, hin suleyk!"(I, child of Akatosh, take from you, your power!)

With my left hand, I stab the Ice Spike into the side of the seed.

"Zu'u, Dovakiin, govey nol hi, hin onikaan!"(I, Dragonborn, take from you, your wisdom!)

With my right hand, I stab the Ice Spike deep into the opposite side of the seed.

Withdrawing both Ice Spikes, I raise the grey and green covered tips towards the moon.

"Ol hin kroniid, zu'u almik hin laas ol dii vahzah ahrk govey ko hin rii ol diin!"(As your conqueror, I claim your life as my right and take in your essence as my own!)

During my incantation, the ice began to heat in my hands. The moment I finished speaking, I drove both Ice Spikes deep into my stomach.

As the burning in my abdomen intensifies, a milky grey beam of energy links me to the piece of Ego.

The alien seed is visibly withering, and a scorching energy is slowly making its way through my entire body. Enduring the searing pain is the most important part. The longer I can withstand the pain, the greater the power I should gain.

I clench my jaw shut as the searing sensation is traveling through my limbs. Thoughts of freedom from Other Me drive my determination.

As the energy enters my head, I am hit with pain the likes I never thought imaginable. It feels like lava is attempting to erupt from my skull.

With a pain-filled scream, I promise to deliver this same level of torture to Other Me!

That bastard will pay!

As more energy enters my body, the pain intensifies to higher levels. I lose all ability to think as I fall into darkness.