Chaos (4) : Blood Eagle

Sorry for not publishing yesterday. I was recharging my mentality and fixing my biological clock.

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"QAH ULD HAAS!"

Instead of Aura, Jon can use the Thu'um which envelopes him with a silver gleaming spectral plate armor of a knight.

In his hands was [Molag's Mace] and [Bloodskal] as well as [Greed] which acting as a black cape over the silver armor. Jon extended his hand to Xikil.

"What?"

"The Sigil Stone."

"Eh? Just don't damage it."

Xikil handed Jon the [Soul Sigil Stone] and the latter held it tightly then put the Sigil Stone on Odokuro and concentrated the energy on the staff stored in its spine. As the Energy reached the staff, multiple summonses started to appear around.

They were all Warithmen and Bonemen from the Soul Cairn.

The mighty undead creatures, armored in bones and holding large weapons, formed a total of 300 warriors and archers.

This amount of summons was scary, Jon never used his undead in public before and he seemed to be going all out this time. Being watched or not, he is skilled in Necromancy to the point of summoning up an army like that whenever he wanted was a piece of cake in his normal condition.

Although the undead army was smaller than the united forces of the Forsworn, the Centaurs and the Minotaurs, the true essence of the undead laid in their endless stamina and none existent emotions. The enemy was already rock bottom in terms of morale.

This was a good sight to witness.

Jon left the management of the troops to Odokuro and focused the Sigil Stone on himself drawing a lot of energy to summon up a gigantic stereo speaker with [Bardic Knowledge].

He then handed the Sigil Stone back to Xikil and played the music.

"So, Mortal. Today we'll see your comeback?" Xikil asked looking forward to the slaughter.

Jon smiled.

"Don't call it a comeback… I've been here for years… I'm rocking my peers… Puttin' suckers in fear… Makin' the tears rain down like a monsoon… Listen to the bass go boom!"

"Huh?"

Jon smiled and pointed to the spectral speaker behind him.

<LL Cool J - Mama Said Knock You Out>

As the lyrics and music started to sound, Jon was already marching forward towards the Forsworn.

"Don't fear them! We stand together, we are stronger!" Alaric shouted and rallied his force of almost three thousand men. Ten times the number of the undead.

On the other side, the music pumped up Jon and his undead increasing their speed by 25%. The charge of the few against many was terrifying as the Forsworn were pushed back hard at the first clash.

The undead horde wasn't normal. They charged like something out of the world and when they clashed with Forsworn, the climbed each other and swarmed them like the tide.

Jon was going forward on moderate speed, the mace in his hand would take a life each time it swings. Still, his eyes were glued on Alaric.

"I am coming for you! GRON VUTH STAAD!" (Bind, Stop, Place)

Jon's shout was prepared for this situation, it targeted no one other than Alaric who was 50 meters away. Once it hit, it didn't break his bones or tear him apart, it only formed a barrier around him making him unable to escape and no one able to come to his aid.

Alaric was stranded.

"Protect the Prince!" Some brave Forsworn warriors rallied up around the barrier and tried to protect Alaric.

"No! Run!"

Dismayed about his state, Alaric shouted for his men to leave him but there was no time for them to even focus on him. Jon has already arrived with Odokuro and walked towards those warriors with a bloodthirsty smile.

*Bash* *Bash*

*Thud*

*Splash*

Jon wasn't aiming for the kill with those warriors. Actually, he recognized them very well. These are Alaric's gang who paid him many visits when he was captured and took turns on torturing him.

He broke their limbs in front of Alaric's eyes and mutilated their bodies alive.

"FAAZ AUS AG!" (Pain, Suffer, Burn)

He even used the [Agony Shout] paying them a special service of pain and suffer.

They twitched on the ground and quivered trying to escape the torture. Jon made them say things they would never say in their lives just to escape the pain.

The concept of torture in the Dragon Tongue carried a horrifying meaning that Jon perfected in the Reach. Compared to the time when Jon used the shout on Erikur, the effects then and now are a world apart.

Their minds, wills and self-worth broke. Killing them won't bring joy anymore so Jon left them to die under the march of his undead.

He looked at the ashen-faced Alaric and grinned.

"Don't worry. I won't use that one on you, Blood Eagle. I have something special just for you. Hehehe!"

The Forsworn horde retreated forsaking Alaric as it seemed he is safe for the time being.

The music filled the world and Jon was dancing with his head as he went forward to kill more Forsworn. His Labour and deal with Molag depended on that.

The more he killed, the more power he got but he directed it all to Odokuro who was the real summoner of the Undead Army.

"GAAAH! I'LL KILL YOU!"

A figure charged at Jon with strong momentum, it was Molvus Blackhorn, the leader of the Minotaurs.

Molvus was aiming its horns at Jon's vitals but Jon was aware and avoided by a hair's width then clashed with Molvus in hand to hand combat.

A Human vs a Minotaur in a melee fight was very unadvisable in some cases but Jon and Molvus locked hands together and their foreheads clashed. Jon avoided the horns of Molvus desperately but the Minotaur possessed the weight advantage. Jon's muscles enlarged and showcased his true physical might pushing back the Minotaur alone.

"Im-Impossible!"

"Nothing is."

Jon gained himself some hard-earned space and switched from wrestling to boxing and kicking. Not even a Minotaur was an exception when it comes to fighting with Jon in such close quarters.

Jon punched out two jabs followed by a right hook, a kick pushing the knee backward and an uppercut. Molvus tried to use his large arm only to get his legs kicked again then a storm of kicks and punches came down as Jon went wild.

Realizing that Jon was not good at wrestling and preferred brawling, Molvus threw its body at Jon pinning him down. Realizing that his advantage was facing a crisis. Jon used Molvus's momentum and took him down with a backflip slam.

He hurriedly took out [Molag's Mace] and intended to finish Molvus but the latter was too nasty and held the head of the mace before it crushes him. Jon thought fast then twisted the mace and called out [Greed] to transform it into the Harpoon form.

The Harpoon was easier to control and it went through Molvus's chest. Jon tried to grab out the soul but Movlus was not dying yet.

Jon stood and pulled Molvus up by the harpoon, the later was extremely focusing and tried to fight off his soul being dragged out from his body by the harpoon. Jon used that to force the minotaur to kneel then came behind him then took out a fancy dagger. It was [Mehrunes' Razor].

Jon and Molvus were both facing Alaric who was watching from his cage, Jon simply put the dagger on Molvus's neck and slew him while grinning at Alaric.

His eyes were gleaming viciously as Alaric saw his ally get killed like that. He fell on his knees and a desperate look appeared on his face.

Exactly what Jon wanted to see.

"HAAAA!"

A war cry sounded as six arrows flew towards Jon from the back. The leader of the Centaur Clan, Vernon Windwalker, was charging towards Jon alone. He was surely pained to see his people die under the blade of Odokuro.

Jon dodged four arrows and the remaining two were deflected by the armor leaving some traces on the magical fabrication. Jon knew that this Vernon is a good archer and needed to be dealt with. The problem is… that Centaur was insanely fast, maybe as fast as Nefertiti.

"Heh heh! Do you think I didn't come ready? NEL VEN QO!" (Fast, Wind, Lightning)

This shout was another self-enhancement shout just like [Battle Aspect] that envelops Jon with Silver Spectral Armor. This shout is called [Flash] and it was incredible.

As Jon was enveloped by Silver Armor, he was also enveloped by a Storm Aura. Just as he moved, he was so fast to the point that he was waiting for Vernon already ahead of him.

"Caught you!" Jon still had the harpoon in his hand and he stabbed at Vernon.

The Harpoon went through the Centaur's abdomen and pierced through the muscles but the most terrifying thing was how Vernon felt his soul being dragged out of him.

He held tightly to the harpoon just like how Molvus did. Noticing the large shadow approaching from behind, Vernon could tell that Odokuro was right behind him and…

*Slash*

One slash by the iron katana sent Vernon's head to Alaric's feet.

Now the two heroes that came to aid him were having a first class trip to Coldharbour.

Jon couldn't take enough from the expression on Alaric's face. He approached the barrier he made around Alaric and his hands went through it.

"So… how does it feel being this helpless?" Jon asked.

As it seemed, Alaric's soul has already escaped his body just by looking at his eyes. Jon still wanted to save him for last but the situation needed to make a fast example.

Just as he was about to grab Alaric, an arrow broke through space and arrived at Jon seeking his life. Jon recognized the power behind the arrow and knew he can't face it with his weakened state, he hurriedly jumped to the other side.

The arrow landed on the barrier and ripples of energy appeared on it causing it to break like glass. As there was no more barrier, Alaric was free once again.

"Motherfucker!"

Jon couldn't afford Alaric escaping so he stabbed a spear in Alaric's knee pinning him on the ground.

Jon then turned around and shouted.

"WHO DARES?"

Someone from the sidelines tried to interrupt his fun time with Alaric, that surely was a grave sin.

Not willing to answer, four more arrows targeted Jon viscously. They all were aimed at his legs, heart and head.

Under the effect of the [Flash Shout], Jon moved away with ease dodging every arrow. This assassin was annoying him to Oblivion.

"Dammit! Get him."

The assassin seemed to have given up on shooting down Jon and ordered his partners to move. Jon felt four Auras but they were all too stealthy. Without his real Magic and Aura, he was in danger but…

"Humph! Ignorant fools, LAAS YAH NIR!" (Life, Seak, Hunt)

Jon used the [Aura Whisper], a Thu'um that is not a shout but a whisper. His eyes could tell where the four assassins are right away.

Without further ado, Jon was already striking those assassins first. He kicked a large stone like a soccer ball and it hit a mage among them that was about to cast a spell that felt dangerous.

The other three moved at the same time when they realized that Jon found them out. A Redguard with twin curved swords, a Wood Elf with a bow and an Imperial with a spear.

Jon was cornered in a split of a second but he was already aware of their movements. A spear thrust to the neck, an arrow to the head and the twin swords to the legs.

Jon jumped with a flip rotating horizontally in the air. The spear and arrow passed above him and the twin swords passed beneath him. As his face faced the ground, Jon let out another shout.

"FUS RO DAH!" (Force, Balance, Push)

The shout was aimed at the ground but once the force wave struck the land, it turned all around and moved like a circular shockwave.

The three assassins were struck down before they know it and Jon was already counterattacking. As soon as his feet landed on the ground, Jon charged at the spear wielder and used [Mehrunes' Razor] to one hit kill the Imperial. Odokuro snuck like a snake and his katana pierced the Wood Elf archer killing him right away.

The third assassin recovered and charged at Jon, Jon knew better than to turn around and face that man. He started running the other direction and the Redguard chased him. Before any could tell, a katana slashed down at the Redguard causing him to retreat.

It was not Odokuro, it was Jonrad.

Jon turned around frozen by the sight of his father and Jonrad looked at Jon with a heartbroken face.

His son was in front of him but both his mental and physical condition were unsightly. His body was clearly weakened and half of it was pale like a draugr, on top of that, Jon was turning into a murdering demon that sought out destruction in a grim fashion.

"Alina told you not to show up, was any of this necessary?" Jonrad scolded.

"... I have to." Jon said.

"Then get done with it."

If you can't prevent your loved ones from committing an error, help them get out of it the right way.

Now the King of Ash, Jonrad Firemane and his brother-in-law Tyr Firemane joined the fray.

"King of Ash!" The Redguard assassin seemed to have recognized Jonrad.

"Ghazi of Taneth!"

"I'll kill your son like you killed my father!"

"Get over it, that was 18 years ago." Jonrad waved his flaming katana at the Redguard and clashed with him in combat.

Sure of Jonrad's easy win, Jon turned around to look for Alaric. Sure enough, he was being dragged away by the Forsworn.

"No, you won't!"

Jon moved towards Alaric as a flash of lightning. Many third parties tried to make a move on Jon as he ran this fast. All of them were assassins and enemies of the Firemane Clan who rushed to kill Jon once again.

Jon could fend off most of them as none was as dangerous as 'Ghazi of Taneth'. The ones who Jon left were not merely left but his [Wrath], Odokuro, was claiming them with nimble moves stealthily while they are focused on Jon.

As he approached Alaric, Jon felt his a portion of his foot that was supported by [Greed] lose power. It meant he was running low on Essense Energy. He immediately took out [Molag's Mace] and swung it at a dying Forsworn near him to get his Soul and Essence.

Jon almost froze for a second feeling some Deja Vu but that was not the time to daze. He looked at Alaric and chased him right away.

The Forsworn were already retreating on the high ground while being covered by a band of hags that kept casting Magic at Jon's undead. The number of the 300 undead was significantly reduced to 100 and they were no longer effective Jon wanted to summon more but more allies appeared.

*BOOO*

It was a horn, his horn, the Company's horn.

Jon looked toward the sound to see, the Dare Troopers sweeping the battlefield on Flame Atronach Horses. It was a glorious charge!

The Hags were all being hunted by the lever-action crossbows and the Forsworn fell like flies retreating to a cave at the end of Karthspire and fortified the entrance.

Alaric was desperately crawling away from Jon but the latter merged [Greed] and [Molag's Mace] once again then threw the harpoon at Alaric's calf pinning him down for good.

The harpoon's stab was a death sentence. It meant that whenever it gets out, it will snare the soul with it.

Alaric could tell.

This was his end.

He closed his eyes and accepted end calmly but a shadow and a hand grabbed him from his hair.

"Not so fast!"

Jon won't let him die just like that.

"Two Daedric Princes ordered your demise. Azura wanted you dead so that I remove the curse you put on me and Molag Bal wants you tortured and Soul Shriven… and honestly, I will enjoy it."

Jon took out four large logs of wood and pinned them together on the ground with nothing but his brute force.

The fight was already over and he was at the center of the attention.

Alaric got pulled up once again and Jon took out some nails and a hammer. He put Alaric's hands on the logs and nailed them. Alaric screamed from pain but it was not the end, his other hand was nailed to another log.

"Xikil! Come." Jon called for the Dremora who came dragging a person who had a sack on his head.

Jon took that person and nailed him to the other two logs as he did to Alaric but the man didn't even let out a groan.

Both men were position facing the cave the Forsworn retreated in, of course, the Forsworn were watching everything.

"Behold! This is your Prince you ever so proud about… the one you call 'Blood Eagle'." Jon presented Alaric.

"And this." Jon walked to the other man and pulled away the sack on his head. "This is your king. This is Madanach!"

Jon's voice descended like cold water on everyone. Of course, Madanach was known as the last Reachman King… who was supposedly dead to many.

Even Alaric was looking at Madanach with hollow expressions.

"Let's not delay this any further." Jon said as he took a dagger from Xikil.

"Blood Eagle." Jon called Alaric, "In my past life, we also knew something called the 'Blood Eagle'. It was something I always wanted to perform on you since day one… Lucky you!"

Jon smiled as he put the knife on Alaric. This was going to get bloody.