"What's wrong mom?" Saya asked as she noticed her mother's body tense suddenly.
"I don't know, I was just filled with a feeling of dread for some reason..." Yuriko uttered as she looked up in confusion.
"You too?" Asked the woman sitting across from her, a more mature version of Rei with shorter light brown hair, Miyamoto Kuriko.
The third woman at the table looked up from her cup of tea when she heard the other two speaking, Busujima Ichika, and frowned slightly. Their comments had filled her with a sense of Deja vu, but she didn't want to give voice to her concerns so as not to worry her friends unnecessarily.
After the Busujima clan and the survivors from Rei and Takashi's neighborhood were brought the estate, the three of them had quickly become friends due to their shared son-in-law, and their rather colorful backgrounds. Yuriko had been a stockbroker on Wall Street before she met Souichiro on vacation, and proceeded to marry him the very next day. After that she became in charge of the Takagi estate funds, and significantly increased their wealth over the years.
Kuriko was once the leader of a prominent all-girls gang before she changed sides to become a police officer. She was so effective at her job that Kuriko soon became feared amongst all of the gangs in the area, and they even began referring to her as 'Precinct Kuriko'.
Ichika meanwhile had joined the Busujima clan when she was young, where her talent with a sword flourished, and she eventually caught the eye of the next clan head. With her skill there was no contention to their intent to marry, and she had helped her husband run the clan ever since, right up until she was notified of his passing, and Saeko took over.
All three were women with rather extraordinary backgrounds, with three amazing daughters of their own who were also present as they enjoyed lunch together.
"How long until the trainee group returns?" Yuriko asked.
"A few more hours yet." Kuriko replied, as both women were waiting on their husband's return.
The rest of the lunch passed as the women shared some small talk and nibbled on their food, though it was obvious that none of their hearts were in it. At some point even Rika and Shizuka joined them as they returned from their patrol, though they both quickly realized that the table didn't have its usual easygoing atmosphere.
The only lively member of the group was little Alice, who was busy playing with Zeke after she had quickly finished her own lunch.
Just as Yuriko was about to call an end to the lunch,
*AROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!*
The horn signaling the return of the trainee group sounded, making the women leap to their feet as Saya exclaimed, "they're early!"
The group quickly rushed to the northern gate as it opened to let those who were returning in, with even Yami and Yuna arriving as well from their own things. While Yami would usually disappear somewhere in pursuit of interesting books, Yuna was nearly as famous as Alex within the estate due to her willingness to help people and kind heart.
Right now however both girls were tense as they flew to the northern gates, which told Yuriko and Kuriko that there was definitely cause for concern.
"What happened?" Yami demanded before her feet even touched the ground, even as the White Mage of the group exited the military vehicle.
"W-we were attacked!" He exclaimed, confusing everyone present as one of the guards grunted,
"You were out there for combat training. No shit you were attacked." The White Mage however just looked at him with undisguised panic as he exclaimed,
"No! You don't understand, it wasn't THEM!"
THAT got everyone's attention, prompting Yuna to step forward and gently cup the man's face in her slender hands.
"Tell us what happened." She told him gently, making the man relax somewhat as he recounted everything that had happened, the vortex opening, and the numerous shapes that emerged from it that they had been unable to identify, even as one of the men with them was butchered.
When he mentioned how Souichiro, Tadashi and the others stayed behind the buy them time there was a sharp intake of breath from the two wives, but thankfully they managed to maintain their fortitude instead of simply breaking down, clinging to the VERY slim possibility that their husbands were still alive.
Just as the man finished recounting their story, Yami suddenly held up a hand to shush them, making everyone go silent as they even unintentionally held their breath.
"Yuna!" Yami eventually declared, before sprouting her white feathered wings and taking off, followed by Yuna as she summoned her Devil wings.
The two girls flew up and over the walls, passing through the barriers Alex had placed as if they weren't there, and down the other side. There, Yami noticed a group of fur covered beings that had been trying to hide amongst the rubble that had formerly made up the city.
"AWOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" One of them howled when they realized they had been spotted, but instead of running they readily charged the two girls.
"Werewolves. We need to capture them." Yami coldly stated even as her hair morphed into numerous hammers.
Yuna meanwhile transitioned to her Thief dressphere as she moved faster than them while using the ability Borrowed Time, making them freeze in their tracks as her ability inflicted the 'stop' status upon them. Those she didn't freeze were quickly subjected to Yami's hammer hair, of which a casual swing had the force to level entire city blocks.
Wether because she was holding back to capture them, or because they were just that sturdy, Yuna didn't know. But she didn't just stand around and watch to see if they'd get up, as she transitioned to the Gun Mage sphere to Scan one of them. It was then that she made a startling discovery.
"They're being controlled!" Yuna exclaimed, shocking Yami as she watched the werewolves she'd knocked down get back up.
Though she knew she'd have to fight back, Yami suddenly found herself hesitating as numerous bad memories came back to her from before she met Alex, and HOW exactly she'd met him. Thankfully she wasn't alone as Yuna readily transitioned to the White Mage dressphere, and cast Esuna while adding Spirit magic to try and sever the connection to the one controlling them.
The werewolves slowed until they halted right in front of Yami, clarity appearing in their eyes for the first time along with the ones Yuna had stopped, before they all began shrinking down as their fur disappeared.
Soon there was a group standing before them of humanoid races, mostly human, but a few types of elves along with a few covered in green skin, and even a couple more curious people like the ones completely covered in fur with catlike features, and a similar one who appeared reptilian instead.
All of them were naked though, and at their head though was a woman who didn't seem to mind the number of men around her, her bare breasts heaving and red hair matted as she looked around before focusing on the two girls.
"On behalf of the Companions, I truly thank you two from the bottom of my heart." She said in an assertive, yet thankful tone while bowing her head slightly, along with the rest of the werewolves around her.
Once she straightened up, the woman continued,
"I am called Aela the Huntress, member of the Circle amongst the Companions. Our two most respected members are....no longer here though...." As she trailed off two of the werewolves behind her approached, nearly identical men, before one said,
"Greetings honorable shield maidens! I am Vilkas, and this is my brother Farkus, also members of the circle." As Vilkas finished speaking his brother uttered a curt grunt in greeting as well, before several of the people behind them also uttered their thanks and greetings, the majority being part of the group called the 'Companions'.
When they finished Yuna stepped forward, and said, "I am Yuna, and this is Yami. I'm glad we were able to return your group to your senses, but I have to ask, who was controlling you?"
The expressions of the group darkened at her question, before Aela spat out, "an evil and dishonorable man who hid for years behind a facade of friendship and loyalty! He earned our trust before killing our Harbinger, Kodlak, as well as one of our most senior members, Skjor!"
"He's taken control of every nation of Tamriel, turning all of its citizens into his brainwashed puppets!" Vilkas snarled wolfishly.
"He's even turned the dragons and Daedra to his side, along with the Daedric Princes!" Farkus growled angrily, before all three stated at the same time,
"""The Dragon Emperor!"""
The moment they heard that Yami and Yuna looked at each other questioningly, both immediately wondering why, and when, Alex would've had time to do something like this, before dismissing such thoughts entirely. He wasn't the type to commit such atrocities unless he had a VERY good reason to.
With them both arriving at the same conclusion though, Yuna told them, "come with us. We need to talk."
...
After making sure the group was dressed, the two girls brought them into the estate to learn all they could about this 'Dragon Emperor', who they both determined was definitely another reincarnator like Alex and Anne. They used magic to take them directly into the meeting room of the castle Alex built for himself and his harem until he could return home, as they didn't want to deal with the group who had escaped from their claws right inside the walls.
There, Yuna went to go fetch everyone who was considered to be a higher up of the estate, which included Rika, Shizuka, Saya, Rei, Saeko, and their moms, along with several others like Yua, and Souichiro's Sergeants. Yami meanwhile messaged Alex to call him back, only to receive a surprising response.
She was still gaping at it in disbelief when Yuna reappeared with the others, among which those who also had access to the Chatroom couldn't believe what Alex had said.
"So these are the werewolves..." Yuriko said as she entered the room alongside Kuriko, who readily thrust the point of her spear until it was directly in front of Aela's face, and snarled,
"Tell me bitch, where is my husband?!"
For a moment no one moved or said anything, as the two women directed different looks at one another, one of fury, the other sorrow and pain. Finally, Aela opened her mouth as she said, "If he wasn't with the group that we followed back, then he was killed with the others..."
The moment she heard that Kuriko's furious exterior crumbled, while even Yuriko's lower lip began quivering before she asked in a small voice, "how?"
Aela directed a firm look at the two women, and said,
"They died fighting. The one with the sword and armor killed many of our kind before the Dragon Emperor ordered his death. They have both earned their place at Shor's table in Sovngarde."
Neither woman knew nor cared of what Aela was talking about, as they both began sobbing silently as they mourned their husbands, while their daughters merely seemed to be in a state of shock. Neither one had ever truly considered the possibility to truly losing their fathers.
"Yuna!" Rei exclaimed suddenly as she looked to her with hope in her eyes. "You can bring them back with your White Mage skills, right?!"
Unfortunately though, Yuna shook her head as she explained, "I'm sorry Rei, but I can't. While I DO have an ability to revive the dead, Raise works similarly to Alex's method in that it won't work if too much time has passed..."
Rei eyes immediately darkened when she heard that, as her father had surely been killed long enough ago that they couldn't revive him anymore, and that was before one thought about the rest of the enemy. However, something Yuna said did catch Yuriko and Ichika's attention, as the former asked,
"Where is Alex? Shouldn't he return if we are under attack?"
Rather than answer answer verbally, Yami activated the table that showed them a live projection of the estate from above.
"What manner of magic is this!?" Aela exclaimed in awe, making her smirk slightly despite the situation.
However Yami's expression soon turned serious as she positioned the map over the region Alex called North America, but all she could see was a massive storm system covering the entire continent.
A hushed silence descended upon them as they beheld the truly massive size of the storm, before Yami tried to zoom in to see what lay underneath it. And when they saw the landscape beneath the storm, the room was filled with gasps and declarations as they beheld an army unlike any other they had ever seen.
"Troll's blood..." Villas swore, giving voice to how everyone felt at that moment.
Undead of every size, shape, and form marched in the billions, ranging from humanoids, animals, monsters, spirits, and even dragons, all marching through a snowy and frozen wasteland.
"Yours?" Yuriko asked Aela and the others icily, but it was Yami that answered,
"No, it's another one. Alex went to go deal with them, so we just have to keep the other ones busy until he can get back."
"Is that all..." Rei asked sarcastically.
"Can he really handle them though?" Ichika asked as she looked over the vast army, doubting that Alex would be able to defeat ALL of them, despite being considered a god.
Yami and Yuna just looked at each other when they heard that, before both girls smiled wryly.
"What is it?" Ichika asked, not sure why the two girls seemed to find her question humorous.
"Alex isn't called a god for no reason. If he so desired, he can simply deal with both groups with a snap of his fingers, along with the entire continent they're on as well." Yuna stated as if it were obvious, stunning the women that THOUGHT they knew Alex, while Aela and the other werewolves paled at the thought.
"P-please, almost the entirety of the Dragon Emperor's forces are beings who's wills he controlling, like ours!" Vilkas exclaimed fearfully, not wanting to see those who had no choice slaughtered like animals.
Thankfully for him, Yuna waved away his concerns as she said, "don't worry, Alex won't needlessly kill those who don't deserve it if he can help it. That's probably why he can't be here for us right now."
Though a sense of relief filled Vilkas the and the other members of the Companions, Yuriko frowned as she asked with narrowed eyes, "I've been wondering this, but by 'Dragon Emperor' they're not talking about Alex, are they?"
Though the werewolves looked confused at her question, both Yami and Yuna shook their heads as the latter said, "no, they're not. Alex would never do the things they've described unless he had a VERY good reason for it, and even then he'd find some alternative method if he could."
Yami nodded in agreement as she added, "I was once like them, until Alex saved me and those who had been enslaved to 'that man's' will like me. He would never do the same to those who don't deserve it."
Though she still had her doubts, Yuriko decided to hold them for now until they knew more about what was going on. Yami then decided to do just that as she moved the map back to Japan, but north of their position where she found a great army that was marching towards them.
"Oh my god....." Rei swore as she beheld the army, which contained any number of people and creatures unlike what any of them from that world had ever seen before. And even more intimidating were the dragons flying around the army as they marched, the greatest of which was a massive black one that dwarfed all others around it.
On its back was a human wearing scale-like armor, who Aela readily pointed to as she said, "THAT is the Dragon Emperor. Not only is he an exceedingly powerful Dragonborn, but he's also acquired the ability to bend the wills of others to his own. The dragon he's riding is none other than Alduin, the World Eater who myths and legends have been sung about for thousands of years, telling how one day he would devour the world to bring it to an end."
Aela then gave Yami and Yuna brief explanation of what she knew of their forces, the different races, their numbers, how many mages they had, and what she knew of the Daedric Princes, demonic gods that were largely considered to malevolent, with only a scant few being considered otherwise. Vilkas and Farkus also threw in their input every now and then, but more than anything they warned the group of the danger of the Dragon Emperor's 'voice'.
According to them he could use an ability called the Thu'um, a powerful form of combat where the user could utilize any number of Shouts to create different effects. According to them there were Shouts that not only summoned the elements like fire and frost, but also ones that could create powerful tornadoes, disarm their opponents, summon dangerous lightning storms, and even steal the life force of their opponent.
Not only were there any number of additional ways the Thu'um could be used, but the use of it wasn't only limited to the Dragon Emperor. According to the Companions, there were several masters of the Thu'um amongst his ranks, which included the usually peaceful hermits known as the Greybeards. And on top of that, the Thu'um was originally the language used by the dragons of their world, meaning each and every one of them could use it as well.
In all...the situation did NOT look good in the slightest.
Even if they had over ten thousand people that Alex had saved, and they were trained to fight, all of their training had been to combat Them, while the sole exceptions were Yami and Yuna. Even if they had firearms and artillery, the other side had all sorts of magical abilities and enhancements that were completely alien to the two girls, and the Companions couldn't help since they despised using magic themselves.
On top of that Alex only made the barriers he put up strong enough to withstand missiles, bullets, and Them. They would collapse almost instantly under the assault of over a hundred dragons, on top of the mages AND the reincarnator.
"Our best bet is to move all our heavy weaponry to the north side of the wall, where we can try to use them to keep the dragons at bay. We'll also place all of our ranged fighters up there as well, Gunners, Black Mages, Gun Mages and so on. Saya, I also want you and the other Alchemists to work on enhancing our artillery in any way you can." Kuriko stated in a commanding tone, drawing on her knowledge of the 'battles' she'd fought in the past while leading her gang in turf wars.
"We should also participate." Ichika said to her daughter, to which Saeko nodded as she looked over the map.
"The Busujima clan will fight at the base of the walls alongside any of those who are willing to join us. We can't just stay on the defensive the entire time until Alex returns." As she said that Vilkas spoke up,
"The Companions will be your vanguard since we have experience fighting the people of our world." As he said that the rest of the werewolves behind him cheered their agreement, though Yuriko looked at them coldly as she asked,
"And how can we trust you won't betray us to this Dragon Emperor of yours?"
For a moment no one said anything as the others looked back and forth between Vilkas ad Yuriko, before the former said, "You can't.... But the same can be said about each of you."
Naturally Vilkas' comment angered more than a few people, but before any could act on their anger Aela stated,
"We've already said the Dragon Emperor possesses the ability to bend others to his will. He could just as easily turn any one of us to his side at a moment's notice. However I doubt that'll happen."
"The reason he brought us to this world was to grow stronger by increasing something he called our 'levels'. From what I recall, I don't think he intends to actually recruit anyone from this world." Vilkas added as Aela trailed off.
Though Yuriko looked as if she were about to say something else, Yami cut her off as she stated,
"We're wasting time. Everyone go and prepare for battle. Rei, show them where the armory is, Yuna and I will start moving the artillery so Saya can enhance them. The rest of you get everyone who's willing to fight ready for battle."
Though they were momentarily stunned by Yami's exclamation, no one could think of a good reason to refute her, so they stood to do as she said.
With the speeds the army was marching it was estimated they'd arrive in a little over an hour, so everyone got to work mobilizing anyone who could fight. Rei helped the Companions get outfitted in new sets of armor and weapons to get them ready, while also offering them some of the Dresspheres Alex left behind in case they'd need them. Surprisingly though, all of the Companions flat out refused since they seemed so much like magic.
Yuriko put out the announcement about the impending battle, directing those who couldn't fight into the bunkers Alex had built for an emergency, while everyone else was armed and prepped for battle. Saeko, Ichika, and Kuriko all helped organize the troops into their different formations. Only those who had actual combat experience were placed outside the walls to directly face the enemy, while those who were trained but not experienced would remain inside the walls as a last defense.
Meanwhile Yami and Yuna were using their flight and inhuman strength to move all of their artillery from their original locations spaced throughout the top of the walls to the north side. There Saya led the team that properly moved them into place, and used the Achemist Dressphere to enhance the shells they used to do more damage, especially against dragon scales.
And as the army slowly became visible in the distance, and the echoes of the dragon's roars could be heard, she was joined by more and more people that specialized in ranged combat, Gunners, Black Mages, Gun Mages, Alchemists, Rangers, Songstress', and the Lady Luck users. One of which was Yuriko, who joined them once she finished helping organize things below.
Rika meanwhile had positioned two different teams of snipers to the far side of the walls to provide precise coverage for their men below, while Shizuka would be part of the main forces with her Paladin Dressphere.
They had just barely finished getting their forces together and in place when the enemy army arrived a few short blocks away, spreading out over the distance while the dragons circled overhead menacingly. The largest of them was a massive black dragon that landed at the front of the army, putting it and it's rider face-to-face with the Companions at the head of the forces outside the wall.
"Aela... You guys are hurting my feelings right now." The man on the back of the black dragon drawled as focused on her within the Companion's ranks.
"As if you have any feelings to hurt you bastard!" Aela growled at him, making the man smirk as he tapped one of the heads hanging from his saddle.
"Now now Aela, what would Kodlak or Skjor say if they heard you talking like that?"
Not just Aela, but all of the Companions bristled with fury at the taunt and desecration of their Harbinger and Skjor, while the members of his army that knew and respected Kodlak similarly grew furious within. Unfortunately none of them could act on their anger, while the members of the Companions held themselves back so that they didn't break the line.
The Dragon Emperor snorted at them in contempt from his seat on Alduin's back, and drew his sword while pointing it at them, "CHARGE! AND DON'T LEAVE ANY OF THEM ALIVE!"
A chorus of roars followed his declaration as the dragons took flight, and his army began charging at the group of defenders. Along with them, numerous titanic figures began manifesting as the Daedric Prince's showed their true and terrible forms.
Immediately a wave of fear surged through the people defending the walls as they encountered the power of the Daedra for the first time.
"W-who's there!?!"
"What is that thing!?!"
"Get out of my head!!!"
People began crying out one by one as they were subjected to the influence of the Daedric Prince's, Boethiah, the Prince of treason, deceit and secrets, Vaermina, the prince of darkness and nightmares, Sheogorath, the prince of madness, Mephala, the prince of plots and manipulation, and Sanguine, the prince of debauchery, hedonism and indulgence.
As they and the other Prince's exerted their terrible influence on them the wills of the people began to crumble one by one, some felt their minds slipping into madness, others heard whispers of their failures and greatest fears in the back of their minds. There were even people who nearly turned their weapons on those they had been closest to throughout their lives, their minds echoing with imagines slights and false grudges.
Just as their will was about to crumble, a bright light suddenly shined from the top of the wall that enveloped all of the people below, removing the effects the Daedric Prince's had on them.
"DON'T GIVE UP!" Yuna cried out from atop the wall, drawing every eye to see her adorned in her White Mage robes, brandishing her scepter threateningly at the fake Dragon Emperor.
"I AM YUNA, PAWN OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR ALEXANDER MORNINGSTAR! AND SO LONG AS I DRAW BREATH, YOU WILL NOT BREACH THESE WALLS!"
Yuna's voice rang out over the opposing army, amplified by her promotion into a Bishop, right as the numerous Songstresses around her began to sing and dance, fortifying their allies while simultaneously weakening their enemies.
"That girl....." Boethiah uttered in awe, before her expression twisted into a sinister sneer. "I cannot wait to corrupt her!"
Seeing and sensing Yuna and Yami's presence atop the walls, commanding their opposing army, all the Daedric Prince's got excited at the prospect of being the one to lay claim to their souls.
Yuna however focused all her efforts on protecting her allies from their influence, even as she cried out,
"FIRE!"