The battle of Melantias
The year is now 550 c.e.
10 years have passed.
Constantinople has been rebuild, and that is not the only good news, well, there are also some bad news, but let us get to the good news first.
Erik and Pleistarchus have now become fine young men, and not only that, Pleistarchus, per the advice of Belisarius, now has an army of 300 men at his command, Pleistarchus has trained his men in the ways of Spartan warriors.
Erik has no such army, but he has become stronger in both mind, body and soul, so much so, that Erik has helped the Emperor with creating new and fair laws.
Let us just say that Ullr could not be more proud of his two boys.
And now for the bad news.
It seems that Constantinople just can't catch a break, because, the Kutrigurs lead by Zabergan are coming to try and conquer Constantinople.
On Empress Theodora's command, Pleistarchus and his army of 300 were sent to deal with the turks, and that is were our story picks up, at Melantias.
Pleistarchus and his fellow warriors were the last line of defense to Constantinople.
Pleistarchus could feel the rain on his body, he could taste the blood on his lips.
Pleistarchus could hear his heart ringing in his ears.
He could smell the wet earth and all Pleistarchus could see, was the enemy in front of him.
Pleistarchus tighten his grip around his spear, every muscle in his body tensed up, from his shoulders to his feet.
Pleistarchus tightened his grip even more around the hilt of his shield.
Thunder could be heard as Pleistarchus and his army of 300 now took up a hoplite phalanx.
Pleistarchus could feel his whole body shaking, from excitement, which is why, all that could be seen on his face, was a smile.
Pleistarchus then said, with thunder and lighting in his voice
" Now you turks, just try and get through! "
Zabergan and his men charged at Pleistarchus and his men, but as it is written, the turks did not reach Constantinople that day, and Pleistarchus did not lose a single man.
A feast was held as the 301 returned home.
But this story is not quite over.
Our story now takes place in the dark depths of the sea, where only monstrous creatures live and the one goddess that rule over them all.
At the kingdom of Rán, a kingdom that could put Atlantis to shame, sits the Queen on her throne.
One of the Queen's guards then comes running into the throne room.
" MY QUEEN! MY QUEEN! HE IS COMING!! " yelled the guard.
Rán smiled and then said
" I know "
From above Rán's kingdom was now the world-serpent himself, Jormungandr.
Rán walked out from her palace to speak with Jormungandr.
" Dear friend, where have you been these past 10 years " said Rán.
" I am NOT your friend, but to answer your question, I have been with my wife, these past 10 years " said Jormungandr in his monstrous voice.
" Do tell me, how is Nessie? " remaked Rán.
" She is fine, now, do tell me, what do you intend to do with Ohrmazd's Egg " said Jormungandr.
" Why, I plan to use the Egg to summon Tiamat " said Rán with a smile.
Jormungandr could not believe what Rán just said.
" Have you gone mad! " roared Jormungandr, but all Rán had to say was " Maybe "
" Then how about I just destroy you and your kingdom here and now " said Jormungandr almost ready to make good on his words.
" You could, but we both know that the destruction of me and my kingdom would have severe consequences " said Rán almost daring Jormungandr to do it.
Jormungandr knew what she meant, and decided not to attack.
All Jormungandr had left to say was
" When will you summon her? "
" Tomorrow " said Rán without missing a beat.
" I see "
Jormungandr then went back to his friends in Constantinople, where abon arrival, told his friends what was just spoken, in his cat-form of course.
" That does not leave us with much time " said Ullr.
" And? When has time ever been on our side " said Pleistarchus.
" That is a good point… " said Erik.
Ullr thought about it for a moment and then said
" I will tell the Emperor and Empress, and I will ask Belisarius to get his men ready, Pleistarchus, you and your men should get ready as well " said Ullr.
" Sounds like a plan " said Pleistarchus.
" I will also give my aid " said Jormungandr.
" Erik, are you ready for this? " said Ares, even Roma was concerned.
" Don't worry about me, I am more worried for what we are about to do to this Tiamat " said Erik with a smile.
The ancient mother
At the port and coast of Constantinople, stood the men of both Pleistarchus and Belisarius.
Ullr was on Skíðblaðnir, ready with his bow and arrows.
Erik and Jormungandr were standing by on the port.
The Emperor and Empress watched from their palace as the thunder clouds gathered, and light could now no longer be seen.
That was when Ohrmazd's Egg arose from the mediterranean sea, the calm blue glow coming from the Egg was the only light everyone could see, but then, the Egg started to glow even brightly as it grew in size.
Ohrmazd's Egg was now the size of a small moon.
Everyone now noticed that there was something within the Egg, something that looked like a dragon.
" Tiamat…. " said Jormungandr.
The Egg now started to crack as Tiamat was trying to get free, after a few seconds, the ancient mother was now free.
Tiamat landed in the mediterranean sea, which made the water level rise so much, that everyone at port had to get to higher ground.
Tiamat had the lower body of a dragon along with six dragon heads.
All the heads now roared which almost made everyone deaf, while shattering all the glass in Constantinople.
The battle had now begun.
Ullr, alongside Belisarius' men, started to fire arrows at Tiamat.
Pleistarchus and his men, threw spears at the colossal beast.
" Well, the time has come " said Jormungandr with the smile of a cat.
" Good luck " said Erik.
Jormungandr ran and jumped into the sea, where he transformed into the world-serpent.
Jormungandr now battled with Tiamat, as thunder could be heard.
Erik looked towards the sky and then yelled
" Areadbhar! Zmij! "
First come Areadbhar, with the force of a meteor, straight down on Tiamat, then come Zmij, and alongside Jormungandr, battled the ancient mother.
" We should help as well " said Roma.
" Oh yeah, how are you going to help? " said Ares curiously.
" Come, Lapu! " said Roma.
From Rome itself, came the divine colossal wolf that raised the founders of Rome, the wolf known as the Capitoline Wolf.
Now, Lapu, Jormungandr and Zmij were fighting Tiamat, but Tiamat was showing no sign of slowing down, and it seemed like Tiamat was not at all bothered by the three colossal creatures trying to kill her.
" Well, guess I better lend a hand as well " said Ares, suddenly, the eyes of all the warriors started to glow, all the warriors felt a surge of power running through every fiber of their body, all of them felt as strong as a god of war, which helped them shoot their arrows longer and spears harder, but even that was not enough.
Tiamat was getting closer and closer to Constantinople, and Erik just looked on, not being able to do anything, while his friends were sweating and bleeding.
Erik fell to his hands and knees and said
" I promised that I would get stronger…. I am sorry everyone…. I have failed " a single tear then fell from his cheek, but it was then, that Erik heard a voice
" It is not a sign of weakness to ask for help "
Erik opened his eyes and then smiled.
Erik then looked towards the heavens, and yelled with everything he had
" FATHER!!! "
The skies opened up, and forth came God's strength.
There was he, Archangel Ezekiel in all his glory, wearing his magnificent armor as two swords were floating around him, even Ezekiel's wings had an aura of strength and power.
Everyone, from the humans to the monsters and the one Nephilim, looked in awe at God's strength.
Jormungandr, Zmij and Lapu somehow knew that they were not Ezekiel's target, so they retreated.
It was now only Tiamat and Archangel Ezekiel.
Tiamat tried to attack Ezekiel, but Ezekiel had now teleported underneath Tiamat, Ezekiel pushed the beast of the sea straight up towards the sky, where his two swords cut off all of Tiamat's heads.
Ezekiel then held his right hand forth and that was when a huge beam of light shoot towards Tiamat, reducing her heads and body to ash, Tiamat was now gone.
Ezekiel flew down to his son.
Erik, with tears in his eyes said
" Thank you father…. "
Ezekiel hugged his son, and said
" It is never a weakness to ask for help "
Erik just hugged his father as tightly as he could.
Archangel Ezekiel now returned back to heaven.
Erik and friends were tired and wounded, Constantinople was yet again in ruins, so they had much to do till their next adventure.