/////////////Ruins of the castle of the two sisters//////////////
"So... let me see if I understood..."
The verdant undead began, pointing at a crudely made sketch of a top-down view of the fortress he and several other undead were currently standing outside of with a stick in his skeletal hand.
"With help from the big dragons standing out here doing fuck all other than looking like oversized gargoyles..."
Trephor continued while pointing at the nearest titanic dragon, the latter huffing and growling in annoyance as she shuffled backward with her index claw carving seven-foot-deep holes into the soil along the fortress' perimeter. Once she remembered she could do nothing about it without incurring the wrath of her master, she set down a massive gemstone in the hole she just finished digging and resumed her work. Seemingly ignorant of Dreadwing's apparently wounded pride, the skeletal scribe, translator, and dad joke enthusiast continued.
"We'll dig out a seven-foot-deep summoning ring, bury those big gems Anvari and the unicorns have been carving runes into around the castle... and then what?"
The undead asked, redirecting his preferred pointing stick at the ever-growing mound of multichromatic gems near the crumbling castle's front door. As if on cue, a group of five undead dragons no taller than he was walked into view, hoisting gleaming gemstone about as big as a fully grown manticore over their shoulders.
"one, two, three, four! one, two, three, four!"
The dragon in the back of the group repeated, the footsteps of his comrades impacting the ground to the rhythm of his voice. Trephor watched as they marched towards an eight foot tall mound of equally large gems and drop their cargo on said mound.
Shortly thereafter, a massive claw covered in small patches of cartilage and the odd spot of steel blue scales grabbed one of the comparatively diminutive gems. Raising his claw to the glowing embers that substituted his eyes, the once-mighty Dragonlord Torch analyzed the shiny rock pinched betwixt his digits. Finally, when he was certain he was holding the right stone, he segregated it to the pile of agates, located between the rubies and the sapphires.
It irritated him to no end being there, separating pebbles for the old bones of an angry god he neither respected nor cared about. But before repeating the mind-numbing chore he had been assigned, he looked down at the strange couple below him.
The morbid realization that he couldn't physically smirk was overshadowed by the thought of his daughter leading a powerful army of magic-wielding dragons blessed by the god queen Tiamat herself against an uncoordinated army of undead. It was enough to bear the obscenely degrading task of sorting gems in silence.
And just enough to miss the even more diminutive undead dwarf levitate one of the dazzling topazes over towards a waiting Spectre Lulamoon, eagerly waiting to use her magic once more.
"We wait for Azazel to bring the last two components; we can't begin the ritual without them."
Mia answered, looking up from the crudely drawn map on the floor to find Trephor's skull tilted to the side inquisitively.
"Them?"
The verdant scribe asked.
"A Nekravol is as much a fortress as it is a living being. And since they are usually created in hell, they can metabolize emotions, souls, and the life force of it's environment into Argent energy. Normally, hell has enough ambient Argent energy to sustain and power the ritual..."
She began, turning herself and the necronomicon in her hands to show her beloved what she meant.
"...but we're working in a less than ideal setting, so we'll have to... improvise."
Mia finished, awkwardly handing the dark tome to her betrothed, her still-missing hand threatening to drop the unholy text.
It took Trephor a hot minute to read and then another minute to reread the page the flower-spangled architect had shown him.
If he still had eyeballs, they would've popped right out as Mia's implication finally clicked.
"...please tell me that roar we heard wasn't a Terrasque?..."
Trephor asked in a hushed voice, fearing that if he uttered the terrible beast's name loudly, he'd summon it out of the aether. Mia was about to answer before another voice cut her train of thought.
"Attention, everyone! Our master is coming in hot and is being chased by an Ursa Major! Dreadwing, Torch, and Skyquake stand sentinel due Northeast and await further instruction! Anvari, take your mages and raise a barrier to shield the castle! Mia, Trephor, climb the northern tower and meet me at the royal suite! Everyone else, get to the vault in the lower levels for cover!"
The voice of the sable soldier thundered in the skulls of every undead in the area. The undead couple gave each other a knowing look before moving swiftly back into the castle. They ran, barely dodging the dragons in their path and paying no mind to the pillar of translucent red light suspending multiple spheres of flesh and an infinitely coiling mobius strip of blood in the castle's courtyard. They almost lost their balance as they heard that sound again; a powerful roar from an equally powerful beast reverberated off the walls and rattled the crumbling monolith. They rounded four corners before reaching the winding staircase that led to the top of the northern tower. As the undead lovers covered the last stretch of stairs before the north tower's highest chamber, they heard it before they felt it.
*BOOM*
*BOOM*
*BOOM*
*BOOM*
Four massive impacts shook the ground, the ancient monolith, loose rocks, and puffs of dust were disturbed as the unseen titan shook the earth.
*BOOM*
*BOOM*
*BOOM*
*BOOM*
Again, the rhythmic galloping of impossibly heavy feet rang out, growing louder with each thunderous impact. With the grace of a battering ram, the verdant scribe and flower spangled architect/engineer bulldozed through a pair of rotten twin doors decorated with what was once a beautifully carved depiction of the banner of the two sisters. The two spear-wielding dragons guarding the door from the inside were understandably startled when the undead couple stormed in. The large, circular chamber was lined with concave shelves housing a myriad of ancient books and tomes. On the far left sat the remains of a pair of queen-sized beds framed with gold and silver-lined wood; or whatever was left of the wood. Opposite to the skeletal pair stood the halberd wielding second in command of Azazel's army; Avalon.
"Grab hold of something."
The onyx corpse said, looking out towards the north-eastern horizon. As the couple stood beside their armored brother in arms, they saw the cause of the earthquakes from before.
*BOOM*
*BOOM*
*BOOM*
*BOOM*
A massive bear made of a star-filled sky galloped after a black and red object, flying very fast towards the castle. Trephor could only watch in terror as his mind tried to wrap around the size of the beast chasing what he assumed was his master. Mia, on the other hand, had found solace as a dome of magical force materialized around the castle. She even allowed herself a sigh of relief when the three elder dragons Azazel had resurrected stood between her and the titan charging them. This would be quite the show.
////////////Azazel///////////////
Between the boost of power provided by the surplus of souls now within me and the adrenaline of being chased by a very angry celestial titan, I had managed to outpace the surprisingly fast beast. I had to shoot the Ursa Major with bolts of magic now and again to keep it angry and on task, something I was really hoping would pay off. Fortunately, it didn't take long for me to see the silhouette of my soon-to-be fortress.
"Avalon, you glorious bastard! Thank you!"
I muttered aloud, seeing the elder dragons I had resurrected move into position, ready to halt my pursuer in its tracks.
"HOLD IT STILL!!!"
I shouted, trusting my creations to cover for me while setting myself up for the lethal blow. Angling up, I missed the northeastern tower by scant inches as I began to ascend. The air was getting colder and thinner as I climbed at an almost ninety-degree angle. I burst through several high-altitude clouds before letting my momentum hurl me the remaining distance.
"Sir, what are-!?"
"MAKE IT LOOK UP AND HOLD ITS MOUTH OPEN!!!"
I heard Avalon's voice cut through the deafening roar of the wind around me. Unfortunately for him, I didn't have time to explain.
*BOOOOOOM*
The sound of a nigh-unstoppable, mountain-sized bear meeting the stopping power of three fully grown, undead elder dragons informed me that the time was now.
"ARE YOU MAD!?!?"
"YES!!! NOW DO IT!!!"
Avalon tried to talk me out of my admittedly dangerous plan, but I was already falling and gaining speed. I couldn't turn back now. My massive creations had managed to restrain the giant bear, but only barely.
With every swing of its powerful arms, my dragons were pushed back and had to rely on one another to overwhelm their opponent by jabbing, clawing, and biting into its hide. With great effort, the draconic trio managed to pin the Ursa Major's arms and holding it's head up for me.
Capitalizing on the beast's vulnerability, I crossed my forearms in front of me and focused on the Ursa Major's magically charged leg. When I pantomimed the action of sundering the titan's limb with my hands, the stars on the Ursidean giant's heel shifted to red.
In a matter of seconds, the beast's leg shone like a small sun before exploding violently in a maelstrom of Argent fire. As expected, the beast fell to its knees. But just as i began to think I had won, a wave of untold anger filled the Ursa Major with strength; its soul suddenly igniting with a blinding white light. I couldn't see and was falling fast, but I could hear, right up until the beast let out another one of its earth-shattering screams. I was blind and deaf, but I was not alone.
One of the few benefits of devouring souls without destroying them is that despite how much they hate me, they will do anything to preserve me; because in a way, they are me.
"THE SNAKE!!!"
"SUMMON THE BEAST!!!"
"BECKON YOUR GUARDIAN!!!"
The damned screamed over one another. Seeing no other alternative, I roared; hoping the beast I had inadvertently created would come to my aid. Surely enough it did.
////////////Avalon///////////////
It all happened so fast, it took me a minute after the blast to register all that had happened. The gigantic astral bear was firmly halted as Torch, Dreadwing, and Skyquake met its charge, creating a powerful gust of wind that slammed into the tower we were in.
The same ferocity I had seen in the dragon lands was being used by the former dragonlord and his consorts. Punches, kicks, hooks, and bites were used to overwhelm the Ursa Major, but for every three or four strikes the undead dragons loosed upon the celestial giant, a swing with the force of a falling mountain needed to be avoided.
This kept going on even as I tried to dissuade my master from performing suicide. That is of course until the Ursa major's lower left leg was enveloped in demonic magic. Another explosion, one of hellfire and dark magic rattled the shield and the fortress on which I stood.
I looked down to see Anvari and those three unicorns Azazel had assigned her, standing on a hovering platform of stone and brick. Lashing out with tendrils of arcane power, the four sorcerors repaired cracks in the translucent shield as the earth threatened to crack beneath it.
Having been knocked back, the elder dragons clambered to their feet just in time to see the Ursa Major lose its right leg to a vicious explosion of dark magic followed by the howl of a falling demon. The Ursa Major's face became if only for a moment, a visage of shock; as if it's life had been flashing before it's eyes.
I'd seen the look in all those who met the end of a blade while I lived, but the Ursa Major displayed offense to this very notion. But just as the titan looked up and tried to challenge my master's suicidal dive with a world-cracking roar, the ground began to shake again.
From the earth, massive vines of black ironwood and azure crystals exploded outward and began to coil themselves around the Ursa Major. These tendrils coalesced into the coils of a titanic serpent, swiftly followed by a humanoid torso with arms and a horned head wreathed in hellfire.
The Ursa struggled, but with one of it's legs being rendered useless and the suffocating embrace of it's demonic counterpart; the beast could only below in panic as it's mouth was forced open.
As my Master closed the distance between himself and the celestial titan, the gorgon-like giant made sure to align the Ursa Major's mouth with Azazel's trajectory. With a loud and almost comedic gulp, my nephilim lord was swallowed whole.
"AZAZEL!!!"
Mia and Trephor shouted in despair. I didn't blame them, I too was scared for my master's well-being, but I knew better than to assume the worst right off the bat. Reaching out with my mind, I had been quick enough to link myself to my master's mind just as he had gathered his bearings.
"He's fine."
I said, adding the pair to my telepathic link with our master. I felt their minds resist the initial intrusion, but they welcomed me in once they recognized my psychic touch. Our collective vision was thrust into darkness, the howling wind and the cacophony of titans clashing had been replaced by the muffled sound of a stomach rumbling so violently that a phantom shudder rattled down my spine.
After a few seconds, the darkness was dispelled by a dim red glow on the lower side of my field of vision. As the crimson light's intensity grew, I could make out the glowing silhouette of my master and the voices of the damned he harbored.
"FEAST ON IT'S FLESH!!!"
"REND IT'S SOUL TO OBLIVION!!!"
"FEED US IT'S POWEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRR!!!!"
The insane revenants howled, forcing me to terminate the connection.
In a spectacle that, in life, I would've found horrifying; I bore witness as the Ursa Major's soul was devoured. The celestial twitched once before going limp.
The serpent then suplexed it's opponent several hundred meters back and howled in a challenge; an evil plea for the violence to continue. For several seconds, the Ursidean giant did not move; lying on its side with it's back turned to us.
That's when I heard the Ursa Major make a noise that filled me with pity. The once invincible giant was rolling onto it's back and groaning in pain. With it's massive paws, the galactic bear had been holding his stomach, and it wasn't until it rolled over in our direction that I understood why. At the center of the Ursa Major's gut an object that I can only describe as a black sun, swallowing the surrounding stars in the Celestial giant's fur.
The Ursa major's eyes had been glued shut, but when they opened, my pity turned to horror. It's eyes, like golden suns crowned with glowing rubies, were slowly being shrouded in darkness.
I'd seen beasts die before, but this thing was more than some "beast". It was intelligent, and it's slowly darkening eyes screamed louder than any sound it could've made with it's throat.
It knew it was about to die, and it was afraid. As the dark sun in the Ursa Major's abdomen grew, the stars that remained upon the titan's celestial frame began to explode and "fall" into the evergrowing void. The beast's fur had stopped glowing with it's ethereal blue light, shifting to a matte coal-black that was only discernable thanks to the moon's light. The Ursa Major's eyes soon became no more than black pits, letting out a long and pitiful sigh as it breathed it's last.
When the danger had passed, Anvari and her trio of sorcerers dropped the translucent shield. As it did, I heard my master's voice alongside a thousand others projected onto my mind.
"My army... We stand on the precipice of our new beginning..."
It boomed.
"Azazel! Are you alright?"
Mia asked, stepping so close to the edge I had to stop her lest she fall. Once I was confident she wouldn't fall, I turned towards the slithering aberration.
The beast then circled behind the lifeless body of the Ursa Major, pried open the cadaver's maw, and shoved it's hand down the celestial's throat.
"My parents believed that by hiding ourselves from the world... We would be free of persecution... That beings touched by the darkness of hell could defy their nature... And through sheer force of will! Have dominion over their own fate!"
Azazel stated, the voices that accompanied him did so in hushed whispers and low growls.
"He's fine. Just let him get the monologue out of his system."
Trephor spoke with a disappointed tone that betrayed how he was actually feeling, walking over to stand at my side. I would've glared at him, but my attention was elsewhere. The gorgon-like giant fishing for Azazel in the Ursa Major's gut, stopped trying to shove it's whole arm past the celestial titan's dislocated jaw when it found it's prize.
"And while their ideals weren't without merit, they were wrong to relinquish that which made them feared by gods and demons alike!!!"
My master continued, the serpent slowly and almost reverently removing its arm from within the celestial's esophagus. Once the titan's hand was free, arcs of argent lightning and waves of spiritual pressure forced the serpent's hand to open.
A crimson spire of swirling faces howling in despair surrounded the silhouette of my master. Wreathed in Argent darkness, his form only bore two flaming horns and two dots of white light that outshone the sun itself.
"From the ruins of this fallen kingdom! Where Nightmare Moon failed to bring ancient Equestria to it's knees! I will usher in an era of brimstone and fire! That will char my name across the history of every world that was and will ever be!"
As the conviction with which my master spoke grew, so did the wind around the castle. Dark stormclouds began materializing and exchanging thunderbolts from blood-red lightning. Rising off of the titan's hand, my lord levitated towards us.
"For as long as the Heavens hate us..."
With a wave of my lord's hand, the Ursa Major was raised into the air and levitated over the castle. The beast was then lowered onto a circle carved for it due West. Glancing towards the serpent, I saw it calmly slither into opposite circle to the Ursa; taking care to not damage the summoning circle with it's coils.
"And the Hells hunt us..."
Azazel continued, the tornado of souls engulfing him unfurled in a cruel mockery of a flower to hoist massive gemstones from the earth and rearrange them across the summoning ring below.
"All of creation ..."
He raved. Even if I had wanted to stop him, the amount of Argent magic saturating the area impeded me from securing a mental link with my master.
"WILL FEAR US!!!"
Azazel's proclamation was the last thing heard before everything went black. It lasted for... twenty seconds? I think. All I know is that I short circuited and was thrust back into the void that waited for me every time my magic was yanked out of me.
What I do know... is that nothing could've prepared me what I saw upon being returned to the world of the living.