Dragonborn Chapter 441: Answers Between the Sand (4, 5)

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(Part 1)

"A gate that has two guardians, one that lies and one that tells the truth?" Illindar verified what Jon asked about.

"Yes, that was in my vision." Jon confirmed.

"Your vision of a big titted statue of Azura telling you to go there."

"Indeed."

"Why are you the one who gets to see a big titted Daedric Prince in your dreams?"

"Is that what is really upsetting you right now?"

"Yes."

"Focus! Do you know any place with that description?" Jon asked with an annoyed face.

"Of course!" Illindar answered naturally, "Nearly every Redguard know about that."

"Oh!" Jon didn't expect such an answer.

"The Tale of Cyrus, the Hero of Stros M'kai. It speaks of a man who stood against the Imperial occupation of Hammerfell during the Tiber Wars in the late Second Era. This man was said to have gone through thick and thin to rescue his sister only to find himself leading a rebellion, slaying a Dragon and Fighting a Necromancer from the Sload. He then assisted his sister to become the Governor of Stros M'kai and brought Tiber Septim himself to the table of negotiations." Illindar said.

"I know of the Tale of Cyrus the Redguard." Jon nodded.

And how could he not, Cyrus is a protagonist of one the Games known as the "Elder Scrolls: Redguard". Jon may have read the Lore of the game but he didn't play it so he wasn't really that expert on the detailed story of Cyrus.

"So, what does our gate guarded by two guardians have to do with Cyrus?" Jon asked.

"The most important goal of Cyrus was the rescue of his sister. She was sold by the Sload Necromancer to the Daedric Prince Clavicus Vile and her soul became trapped in his realm of Oblivion. Cyrus went after her but he had to go past a game set by the Daedric Prince and that is the gate you are seeking. The Gate of Wish."

"Is that so? Still, the realm of Clavicus Vile is not our goal."

"I know but you are the one who asked. More to that, the Gate of Wish is said to exist in many places and one of them is here in the Alik'r Desert but no one knows where it is."

Jon pondered over the information he was given.

"Do you have any more information?" Jon asked.

"No, but there is a book called [N'Gasta! Kvata! Kvakis!] that was written by the Necromancer Sload that Cyrus fought. The only problem is that the book is said to be extremely rare and forbidden. Only the Richest Collectors and some Necromancers in the world have it…"

While Illindar was explaining, Jon took out a book from the Cube. Illindar walked closer to see the content of the book.

"... Unless you already have a copy."

"I had that book for quite a while but I didn't really read it before. It is written in the Sload Language and it is not really a popular language nowadays. I have a dictionary for that around here somewhere." Jon murmured as he took out another book and started working on reading the [N'Gasta! Kvata! Kvakis!].

"For an explorer, you are really self-sufficient. Where do you get these books, tents and food from?" Illindar asked.

Jon looked at him and answered the most vague of answers.

"Magic!"

After a few hours of reading the book and checking the dictionary, Jon came to understand the Sload Language to a certain extent.

"The book speaks of techniques about Necromancy and Soul Trapping, not anything interesting to me anyway but I found out about those Gates of Wish." Jon said.

"Do tell."

"The Gates of Wish mainly represent the sphere of Clavicus Vile which is making deals with Mortals and tricking them into extremely bad deals that mostly end up with them on the wrong side of fate. Still those Gates of Wish can practically take you to any place in the Universe as long as you wish for it and choose the right way… not the Mundus, not Oblivion, not even Aetherius… the Universe. This is already too broken to be true." Jon explained.

"I don't understand the extent of the Universe but does it extend beyond Far Shores?" Illindar asked.

Far Shores is the Redguard Afterlife much like the Nordic Sovngarde.

"Far Shores is just another part of Aetherius. The Universe extends beyond that." Jon confirmed then continued.

"The Gates of Wish is practically two Gates guarded by two Daedric Guardians, one always tells lies while the other tells truth. As the Gate of Wish is actually two, one of them leads to where you want to go and the other leads to certain death."

"You are not planning to go through that, are you?" Illindar asked.

"You are not entitled to do more than just guiding me, Illindar. Just lead me to the destination I provide you." Jon declared his intentions.

His mission right now, given directly by Azura, is to reach the location known as the Abyss.

The Abyss is not really an unknown realm despite its ominous name. A handful of mages may have heard about it and Jon was one but what was known was merely just myths. Some claim it is a Daedric Realm but Jon believes it is a realm of Chaos.

Now that his quest dragged on to the Abyss, there is no point turning tail or showing regret.

'Nefertiti, does your network have any location on a Double Gate guarded by Two Evil beings somewhere across the desert?' Jon asked via telepathy.

Nefertiti didn't reply for a while until she reached out to her contacts then came back with an answer. Jon took the answer to Illindar.

"Come on! Do you want to go to that place? It is bad news." Illindar complained.

"Never thought a Redguard would back down from an adventure." Jon said.

"Back down my ass! This place is filled to its brim with Undead and Mummies, some old Necropolis that was cursed lies there. The Citadel of Ebonarm sends people there periodically to clear the Undead that go out of the perimeter but no one actually ventures in."

"I see. That's interesting!"

"One more thing. The sand of that place is called the Dead Sand, no living can walk on it."

"Like Quicksand?"

"It is Quicksand but cursed to swallow you no matter what you did. Getting out of normal Quicksand is nothing special but the Dead Sand numbs body and negates the magic. No one can survive it other than the undead."

"Fine, take me to the Edge of the Dead Sand."

Jon had to at least go to the place and check it out.

After a day, Jon found the so called Dead Sand area. It wasn't only the Undead that crawled over it but many monsters that can be said to be very dangerous too. Assassin Beetles and Giant Scorpions were merely a starter of the show as the main predator around here was the Sand Ants. A Gigantic race of ants with the size of a dog.

To make things worse, flying over the Dead Sand seemed to be a suicide mission as the Magicka above it was clearly unstable and very dangerous to navigate through. Also, there was a large cloud of sand storm blocking the view inside and flying blindly is conjuring death.

"As you can see, this place is hopeless." Illindar said.

"Indeed, I never imagined such a danger zone to exist. It is as deadly as a blizzard storms that keep raging over the mountaintops in Skyrim." Jon nodded.

"If that's the case, then let's head back already. We have been going around for a week by now."

"No need. I have an idea."

Jon started summoning a number of Atronachs from various elements and shapes, he then let them free to charge on the Dead Sand.

Normal Atronachs started losing body parts on a rapid base and disintegrated fast. Potent Atronachs were a bit more resilient but had the same fate as the normal ones. Greater Atronachs were resistant to some extent as long as they have Magicka inside them but the Magicka was being drained rapidly. Flying Atronachs couldn't maintain their positions and fell from the sky.

"Truly a cursed place… but I guessed as much." Jon said.

From what he saw, the Undead Energy in the Dead Sands is powerful and can destroy anything other than undead. Still, there were secret passes between the sand that resembled a maze. To cross them, one must know the place too well and risk fighting head on with the monsters without magic.

Or one can just use Necromancy.

Jon aimed the Cube to the side and pulled out a large being.

"How is going, Wrath?"

{MAAAS… TAAAR!}

"I told you not to speak, didn't I?" Jon was annoyed by the loud voice of the Sin of Wrath, Odokuro.

During the past few months, Odokuro was being kept in a pool of magical ingredients to enhance it. Now, the four meters tall Bone Samurai was having a shade of red on its normal brownish color.

[Wrath / Bone Samurai Odokuro]

- Howl of Wrath

- Raise Undead

From the looks of it, Wrath's ability over undead is getting better.

On the other hand, Illindar was dead silent.

"Please, don't mind the appearance. Isha and I liberated this poor giant from the Shivering Isles and now it serves me." Jon said not wanting to admit the fact that he is a necromancer in front of a member of the Citadel of Ebonarm.

Illindar nodded in silence as he watched Odokuro move forwards by Jon's instructions. Despite its size, the Bone Samurai walked nimbly and arrived at the edge of the dead sand.

With a deep grunt coming from its inside and the sound of its bones shivering and reacting to the Undead Energy, Odokuro raised his blade and stuck it in the Dead Sand.

{RAAAI… SEE!}

(Part 2)

"..." "..."

Nothing was felt at first but a second later, the world rumbled and the Dead Sand moved with ripple.

"It is happening! It is happening!" Jon suddenly became excited.

"WHAT IS HAPPENING?" Illindar, on the other hand, panicked.

"Look."

Jon pointed out at the Dead Sand in front of Odokuro. Just like that, hundreds of undead were moving to the surface of the ground.

The undead started to line up in packs in front of Odokuro and Jon walked beside it. He held up [Pride] and cast 'Necrostruction', the spell that lets him reform the undead.

[A/n: Necrostruction was before Necro Construction but I found that merging it sounds cooler.]

The next scene was magical in both looks and actuality.

The packed up undead started to shatter, fall, then get joined up together.

Odokuro was raising more as its master kept reforming them. Those undead were those who died in this cursed sands for generations and now they are being used to invade the place. To turn those who were buried under the sand to the tool of invading it, this was a perfect example of Bad Karma returning on this place.

In a minute, Jon was done with the construction.

"Necrostruction, an absurd spell indeed. Now that I think about it, was this the same feeling Moses had when he split the sea by the power of the Lord?"

The bone path Jon created on the Dead Sand felt like splitting the sea indeed. All those undead were now broken and put back together forming such a dreadful work of Dark Arts that made the hearts shiver.

It needed a lot of power and strength and thankfully Jon didn't lack both.

Illindar was covering his head with his hands from the absurdity of the situation.

"Krilon, just who the fuck are you?"

The Dead Sand region was covered with a large cloud of a sand storm that blocked all the view from outside and inside. Proceeding slowly was the safest option available.

"Weren't you saying you are not going in the Dead Sand?" Jon asked.

"Shut up! I can't let you take the credit alone after coming this far. This is the only place in the Desert no one in my generation ever visited. If I do this, I will be famed for life." Illindar tagged along for that reason.

"Am I still being charged?" Jon asked.

"Of course."

"... Redguards!"

The bone bath extended on the Dead Sand, Jon walked and Illindar followed while Odokuro kept raising more undead for Jon and casually walking on the Dead Sand.

They were completely breaking through the desert on a rapid pace to the point and before they know it, they were facing traps of various kinds.

"These are man made, recent and very deadly."

"I knew this place is not so simple." Jon said while making preparation for a real battle.

He entered the Cube and came out with his best Gear. The Ebony Mail, the Ebony Blade, Ahzidal's Evil Fists, Boots of the Apostle, Ring of Necromancy, Krilon Mask, Pride, Greed, Greater Amulet of Talos, and a Lever-Action Crossbow enchanted with Wind Damage.

"So this is how Krilon looks like?"

"Like it?"

"You look a bit armed to the teeth."

"Yeah, I go Overgeared when I have a gut feeling that I am about to go through a big fight. Are you okay with your gear or do you want anything more."

"I am a Junior Saber Battlelord, I am always in a top condition for a fight."

"Well said, if it gets hairy, I'll bring more allies."

"Other than that and his undead?" Illindar pointed at Wrath.

"You chose to follow me so take my advice this time. We are in uncharted lands."

"Yes, what's your plan then?"

"Cover the left, I cover the tight, Wrath will advance on his own and open path for us with his undead taking the traps."

The two made an advancing strategy and kept pushing forward. The result was them slowing down but the bone path kept extending steadily.

The sand storms around them intensified steadily until Jon became fed up with it.

"I'll take this shit down. LOK VAH KOOR!" (Sky Spring Summer)

Even though Jon didn't want Krilon to be associated with the Thu'um, he had no choice now.

The Clear Skies shout shock the Heaven and the storm couldn't stand against him. In a matter of seconds, it settled down.

"What was that… never mind!" Illindar was about to shout at Jon for scaring him but he looked behind Jon and pointed.

Jon turned around and…

"Shit!"

They were surrounded.

A horde of undead consisted of archers stood on all sides. They were accompanied by mages that were obviously Necromancers.

The number seemed endless and the undead were strong, the Necromancers were also equipped with special boots and goggles to walk on the Dead Sand and through the storm.

The only advantage now was that they were surprised senseless seeing the storm fall apart.

"This won't last long. The storm will return in a few seconds. Kill as many necromancers as you can." Jon rashly commanded while loading his crossbow.

"Nefertiti, kill."

And a sudden battle broke out. Jon shot down a Necromancer and called Nefertiti.

She appeared in her oversized form and charged at three necromancers in a second displaying the performance of the apex predator.

"Carry me, wind."

Illindar was right on their heels and unsheathed his sword Windshear and his shield Targe of the Blooded. He jumped at the undead walking on their heads and skulls while cutting down any strong zombie in his path until he reached a Necromancer and beheaded him.

Wrath guarded Jon's back and held its oversized spear. Once the enemies drew closer, it unleashed all the rage within.

{GRAAAAA!}

The [Howl of Wrath], Wrath's skill, was unleashed like a storm on any and everything in its pass like a horizontal red tornado bringing nothing but destruction.

"What the fuck? Who are those intruders?" A Dunmer Necromancer retreated away while shouting to his ally.

"Don't ask me! We need to retreat and hold the line, our ambush had failed. Someone must report this."

As they were planning to counter, a crossbow bolt hit one of them right in the head.

"Penta Kill!"

Jon shouted while loading the next bolt.

The Necromancers were being hunted on a rapid pace and the Undead around them started to fall on an even faster pace.

In a matter of a minute, all was over. No Necromancer survived.

"Good kills." Illindar said.

"Yeah. But look around, all the Zombies are gone. Only the Necromancers' bodies are left." Jon remarked.

"... Which means all those undead were summoned. This is quite a skill those Necromancers had."

"My thoughts exactly. 20 Necromancers and there were over 500 Zombies. If one can summon 25 creatures then they are Adept Necromancers yet they were quite sloppy for adepts, they are trained on Necromancy as a professional practice or maybe as a Faith." Jon said.

"Which means those are just foot soldiers." Illindar continued the conclusion for Jon.

"Quite organized, discipline, tactics."

"Resources, their gear looks well maintained, unlike common Witches or Warlocks."

"A cult. One not on your map."

"The Citadel of Ebonarm understands Daedra Worshipping and we are enemies to all Daedra but we don't tolerate Necromancers, Vampires or Were-creatures. Krilon, we must report that."

"Too late, look over there." Jon pointed to the south where they were heading.

"... Shit."

Illindar detected the presence Jon detected and aimed his shield forward with his saber on his shoulder. Jon also switched to the Ebony Blade.

A mountain appeared as the storm was still settling in the distance and on it, more than just twenty Necromancers appeared.

They were not just Mages like the small patrol from before, they were Necromancer Knights, Necromancer Assassins and Necromancer Adepts.

"This is one big ass cult."

"The strongest one of them is that Blades Master… an Orc."

"He's all yours, Krilon. The rest are what scares me now. Any plan?"

Necromancers always fought in numbers in terms of individuals and summons. The best course of action is to kill the head of the snake.

"Told you we have allies." Jon, however, was confident.

This is an all out fight now.

"Intruders! Surrender yourselves. Where you stand is an ancient battleground and thousands upon thousands of dead wait to be awakened. Once that is that, nothing will save you." The Orc Blademaster, who seemed to be the leader of the Necromancers Cult, spoke.

"We accept your surrender." Jon replied.

"Hm?"

"I said we accept your surrender, you dumb orc. Get your ass down here and let daddy our you in chains and trade you for a wanted reward." Jon kept provoking the Orc.

"Sigh! He's a fool. Shoot them down." The Orc ordered but didn't let his guard down as he just witnessed the strange group annihilate the ambush team he sent earlier.

Jon's power was well hidden by the effect of [Greed] that kept Jon's Aura from spread but once Jon saw the Archers among the Necromancers point their arrows, he discarded [Greed] in an instant and sent it on the [Ebony Blade] turning it to the [Ebony Glaive].

By the second the volley of arrows was shot, Jon swung his glaive by its side supporting it with his Tyrant Aura.

A strong gust of wind was carried with the sheer power of the swing and met the coming arrows rendering them all useless.

"Impossible!" The Orc Blademaster shouted not believing that the large man in Ebony Armor was this powerful.

Still, it wasn't over just yet.

"FUS RO DAH!"

Without further delay, Jon shouted the Unrelenting Force that hurled at the arrows falling from the sky. The arrows were pushed back towards the Cultists in a chaotic but deadly manner.

"Shit! Take cover. Mages, barriers. Rituals, heal. Warriors, prepare for engagement."

The cultists dealt with the situation professionally.

Still, Jon smiled mocking their useless tactics.

"Heh heh! Yes, yes, move around like ants. Jax, Xikil, come out and have fun."

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