Yes, yes, still alive.A lot of people were wondering where I've been-life okay. I can't make it any simpler. I had no idea the chapter got as long as it did until today and holy crap I could've split it in two. I originally wanted to have this up by Easter, but I had family stuff. So, Happy belated Easter everyone. I hope it was a good day for everyone.

Now that said I will be putting this specific story on the back burner for a while because I need to get back to writing my other stories. I do admit I have a new story in the works and want to dedicate some time to that. I hope you all continue to read my works, your kind comments in the reviews and messages help me feel that my work actually means something.

Shout out to all the fantastic Persona 5 crossovers I've been reading. As well as Vimesenthusiast for his always spectacular works.

Well enough of that, enjoy. Don't forget to review, follow, and favorite.

I own nothing except for my OCs.

"talking"

"thought"

"demonic/powerful talking"

"demonic/powerful thought"

"[non-human language]"

Chapter 11: Take Nordberg

Tenten didn't know what the day would bring after the duel. She knew that Folkvar would win and they would get a strong clan of Norscan warriors on their side. She however didn't expect to be 'claimed' by her mother who happened to be a literal goddess of battle and blood. Clamor whirled around her as Norscan, and Beastmen praised her sacred origin. Her team stood by her, keeping the grabbiest away, as she took in everything. She couldn't help but look back at the statue that depicted her supposed mother.

Chiseled from granite, the statue stood proudly amid offerings of blood and iron. Even in the shadow of a totem to the Hound, the woman's prestige shown through. Her snarling face had a feral beauty with the signs of a true woman of power and an admittedly sexy body. Her head was adorned with two large horns curving out tall with smaller ones forming a petite crown. Small pointed ears peaked out from her admitted lovely yet bushy hair. Large bat-like wings were spread out and wide, indicating she had recently landed on hooved feet. Her shield had the head of some demon in permanent snarl that fit with her spiked and skulled armor. The statue's right hand was raised high to spear her foes, yet the hand was empty now.

Said spear was in her hand still drenched in the blood of Ivar. She looked at weapon as it seemed to hum in her grasp. The pole was of sturdy wood with Norscan runes running along its length. The butt of the spear was a thick spike with the weight being perfect to counter the other end. Said end was a jagged spikey blade that was around the length of a man's forearm. Where pole met the spearhead, more bladed spikes fanned out from a decorative skull of some small horned creature.

As she had walked to the statue of the blood themed avatar, Tenten spun and moved the spear to feel it more. The blade sung as it cut the air, moved and bent to her command, and spurned her to be used once more. The more she tested it, the more Tenten felt that this weapon had practically be made for her, or maybe her to it. There was a sense of completeness, like a piece of her had been found she didn't know was missing.

And yet despite the wholeness the weapon gave her, or the welcoming aura given by the Norscans, Beastmen, and the statue, there was one thing that was more at the forefront of the mind.

"Why did you leave me?" she whispered.

Sigwulf knelt before the totem of his patron beside the christened demi-god as he answered her.

"It is the unspoken law among the avatars. None may have a hand in raising their offspring and are forbidden to seek them until they can understand thought and blade. Do not blame her that she left you with your father. The first stages of life for demi-gods are to learn the ways of mortals before learning of their divine parentage," he spoke in quiet reverence.

"…Then why was I left an orphan in Konoha?" Tenten asked as she looked at the praying chief. "And more over these gods are gods of the Norscan people, right? How or why would a Norscan demi-god end up on an entirely different continent?"

The question did give the chieftain pause. "Hmmm. It could've had something to do more with the avatars fighting again." He started to stand. "The avatars, like the gods they represent, are constantly in conflict more often than not. Many a raid south has been broken apart and driven back due to such infighting. It could be one saw fit to spite the great Valkia by sending you away from being raised by your mortal parent."

Tenten thought it a bit petty and mean to do such a thing to a child, let alone her, but she wasn't a god so what did she know. She felt Folkvar place a hand on her shoulder and gave him a nod to let him know she was alright.

Folkvar decided to speak to Sigwulf as they made their way to collect warriors from Jagged Spear. "I have listened to the tales of the Norscan gods, and from the way they are portrayed they seem less of the intimacy and more destruction kind of deities. How would a demi-god come about?"

"Aye. The avatars create their half-blooded offspring in unusual ways. Neither one completely does the same as the other. I admit it is not something I know completely, but I'll tell you what I know." He and the group climbed into the chariots and took off. "Sigvald has been known to sleep with both women and men and get the with child. Sometimes changing himself to a woman or in-between for maximized pleasure and falls pregnant too."

The shinobi turned green at the thought, especially of the pregnant men. It was too far out there for them.

"Mind soap! Mind soap! Mind soap!" they all incanted.

"Sarthorael also sleeps with mortals at times, but sometimes shapes magic itself and then shoves it into the womb of a woman and she carries the magic until it takes the form of a child and is birthed. Even coming into their dreams to conceive. Fetus may incite plague into a clan and the woman who suffers the most, yet lives carries his offspring. Very rarely will he sleep with mortals, but it has happened."

"And Valkia," the sole kunoichi asked.

"She has laid with only the most fierce and savage of warriors, men and women, as they incite a primal lust to breed even fiercer offspring in her. Yet she has also rewarded those who use blood in such prominent and powerful ways. In both cases, she takes the bloodthirsty nature of her partner into herself and grows it herself. Some partners are so completely drained of their bloodlust that it would be hard to think that they are dedicated to the Hound. But do not mistake them for weak, their cool heads make them even more dangerous."

That left Tenten to ponder her origins to her mortal parent. Was he a warrior too? A peerless killer? A hunter? A woman!?

"Another thing to note is that the mortal will not know or remember that they have been 'visited' by the gods until the god allows them to remember."

"Not sure why they would do that," Lee spoke in confusion.

"Hmph, it's so the child isn't killed prematurely," Neji said.

"Aye," Sigwulf confirmed, "worshipers to the gods exist in all clans. Even the most aligned have those who follow other patrons. They would sacrifice the child to their dedicated god for favor. Do not make those faces at me. Such is the will of the gods, they are beings of Chaos."

At the word chaos, the world around them seemed to shudder slightly. The team looked to see if they were the only ones to feel it, but they seemed to be the only ones.

"Ha," Bruz broke the mood, "so the girly's her daughter eh? I think we're gonna have a right good time boss. Her mum's boss is known for liking heads, means more head popin' for me. He he."

Folkvar looked at the olog blandly. "Your enthusiasm is noted Bruz. Sigwulf, how long will it take to bring your warriors together?"

"It won't take long when they hear of a planned raid. And with a child of Valkia coming to us is a sign of providence. Many may join Jagged Spear because of this too. Still the march through the landscape may take a while."

"Leave the transportation to me my new friend," Folkvar said as the minions cackled.

"If it is friendship you seek, then let my people do something with that shaggoth horn you severed."

Konoha

While Folkvar and his team were fighting in his mother's frozen homeland, the rest of his circle of friends were not idle.

Naruto felt that he was, in a way, left behind because he wasn't strong enough, even if that was not the case. To fix this problem he started training harder than before and even swallowed his pride for more long-term strength to go somewhere he dreaded. The library.

Even now the blond container of the Kyubi had his head in a book. And crying into it.

"Damn it! Why it this so hard!" he muttered quietly. It was a library after all.

"Kit, you knew what you were getting into when you wanted to get serious. This is no different when you're training physically. You've got to pass your genin exam before you can become a legitimate ninja. Now suck it up and keep reading!"

*sigh* "Damn it furball."

"Naruto-kun?"

The Uzumaki looked up to see Hinata carrying a few scrolls in her arms looking at him in surprise.

"Oh, hey Hinata. How've you been," he gave her a foxy grin.

With a fresh blush on her cheeks she answered him. "I've b-been good. I'm still practicing w-with my crossbows and t-trying to work them i-into the family style. Or at least my m-more flexible style for my body."

"I bet she's flexible in all kinds of ways kit"

"Shut up fox!" "S-s-so what's with all those scrolls? Are you studying too?"

Hinata shook her head. "No I-I'm helping Sakura with her p-project."

Naruto started to panic, "I didn't know there was a project due! Help me Hinata!"

She giggled at his antics. "It's not for the academy Naruto-kun. She wanted to study this herself."

"Oh. Wooo boy you had me scared for a second Hinata. Need some help?"

The dark-haired girl nodded eagerly. Naruto closed his own book and took half of the written works from the Hyuga heiress. They made it to their friend in comfortable silence.

The pink hair revealed her location as she had three books and a scroll open on the table while five other texts floated around her. Her head swiveled this way and that as her eyes drank in the information. Her hand occasionally moving to write notes she was taking or to turn a page. A casual flick of her wand turned more pages or extended scrolls. She paused as Hinata and Naruto placed more work for her self-imposed task.

"Hey Naruto. Thanks for helping Hinata out. I might've asked for too many that time." She breathed out and stretched in her chair. "But what are you doing here? I thought you hated the library?"

"Yeah I do, but with the tower as empty as it is I needed something to take my mind off things. I've been training my body, but…someone suggested I train my mind," he silently cursed out the fox. Said fox giving him the bird in response.

"That's good Naruto-kun," Hinata smiled gracefully. "If your dream is still t-to be Hokage, you'll n-need book smarts to back up that strength."

"Especially when it comes to diplomacy," Sakura added.

"Hmm. You know that might work. I've just gotta try and think about this as training to be Hokage!" Naruto exclaimed.

"SHHHH!"

"Sorry," he apologized. "So what are you researching?"

"I'm trying to make definitive evidence that the magic I've been learning, and magic in general, is a different thing as opposed to chakra. I've been going through countless sources both scientific and spiritual explanations on chakra and it's origins, applications and so on to-"

"Nerd!" Naruto and Hinata said simultaneously.

"Oh shut up! You're just jealous you can't comprehend it."

"There she is," a male voice broke into the conversation. As two young chunin came over. From the way they were close together they could tell they were probably a couple.

"Can we help you?" Hinata asked.

"Apologies Hyuga-san, but my boyfriend and I would like to speak to your pink-haired friend," the woman said.

Said pinky cocked an eyebrow. "Okay. So what is it?"

"Ah see my name is Isamu and this is my girlfriend Akane," the man introduced them. "We're what you might call eternal chunin."

"We stay here in the Leaf doing small time things. Guarding, office work, that sort of thing. We're happy where we're at and don't feel like getting promoted for more dangerous things unless Konoha really needs us to," Akane added.

Sakura shrugged, "I understand. Not everyone has the fortitude for traditional shinobi life, but they still can have the skills. However, this doesn't explain why you're here."

The woman looked a little bashful. "Yes, well there is a rumor that went around that you turned people into animals?"

"Yes? Well actually it was giving them animal parts like ears and tails. It was more of an accident really, but I have more control now."

Akane started to blush. "W-well…um-m-m, that is t-to say-"

Isamu interrupted. "What my girlfriend is trying to explain is that our two-year anniversary is coming up and for it we wanted to try something special. We thought of henges, but we wanted something more. When we heard about what you did, it sort of peaked our curiosity."

*Sigh* "Look, I'm not really comfortable with using my magic outside of practice."

"So you can't replicate what you did?"

"I didn't say that. I'm just not sure what you want. And this seems to be more of a waste of time."

The woman suddenly whipped out a hand full of yen. "H-how much would your time be worth?"

The trio of friends looked at the wad of yen in her hand in shock, before money symbols seemed to appear in the young wizard's eyes.

"I may be willing to hear you out after all," she said with a sly grin.

Thus began Sakura's intricate business of using her spells and potions for things that made adults happy for some reason. It would be later in her time in the academy that she'd learn the truth, but she didn't care and wouldn't tell so long as the pay was good.

Far away, a pervert found inspiration.

Resistance HQ

The leaders from Nordberg to Jagged Spear looked over the map of Nordberg itself. The map had to be edited due to the reports given by scouts from all of them. Thick stone walls with spiked metal supports. Towers erected at intervals to rain down arrow fire. One being manned by their inside uruk and his followers. Numerous legion forces that fiercely protected their shamen. Undead and horrors wandered the street. Monsters and some giants had been seen, including a large winged creature. Imperial soldiers were centered in the great hall with Drakan and his champion bodyguards.

The natives were mournful over their beloved capital in such a corrupted state. The same could be said for Team 9 but they had little connection to the place. Bruz's boys were eager for a good scrap. The Norscans and Beastmen were indifferent.

The Beastmen who followed the group back were a tribe called the Jagged Horn led by a beastlord that introduced himself as Ghorros Bloodbreath. He said that his warherd was led to find and follow a child of Valkia as seen in prophetic visions of their brey-shaman. Seeing Tenten he and the host of Beastmen groveled before her, which proved to embarrass the hell out of her. The Overlord took advantage of the situation immediately and pointed out that since she was bound to him, so were they. With the inclusion of the warherd, Folkvar's forces were now comprised of four armies.

"How are the siege weapons coming along," Guy asked Skarin.

"Very well. Now that we are all here, I believe that we have a force to challenge them with an advantage. My lord," he gestured to Folkvar.

Folkvar knew that this was the moment they'd been leading up to. He'd spent time with each army to see what they each had to offer, and what strengths or weaknesses they had. Looking at the map he formed a plan of attack. "With how the city was built, we have no choice but assault from the front. However, with Mozu and his archers in the fortress we'll be able to surprise them. He should also be placing barrels of grog at key points for us to weaken the defenses. I'm going to divide our efforts into certain areas for each army, and have a member of my team with each army for support. Bruz, you will bring caragors for this fight with Lee. Get them to go after leadership or over the wall."

"Righto boss. You want the beasties, no prob!" Bruz grinned.

"Once inside you'll go after the more combat heavy areas. If you see anymore uruk captains, let me know and I'll see about getting them on our side."

"Okay," Lee agreed.

"Skarin, have your shields from the Raven and Ram clans at the fore for defending our troops. This has been your fight for longer, you deserve to be the first in the city. Focus on clearing large points in the city we can use as staging areas or fallbacks. Neji will join you."

"Thank you, Overlord."

The Hyuga nodded stoically.

"Sigwulf, we looked for your people specifically for their hunters, your people will be targeting the monsters more exclusively than the rest of the forces. Guy will support you."

"I'm disappointed that young Tenten will not be with us, but the promise of good hunts will sate us," the chieftain pulled at his beard.

"Sorry, but the Beastmen travelled much further to find her. It would be an insult if she didn't join them."

The Norscan greatly understood. It would be bad to have the warherd possibly turn their gaze to his people after this was over all because of insult. And besides it was only for one battle, there would be others.

"Speaking of which, Ghorros, we'll need your minotaurs ready to break the enemy. Your main targets however are their shamen. Take them out and the enemy can't replenish their forces, well the ones for the legion at least. As I said, Tenten will be with you,"

"[We are honored to fight beside the daughter of Valkia]" Ghorros brayed.

"Alright Folkvar, we got this," Tenten said as she leaned on her gifted spear.

"We'll send ladders up first while our newly made catapults hammer towers and generally keep up the pressure. Take the walls first, then the market and armory before we take the summit. The majority of imperially bought necromancers will be there. Once those are in our grasp we all converge on Drakan's main force in the great hall. Skarin and my team will deal with him and his champions, everyone else take out other leadership if they are there. Still, if you see an opportunity to help anyone else, take it."

"Understood," everyone said.

"Take the night to rest well, for tomorrow we march on Nordberg."

Nordberg-day of siege

Drums. Drums across the frozen fields. Horns blaring. Clanking of metal and sounds of many feet. Bells tolled from the tainted city, no doubt rung by the human imperials. Weapons pounded against shield or chest. Cries of bloodthirsty men and snarling of beasts added to the cacophony of sound. Folkvar never felt more at home.

After making sure their artillery was in place, the many high ridges made excellent vantage points, and ready he strode down the center of his army. The giants on their side were too few and didn't want to be the last of their kind, so they would throw rocks with the catapults. He took in every sensation as he strode with his minions at his heel. Twenty-five he could call upon and he had ten Browns on wolves while the rest were on foot. Nibb led them on a wolf of his own, grinning all the way. The Overlord finally came to the head of the army where the leaders and his team stood in front of their respective forces.

Gazing upon the awakened fortress he saw a hive of activity. Legion forces were so many that there was a host awaiting outside the sealed gate with a large pink and bloody creature that seemed bound in leather straps. A giant. Two shamen were on the wall in two spots along it, red energy crackled around their wizened forms.

From the peak within the town, Drakan came lumbering out. He planted his massive blade into the stone and spoke. Or more likely growled. "Endelig har mine fiender endelig kommet til meg. Jeg må si at jeg er skuffet. Denne festningen er min! Nordberg er min! Du har alle kommet til å dø og vi skal forplikte deg. Skrikene dine vil hjemsøke landet i årene som kommer, og din lidelse skal være min legende!"(1)

Bruz responded first in his new blue colored armor. "My Nord's kinda…okay I don't know what he said exactly, too much throat. But I'd say he says we're all going to die. Hehe, my kinda bloke. Shame we gotta kill'em."

"That is about what he said," Skarin gritted at the sight of the creature.

"If that is so, then today is a good day to die and meet the gods!" Sigwulf roared, making many cheer.

"[Victory is assured! The daughter of Valkia fights with us. Fight with all you have for she is watching!]" Ghorros brayed, clinking his axes together.

With that, the army burst into cries of eagerness and bloodrage. Folkvar took one last look at his team and allies. All nodded in grim seriousness. Taking a deep breath, he drew his massive blade high before pointing it toward the enemy.

"No mercy!"

And like that, the chains were loosed, and savagery reigned. From the throats of men, beasts, gors, and uruks came a great battlecry as they charged the lines of legion peons in an overwhelming tide. The swift caragors sped out first and managed to pounce the larger legion soldiers, while the Norscan hunters hurled javelins and axes at the giant. Uruks mercilessly hacked into the defenders with wanton abandon matched by the legion. Catapults and giants hurled large stones into the city and loud thumps sounded their impacts with the occasional death cries of those within. Nordberg warriors locked shields and moved as one vengeful wall of blades and spears that the occupants hurled themselves on to heedlessly. Gors charged in with their horned heads first before they swung their heavy axes, while ungors peppered the mass of bodies with arrows.

The initial chaos was a few minutes of the most brutal violence any of the four Konoha citizens had been a part of, Tristram was tame in comparison. Guy had seen such things during the Third Shinobi War, but that didn't take away the fierce fighting happening around him. The sights, sounds, and smells would haunt him for many nights. Lee used his training with his monk instructor to great effect as he sped through enemy lines giving heavy blows to his opponents, yet the sound of crunching bone unnerved him. Tenten was in her element as her new spear impaled two legion berserkers. Her senses were sharper as more blood was spilt, but the overall noise was jarring. Neji had it worse as he 'danced' by his enemies. His bloodline gave him 360 vision, thus letting him see every act of brutality and death in brief moments. These flashes when he activated his eyes honestly scared him in their intensity. Folkvar and his minions fought with severe purpose, cleaving through legion forces with impunity. Minions were doing what they enjoyed the most, bashing. Reds tossed fireballs into the intense melee at points to give the Overlord's forces more advantages, while Browns picked up weapons from the fallen to be used immediately as their wolf mounts pounced their targets.

Yet their efforts seemed to be pointless as the two shamen summoned more legion to replace the freshly slain. Now was the time for directing the mayhem.

Skarin called out for his shielded warriors to provide protection for the other clan members as they quickly carried ladders to the wall, slicing legion as they went. Neji made sure to stick close to the Nordberg leader using his buckler to block the arrow fire. The great freedom fighter quickly began ascending the ladder in a mad rush to set foot in the city. With a surge of strength, he leapt off the top of the ladder and drew his sword in his right hand and an axe in the left. The movement caught the legion flat-footed as he separated an archer's torso from its legs. From other ladders came the rest of his men, their moral boosted by the fact that they stood in their peoples' city.

Neji used some chakra to sprint up the wall just in time to protect Skarin's back from a dual dagger wielding legion assassin. His rapier's stabbing advantage took the creature in the throat. A man beside him fell back and screamed as an arrow now stuck from the man's eye. Neij recoiled fearfully from the sight. To those with dojustsu, there was no greater fear than blindness or losing an eye. Metal meeting flesh snapped the branch Hyuga back as Skarin stood above three fresh corpses.

"Keep together boy, there's more work that needs doing. We need to find one of the shamen."

Neji nodded as he chucked a handful of kunai at unshielded legion forces. Those struck dropped as the Nordberg warriors surged forward, swords, axes, and spears held high. Unfortunately, they were stalled as one of Drakan's champions stood between them and the shaman. With a grunt it cleaved through four Nordbergians before barreling toward Skarin. The mighty leader stepped back as the blade fell.

"Neji," gaining the Hyuga's attention, "Destroy those channeling rods. They make killing the shaman impossible. Once their gone take out that withered husk."

"Understood Skarin."

The champion sought to back hand the young man, but grunted in pain as a blade pierced his thigh. Skarin heaved in effort as his sword and axe struck fast and heavy. The champion's larger blade made the brute much slower and was tiring to swing the weapon consecutively. Skarin ducked and dodged while striking when he could until the champion slowed from blood loss. The Freedom fighter tackled the champ and crawled onto its shoulders and stabbed into the brute's chest via the shoulder. It struggled to shake the warrior off as blood sprang out, but it slowed to a stop and fell dead quickly.

The Hyuga began stabbing and slashing with his rapier into the rods utilizing chakra to make his arms go faster. With each hit the rods flashed with released energy until they exploded with said energy, but the force only harmed the legion around the area. He had to kill some legion that tried to stop him, but they were not fast enough to do anything. When the last rod exploded, the shaman's aura of power significantly dimmed before Neji struck with his gentle fist into its chest, causing the heart to explode. Skarin gave the boy a pat on the shoulder as they went into battle once more.

The effect of the shaman's death was immediate. The revival time for the legion forces was slowed and not as many came back at the intervals. This gave the fighters more incentive as their efforts seemed to be paying off. The catapults continued to hammer the towers and brought down one, while a second looked to follow soon. Missile fire from arrows, javelins, and axes took their toles on both sides. But the giant was a more prevalent issue.

The lumbering muscle swatted another three Norscan spears as it stepped onto a gor. The dumb beast was proving to be sterner than they realized as it continued to kill their fighters. Sigwulf could see the javelins and thrown axes that matted its hide making progress, but he wanted this kill for himself. With his battle axe high, he gave a battle cry and charged. Ducking between its legs, the axe bit into the giant's calve and he continued to swing the weapon until that leg was useless. The giant's backhand sent the warchief sprawled on the ground. Sigwulf shook it off as he dodged again to repeat what he did to the other leg. The muscled being cried out in pain before the Norscan scaled its back and planted his rune axe into its thick skull. Sigwulf pulled his weapon free as Guy ran toward the falling giant and gave a mighty kick. The corpse flew to the wall and the legion there could only give a brief scream before the body crushed them and the second shaman.

With the rest of the legion was slaughtered with little worry. The Nordbergian warriors opened the gates for the rest of the attackers. More legion war in the city, but there were undead and uruk mercenaries waiting. Folkvar's own uruks had blue warpaint or armor accessories to identify their allegiance to the Overlord. Ghorros gave a bestial roar and the minotaurs charged first, goring enemies on their horns, crushing them, or slicing them with huge axes. They smashed a massive gap in the enemy forces for the caragors to go in next followed by the rest of the army.

Folkvar's blade crushed the armor of grave guard skeletons as his minions either fought beside him or chucked fireballs into the melee. The Reds happily targeting the more flammable undead and watching them burst into flames. Bruz was laughing loudly as his mace caved in another legion's face.

"Oh boss, if this is what we're gonna be doing, I can honestly say this little shindig is just the beginning," the olog said.

"Glad your enjoying yourself, but I believe that our forces should begin to divide and conquer," the Overlord said. "Take your men and focus on clearing out the other uruk or olog leaders. Or getting them on our side."

"Gonna need to define focus boss. Get out o'here!" Bruz bellowed as he sent a shielded legion into a wall to splat against it.

The Overlord yelled his commands over the din of battle. "Ghorros, take your gors and find their shamen or we'll be overrun. Skarin, have your men take out the imperials' points. Sigwulf, hunt down those beasts and kill the necromancer. Team 9 stay with your groups. Let's kick these fools out of Nordberg!"

Drakan paced from his lookout, wanting to enter the fight but couldn't risk it yet. At least according to his "allies". Drakan hated these Imperials, but they had him on a leash as he needed the extra forces to deal with Skarin's army and the Overlord. Their people had done their duty to the old one for years, yet with his fall why should they wait for his heir? Why should he wait for the heir? Why not take Nordberg for himself? Now it seemed his ambition was weaker than this Overlord's.

Ghorros bit the neck off a legion grunt as he led his herd toward a part of the city that held a cluster of shamen. By his side was Tenten with her new spear, a mad but focused glint was in her eyes as she carved a path. He could feel her mother's presence echoing from her as she killed. All surrounding Beastmen felt a battle frenzy to throw themselves more into the fight.

"Tch. This is taking too long. Folkvar is counting on us," She said as she whipped out three special kunai.

She chucked them in the mass of grey-fleshed bodies, sounds of thuds and meat meant she hit her targets. The paper parts suddenly caught alight and three explosions not only sent chunks of gore everywhere, but also gave the attackers more room to charge. And if Beastmen could attest skill to one thing, the charge is a high one. Their horns and general muscle gave them a definite chance to spearhead their part of the siege.

But Drakan would not let his main bulk fall without a fierce fight. Four shamen were in this section of the city on constructs made from the destroyed homes of families. Their watchers were legion berserkers, legion with metal shields, three of Drakan's champions, and two giants.

Ghorros cackled, "[Now this is more like it!]"

Skarin and his freedom fighters clashed with the Imperials. Shield wall versus testudo. Browns and Reds also attacked the Imperial lines but retreated as the Overlord called them back.

"This isn't working," he thought, "As long as that line holds we won't-Hello?"

Folkvar saw a fatter Imperial wearing more ornate armor shouting at the testudo to hold. A man in control of weak minded peons. A weakness.

"Nibb, take those on wolves over that collapsed house and kill the man in the gold armor," he commanded.

"Yes Mastah!" the eager minion whooped.

The overlord got his Reds as close as possible and had them throw their burning projectiles at the man. Shouts of instruction turned to cries of pain and the scent of burning flesh wafted into the noses of the legionaries. Nibb and his wolves made a jump over the defenders' lines and attacked the burning man. The wolves gnawed at his legs to bring him down and the Browns atop them bashed or slashed him until his screams became silent.

Without their centurion yelling at them, the legionaries' lines started to weaken and lose their discipline. Skarin's men exploited their laxness as shields were yanked away or turned so sword, spear, or axe could end them. The minions threw their weight in as the wolves rear charged the formation and Reds shifted targets. Panic spread as the formation finally crumbled and the soldiers not slain either surrendered or ran.

Folkvar used his domination spell on them. Their eyes, once full of fear, became dull and obedient. Folkvar figured that Nordberg would need to be repaired and the Imperium had been so generous. Giving a nod to Neji he took his minions to move to Bruz's position. The Hyuga took deep breaths as the length of the fight was starting to get to him, not having any of his teammates' endurance. Seeing the group moving on, he wiped the sweat from his brow and went to safeguard the leader as more catapults fired haphazardly into the battlefield of a city.

Lee sent his opponents away with powerful punches and bone breaking kicks. Bruz had his uruks beating on enemy uruks with his same smirk on his face. Caragors pounced on more uruks, some had riders that swiped from saddles, and what few ologs there were squashed with glee. The mayhem was only distinguishable from the warpaint they had. The tide of blue seemed to be doing far better than the reds by the bodies on the ground. Lee flipped over defenders and broke their backs with a swing of his staff.

Suddenly amid the uruk scrap, a joyous cackle could be heard, and they turned to see an uruk wielding two axes in the likeness of a dragon and far better armor than those around him. With him were two others who seemed more distinguished as well. One had a bronze mask, a red hood, dark gauntlets on his hands, and knives on his waist. The other was heavily armored and carried a hammer and bombs.

Bruz looked put out. "Oh not these guys."

"I can't believe old Ur is missing this much fun! Dragon lord my ass! Ha ha ha!" the axe wielder jeered.

"Regardless we have a job to do," the armored one growled.

"Come let us show them the fires of their reckoning. Ignite!" the masked one cried out.

Fire arrows began to rain into the fighting, heedless of which side died. Uruk defenders stepped forward to cover the rest of the forces who weren't as armored. Lee batted away the projectiles almost without care, he was trained to remain focused on his surroundings, assessing the situation. Bruz simply lifted his arms to block all the shots.

"Wait," he said. "ain't you missin' one?"

Suddenly the olog was shoved into the wall by another olog. This one slightly bulkier and in golden armor.

"Don't think so Bruz. This time I, Az-Larr, will prove I. AM. STRONGER!"

"Oh boy," Bruz said as he started to struggle.

Sigwulf continued to hack with his massive axe at the tide of legion and undead. Any normal man would've struggled to lift the massive weapon with two hands, yet he swung it with one arm. He was a son of Norsca and a champion of the Hound, such weight meant nothing to him when battle called. He turned another skeletal spearman to dust with a bash of his shield as blood pounded in his ears.

Guy fought with all the skills a veteran shinobi had, deftly deflecting swings from the shambling corpses. The thought that there were powers that could bring so many people back from the dead as puppets of sickening powers horrified him, and offended his normally youthful attitude. If their enemies had such abilities in the Third Shinobi War, Konoha would surely have been overrun thanks to the amount of life lost.

The Norscans pushed through the progressively undead forces with savage ease. Berserkers flew into a battle frenzy as these fodder troops were sent against them. Marauders were following with axes and great weapons behind them just as eager, while their hunters with javelins and throwing axes at picked targets. They had to for as they went into the eastern half of the city, an aura of death wafted in the air and more creatures showed themselves.

Crypt ghouls skittered across the grown with hungry mouths eager for flesh. Giant bats tried to swoop down on them, but they were more of an annoyance than anything. Dire wolves fought with Norscan warhounds and frost wolves in an animalistic frenzy. Sigwulf, Ulk, and Guy lead from the front as the men and women of Jagged Spear fought on until they found the necromancer.

He was in the cemetery, of course, surrounded by piles of corpses from the Nordbergian warriors or civilians that had fallen throughout the war. Many looked gnawed on by legion or ghouls. He was a decrepit looking man with a hunched frame leaning on a scythe like staff with a blade in his other hand, both alight with undeath energy. Tomes and human body parts decorated his filthy robes as he continued to chant his foul spells.

A rumbling revealed a band of crypt horrors wielding large bones as clubs lurch toward the Norscans. Hunters prepared axes and javelins when a shadow crossed the sky to land in front of the necromancer protectively as more undead rose or gathered.

It was a large bat-like creature undead like the rest of the vile necromancer's host. Its large wings looked more like stretched meat between bones to match its decayed form. The teeth seemed more prevalent due to said decay as they shown in the light. Eyes glowing from fell magic gazed at the warrior host. Opening its maw, the terrorgheist's screech was heard across the city.

Ghorros had the minotaurs charge in first to attack the standard legion forces and keep the champions occupied, while he and Tenten would take on the giants. He roared a deep bestial call and charged horns first into the giant's leg as he hacked away. The lumbering foe grunted in pain tried to kick the beastlord away but missed and tried to grab him instead. Ghorros ducked beneath the arm while raising his twin axes high enough for the giant to inflict deep wounds by its own actions. Blood poured from the forearm as the giant gripped his wound. Ghorros licked blood from his weapons.

Tenten danced around her target occasionally thrusting her spear out quickly to bleed her foe. Her barbed weapon leaving grievous wounds. She knew she couldn't count on overpowering the beast, but she knew what points on the human body had vital veins it needed to carry blood. Cutting into these points, she hoped that the giant would slow down enough to deliver a killing blow. Yet no matter how much blood leaked from the creature it would not slow. Then it got lucky and grabbed hold of her to roar in her face before squeezing her. Tenten started to rage at being held and at her plan's failure, then she took a deep breath and smelled its blood. She reached out with her newly discovered power and the metallic scented fluid surged to her. Blood was taken into her body and she felt power. The daughter of Valkia showed the giant her red eyes and a vicious grin.

She thrashed more fiercely until she was able to free her right arm. Thirsty for blood she swung her ridiculously sharp spear and cut all the fingers from the giant's left hand. The giant dropped the warrior princess to mourn the loss of digits. A fatal mistake. Now free, Tenten leapt at the giant shield first and knocked it into a building with her demi-god strength. The giant, buried under the debris, was helpless as Tenten cut its head off.

Ghorros felt the aura of bloodlust the daughter of Valkya gave off and found himself stronger than ever. With renewed vigor he cleaved the leg off the giant before him. Forced to a kneel, the now three limbed behemoth desperately tried to keep the beastlord back but was dismayed to find it futile. The other beastmen felt the touch of the gods and fought with more abandon, hacking into legion forces to get to the shamen or kill the champions. Ghorros absorbed the sounds of battle as he buried an axe into its hand, pining it, before grabbing the giant's lower jaw. With a roar of blind animalistic rage, the jaw was torn from the giant in a welt of blood and spit, then subsequently imbedded in the giant's cranium.

Two giants dead, their slayers turned their bloodlust on the champions that fought to keep back the tide of gors and bestigors. Tenten used her enhanced strength and well-honed accuracy to throw her giant's head at one of the shamen and crushed it.

"Blood for the Blood God!" she cried as her veins pulsed with power before charging at the nearest champion, spear in hand.

The beastmen felt her battle cry and frenzied further at their foes. One champion swiped aside three gors with duel axes, but the weight of bodies that swarmed over it prevented it from doing a second swing. As strong as it was, there were too many for it and the beastmen dragged the massive warrior to the ground. The champion struggled as gors hacked away at him until a bestigor planted a two-handed axe in his head.

Ghorros and Tenten both handled their respective foes in an analogous manner. The champions themselves were strong and could take all but the strongest hits, but they were slow and tired easily. Ghorros faked a charge and his foe swung down with everything it had, but the beastlord pulled back at the last minute as the blade slammed into the earth. The force of the blow staggered many combatants, but the champion couldn't follow up as his blade was impacted deeply and immovable. Panic set into Drakan's elite as he fought to free his own weapon, yet the beastman wouldn't wait for him and attacked. Ducking low he removed the warrior's legs before springing back up to knock the champion onto its back. The last thing the brute saw was Ghorros' axes cutting into his throat.

Tenten's fell when she cast her new spear into the eye of her foe, planting the three-foot spear tip into the skull. Not stopping, she regained her gifted weapon and leapt into the melee of dwindling legion and raging beastmen. The surviving shamen desperately resurrected as many soldiers as they could, but with the giants and champions dead their position was overwhelmed. Their totems of protection were smashed, and they were dragged before the demi-goddess for execution. Tenten reigned in her bloodlust and kept her body passive as she took the spellcasters' heads. When the last one died, she knew Folkvar's siege would be easier thanks to her side of the fight. Not over, but easier.

She strode toward Ghorros as the beastmen roared their victory bellows. Moving more like a great cat then a mad dog the children of Valkya were more known for proved to them she had more control over her inhuman urge to rend, bleed, and kill. A sign of greatness in their feral eyes.

Ghorros turned and bowed to her. "[As proclaimed, the daughter of the Gore Queen sides with the victor. Her fury and strength are signs of the gods eyes on this siege and he whom she follows. We await your decree Blooddaughter.]"

Tenten felt a swell of acceptance in herself, in the warriors around her, and…from somewhere else further away. She felt a flash of pain in her shoulders, but it was only a flash. Shaking off her feelings she gave her order, "With the shamen dead that defeats the legion forces, but we're not done. There are still undead, Imperials, and enemy uruks to kill. Let's go!"

She yelled out the last part with spear held high. The Beastmen became frenzied as they charged into other parts of the city to weaken Drakan's army.

Neji deflected another stab from a gladius and responded in kind but succeeding. It was a good thing these Solarists had such gaudy armor to differentiate them in the bash going around him. He had lost sight of Skarin as the warrior charged some of the more elite forces to punch a hole in their formation and save casualties on his side.

"That man will be the death of me if these soldiers don't get me first," he thought bitterly. "There he is."

Skarin used his axe to pry away the legionary's shield as he lashed out with his sword. The strength behind the stab lifted the poor man off the ground, then viciously cast aside as the freedom fighter picked another victim of his wrath. Around them Nordberg warriors struck imperial steel as their javelins soared into the fat centurions the Solarists used for leadership. The had shield too yes, but they could only be used so much against the javelins that were used to hunt large, heavy prey. Archers dueled each other among the battle lines or between buildings where the imperials were at a disadvantage against veteran hunters. Indeed, the fight became almost routine since the Solarists weren't willing to adapt.

At least until the gargantuans and sentinals showed up.

The gargantuans were massive humans who were as large as beastmen minotaurs with gladiator armor and large blades. They had little intelligence but for being living battering rams, they did their job. They grunted incoherent growls as they charged into the Nordberg shieldwall with their armored side first. The rebel force tried valiantly to repel them but were either trampled to death or flung back by the force of the brutes' charge. In the thick of the lines, the gargantuans swung their blades to kill the warriors yet their stupidity made them slower to swing and not kill as many as were feared.

"They seem to be pure shock troops that can soak up damage," Skarin called out, "Let's kill them quickly and move on. Give them no room to charge and strike at their exposed backs!"

With that final command he flung his axe and embedded it into on gargantuan's back. The lummox grunted in pain it started shaking to remove the pain. Skarin gave it no chance as he leapt and grabbed his axe. He twisted the buried weapon and caused the brute to turn sharply due to pain then proceeded to start stabbing it. The gargantuan reacted in panic, as it could not reach the source of its pain, and its sword flailed wildly. Using the panic Skarin directed the gargantuan back to the imperial lines and smashed the testudo formation. Legionaries were hurled or cut in half by the giant man's strength as the Nordbergian leader held on. Realizing the lines were properly smashed, he directed his gargantuan at another and the two of them were knocked down from the impact. Skarin pulled free his axe and blade before slitting the throats of the two living weapons.

Sentinels stood on an outcrop of ruble with one gargantuan guarding them. They raised their staves to project a red spotlight that began to drain the Nordbergians of their strength and speed to allow their imperial soldiers to finish them. Their power started to sap the morale of the attackers.

Neji knew that they were a threat that they had to take care of, and since no one else had shinobi reflexes the task fell to him. He pushed his chakra into his legs as he swerved through the battle lines to reach the magic users of the Imperium. The Gentle Fist style aided him with its elegant footwork in slipping by soldiers, while occasionally stabbing the enemy. One sentinel cast the spotlight at him, forcing Neji to dodge the light but not fast enough. The Branch Hyuga felt his chakra drain sharply as the light hit him fully. This forced him to duck behind a growing pile of bodies.

"What the hell? That took out an eighth of my chakra from that brief moment I was exposed to that light," Neji thought. "I will have to take them out carefully after I get past the gargantuan."

The Hyuga went forward again before encountering the overly large guard. His veins flared as his Byakugan activated. The gargantuan charged like a ram, but to the leaf shinobi it was hilariously easy to dodge. The huge man couldn't turn had to fight his own inertia to stop.

"Perhaps I can use that," Neji said to himself.

He maneuvered himself in a way that had him between the gargantuan and the line of sentinels and pulled out a kunai. With his doujustu he was able to nail the eye of the gargantuan through its' helmet. With a roar of pain the lumbering man charged once more at Neji. The Hyuga dodged at the last second to watch his plan unfold. The sentinels turned their attention toward their blinded guard and tried to drain him but were too late and the gargantuan turned them to a crushed paste. The gargantuan had little time to process his actions as he would join the dead.

"Eight trigram: Sixty-Four Palms!"

Neji moved his hands rapidly over the giant of a man to hit all the points on him. Each hit brought pain to the gargantuan, its cries adding to the fighting. The branch Hyuga finished with a blow to the heart which caused it to explode in his enemy's chest.

"I…I hurt…why?" the gargantuan spoke before it realized its death and crushed the last of the sentinels with its body.

Neji was somewhat thrown off by the seemingly innocent last words the gargantuan spoke. It hurt to hear a simple voice ask about its own pain so weakly. Like a child. Neji shook off the surrealism of it all and moved onto the next of the surviving gargantuans. With the loss of the sentinels and the shock of the gargantuans over, the Nordberg warriors began routing the Imperials. Still the follower of fate knew he would be haunted by the large man's final words for some time.

Folkvar and his minions made their way to the uruk side of the push in hopes of snagging more uruks for his own forces. He saw the lines of red and blue painted uruks go back and forth as he moved closer to leap and smash into the ensuing melee. His enemies were turned into black-blooded chunks as gravity and strength met peons. The minions happily joined in and weaved between uruk legs before bringing them down for a braining. Reds perched themselves on elevated debris to once more throw into the combat, laughing as both sides caught alight at times. Many uruks joined in the laugh if they weren't fighting, but there was much fighting to be done.

He saw there were starting to be more reds than blues pushing forward and he picked up the pace to find out the cause. He witnessed Lee having some trouble with an uruk with a hammer and Bruz in a slug-fest with another olog. He ordered his minions to start taking out reds as he charged shoulder first into a masked uruk. The uruk noticed him and the two locked blades as chaos surrounded them.

"So, the Overlord graces us with his presence. Make no mistake, my lord, but this is where your reign comes to an abrupt end," the uruk said before shoving him away.

The mask suddenly disappeared in a puff of smoke, but to the shinobi trained Overlord easily saw through the deception. As the uruk came out of the smoke Folkvar gave his attacker a harsh left punch, sending the leader through several of his own fighters. The Browns took advantage of their predicament and Nibb led the charge to slaughter the downed uruks, his wolf happy to tear out throats. Mask shook off the strong punch and attacked again. Folkvar's huge blade made getting close tricky and kept distance between them.

Lee continued to use his staff and greater speed to his advantage, but the armored uruk tanked the staff blows like a wall of iron. Even catching the staff and pulling the energetic youth onto the flat of his hammer before being kicked away. Lee fought to get air back into his lungs as the fight progressed.

"Give it up pink-skin. You can't beat me," the uruk sneered.

"You still underestimate me," Lee said with meditative calm.

Bruz and Az-Larr continued to beat one another with meaty fist or their respective maces. Both sweeping aside an unfortunate uruks that got in their way. Az-Larr even grabbed one of his own and threw him screaming at Bruz. Having no such qualms, Bruz batted the poor fighter into a stone wall to splat.

"Now why'd you go and have ta throw your boy like that? Now I've got to do that just to show you up," Bruz jibbed.

Back with the Overlord, he traded blows with the masked uruk until they were deep in the red forces. The uruk grinned at how the young man had been positioned amid his followers. But Folkvar was still calm. The minions cackled as their master pulled a freshly carved horn from his side and blew. The sound echoed across the battlefield and storm clouds gathered above.

The horn spurred Lee to lash out at his distracted opponent. His fists became a blur as he broke armor and ribs. Then he swung his staff and broke the arms and legs in such a way that they would be beyond healing. He downed his enemy with a harsh blow to the head, fracturing the skull and dropping him. Lee breathed out as his duel ended but fail to see the belt of bombs that lit at his feet. Fortunately for Lee, an uruk with javelins tackled the shinobi out of the way of the detination, but the rescuer's left side burned slightly. Lee quickly used some snow to put out his savior before falling back to get him help.

The horn also gave the signal to Dozu as he and his forces tossed down the banner of Drakan in place of their Overlord's banner. Suddenly barrels of explosives went up and scattered the red forces all over the place. The masked uruk's proximity to the horn's sound disorientated him just enough for Folkvar to remove his right arm and backhand him away as the horn's true effect happened. The clouds above the caller condensed, then without warning large bolts of lightning stuck the very center of the battle. The bolts sent many electrocuted uruks flying out in spectacular fashion and officially breaking to moral of the reds.

Those reds who couldn't run surrendered and were brought before Folkvar, whom he turned to his side. He saw that Bruz was still having trouble, so he sent out a wave of magic to stun the other olog long enough for Bruz to get a solid right hook that sent his opponent before his boss. Folkvar dominated Az-Larr right there and gained a strong follower. He found Lee helping an uruk that was severely burned on one side.

"I didn't notice that my enemy had a deadman's switch with his belt of bombs. Had it not been for him, I would more than likely be dead or burned myself," Lee explained.

Folkvar nodded to his old friend before looking at the uruk in bandages. "What is your name?"

"Ragdug master."

"Ragdug, you've rescued an important friend of mine. I thank you. Hopefully the rest of your career will have more benefits, Captain Ragdug," he said, ignoring the look of surprise at the promotion given.

Guy could only snarl in pure disgust at the necromancer and his cabal of undead wretches. This…thing, was by far the most unyouthful being he had ever encountered. It's very existence mocked his beliefs and the power of youth. He saw as the Norscans nearest to the terrrogheist died from its shriek either from the sound waves or fear. He saw that the necromancer was the source and in a zealous rage he pushed himself to show the vile magician his fist with a loud cry of "YOUTH!"

The necromancer saw the green clad warrior barrel through his shambling ranks and throw what organization out the window. Yet the fact the man held pure outrage in his face was more prevalent. Quickly he cast a shield spell and drew on the aura of death the permeated the air. Guy crashed into the shield with the force of a beast, the force flinging the walking dead away from the impact zone, yet the barrier held. Gelthert leaned on his staff from the effort, but the man simply struck again and again. He could only maintain the shield and hope his puppets would deal with the living.

Sigwulf had Ulk direct their warriors to deal with the crypt horrors while he would slay the monstrous bat. The second of the Jagged Spears had the axe throwers target the horrors, while the javelins supported their leader. He grabbed a spear from a fallen comrade and braced for the masses of flesh. Their long spears jabbed deeply into the horrors' bodies, struggling as they were held in place. The other marauders would move in to hack at the creatures or deal with the peons. The fighting was still deadly to the Norscans as they were clubbed by the crypt horrors or picked up to be crushed by them.

Javelins flew into the mostly boney body of the terrorgheist, but they were mostly aiming for the monster's wings. A grounded flyer was a dead flyer after all. Sigwulf bellowed a challenge toward it to gain its attention. The terrorgheist hissed at him, irritated by the constant jav fire, eyeing the large chieftain. Suddenly the beast loped forward to bite the warrior in two, only to miss and receive a shield to the snout. Sigwulf then swung his massive axe and buried it in the undead's exposed collar to get on it's back. The creature realized the danger and started to buck wildly to throw off the man, striking out and killing some hunters as well.

Furious at his kinsmen's deaths, the chieftain used all the strength given to him by the hound to yank one of its wings and snap it with a vicious kick. The creature screeched once more, but it could do nothing but continue to try and shake the brute off with no success. Sigwulf freed his axe as the beast bucked high and threw him up. Tossing his shield aside, he clutched his mighty axe in his two meaty hands and had gravity help his goal. The blow, powered by physics and fury, cleaved the monster's head from its elongated neck. The body flopped around a bit due to necrotic magic before the body began to crumble. The great chieftain threw his head back and roared in victory before flinging himself at the crypt ghouls that thought to flank his warriors.

Guy found that no matter how hard he hit, the barrier still held or bent inward at the most. However, seeing the monster bat slain seemed to influence the surrounding undead. The shinobi sensei saw the dismay on the necromancer's face, he could break the shield this time. But just to be safe.

"Gate of Opening: kai! Gate of Healing: kai! Gate of Life: kai!"

A rush of energy burst from the green clad man and his skin turned red. Veins could be seen puling, while small debris started to float from the font of energy. Guy gave the surprised spellcaster a snarling face before vanishing. Then he reappeared where the former stood with his leg extended and the necromancer became a fresh smear upon the wall of a mausoleum, though the force broke said mausoleum.

Guy saw some of the undead begin to collapse with no magic to animate them. It was rather ironic that one who used death was defeated by the usage of the Gate of Life. Bit overkill? Yes, but he didn't care. The unyouthful heretic was no more. He figured he'd better end this quickly and save as many lives as possible. He vanished again and started to clear out the remaining abominations to the surprise and begrudged respect of the Norscans.

Folkvar came to the town hall to find Skarin was waiting for him. Shortly after his teammates and their respective wards followed. They all looked more worse for ware, but they wouldn't stop until Drakan was dead. The minions were on cloud nine from the amount of killing they had done, many going through to collect lifeforce and gold for their master. The finally saw Guy and the Norscans, but he was worse off than them.

"Guy-sensei are you alright?" Lee asked, going over to their teacher.

Giving an enthusiastic thumb up he replied, "I may have been a bit exesive in my youthfulness my students. Fear not though! A day's rest and my strength will be returned."

"We'll have to have you stay here sensei," Folkvar spoke. "The rest of the team and Skarin will take on Drakan."

"Indeed. Fate has been kind to us this day, let us finish this," Neji said as he wiped his blade clean.

Skarin patted his second on the back. "Come my lord, let's find the…man himself."

The team followed Skarin to the main yard in front of the city hall to see Drakan standing there in all his monstrous glory. The man was massive up close, dwarfing even Skarin is size and bulk. Olog size really. The leader of Nordberg's rebellion only came to the top of where Drakan's abs would be. Spikes were arranged around the man's shoulders and neck, like the maw of a beast. His skull-like face showed no emotion as he leered at the embattled conquerors. His massive blade was planted to his side, while stones crackling with foul energy encircled him.

"We are here to finish this Drakan," Skarin started. "See before you that the Overlord has indeed returned to us. To lead us once more into glory. You. Were. Wrong."

Drakan only snarled ferally, one the Overlord and the minions answered with their own. The four humans walked into the stone circle, but then the stone glowed brighter and pushed the following minions outside the new barrier. Nibb and the others pounded on the shield with no success. Folkvar gave his minions a command to guard the area to prevent any help from reaching the Legion master.

In a sudden burst of speed, Drakan crossed the distance and swung at Skarin. The warrior back-stepped avoiding the swing, while the rest of the team separated to surround the man-thing. Still, the lummox's speed surprised the team and proved they needed to be cautious. Skarin zipped in and hacked with his weapons before backing off. Neji followed up with a stab behind Drakan's knee, but the wound didn't deter the beast. Only making it angry. Drakan lashed out with his left hand, the small dagger cutting deeply into the Hyuga's sword arm. Tenten snarled as she pierced his side earning a surprised grunt of pain. Her gifted spear was beyond mortal forging, making it able to ignore even Drakan's armor. She used her greater agility to bend out of the way of his counter attacks and used his blood to increase her strength to hang on.

Folkvar and Skarin came in with their weapons high and scored decisive blows before Drakan swung wide. Skarin rolled out of the way, while Folkvar jumped high with chakra. He cast a fireball as he passed overhead, then landed solidly and punched Drakan in the kidney. The fire did little visible damage yet stunned him enough for Lee to throw a metal bending punch to the giant man's gut. As a testament to the man's durability, he only flinched at the green clad monk's blow before violently kicking the boy into a stone. Lee felt ribs break from the kick and landing against the hard, magic stone causing him to cough up blood. Drakan finally grabbed the kunoichi by her throat and threw her into another stone. He pulled the spear from his side and threw it at her prone form. She'd have been speared if not for Folkvar taking the weapon to his arm.

Drakan had made a mistake removing the spear as he now bled profusely. For all his dark strength, he was not invincible, and it was showing in his slowing movement. This Overlord and his team were strong, there was no doubt, even if they had just finished fighting a massive siege. Yes, Skarin had found powerful allies. Wait…

"RAAAA!" Skarin bellowed as he rammed into Drakan.

The force of impact threw them to the ground as the Nordbergian hacked with his axe. Then Skarin forced Drakan's hand to release his dagger. The large man was about to stop him when the Overlord channeled his domination spell on him. The spell's power shocked and stunned the brute long enough for Skarin to plunge the man's dagger into his heart repeatedly. All Skarin's rage at the loss of life and the frustrations from the campaign was put into every stab. Drakan could do nothing but gurgle on his blood until darkness claimed him at last.

Skarin shakily stood up before he threw his head back and yelled a primal warrior's yell. Folkvar soon joined in along with his minions. The yell spread across the city as Nordberg warriors, Norscans, uruks, ologs, and Beastmen sounded off.

They had won.

Later

The leaders came to the great hall as their warriors cleared bodies, moved debris, or looted the dead. Healers moved about like mad to save as many lives as possible through magical and mundane means. Much like Team 9, the other leaders showed their signs of battle. Many had battered armor and chipped weapons, but there were bandages applied to some of them.

Neji had his right arm in a sling from the injury, Lee was moving slowly in crutches and bandages around his torso, Guy was moving slowly as well but getting better, and Tenten leaned on her spear with exhaustion and a bandage around her head. Folkvar was healed thanks to sacrificing some gained lifeforce. It didn't stop Tenten from feeling bad that her spear going through his arm.

Skarin sat in his new throne room. "It's finally over. After years of fighting, years of running, it's done. And we have you to thank my lord. Nordberg is yours."

"As is should be. But the lives lost, and allies gained should not be forgotten," Folkvar said. "While I am willing to discuse some of their rewards, I will be offering rewards here. Skarin, for fighting for as long as you have, Nordberg and its territory is yours to rule and maintain."

"Of course. Thank you, my lord," Skarin said.

The leaders agreed since the residents of Nordberg were broken and scattered before Skarin restored their hope. The non-Nordbergians also nodded except for one. Bruz was ambitious and wanted a fort of his own, he thought this city should be his.

*Huff* "Sure my boys do a whole legs worth of work and you give the city to-"

"If you are so unsatisfied Bruz then perhaps I should reward Mozu instead. After all, if it wasn't for his explosive many more could've been lost," the Overlord interrupted.

"Rewarded?"

"Yes, clearly you didn't want it so-"

"Now wait up a sec Boss, let's not be so hasty. He he I was just messin' was all. Hey, you're in a givin' mood, and I'm in a getting' mood. I'd say that works out."

"Yes it does doesn't it. The Nordbergians now have their home back and have no need of their old HQ. If your forces were to take control of it in my name, I doubt they would mind once they've moved out so long as you didn't attack them."

"Well you do drive a hard bargain Boss, but hey I'll take it. I'll tell the boys to hurry it up and then we'll move in."

Bruz turned to leave, but Folkvar stopped him just before he touched the door. "Bruz. I'll allow your little…pout at who gets what, but I want you to understand something. Should you ever take issue with my decisions I won't hesitate to punish any overly traitorous statements. I reward those who aid me, but I will mercilessly crush any who seek dissent. To be perfectly blunt, you can be replaced. Is that perfectly clear?"

Bruz nodded with some fear.

"Good. I do not want to have this conversation again. On a side note Drakan's sword is without an owner. Just something I thought you might want to know."

The olog grinned at the implied statement and left. Guy then came up to the team.

"My youthful students I can safely say that this mission is a success. Lee, your strength is well on its way to youthful levels much like mine. Neji, your eyes and skill saved many people on this mission. Tenten, congratulations on finding out some of your origins and know that this changes nothing on how we think of you. Make no mistake that the Hokage will not shun you for them. And Folkvar, you have far exceeded my expectations in all fields in this war. But I know that you cannot be tied to Konoha to fully run your new extended territories. You'll probably earn a field promotion for this whole thing, then discreetly retired so that you may properly rule them."

Folkvar nodded. "I know. This doesn't mean the end of Team 9, just a shift in formation."

"Well it's not like you're dying, plus Lee and I will see you back home between missions. Still gonna miss you Folkvar," Tenten said.

"Indeed. I will admit you are a worthy rival…for someone not from the Hyuga clan."

"Neji you could stand to be somewhat more friendly with his leaving."

"The feeling is mutual Neji. For now I think we have all earned the right to party later tonight. What do you say?"

Cheers sounded in the room in approval.

"It's good to be the Overlord."

(1) "At last my enemies have finally come to me. I must say that I am disappointed. This fortress is mine! Nordberg is mine! You've all come to die and we shall oblige you. Your screams will haunt the land for years to come, and your suffering shall be my legend!"

Well see you all later.

Also, why hasn't someone done a Persona Game of Thrones crossover? Someone out there get to it!