NOW COMPLETED: The Last Battles of the Valkyrie

[The Grim Reaper's Friend]

Originally Posted by Orcs Blade

Vervalsing is sooo much cooler than Braxas.

Also, side note:

I suggest you replace the bolded part with "comparatively small". It flows better (in my opinion).

Hmm, good point. I'll fix that. Thanks.
Whoa. A chapter of OB proportions. Yes! I pulled it off!

Spoiler Alert!

Chapter Two: Fire Against Acid
Vervalsing plunged headlong into the pool of water from which he had arisen. The water slowed his descent, and he turned around in it, angry now. He could see the distorted form of Braxas above the surface, and, on a sudden inspiration, released a long line of fire directly at her from under the water.
Braxas may have been able to partially evade fire, but there was no way that she could evade an entire shower of water. The droplets, each superheated instantly, struck her with the full force of bullets, and she fell to the ground, her hide burning unbearably in a million places.
Vervalsing then leapt out of the water, flipped over in mid air, and spread a sheet of flame over Braxas before she could get up, being careful to concentrate on her head.
Braxas writhed under the attack, but every time she turned her head to confront the small dragon above her, she received a face full of fire, and had to turn away again.
Once he was out of breath, Vervalsing dove down and struck Braxas on the head with his talons to keep her down. Then, the merciless barrage of fire began again.
Five times Vervalsing did this, and all the while, Braxas tried to fight back but couldn’t. At last, she had had enough. Despite the intense pain it caused her, due to the fire, she stretched her wings. Then, sending them downwards, she pushed the air, fire included, at Vervalsing and rose off of the ground. Vervalsing reeled backwards under his own fire, but Braxas did into press her advantage. She was scorched, smoking in several places, and utterly beaten. Her head was a mass of gashes, and painful cracks had appeared on her belly where the fire had scorched her.
Laboriously flapping, she made her clumsy retreat away from Vervalsing and back to her own lands.
Vervalsing knew that he would not see her again for some time, and returned to his caves to drive out the Sons of Braxas.

New development coming up next chapter I believe.
EDIT: It's double chapter Friday! Heres' teh next chapter:

Spoiler Alert!

Chapter Three: The Changing Lands of Icaria
It had been a month since Vervalsing had defeated Braxas, but the black wyrmlings had continued to plague his lands, supported by the young. Although he could easily defeat these, his lands were vast, and he could not be everywhere at once. In addition, the Sons of Braxas had conquered all the lands about him, leaving him surrounded.
Vervalsing had come to the conclusion that it was time to destroy the Sons of Braxas, but he could never hope to do so alone. He was merely a lesser dragon, and had no army of any kind, not one of dragons, anyway. Only the greater dragons had armies, and all of them, except for Braxas, lived far away, where they could expand their territories to vast sizes.
However, Vervalsing knew that the closest of these greater dragons happened to be called Zelrig.
Previous to going to Valhalla, Vervalsing would not have dared approach Zelrig. He might have as easily killed him as helped him. However, since they had served together under one cause, it was likely that Zelrig might remember Vervalsing and help him.
With this hope, Vervalsing had set out across the burned wastelands of the Sons of Braxas. He had met many young on his way, and had killed them all. If word leaked out that he was no longer defending his territory, every last one of his Icarians would be dead by the time he got back. Therefore, he made all haste.
After passing through the Sons of Braxas’s lands, Vervalsing spent a night and a day flying over the Black Heaths. He then came to the edge of another lesser dragon’s territory, a female by the name of Fræling. She, like him, had felt the threat of the Sons of Braxas, but she would doubtless be far to busy to aid him against them. Zelrig would have plenty of time on his hands.
Vervalsing knew that, though he might frighten Fræling’s Icarians flying overhead, she would not attack him, and he took a much needed shortcut through her territory. He did not see her on his way, and soon passed into the Wilderness. He spent nearly a week flying over the barren ground, disturbing the Lost Spirits that lurked there, and finally came to edge of Zelrig’s extensive lands. He could tell he had arrived by the burned smell that filled the air.
Three days in, Vervalsing sighted another dragon for the first time in ten days. It was a lesser dragon, like him, and, once it spotted him, flew towards him with all haste. They met soon afterwards, and seeing that Vervalsing did not attack, the other dragon landed on an outcropping of rock. Vervalsing landed nearby, and they sat, eyeing each other.
“I am Grelthar,” said the dragon, whose scales were of the most interesting shade of red. “Who are you, and why have you entered Zelrig’s domain?”
“I am Vervalsing,” replied Vervalsing, “and I come on a matter of great importance. I must speak with Zelrig.”
Grelthar cocked his head to one side. “What is it that you must say?” he asked.
Vervalsing decided that it wouldn’t hurt for Grelthar to know, so he said, “I know that your master, Zelrig, is a good emperor, and watches over his subjects well. I follow his example and respect him. However, that feared hunter of Icarians, Braxas, has returned from a great journey, and threatens my lands with destruction. I have no army to defend my lands with, so I come to Zelrig, hoping that he will aid me against Braxas.”
Grelthar considered him for a moment. “Why should Zelrig help you?” he said.
“Zelrig knows me,” said Vervalsing. “We fought in – in a faraway place together. I also have no need of Braxas’s lands, and he can have them if he wishes.”
“Zelrig has no need of more lands, but if he knows you, you should see him immediately. We are far from his palace, but I will take you there.”
Vervalsing nodded, and the two of them lifted off of the rocks and flew northward.

Now for the update. For those of you who read what there was of Valhalla Reborn, version one, you may recognize Fræling. Also, all the things that Vervalsing passed on his way, the Black Heaths, the Lost Spirits, so on and so forth... oh, what to do with them. Why, put them all in another series, surely! While we're at it, why not tie in the Final Battleground with Dan? Perhaps bring Nargshir back from his forests? Maybe include Deathwalker 10,000 from VR version one, since he wont' be in version 2? That's right, prepare for the next series. The great finales of all the characters! Dan, Vervalsing, Nargshir, Gormal, Francois, and the yet to be named heroes of the rest of LBV! Dilmir comes to mind. ARE. YOU. READY?!? (Unfortunately, you'll have to wait while I finish this up.)

[The Grim Reaper's Friend]

Well, the Saturday of writing is here! Now for the next chapter:

Spoiler Alert!

Chapter Four: Invasion
Two months passed. Vervalsing returned to his lands after a hospitable stay at Zelrig’s palace, and was pleased to find his Icarians still alive, though frightened. He drove off the wyrmlings which had gotten bolder in his absence, and, in preparation for the army that Zelrig had promised him, made his presence felt to the Sons of Braxas. In a week, no wyrmling dared enter Vervalsing’s territory, for fear of exiting it in the form of a burned cinder.
Zelrig’s army was due any day now, but despite the promise, Vervalsing was growing worried. An increased number of attacks on his western border had led him to believe that something was going on there; and indeed, when he flew so high that the ice traced patterns on his wings, he could just make out the shapes of thousands of small dragons nearby. It appeared that the Sons of Braxas would soon launch an invasion.
Fortunately for the Icarians, Vervalsing happened to be patrolling his western border when the invaders arrived.
At first it was just a few wyrmlings, scouts, no doubt. Then squadrons of young began to appear. Most of these fled at the sight of Vervalsing, and those that did not were speedily dealt with. And then the lesser dragons came into sight.
As big and powerful as Vervalsing, legions upon legions of these black dragons began to pour over the horizon, and Vervalsing just barely escaped from being eaten away by clouds thick with acid. He sped to the heart of his lands, and then flew straight up, going as high as he possibly could. His lungs, massive as they were, began to burn, and his wings began to ache, but he flew still higher. He could see the waves of black dragons advancing from afar off, and flew still higher. When he felt that he had reached the utter limit of his capability, he stretched his wings taut, and, summoning all the breath he could, let loose a fireball of gigantic size.
As he fell back to earth, the giant plume of flame exploded over him, yielding a magnificent sound and light. If Zelrig’s army was anywhere nearby, they would see that, and come as fast as possible.
Vervalsing narrowed his eyes against the wind rushing past him and looked about the far distant ground below him. The black legions were gaining on his refuge with surprising speed, and he could see Icarians fleeing from all parts of his lands before them. A constant cloud of green acid rose before the black dragons, and already the Icarians were going up in it. Pressing his wings to his sides, Vervalsing dove until he was parallel with the longest line of dragons, and then descended almost vertically. He pulled up just before he ran into them, and instead flew along just above them, spreading a long line of fire over them all. The dragons crumpled beneath his attack, and the whole line wavered and fell back.
Then, as if the change in movement had been a signal, an ominous form rose from the masses of lesser dragons. It was large, and it was black. And yet, it was not Braxas. It was an elder dragon, greater in size and strength then even Zelrig. Vervalsing instantly knew that defending his lands would be a lot harder than he had previously thought.

[Orcs Blade]

Ach, I keep missing chapters.

Nooo, Vervalsing can take 'em! Just cuz the elder dragon is old doesn't mean Vervalsing can't beat him. Awesome > "elder".

[The Grim Reaper's Friend]

Originally Posted by Orcs Blade

Ach, I keep missing chapters.

Nooo, Vervalsing can take 'em! Just cuz the elder dragon is old doesn't mean Vervalsing can't beat him. Awesome > "elder".

Oh, he's more than just old, believe me. Next chapter coming soon.

[The Grim Reaper's Friend]

And here is the next chapter!

Spoiler Alert!

Chapter Five: Arrival of Zelrig
The giant form of the dragon loomed over Vervalsing, blocking out the sun and casting him in shadow. The dragon was thickly built, with a large head and rather short neck. His wings were of a massive size, and Vervalsing was reminded somewhat of Charos as he looked into his green eyes. Rows upon rows of sharp, pointed teeth became visible as the dragon opened his mouth, and Vervalsing swerved away just as a cloud of acid was sprayed at him.
He flipped around, moving backwards, and eyed the dragon cautiously. The young had by this time encircled him, and a quick glance around told Vervalsing that there was no escape. The huge dragon lowered his head until it was level with Vervalsing’s, scrutinized him with one glittering green eye, and then said, “Greetings, Vervalsing.”
Vervalsing said nothing, as he was sure more was to follow.
“I am Aldrak the elder,” said the black dragon, “King of the Sons of Braxas, and second only to Braxas herself. Your lands will make a nice addition to mine. I give you a choice: either flee now and take up your residence far from this place, or be killed.”
Vervalsing eyed Aldrak. “I will stay and defend my lands,” he said evenly.
“In that case,” said Aldrak, “I give you a second choice. Join me, and control more land than you could possibly imagine.”
“And hunt Icarians for pleasure? I protect my subjects, you dine on them. I will not fight with you.”
“Very well,” said Aldrak, his face assuming a sour expression. He withdrew his head and then said in a sharp voice to the young about Vervalsing, “Kill him!”
At that moment, a vast ball of flame descended from the sky and burst directly above Vervalsing. There were moments when Vervalsing’s immunity to fire came in handy, and this was one of them. He soared straight up through the fire as the young reeled backwards, and soon came face to face with the mighty Zelrig.
There was no time for a greeting, for Aldrak, extending his massive wings, began to make his way towards Zelrig. He opened his maw, and a huge amount of acid shot forward, missing Zelrig and Vervalsing by an inch.
“You said nothing about an elder dragon,” said Zelrig.
“I didn’t know there was one.”
Vervalsing’s speech was cut off short as a cloud of acid separated them, and he was forced to veer off to the left. He whirled around in mid air, facing Aldrak, and shot a line of fire at him. The fire squarely hit Aldrak’s wing, and he turned, but he was so large that the wound had barely any effect.
Aldrak seemed to be annoyed, however, and turned on Vervalsing, spraying acid all about him.
Zelrig flew downwards, aiming a ball of flame at Aldrak, but then, from the masses of young, rose another black figure, and the familiar snaky form of Braxas flew up to meet him.
Vervalsing was forced to execute a complicated set of aerial maneuvers due to the acid all about him, and when he looked back at Zelrig, he was locked in deadly combat with Braxas. They clawed at each other, and tore each other’s scales with their teeth, all the while trying to stay aloft while beating the other down. Great jets of flame burst from Zelrig, accompanied by equally ferocious spurts of green acid from Braxas.
At that moment, distracted by Zelrig and Braxas, Vervalsing was caught off guard as a cloud of green acid enveloped him. A great pain entered upon his mind, and he fell to earth.

[Orcs Blade]

Originally Posted by The Grim Reaper's Friend

Vervalsing was caught off guard as a cloud of green acid enveloped him. Luckily, his shield of pure awesome held, and he was unhurt.

Fixed.

[The Grim Reaper's Friend]

Originally Posted by Orcs Blade

Fixed.

[The Grim Reaper's Friend]

Okay, OB. I want to do you know what at the same time on both you know whats. I'm in range with this extra chapter. Fire when ready. Just let me know one you know what ahead of time. Other watchers, prepare!

Spoiler Alert!

Chapter Six: Battle
Vervalsing collided with the ground in a shower of dirt and grass. He rolled over to lessen his impact, and felt the earth shake as Aldrak landed near him. Jumping up, he flipped over to avoid the cloud of acid that withered the grass where he had been a moment before.
A growl of frustration escaped Aldrak as he followed Vervalsing with his head. The lesser dragon was simply to fast to pin down. Vervalsing, knowing this, leapt off of the ground, and, spreading his wings, soared above the elder dragon.
Aldrak launched into the sky, his momentum carrying him up to where Vervalsing hovered before he even lifted a wing. Vervalsing flipped out of the way just in time and shot a jet of flame directly at Aldrak’s head.
Shaking his head from the blast, Aldrak looked at Vervalsing with one eye, which smoked slightly. He was coming to really hate this young dragon. Deciding to abandon the use of his acid, he suddenly lunged forward at Vervalsing, swiping at him with his claws.
Vervalsing was surprised by this change of tactics, and managed to escape one foot only to be caught by the other. His head reeled from the blow, and he dropped a few yards before steadying himself. By the time he looked up again, Aldrak was upon him.
If Vervalsing had been an elder dragon, he and Aldrak would have clashed with each other at this point, attacking each other at close range, much like what Zelrig and Braxas were doing. However, Vervalsing was so small in comparison to Aldrak that he could have easily fit inside the elder dragon. Therefore, instead of battling with claws and teeth as an equal, Aldrak simply landed on top of Vervalsing and shoved him downwards rapidly.
For all his experience in battle, this turned out to be a bad idea for Aldrak. As Vervalsing was hurled towards the ground, Aldrak on top of him, he dug his claws deep into Aldrak’s belly, ripping with all his might. Aldrak roared with pain, and released Vervalsing. With only seconds left until he crashed to the ground, Vervalsing shot a ball of flame at the wounds he had inflicted on Aldrak, and spun upwards, leaving Aldrak to plummet to the ground below.
Vervalsing just barely managed to get out from under the elder dragon in time, for Aldrak landed with a sickening crunch of bone, rolled over several times, and lay still, his left wing very obviously broken. He had landed oddly on his right front foot as well, and when he tried to get up, it gave way, sending him towards earth once again. He looked up at Vervalsing with eyes full of hate, and Vervalsing, satisfied that he was no longer a threat, turned to aid Zelrig.

[Orcs Blade]

I think I just have one more chapter to go, and then the awesomeness will ensue. I'll go type that chapter up right now.

[The Grim Reaper's Friend]

Originally Posted by Orcs Blade

I think I just have one more chapter to go, and then the awesomeness will ensue. I'll go type that chapter up right now.

I'll get further in range with, oddly enough, chapter seven!

Spoiler Alert!

Chapter Seven: Black Death
All this while, Zelrig and Braxas had been battling each other fiercely. A good number of injuries now resided on them both, and the grass below them was withered and burnt many times over. Their bodies were locked together in a tremendous struggle, and their wings beat the air about them mercilessly. It was into this that Vervalsing now flew.
Navigating easily around Zelrig’s wings, he soon located Braxas’s head, and, twisting backwards, shot flame at it without a second thought.
However, Braxas had had so much flame shot at her in the last few seconds that she barely felt it, and continued to battle with Zelrig. More drastic measures were needed.
Therefore, Vervalsing flew over to one of Braxas’s furiously beating wings, and, seizing it in his claws, bit hard into the bone. That did the trick.
Braxas roared out in pain at the new attacker, and with a great effort, broke away from Zelrig, kicking him with her hind feet as she departed. Vervalsing was ready for her and flew easily out of her way as she turned towards him.
Braxas shot clouds of acid at him, but he somehow evaded them all, and, turning in mid air, poured a volley of fire at her head. She ducked, but the tongues of flame caught her neck, where the claws marks of Zelrig were visible.
At that moment, a vast fireball, cast by Zelrig himself, knocked Braxas from the sky, and she fell, her wings flailing wildly, down towards where Aldrak lay.
Vervalsing, intending to finish the evil dragon once and for all, sped downwards with her, and, aiming carefully, shot a compact ball of flame at her head. It exploded right on target, and Braxas’s head snapped back. Then she landed with a horrible crunch on the ground below, and lay still.
The black young, who had been watching up until this moment, fled at the defeat of their leader, chased by the young red dragons that Zelrig had brought with him. Zelrig landed heavily on the ground, limping from a wound that he had received in his front leg, and observed Braxas. She was dead. Her neck had been snapped by Vervalsing’s fire ball, and she had received several lethal wounds from Zelrig as well. Aldrak, though bruised and broken, was still alive. After one meaningful look from Zelrig, however, he painfully got up and slunk away after the retreating black army, dragging his broken wing after him.
Zelrig could have easily killed Aldrak, but it was something that was not done on Icaria. No elder dragon, however evil, was killed by another dragon. Elders were respected fro their wisdom on many matters, and they were always allowed to die in their own good time. Defeating one was another matter however. To defeat an elder dragon was a feat that few dragons, elder themselves or not, could claim. Since it had been Vervalsing how had accomplished it, all dragons would respect him, and few would dare to attack him.
However, none of these things were on Vervalsing’s mind as he landed by Zelrig.
The bodies of many Icarians, slain by the black young, lay about them, and Vervalsing first went about these, making sure that none were still alive. None were, however, and he soon returned to Zelrig.
“I doubt that the Sons of Braxas will attack you again, or that they will ever recover from their loss,” said Zelrig.
Vervalsing agreed. “There are still many of them,” he said, “and they will forever be a plague on this land until they are eradicated, but I doubt they will ever again rise as high again.”
“Doubtless your lands are safe for years to come,” said Zelrig, “and I and my army must return to my own lands. However, if you ever need the aid of a friend, call on the name of Zelrig.”
“That I shall,” said Vervalsing.

Zelrig, after having his wounds tended to by Vervalsing’s faithful Icarians, departed with his army that night. He once again made Vervalsing promise to call on him should the need ever arise, and then flew away into the darkness of the Icarian night.
Vervalsing turned back into his cave, happy at the day’s work. The Sons of Braxas had been beaten, and they would most likely never trouble him again. However, Vervalsing had no way of knowing just how wrong he was in that belief, and exactly what future years would bring for him. Only time would tell…

There. We are at point blank range now.

[Fi Skirata]

Braxas is dead! Wow, did not expect that.

[The Grim Reaper's Friend]

Originally Posted by Fi Skirata

Braxas is dead! Wow, did not expect that.

Well, she had it coming. Besides, you never know if someone is dead or not around here. Nargshir was dead, Vervalsing was dead, I'm sure Dan was thought to be dead several times... so all around, you can never be sure...
Braxas was getting kind of old, anyway. Aldrak is much more interesting, although you may not know him too well at the moment.
And now, let us begin Part Three: Nargshir's Vengeance. This is no random title.

Spoiler Alert!

Part Three: Nargshir’s Vengeance
Chapter One: Escape
Darkness. Pain. Cold. Nargshir’s eyes snapped open. Nothing met their gaze, and he moved experimentally. Pain shot through him like a frozen icicle, lancing through his arms and legs. Once the pain subsided, he gingerly raised his head from the cold stone floor where it lay. No sound, sight, or smell met him but the sensation of cold stone beneath his feet.
To mere human eyes, the darkness would have been complete. However, to Nargshir, the faintest glimmer of light could be seen coming from beneath a door not far away. He made his way cautiously towards it, wincing at the pain his movement caused.
He seemed to be in a dungeon similar to the last one he had been in, except no instruments of torture furnished this one. In fact, nothing at all furnished this one. Doubtless, Cyprien had discovered his means of escape and taken every precaution to keep him locked up this time.
The situation seemed hopeless. No way of escape presented itself. However, Nargshir was a wolf, and did not give up easily. Lowering his nose to the floor, he soon found a loose rock and returned to the door with it. Using this and his claws, he managed to pry off a piece of wood.
If the door had been made completely out of wood, Nargshir would have made short work of it. However, this door was reinforced with iron for that very reason, and Nargshir obtained only a small piece of wood. It would do, however.
Then, though he disliked to do it, Nargshir painstakingly cut the wood into thin strips, and, using hair plucked from his own body, succeeded in tying the pieces together to form a shaky pole. Then Nargshir went back to work on the door. He sharpened the rock on the exposed iron in the door, and then bored a hole through the soft wood to the other side.
Then, using more hairs to tie a string to the tip of the pole, and creating a sort of joint in the middle of it, he inserted it through the door and pulled the string.
He could feel the tip of the pole rise as the string pulled on it, and he soon found the latch.
Carefully, so as to not break the pieces of wood, he worked his way into the lock with a sharpened piece of wood that he had fixed perpendicular to the end of the pole.
At last, after at least an hour of standing silently by the door, Nargshir heard the latch click. Holding his breath, he pushed on it, and it swung open.
It was just as dark in the hallway beyond, but with his excellent vision, Nargshir recognized it as the same one his last cell had come off of. Knowing his way now, he crept stealthily down the hall, and up the stairs at the end. He pushed on the trap door, and was not at all surprised to see another skeleton standing guard in the room above.
Just as before, it made no move to apprehend him, and Nargshir, making a diving jump for its legs, broke them before it could do a thing. He then opened the door on the other side of the room, and proceeded down the hallway.
He soon came to the door that had hid Cyprien before, and listened carefully before thrusting it open. The torches burned in their brackets, but no vampires were to be seen, and Nargshir entered the room, his feet padding noiselessly on the stone floor. Two small rooms, one ahead and one behind him opened off of the main room, and he saw a door to his left. He decided to try the door, and found that it opened on another hallway. He padded down this silently, and, taking a left turn, soon came to another door. He could hear behind this many sounds: sound of clanging, tramping, the crackling of a fire, and the methodical thump of a knife. There were no voices though. Curious, Nargshir cautiously edged the door open. He staggered backwards at what he saw.
Elves, at least a hundred of them, milled over the floor of a giant room before him. They moved with all the quickness of elves, avoiding each other and acting in general normal. What made Nargshir draw back, however, was the fact that every one of them had a black… thing over its head. It resembled a mass of slime, but it did into move, and seemed more like something dry and shiny. It covered their eyes and nose, leaving only the lower jaw visible. Despite it, however, the elves moved as easily as if they could see, carrying platters, baking bread, stirring the contents of massive pots, and preparing great heaps of food.
Nargshir had a very good sense of direction. He knew that he was headed west, out of Cyprien’s castle, and decided to risk the elves rather than turn back. Therefore, he quietly slipped through the door and shut it behind him. He instantly saw that there was a walkway going around the edge of the room to another door on the other side, and he crept along this, keeping in the shadows. The elves either did not see him or ignored him, for they kept about their business. They came quite close to Nargshir several times though, and he could see deep slashes on some of them, although no blood could be seen. It appeared that Cyprien was as much of an enemy to the elves as he was to the wolves. Nargshir shuttered at these strange elves, and was glad when he made it to the door.
He slipped through this silently, and soon found himself in a hallway that he recognized. Knowing where to go, he turned left, entered a small room, turned right, and soon exited Cyprien’s castle and emerged on his dark grounds.
Being careful to stay in the shadows, he made his way to the gatehouse, scaled the wall easily, and dropped down the other side by the aid of a tree. He landed on the soft turf a moment later, and stood, staring at the full moon overhead.
He was free. The endless forest stretched before him, the moon was overhead, and the night was calm. Now was the time that wolves roamed the woods, and Nargshir took off through the great trees, speeding towards his village with all the haste he could make.

WARNING: Do not attempt the above in order to get out of a prison cell. Believe me, it wouldn't work.