The funeral had just finished when Merlin flew in. "Take me to whoever's in charge here!" He demanded.
"I'm the manager of this restaurant." The man answered. "If you are looking for soldiers or captains or someone of that sort, go to the farmhouse south of here."
"Right." Merlin grumbled as he took off. "Just when I thought this long winter day is over."
"Arggh! Zombies!" He screeched as he approached the fields golden with wheat. "What kind of farm of terrors is this!"
"Merlin?" Nikka came out. Spotting the bird in the air, she waved him down. "What message do you bring?"
Merlin perched himself on a fencepost. "Alright, I'm only going to say this once. All the capitals have been bombarded and razed to the ground by the Angel of Death. Pythus has retreated into the Nether. The Knights of Ardonia are calling for soldiers and fighters to group at Tartarus to discuss the plan for a final assault on Crown Peak, where all the Nether forces are gathered." He hopped in through the window. "Got any seeds? I'm starving." He chirped.
Nikka finished retelling Merlin's message to the whole room. "So," She said to the silence as the message sunk in. "The question now is, who should go?" Nikka pulled Lucan back into his chair. "Not you, unless you want to lose your other leg."
"I should go." Yujuki stood up. "I have a score to settle with the Netherans." She cracked her knuckles. "They must payo for what they did to Hyperia."
"I should go as well." Nitsuke tried to stand up, but couldn't. "I guess not. Skorch really starved me."
"I would like to go," Xaria said, "but one, my Undead is mostly useless against the Nether forces unless they have a huge advantage in numbers, and two, the farm cannot operate without me."
"Nikka, you should stayo here and help rebuild Felora." Yujuki said. "If nothing else, Lucani needs you."
"Alright, Yujuki alone will go to Tartarus and fight in the final battle." Nikka said, "while the rest of us stay here with the boring job of rebuilding a city."
"Sorryo, but I know that feeling." Yujuki said. "After all those adventures, you would expect life to be equally exciting."
A week later, the Knights of Ardonia, along with people from all over the land, gathered in the great hall of Tartarus around a huge table. Lava flowed from the walls, casting a solumn orange light on the scene.
"Our informants," Ria spoke first. "have discovered that a large Nether strike team recently mobilized and departed from Crown Peak. We tracked them to a cave where they all vanished. According to Queen Abbigail, this is the portal to the End. We believe the Nether are currently engaging in an attack on that realm."
"As much as we need to help our friends and allies," Ria continued, "Now is the perfect time to retake our capital and rid Ardonia of the Nether. Which is why we have summoned all of you here."
"Our scouts have confirmed that while the main battalions of the Nether have taken part in attacking the End," Val said, "The troops stationed at Crown Peak is still very strong. We have counted at least four Withers, and a couple ghasts. Killing them is no easy feat. We barely managed to kill two of them during the battle of Cydonia, and this time, we no longer have dragons helping us."
"And we must not forget our primary target." Hubris reminded the meeting. "The Deathsinger has been tracked by the Frederick Device to Hailstone at the moment, but he is almost certain to be at Crown Peak should we attack. Eliminating him will surely bring this war to an end."
"Actually," Ria said, "I confronted the Deathsinger, well, we came across each other, when I was training with the Aggressium and Protesium Primes near the Walls of Time. He had two other Voltaris with him, but he did not attack. Instead, he informed me that the Voltaris is now working against the Nether."
"Which brings us to the first major decision we need to make today." She announced. "I have been training, both by myself and with Him, to wield the Aggressium and Protesium Prime Songs. They are a formidable weapon, but the question is, should we use them? I put the motion to a vote." The room fell silent.
"I vote yes." Borgen said first. "However, I believe the best course of action will be for Ria to remain safe and out of combat. reserving your strength to engage only the Withers or the Nether king."
"I vote no." Senn said. "The Prime Songs, like any Song, drains power from the wielder. Being the Primes, that effect is doubled. Added to the fact that the Songs corrupt the wielder, even the most stout and determined Ardoni, I do not think Ria should use them."
"I appreciate you worrying about me, Senn." Ria said, "But this isn't about me. The fate of all of Ardonia may depend on it."
"Actually, I think Senn has a point." Yujuki said. "If you becomi corrupted because of this usage, theni in the end we might have to fight another Deathsinger." She suddenly realized what she was saying. "I do not implyo that you will become one, but it is a possibility." Yujuki paused. "Whatever your decision is, Ria. I stand with you. I don't claimi to understand Songs of power, nor your abilityo to use them in combat. I will defer to your knowledge and therefore judgement."
"I vote yes." Grek said. "Ria's proven her ability both in combat, and as a leader, and I say let's use all the power we have. What about you, Grim?" He nudged the silver Reaper.
Grim grunted, and everyone stared. Realizing that he needed to clarify himself, he came around the table and stood with Grek.
"There might be another solution." Borgen proposed. "Us Magnorites are extremely sensitive to the earth, and we have discovered tunnels under Crown Peak. These are too narrow to move any kind of moderate strike force, but I think it will be perfect for Ria to sneak behind the front lines and confront the Nether King and the Deathsinger directly with the Prime Songs."
"Perfect." Ria said. "That is the plan we will take. I will take Senn, Hubris, Grim, and Grek behind the enemy lines. And now, we will move on to the next topic on our agenda."
"Um…" Grek flexed his arms, making his muscles bulge.
"Showoff." Muttered Hubris.
"Are you sure I'm gonna fit through?" Grek touched his shoulders. "I'm quite big."
"Yes, but you'll need to use the only one large enough." Borgen pointed to the one leading into the hill.