As the battle was fought on the 1st Sphere, things took a turn for the worse. They ended up fighting for 10 years against an almost endless horde. Yawgmoth did not take kindly to his power weakening. The traitorous Users provided support. A wave of forces from Halo arrived. A wave of Elites with the devices lodged in their chest arrived. Artifact creatures rained from the sky joining them.
Yawgmoth tomb pushed out unknown magic power that disabled several System features. Namely that of the shop and Pulling things. Communications were disrupted with the others as well. Talking through the links was the best they could do. And that was strained with several disturbances in the area.
Rune Formations exploded burning the sky apart. The Plane was starting to destabilize slightly after that. A foothold was established as humans infected by Eldrazi came in large numbers. The fighting continued for weeks. Magic started to wain and reinforcements were prevented from arriving. The last was Alita and a few others she had.
"We must end the Phyrexians and the Eldrazi once and for all. The history you shared suggests they have not done so before. Something different must be done." Jaina declared. She stared hard at Azul who nodded. "Glad you agree."
"All of this is a means to an end. You must make contact with Nicol Bolas." Alita said. Lettie stood near Azul. Her body poised to strike in an instant. She was no longer trusting of Alita. Intuition telling her so. "Yawgmoth is a fool for pulling them here. A bigger fool for releasing them."
"Destroying Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth will be a daunting task." Azul said. Standing up slightly replenished. Ten years in one spot had caused all sorts of problems. "Curaja, Mental Cleansing." Azul mumbled.
Underneath his body and mind turned to work in tandem once again. Cure spell restoring the physical problems and the mental spell pushing out in outside influence. Slannesh happily ate away at it.
"Alita, go and save the Brood of Atarka. I know you have breached in temporal spells. I do not care, so do not comment. Once this is done, I visit Bolas on Amonketh." Azul looked at her with a hard stare. Looking for any disapproval. "Take Jane with you. She has ties with them. If Atarka disapproves of what we propose, kill her, and give her power to Jane. No one else. The timeline of this World is so blasted distorted, it will not even matter where we go and change."
"How do you know?" Jaina asked. She spent most of her time commanding a part of the forces with Lettie. As well as keeping an eye on Ob Nixlus. 'He has obeyed all rules but his history speaks different matter. Lettie has a firm hold on things, I am sure she will deal with any.. out breaks of defiance.'
"Because I have seen those who have talked with Yawgmoth. Several Users that have done things before they were killed by Yawgmoth. So, the Traitor User group is involved in taking much of the power here. Which is why I am thinking I am here as well as Jane and Swift after confirmation with the Trickster." Azul thought someone else may be involved higher up, but it was whatever at this point. To many Planes to search. Not enough information still. Despite going through countless millions. Good news, a lot of power was available once they leave the current Plane. "So Alita, go and deal with your precious Dragons. This is not a request, but a Command."
"I understand!" Alita gave a look of frustration. But internally she almost cooed. She was getting what she wanted and Azul acting more forcefully and along the lines of a good Dragon Leader made her fight even harder. 'This quest is just what he needed. I want to see him pop and return to his old self.'
"The Tomb is all yours. Try to let Lettie run wild." Azul said. "I will take over clearing out stuff here with the others. Hopefully, make up for this long fighting here. Damn, sure they need the relief."
"The troops will be happy to see you." Elspeth said. Next to her were a few Royal Paladins. Specifically, those that wielded copies of the Blaster Blade. With changes to suit them of course. Blaster Blade (Ahmes) had moved up to her 2nd in command over the years. "We did feel your presence during battle though. So that was defintely rewarding."
"Yeah, I couldn't.." Azul shook his head a little. Feeling a slight pang wash over him. "..not do something while I was cleaning up souls here. You did a great job. All of you. Time to bring this to an end. So many other Planes to go to."
"Bwoom!" The Mass Effect Relay spread wide as troops poured out. The arms speading further as fresh waves came out. Made from the refinement of the last ten years of the enemy. Completely wiped souls and psyches of course. All indoctrinated with magic at the core of their being.
"So many.." Ashley mumbled. Various markings on their body begged the question. "The Alliance & Cerebrus mark on them? Why?"
"Because they are not staying here. Those are Commands to go back. This is training for them." Azul circled his magic summoning his armor. "Cadence and Cassandra did a good job on this."
It was the Mass Effect Dragon Armor. The aesthetics fit in well with the place. On the left pauldron, a symbol of a three-headed dog. The chest, the Alliance Symbol. Right pauldron had Obelisk the Tormentor on it. The back had Bahamut. Painting various targets on his person.
"Wish me luck on taking out the Tomb at least." Jaina said with a slight pout.
"Haha, since when are you so .. well... soft." Azul grinned but did as she asked. "I know you can do this. Trust your abilities especially with how much the forces have flourished under your overall command. For posterity, I wish the best of luck Jaina."
"Aww look at you with the compliments." Jaina gave him a punch to the shoulder before teleporting away to get started. "Later, I will make sure to get the other thing done as well."
.
Later that Day-
.
On the ground, several creatures poured out through strange arches. A closer look showed them to be Torii or Torana. Torii were or are gateways marking the entrance to the sacred precincts of a Shintō shrine in Japan. The torii, which has many variations, characteristically consists of two cylindrical vertical posts topped by a crosswise rectangular beam extending beyond the posts on either side and a second crosswise beam a short distance below the first.
A bad feeling passed over the troops in the area. An immediate retreat order was given once Azul was made aware of them. Happy that they already were getting ready to do the reshaping for the Plane. They did not belong here and the energy they gave off, was disastrous.
The good news, every encampment had prepared for an exit. Everyone heading to them as fast as they can. Considering how for ten years not a single child had been born as they fought and improve themselves, it was very easy to coordinate. The old were enhanced enough to keep up with the young.
"Trouble!" Ashley came up to Azul. "Reports coming in about mutated beast pouring in. The retreating Sisters are holding them back as we evacuate."
"The plan will have to work then." Azul said darkly.
"We are not abandoning our home are we?" A local member asked. Elspeth said nothing causing the man to grow agitated. "This is our home!"
"Then get out there and fight then." Elspeth said plainly. "The plan was always to leave temporarily as the Plane is restored. Only a few would remain while this happens. Now we are doing it ahead of time."
"Ten years of fighting for just this.. to leave even in the end." A few people started grumbling.
"Shut up!" Elspeth yelled. She had enough. Most of the people who complain barely did much. In fact, they did the bare minimum after the first two years. Wanting to start building homes and having families despite the Phrerixans still coming through due to the 9th Sphere still existing. "What you do now is all on you. Cover the retreat of those who are listening."
"Are you abandoning everyone?!"
"I am saving those who can pave a better future." Elspeth said grimly. "I know we will come out of this. And our people will need to live if they wish to continue our way of life."
"Go, we will fight here." Elspeth took off leading a group to pave the way for those at several outposts out. Azul went out to deal with those nearby to make sure the rear were not overwhelmed. "SO many.. be nice if I could open a gate of Chaos or anything else for that matter!"
Hilda: You need the exercise.
'Haha, very funny. But they have gotten enough levels.' Azul thought back to her. 'Sucks that my shit is still locked again. I wonder how much I will shoot up when it is released. Lazy ass Trickster, he could totally help me out and get that taken care of.'
"Arrrooo!" A deafening howl rang out. The wave of pressure sent several parts of the landscape up in the air. A large creature appeared. Phasing into existence. Pathrazer of Ulamog stood there for a second. The arches pulsed as more Eldrazi poured out. "Arrrroo!"
"Shut the hell up!" Azul fired a wave of Fire Arrows across the battlefield. Exploding the ground causing the advance group of the enemy to be blown back. Sisters of Battle hefted their Heavy Bolters up and fired out. "Hold the line, Do not advance."
"Fwoosh!" Azul teleported over to deal with the Eldrazi. His mind split on various battlefields to make sure this was the only Pathrazer.
It was. The power it took to breach pass all the wards made it impossible for another to arrive. Considering it was a creature called Pathrazer, Azul felt it was pretty messed up. Considering he was a Pather of all things.
Beg the question, how much did the enemy know. Considering the System prevented that knowledge from getting out. Unless someone willingly told from his people. Which he would know instantly with the Settings he had.
The Pathrazer's hand came around to stomp Azul out. The multiple fingers glowing with magic as it weaved spells. Its fist missed Azul and carried towards the direction of the defense line.
"Humph!" Azul snorted. A flicker of psychic power and a barrier went up. He punched down into the eldrazi. "Burn from the inside out!" Flame Fist burned bright as the flesh was burned.
"Thump!" The spell still fired towards the defense line hitting a solid psychic wall. The Sisters continued, still firing not caring of the devastation to the land. It could be restored later.
The Pathrazer was a very resourceful creature. Out of its chest a control nodule appeared. it shined brightly as magic poured from another location. It drew from the 9th Sphere to strengthen itself. The arches poured more monsters out.
A squad of Sisters moved in with Multimelta's. The heavy weapons fired burning through the arches. Heavy Flamers from the others, scorching the magical wards in place as well.
Azul swung against the Eldrazi as he fought. Each hit from his fist, sent a wave of magic out attacking the other forces. It would take awhile to destroy the arches but he couldnt just let them pour in still.
"Hah!" Azul fired a blast of Force energy out. Several disfigured people were pushed in front of the arches. Clogging it slightly. The small breath allowed the Sisters of Battle to destroy another arch then switching back once the creature over ran the stopgap. 'This thing is annoying!'
Undeterred, the Pathrazer attacked with a vengeance. Face ripping open as it tried to devour Azul. He allowed it. A split second later, Azul burst forth from the insides, burning the body to nothing. The Control Nodule was in his hands.
"Chsssh!* The nodule dissolved keeping Azul from studying it. With a mass of monsters coming, he ddi not dwell on it. Diving down attacking.
.
A little bit later-
.
Everyone besides the Sisters had gotten far enough back. The arches were almost all gone. But it could not be that easy. A distortion of magic appeared. The remaining arches were destroyed. A large wave of people infected poured out. As well as creatures from Halo. Countless Elite with nodule's in their chest.
"Tch, this is crazy. There are so many." Azul looked at the countless people infected by the Eldrazi in trepadition. "I.. cant waste time on killing them all." He landed on the ground erecting another magical wall to stall them. "A little more time for us."
"Raaahhh!" The infected humans roared towards them. The Elite raised Needlers high and fired. Each shot sticking in the barrier before chain detonating.
"Everyone go on ahead." Azul stepped forward and summoned the Lich King Armour along with Frostmourne. It would be the first time using it. "Forgive me." He said to no one in particular. But for some reason, he had to say it. Inside his power tied to Paragon choices stirred in elation.
"Bwwwooomm!" The sword hummed. Releasing a dark magic as he stabbed it into the ground. Black mana left his body in droves. Anima appeared for a moment caressing his face gently.
"Massive.. Raise Undead. Your.. Overlord... commands it!" Azul said twisting his power out. He could feel the mark of Chaos burn with power. Nurgle added power to him. Followed by Khorne and Khaine.
All across the area, bodies of undead rose up and turned against the infected. It didnt stop there as the magic from Nurgle's caused the bodies to fill out. Filling in all the missing flesh and muscle. Azul had to numb the link to several individuals to keep them from becoming bloated.
"Dear Gods..." Ashley look on appalled. She stared at Azul with mixed feelings. Him fighting with Devil power did not bother her, but this was sick in a wave. The first time she seen undead use by him or any of his forces. "This...."
"Shut up." Jaina said to her coldly. She appeared from above to deliver some news. She finished her task, but her prey escaped. "You need to look at the big picture. If he doesn't do this, the people won't have enough time to escape. This is the first time he has used its power."
"How do you know?"
"Because I gave it to him. There is a crown that goes along with it. But its powers were stripped away and added to my own." Jaina looked at her judging. "This is a World of magic not technology mostly. It is brutal and unforgiving. This is why it was so hard to bring some of you here. The extremes we will have to go to is shocking."
"The end justifies the means then!?" Ashley didnt know what else to say. "This is different than his Nether World reincarnations. These people bodies are getting forced to fight."
"Yes, they are." Elspeth looked at her. Happy for the small respite, and happy none of their forces fell. "They are my people so dont concern yourself. If they can ensure the survival of our kin, I know they would not mind. That is what I choose to believe. In death, I will apologize if need be."
"Tch." Ashley scowled and looked away.
"If you have time to groan, then help with the injured dammit!" Chari yelled. She kept the gate open with several others. Shuttling people through as fast as she could. Her own armor almost destroyed. "Move it, people!"
"Raahh!" Azul yelled as he struck out with Frostmourne. On his face, tears could be seen falling. The sword amplified his Pather powers along with the cries of the Plane itself adding on. It did not want to be consumed like the others. To wither away like other Planes under the Traitor User's control did. "Die!"
"Schlick!" A large infected wolf was cut down. Jumping on its corpse, Azul froze the remains and jumped into the air. Sword angled down. Wisps of magic building up. Deadly claws formed but dissipate. a few images of ghostly battle maidens appeared across the battlefield. Attacking with precision strikes before leaving.
"BBuuurrrssstttt!" Azul cried out releasing magic to boost. A cold chill wafted out. Freezing several enemies before exploding them. The moment he could move, he took off striking out once again. The more he killed the more mana he received thanks to being an Overlord. 'Need to kill more! Need to do it faster! Cycle Up! Hastega!'
Magic amplified his body as he cut through the battlefield. As the blood spilled so did the power of the Blood Gods. Creatures formed from blood as an extension of his will attacked. A few of the controlled Eldrazi Elite broke free.
Hearing the cries of the Blood Gods Khorne and Khaine, they gave them self over to enact revenge. Flesh regrew but a different color. The Elite were now a dark red and attacked with a ferocity unseen amongst their kind. Bitting and clawing at the enemy.
"Sching!* Azul swung Froustmourne once again. This time, the force of magic summoned more specter maiden's to attack. They preyed on the strongest of the Eldrazi. Lifting them into the air devouring their souls. The power of Slannesh boosting them more. In seconds, they were tangible.
"Yaaaaahh!" The maidens screamed out. Sending almost a shriek of defiance out. Across the battlefield, the area turned in to a slaughter fest. With Azul and the undead waging a war with their forces growing stronger by the second.
.
Fall apart-
.
The Plane was falling apart more and more as they fought. Because of Yawgmoth and because of Azul. The Plane was reforming in his Nether World. He was taking it away with him piece by piece. Just was taking to long.
"Thump!!" Something descended onto the battlefield. Dust covering the area. With a thought, Azul had the others back away. His Dragon power thumping out to exert his command.
"Filthy User!" A voice cried out. A hulking man walked out. Tentacles travelled out in the thousands, grabbing Phyrxian and Eldrazi Horror alike. Absorbed making Yawgmoth more powerful. "I will take everything you are! All of you will turn into my newest creations!"
Azul turned and used Shockwave and Lift on his forces. They were carried into the Mass Effect Relay quickly enough. His people staying on the outside still fighting away. A swirl of power went out and engulfed Blaster Blade (Ahmes). Azul could feel the change next to him, Elspeth glowed as well. The two developed a Bond. A Soul Bond was already there held back, but the situation made them give in.
System: Paired Bond Formed. Ahmes & Elspeth.. awarding... upgrade to Froustmourne. Planeswalker Spark reignited. Lettie has passed over the power of the Shadow Paladins. Dark Dictator form awarded.
To prevent from getting sent away at random because of the Spark, it's power was channeled elsewhere. Azul focused it towards his forces powering the Relay even further. The people and the Plane disappeared. Leaving just Yawgmoth and Azul floating in the vast emptiness.
"What have you done!?" Yawgmoth cried out. The area was disorienting and lack in sense of balance. Despite all his power, he felt fear. Fear that he would disperse. Which only made it easy for Azul to devour his biotic strands. "My Dominion!"
A blast of spells wracked against Yawgmoth's body. it didn't do much but disorient him. The control nodule on his body cracked breaking his senses back out. Which were not any better than the actual Yawgmoth.
"I will make you pay. The same as those other User's!" Yawgmoth beloved. He tried to attack but a bombardment of spells stalled him again. A bit of Rune Magic from the set up previously along with one of his Aeons. "What is that magic!?"
"Explosion!" Inferna said from Azul's arm. "Bleaggh!" She stuck her tongue at him before vanishing. Completely spent on magic herself.
"Kabbbooomm!" The resulting attack detonating in intense white flames around Yawgmoth.
"Hahahaha!" Azul laughed as he charged forward. The armor shoulder pads pulsing in power. He felt speed increases just because he wielded a sword. A strike cut across his enemy's chest. Absorbing a bit of his power in an instant. "I got rid of the Plane obviously! The power is quite rewarding!"
"Schlick!" A line of power circled around the area he just struck. No regeneration was permitted. Raw mana started to crack through Yawgmoth. The pain cooling his head.
Yawgmoth raised his hand sending out a deathly miasma. The void itself fluctuating against it. Azul did not bother to move away from it. In fact, he charged into it. Mouth open devouring it.
System: Constitution Check 44 Pass Nurgle has devoured a new affliction. Boosting resistance.
Health -123
Nurgle: Ohhh so goood! Give me more, hehe!
"Bzzzzzz!" The new Froustmourne lit up with power. With a simple swing, multiple Concussive Shots fired out. All powered up by Flame Fist! The burning Spheres tore through Yawgmoth with ease. Pieces of flesh exploding away. The disease Phithis had evolved. the very disease Yawgmoth exploited to gain power years ago.
Phthisis: Rotting spots on the body and mental disorders are part of the disease
"I will devour you.." Yawgmoth said crazed. He attacked Azul with tentacles covered in miasma. "..I will gain my freedom!" Azul slid through the attacks. Firing spells off across as he attacked. None were aimed but never missed the abomination before him. ".. I.. am everliving!"
With a swing of the sword once more, several more Flame Arrows went out. As well as a few spectral hands that grabbed at Yawgmoth. The hands grabbed hold and peeled his flesh opened. Azul would teleport over and stab into them in an instant. With a rend of the sword, Nurgle infected the flesh at a faster rate.
"Whack!" Yawgmoth raised his grotesque hand and struck a backhand at Azul. Not releasing his grip on the sword, Azul slid across Yawgmoth's body. Severing parts of his flesh and opening a deep long cut in him. It was not out a risk.
Health - 73
"Tch!" Azul clicked his teeth annoyed. With a pull, he open a hole deeper into Yawgmoth. "Baaaah!" He fired a torrent of flame inside. Pouring waves of magic out. The fire burned at the flesh and seeped into his body. "Baaaah!" Azul cocked back and fired again.
"Whip!" Several tentacles came around to attack to smack at Azul. He vanished in an instant. The attacks hit against Yawgmoth's own body. Causing slight injuries. Azul reappeared up above. Hand raised high into the sky.
"Die!" Azul of his magic pulled in on a single point. The effects of the void was causing his Pather power to go crazy. The detachment was to much from the rest of existence. "Vanishing World!"
Azul felt a pulse from the Plane as it settled in his Nether World. It gave him just enough strength to make sure it ended.
Health -431
The power was almost more than he could handle. Just moving it through his body, caused the Dragoon ability to activate. His body thought he was near death. Again, Azul was grateful for the power from Final Fantasy Tactics War of the Lions.
"Brrrrrrppp!" The large blast engulfed the entirety of Yawgmoth. Churning and pulling part of him inward. Something tried to pull him into a Rift, but no dice. They were in the area where the Plane Azul now owned existed. With a thought, the person who reached received a backlash. As in Azul ripped a part of their soul away.
"Ahhh!" The voice was female and screamed into the void.
"No... I.. will not.. vanish..." Yawgmoth bellowed. The attack broke him down as the Chaos Gods devoured him. Tzeentch found great joy in the knowledge obtained. "I will return. I always.."
"Not like this." Azul Pather Power worked out. Changing the Origins of Yawgmoth. "A little Rewrite for the next time the World resets is all I ask."
System: User has changed a portion of the World Magic The Gathering. Upon reset, Yawgmoth of the Thran Empire will have a different point in history. Removed as a World Pillar. Calculating rewards...
"That.. is good." Azul felt exhausted as his body was hit with exhaustion. "Need to leave now.." A pair of hands reached out grabbing him. It was that of Alita. She pulled him from the Void leaving silence and nothing else. 'So sleepy.'
'Sleep tight.' Alita held Azul as his body was completely wrecked from the power. Channeling the power of a Plane was bad work. Especially with his level restriction. 'Rest, we have more work to do.'