(Erlend Mudd, ???)
Sat atop the gaudy throne that overlooked the once majestic sight of this sprawling city. Disappointment should have been the last thing to enter his mind.
Reality was, unfortunately, a harsh mistress.
To the ascendant's dismay, there were no signs of the Lion of the Night or the Maiden-Made-of-Light. Not even a faint breath of their divine power could be made. The two revered deities had completely abandoned the mortal realm.
Thankfully, the jealously guarded records were kept in mint condition, and they would all prove to be a substantial addition to the Mudd Library.
The Conqueror was baffled when he was met with arrogance and scorn upon stepping foot into the ancient capital; it was like something straight out of a cultivation novel.
Those idiots talked to him as if he should be glad to even look at them. Then, there was the open distaste they showed for his sun-kissed skin tone. He looked like a commoner for not having a milky jade skin tone.
I'm sorry, what?
It was painfully clear that none of the imperial court members had worked a day in their lives. They were so out of touch with reality that it was mind-boggling that they could even walk.
Only the eunuchs and the prime minister had any semblance of intelligence, pity they dug themselves a hole they could not jump out of.
The so-called God-Emperor had acted as if the empire was still within its golden age, ignoring the fact that most princes only paid lip service to him and that imperial power was the weakest it had ever been.
That tune quickly changed when the entire guard was wiped at the snap of a finger. For the old man's sake, the idiot had two openly rebellious vassals claiming themselves to be God-Emperors and still audaciously insulted him to his face.
Death was a mercy compared to what Visenya would do to them had she faced the same disrespect Erlend had. Fortunately for them, Erlend was more interested in their records than the idiots that owned them.
After that ridiculous shitshow, Erlend decided to ignore the self-proclaimed Orange Emperor and hunted down the Yellow pretender. No matter his true origin, the Yellow Dynasty deserved only death, and all those that claimed descent from it had only one fate.
Surprisingly, in a complete turn of events, the ascendant had managed to strike gold.
Upon meeting the pretender, Erlend had been pleasantly surprised to find a faint divine breath upon the sorcerer. Without hesitation, Erlend had used the arrogant madman to set a trap for the deity.
What was especially fortunate was the fact that the sorcerer would soon be offering his ritualistic sacrifice to his patron.
When the time came, the prideful god had shown himself, expecting worship and sacrifices from the sorcerer, only to be beaten to an inch of his life and then sealed before he could even react.
To Erlend, this had made this whole revenge trip worth it. While he was leery of experimenting on the R'hllor and the Horse God's Arkenstones, he had no such qualms experimenting on this nameless god.
Anyways, after measuring the deity's power, Erlend was confident that Firmridge herself could easily suppress the being with the support of the ley lines running through the Stronghold.
Considering their 'fight', the deity held some authority over the winds. So perhaps a sword-based weapon could be created for it? Then again, an auxiliary tool to do with sailing could also be useful, there was no need to limit himself to just weaponry.
R'hllor was likely to be turned into a weapon based on the Incinerate Anthem, whereas the Horse God would be more effective as a physical boost instrument vaguely inspired by the boosted gear, allowing its bearer to obtain a physique beyond what humanity was capable of.
Pity the drowned god had run with his tail tucked between his legs. Had Erlend captured him, he could have created his variant of Nereid Kyrie, though with control over Krakens and Sea beasts instead of Dragons.
Recreating Absolute Demise was still possible, with the perfect power source being just a Kingdom away from his capital.
So many ideas and so few components that could help achieve it.
He would give his descendants a kill-switch, so to speak. Can't have these tools being turned against them, even by their kin. That boob world had vividly ingrained in him the importance of a kill switch.
The biblical god would probably have a stroke if he were made aware of how his gifts to humanity were put to use. If it wasn't the devils, it was the fallen angels, and that's without counting the Church, who'd likely declare them heretics for the stupidest reasons.
Sure, it was an anime world that focused on the devils, but even incompetence had its limits.
Not that Erlend ever intended to make these tools available to the public. Only a recognized member of his bloodline would ever see the possibility of awakening them.
Hmm, perhaps he should go hunting for more rogue deities. Just because the two major ones weren't present, didn't mean the minor ones weren't around. A Cheshire grin appeared on his face at that realization, Yi Ti was after all known as 'the land of a thousand gods and a hundred princes', or as to more accurately put it, the land of research material.
Meh, spreading chaos throughout Yi Ti wasn't a bad idea. It would be a few decades before his Empire could begin devouring it, and the weaker it was when the time came, the better.
Looking up at the impromptu skylight he'd created when first entering the imperial palace, he sent his thoughts to Velskud. Rising from the gaudy throne, his posture expressed excitement as this turned from a quest for vengeance to a collection quest.
Just in time to hear an ear-shattering roar that echoed throughout the ghost city, as his most destructive child heeded his call.
Time to hunt gods. Hopefully, they wouldn't make it too easy.
…
The ground rocked as an explosion enveloped the area.
At the center of the explosion, Erlend stood there with a relaxed look, his blade held casually in one hand, while lightning flashed across the beautiful blade from time to time.
"Impossible?! How can you control my lightning!" His opponent shouted in disbelief.
How can a mere mortal contain so much raw power? The minor god was shocked, the abnormality of his opponent exceeding his expectations and momentarily leaving him stunned.
A gloomy expression appeared on his face. "I underestimated you, but don't think you can beat me! I'm a proud son of the heavens!" He screamed, releasing a powerful pillar of lightning from the palm of his hand and shooting towards Erlend.
The lightning kept coming continuously, as the god stubbornly kept up his momentum, his instincts demanding he give his all.
Erlend lazily deflected the lightning with his sword, absorbing the power behind the attack in the process and using the divine power as a whetstone for his trusty blade.
Boom! Boom!
Taking advantage of his opponent's confusion, the ground behind the deity hardened, whilst rushing towards the deity. Delivering a fatal blow to its unprotected back.
Not stopping there, wind blades formed on either side of his opponent, constantly attacking the embarrassed deity, leaving no room for him to react.
The horrified worshippers nearby could only scream in shock as their ancient patron was felled by a mere mortal. Not that they had any time to mourn their patron's impending defeat as the earth around them swallowed them whole.
Leaving no traces of their existence.
At the same time, several runes appeared, surrounding the dazed god...
...
"Ahhhhhhh!"
"Mother.... Father. ANYBODY!"
"Lord. Why have you abandoned us?!"
"Nooooooooooooo!"
All over the area, voices cried out in unison, howls of terror spreading all over. Soldiers, officers, and nobles screamed out in shared terror.
Their bodies shook as their nerves gave out on them.
"No. No. NOOOOOOOOOOOO. He's coming. He's coming!" Someone shouted.
Pointing to the source of their nightmares, "The monster is t-there!" Another echoed whilst trembling.
Their line of sight fell on the lone figure floating above them.
A bright crimson light shined on them as the air stilled. One word spread across the battlefield, his voice reaching every living being. "Rest."
The bloody light swept across the once-feared horde. In an instant, the world turned silent. Dark clouds ominously shrouded the battlefield.
All the screams and cries that once filled the battlefield came to an abrupt end.
The bodies of more than ten thousand men fell one after another, regardless of station, role, or rank, and all met the same fate.
The mysterious light at this moment had completely wiped out the army below the lone floating figure.
"No." One raspy, haggard voice broke the eerie silence.
Unfortunately for its owner, before it could even hear a response, several familiar runes surrounded it...
…
Walking across the air, Erlend landed on a sea of magma. Unaffected by the scorching heat below him.
Walking towards him was what could be described as an ethereal woman.
Erlend could honestly say that she perfectly fits the description of a 'city-destroying beauty.' A shame she was an enemy.
Under the gaze of the goddess's crippled worshipers, both deities stared at each other eye to eye as the distance between them gradually narrowed.
Finally, they both came to a halt as they stood a short distance from each other.
"If it had been any other occasion, I would rather sit down and have an exciting conversation between us, Your Excellency, or should I say Your Majesty? Hmm..." The fiery goddess playfully stated.
Practically eye-fucking the specimen in front of her.
She wasn't bothered in hiding her interest in the young ascendant in front of her. It was the first time she had seen someone break the rules so blatantly, and to say he fascinated her was an understatement.
"Come now, Madam." Erlend said seriously. "You know exactly what I'm here for."
"That's it, what a pity! I would love to invite you to my temple for a bit of exploration." The moment her words fell, above the two, dozens of balls of flame the size of houses fell upon the two of them.
Erlend observed the falling flames with keen interest, unperturbed by the seemingly suicidal approach of his opponent.
Both figures disappeared at the same time. The fierce battle between them beginning.
As the flames fell upon the now empty magma sea, they were swallowed in one go, gone as soon as they had appeared.
Several spears of ice generated by the young ascendant shot toward the goddess as she defended herself from Erlend's physical blows.
Wary against his attacks, the goddess dodged and evaded them, whilst doing her best to maintain her ground against the man.
At that moment she was met with a fistful of lightning, sending her reeling towards the magma, whilst the ice spears pursued her stunned form.
"Fuck!!!"
Her orange pupils contracted suddenly as several runes surrounded her embarrassed form, taking advantage of her momentary surprise. Erlend managed to capture the shock on her face before she was swallowed by a golden light.
"Just because you're a goddess doesn't mean I won't play dirty." He said to no one particularly,
…
With a flash, Erlend appeared behind his opponent, patting him on the back encouragingly.
"You've done quite well for yourself here." Erlend smiled.
The deity stared blankly at his enemy, with little emotion showing on his dull face.
Not bothered by the lack of response, "Okay, tough crowd. Let's get started then." Erlend said lightly before sending a lightning-infused punch toward his opponent's back.
The reaction speed of the desert god wasn't slow, or more accurately, he should say that the sand below them wasn't slow to react.
A barrier made out of hardened sand shot out from the ground, blocking Erlend's attack and creating a shockwave that enveloped the desert around them.
Boom!
Waves of sand flew around the two, the impact creating a shallow crater beneath them in the process.
The sand barrier formed several human-like hands and arms, grabbing at the ascendant god and locking him into place.
Or so it seemed. Erlend took the opportunity to spit out jets of water, breaking the hands that tried to hold him.
The hands that attempted to lock onto him instantly turned into sharp blades, shooting at him and aiming at vital areas. Their sharpness was not to be underestimated, as it was imbued and hardened by the minor god's divine power.
Perhaps mocking the deity or not, a solid wall of rock, resembling the sand one in front of him shot out, blocking the blades that could easily cut through steel, and rendering any other enemy into Swiss cheese.
For a second there, his opponent's eyes widened in surprise before returning to their apathetic self.
Boom!
The sand swords disintegrated upon impact. The dull sound was akin to the beating of war drums.
Water concentrated above the two enemies, slowly slithering around them and creating a ring, entrapping both.
Erlend didn't look, choosing to trust his instincts, whilst conjuring dozens of flame balls and sending them seemingly nowhere, much to the confusion of his enemy.
Upon reaching their intended target, the air shattered at a specific point, only to show a figure made purely out of water consolidating around it. The interloper looked annoyed at being instantly discovered.
The ring of water surrounded him protectively now that he was visible to the two.
Raising his eyebrow at his newest opponent, Erlend cracked his neck in anticipation. Hmm, this deity had some power, able to hide himself from the sand god.
It seemed like this fight would be far more interesting than the previous ones.
…
Those were just a few of the battles he had this past month, each fight spreading throughout the lands of the former empire. Delivering a massive blow to its stability as ancient families fell one after the other, their fervent worship of their gods doomed them to a miserable fate.
Erlend didn't care, glancing at the pile of miniature Arkenstones on top of his fearsome child. Velskud has contributed his fair share of effort in bringing down many minor deities.
Many foolishly underestimated the great beast, thinking it was just another dragon akin to its Valyrian predecessors.
Velskud took personal slight to that and showed them the error of their ways real quick.
What interested the Westerosi King was how his child absorbed some leftover remnant divine energy and empowered himself from it. At first, he hadn't noticed it, but as they came out victorious from every battle, he could sense a change in the black dragon.
Gradually gaining the god-slayer attribute.
What was more outrageous, thanks to their bond, Erlend also received the same attribute, even if it was minimal at the moment.
How ironic… A godslaying god. "Let's go for a few more fights, Skud. One can never have too much."
Unnoticed by the duo was how Velskud's scarlet ripples atop his midnight scales began to shine… More than usual anyway.
Far West of their present location, a bronze dragon lazily floating above the capital raised one of its eyes as its bronze sheen began to shine.
East of it, their jade-green brethren faced the same fate as she silently watched over her father's feathered hatchling.
For better or worse, Erlend's draconian children began to change.
======
Note: I figured Erlend needed more combat experience using his abilities, and it felt like Yi Ti was the answer to that. Kinda ominous at the end there. What do I have planned? Stay tuned for the next episode of Dragon Ball… LoN!