Moments after Yorun returned to his own body after the meeting with Helimiral Ghohalan he quickly makes his way through the corridors of the fortress to the war room grabbing Gira along the way as he bumped into her as he walked. Yorun steps into the war room with Gira at his side and as she looks around Sunhale looks over curious about the newcomer and walks over as a result.

"So based on previous times we've talked I'd wager this here is Gira?" Sunhale asked

"Indeed, you two talk I need to grab Golanier somethings just happened" Yorun said before teleporting away

"He's talked of me?" Gira asked

"A little here and there about how you helped him after Kurinets destruction and then with healing the undead and such, overall not too much given your limited interactions" Sunhale said

"Fair enough, seems you've had a lot more interactions however since you've been with him since Gantoral correct?" Gira asked

"There was a period of time in which I wasnt then the human and elf war started once again and I joined after Yorun raised everyone who died in the first battle for his army" Sunhale said

"Has to be a bit weird no? You'll have seen some of these people alive and served with them right?" Gira asked

"It is a bit weird at time but their souls are gone, they aren't the same people they were and even then its not like I was close to everyone in that army, my bonds were forged with the spies and those above me normal soldiers less so" Sunhale said

"Make sense I suppose" Gira said as Yorun teleported back with Golanier

"Gira this is Golanier, he tried to take over the world a thousand years ago with an undead army, his soul is bound to mine and he's inhabiting his old body" Yorun said

"... Okay weirdest thing I've heard so far, hello I guess?" Gira said as nicely as she could but her voice was tinged with fear

"I am trying to make myself at least somewhat better even if my old self is easier to do things with" Golanier said after rolling his eyes

"Ok Yorun tell us what the problem you mentioned is" Sunhale said and the other two looked at Yorun waiting to hear as well

"At the southern part of our newly established border with the Fiernian Empire, earlier on I felt some undead being killed and confronted the attackers in and undead body but the attacker bore a crest, the crest of the Ghohalan imperial family, Helimiral Ghohalan the third son of the Emperor is there" Yorun said much to the shock of the others

"That is quite the problem, I'll get everything I have on him" Sunhale said as he goes over to a neatly stacked and organised pile of intelligence reports and grabs everything he has on him bringing it over

"So our first bit of proper warfare against one of the imperial family, how fun" Golanier said with a smirk

"...And I just got here, now this is happening. Oh gods" Gira said getting a small laugh from Golanier

"It may not be all you think we talked and we've agreed to a duel of which I can choose a champion in my place since I would need to improve a lot to fight a knight of the empire such as he is" Yorun said

"Seriously? Huh guess he is a more honourable one, think this agreement will last? When is the duel even set for?" Sunhale asked

"Tomorrow and yes at least currently because no more undead have been killed since" Yorun said

"Who do you intend to have fight for you? An undead?" Golanier asked

"Technically, he said 'preferably one with a soul'" Yorun said as he looked at Golanier

"Bit underhanded for you Yorun, I'm impressed" Golanier said with a smirk

"We will limit you so if he takes off your limbs you're done not much he can do to a soul but overall the reason you've been chosen is simple. He fights a bit like you at least in terms of weapons and more than that he also is closer in magic to you even limited as you are by me than he is to Sunhale so if magic ends up being allowed it is more fair" Yorun said

"Fair enough, logical, you've clearly thought it through" Golanier said

"I basically just came up with that but my mind has been racing due to the encounter" Yorun said

"Well it was pretty well thought out, I wouldn't want to be the one to fight him anyway, I can fight obviously I am trained to do so but most of my combat tactics rely on subterfuge and general trickery due to my profession even with the magical upgrade from Otaper. Helimiral Ghohalan however is a more front line soldier even when commanding soldiers in a battle, he's smart but strong too, his official title as a knight is 'The Living Siege' as he will fight for as long as possible and break through all of your defences, he's broken through the highest grade armour, broken parts of city walls with just his blades alone" Sunhale said

"Well this duel will be quite fun then, I am curious of how a mere human has that strength though even with magical enhancements city walls aren't easy to break down with blade alone that takes veritable years of stored magical energy in the blades and arms to exert that power" Golanier said

"I'd imagine so the human body isn't built for something like that yet you make it sound as if he can do it easily" Gira said

"Because he can, it wouldn't be the title otherwise. The knights of the Fiernian Empire's titles are typically to do with what they're known for" Sunhale said

"Regardless of this if we're showing up to that tomorrow we're doing so in force. I'll take some time to make several adult sized dragons, they'll be big as houses and we'll fly there on their backs. They'll think us dragon slayers through them off their game, even if they win his soldiers will be a bit scared to fight" Golanier said

"Smart, nothing like a little psychological warfare to nudge future events" Sunhale said casually

Golanier quickly left for Ghairlakriars corpse while Sunhale poured over the documents he has about Helimiral Ghohalan in case there's anything else they can use, Yorun walks out in the meantime while Gira goes off to look on her own. Night eventually comes and then the following morning as they all wake they head to Golanier where four hours sized dragons are lay down, their eyes focus and track them as they approach.

"You made them quickly" Yorun said

"As usual, experience, now climb on lets go see this imperial prince" Golanier said clearly excited for this fight

All four of them climb atop a dragon and each of the dragons take flight, flying up high past the lower parts of Ghairlakriars body's legs, they then fly towards where Helimiral Ghohalan and his soldiers were seen, the flight takes a while but once they reach where they were last seen Yorun leads them to where Helimiral said he and his soldiers would rest. It takes a little longer but only mere minutes before several arrows and magics are launched into the sky from below. Yorun looks down, his head becoming noticeable to those below including Helimiral who quickly orders his men to stop firing as Yorun and the others land, Yorun has his back to Helimiral and his soldiers as he dismounts the dragon.

"Hell of an entrance, I hadn't known you'd killed dragons" Helimiral said

"Well I have" Yorun said as he turned around

The wind picks up a little blowing the Raeknars cloak softly showing the lost forearm of Yorun and the severe burn scars across his body where his clothes don't cover. Helimiral looks shocked as do the soldiers behind him. Helimiral is struck silent as he looks over the man before him a soul still unsensible but its different to the undead he faced before all the while Yorun makes Raeknars scythe appear in his hand.

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"Why would he come here in such a weakened body? Does this undead hold significance?" Helimiral thought to himself confused and it showed on his face

"You're confused Helimiral, if a duel is to happen we must be clear with each other set rules so, what has you confused?" Yorun asked

"The body you're in... Why that one?" Helimiral asked

"Because its my real body, here in my original flesh unlike last time" Yorun said much to the shock Helimiral and his soldiers

"Didn't imagine the real you to be so weakened" Helimiral said

"It happens when you do what I've done, I've even been directly attacked by the gods. It's a wonder I am still here" Yorun said

"Alright fair enough regardless we need to speak about the duel, is the elf or the girl your champion" Helimiral asked

"No I'm the champion" Golanier said with a smirk exuding personality that the undead Helimiral fought previous didn't have

"You are quite clearly undead" Helimiral said seemingly a little annoyed

"Technically yes, the body is but his original soul is in there, cant really sense it since its bound to me. Regardless to make it fair and since this isnt a duel to the death, injure the legs and arms in a way that would cut down a normal person and he has to go along with it" Yorun said

Golanier grabs his greatsword from the back of the dragon and rests it on his shoulder as he looks to Helimiral with a little look Helimiral can guess the purpose of it. Helimiral teleports his two greatswords next to him already floating at his sides and Golanier looks at then and his eyes focus on one of them. It has small ridges across it and is made of an extremely tough material and then Golanier sees some words upon it.

"That blade, the one to your right. Its made of dragon materials is it not?" Golanier asked seemingly genuinely intrigued by the blade

"Yes it is why do you ask?" Helimiral asked and Golanier gets a small smirk

"Did your blacksmiths and mages forge it or was it found in an war vault? I know your people have some of those in their primary cities so which is it?" Golanier asked the smirk still adorning his face

"War vault, an old one as far as we know" Helimiral said

Golanier uses his own telekinesis to bring the blade straight to his hand, the soldiers behind Helimiral are about to retaliate considering it dishonourable but Helimiral raises a hand to stop them confused about Golaniers intention. The moment the blade lands on his hand the blade as well as Golaniers own have the words upon them glow, the ones on Golaniers own never having been noticed by Yorun due to the years it spent in the cursed area, Yoruns confusion of the engraved words especially since he cant understand what they say is undercut as Golanier laughs.

"So that's why you have your strength 'Living Siege'. You have one of my blades part of a twin set I used in my conquest" Golanier said as he tossed both blades over to Helimiral dropping them to his feet yet when he said Helimerals title it was with a slight mocking tone

"Your blade?" Helimiral asked

"Pick up both of them and use them for this duel you'll see I'm right, I'll take that other one" Golanier said as he takes the other greatsword that Helimiral had floating next to him

Helimiral floated the two blades now known to have been owned by Golanier up and as he grabs the hilt of both of them the words carved into them begin to glow once more and Helimiral grips the hilt as he feels something almost burning inside him and his muscles nearly ripping themselves apart. Each small movement, tense of the muscles is like having his whole body struck with lightning but he pushes through the pain and properly lifts the two blades using telekinesis to reduce the weight of them so he can use them properly. Golanier looks slightly impressed at his determination here.

"What the hell did you do to me?" Helimiral said through the pain as he gets more and more used to it

"Technically nothing at all unless you count me giving you the blade doing something to you. The blades when both used amplify the effect of the other, one makes your magic a bit stronger and the other well you know the effect of that blade 'Living Siege'" Golanier said once more with a mocking tone as the title is said

"Strength augmentation" Helimiral said as it dawns on him why his muscles are damn ripping apart

"Exactly, these blades weren't meant for human hands my people were naturally a bit stronger and the effect is a bit less painful, yet here we are you're doing surprisingly well with them. Show me what a human can do with my twin blades, Knight" Golanier said as he conjured a greatsword in the hand not holding the real greatsword taken from Helimiral

"With that out of the way, any other terms you need to dictate Helimiral?" Yorun asked

"Only one thing, I can feel I'm on a time limit using this and I want to take advantage of it but winner is only decided when one concedes" Helimiral said through gritted teeth

Helimeral knows that his body while getting used to the pain cant hold out with it for eternity and so he raises the blades at from his sides and Golanier matches him. Everyone else moves back to give them space as they recognise that the two are ready to fight now. The moment everyone has backed off Helimiral uses magic to speed forward right at Golanier and slams the two blades downward onto Golanier who quickly moved his own blades to block, the ground beneath Golaniers feet cave as his feet dig into the ground from the force and nearby trees snap in two from force through the air which also makes those nearby hold their arms infront of their eyes as the wind hits their faces all the while the blocked attack shot pain through the muscles of Helimiral like small explosions travelling up his arms and spreading across his body, Golanier manages to push him back in his moment of pain and then launches into doing several powerful swings with his own blades using his whole body, the strikes almost reverberating through the air. As Golaniers strikes keep coming Helimiral quickly strikes back in the opposite direction with his blades in and almost x pattern forcing Golaniers hands down either sides of him and forcing the blades of Golanier to dick into the ground as Helimiral slams his forehead into Golaniers own head before quickly quickly driving the twin blades upward sparks coming off the connecting parts of his and Golaniers blades as the swords connect and slice up through Golaniers hands forcing them to drop the blades. Helimirals blades recede ancient blood now blackened on the blades from Golaniers hands.

"Can your body continue to fight like this were it not undead or have I claimed victory?" Helimiral asked getting merely a little laugh in response from Golanier as if he was insulted

"You think I need hands to win a duel, we never said magic couldn't be used" Golanier said

Helimiral watches as Golanier raises his hands where they've been sliced open hanging in halves until something starts to slide out of the opening all the way from his forearms, the very ulna and radius of both his arms extend out from his arms coming out from both arms as two blades made of bone, Helimiral's eyes widen as Golanier smirks and some words that none save Golanier know glow upon the new bone blades coming from him carved onto them long ago. The wounds of the hands temporarily close, for a living person it would stop blood loss for a temporary time but its far from a good way to stop it.

"I have limited time with this so let me show you what a conqueror is to a simple little knight" Golanier said as if dismissing him but he has a little bit of respect underlying his words

Golanier quickly rushes forward faster than before as he hasnt got the heavier blades in his hands anymore and he adds to his speed with magic, within seconds he has gotten past Helimirals own blades and has his new bone blades piercing through the plate armour covering his stomach while the other pierces his right shoulder through the pauldron. Helimiral is forced to drop the magic enhancing blade as his arm goes limp, he quickly kicks Golanier away and slams the strength enhancing blade into the ground cracking it and then he quickly does it again forcing pieces of the ground to come up from the ground as he launches them with magic toward Golanier who dodges or kicks them out of the way, as he kicks one however Helimiral springs forth and stabs his sword forward toward the rock and as Golanier kicks it, the rock breaks against the sword and his foot stabs right onto the blade. Helimiral quickly swipes the blade to the left forcing Golanier his foot still impaled on the sword in the same direction but Golanier hits the ground as his foot slides off of the blade, he rolls backwards from the force he was moved and quickly Helimiral is on him once more swinging the blade down at him but Golanier dodges once more and stabs one bone blade up as he springs himself from the ground, the bone stabs through Helimirals right arm going through the forearm completely and stabbing into upper arm and into the shoulder. Helimirals blade drops and Golanier takes the bone blade out of his arm.

"Do you yield prince?" Golanier asked

"... Damnit, I do" Helimiral said

A mage quickly runs over and begins to head Helimiral and his men are struck silent and their eyes widen as Golaniers bone blades recede back into his body forcing the normal ulna and radius once more as his hands properly heal he moves each finger to make sure he did it right. Yorun looks over at Helimiral as he's being treated.

"Our deal?" Yorun asked

"It stands, we will not oppose you, you have an ally in the imperial capital" Helimiral said

"A good day it is then" Sunhale said finally speaking up after just watching with interest with a somewhat horrified Gira next to him

"Correct, bring your people to Deranel and say Raeknar brought you to the city, they will confirm with us and you will be allowed to stay within" Yorun said

Helimiral nods then looks over at Golanier and with a fair bit of effort kicks the two blades over to the soul bound conqueror.

"Take your blades back warrior, they are yours by right" Helimiral said and Golanier just gives him an almost disbelieving look before smirking

"No you keep them, you have skill and that is seldom lacking in allies of necromancers. Get better with them and live up to your title then one day we shall have a rematch and maybe I'll use that title without a mocking tone" Golanier said

Golanier walks over to the others and without another word picks up the other blade Helimiral had brought before de-conjuring the other and mounting the dragon he flew here on, the others mount their own dragons and fly off while Helimiral despite his loss is lauded by his soldiers for the fight given his opponents strength, the flight back to the fortress is celebratory given their new ally's status is a boon to their future plans...