Chapter 27: First Light Upon the New World
(AN: Ngl guys made a bit of a blunder last chapter, when I was speaking about the ritual I accidentally said new moon, don't ask why probably cause I'm an idiot, but nah the ritual is complete after the first light after the full moon)
(Location: Gogossos)
(Time: Midnight)
(3rd person)
The full moon was illuminating the silent streets of Gogossos, it was completely devoid of any life a stark contrast to how it usually was, as if all the life had been sucked out of the once bustling city.
The only sounds heard were the blood curdling screeches and the sounds of feet running, Jon still holding onto Asha's hands had made it onto the main road to the harbour looking back however he saw that the creatures catching up with them, though their long and wide feet were clearly designed for swimming they made up for it with their powerful corded muscles in their legs that gave them an explosive burst of speed.
Jon looks at Asha and sees she's still not with it, her eyes are still filled with terror and she's barely able to run, if Jon hadn't been pulling her along she probably wouldn't be moving at all. Seeing a small alcove he Jon takes a drastic course of action he pushes Asha into the alcove and turns around in order to face the monstrous abominations.
This wouldn't be easy Jon would be at a disadvantage with his sword so he'd have to rely on his magic. Thrusting his hand forward Jon shot out a cyclone of flames though these were the regular orange flames not the superheated violet ones, he needed to conserve his strength as he had no idea what could happen tonight.
As the raging inferno launched straight towards the creatures they tried to avoid the flames, one of them tried to launch itself to the side though it was unsuccessful as more than half of its body got caught in the fire almost roasting it, however the over decided to jump straight up into the air, that combined with its momentum had it heading straight for Jon.
Cursing Jon rolls to the left, the impact of the creature was enough to dent the stone road making Jon a lot more nervous. He gets up from his roll and spins around quickly facing the fishlike creature, it keeps opening its mouth like it is talking though what it is saying he has no clue, it could be a different language or the remnants of what was once human speech.
Jon lifted his blade the creature was too close to use magic now if it pounced while he shot fire at it then he'd be crushed underneath it. Getting into a low stance Jon gets ready for the inevitable clash.
With a screech the creature charged at Jon as soon as it's feet leave the ground in a pounce Jon slides underneath it slicing its bulbous belly. Though he can't help but feel shock when he realises that he'd lost his grip on the sword, the creatures skin was tough and the muscle was dense, that in addition to the momentum of the creature was enough to tear the sword from Jon's hand.
"Shit" Jon says to himself as he looks at his sword that is still impaled into the pale green stomach of the creature, the creature looked to be in a large amount of pain though that pain very quickly turned into anger as it turned its large maw towards Jon.
*SCREEEEEEEECH*
Jon was very quickly trying to come up with a plan but he realised he didn't have enough time, holding both hands up he smacked them down on the floor chanting a Valyrian spell he had read in his fathers journal and a wall of flames erupted into existence.
The creature not expecting such an explosion of heat and light backed up and fell over. Finally having some breathing room Jon tried to come up with a plan but all his plans would have a bad outcome, if the creature can keep avoiding my blasts then I'll eventually tire out. Generating the fire the way he does is tiring when done for long periods of time.
But then Jon considered something else, he can shape the fire and generate it from his body, so why not shape the flames that have already been generated.
Trying to feel the familiar connection he has with his flames Jon can feel it, his Targaryen blood vibrates with excitement as he connects to the flames around him. Lifting his arms up Jon focused the wall of fire into a single point and then launches it towards the creature, though the creature uses its powerful legs to jump out of the way.
'Nice try' Jon thinks with a smirk as a hand made of orange flames grabs the creatures leg pulling it back into the flames, the creature screaming all the while.
Finally having beaten the creatures Jon stops controlling the flames and reaches into the fire grabbing his sword. He then turns and goes to the alcove where he threw Asha.
Asha was sitting against the wall holding Jons dagger in front of her still unable to comprehend her situation. Though Jon couldn't blame her if he hadn't seen the things he had in Sothoryos he might act the same way.
Slapping her in the face Jon tries to snap her out of it"Asha! Wake up pay attention" Jon says to her shaking her a little bit.
"Are they gone..." Asha says in an uncharacteristically low tone.
"Yeah I got them, whatever they are" Jon replies back making her sigh in relief.
"Deep ones..." Asha says quietly.
"What?" Jon asks.
"They're called Deep ones, or at least that's what iron islanders call them" Asha says looking up at Jon he can see tear marks down her face and her eyes seem to be red and puffy.
"They're supposed to be a fairy tale" Asha says in a disbelieving voice.
"My mother would always say that If I misbehaved the deep ones would drag me down into the depths where even the drowned god can't find me" she continues.
"Whatever they are it doesn't matter, we are leaving they can have this island" Jon says resolutely picking Asha up by the shoulders.
"You don't understand, if he has those creatures then we won't be able to escape, they are born from the sea we would never outrun them in open water" Asha shouts in a panic.
"And that's not even mentioning whatever dark ritual they have done" She continues until Jon slaps her again.
"Calm down" Jon says to her with an expressionless face, she stops talking and takes a breath.
"Do you fairy tales mention a weakness of any kind" Jon asks calmly.
"Its said if you keep a torch lit by your door they won't be able to get in, though I don't know how that would help" Asha replies her voice still trembling a bit. Jon considers what she says and looks into it a bit deeper.
'Fire!' He thinks to himself as he hopes perhaps when he used the spell the creature fell backwards not out of shock but fear.
*HORN*
Hearing a horn come from the keep Jon and Asha look back towards the slave market hoping it wasn't bad news.
(Euron)
It was a silent night with the only sound being the wind, and considering the fact that he wasn't hearing the sound of flesh being ripped from the bone as well as being presented with his niece Euron was less than happy.
Taking a horn from his belt he approached the pit and sounded it.
*HORN*
A few seconds later the sounds of creature could be heard, dozens more of the creatures Jon had just faced were now crawling out of the pit into the slave market. Euron couldn't help but smile as he saw his minions approach him awaiting orders. He knew that he didn't even need to speak there was a link between them they shared his blood and would follow his every command.
'Bring the stupid bitch back to me you can eat the other one' Euron thought towards the creatures who didn't acknowledge his command in anyway but immediately turned to chase after the runaway duo.
"Run!!!! AHAHHAHA" Euron laughed manically as he thought about his niece being brought back to him, perhaps he could use her arse that would keep her pure for the Drowned god.
Euron is snapped out of his thoughts when his group of priests exited from the castle and began to surround the pit. They all knelt down and prostrated the the toad statue all chanting in a noticeably different language than the one they use normally.
Going up to the red coloured priest and grabbing him by his neck he throws him backwards away from the pit "What're you doing!!!" Euron says angrily.
"Have you forgotten your god so easily" he hisses out to the priest
'I will rule WITH the Drowned God not under him' Euron thinks to himself.
"I have never forgotten him your grace" The priest says with a smile on his face.
"But I'm afraid our god isn't you" He continues, the other priests chanting gets louder and louder.
"I AM THE DEMIGOD AND CHAMPION OF THE DROWNED!!! I WILL RULE THE WORLD AS HIS EQUAL" Euron shouts out to the priests face though this does not cause any change in the priests face.
"I'm afraid the drowned one is not our god either" He says simply shocking Euron.
"You are an incredibly smart and resourceful man Euron Greyjoy, but your own ego turns your talents into nothing" The priest says to Euron who is currently trembling in anger.
"If it wasn't for you then our God would still be trapped in this lump of rock, you truly have my thanks, I hope when you glimpse on our lords greatness you will realise your faults" he continues.
"This whole time you tricked me... why me!" Euron shouts out his rage almost bubbling over.
"Your blood" he simple says.
"In the age of heroes your ancestor helped the drowned one seal away our lord, one of the most important ingredients was your blood".
"You will always be remembered as Euron Greyjoy, the man responsible for reviving the enemy of the drowned one" The priest laughs out.
Having had enough euron punches the priest and then punches him again and again until his face is nothing but paste on the floor.
Taking out his sword he then proceeds to execute all the priests without so much as flinching.
Looking into the pit he can't help but feel anger at what he'd been tricked into doing and regret at not having the power he was promised. Looking at the statue he noticed a crack form.
*HIIIIIIIHHHHHHHHHHHH*
An unearthly sound seems to emanate from the statue, deciding he had outstayed his welcome Euron tried to recall his soldiers only to realise the link between them had been severed.
'How! We are blood bound' Euron thinks to himself in frustration before realising that his blood wasn't the only ingredient in their transformation but the oily black substance secreted from the statue.
Euron now understands the statue has started to awaken and has taken control of his soldiers, deciding to cut his losses he runs to the keep to get what's left of his crew and leave.
(Jon & Asha)
Hearing the horn sound and the creatures screeching they both realise the situation they find themselves in has gone from bad to worse. Asha seems to have accepted her death and seems to be wrestling with the choice of ending her own life rather than being taken by the deep ones.
Taking the dagger readying it to plunge it into her heart she's stopped when Jon grabs her arm, she looks him in the eyes and is shocked when she sees that any trembling he might had is long gone his eyes seem resolute and Asha can't help but feel small under his gaze, though not that it was a bad feeling.
Jon takes the map out of his pocket and pushes it towards Ashas chest "Follow this map and it'll take you to Salladhor Saan he can get you out of here" Jon simply states to the older girl.
"W-w-where are you going" Asha asks with a small stutter, she'd never admit this out loud but she didn't want to be left alone especially with her childhood nightmares running around the island.
"You're right, they would follow us into the ocean, so I'm gonna slow them down for as long as I can" Jon replies as he looks back towards the keep, the screeching getting closer and closer.
"you mad cunt they will rip the flesh from you and devour it" Asha shouts to him.
"Don't worry I have a plan" He says with a small smirk.
"Now go" Jon says as he pushes her down the road, he sees her start to run and now he can relax a bit.
"So their weakness is fire and it seems I've got a whole city full of kindling" Jon says to himself as he generates two plumes of flame with both arms, he directs it towards the houses on each side of the road, the low quality housing immediately catches a light.
Using his newfound ability Jon moves his flame from house to house as soon as the previous one starts to catch fire. Soon enough this whole section of the city is in flames and it's continuing to spread.
Seeing a wave of creatures running down the stone road towards him Jon pushes down his fear and connects to the flames around him, if feels like his senses expand as he can feel this entire section of the city through the flames.
Standing with his sword out he is alone facing the oncoming hoard.
(The ship)
Arthur has been looking out towards the city waiting for any indication that he should act when he heard the horn sound. If that didn't spur him to action the inhuman sound that came from the island did.
Getting his sword and leather armour on Arthur would no longer wait and would go to find Jon.
"I'm c-coming too" Rhaneys says as she stumbles out of the captains cabin still not looking well.
"I don't want to upset you Rhaenys but as you are you'd be useless" Arthur says bluntly, Rhaenys looks down clenching her fists cause she knows Arthur is right.
"I can't just sit here while my brother is in danger!" Rhaenys says to Arthur causing him to sigh.
"It is my duty to protect him and to protect you, so let me do one without having to worry about the other" Arthur days as he puts his equipment into the rowing boat.
At this point the rest of the group come outside to see what the commotion is.
"Are we finally going to get Jon" Sansa says quickly as she had already gotten ready for the occasion removing her dress in favour of more combat oriented clothing.
"'We' will do nothing, I will go and get Jon" Arthur says with finality, though as he does they all stumble a bit as something hit the boat. Turning around and looking over the side of the ship he can't see anything in the darkness but he can hear a soft clicking.
But he's distracted from his investigation by the eruption of flames in part of the city, cursing Arthur goes back to undoing the rowing boat to get back to Gogossos but he's nearly knocked off the boat this time.
"If I'd guess, that sound after the horn must've been a signal, I don't think it would be very wise to get into the rowing boat Arthur" Joy says tapping her finger on her chin.
"Though it is very exciting if these creatures are related to the statue they must be deep ones, I wish I had my notebook, all the maesters would be so jealous that a woman proved their existence" Joy says with a laugh seemingly ignoring the situation.
With the boat continuously getting rocked Arthur pulls out dawn "Rhaneys get back to the captains chambers you can't fight like this" Arthur simply says. Looking at Thoros he simply nods his head and pulls his sword out of its sheath and with a flourish of his other hand he ignites it with a green flame.
"Joy go inside and protect Rhaenys, Sansa go grab your bow" Arthur says barking orders as the rocking gets more intense.
Suddenly the sound of cracking wood can be heard, Arthur takes a torch from one of the holders and looks over the side of the ship, an inhuman fishlike creature was currently trying to climb its way into the ship, as soon as the light from the torch hit it, it screeched.
"Fuck!" Arthur says almost stumbling onto his behind,
"Thoros get ready we can't let them get a foothold" Arthur shouts to which Thoros nods grimly.
Sansa having been below deck to get her bow was now standing by the captains wheel waiting for the impending battle.
With a few seconds of silence the first creature pulls itself over the side of the ship with a massive screech. Before Arthur can even move his blade there is already an arrow sticking in it's head, though it doesn't seem to kill it but it disoriented it enough for Arthur to swing dawn and decapitate it.
'So, it begins'
(Jon)
Jon didn't know how long he'd been running for, there was no way he'd be able to take on the entire force of creatures so he resorted to hit and run tactics.
Catching his breath for a minute in an alleyway Jon starts to think things may turn out for the worse.
'Considering how lucky I've been, it's only fitting it runs out eventually' Jon thinks to himself as he thinks about his friends and Rhaenys, hoping they are safe.
The screeches are coming closer and closer so Jon gets back up from leaning across the wall, he proceeds to set every house he came across on fire in order to slow them down, though when one would get too close he'd have to dispatch it with his blade.
Their weakness to fire doesn't seem to be exaggerated as they are noticeably slower when surrounded by the heat and light from the burning buildings, if they weren't Jon would've gotten caught long ago.
With a dozen or so creatures running ahead of the main group Jon uses the flames and collapses them both in from either end of the street resulting in a wave coming in from both the left and right, all of the creatures were caught in this and screamed until their final moments.
Breathing heavily Jon starts to run down the street back towards the harbour, it's getting light out, dawn is almost here.
(The Ship)
Blood littered the deck of the ship, as well as the bodies of creatures not seen for millennia, Thoros was currently stabbing one of them in the chest but was too slow to avoid a slash from the dying creature and flew backwards hitting the floor.
Arthur having to deal with his own creature could not help him, dodging a slash Arthur brings his blade upwards cutting off the offending hand, he looks back to Thoros to see another creature getting close to the unarmed man.
'Shit' Arthur thinks as he tries to speed up killing the creature.
Though with every swipe or thrust or slash it seems to be fast enough to avoid it.
Thoros seems to be muttering a prayer of some kind as the creature is within arms reach of him, though before he is killed and dragged to the depths of the sea a flaming arrow hits the creature in the head, and then a second layer another one.
Looking up Thoros sees the huntress shooting off arrows as fast as she can, doing a good job in preventing a good amount of creatures from climbing over. Spurred on by the young girls fighting spirit Thoros gets back on his feet and reignites his sword before going back to fighting.
Though like all good things their counter attack didn't last forever, Sansa had run out of arrows and Thoros' blade had gone out. They were tired and struggled to even hold their swords.
It looked as if it was almost dawn, though they hoped they could make it that long it seemed to be wishful thinking.
Having dispatched the last ones on deck Arthur looks over the side of the ship and is greeted with another wave of creatures approaching.
'I guess this is it' Arthur readies himself for what looks like the end of the road.
*ROOOOOOAAAAAR*
A earth shaking roar can be heard, distracting Arthur from his fight he looks around to see where it came from. Thought he need not look very long as in front of his eyes the ocean seems to ignite in flames.
Vhagar swooping down shoots a blue raging inferno at the water, so hot that the water seems to explode. After making another pass on the other side of the ship, Vhagar lands on the side next to Arthur looking over the side he shoots another cyclone of fire.
*ROOOOOOOAAARR*
The waves can be seen retreating from the ship, and Arthur sinks down in relief though he wouldn't try and pet Vhagar, he wasn't mad.
Rhaneys stumbles out with Joy as she approaches Vhagar and hugs his neck, feeling the rough blue scales she couldn't be more happy.
Over the horizon the sun can finally be seen rising, illuminating the island with the first light of a new day.
For the group they feel relieved as they made it through the night and can finally leave.
* A̵̻̻̘͓͕̮̤̞͙̣̦̰̪̻̫͎͉̜̖̩͌̓̾̍͋̄̑̀̑̎́͋̽̒͛̿͆̎̿̄̓͛̀̋̈̎͌̕ͅḨ̶̧̛̛̘͖̼̝̰̳̯̙̳̺̮͉̱͙͍̲͈͕̘̩̻͔͈̼͍͇͉͛̀͛̚̚Ḩ̷̼̲̹̞̣̜̣͉̺̲̈́́́̿͒̈́̈́̒͌̅̈̿̄͑̔̅̆́̔͗̀̋͘̚Ḩ̶̢̪͙̖̯̬̲͓̻̹͉̣͙͚̳̤̗̈́̃̍͋͊́̐̃̃͘ͅH̴̨̢̡̢̧̝̰͈̝̙̦̳͙̠̰̠̯͕͈͕̓͛͆̊̓̍͛͋̿̓͋̌̚͝H̷̨̢̢̡̛̛͚͚̳̣͍̤̗͓̬̰̫̤̝̟̙̘̾̑̆̓̉̂̀̊͋̌̋̾̾̆̓͐̃͒͒̔͆͋͘̕̚͜͝H̶̛̗̟͋̈́̈̎̑̕*
They all cover their ears at the sound, it was one of the most painful things they had experienced, their ears were bleeding and the girls had collapsed onto the floor, even the dragon wasn't doing well as it whined.
Arthur looks towards the city and can see what looks like a massive quake happening as the keep seemingly sinks the floor, and with it something rises from beneath it.
(AN: imma be honest with ya, I hate this chapter maybe even more than I hate chapters 2-4, but that being said I'm not gonna change it I'd just rather move on from it, I've lost my passion for this arc tbh I'm looking forward to moving on from it, so one chapter left and I can finally move on 😭😭😭😭, also before any of you mention I am aware that the drowned gods enemy is the storm god, in this fic I'm doing something else with the gods so any case of them being enemies is narrowed down to myth.)