Chapter 100 Face The Dragon Priest
After pushing open the massive, ancient doors of Skuldafn, Alex and Astrid stepped out into the frigid mountain air. The wind howled across the summit, tugging at their cloaks and carrying with it the faint scent of frost and old stone. Snow crunched beneath their boots as they slowly advanced.
They had emerged at the very top of the ancient ruin.
In the distance, a colossal beam of light pierced the dark sky, rising like a divine pillar from the heart of the temple complex. It shimmered with an otherworldly glow, swirling faintly at its base like a living thing.
Alex narrowed his eyes against the wind and lifted his arm, pointing toward the radiant pillar. His fingers trembled slightly not from fear, but from the biting cold.
"Astrid… look at that light," he said, his voice low but firm. "That's our destination."
Astrid followed the direction of his finger. The glow reflected in her sharp eyes, and for a brief moment, even she seemed awed by its presence.
Alex didn't lower his hand immediately. Instead, his gaze shifted away from the beacon and began sweeping across the stone courtyard. His shoulders stiffened. His breathing slowed. He turned his head slightly to the left… then to the right.
The entrance area was quiet.
Too quiet.
It seems safe around the door… he thought, narrowing his eyes. But where are the draugr? This place should be crawling with them. That's strange…
Astrid, meanwhile, reached over her shoulder and firmly gripped her weapon. The familiar weight steadied her. She rolled her neck once, loosening the tension, then gave the area a confident scan.
"Well," she said, shifting her stance and planting her boots firmly on the snow-covered stone, "what are we waiting for? Let's go."
She started to move forward with her usual bold stride
"Wait."
Alex's hand shot out instinctively, lightly catching her wrist. Not forceful just enough to stop her momentum.
Astrid paused and looked down at his hand, then back up at his face.
Alex slowly released her but didn't relax. His jaw tightened slightly as his eyes continued to scan the ruins. His brows drew together in concentration.
"I have a bad feeling," he muttered, lowering his voice. He took a careful step forward, then another, glancing behind broken pillars and along the high stone walls. "We should move carefully. If the enemy hasn't noticed us yet, we shouldn't give away our position."
Astrid tilted her head, studying him. Then a faint smirk tugged at the corner of her lips.
"That's unusual," she said, folding one arm across her chest while resting her weapon casually against her shoulder. "Since when are you this cautious?"
She leaned in slightly, her eyes teasing.
"You're usually the one who charges in first and thinks later."
Alex's gaze lingered on light, but his thoughts were elsewhere.
In the game, a Dragon Priest like Nahkriin might look easy… just another boss with predictable patterns.
His jaw tightened slightly.
But this isn't a game. This is real. I don't know if their power works the same way here. And the fact that the draugr around the entrance vanished… that's not normal. Could the Dragon Priest be controlling them? Gathering them somewhere?
A cold gust of wind brushed past him, yet it wasn't the cold that made a faint chill crawl down his spine.
I don't know. But being cautious won't hurt.
He exhaled slowly through his nose, forcing his expression back to calm.
"It's nothing," Alex said in a steady voice, though his eyes remained sharp and alert. "I just want us to be careful, Astrid."
Astrid studied his face for a second longer, then gave a small nod. The teasing look faded from her eyes, replaced by focus.
Side by side, they began moving toward the beacon. Their steps were slow and deliberate. Alex kept slightly ahead, raising a hand occasionally to signal pauses. They used fallen stone pillars and broken walls as cover, keeping low.
As they reached a higher ledge overlooking the central platform, both of them froze.
Five Draugr Lords stood in a loose formation near the base of the beacon, their ancient armor clinking faintly as they shifted. Their eyes glowed with that eerie blue light, scanning their surroundings like hunting predators.
And behind them
A figure floated slightly above the ground.
Its robes swayed without wind. Its skeletal mask gleamed faintly under the beacon's light. Unlike the others, its feet did not touch the stone floor. It hovered, motionless, as if observing everything.
Alex immediately grabbed Astrid's arm and pulled her down behind a half-collapsed stone wall. They crouched low, backs pressed against the cold stone.
Astrid carefully leaned just enough to peek around the edge. Her grip tightened around her weapon.
"It looks like that Dragon Priest is behind the Draugr Lords," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the wind.
Alex leaned slightly forward beside her, narrowing his eyes as he confirmed it. The floating figure's presence felt heavier than the others like pressure in the air itself.
"Yeah," he murmured. "You're right."
Then his eyes shifted past the Dragon Priest.
There behind it.
Embedded into a stone altar was a staff. It pulsed faintly with the same energy as the beacon, thin streams of light traveling upward toward the sky.
Alex's breathing slowed.
"Astrid," he said quietly, gesturing subtly toward it, "that staff… it must be the key to opening the portal to Sovngarde. We have to get it."
Astrid followed his gaze. Her eyes widened slightly as she focused on the staff.
"So how do we do that?" she asked, glancing back at him. Her tone was serious now no teasing left.
Alex's lips slowly curved into a small, calculating smile.
He shifted his posture, leaning closer so their shoulders nearly touched, lowering his voice even further.
"I have an idea," Alex whispered, his voice low and steady despite the tension hanging in the air.
Astrid immediately turned toward him. Even crouched behind the crumbling stone wall, with undead warriors only a short distance away, her eyes lit up with sharp anticipation. A faint spark of excitement flickered in them the familiar thrill of battle and strategy.
She leaned closer, their shoulders nearly touching, her breath warm against the cold mountain air.
"Then tell me," she urged softly, her tone eager but controlled. "What reckless plan are you about to suggest this time?"
Alex let out a quiet huff of amusement but kept his gaze focused ahead. The Dragon Priest floated ominously in the distance, robes swaying unnaturally.
"You know Sovngarde is the resting place of Nord souls, right?" he asked, glancing sideways at her to make sure she was following.
Astrid gave a small nod. Her expression turned thoughtful. "Of course. It's where honored Nords go after death."
Alex's eyes shifted back toward the glowing portal beneath the beacon. The light pulsed rhythmically, almost like a heartbeat.
"And draugr…" he continued carefully, lowering his voice even further, "are cursed Nords. Twisted. Bound to this world instead of passing on."
He paused deliberately, letting the implication sink in. Then he turned to her, one brow slightly raised.
"So what do you think would happen… if the draugr and that Dragon Priest touched the portal to Sovngarde?"
For a brief second, Astrid blinked.
Then her lips slowly curved upward.
"Would they die?" she whispered, a dangerous grin forming as she imagined it.
Alex's mouth tilted into a smirk of his own, a glint of mischief flashing in his eyes.
"Let's find out."
He shifted his weight, preparing himself mentally.
"I'll lure the Draugr Lords and the Dragon Priest into one spot," he explained, using subtle hand gestures to illustrate, drawing an invisible cluster in the air between them. "Once they're grouped together close enough you use Unrelenting Force. Full power. Blast them straight into the portal."
Astrid's grin faded slightly. Her brows drew together as she studied his face more carefully now.
"But are you sure?" she asked quietly. Her hand instinctively tightened around his forearm. "You said before you can't use telekinesis freely. It strains you. And Draugr Lords can use the Thu'um too."
Her voice softened at the end, concern slipping through despite her warrior composure.
Alex looked at her hand on his arm, then back into her eyes. For a moment, the playful strategist disappeared, replaced by someone determined.
He lifted his other hand and gave her a firm thumbs-up, forcing a confident grin onto his face.
"Relax," he said lightly. "Yeah, it'll hurt. A lot, probably." He rolled one shoulder as if already bracing for impact. "But I can handle it."
He held her gaze a second longer, silently reassuring her.
"Trust me."
Then he inhaled deeply, steadying himself.
"Let's do this."
Without giving himself another second to hesitate, Alex burst out from behind the broken wall.
Snow scattered under his boots as he sprinted straight into the open courtyard, cloak snapping violently behind him in the freezing wind.
"Hey!!! Over here!" he shouted at the top of his lungs, raising both arms briefly to make himself an obvious target.
The Draugr Lords reacted instantly.
Their glowing blue eyes flared brighter as their heads snapped toward him in eerie unison. Rusted weapons shifted in skeletal hands. At the same time, the Dragon Priest slowly rotated in the air, its masked face locking onto Alex with chilling precision.
Alex felt it the shift in the air. The pressure building.
The Draugr Lords inhaled sharply, their chests expanding as they prepared to unleash Unrelenting Force.
"Not today " Alex muttered.
He thrust both hands forward. Blue-white energy gathered between his palms with a sharp crackling sound.
"Chain Lightning!"
A violent arc of electricity exploded outward, splitting midair into multiple branching streams. The bolts slammed into all five Draugr Lords at once.
CRACK ZRRRAK!
Electricity danced wildly across their armored bodies, jumping from one to another. Their skeletal frames convulsed violently as sparks burst from their joints. The smell of ozone filled the air.
For a brief moment, they staggered stunned.
But behind them, the Dragon Priest merely raised one hand calmly.
The lightning struck its magical barrier and dispersed like harmless sparks against invisible glass. Its robes fluttered slightly, but its posture didn't falter.
Unaffected.
Alex's eyes widened slightly as he saw the spell dissipate.
He clicked his tongue in frustration. "Damn… of course it wouldn't be that easy."
The Dragon Priest extended its his hand slowly, almost lazily.
A sphere of concentrated lightning formed at its tip.
Alex barely had time to brace.
ZRRRT !!
A Lightning Bolt shot forward like a spear of pure energy and slammed directly into his chest.
"Grrrghhh !!"
His body jerked violently as electricity surged through him. His muscles locked up, teeth clenching hard enough to hurt. For a split second, his vision flashed white.
"Damn… that hurts!" he growled through gritted teeth as smoke curled faintly from his armor.
He staggered back a step but forced himself not to fall.
Pain pulsed through his nerves but he reacted immediately.
"Stoneflesh!"
He slammed his palm against his chest. A faint earthen glow spread across his body, crawling over his skin like liquid stone. His muscles tightened as his flesh hardened, forming a protective magical layer.
Before the Dragon Priest could fire again, Alex clenched his fist and cast another spell.
"Close Wounds!"
Warm golden light enveloped him, flowing across the burn marks and easing the internal damage. His breathing steadied as the worst of the pain subsided, though faint sparks still flickered across his body.
He lifted his head again, eyes burning with determination despite the sting lingering in his body.
"Alright…" he muttered under his breath, flexing his fingers as residual electricity crackled faintly around them. "Let's turn this up a notch."
The Draugr Lords shook violently as the last sparks of electricity faded from their armor. One by one, their rigid bodies straightened. Their glowing eyes flared brighter, burning with renewed hostility.
Then they moved.
With guttural, hollow growls, all five charged at Alex at once. Their heavy boots pounded against the ancient stone floor, weapons raised high. Frost clung to their blades, leaving faint icy trails in the air as they ran.
Alex narrowed his eyes, planting his feet firmly.
"Come on… just a little closer…" he muttered under his breath, raising both hands slowly as if bracing against an invisible wall.
The Draugr closed the distance rapidly ten meters… five… three
"Now!"
He clenched his fists.
A sudden surge of invisible force erupted outward from his body. The air around the Draugr distorted, warping like heat haze. Their movements faltered mid-stride.
Then
CRUNCH.
As if grabbed by giant unseen hands, the five Draugr Lords were yanked inward. Their armored bodies slammed into one another violently, shoulder to shoulder, weapons clattering as they were crushed into a tight cluster.
Their limbs struggled against the invisible pressure, armor screeching as it scraped together. They roared in fury, but the telekinetic force held them locked in place.
Alex's arms trembled violently.
Veins stood out along his neck. His teeth clenched as he forced the magic to compress further.
"Stay… still…!" he growled, sweat forming at his temple despite the freezing air.
Above them, the Dragon Priest reacted instantly.
It rose higher into the air, robes billowing unnaturally as if underwater. A faint magical aura shimmered around its body.
Alex felt it his telekinetic grip sliding off.
The Dragon Priest twisted slightly midair and slipped free of the invisible pressure, hovering effortlessly beyond his range.
"Tch !"
The strain intensified. Alex's vision blurred slightly at the edges.
He couldn't hold this much longer.
"Astrid!" he shouted, voice strained. "Now! Use your Thu'um!!!"
Behind him, Astrid had already stepped into position.
She planted one foot forward, shield lowered, chest expanding as she drew in a deep breath. The air around her vibrated faintly as ancient power gathered in her lungs.
Her eyes sharpened with fierce focus.
"FUS RO DAH!!!"
The shout exploded from her like a cannon blast.
A visible shockwave burst forward, distorting the air in a wide cone. Snow and loose debris were ripped from the ground and hurled outward.
At the exact moment her voice reached its peak, Alex released his telekinetic grip.
The compressed Draugr Lords had no resistance left to counter the force.
BOOM
They were launched backward violently, their armored bodies tumbling helplessly through the air. One spun head over heels. Another crashed into his companion mid-flight.
All five were hurled straight toward the glowing portal beneath the beacon.
The moment their bodies touched the swirling light
They vanished.
Gone.
The portal rippled briefly, as if swallowing them whole.
For a split second, silence fell.
Alex staggered forward a step, dropping one hand to his knee as he panted heavily.
"Finally!!!" he exclaimed between breaths, relief flooding his voice.
But it lasted less than a heartbeat.
A sudden surge of pressure filled the air.
Alex looked up.
The Dragon Priest hovered higher now, his raised above its head. Dark clouds began to swirl unnaturally above the beacon. Lightning gathered at his hand's far denser, far more violent than before.
Thunderbolt.
The energy sphere crackled wildly, larger and brighter than any spell cast so far.
Astrid's eyes widened instantly.
"Alex move!" she shouted.
She didn't wait for him to react.
She sprinted forward at full speed, boots scraping against stone. In one swift motion, she grabbed his arm and wrapped the other around his waist, throwing her weight into him.
They both dove sideways.
A split second later
KRAAASH!!!
The Thunderbolt struck where Alex had been standing.
The explosion shattered stone, sending fragments flying in all directions. Lightning tore across the ground, leaving blackened scorch marks and lingering arcs of electricity dancing across the ruins.
Astrid rolled with Alex across the stone floor, shielding him with her body until they skidded to a stop behind a broken pillar.
Debris rained down around them.
For a brief moment, they lay there breathing hard.
That blast had been far stronger than anything before.
The stone where Alex had stood moments ago was now a smoking crater, edges still glowing faintly with residual electricity. Thin arcs of lightning crawled across the shattered surface before fading into the cold air.
Above them, the Dragon Priest hovered untouched.
Its robes swirled slowly as if stirred by invisible currents. The hand pulsed again, gathering power with an ominous hum that vibrated through the courtyard.
It wasn't finished.
Another sphere of concentrated lightning formed then another.
Thunderbolts began raining down relentlessly.
"KRAAASH !!"
A bolt struck to their left, exploding stone into shards.
"MOVE!" Alex shouted.
They rolled in opposite directions just as another bolt slammed into the ground between them, lightning spiderwebbing outward across the floor.
Astrid sprang to her feet first. She rushed back toward Alex and planted herself in front of him, shield raised.
Another Thunderbolt descended.
BOOM!
The blast struck her shield head-on.
The impact forced her back half a step, boots scraping hard against stone. Sparks burst across the shield's surface, but instead of shattering, the enchantment flared an almost transparent barrier shimmering briefly around it.
The magic resistance held.
Astrid gritted her teeth, arm trembling from the force. Strands of her hair whipped wildly from the shockwaves.
Another bolt came.
She angled her shield slightly this time.
KRAAASH!
The lightning deflected outward, skidding along the barrier in a blinding flash before dispersing into harmless sparks.
"Is that all you've got?!" she growled under her breath, though sweat had begun to bead along her brow.
She risked a glance over her shoulder.
"So what's the next plan, Alex?!" she shouted, voice raised over the roar of thunder.
Behind her, Alex had already reached into his inventory.
He quickly slipped off his current ring, fingers moving with practiced urgency, and replaced it with another this one engraved with faint destruction fortify.
The moment it settled on his finger, he felt it.
A surge of destructive energy flowed through his veins, amplifying the heat gathering in his palms.
"Alright…" he muttered, stepping out slightly from behind her shield. "Let's see how you like this."
He extended both hands forward.
"Fireball!"
A blazing sphere of compressed flame shot toward the Dragon Priest.
It exploded against the Priest's chest in a burst of fire and smoke.
The Dragon Priest staggered slightly midair just slightly.
Alex's eyes sharpened.
"Again!"
Another Fireball. Then another. And another.
He began launching them rapidly, each one streaking through the air like a comet. The cold mountain wind hissed violently as flames tore through it.
Explosions bloomed one after another around the Dragon Priest.
BOOM BOOM BOOM
Unlike the lightning spells, the fire did not disperse harmlessly.
The Dragon Priest's robes began to burn at the edges. Dark scorch marks spread across its ancient armor. The magical aura around it flickered.
A thin crack formed along its mask.
Alex noticed immediately.
"It's working!" he shouted.
He intensified his assault, pouring more magicka into each cast despite the strain. His breathing grew heavier, but he didn't stop.
The Dragon Priest raised its hand as if to counterattack but another Fireball struck directly against it, interrupting the spell formation.
Cracks spread rapidly across its body now like fractured porcelain. Pieces of ancient armor began to chip away, drifting down like ash.
Its floating height faltered.
The air around it trembled.
One final Fireball struck squarely at its chest.
BOOOOM!!!
Flames engulfed it completely.
For a brief second, its skeletal form was visible through the blaze then the cracks split wide.
The Dragon Priest let out a distorted, hollow shriek as its body fragmented.
Fragments of bone and armor disintegrated midair.
And then
It collapsed inward, crumbling into dust before it even hit the ground.
When the flames faded, only a single object remained.
A mask.
It dropped to the stone floor with a hollow metallic clink.
Silence returned to the summit.
The clouds above slowly calmed.
Alex lowered his hands, chest rising and falling heavily.
Astrid lowered her shield as well, staring at the mask on the ground.
The Dragon Priest was gone.
"Huff… huff… huff…"
Astrid bent forward slightly, one hand resting on her knee while the other still gripped her shield. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, steam escaping her lips in the freezing air. Then, despite the exhaustion, she let out a breathless laugh.
"Hahaha! We finally did it!"
Her laughter echoed across the ruined summit, light and victorious, cutting through the lingering smell of smoke and ozone.
Alex stood a few steps away, shoulders slumped, hands resting on his thighs as he tried to steady his breathing.
"Haaah… yeah…" he exhaled heavily, straightening up slowly and rolling his sore shoulders. "Honestly, I'd rather fight a dragon."
He gestured vaguely at the scorched battlefield around them.
"They're huge. Big wings. Big head. Easy target." He wiped sweat from his brow and gave a tired grin. "A Dragon Priest just floats around like some annoying lightning turret."
Astrid snorted softly and walked over to him. She reached out and gave his shoulder a firm pat half congratulatory, half grounding him.
"Maybe," she said, her eyes warm despite the fatigue. "But we defeated it, didn't we?"
Alex looked at her for a moment then smiled properly this time.
"Yeah," he admitted. "We did."
He reached into his inventory and pulled out several potions. The glass bottles clinked faintly against one another, their contents glowing softly red for Health, blue for Magicka, green for Stamina.
He uncorked the red and blue potions first and tilted his head back, drinking them quickly. Warmth spread through his body almost instantly. The aches in his muscles dulled, and the lingering strain from his telekinesis eased slightly.
Astrid accepted a red and green potion from him. She drank hers in two steady gulps, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand afterward. Color returned to her cheeks as her stamina replenished.
"Much better," she muttered, flexing her shield arm.
Alex then walked toward the spot where the Dragon Priest had fallen. The blackened stone still radiated faint heat. He crouched and picked up the mask carefully, turning it over in his hands. Its surface was ancient, carved with intricate patterns, faint magical energy still humming within it.
"Guess I'll be taking this," he murmured.
He stored the mask safely.
With the battlefield finally silent, they turned their attention to the altar behind where the Dragon Priest had floated.
The staff remained embedded in the stone, glowing faintly as the towering beam of light continued to rise into the sky.
They approached cautiously.
Alex studied the runes carved into the altar. "If we leave this staff here," he said thoughtfully, placing a hand around its shaft, "it could fall into the wrong hands."
He glanced at Astrid.
"We should take it."
She nodded in agreement.
Alex tightened his grip and pulled.
The staff slid free with a low grinding sound.
Instantly
The towering beam of light flickered.
Then vanished.
The swirling portal beneath it collapsed inward like a dying flame.
Silence.
Astrid blinked and looked at the now-empty space where the portal had been.
"…Wait," she said slowly, turning toward him. "Then how are we supposed to reach Sovngarde if the portal's closed?"
Alex froze.
He looked at the staff in his hand. Then at the altar. Then back at the sky.
"…Right."
He frowned for a moment, deep in thought.
Then his lips slowly curved upward.
"Okay. I've got an idea."
Before Astrid could question him further, he stepped forward and firmly thrust the staff back into its slot in the altar.
The runes along the stone flared to life.
With a resonating hum, the beam of light shot skyward once more. The circular portal beneath it reopened, swirling with ethereal energy.
Alex turned to her quickly.
"You go first," he said. "I'll follow."
Astrid studied him for a second, then nodded without hesitation.
"Don't take too long."
She stepped into the circular, beacon-like portal.
The moment her boots touched its center, her body began to rise slowly upward, lifted by invisible force. Her hair flowed weightlessly around her shoulders as she ascended higher… and higher…
Until she vanished into the sky.
Alex waited just long enough to confirm she was gone safely.
"Alright… my turn."
He stepped into the portal.
The lifting force caught him instantly, pulling him upward. Wind roared past his ears as the summit shrank below.
But just before he rose too high
He extended one hand downward.
Telekinesis surged outward.
The staff trembled violently in the altar.
With a sharp yank
It ripped free from the stone and shot upward into his grasp.
The beam flickered behind him.
Success.
Clutching the staff tightly, Alex allowed himself to be carried fully into the light.
The world blurred.
And together, Alex and Astrid were transported to Sovngarde.
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