Riverlands
Neferion
Neferion knew that with so many opponents of unknown abilities, he had to go all out from the start. But the Seven also knew who they were dealing with, and the slightest mistake on their part meant something worse than death. Because if he had one artefact capable of sealing one of them, that meant he could have more. Or at least he would be more careful in that case.
He was especially wary of the Crone, as his experience with Hermaeus Mora had taught him that those gods associated with the domain of knowledge were the most unpredictable and always had several aces up their sleeves.
"MUL QAH DIIV" (Strength, Armor, Wyrm)
"SU GRAH DUN" (Air, Battle, Grace)
He immediately used Dragon Aspect shout, as well as Elemental Fury, surprising the gods with the sudden doubling of his power. However, he did not intend to end this fight too soon because another one like this might not happen in long time. Especially since he already knew that Nymeria and Sunspear were safe. And the being approaching them, emanating similar energy to the other Seven, had to belong to Smith.
He had thu'um that could end this fight very quickly, like a modified Dragonrend or Slow Time, or that one that made his head hurt, but he wanted the Seven to slowly be flooded with desperation and understanding of how fucked they were.
Maybe it was a bit reckless. Like toying with a prey, but he was too bored in this world difficulty level. This wasn't Nirn, where you could enter a cave and run into a vampire lord with a few thousand years on his back or have a crazy god as a friend who couldn't let you get bored.
He waited calmly for the Seven to attack first, and despite their initial hesitation, they did. Golden fire and purple lightning shot towards him from Father and Crone, but he blocked them with his armoured hand.
At the same time, Warrior was already on him, swinging his sword wide. His own longsword Umbra appeared in his hand, shone with a cold and dark light, intercepting the blow and delivering its own to the opponent's exposed side, who himself blocked the blow with his shield.
To Neferion's surprise, Warrior artifact withstood the blow, and the god himself deftly cushioned the blow.
In Dovahkiin's left hand appeared Spellbraker, indispensable when it comes to blocking spells and magic attacks. The shield immediately intercepted the elemental attacks flying towards him.
Various illusions were created around him trying to distort his perception. Stranger with Smith, who was equipped with a flaming warhammer, joined the melee.
Neferion had to admit that when it came to technique, Warrior was much better than him, but he more than made up for it with the difference in strength and speed.
The fight turned into a dance, and he focused only on parrying or dodging, allowing the others to fall into a rhythm and feel that they had the upper hand.
To a mortal eye, their fight must have looked like a tornado of elements and steel, and the terrain they fought on was completely devastated.
When one of Smith's blows missed him and hit the ground, it shattered it, and pillars of fire shot out and began to attack him. One of the Seven could also manipulate the ground to some extent, which constantly changed its form, once hardening or becoming almost liquid, making it difficult for him to move.
Stranger attacked him with rapid attacks of poisoned daggers, but even if one of them reached him, he doubted they would work with his physique. He even managed to get a few grazes in his armour from all three.
Warrior was too experienced to fall for it, but the other two fell into the trap. Both were overmatched, and Neferion delivered a powerful kick to Smith's stomach, sending his massive body flying over 400 feet. Spellbreaker, on the other hand, crushed the death god's face, sending him in the opposite direction to his brother.
"FUS RO DAH" (Force, Balance, Push)
Warrior, on the other hand, received a point-blank shot from Unrelenting Force, which also hit Father, sending them into the foot of the mountain, which shook from the collision.
Now having a moment to breathe, he changed his weapon. Auriel's Bow appeared in his hand, which he aimed towards the sun, curious if the most powerful attack of the sun god relic would work in this world. The arrow of light flew towards the sun's shield.
In the meantime, he stood unwavering, waiting and taking ranged attacks from Crone and Mother, who, however soon, had to save themselves by running away when rays of sunlight fell from the sky, scorching the earth.
But the goddesses weren't the only ones targeted. More beams flew towards the remaining four aspects, only two of whom were currently able to defend themselves. Warrior, climbing out of the mountainside, blocked them with his shield, while Smith simply took them head on.
Both Stranger and Father were unprepared for the attack and were burnt throughout, although after a while their avatars began to regenerate.
Neferion didn't attack any further; instead, he unsummon his bow to magic pouch and waited, hinting that he could wait all day. He could feel the disbelief and anger of the gods at how this battle was going.
"It's that all?!" His voice echoed through the valley. Of course, he didn't have to wait long; Smith, who was closest to him, was by his side in a few seconds and swung his fiery hammer, but Neferion simply grabbed it in his hand. The god of blacksmithing tried to tear his weapon out of his hand, but to no avail.
Neferion wanted to shatter the hammer in his hand just to see Smith's face, but his inner collector wouldn't let him. So with one incredibly powerful movement, he ripped the hammer from the god's hand and threw it into his magical bag.
The Smith stared at his hand in disbelief, then roared, his voice filled with fiery fury. "DRAGON, GIVE ME BACK MY HAMMER. HOW DARE YOU?!"
When the deity rushed on him with his bare hands, Neferion simply grabbed his head in his palm and threw him to the ground, creating a small crater, then stomping twice his head into the ground. As the dust settled around them, Neferion stood tall, his chest heaving with exertion, surveying the scene with a cold, calculating gaze. He knew that this display of power would send a clear message to other aspects.
Seeing that the other gods were ready to attack him again, he decided it was time to scare them a little.
"JOOR ZAH SAHLO FRUL" (Mortal, Finite, Weak, Temporary)
The words of Godfall, the upgraded shout dragonrend, echoed through the valley like the sound of a storm, and the world itself froze for a moment as the unthinkable happened. The immortal deities experienced mortality once again, and for the first time in ages, they felt true terror.
Solarion appeared in his hand, and with smirk, he thrust it towards Smith's mouth, pinning him to the ground. The light radiating from the spear became so bright that it blinded even the Dovahkiin for a moment. But when it died down, there was nothing left of the god, only the earth turned to glass from the high temperature.
Cries of pain and despair filled the air, causing the air to vibrate for many miles. Mortals who came within range fell to the ground, stunned or dead. But Neferion didn't feel pressure. Quite the opposite. The moment Smith's divine essence was annihilated, he felt the chains that bound him loosen.
Even though it was a small difference, for him this minimal relief was worth its weight in gold. His mind became clearer, and the thu'um no longer seemed to burden him so much.
However, before he could enjoy this increase in strength and freedom, the Warrior hit him like a steel bolt of pure fury. Neferion, surprised by the sudden attack, had no time to prepare for the impact, and both flew several dozen feet, wrestling in close combat.
However, He quickly pinned his divine opponent to the ground, crushing him with his knee, and began to strike with enormous force and speed at the head of the Warrior covered with the helmet. God already weakened by the powerful shout and the destruction of one of his sibling aspect, was unable to offer any resistance.
Now there were no Seven who are One, but Six who are One. Neferion, getting up, burst into laughter, looking at the massacred opponent, who still had life in him, but very litte.
In the distance, a terrified Stranger was running away, but before he could teleport from the battlefield or disappear in some other way, the heavens were pierced by the words of another shout.
"IIZ SLEN NUS" (Ice, Flesh, Statue)
In moment Stranger stood frozen in flight, his face showing cowardice and the awareness of inevitable death. A moment later, Neferion stood over him with Bloodthorn raised, which he stabbed into the chest of the icy figure.
At that moment, the Star of Azura, which he had summoned a moment earlier from Nymeria, appeared in his hand. It was really the only item he had that could hold the essence of a god or even several. With a surge of power coursing through him, Neferion pressed the Star of Azura against the dying figure, feeling the essence of the fallen god flowing into the artefact of the Daedric Prince.
Now that Smith was dead, Warrior lay barely alive, and the souls of Stranger and Maiden were locked in the artefact, the three remaining survivors rushed for one last desperate attack.
He had to admit that he was disappointed. He had expected much more, and all he got was a fight with children. If he fought the seven gods like Warrior... that could be a much more interesting challenge.
Apart from him, Smith actually seemed to have some experience fighting enemies equal to him or more powerful. The only conclusion he could come up with was that during the Andal conquest of Westeros, it was the Warrior who did all the dirty work fighting the Old Gods of the First Men.
A barrage of deadly spells or divine miracles, powers he didn't even know what to call, hit him. But he didn't even move to block them; instead, he took a breath and used thu'um.
"TIID KLO UL" (Time, Sand, Eternity)
Time slowed down, and the world around him almost froze in place; even the gods with their superhuman speed seemed to move as if they were swimming in tar, every movement heavy and incredibly slow.
Neferion slowly walked over to the mother standing closest to him, and with a quick movement, he plunged Bloodthorn into her throat, reaching her brain, and Azura's Star did the rest.
A moment later he did the same to the other two, who could only watch their end with a desperate awareness approaching.
Neferion looked closely at Azura's Star.
"Hmh. It looks like it's almost full. I'll have to use these divine essences in some way to make room for more. Luckily I have a few ideas." He said to himself thoughtfully.
Then he headed to the last living of the Seven, who, despite regeneration, was recovering very slowly. After all, defeating the other aspects must have had an effect on him.
Neferion looked at him for a moment and then said, "You know, I feel sorry for such an excellent warrior. It would be a waste to seal you away."
"Congratulations. You have just been given the honour of entering eternal service to the One and Only Dovahkiin."
"GOL HAH RAH AAM" (Earth, Mind, God, Serve)